On July 22, 1862, the Confederate and Union governments created the Dix-Hill Cartel. This was an agreement made to handle the general exchange of prisoners of war. However, this agreement lasted well until December of 1862, until its collapse in 1863. There are many factors contributing to the collapse of the Prison Exchange:
The North cited reports of ill treatment of prisoners in Southern camps. They claimed it was not a fair trade: malnourished soldiers for healthy soldiers. When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863, the South viewed this as an attempt to incite a slave uprising. Therefore, the South refused to exchange black prisoners of war.
On rare occasions, prison exchanges took place. This was only when two local commanders came to a workable agreement.
The North cited reports of ill treatment of prisoners in Southern camps. They claimed it was not a fair trade: malnourished soldiers for healthy soldiers. When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863, the South viewed this as an attempt to incite a slave uprising. Therefore, the South refused to exchange black prisoners of war.
On rare occasions, prison exchanges took place. This was only when two local commanders came to a workable agreement.
“It is hard on our men held in Southern prisons not to exchange them, is humanity to those left in the ranks to fight our battles. At this particular time to releases all prisoners would insure Sherman’s defeat and would compromise our safety here.”
-Union general Ulysses S. Grant, August 18, 1864
Prisoners were exchanged on the following basis:
1 general =46 privates
1 major general =40 privates
1 brigadier general = 20 privates
1 colonel = 15 privates
1 lieutenant colonel = 10 privates
1 major = 8 privates
1 captain = 6 privates
1 lieutenant = 4 privates
1 non-commissioned officer = 2 privates
Citizens= citizens
1 general =46 privates
1 major general =40 privates
1 brigadier general = 20 privates
1 colonel = 15 privates
1 lieutenant colonel = 10 privates
1 major = 8 privates
1 captain = 6 privates
1 lieutenant = 4 privates
1 non-commissioned officer = 2 privates
Citizens= citizens