Ana, from which place his communications were forwarded to General Sibley at Fort Bliss. As the result of the proposition then made the officers and soldiers mentioned in the inclosed order* were exchanged for a like number of Confederate prisoners. Captain Stivers, Seventh Infantry, was included in the proposals for exchange for the reason that his company is serving in this country, and if my recommendation for the transfer of these companies to the East should not have been approved I request that he may be ordered to join his company in New Mexico. At my instance Assistant Surgeons McKee and Alden, paroled at the surrender of Major Lynde's command, have been released from the obligations of their paroles for a like number of medical officers of the Confederate Army now on duty with their prisoners in this department. I inclose herewith a return of the prisoners of war taken in this department. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, EDW. R. S. CANBY, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Department. JUNE 21, 1862. NOTE. This report has been delayed in the hope of making the return of prisoners more complete, but it is still imperfect, as some of the officers in charge of prisoners neglected to note the companies and regiments to which they belonged and the information cannot now be obtained. HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D. C., Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR. SIR: In reply to your request for a report in the case of J. C. Gunnell, confined in the Old Capitol Prison, I have the honor to state that he was arrested on the application in writing of thirty-one well-known Union citizens of Fairfax County. Mr. Gunnell at the outbreak of the rebellion was the acting sheriff of that county, and was perhaps the most active influential secessionist in the county. He was particularly obnoxious to the Union men, and it is charged that he was instrumental in procuring several to be arrested and others to be driven from the county. Having fled on the approach of the Union troops on the evacuation of Manassas he returned a few weeks after and it is charged that since his return he has threatened Union men or at least warned them as to the consequences which might follow their attendance of Union meetings, &c. I hold Mr. Gunnell under arrest for another reason. The rebel authorities hold in prison at Richmond from thirty to forty citizens of Fairfax County for no offense but their attachment to the Union. Some of these cases are known to me as the most cruel and merciless persecutions on record. I have said to the friends of Mr. Gunnell that if they would procure the release of one of these men I would release him. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, [JAMES S. WADSWORTH,] Brigadier-General. * Omitted. 3 R R-SERIES II, VOL IV HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MISSOURI, Col. JOHN C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Mississippi. COLONEL: I desire respectfully to ask the attention of the majorgeneral commanding to what seems to me an abuse of the proper office of provost-marshal in this State and in Arkansas. I quote from a letter just received from Major-General Curtis to justify the application of my remark to his district as well as to my own. He says: The creation of the so-called provost-marshal invented a spurious military officer which has embarrassed the service by including an extra wheel in a well-regulated machine. They have no right to do these things derived from me, but a usage seems to have obtained. Everybody appoints provost-marshals and these officers seem to exercise plenary powers. These remarks were in answer to a letter which I addressed to General Curtis calling his attention to the fact that many well-known rebels are returning to Missouri from Arkansas bearing certificates from unknown provost-marshals that they have taken the oath and claiming protection, while all experience shows that unless bound by something stronger than their oath their loyalty is apt to be of short duration. The provost-marshal's department as it now exists is entirely independent of all commanders except the commander of the department, and hence of necessity pretty much independent of him. The local provost-marshals are appointed by the provost-marshal-general, or by any local commander and approved by the provost-marshal-general. They get all their instructions from him if they get any at all; make all their reports to him if they make any at all, and are responsible only to him and the department commander for the manner in which their duty is discharged. The custody and control of all prisoners not disposed of by orders from department headquarters is given to the provost marshal-general and through him to his subordinates. Their discretion is to decide all questions as to the release, parole or other disposition of all prisoners. The officer commanding a district who is responsible to the general commanding the department for the condition of his district has nothing whatever to do with the disposition of prisoners captured by his troops, although at the present time in Missouri this is the most important question involving its future peace. It appears to me that a district commander should have the power to appoint all the provost-marshals in his district; that they should act under his instructions and be responsible to him for the discharge of their duty; that he should also have if he deems it necessary a provostmarshal-general of his district acting under his orders and directly responsible to him, and that he should decide what prisoners taken in his district are to be released and on what terms; what are to be tried by military commission; what turned over to the civil authorities, and what turned over to the provost-marshal of the department to be held as prisoners of war or as convicts under sentence. With this authority a district commander will be able to carry out the general instructions of his commanding general and be properly responsible for those things that are left to his discretion. As it is now he can adopt no policy nor carry out that established by the department commander. He cannot even decide a particular case quite within the jurisdiction of a lieutenant of his command or even of a civilian who happens to be styled provost-marshal. I have expressed my views thus freely on this subject from the belief that the major-general commanding having much more weighty mat ters to attend to has not given it the attention which he otherwise would have done, and that the provost-marshal's department in this State is much in need of improvement which I have not the authority to make and which the commanding general of course cannot at present attend to. Since the above was written a telegram has been received from MajorGeneral Halleck revoking the order in regard to the discharge of pris oners; but as that removes only a part of the difficulties I have mentioned I have decided to forward this communication. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. M. SCHOFIELD, MEDICAL DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, DEPT. OF VIRGINIA, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. DEAR SIR: We have in our hospitals several rebel prisoners with amputated limbs. If not incompatible with the views of the Government would it not be as well to let these men go home? Yours, very truly, FORT HAMILTON, N. Y. Harbor, June 17, 1862. Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General of the Army, Washington, D. C. SIR: In my letter of yesterday I mentioned about the expected arrival of Pierre Soulé and Adolphe Mazureau at Fort Lafayette, and yesterday saw that one casemate was selected to confine them both in conformably to your orders as their being both together would be more convenient so far as room is in the question, and I presumed at the time that was your wish as their confinement together would taking the above circumstances into consideration be quite as safe, if not more so, to prevent any communication from them than to have them separate. However, the matter is respectfully submitted to you. I make this communication in anticipation of their speedy arrival. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, MÁRTIN BURKE, Lieutenant-Colonel Third Artillery. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, New York, June 17, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C. SIR: Pursuant to instructions heretofore received I have ordered that the rebel officers, prisoners of war at Fort Delaware and Fort Columbus, be sent to the depot at Sandusky, the movement to take place the latter part of the week unless an announcement of a general exchange of prisoners is made in the meantime when it would be unnecessary. Governor's Island is better adapted for the reception of prisoners than any place in the interior and I would respectfully suggest that sheds for the accommodation of 5,000 be erected there immediately. The cost of transportation thence to an inland camp would go far toward covering the expense of the buildings. I would respectfully suggest also that bunks be put in Castle William for the accommodation of prisoners confined there. By this means more can be provided for there and good police and health will be promoted. Of course they would be so arranged as to be easily removed. I leave for Detroit this evening. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Lieut. Col. Eighth Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 18, 1862. Major-General MCCLELLAN: The Adjutant-General has just submitted to me your telegram addressed to him and dated the 13th instant respecting the exchange of prisoners. This subject has for several months been under the direction of General Wool who has had several negotiations with Howell Cobb and General Huger. The last arrangement made was broken off by the rebel authorities denying Huger's authority to make the arrangement for Corcoran's exchange. It is believed that their real reason for breaking off was to obtain an arrangement that would secure the release of General Buckner. The President has for some days been considering the question of agreeing to a general exchange but has not yet decided because strong opposition is manifested to the exchange of Buckner. I have ordered the Adjutant-General to send you immediately by mail a copy of the correspondence between General Wool and General Huger which will enable you fully to understand the question in dispute when General Wool left Fort Monroe. EDWIN M. STANTON, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, June 18, 1862. CHAIRMAN COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AFFAIRS, House of Representatives. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 5th instant inclosing the memorial of Capt. H. C. Wood, U. S. Army, asking compensation for property lost by him when the Military Department of Texas was surrendered to the rebels, and requesting to know what has been the course pursued by the United States Government in such cases heretofore and my opinion in the matter. In reply I have respectfully to state that this is the first instance on record of the traitorous surrender to rebels by a U. S. officer. But there is in my opinion a previous action of the Government which would commend this case to the liberality of Congress. I will cite as a sufficient instance the act of July 14, 1832, page 512, U. S. Statutes at Large, Private Laws for 1789 to 1845. This act authorizes the Second Auditor of the Treasury and requires him to ascertain and pay the amount of property lost by each officer and soldier in the conflagration at Fort Delaware, which occurred February 8, 1831. The papers inclosed in your letter are herewith respectfully returned as requested by you. I have the honor, &c., L. THOMAS, WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Maj. Gen. JOHN A. DIX, Commanding, &c., Fort Monroe, Va. Washington, June 18, 1862. SIR: The Secretary of War authorizes you to release any rebel prisoners who are badly wounded and disabled and suffer them to pass through our lines to their homes on their giving their parole not hereafter to serve in any capacity against the United States. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. THOMAS, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Major-General Dix, Fort Monroe: Under General Orders, No. 60, medical officers held as prisoners of war are to be released. This applies to Doctor Bailey, whose case was reported by Surgeon Cuyler yesterday. He may be permitted to return home. By order of the Secretary of War: L. THOMAS, COMMANDING OFFICER, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Camp on Johnson's Island, near Sandusky: A scheme is reported to be on foot in Canada by Southern sympathizers to release the prisoners on the island. Be on your guard. Copy of the plan will be sent by mail. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. DEPOT PRISONERS OF WAR, Near Sandusky, Ohio, June 18, 1862. Col. W. HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners. COLONEL: I have forwarded to you by express a roll of all our prisoners, also of those who have been sent back to Columbus, also of the privates and citizens here. There has been some deception as to privates and Mr. Wells and the sergeant-major have been very patient and persevering in their endeavor to find them out. There are some 61761 |