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RO. Ould letter June 30,1863

Confederate States of America, War Department,
Richmond, Va., June 30, 1863.
Lieut. Col. William H. Ludlow, Agent of Exchange:
Sir: The last boat which reached City Point brought up Colonel Morehead but left Lieut. James Baker still at Fort Norfolk. They were captured at the same time and were both long since declared exchanged by oar agreement. What is the reason for the distinction ? Why keep an officer whom you have declared exchanged in captivity almost within sound of your voice?
Frequent complaints have been made to me by our returned officers as to the treatment they received whilst confined in Fort Norfolk. As many as eighteen have been huddled together in an apartment fifteen feet square, with but little ventilation. They have been compelled to obey the calls of nature in that same room, and the excrement was only allowed to be removed once in twenty-four hours. I have been told that you are personally cognizant of the facts. Some of the officers have informed me that they saw you at the fort and that you were made aware of this inhuman treatment. I cannot but. believe that now after you have seen these things for yourself you will take prompt steps in the way of reform.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
RO. OULD,
Agent of Exchange.

Fort Norfolk Documents

Before 1794, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808, 1809, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816, 1817, 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865

Source of Information

55th Congress 3d Session House of Representatives Document No. 312
The War of the Rebellion: A compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
Published under the direction of the Hon. Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War,
By Brig. Gen. Fred C. Ainsworth, Chief of the record and pension office, war department, and Mr. Joseph W. Kirkley.
Series II – Volume VI.
Washington: Government printing office.
1899