quarter and giving none to those who claim protection under the Stars and Stripes, and I will either mark my path with the blood of my followers or of those who have instituted such an inhuman warfare. Since the inception of this war I have been an officer in the Army of the South. During that time I have had under my charge many prisoners of the U. S. Army, and I assure you, general, it has been a source of great pleasure to me to know that while with me not one ever received even a minor insult. It has been my constant aim as far as I had any authority to carry on this war according to the recognized laws of war throughout the world. I have and do denounce assassins, murderers, robbers and land pirates of the South as well as of the North. Let the armies of the South and North fight this war to its end, and those who remain at home who have not been engaged in jayhawking lives and property go unmolested. These have been and are yet my ideas for carrying out a Christian and humane warfare, and it would grieve me much, general, to lay them aside for a service heretofore unknown in the history of this country. Let me hear from you, general, by the return of this flag. Trusting that peace may soon restore us to our homes,* I have the honor to be, general, your most obedient servant, J. C. TRACY, Colonel. Commanding, C. S. Army. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Detroit, Mich., July 14, 1862. General J. T. BOYLE, Commanding U. S. Forces, Louisville, Ky. GENERAL: Your letter in relation to R. P. Sharp, Jos. D. Smith and W. S. Alexander, prisoners of war at Camp Chase, addressed to Col. C. W. B. Allison, commanding, has been referred to me. These prisoners cannot be removed from Camp Chase without the authority of the Secretary of War, and if there is anything that can be offered in their behalf I will be glad to forward it. I have the honor herewith to inclose orders from the War Department in relation to prisoners of war which you may not have seen, and I will send to your adjutantgeneral by express blank returns and rolls which I respectfully request you will cause to be given to commanders in charge of prisoners of war under your authority with orders that rolls and returns for June may be prepared and forwarded to this office with as little delay as practicable. I inclose also copies of regulations which I have issued for the guidance of commanders in charge of prisoners. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, General STRONG, Commanding U. S. Forces, Cairo, Ill. GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose herewith General Orders, Nos. 32 and 67, from the War Department, and a circular of regula For General Brown's answer to this letter see Series I, Vol. XIII, p. 471; also see p. 222, this Vol. for Brown to Schofield, July 15. +See General Orders, No. 67, p. 30. # See p. 152. tions for the guidance of commanders of camps where prisoners of war are held. Will you please require officers in charge of prisoners under your orders to furnish me immediately with a return for June and a duplicate set of rolls, one for the War Department and one for this office, of all prisoners who have been or are now held, with explanations under the head of remarks showing what disposition has been made of those not now present? There should be a note on the return showing how many are citizens. I sent blank rolls and blank returns to you on the 12th by express. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. Col. G. LOOMIS, OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Commanding Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. COLONEL: I have the honor to inclose a circular of regulations* which I have published under the authority given to me in General Orders, No. 67, of the 17th ultimo from the War Department for the guidance of the commanders of camps where prisoners of war are held. In order to conformity please have them observed at Fort Columbus as far as may be practicable. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. (Same to Dimick, Fort Warren.) OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, General C. P. BUCKINGHAM, Detroit, Mich., July 14, 1862. War Department, Washington, D. C. GENERAL: The rolls of prisoners of war required by your letter of the 3d ultimo have been called for from the several camps where prisoners are held, but there has been so much neglect and so much carelessness in furnishing rolls with prisoners sent from the army in the field and in keeping them at the camps that it is now almost impossible to get up rolls that will be at all satisfactory. I will hurry the matter as much as possible. Please call attention to my reports of May 16 and June 15 and 17 in relation to camps for prisoners. There are now no places prepared for the reception of prisoners, and if we expect to hold what we have and take more the places I have named or others should be prepared to receive them. Camps Chase, Morton, Butler and Douglas are now full to overflowing. I have no authority to decide for myself and in the multiplicity of other important matters my reports are lost sight of. Now that the old camps are to be occupied by the new volunteers it may be necessary to build for the prisoners unless there is a general exchange agreed upon. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. * Omitted here; see p. 152. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Maj. W. S. PIERSON, Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: I am informed that you continue to permit visitors to see prisoners under your charge notwithstanding my explicit and repeated instructions to the contrary. I can scarcely believe that this offense has been repeated, though the report comes to me in such a shape as to leave little room for doubt or the chance of mistake. I should be less inclined to credit the report if I did not know that ladies had been allowed to have interviews with prisoners and to go inside the prison yard, all of which was in violation of my orders. Hereafter I must insist on a rigid observance of my orders, and when a visitor is permitted an interview at the request of Governor Johnson, of Tennessee, you will forward their letters to me and please forward immediately any letters on which interviews have heretofore been granted. Please remember that prisoners' letters are examined to ascertain that they contain no improper matter, not to gratify idle curiosity. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Maj. W. S. PIERSON, Detroit, Mich., July 14, 1862. Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: Please say to Mr. Vasser that the arms belonging to officers which are at Columbus are in very safe hands and expect to be returned to the owners whenever they are released. A parole can be granted to Lieutenant Hubbard only on the certificate of Doctor Woodbridge that his health is such as to make it highly necessary that he should be permitted to leave the island for a few days. The application must be approved by you and then I must only consent to his going to Cleve land. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, R. R. Ross, Esq., Clarksville, Tenn. SIR: Your letter of the 3d ultimo in behalf of the sons of H. P. Carney and G. H. Warfield, prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, has been referred to me, and in reply I have to inform you that paroles can be granted only by the Secretary of War. The young men that you refer to are in the same class with many others, being the sons of loyal parents, and as all must be treated alike where there is no reason for special consideration, it is not probable paroles will be granted in those cases. Parents are permitted to see their sons in cases of severe illness at the prison. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. SPRINGFIELD, ILL., July 14, 1862. Col. W. HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I have completed the inspection of Camp Butler and that the instructions you have given are now enforced. I would respectfully request you will furnish me with further instructions. The prisoners of war are now separated in different companies and squads and are governed and inspected as you have desired. The orderlies have been chosen from their own members and roll-calls are to take place at reveille and retreat. I have instructed the commanding officer in the manner of making out the morning reports and the proper form of the monthly return. It is advisable that an officer should have the charge of the prisoners to the exclusion of his other duties. Such is the intention of the commanding officer, should be find an officer in the command who is capable of filling with credit such a responsible position. The difficulty has been that the guard has been recently changed and the new officers are not as yet sufficiently well acquainted with their duties to fill such important positions. The regiment (Seventieth Illinois) now forming the guard of the prisoners is a regiment of three-months' men just forming, and the commanding officer of the camp not belonging to the regiment has not sufficient acquaintance with his officers to make details for such important service. The commanding officer has exerted every endeavor to carry out the instructions given him, and as he is now fully informed regarding his duties and the manner in which you desire the camp should be regulated or governed you may rest assured that your instructions will be enforced. I have had an interview with Governor Yates and he has in every way signified his willingness to co operate with you in carrying out the intentions of the Government regarding the prisoners and in aiding the commanding officer of the camp by every means in his power to promote their security and to enforce your instructions. I have reported to him that I considered the presence of temporary troops prejudicial to the good order of the camp and to the security of the prisoners, and he has assured me that orders would be immediately issued to remove the temporary regiments now forming at Camp Butler. The adjutant-general of the State has informed me that the Seventieth Regiment would be filled up and form the permanent guard of the prisoners and that no more temporary troops should be sent there for instruction. Camp Butler has been heretofore a camp of instruction as well as a general depot for recruits. Maj. J. G. Fonda, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, has been assigned to the command of the camp. I have understood he has been assigned to this command by the Secretary of War but my information is not official. Should the Seventieth Regiment be filled up and the field officers appointed, there will again be some confliction of authority. At present Major Fonda is the superior in rank at the camp. The battery of Second Regiment Illinois Artillery, now forming part of the guard, is under orders to move. Your instructions regarding visitors I have caused to be rigidly enforced. I found upon my arrival that the friends of prisoners were allowed to have communication with them almost unmolested. This I deemed to be a fruitful cause of their escape. The near vicinity of Kentucky and Tennessee, a large proportion of the prisoners being citizens of the latter State, has facilitated the visits of many of their friends whom I have no doubt in many instances encouraged their escape and perhaps contributed material aid for the express purpose. No visitors are now permitted with the exceptions mentioned in your instructions, and persons having business or employment within the inclosures are sworn not to aid or abet their escape. I have endeavored to impress upon the commanding officer as well as upon the prisoners themselves the vast importance of cleanliness of camp and quarters. Renewed attention has been given to this matter. I found the camp in as good police as could be expected, but after the instructions you have given are fully enforced by the aid of the prisoners' fund many improvements which have been suggested will be made and contribute materially to the comfort, health and appearance of the camp. Dr. J. Cooper McKee, U. S. Army, medical superintendent of prisoners, has caused renewed attention to be given to personal cleanliness, and the prisoners under charge of an officer and suitable guard have been permitted and compelled to bathe occasionally in the Sangamon River, about half a mile distant. This has been the custom in camp for some time. I would respectfully request some instructions regarding it-whether or not you consider it advisable, what number should be permitted to bathe at one time, what relative guard is sufficient, &c. The limited supply of clothing in possession of the prisoners is somewhat opposed to personal cleanliness, but when the new supply is furnished new regulations are to be enforced which will add greatly to their comfort and proportionately decrease the sick list. With regard to the clothing to be supplied it would be advantageous if outer clothing of a coarse texture and gray color could be furnished. It would be much better if clothing different from that of the U. S. troops could be supplied, not only so the prisoners could be readily distinguished from the guard, but as a preventive measure against their escape, and should their escape be effected they might be more readily distinguished and apprehended. With regard to the fence I had recommended to be constructed I have received your dispatch and its construction is suspended. The material for the fence were already at Camp Butler and the labor was performed by the prisoners themselves. It would have been constructed without cost to the United States. I cannot consider the construction of this fence other than an advantageous measure and recommend it to your consideration. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. FREEDLEY, Captain, Third U. S. Infantry. Statement of Joseph S. Lamb, prisoner. CAMP CHASE, July 14, 1862. I reside in Knox County, Tenn., ten miles from the city of Knoxville. I am the person to whom the letters of May 12 and July 10, 1862, from Horace Maynard, which are now in my possession, are addressed. I am a Union man and will continue to be as long as I dare speak and have been so all the time. I voted against secession and talked against it as long as I dared. I had a Union flag at home and have yet unless they have gotten in and robbed me of it. About the 1st of June, 1861, I had my likeness taken with the Stars and Stripes across my breast. I was well known at home as a Union man both by Union men and secessionists and can give plenty of references of Union men as to this fact. |