[Inclosure.] (Extract from the protest of the master of the British schooner Mersey relative to the alleged rob. bery of himself and the mate of that vessel at Fort Lafayette.] That they so got to Fort Lafayette about 5 or 6 p. m. of Friday, the 9th day of May, and all three had to go into Fort Lafayette. When about to go in this appearer, the master, was preparing to take some of his light things ashore when he was told to go on and they, the soldiers about, would see to his things, and a deputy marshal took all three to the lieutenant of the fort who took down their names. He also asked this appearer, the master, if he had any money. The answer was, "Yes." He then said it must be given to him, and this said appearer, the master, thereupon gave him four sovereigns, two gold 85 pieces, American currency, and $1 in American silver. He then asked this said appearer for his watch which was handed over to him, being a silver watch with a gold chain. He then asked this appearer whether he had any rings and was answered in the negative. And this appearer, the said mate, was about the same time asked by the said officer if he had any valuables and if so to deliver them up. And this appearer, the said steward, was asked the same thing by the said officer, and this appearer answered he had six or seven shillings in American and British silver, and the same was taken by the said officer. And that appearers were then separately and apart taken to a room and personally searched by a U. S. sergeant. An officer then told the sergeant to put these appearers in No. 5, which was done, and their things were brought to the sally. port by soldiers. Their keys were then demanded, and all their effects and things were overhauled by sergeant and soldiers, the sergeant taking away a piece of india rubber cloth which had covered the bed of this appearer, the master, and his so'wester hat and an oil-skin coat, and also cut away the lashing which tied his bed, and the same sergeant took from the chest of this appearer, the mate, a quadrant belonging to the said master, and either the sergeant or some of the soldiers must have taken away an oil-skin coat and so'wester, the property of this appearer, the mate. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 8, 1862. Governor TOD, Columbus, Ohio: Reuben Hitchcock will be appointed special commissioner to examine and report upon the cases of political prisoners at Camp Chase and directed to communicate with you. I am rejoiced to hear that your recruiting is progressing so well. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. Order to prevent evasion of military duty and for the suppression of disloyal practices. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 8, 1862. 1. By direction of the President of the United States it is hereby ordered that until further order no citizen liable to be drafted into the militia shall be allowed to go to a foreign country. And all marshals, deputy marshals and military officers of the United States are directed, and all police authorities especially at the ports of the United States on the seaboards and on the frontier are requested, to see that this order is faithfully carried into effect. And they are hereby authorized and directed to arrest and detain any person or persons about to depart from the United States in violation of this order and report to Maj. L. C. Turner, judge-advocate at Washington City, for further instructions respecting the person or persons so arrested or detained. 2. Any person liable to draft who shall absent himself from his country or State before such draft is made will be arrested by any provostmarshal or other United States or State officer wherever he may be found within the jurisdiction of the United States and conveyed to the nearest military post or depot and placed on military duty for the term of the draft, and the expenses of his own arrest and conveyance to such post or depot and also the sum of $5 as a reward to the officer who shall make such arrest shall be deducted from his pay. 3. The writ of habeas corpus is hereby suspended in respect to all persons so arrested and detained and in respect to all persons arrested for disloyal practices. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 8, 1862. Brig. Gen. JOHN A. DIX, Fort Monroe: Do you intend to send the returned prisoners to their old regiments? Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War: P. H. WATSON. DETROIT, August 8, 1862. Will you please order the companies of the Ninth Regiment now on parole at Columbus, Ohio, to Detroit barracks? This is necessary in order to control and keep the men together, as all their officers are prisoners and absent. If this is done it will do much in reorganizing the regiment as soon as exchanges are made. P. H. WATSON, Esq.: AUSTIN BLAIR, FORT MONROE, August 8, 1862. Taking it for granted the released prisoners would go to their old regiments I have to-day ordered thirty-three just from Richmond to Washington, nearly all belonging to General Pope's command. General Thomas should be with you by 9 o'clock this evening. JOHN A. DIX, HEADQUARTERS, Fort Monroe, Va., August 8, 1862. Capt. A. S. WOODS, Eighth New York State Militia, Comdg. at Point Lookout. CAPTAIN: You are under no obligation to receive negroes within your lines, indeed they should be kept out like all other persons who have no business with the sick or with your command and who would be an annoyance. You can give your guards and sentries orders accordingly. But if you admit negroes and they prove to be runaways you cannot deliver them up to their masters, Congress having passed an act prohibiting any military officer from doing so. If the Confederate deserters will take the oath of allegiance you may administer it and send them to Baltimore the first opportunity or let them go at Point Lookout. I am, very respectfully, yours, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, August 8, 1862. General MORGAN, Cumberland Gap: Have ordered rule of exchange of prisoners to be sent to you from Nashville. If you are in a hurry arrange it to suit yourself. JAMES B. FRY. Col. J. B. FRY: CUMBERLAND GAP, August 8, 1862. Have received a communication from General Stevenson, commanding First Division of the enemy's forces, proposing an exchange. has one captain and fifty privates. I have one lieutenant-colonel, one lieutenant and nine privates. What is the scale of exchange? I have to lament the death of Captain Edgar; it is a severe loss for he had no superior of his rank. GENERAL ORders, Į GEORGE W. MORGAN, General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, In Camp, Huntsville, Ala., August 8, 1862. The system of paroles as practiced in this army has run into intolerable abuse. Hereafter no officer or soldier belonging to the forces in this district will give his parole not to take up arms for the purpose of leaving the enemy's lines without the sanction of the general commanding this army, except when by reason of wounds or disease he could not be removed without endangering his life. Any parole given in violation of this order will not be recognized and the person giving it will be required to perform military duty and take the risks prescribed by the laws of war. Any officer or soldier of this command being in the hands of the enemy and desiring to be released on parole for the purpose of leaving the enemy's lines will make application to the general commanding this army, inclosing in duplicate the parole which he proposes to give and await its approval. The sanction of the officer commanding the forces by which he is held being necessary to effect the arrangement should be forwarded with the application. No such application will be approved where the capture has resulted from neglect or misbehavior on the part of the prisoner or of the command to which he belonged. The evidence of a lawful parole will be the parole itself, bearing the approval of the commanding general. The same rule will be observed by this army in paroling prisoners taken from the enemy. If they cannot be held until the sanction of such officer as the general commanding the enemy's forces may designate for that purpose is obtained they will be released. By command of Major-General Buell: JAMES B. FRY, Colonel and Chief of Staff. HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D. C., COMMANDING OFFICER, Ninety-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Alexandria: You do not belong to the Army of Virginia and will not make arrests except under orders heretofore or hereafter from these headquarters. The persons you refer to will be released if arrested simply for refusing to take the oath of allegiance. Hon. E. M. STANTON: [JAMES S. WADSWORTH,] Brigadier-General. DETROIT, MICH., August 8, 1862. If the prisoners are to be exchanged the present guard will suffice; if not a new guard must be detailed or organized for Camp Morton, and I will attend to it. W. HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL CF PRISONERS, General LAZ. NOBLE, Adjutant-General of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind. GENERAL: Yours of the 2d is received and I regret that I can give you no satisfactory reply to your inquiries. Indeed from rumors which I have heard and from delay in giving me instructions on the subject I will not be surprised if something has occurred to put a stop to the exchange. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 9, 1862. Capt. JAMES MOONEY, Rochester, N. Y.: You are authorized to arrest in the cases specified in the order of this Department without waiting for any further or special orders. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. DETROIT, August 9, 1862. DEAR SIR: Are the boys of the Michigan First (Bull Run prisoners) exchanged yet? I promised them that it should be done at the earliest possible moment and now find them enlisting under the supposition that it has been done. The list is with the Secretary of War. Our quota is full and the blood of the people up. They were yesterday paying $10 for a chance to enter some of the regiments. Very truly, yours, Z. CHANDLER. SECRETARY OF WAR: NASHVILLE, August 9, 1862. Under the authority conferred by your telegram of the 4th instant I have appointed ex-Governor William B. Campbell commissioner to visit the various prisons where Tennessee prisoners are confined for the purpose of examining them and determining which of them shall be exchanged and which released and the terms of release. Governor Campbell is admirably adapted for and will well execute his mission. He leaves here for Indianapolis to-morrow. If you have any instructions please communicate them. ANDREW JOHNSON, Military Governor. NASHVILLE, TENN., August 9, 1862. General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General: In compliance with authority and instructions from the War Department on 4th instant I have appointed ex-Governor Campbell commissioner to visit the various prisons containing Tennessee prisoners and prescribe the terms and conditions of their release. All prisoners not officers who are willing to take the oath of allegiance and give bonds will be released upon parole to report to the Governor of Tennessee, and all who refuse to do so will be retained in prison or exchanged. Governor Campbell will communicate to the War Department what policy he adopts in regard to the release of these prisoners. I trust in God that in making an exchange of prisoners that the East Tennesseeans now confined in Southern dungeons will not be overlooked. The eastern part of the State has been too long neglected and our people left to oppression. Let that portion of her people who are now in dungeons be set free at least while there is an opportunity to redeem them with traitors and rebels. ANDREW JOHNSON, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, General R. E. LEE, Commanding, &c. GENERAL: Your two communications of the 2d instant with inclosures are received. As these papers are couched in language exceedingly insulting to the Government of the United States I must respectfully decline to receive them. They are returned herewith. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General THOMAS: H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief U. S. Army. HUNTSVILLE, August 9, 1862. Place the strictest injunctions on the cavalry officers going out on the 11th against committing any outrages whatever. Under no circumstances will they be tolerated. Only suspicious or notoriously disloyal and hostile persons are to be arrested. In taking horses it must be done in such a way that orderly persons shall not be deprived of what may be necessary for their ordinary work and in every case a formal |