Headquarters, Richmond,
July 2, 1863.
Sir: As Commander in Chief of the land and
naval forces now waging war against the United States, I have the honor to address
this communication to you, as Commander in Chief of their land and naval
forces.
Numerous
difficulties and disputes have arisen in relation to the execution of the
cartel of exchange heretofore agreed on by the belligerents, and the
commissioners for the exchange of prisoners have been unable to adjust their
differences. Their action on the subject of these differences is delayed and
embarrassed by the necessity of referring each subject as it arises to superior
authority for decision. I believe that I have just grounds of complaint against
the officers and forces under your command for breach of the terms of the
cartel, and, being myself ready to execute it at all times in good faith, I am
not justified in doubting the existence of the same disposition on your part.
In addition to
this matter, I have to complain of the conduct of your officers and troops in
many parts of the country, who violate all the rules of war by carrying on
hostilities not only against armed foes but against noncombatants, aged men,
women, and children; while others not only seize such property as is required
for the use of your forces, but destroy all private property within their
reach, even agricultural implements; and openly avow the purpose of seeking to
subdue the population of the districts where they are operating by the
starvation that must result from the destruction of standing crops and
agricultural tools.
Still, again,
others of your officers in different districts have recently taken the lives of
prisoners who fell into their power, and justify their act by asserting a right
to treat as spies the military officers and enlisted men under my command, who
may penetrate for hostile purposes into States claimed by me to be engaged in
the warfare now waged against the United States, and claimed by the latter as
having refused to engage in such warfare.
I have
heretofore, on different occasions, been forced to make complaint of these
outrages, and to ask from you that you should either avow or disclaim having
authorized them, and have failed to obtain such answer as the usages of
civilized warfare require to be given in such cases.
These usages
justify, and indeed require, redress by retaliation as the proper means of
repressing such cruelties as are not permitted in warfare between Christian
peoples. I have, notwithstanding, refrained from the exercise of such
retaliation, because of its obvious tendency to lead to a war of indiscriminate
massacre on both sides, which would be a spectacle so shocking to humanity and
so disgraceful to the age in which we live and the religion we profess that I
cannot contemplate it without a feeling of horror that I am disinclined to
doubt you would share.
With the view,
then, of making one last solemn attempt to avert such calamities, and to attest
my earnest desire to prevent them, if it be possible, I have selected the
bearer of this letter, the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, as a military
commissioner to proceed to your headquarters under flag of truce, there to
confer and agree on the subjects above mentioned; and I do hereby authorize the
said Alexander H. Stephens to arrange and settle all differences and disputes
which may have arisen or may arise in the execution of the cartel for exchange
of prisoners of war, heretofore agreed on between our respective land and naval
forces; also to agree to any just modification that may be found necessary to
prevent further misunderstandings as to the terms of said cartel; and finally
to enter into such arrangement or understanding about the mode of carrying on
hostilities between the belligerents as shall confine the severities of the war
within such limits as are rightfully imposed not only by modern civilization
but by our common Christianity.
Commander in Chief of the land and naval forces of the United States.
