Greetings, Colonel.
On January 24, 1864, Judge Robert Ould, Confederate Agent of Prisoner Exchange, sent the following letter:
Major General E. A. Hitchcock [US], Agent of Exchange:
Sir -- In view of the the exchange and release of prisoners, I propose that all such on each side shall be attended by a proper number of their own surgeons, who under rules to be established, shall be permitted to take charge of their health and comfort. I also propose that these surgeons shall act as commissaries, with power to receive and distribute such contributions of money, food, clothing and medicines as may be forwarded for the relief of prisoners. I further propose that these surgeons be selected by their own Governments, and that they shall have full liberty at any and all times, through the agents of exchange, to make reports not only of their own acts but also of any matters relating to the Welfare of prisoners.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
Ro. Ould, Agent of Exchange
And the Union reply:
WAR DEPARTMENT, February 24, 1864.
Respectfully returned to the commissioner for exchange.
The Secretary of War declines to entertain Mr. Ould's proposition.
ED. R. S. CANBY,
Brigadier-General
Nice concern on the part of the Union government for their own captured troops.
I found the Ould letter in Point Lookout Prison Camp for Confederates, by Edwin W. Beitzell, copyright 1983. Both the Ould letter and the Union refusal to consider it are in the Official Records, Series II, Volume VI, Part 1, pages 871-872 [Link].
You mentioned lack of interest by Davis in the suffering of Southerners? Perhaps you are referring to the treatment of East Tennesseans by Confederates. Here's an article from the Richmond (VA) Dispatch of December 1, 1864, citing complaints by East Tennessee Unionists. [Link]:
Devastation of East Tennessee ordered by Sherman.
Intelligence has been received here that Sherman has issued an order relative to East Tennessee similar to that issued by Grant to Sheridan in the Valley. He has directed that the country be generally devastated, sparing neither houses, barns, stock, grain, nor anything else. A meeting of Union citizens was held in Knoxville, at which a protest against this barbarism was adopted and forwarded to Sherman. He paid no attention to it.--The Yankees can only carry out this order as far up as Knoxville, as the Confederates hold the country from near there to the Virginia line.
Or, perhaps you are worried about the treatment of East Tennessee Unionists in the early days of the war? Why is it that the East Tennessee Unionists started burning bridges in 1861? That certainly brought down the wrath of Confederates on them. Here is a link to some information about Brownlow and the 1861 bridge burnings. As I remember, Brownlow was a favorite of your ancestors. [Official Records Link, Series II, Volume I, pages 915 ff]].
There was concern, and justifiable concern, too. Throughout the rebellion, the Davis government showed a lack of interest in following generally accepted practices regarding prisoners. On July 31, 1862, Davis declared that if John Pope or certain of his subordinates were captured that they would not be treated as prisoners of war but common felons. Now you will note that Davis issued this sentence, there was no trial or legal proceedings. Davis had no use for courts, as history has shown. Not being content with that order, on August 21st the Davis government declared that if General David Hunter and certain of his officers were to be captured then they would be held for execution. Again, a summary order on the part of the confederate government and not the result of any judicial proceedings or any trial. Captured, then executed, that was to be their fate. That same year, Davis celebrated Christmas by issuing a similar order for General Butler and his officers. It should be noted that the capital offense that these officers were 'guilty' of was recruiting former slaves as Union soldiers.
At the same time, Davis issued his order that white officers commanding black regiments were also to be hanged. No trial, the punishment was already decided on. The black soldiers under their command were to be returned to slavery. So given these public orders on the part of Davis and his government that they felt that they were not bound to treat prisoners of war as prisoners of war, why should the U.S. have taken any offers of exchange on the part of such a bunch as serious?
Sir -- In view of the the exchange and release of prisoners, I propose that all such on each side shall be attended by a proper number of their own surgeons, who under rules to be established, shall be permitted to take charge of their health and comfort. I also propose that these surgeons shall act as commissaries, with power to receive and distribute such contributions of money, food, clothing and medicines as may be forwarded for the relief of prisoners. I further propose that these surgeons be selected by their own Governments, and that they shall have full liberty at any and all times, through the agents of exchange, to make reports not only of their own acts but also of any matters relating to the Welfare of prisoners.
The prisoners in places like Andersonville died of malnutrition and exposure and lack of sanitary water. What were the Union commissioners supposed to do, bring houses and food with them as well? The mistreatment of Union prisoners by the South was deliberate. As deliberate in every way as Union mistreatment of confederate prisoners was. Both sides could have provided decent shelter but did not. Both sides could have provided sufficient food but did not. Both sides could have provided sanitary conditions but did not. The difference between us on this point, Rusty ol' man, is that I admit it while you persist on blaming everything on Lincoln. I state for the record that the Union treatment of prisoners was despicable and those responsible for it should have been tried. You blame everything on Lincoln. Lincoln is your boogie man, the cause of all the South's problems. Such is the great Southern Whine, vintage 2008.