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Newport Barracks and Wheeling preparatory to being sent to Camp Chase.

Much embarrassment has been occasioned by the neglect of officers who arrest prisoners to furnish full rolls with them showing their posi tion, whether military or civil, the place and time of arrest and the cause of arrest. In some cases not even the names have been furnished and in others only an imperfect list of names.

I earnestly beg that you will give orders that in every case where prisoners are sent to any of the stations in my charge you will require that full rolls be sent with them, giving all the necessary details of their arrest. Of military men it should be stated particularly whether they belong to the Confederate service or to State or irregular organizations. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Detroit, Mich., September 8, 1862.

Maj. W. S. PIERSON,

Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio.

MAJOR: Rev. L. Molon, of the Catholic Church, has asked permission to visit those belonging to his church among the prisoners at the depot, and if there are any prisoners who desire it you may permit him to visit and to preach to them on Sundays; and in case of sickness at special request he may visit them on other days. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[W. HOFFMAN,]

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Capt. JAMES A. EKIN,

Detroit, Mich., September 8, 1862.

Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Army, Indianapolis, Ind. CAPTAIN: Your letter of the 2d instant with one from Doctor Kitchen of the same date in relation to expenditures at the city hospital is received, and in reply I have to say that all proper and reasonable expenditures for the benefit of the sick prisoners in that hospital not covered by the hospital fund may be paid out of the prisoners' fund at the camp. As no bills are presented I cannot decide as to the propriety of those which it is proposed to pay. The hospital was in very good police when I visited it and I don't see how it can cost $100 for housecleaning. Whatever is right shall be paid. This fund is now in the hands of Captain Foster subject to your order, and any accounts to be paid out of it must be forwarded to me. Those for expenditures at the hospital must have the doctor's certificate with your approval. Please see that all property, bedsteads, bedding, &c., purchased with the prisoners' fund which remains for use in the hospital is properly receipted for. Did Lieutenant Palmer leave any settlement of his accounts with you to be forwarded to me, and what became of the accounts which I examined with one of your clerks and which were to be left in your hands?

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

E. M. STANTON:

COLUMBUS, OHIO, September 9, 1862.

The freedom in giving paroles by our troops in Kentucky is very prejudicial to the service and should be stopped. Had our forces at Richmond, Ky., refused to give their parole it would have taken all of Kirby Smith's army to guard them.

DAVID TOD,

Governor.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 9, 1862.

Governor TOD, Columbus, Ohio:

The evil you mention is one of the most dangerous that has appeared in our army and it is difficult to see what remedy can be applied. There is reason to fear that many voluntarily surrender for the sake of getting home. I have sent 1,500 to Camp Chase and wish to have them kept in close quarters and drilled diligently every day, with no leave of absence.

Hon. E. M. STANTON:

EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.

COLUMBUS, OHIO, September 9, 1862.

If the Indian troubles in Minnesota are serious and the paroled Union prisoners are not soon to be exchanged would it not be well to send them to Minnesota? It is with great difficulty we can preserve order among them at Camp Chase.

DAVID TOD,

Governor.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 9, 1862.

Governor TOD, Columbus, Ohio:

Your suggestion as to the paroled prisoners being sent to the Indian borders is excellent and will be immediately acted upon.

EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT, September 9, 1862.

Maj. L. C. TURNER, Judge-Advocate, Fort Hamilton, N. Y.: You are authorized to exchange the prisoners referred to in your telegram of this date if on investigation you deem it proper.

EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, September 9, 1862.

Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, U. S. Army, Detroit, Mich. :

The Secretary of War directs that all the political prisoners at the various posts and camps be sent to Johnson's Island, Sandusky, except

those at Camp Chase whose cases are undergoing investigation by Judge Hitchcock. The judge was only authorized to examine those cases. All prisoners of war from the East will be sent to Fort Monroe. Give orders to carry out the above. J. Clayton Morehead, James Baker, John W. Garrett, captured at Owensborough, Ky., and now at Camp Chase, will also be sent for trial to Sandusky.

L. THOMAS,
Adjutant-General.

FORT MONROE, September 9, 1862.

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

Five hundred and twenty-five prisoners of war sent from Alexandria were delivered at Aiken's Landing and 604 of ours returned. They are paroled on both sides. I sent the latter last evening to Washington. Mr. Ould makes an earnest request that General Thomas will give him an interview. There are 5,000 of our prisoners at Richmond which they wish us to take. Every steam-boat here is employed in moving the three regiments from Suffolk to Washington called for Sunday.

I have just received a dispatch from General Keyes at Yorktown informing me that our pickets have been driven in at Williamsburg. I fear Colonel Campbell has been compelled to retire, as the rebels are in possession of the telegraph station at Williamsburg. I am just leaving for Yorktown to be back to-night. I do not think it safe to take any more troops from this quarter unless we retire from Yorktown and Suffolk. I cannot even get another gun-boat for Yorktown from Admiral Lee. I earnestly request that one or two more may be sent from the Potomac.

JOHN A. DIX,
Major-General.

SAINT LOUIS, Mo., September 9, 1862.

Brig. Gen. LEWIS MERRILL, Warrenton, Mo. :

I want to select a prominent case to test the question whether a bushwhacker can be shot in a proper manner. I want to know what I can rely on.

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I think Poindexter had better be tried by military commission. I believe I can secure the execution of a sentence.

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Brigadier-General.

Brigadier-General SCHOFIELD:

WARRENTON, Mo., September 9, 1862.

I had intended to have him shot on Friday but if you think the sentence will be executed he had better be tried.

LEWIS MERRILL,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, D. C.,
September 9, 1862.

General Dix, Fort Monroe:

The Secretary of War advises me that you are charged with exchange of citizen prisoners. I hope you will see Mr. Ould soon on the subject. I am holding about 150 at great inconvenience. Ours in North Carolina are really suffering.

[JAMES S. WADSWORTH,] Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, DEPT. OF EAST TENNESSEE,
September 9, 1862.

Brig. Gen. G. W. MORGAN,

Commanding U. S. Forces, Cumberland Gap.

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 7th and 8th instant. I inclose herewith a receipt for the ninety-seven prisoners paroled by you at Barboursville on the 4th instant, some of whom have not been delivered.

M. G. Parkey, exchanged by you for Elijah Jones, informs me that you have required of him an obligation not to serve his country or one to that effect. Your proposition of the 4th instant, general, was to exchange the citizens named in your letter of that day. I accepted it and delivered those in my possession, requiring of them the parole given in such cases, which has reference only to disclosing information received or obtained whilst a prisoner in our hands. If Mr. Parkey's statement be correct I respectfully ask, general, that you will release him of all obligation save those required of the person for whom he was exchanged.

The persons referred to in your letter of yesterday are not under my control.

Your proposition has been forwarded to the headquarters of this department.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. L. STEVENSON,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

General MERRILL.

HANNIBAL, Mo., September 9, 1862.

There are now nearly 200 prisoners at Palmyra. They are much crowded and unsafe, being a heavy tax on the guard kept there. Will you order a portion of them here where our men can guard them and be at home? If it is desirable it should be done so they can come this afternoon.

J. T. K. HAYWARD,
Colonel, Commanding.

*Not found.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 10, 1862.

Governor BLAIR, Detroit:

The prisoners on parole will be speedily exchanged, and it is deemed by the General-in-Chief inexpedient to grant any leave of absence because it encourages improper and discreditable surrender. EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Brigadier-General WADSWORTH,

Washington, September 10, 1662.

Military Governor District of Columbia, Washington.

SIR: Capt. John W. King, Sixty-eighth Illinois Volunteers, has just arrived in this city with 610 paroled prisoners of war, lately released from Richmond. The prisoners are on board the steamer Cossack at Washington Arsenal. The Secretary of War directs that you detail an officer to relieve Captain King and direct him and the guard detailed from his regiment and now on the Cossack to join their regiment at Alexandria. The steamer will then proceed to Fort Delaware without landing the prisoners here and they will be turned over to Major Burton, commanding Fort Delaware. On the passage hence a guard can be detailed for the prisoners sufficient to maintain order. Captain King reports there are some sick and wounded men among the prisoners who require medical attendance. You will please see that they have it. It is preferable that all of them should proceed to Fort Delaware, but of course those who may not be in a fit condition to go farther should be placed in hospital here. The inclosed letter to Major Burton you will please cause to be delivered to the officer appointed to relieve Captain King. The detachment will need rations immediately, not having had breakfast this morning.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

[SEPTEMBER 10, 1861.-For correspondence between Maj. Gen. B. F. Butler, U. S. Army, and Maj. Gen. R. Taylor, C. S. Army, concerning lawless violence, unlawful arrests, &c., see Series I, Vol. XV, p. 565 et seq.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD,
Yellville, Ark., September 10, 1862.

Brig. Gen. JAMES TOTTEN, Commanding.

GENERAL: In the Saint Louis Democrat of the 4th instant now before me appears a telegraphic dispatch dated Saint Joseph, Mo., September 2, which states that Poindexter, the notorious rebel leader of guerrilla bands in Missouri, was caught last night, &c. He is condemned and as a spy will suffer death. Your attention is directed to the sentence which I have italicized in the above extract, and information is asked as to the truth of the statements therein made; also whether these men termed "guerrillas" are to be put to death when made prisoners or treated as prisoners of war? I ask also to be informed whether your Government approves the conduct of one Chrysop, of the Missouri

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