Identifier: abrahamlincolnhi07nico (find matches)
Title: Abraham Lincoln; a history
Year: 1890 (1890s)
Authors: Nicolay, John G. (John George), 1832-1901 Hay, John, 1838-1905
Subjects: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865
Publisher: New York : The Century Co.
Contributing Library: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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their1862. treatment as other prisoners of war. The Presi-dent had already resolved to adopt the course heresuggested in regard to rebel privateers. Thecertainty of bloody reprisals upon Union officersin Richmond had induced the President to giveup all thought of exceptional treatment of priva-teers, even before the end of 1861. Four men ofthe crew of the privateer Jefferson Davis had beenconvicted of piracy and sentenced to death; otherswere awaiting trial. The law seemed sufficientlyclear; but even if Mr. Lincoln had been able towithhold a pardon from brave men engaged inwhat they considered their duty, he could neverhave thus sentenced to death an equal number ofUnion officers, in rigorous confinement, marked outfor shameful execution.^ 1 See Letter to Hon. Ira the President to prepare the pub-Harris, by Judge Charles P. lie mind for the action he hadDaly, on this subject, written, as determined to take in relation tohe informs us, at the request of privateers and prisoners of war.
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GENERAL JOUX E. WOOL. PRISONERS OF WAR 449 But before any formal action was taken in rela- chap. xvi.tion to exchange the President made an effort toalleviate the condition of our prisoners in theSouth by appointing the Reverend Bishop Amesand the Hon. Hamilton Fish commissioners tovisit them and minister to their wants. A largesum of money was given them for this purpose;and they were also instructed to make a list of allprisoners, giving such jDarticulars as might beinteresting and proper for their families to know,or useful to this Government for the purpose of canbyseffecting their exchange or release; they were p. 290.authorized to assure the Richmond authoritiesthat prisoners held by the United States mightreceive like visitation and relief. All this wasnotified to the Confederate Government by Gen-eral Wool, commanding at Fort Monroe. In replythey ignored the purpose of the commission en-tirely, and appointed James A, Seddon and C. M.Conrad to meet them at Fort Monroe and nego-

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