sick, and burned a train of cars and the railroad depot, in so doing burning to death not less than one sick soldier in a car and three in the railroad depot, as well as consuming the bodies of some of our dead. Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, Col. D. D. TOMPKINS: BRAXTON BRAGG, General, Commanding. WASHINGTON, June 15, 1862. Pierre Soulé and Adolphe Mazureau, arrested in New Orleans for political offenses, are expected to arrive in New York by the steamer McClellan. The Secretary of War orders that they be confined in Fort Lafayette and allowed to hold no communication with any person until further orders. Report their arrival and the execution of this order. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. (Same to Lieut. Col. Martin Burke, Fort Hamilton, N. Y.) OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. SIR: I have the honor to report that I have visited Fort Delaware and find accommodations there for 2,000 prisoners; 600 are there, of which 300 are to be released on parole by order from General Wool. The island is a very suitable place for the confinement of prisoners of war, and I recommend that Colonel Crosman be directed to have immediately erected sheds for 3,000 more prisoners, making 5,000 in all, and it is possible that even a greater number may be conveniently guarded there. There are four incomplete companies constituting the guard. These should be filled up to the maximum limit immediately and a fifth company should be added, which would make an ample guard for 5,000 prisoners. Capt. Paul T. Jones' Independent Battery and two batteries of marine and fortifications artillery under Major Segebarth, well trained companies, might well be relieved to take the field and their places supplied by three companies of infantry. Those companies require eighty-six recruits. One company of artillery, Captain Mlotkowski, would remain to occupy the post. Capt. A. A. Gibson, of the Fourth Artillery, is commanding, and that his rank may be according to his command I very respectfully suggest that he be appointed and mustered into service as the major or lieutenant-colonel of the four companies of infantry which will form the guard. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Lieut. Col. Eighth Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. [First indorsement.] ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, June 24, 1862. Respectfully referred to the Quartermaster-General for perusal. Five hundred prisoners have this day been sent from Harrisburg to Fort Delaware. To be returned. By order: E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. [Second indorsement.] JULY 3, 1862. Copy to be made and transmitted to Colonel Crosman to carry out the suggestions of Colonel Hoffman, commissary-general of prisoners, so far as the Quartermaster's Department is involved. Return the original to the Adjutant-General. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Capt. A. A. GIBSON, Commanding Fort Delaware. W. HOFFMAN, Lieut. Col. Eighth Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Maj. W. S. PIERSON, Philadelphia, Pa., June 15, 1862. Comdg. Depot of Prisoners, Johnson's Island, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: Please say to those prisoners of war who are expecting paroles or release that at present under no circumstances will paroles be granted except in case of extreme illness on the recommendation of the attending surgeon, nor will a release be granted except by exchange. A system of exchange is being negotiated and if satisfactorily arranged probably all will be released by exchange or parole. If you can find a suitable person for the place of hospital steward let him apply in his own handwriting for the appointment and forward it to the Surgeon-General with your approval and you will receive orders to enlist him for that position. The pay is $30 per month with clothing and a ration and this ought to secure a very competent person. If the man who is now acting can be recommended for the place he will be discharged from his present service at the same time that he is enlisted as steward. Say to Captain Read that it will be well to defer the wood contract until it is settled whether prisoners are to be exchanged or released on parole. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Lieut. Col. Eighth Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. BUDD I. WALKER, WAR DEPARTMENT, No. 1218 Hibberd Street, Philadelphia. Washington, June 16, 1862. SIR: In reply to your application of the 14th instant in behalf of the officers of the transport Union, now held as prisoners by the rebels in North Carolina, and asking for their release the Secretary of War directs me to inform you that recently an arrangement was made for a general exchange of all prisoners of war, but its fulfillment has been delayed by the bad faith of the insurgent authorities. The subject, however, is still engaging the earnest attention of this Department, which will continue its efforts for the release of all our citizens now held as prisoners of war until that end shall be accomplished, but as the release of the great body of these can only be effected by some system for a general exchange which is more likely to be adopted if special exchanges are not made the Secretary in justice to all is obliged to decline taking any action at present in the case. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. P. WOLCOTT, Assistant Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS MIDDLE DEPARTMENT, Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Baltimore, Md., June 16, 1862. SIR: I received an order through C. P. Wolcott by telegram last evening, too late however to reply in consequence of the office being closed, requesting me to report whether Roger W. Hanson and one or more rebel officers are at large at Baltimore. I reply Colonel Hanson and several others were sent to me to be forwarded to Richmond for exchange, Hanson for Corcoran, &c. These were refused because the privateersmen were not present to be exchanged and sent back. They were ordered to report to General Dix. As the latter informed me he wrote to you on the subject, when they were permitted to remain in the city on parole, reporting to him daily. On my arrival I thus found them with six others with orders from the War Department to be forwarded to Richmond to be exchanged. The six have been sent by a flag of truce. Colonel Hanson and the two other officers I permitted to remain in the city but not at large, but ordered them to confine themselves at their hotel, I being determined to send them to Fort Warren. They requested a day's delay in order to write to the Secretary of War, which I granted. The letter which related to exchanges with Corcoran and others I transmitted to the Secretary with my own views on the subject. The next day I visited Annapolis and the next Washington and the day after Harper's Ferry, all which prevented me from attending to these rebel officers. There are several other rebel officers that have arrived here since I assumed command, among others General Pettigrew, who is reported unable to travel on account of his wounds. I have ordered Surgeon Simpson to have him examined by one or more surgeons in order to ascertain whether he can travel to Fort Warren or otherwise. Shall I send all these officers to Fort Warren? I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General. CORINTH, June 16 1862. Brig. Gen. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Saint Louis: Order referring release of prisoners in Missouri to provost-marshalgeneral is hereby revoked. In that matter he will act subject to your orders. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, C. S. ARMY, Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commanding, &c. June 16, 1862. GENERAL: Permit me to call your attention to the matter of exchanges of our prisoners of war. As you will remember on the 15th and 16th of May General Beauregard sent to you in the aggregate some 174 noncommissioned officers and soldiers of your service, prisoners of war released on their parole, for whom you were pleased to say an equal number of our men in your hands should be duly exchanged. Some thirty days have now elapsed and none of our soldiers have been restored to this army in exchange. I can understand, however, that this has resulted from military conditions, but submit that there should be little longer delay. * You have also been made aware I presume that Col. John H. Morgan, Kentucky cavalry, C. S. Army, captured and released early in May about 270 officers and soldiers of General Mitchel's division of your forces at Pulaski, Tenn. I have now the honor to send you an official copy of the parole or list of persons paroled by Colonel Morgan for your information. Subsequently to the affair at Pulaski Colonel Morgan had another combat with some of your forces and some 137 of his command, including Lieut. Col. Robert C. Wood, C. S. Army, were taken prisoners by General Dumont and are now held in close and as I have reason to believe harsh confinement at Columbus, Ohio. It would appear I submit as an act of simple equity that LieutenantColonel Wood and his men should be exchanged and restored to our ranks without longer confinement, and I shall confidently rely on you to give the necessary orders to that end. Of course Lieutenant-Colonel Wood can be exchanged for officers of an inferior grade or for men in accordance with the tariff of exchanges established in General Orders, No. 51, from your headquarters, Saint Louis, Mo., March 3, 1862. Orders have been given to have Captain McMichael, assistant adjutant-general, of your service, released in exchange for Captain Cameron, of this army, who has been sent within our lines. In connection with exchanges I have to present the names of the following persons whose release is desired whenever any of our officers and soldiers may be restored to our service, to wit: Maj. G. B. Cosby, *Not found. C. S. Army, captured at Fort Donelson; Capt. Isaac [W.] Avery, Georgia cavalry, captured near Booneville, June 1, 1862; Capt. George Soulé, Company A, Crescent Regiment, Louisiana volunteers; Capt. Claiborne Watkins, Company B, Eleventh Regiment Arkansas Volunteers; Lieut. Paul De Clouet and Lieut F. O. Trépagnier, Orleans Guards; Lieut. R. L. Blair, Twelfth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers; Lieutenant Parker, Alabama volunteers; Lieut. F. Moreno, Louisiana volunteers; Lieut. D. C. Jenkins, Louisiana volunteers; Sergt. A. De Clouet, Orleans Guards; Private M. W. Chapman, Seventh Regiment Louisiana Volunteers; Private Delahoussaye, Louisiana volunteers, all captured at the battle of Shiloh. I have also to submit the name of Second Lieut. Joseph K. Dixon, Confederate infantry, for early exchange. He was captured at Fort Saint Philip and released on parole. Any officer of equal rank that you may name in our hands will be exchanged for him, or I will direct the immediate release of an officer of his grade if you prefer it. Respectfully, your obedient servant, [BRAXTON BRAGG, General, Commanding.] HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, June 16, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Commanding U. S. Forces, Corinth. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith for your consideration a copy of a parole required of and given by Surgeon Benjamin, C. S. Army. As it bears the recent indorsement of your adjutantgeneral I have sent a copy presuming that he will be able to recognize its authenticity. The paper in question, as you will perceive, stipulates for an exchange of Surgeon Benjamin, C. S. Army, whose rank is but that of major, for Lieutenant-Colonel Morton, Missouri volunteers, of your service-a proposition so untenable that it must have escaped your notice when Surgeon Benjamin was at your headquarters and will not be entertained an instant. By the terms of the parole as extended at your headquarters Surgeon Benjamin must return as a prisoner of war by the of July within your lines unless exchanged for Lieutenant-Colonel Morton. This requirement or obligation is, I submit, directly at variance with the spirit of recent arrangements touching prisoners of war. As early as 13th of April General Beauregard I find informed General Grant that at an early day he would release on parole all medical officers of the U. S. service in his hands. I can but think it in the clear interest of humanity and of both services that medical officers should not be regarded as other or combatant prisoners of war. I hope you will agree with me and permit Surgeon Benjamin to be absolved from his engagement to return within your lines on the day prescribed; that is, I hope he will be placed on the same footing with other medical officers released by General Beauregard and yourself in May. I have also to suggest that chaplains should be treated in the same way and released if captured with the least delay practicable. In this connection I have to request the early release of the Rev. A. J. Witherspoon, chaplain Twenty-first Regiment Alabama Volunteers, captured at Shiloh in the discharge of his sacred duties. I learn that we had a *Not found. |