my charge which will include all those absent on parole. These rolls are finished; I retain them till called for as you direct. In the meantime the daily deaths are noted upon them as they occur. By your letter of August 4 I am directed to forward without further delay the rolls of prisoners called for for your office in May, the duplicates of which have been forwarded to the Adjutant-General. I forwarded to the Adjutant General in obedience to your telegram from Washington the rolls prepared by your directions of June 23, by letter from Detroit, to which please refer. I forwarded the original rolls to the AdjutantGeneral and have no duplicate rolls. I have copies of those rolls kept for reference here in books and can prepare duplicates in a very short time from them. I have ordered them to be commenced, but will require more blank rolls from you for that purpose, say 175. They can be finished and sent to you by Saturday next if you can get the blank rolls here in time. I received a package of blank rolls from you on the 4th instant, which were, however, partly used in the preparation of the list called for July 31. I have called on Captain Christopher for statement of prisoners' and hospital funds and will make up and forward the account which you call for. No registered letter has been received for James L. Shubert since I took charge of the prisoners' moneys nor any money for him from any source during that time. Five dollars was credited to him on Colonel Mulligan's ledger under date of June 11, which Shubert has drawn. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH H. TUCKER, Colonel Sixty-ninth Illinois Infantry, Commanding Post. Hon. E. M. STANTON: COLUMBUS, OHIO, August 7, 1862. At the risk of fretting you I recommend the immediate appointment of a good lawyer and sound man with authority to investigate and discharge political prisoners at Camp Chase. H. H. Hunter, John M. Andrews or Reuben Hitchcock would be safe men to appoint. Iinform you that recruiting is progressing most handsomely. The twenty-two regiments will all be full by Tuesday next. Recruiting for regiments in the field is also doing well. DAVID TOD. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL. RACINE, August 7, 1862. DEAR SIR: Dr. James M. Lewis was surgeon of the Second Wisconsin Regiment and captured at Bull Run. He was taken to Richmond and there paroled. He has made a great many efforts to get exchanged. He thinks he may soon be if he is not already. He asks leave of absence with permission to remain in Wisconsin until he is exchanged. It seems right he should have it. He has been at considerable expense in trying to effect his exchange. To my certain knowledge he has made two trips to Washington to effect it. Respectfully, yours, J. R. DOOLITTLE. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, August 7, 1862. Brig. Gen. JAMES S. WADSWORTH, Military Governor District of Columbia. GENERAL: In the Evening Star newspaper of the 4th instant an article appears relative to the rebel prisoner and spy Belle Boyd, under the head of local news, which if true shows that the order of the Sec-, retary of War to keep her in close custody in the Old Capitol Prison has been violated. A note was addressed to the editor of the Star calling for the names of the persons alleged to have access to the prisoner and the authority under which they were permitted to visit her. No answer has been received because, as this Department is just informed, the editor is absent from the city. You are directed immediately to cause a strict investigation to be made on the following points, viz: 1. Whether the order committing Belle Boyd to close custody has been violated? 2. When and by whom and under what authority every such violation was committed? You will report to this Department the result of the investigation. By order of the Secretary of War: . P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War. HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D. C., Hon. P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War. SIR: In reply to your letter dated this morning making inquiries as to whether the order of the War Department to commit Belle Boyd to close custody had been violated, and if so by whom, is duly received. I have the honor to inform you that my aide, Major Meneely, visited the prison on Saturday in company with Mr. Van Buskirk, of the PostOffice Department, and saw and for a few moments conversed with Belle Boyd. The order to commit her to close custody had not been communicated to me, and Mr. Wood who had received it did not object to that gentleman seeing her and others in the establishment. Mr. Wood stated to my aide (as he understood) that a Doctor Hale had seen the prisoner referred to. I will take measures to ascertain whether Mr. Van Buskirk made the communication to the Star to which you refer. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [JAMES S. WADSWORTH,] Brigadier-General. Hon. E. M. STANTON: FORT MONROE, August 7, 1862. The following officers have been exchanged and may at once enter upon duty: Colonel Kenly, First Maryland; Lieutenant-Colonel Hoffman, Eighth Infantry; Majors Clitz, Seventh Infantry, and Dwight, Second Massachusetts; Captain Wallace, First Infantry; Captains Bowman and Hopkins, Lieutenants Steen, Van Horn and Lay, Third Infantry; Captains Gibbs, Stevenson and Potter, Lieutenants Plummer, Hancock and Ryan, Seventh Infantry; Captain Jordan, Eighth Infantry; Lieutenants McNally and Cressey, Third Cavalry. Colonel Corcoran will be exchanged for Colonel Hanson. He is at Charleston but will be delivered very soon. I have arranged so far for the exchange of about 120 officers who will be delivered the 12th instant, when I am to meet Mr. Ould. I leave to-morrow morning at 4 o'clock for Washington by the Potomac River and will explain more fully when I report. Exchanged all the soldiers I took to Aiken's, receiving 3,021, all of whom were sent to General McClellan. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, General R. E. LEE, Commanding, &c. GENERAL: Your letter of July 6 was received at the AdjutantGeneral's Office on the 14th, but supposing from its indorsement that it required no further reply it was filed without being shown to the President or Secretary of War. I learned to day for the first time that such letter had been received and hasten to reply. No authentic information has been received in relation to the execution of either John L. Owen or William B. Mumford, but measures will be immediately taken to ascertain the facts of their alleged execution of which you will be duly informed. I need hardly assure you, general, that so far as the U. S. authorities are concerned this contest will be carried on in strict accordance with the laws and usages of modern warfare, and that all excesses will be duly punished. In regard to the burning of bridges, &c., within our lines by persons in disguise as peaceful citizens, I refer you to my letter of January 22 last to General Price. I think you will find the views there expressed as not materially differing from those stated in your letter. In regard to retaliation by taking the lives of innocent persons I know of no modern authority which justifies it, except in the extreme case of a war with an uncivilized foe which has himself first established such a barbarous rule. The United States will never countenance such a proceeding unless forced to do so by the barbarous conduct of au enemy who first applies such a rule to our own citizens. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief, U. S. Army. Major-General HALLECK: FORT MONROE, August 7, 1862. I have been unable to furnish 3,000 stand of arms for the exchanged prisoners just received at Harrison's Landing from Richmond. There ought to be here always at least 10,000 stand of arms. Will you order the Ordnance Department to furnish some? The ordnance officer here, Lieutenant Baylor, tells me he has an unanswered requisition at Washington. JOHN A. DIX, Major-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D. C., LEWIS MCKINZIE. DEAR SIR: You are aware that I have arrested three citizens of Alexandria as hostages for the safety and return of Couse. I am informed that Couse is not a prisoner, but at large in Richmond. I will thank you to advise as to your opinion on this point from the best information you can obtain. You will please inform Mr. F. I. Couse that you have been requested to look into this matter, that he may present what information he has on this subject. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [JAMES S. WADSWORTH,] Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF KANAWHA, Col. GEORGE Crook, Commanding Third Brigade, Meadow Bluff. COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt this day of your letter of the 4th instant inclosing statements* received by flag of truce relative to the murder of a rebel soldier by Captain Harrison's company of cavalry, also your statement of the arrest and treatment of Doctor Rucker by the rebels. Captain Harrison's case will at once be investigated and if you have any further statements to make in the case you will please send them to these headquarters. You can also notify the commandant of the rebel forces in your front that any acts of officers or men of this army contrary to the rules of war toward any of the enemy who are themselves engaged in a regular and legitimate mode of warfare will be promptly and severely punished. You may also inform him that Mr. Samuel Price, of Lewisburg, will be held responsible in his person for any cruel or unusual treatment of Dr. William P. Rucker. By command of Brig. Gen. J. D. Cox: G. M. BASCOM, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. NORFOLK, VA., August 7, 1862. Major-General DIX: I have at Fort Norfolk accommodations for 100 prisoners. In a day or two will be ready for 200. There is now one company on guard there. E. L. VIELE, Brigadier-General. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, DEPT. OF EAST TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. G. W. MORGAN, Commanding, &c., Cumberland Gap. August 7, 1862. GENERAL: During the engagement in front of Tazewell on yesterday the Confederate forces captured Captain Taneyhill and about fifty rank See Confederate Correspondence. and file of your command. I respectfully propose to exchange Captain Taneyhill and other prisoners for Lieut. Col. G. W. Gordon, Second Lieutenant Pride and such other prisoners of war as are now in your possession agreeably to the terms of the cartel recently signed by the commissioners of our respective Governments. I suggest that they be exchanged at Tazewell as soon as practicable. If you will accept the proposition please designate the day on which the exchange can be made. Every attention has been paid to the wounded of your command, and should you desire it they will be delivered at Tazewell to any surgeon whom you may designate to be removed at such time as he may think proper. I have the honor to be, with much respect, your obedient servant, C. L. STEVENSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich. COLONEL: You were this day telegraphed as follows, viz: Requisition of the 31st just received. Clothing for prisoners at Alton ordered by telegraph from Cairo; for Camp Chase from New York. By order of Quartermaster-General: ALEX. J. PERRY, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Capt. H. M. LAZELLE, Detroit, Mich., August 7, 1862. I am Eighth U. S. Infantry, Columbus, Ohio: Your letter of the 4th instant with its inclosures is received. pleased to learn that everything is going on satisfactorily at Camp Chase. The roll of prisoners joined which accompanies the return is incomplete in the details because I presume the same name does not appear on the full roll which is to be furnished; hereafter all rolls must be complete in themselves. The authority for the release or parole of prisoners should be given on the return when such changes are report. ed. Please have this authority furnished me for the cases reported on the return for July. Sylvanus Harper is reported paroled though he was released by order of the Secretary of War. For the present you need take no further steps in relation to the paroled prisoners in Columbus. After the exchange of prisoners takes place a better system will be established. As no account of disbursement of the prisoners' fund is rendered I suppose it is all on hand. Impress it on the colonel that he is responsible for the proper expenditure of this fund. I believe I have mentioned to you that vegetables, and for those who are destitute of money small articles for repairing clothing and shoes, writing paper, tobacco, pipes, &c., may be purchased in moderate quantities when the fund will admit of it. A liberal supply of vegetables should be allowed. The prisoners' share of the |