Waiting for exchanged prisoners

[ca. 1861–1865]

From "War Memories" catalog: This is the Federal flag-of-truce steamer "New York," waiting at Aiken's Landing, on the James River, for the Rebel flag-of-truce boat from Richmond, with a load of Union prisoners for exchange. And what an exchange it was. The Union soldiers just from Rebel prison pens; starved and often too weak to walk, many of the poor victims had to be brought off on stretchers, some even were dead before they reached this place of exchange. What did the Rebels get in exchange; man for man, they received fat, healthy, well-fed, and well-clothed Rebel soldiers. The starving Union soldiers we got from them went directly into hospitals or to their graves; the Rebel soldiers they got from us went directly into their army, the strongest and best men they had. This is the secret of the horrible treatment our soldiers received in Andersonville and other prison pens. It was to weaken us, and strengthen themselves that prompted them to starve our soldiers.