POW Exchanges in late 1864

[Luke Freet]

From all the narratives I've read, after Lincoln nixed the Dix-Hill Cartel in November 1863, the North &South stopped prisoner exchanges. This of course resulted in the creation or expansion of POW camps north and south, most infamously Andersonville. And it would have a great effect on the battlefield: for example, Ed Johnson's veteran division was destroyed at Spotsylvania, with most of the officers and men being sent to POW camps.

However, more thorough reading reveals that prisoner exchanges still occurred. For example: at Jonesborough, Dan Govan's Arkansas Brigade was captured almost whole, only for Sherman to have them exchanged, allowing them to take part in the Tennessee & Carolinas Campaign. Lt. Col. Philip E. Davant, 38th Georgia, was captured at Spotsylvania, but was then exchanged that summer and served until Appomattox.

Indeed, reading William Marvel's "Lee's Last Retreat", Lee was recieving an influx of exchanged officers and men from Union POW camps in the final months of the Petersburg Campaign. Marvel places their number between 6000 and 10000.

This all begs the question: why was this happening? Did a new cartel get established following the initial spring campaigns? I wish to know more about this phenomenon.

 

[RedRover]

Henry P. Beers' "The Confederacy" notes:

From Tenney's "Military and Naval History" of the war:

....

From Appleton's Annual Cyclopedia, from some postwar Congressional discussion; it is noticed that in January, 1864, Ould attempted to renew the formal cartel regarding exchanges: