Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 2.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[256]

office Southern Historical Society, Richmond, Va., November 10th, 1876.
L. P. d'orleans, Comte de Paris:

Sir — I need only acknowledge your favor of the 14th ult., and express my cordial reciprocation of the spirit in which it is written.

The time has come when men on either side of the great contest which was so bravely fought out must acknowledge that not all of the purity of motive or honesty of purpose was on their side exclusively; but that in the opposing hosts were true men, who were actuated by highest principle as they fearlessly risked (and lost) their lives for what they believed right. And you must permit me to say that it is by no means necessary to “win” you “over to the lost cause” in order that you may do that bare justice to the motives and the deeds of the Confederates which no Northern historian, so far as I have seen, has yet approached, and which, you must excuse me for saying, your first volume has not attained.

I particularly rejoice in your promise to “study carefully” our papers on the “Treatment of prisoners,” for while we have been made most painfully aware that the Confederacy has been roundly abused in. reference to that matter we do most emphatically deny the justice of the charges made against us, and claim that in those papers we have clearly set forth, what we hold ourselves prepared to prove at the bar of history, that the Federal and not the Confederate Government was responsible for the sufferings of prisoners on both sides.

Renewing my assurances of the real pleasure it will give me to be of assistance to you in procuring further material for the prosecution of your important work,

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

J. Wm. Jones, Secretary Southern Historical Society.

P. S.--As the publication of this correspondence would no doubt be of interest to our people, I avail myself of your permission, and will publish it in full.