to the usages of civilized people, and that the surgeons to whose care they are intrusted be treated not as felons but in accordance with the precedents which have been established and which you publish in all your papers as the law of the land. If we cannot be fed in accordance with the common usages of war, in other words if you have not the material wherewith to feed us so as to keep us from starvation, I feel assured that your elevated sense of humanity will assist us to reach our own lines where we can be attended to. I have seen and attended your sick and wounded at New York, Philadelphia, Fortress Monroe and in this hospital, and have never seen any distinction made between them and our own. Now with the insufficient nourishment supplied us, our own funds failing, what are we to do? I leave the answer to your impulses of humanity and ask you in the name of the common obligations due from man to man that you interpose your dictum and change the status of our condition. I am, respectfully, &c., JOHN SWINBURNE, OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Washington, D. C, July 24, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following as the approximate number of prisoners of war held at the several prison stations: Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. HEADQUARTERS, Camp Douglas, Chicago, July 24, 1862. Colonel HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich. COLONEL: I regret to inform you that the inclosed list of prisoners are reported to have escaped at the respective dates, twenty-one last night. The particulars of last night's escape are: At 9 o'clock a musket was fired by the sentinel on post No. 57 and a call for the guard made. Other musket shots were soon heard, and the soldiers in and outside of camp were instantly on the alert. The facts proved to be that a body of prisoners made a rush at the fence on his, No. 57's, beat with three ladders constructed rudely of boards with cleats nailed upon them. The sentinels in the neighborhood fired on them and gave the alarm. A number, however, escaped at that point and have not been *Not found. found yet. A hole was found dug under the fence at another point and the musket and equipments of the sentinel on the ground, but the sentinel was gone and doubtless some prisoners escaped by collusion with him. The name of the sentinel who deserted is Private Charles White, Company C, Sixty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The man was enlisted in Chicago. I have given notice to the police authorities in the city who will co-operate with my force in endeavoring to capture the escaped prisoners and the deserter. I am carrying into effect the directions in regard to the fences contained in your letter of the 20th instant. These improvements were urgently needed as the insecurity of the fences is a constant temptation to the prisoners to attempt to escape, and numerous props and irregularities on the inside afford ready means of climbing over quickly. The structure and form of this camp is very unsuitable for the confinement of prisoners and it is impossible to increase the number of sentinels on duty with our present force. The guard detail is 1 captain, 7 lieutenants, 13 sergeants, 24 corporals and 382 privates. Besides this a patrol force is on duty every night outside the fence, the extent of which is estimated to be three miles. I have abundant evidence that there are numerous traitorous sympathizers in Chicago who are constantly on the alert to aid prisoners to escape and are ingenious in their schemes to communicate with them and corrupt our own soldiers. I have no hesitation in saying that in my opinion martial law should be declared over the city of Chicago and the command vested in the commanding officer of this camp. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH H. TUCKER, Colonel Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, Commanding. P. S.-Some of the prisoners who escaped last night are being retaken. J. H. T. HEADQUARTERS, Camp Douglas, Chicago, July 24, 1862. Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich. COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of the 20th instant. The telegram for number of escaped prisoners was received late on Saturday and the reply sent to office immediately. I have commenced the measures for the greater security of the prisoners directed and will prosecute them to completion with all diligence. I forward estimate for clothing for prisoners and would ask you to authorize the issue, as it is immediately necessary for decency, health and safety. Many of the prisoners are entirely destitute and without a change, while others have portions of citizen's dress which they had received before I assumed command. This I wish to take from them and substitute a cheap dress which Captain Potter has on hand, some of which was taken from the enemy. He has not a sufficient amount of captured clothing. He can get more like it manufactured. I forward an estimate made by S. S. Greeley for introduction of sewer, for sinks connected therewith and for the supply of water for the camp. This estimate I am informed was handed to you by Mr. Greeley while you were here. I do not send the estimate as approved by me; I merely lay it before you. I inclose estimate for bakery. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH H. TUCKER, Colonel Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 1.] Estimate for a wooden sewer through Camp Douglas, in Chicago, and leading thence into Lake Michigan; also for privies or sinks connected therewith and for the supply of water for the camp. 1. A sewer 2,600 feet long, 8 inches wide at the bottom, 2 feet wide at the Bottom plank, 2 inches by 12 inches, any length.. Top plank, 2 inches thick, 14 feet long. Inner bottom board, 1 inch by 8 inches wide. Feet, B. M. 5, 200 28,000 12, 500 1,800 Battens for sides, 1 inch by 6 inches, 16 feet long. 7,000 Battens for top, 1 inch by 6 inches, 14 feet long 3, 300 Rib-bands at upper corners, 2 inches by 4 inches.. 2. A sewer 650 feet long, 8 inches wide at bottom, 18 inches at top, 20 inches 3,500 Braces, across the top (both sewers). 3. Box drain, 10 inches by 12 inches inside, 1,000 feet long: 900 Sides and top, 2 inches by 14 inches... 7,000 Bottom, 2 inches by 10 inches.... 4. Five man-holes for access to sewer in deep excavation: Plank, 2-inch, 16 feet long.... Uprights for corners, 2 inches by 4 inches, 16 feet.. 5. Four catch basins, for admitting surface drainage: Plank, 2-inch, 16 feet long. Corners, 2 inches by 4 inches, 16 feet long.. 6. Ten privies, each 16 by 30, with water-tight soil box: Joists, 2 inches by 10 inches, 16 feet long. Studding, 2 inches by 4 inches. 118,380 feet of lumber, at $11, delivered..... 5,000 pounds of nails and spikes, at 4 cents. If the deep excavation from the lake to the camp fence is done by contract instead of prison labor it will cost as follows: 1,200 cubic yards, 14 to 19 feet deep, quicksand bottom, and replacing same at 50 cents.. 1,200.00 2,702. 18 The sides of the trench must be lined with 2-inch plank, braced across during the progress of the work to prevent caving in. Water supply: 2,060 feet of 3-inch cast-iron pipe laid, the trenching to be done by prisoners, at 50 cents.. 800 feet of 2-inch lead pipe, at 40 cents.. 1,030.00 320.00 Taking up and resetting 8 of the present hydrants with box leading to sewer, at $5.. 40.00 Pipe and cocks and plumbing for supplying the soil boxes of the privies 40.00 75.00 Water connections of same, at $5 each... In the above estimate all earth-work inside the camp is supposed to be done by prison labor. It is quite probable that part, perhaps most, of the carpenter's work will have to be done either by mechanics hired by the day or by contract. The sewer, 3,250 feet long, could probably be laid mostly by prisoners, except the part outside the camp, with proper superintend ence. Laying the sewer outside the camp in the deep trench, 850 feet, at 10 cents.. 15.00 4, 222. 18 85.00 Other carpentry and skilled labor within the camp, say. The board of public works of the city of Chicago, having in charge the Total cost, allowing for contract work outside the camp, and prison $200.00 250.00 4, 757. 18 3,500.00 8, 257. 18 The work will probably occupy nearly six weeks after it is actually begun. SAMUEL S. GREELEY, Civil Engineer. [Inclosure No. 2.] Estimate for ovens at Camp Douglas, in Chicago, Ill., capable of bak ing bread for 12,000 men. Four ovens, 18 by 10 feet, $260 each Lumber for building, 20 by 60 feet.. Lumber for building, 14 by 60 feet, for ovens with shed roof. Doors and windows.. Nails, spikes, door hinges, &c Iron for grates, &c.... Work by prisoners of war. Total cost... Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, HEADQUARTERS, Alton, Ill., July 24, 1862. Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich. SIR: I herewith inclose a requisition for clothing for issue to prisoners. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. F. FLINT, Major Sixteenth Infantry, Commanding. [Inclosure.] Requisition for clothing and camp and garrison equipage for the use of the prisoners of war at Alton Penitentiary, at Alton, Ill., for two months, commencing August 1, 1862, and ending September 30, 1862. Commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and privates' flannel shirts: Required, August 1, 1862.. On hand, to be deducted.. To be supplied.... 1,000 1,000 I certify that the above requisition is correct and the articles are necessary for the public service, rendered so by the following circumstances: For the use of the prisoners of war at Alton, Ill. FERD. E. DE COURCY, First Lieut., Thirteenth U. S. Infty., Actg. Asst. Qmr., U. S. Army. FORT DELAWARE, July 24, 1862. The MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY OF FRANCE, Washington. Mr. MINISTER: At a time when a general exchange of prisoners appears to be on the point of being effected between the North and the South the undersigned deems it his duty to bring to your knowledge the following facts in order that his position as a Frenchman may be well established, and that if hereafter any difficulties should arise in regard to him he may be claimed by the consuls of his nation. In a note written in English which I had the honor to address to you on the 22d of April-a note which has remained unanswered-in which I claimed of you to have me set at liberty on my parole to give [no] aid or assistance to the Confederates, a parole on which citizens of the United States embarked on the Royal Yacht had been released. The same favor had been granted to citizens of the United States embarked on the same privateer as myself. These latter alone had taken oath of allegiance. It is useless to recall to Your Excellency the facts which have led to my captivity. These facts have been transmitted to you by the consul at Philadelphia. On the 3d of June last we were at City Point about to be exchanged. The officer who was in charge of the exchange caused all the officers of the privateers to sign a parole by which they bound themselves not to communicate with the enemy and not to take up arms before being regularly exchanged. I refused to Colonel Whipple to sign this parole, giving as a reason that I had no need of crossing the Confederate lines; that no engagement bound me to the Confederate States; that my sole engagement was with the privateer Petrel; that this vessel being sunk my engagement was in fact broken; that my case was very different from that of a foreigner engaged in a regiment, which foreigner in order to elude his engagement might wish to remain North. In spite of all these good reasons the only answer which I could obtain was this: We have taken you near the South; we return you to the South. (Sic.) The negotiations being broken up I had no opportunity of protesting. Such was my intention if I had been forced to return to the South, for should the contingency arise I declare to you, Mr. Minister, that I will only yield to armed force and after protestation. If I am forced to go to Richmond I hope that the consul of France may be able to obtain for me a pass to return North. Perhaps I shall be compelled to claim this of this functionary if the Confederate Government on the strength of having given an officer in my place for the exchange should wish to compel me to take service, for once arrived in Richmond I am free from all engagement and become a French subject again. I hope therefore that the consul may be able to furnish me with a pass to return North. I speak here on the hypothesis of an exchange should the case occur. If I returned North would I be liable to be arrested again by the Federal authorities? I must observe to Your Excellency that I have addressed to the Secretary of War several requests which have remained unanswered, and in which I offered to give my parole in the terms which might be desired provided it were not an oath of allegiance which compelled me to other duties than those which I owe to my own flag. Every oath of allegiance to another nation draws on a Frenchman the loss of his civil rights; would lead at the same time in my case to the withdrawal of my commission as a captain of merchant vessel trading with foreign ports and to the loss of my nationality, and I am too sure of my title as a Frenchman to wish in any case to lose it. You are not unaware, Mr. Minister, that many foreigners were in the South at the time when its revolution broke cut. Not having means |