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buildings and retreat from the City； by the south side of the James；
where there was but a scanty force of Rebels； and more could be prevented
from coming over by burning the bridges behind us。
It was a magnificent scheme； and might have been carried out； but there
was no one in the building who was generally believed to have the
qualities of a leader。
But while it was being debated a few of the hot heads on the lower floor
undertook to precipitate the crisis。 They seized what they thought was a
favorable opportunity； overpowered the guard who stood at the foot of the
stairs； and poured into the street。 The other guards fell back and
opened fire on them； other troops hastened up； and soon drove them back
into the building； after killing ten or fifteen。 We of the second and
third floors did not anticipate the break at that time； and were taken as
much by surprise as were the Rebels。 Nearly all were lying down and
many were asleep。 Some hastened to the windows； and dropped missiles
out； but before any concerted action could be taken it was seen that the
case was hopeless； and we remained quiet。
Among those who led in the assault was a drummer…boy of some New York
Regiment； a recklessly brave little rascal。 He had somehow smuggled a
small four…shooter in with him； and when they rushed out he fired it off
at the guards。
After the prisoners were driven back； the Rebel officers came in and
vapored around considerably； but confined themselves to big words。 They
were particularly anxious to find the revolver； and ordered a general and
rigorous search for it。 The prisoners were all ranged on one side of the
room and carefully examined by one party； while another hunted through
the blankets and bundles。 It was all in vain； no pistol could be found。
The boy had a loaf of wheat bread； bought from a baker during the day。
It was a round loaf； set together in two pieces like a biscuit。 He
pulled these apart； laid the fourshooter between them； pressed the two
halves together； and went on calmly nibbling away at the loaf while the
search was progressing。
Two gunboats were brought up the next morning； and anchored in the canal
near us； with their heavy guns trained upon the building。 It was thought
that this would intimidate as from a repetition of the attack； but our
sailors conceived that； as they laid against the shore next to us； they
could be easily captured； and their artillery made to assist us。
A scheme to accomplish this was being wrought out； when we received
notice to move； and it came to naught。
CHAPTER X。
THE EXCHANGE AND THE CAUSE OF ITS INTERRUPTIONBRIEF RESUME OF THE
DIFFERENT CARTELS； AND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT LED TO THEIR SUSPENSION。
Few questions intimately connected with the actual operations of the
Rebellion have been enveloped with such a mass of conflicting statement
as the responsibility for the interruption of the exchange。 Southern
writers and politicians； naturally anxious to diminish as much as
possible the great odium resting upon their section for the treatment of
prisoners of war during the last year and a half of the Confederacy's
existence； have vehemently charged that the Government of the United
States deliberately and pitilessly resigned to their fate such of its
soldiers as fell into the hands of the enemy； and repelled all advances
from the Rebel Government looking toward a resumption of exchange。 It is
alleged on our side； on the other hand； that our Government did all that
was possible； consistent with National dignity and military prudence；
to secure a release of its unfortunate men in the power of the Rebels。
Over this vexed question there has been waged an acrimonious war of
words； which has apparently led to no decision； nor any convictionsthe
disputants； one and all； remaining on the sides of the controversy
occupied by them when the debate began。
I may not be in possession of all the facts bearing upon the case； and
may be warped in judgment by prejudices in favor of my own Government's
wisdom and humanity； but； however this may be； the following is my firm
belief as to the controlling facts in this lamentable affair：
1。 For some time after the beginning of hostilities our Government
refused to exchange prisoners with the Rebels； on the ground that this
might be held by the European powers who were seeking a pretext for
acknowledging the Confederacy； to be admission by us that the war was no
longer an insurrection but a revolution； which had resulted in the 'de
facto' establishment of a new nation。 This difficulty was finally gotten
over by recognizing the Rebels as belligerents； which； while it placed
them on a somewhat different plane from mere insurgents； did not elevate
them to the position of soldiers of a foreign power。
2。 Then the following cartel was agreed upon by Generals Dig on our side
and Hill on that of the Rebels：
HAXALL'S LANDING； ON JAMES RIVER； July 22； 1882。
The undersigned； having been commissioned by the authorities they
respectively represent to make arrangements for a general exchange of
prisoners of war； have agreed to the following articles：
ARTICLE I。It is hereby agreed and stipulated； that all prisoners of
war； held by either party； including those taken on private armed
vessels； known as privateers； shall be exchanged upon the conditions and
terms following：
Prisoners to be exchanged man for man and officer for officer。
Privateers to be placed upon the footing of officers and men of the navy。
Men and officers of lower grades may be exchanged for officers of a
higher grade； and men and officers of different services may be exchanged
according to the following scale of equivalents：
A General…commanding…in…chief； or an Admiral； shall be exchanged for
officers of equal rank； or for sixty privates or common seamen。
A Commodore； carrying a broad pennant； or a Brigadier General； shall be
exchanged for officers of equal rank； or twenty privates or common
seamen。
A Captain in the Navy； or a Colonel； shall be exchanged for officers of
equal rank； or for fifteen privates or common seamen。
A Lieutenant Colonel； or Commander in the Navy； shall be exchanged for
officers of equal rank； or for ten privates or common seamen。
A Lieutenant； or a Master in the Navy； or a Captain in the Army or
marines shall be exchanged for officers of equal rank； or six privates or
common seamen。
Master's…mates in the Navy； or Lieutenants or Ensigns in the Army； shall
be exchanged for officers of equal rank； or four privates or common
seamen。 Midshipmen； warrant officers in the Navy； masters of merchant
vessels and commanders of privateers； shall be exchanged for officers of
equal rank； or three privates or common seamen； Second Captains；
Lieutenants or mates of merchant vessels or privateers； and all petty
officers in the Navy； and all noncommissioned officers in the Army or
marines； shall be severally exchanged for persons of equal rank； or for
two privates or common seamen； and private soldiers or common seamen
shall be exchanged for each other man for man。
ARTICLE II。Local； State； civil and militia rank held by persons not in
actual military service will not be recognized； the basis of exchange
being the grade actually held in the naval and military service of the
respective parties。
ARTICLE III。If citizens held by either party on charges of disloyalty；
or any alleged civil offense； are exchanged； it shall only be for
citizens。 Captured sutlers； teamsters； and all civilians in the actual
service of either party； to be exchanged for persons in similar
positions。
ARTICLE IV。All prisoners of war to be discharged on parole in ten days
after their capture； and the prisoners now held； and those hereafter
taken； to be transported to the points mutually agreed upon； at the
expense of the capturing party。 The surplus prisoners not exchanged
shall not be permitted to take up arms again； nor to serve as military
police or constabulary force in any fort； garrison or field…work； held by
either of the respective parties； nor as guards of prisoners； deposits or
stores； nor to discharge any duty usually performed by soldiers； until
exchanged under the provisions of this cartel。 The exchange is not to be
considered complete until the officer or soldier exchanged for has been
actually restored to the lines to which he belongs。
ARTICLE V。Each party upon the discharge of prisoners of the other party
is authorized to discharge an equal number of their own officers or men
from parole； furnishing； at the same time； to the other party a list of
their prisoners discharged； and of their own officers and men relieved
from parole； thus enabling each party to relieve from parole such of
their officers and men as the party may choose。 The lists thus mutually
furnished； will keep both parties advised of the true condition of the
exchange of prisoners。
ARTICLE VI。The stipulations and provisions above mentioned to be of
binding obligation during the continuance of the war； it matters not
which party may have the surplus of prisoners； the great principles
involved being； First； An equitable exchange of prisoners； man for man；
or