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You will remain at the camp for a few days as my assistant to aid the commanding officer by your authority and advice in carrying out my views. In cases of doubt you will refer to me by letter.

At this time the camp is occupied by one regiment, the guard proper, and a battalion of cavalry organized for the field. I am of the opinion that the presence of temporary troops must be prejudicial to the good order of the camp. Inquire into this matter and report immediately.

I am told that a major is commanding while his senior, a lieutenantcolonel, is present. This anomaly in military affairs is in violation of the Articles of War and should not be permitted.

Please say to Governor Yates that I will be much obliged to him if he will appoint a colonel for the regiment at the camp to take command. The position is a very responsible one and requires a person of intelligence, decision and the highest integrity, and I am sure the State of Illinois will not be at a loss to furnish such a man. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

[Inclosure.]

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Detroit, July 1, 1862.

COMMANDING OFFICER, Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill.

SIR: Capt. H. W. Freedley, Third Infantry, my assistant, will hand you a copy of a letter of instructions heretofore addressed to the commanding officer of Camp Butler, and in addition thereto you will please observe the following instructions:

You are held responsible for the security of the prisoners of war under your charge and will make such disposition of the force under your command and such arrangements of the prisoners in companies or divisions in the barracks as will best accomplish this purpose. The presence of the prisoners will be verified by daily roll calls, and every morning a report will be made in writing of each company showing the number present, the sick discharged, escaped and died, giving the names and particulars under the last three heads.

The fund of the prisoners' hospital will be kept separate from that of the hospital of the guard and will be disbursed for the sole benefit of the sick prisoners on the recommendation of the surgeon in charge, approved by you.

A general fund will be created by withholding such part of the rations as may not be necessary, the surplus to be purchased by the commissary as provided for by existing regulations, and this fund will be disbursed under your directions in the purchase of such as may be necessary for the health and comfort of the prisoners, and which otherwise would have to be purchased by the Government. Among these articles are all table furniture, cooking utensils, articles for police purposes, bed-ticks and straw and the means of improving or enlarging the barrack accommodations. All such articles will be purchased on the requisition of [and] through the quartermaster, with your approbation. The extra pay of clerks who have charge of the letters and keep the accounts of the private funds deposited by prisoners may be paid from this fund. The commissary will be responsible for the funds, will keep the necessary accounts and will keep you advised from time to time of the amount on hand. A report of the state of this fund must be made to me on the last day of each month.

8 R R-SERIES II, VOL IV

The sutler is entirely under your control and you will see that h furnishes proper articles and at reasonable rates, and you will impose a tax upon him for the privilege according to the amount of his trade. This tax will make part of the fund available for the prisoners' benefit. Visitors to the camp out of mere curiosity will in no case be permitted. Persons having business with the commanding officer or quartermaster may with the permission of the commanding officer enter the camp to remain only long enough to transact their business. When prisoners are seriously ill their nearest relatives, parents, brothers or sisters, if they are loyal people, may make them short visits.

All articles contributed by friends of the prisoners in whatever shape they come if proper to be received will be carefully distributed as the donors may request, such articles as are intended for the sick passing through the hands of the surgeon, who will be responsible for their proper use.

Prisoners will not be permitted to write letters of more than one page of common letter paper, the matter to be strictly of a private nature or the letter must be destroyed.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Madison, Wis., July 1, 1862.

Col. W. HOFFMAN, U. S. Army;

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich.

COLONEL: The State of Wisconsin has on hand- 1,073 jackets and 9,013 trousers of heavy gray twilled cottonade of excellent quality, a sample of which I inclose. These were procured for the use of troops mustered into the service of the United States but being of an unsuitable color have not been used. If you can with propriety relieve us of them for the use of prisoners I shall be pleased to sell them or deliver them to you, taking your receipt. The contract price was $4.17 for jacket and trousers.

Yours, respectfully,

W. W. TREDWAY,
Quartermaster-General.

SAINT LOUIS, July 1, 1862.

Brig. Gen. BEN. LOAN, Commanding, Saint Joseph, Mo.

GENERAL: I am directed by Colonel Farrar, provost-marshal-general of the District of Missouri, to inform you that he has information that in the vicinity of the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad and near Chillicothe large quantities of clothing are being made by the people, and that they represent that they are making it by the permission of the provost-marshal-general for the use of the prisoners at Alton. No such permission has been given them. The prisoners are abundantly supplied with the gray clothing on hand at the time the order of the Secretary of War was made requiring blue to be worn. There is no doubt they are making clothing for the rebel army, and I respectfully suggest that they be deprived of all clothing and material not necessary to their own use, Every day new evidences are given of prepara

tions on the part of the rebels to renew their war in Missouri and they can only be prevented from doing so by depriving them of the means. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THO. C. FLETCHER,

Assistant Provost-Marshal-General.

HEADQUARTERS, Fort Monroe, Va., July 2, 1862.

Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army.

GENERAL: Your communication of the 1st instant is just received. Soon after I took command of the forces at Norfolk by order of MajorGeneral McClellan early in June I learned that General Viele was giving passes to women to go to Richmond to inquire into the condition of their relatives. I directed him immediately to discontinue the practice and am confident no pass has been given by him since. I will inquire and see that the rule of the department is not violated by any one. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN A. DIX,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, July 2, 1862.

General THOMAS, Tuscumbia:
The pass granted by Captain Greene to Colonel Bennett to go to
General Halleck's headquarters is not approved and must be revoked.
D. C. BUELL.

Major-General HALLECK:

MEMPHIS, July 2, 1862.

Where shall I send prisoners? There are now some thirty of the White River prisoners and others taken by our cavalry.

U. S. GRANT,
Major-General.

HDQRS. U.S. FORCES, HILTON HEAD, COCKSPUR, &C.,
Fort Pulaski, July 2, 1862.

Lieut. JAMES O. PAXSON,

Forty-eighth New York State Volunteers:

You will proceed to-morrow morning by water with a flag of truce to the enemy's lines taking in charge two prisoners of war, Antonio Ponce, jr., and Ashley M. Shaw, who were captured at the surrender of Fort Pulaski on the 11th day of April last and who are released by order of Major-General Hunter, commanding the Department of the South. You will be provided with a letter to the commanding officer at Fort Jackson and you will deliver it and the prisoners to the officer by whom you shall be received. You will also take charge of a number of letters addressed to persons residing in the States of Georgia, South Carolina, &c., a portion of which are from the prisoners captured at Pulaski; the remainder are from other persons. You will deliver none

of these letters unless all are received and received with the understanding that subject to ordinary military inspection they are to be

forwarded to the persons to whom they are addressed whether they come from prisoners or others. Should it be required you will pay the postage on those letters which are not from the prisoners.

You will proceed in an open and public manner in strict conformity with the laws and usages governing flags of truce. Your party will consist of eight men, over whom you will exercise a careful supervision in order that they may give no information to the enemy. Should you be obliged to leave them you will caution them to hold no conversation with any person relative to military matters. Having accomplished the object of your mission you will return with all possible dispatch to this post.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALFRED H. TERRY,
Brigadier-General.

[Inclosure.]

HDQRS. U. S. FORCES, HILTON HEAD, COCKSPUR, &C.,
Fort Pulaski, July 2, 1862.

COMMANDING OFFICER, Fort Jackson, Savannah River:
The bearer of this, Lieut. James O. Paxson, of the Forty-eighth Regi-
ment New York State Volunteers, is instructed to proceed to your lines
under a flag of truce and there deliver to you two prisoners of war,
Antonio Ponce, jr., and A. M. Shaw, who were captured at Fort Pulaski
on the 11th of April last and who are now released by order of Major-
General Hunter, commanding Department of the South.

Lieutenant Paxson has also in charge a number of letters addressed to persons residing in the States of Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, &c. As far the larger portion of these letters are from prisoners of war captured at Pulaski-the others are from other persons-Lieutenant Paxson is instructed to deliver none of them unless all shall be received with the understanding that, subject to ordinary military inspection, they are to be forwarded to the persons to whom they are addressed. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ALFRED H. TERRY, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

me.

OFFICE OF THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL OF OHIO, Columbus, July 2, 1862. WILLIAM H. VASSER, Prisoner of War, Johnson's Island, Ohio: Your letter of the 26th ultimo to the Governor has been referred to The arms taken from the prisoners at Camp Chase were so taken by order of the Secretary of War. They were lodged with me for safekeeping by order of the Governor. I have had them all carefully overhauled, packed and placed in the State arsenal. The saber you describe is among the number. I understand the Governor has no authority to make any disposition of them except by order of the Secretary of War or Colonel Hoffman. If you will procure an order from Colonel Hoffman (which I doubt not you can do through Major Pierson) I will take pleasure in making such disposition of the valued relics as you may wish.

GEO. B. WRIGHT,

Quartermaster-General.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Detroit, July 2, 1862.

Maj. W. S. PIERSON,

Commanding Depot of Prisoners, Sandusky City, Ohio. MAJOR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 27th ultimo inclosing the petition of Captain Handy. In reply I have to inform you that as he has been reported and is borne upon the rolls of this office as captain it cannot be here regarded that his rank in the rebel service is any other, and that before an application for his release can be considered it will be necessary that the claim to the position of surgeon asserted by him as his legitimate rank be fully established.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Maj. W. S. PIERSON,

Detroit, July 2, 1862.

Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: All the prisoners under your charge are prisoners of war, some military and some civilians. In making up the roll for citizens under the headings, rank, regiment and company enter the town, county and State from which the prisoner comes. Your letter of the 30th ultimo is signed for you by your adjutant which is contrary to regulations.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Detroit, July 2, 1862.

Maj. JOSEPH DARR, Jr.,
Provost Marshal-General, Wheeling, Va.
MAJOR: Your letters of the 28th and 29th ultimo with their inclos-
ures have been received. I judge from your letter of the 28th that
there [are] a number of stations in your department where prisoners
are held, civil and military, and I will be obliged to you if you will
consolidate in your office the rolls and returns of all these stations. I
refer to those south of the Ohio. The civil prisoners should be on
separate rolls from the military and I wish the alphabetical list to be
as comprehensive as possible, being at the same [time] in convenient
shape for reference. The names of all those who come under the head
of alterations on the return should accompany the monthly return un-
less a list of prisoners transferred, &c., has been furnished during the
month, in which case a reference to it must be made on the back of the
return. I don't think it will be necessary to furnish lists of small
changes except with the return. When you require blanks let me
know and they will be furnished. I expect to be in Columbus in a few
days and will telegraph to you to meet me there.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

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