OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Maj. W. S. PIERSON, Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: Your letters* of the 9th and 10th instant are received. Under the cartel all military prisoners released for exchange must be provided with transportation to the point [to] which they are sent, but prisoners released on taking the oath of allegiance or for other causes must provide for themselves. If they give occasion for the Govern ment to arrest them they cannot expect it to be at the expense of sending them home on being released. But there are some cases where men have been arrested on false charges or through mistake and where they are in a destitute condition. In such cases you may purchase first or second class tickets for them to their homes with the prison fund. Wood's case may be considered of this class. Please say to General Barrow that I laid his case before the War Department, but as yet have received no answer. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. MILITARY PRISON, Alton, Ill., October 13, 1862. Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN: The provost-marshal-general at Saint Louis, Mo., claims entire control of not only the military force there but also the prison, and frequently sends orders to me to admit ladies and gentlemen into the prison to see their friends. He also orders me to make out the same rolls and returns that you require. He wants returns made to him every two weeks. Now, to undertake to live and act under the rulings of two masters is more than I contracted for and more than I am willing to submit to. When their orders conflict everything is deranged thereby. Please give this subject your immediate attention and much oblige, J. HILDEBRAND, Colonel, Commanding Post. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Col. THOMAS T. GANTT, Provost-Marshal-General, Saint Louis, Mo. COLONEL: I am informed by the commanding officer of the military prison at Alton that he receives, orders from you in relation to his duties which are in conflict with those which I have given him, and to avoid embarrassment from contradictory orders and to promote the interest of the service which should be our first consideration I wish to call your attention to the orders from the War Department, No. 32, of April 2, and No. 67, of June 17, placing all prison camps or sta tions under my control, and my circular of regulations of July 7. which I have furnished to commanders of posts where prisoners are held and which I have directed to be closely adhered to. Paragraph 12 of General Orders 32 says that my duties do not extend to prisoners of state, but since that time the charge of all political prisoners has * *Not found. been placed in my hands. As far as practicable it is desirable that only such prisoners be sent to Alton as will probably remain in custody some time, for under my instructions none can be released from there without the authority of the War Department. If this is not practicable in your department I wish you would make such suggestions to meet the case as you may think proper and I will lay them before the Secretary of War. The Gratiot Street Prison should be used for casual prisoners and for such as have their cases under investigation. All military prisoners should be sent to Alton. In every case where prisoners are sent to Alton a full list should accompany them, giving all the details required by the printed rolls with the charges or sentences under the head of remarks. It is reported to me that prisoners are sometimes received without even a roll. Prisoners should be sent up to arrive during the daytime if possible. Visitors to prisoners are prohibited except under specified circumstances and I request you will give no permit for that purpose. The admission of visitors to the prison is attended with much inconvenience and leads to lax discipline. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. Maj. Gen. JOHN A. DIX. U. S. MARSHAL'S OFFICE, Wilmington, Del., October 13, 1862. SIR: On or about the 15th day of March last past Thomas F. Bayard of this city was arrested by Colonel Wallace, of the Maryland Home Guard, under orders from Brigadier-General Lockwood for and because the said Thomas F. Bayard as virtual captain of a company of disloyal persons refused to deliver up certain arms of the United States then in their possession. The said Thomas F. Bayard was afterwards paroled by you at the time this military district was under your command. Will you be pleased to inform me whether Mr. Bayard has been released from his parole, and oblige, Yours, very respectfully, JAS. C. AIKIN, N. B.-There is still out in the hands of the company about twenty U. S. guns hidden by them. HEADQUARTERS, Fort Monroe, Va., October 13, 1862. Adjutant-General L. THOMAS. GENERAL: There arrived here this morning from Aiken's Landing 232 officers captured at Shiloh and 101 privates, all of whom have been confined at Madison, Ga. I am informed that a large number of our prisoners will arrive at Richmond in a few days. Unless Mr. Ould has changed his mind the above-named officers can be immediately exchanged. Generals Prentiss and Crittenden are among them and I showed them the general order which declared them exchanged. The Confederate Government now prescribes the following form of parole, which was signed by these prisoners: We the undersigned solemnly swear and pledge our sacred word of honor that we will not during the existing hostilities between the United States and the Confederate States of America aid or abet the enemies of said Confederate States or any of them in any form or manner whatsoever until released or exchanged. This alteration from the previous form, which followed the cartel, is ascribed by their papers to the reported use of the Harper's Ferry prisoners against the Indians. There are many points and suggestions connected with these exchanges which I will reserve for a personal interview. Among them is the great desirability of a change of the place of delivery to City Point, a change whose necessity is anticipated by the terms of the cartel. Mr. Ould has expressed to me a willing. ness to make it. The wharves there, mostly destroyed by the Confederates, can be easily repaired by them. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. H. LUDLOW, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Harrisburg, Pa., October 14, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. SIR: I inclose petition* of Pennsylvanians now at Annapolis as paroled prisoners. I earnestly ask that the people of this State now at Annapolis be brought within our borders. All they say of the treatment they receive is true and many of them would prefer to be returned to Richmond. These men deserve better treatment and their reasonable demands should be promptly answered by the Government. These details cannot receive your personal supervision, and you can only get knowledge from the officials in charge of the men. I hear of the condition of these paroled prisoners so often and am so fully convinced of the unjust treatment that I feel it my duty to press the change of place and the amelioration of their condition earnestly. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. G. CURTIN. HEADQUARTERS, Fort Monroe, Va., October 14, 1862. JAMES C. AIKIN, Esq., [U. S.] Marshal of Delaware. SIR: I do not remember the conditions of Mr. Bayard's release or whether he gave a parole. If he did it must have been to do no act of hostility to the United States and is a subsisting obligation unless he has been discharged from it by my successor, General Wool, or the authorities at Washington. I am, very respectfully, yours, JOHN A. DIX, Major-General. ROSECRANS' HEADQUARTERS, October 14, 1862. : Major-General GRANT: Another cause for remonstrance with the Confederate authorities is that our prisoners report that they do not give them food for a day or two after they are first taken and then a very inadequate and inferior allowance. Their attenuated features bear testimony to the fact that they are treated more as criminals than as prisoners of war. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. *Not found. ANNAPOLIS, MD., October 14, 1862. Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief : I have just arrived with Shiloh officers from Georgia. Can we proceed to Washington to be provided for? We are suffering. General Crittenden with officers is also here and in same condition. Please answer. B. M. PRENTISS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. SIR: In submitting the communication of the 5th instant of Robert Ould, esq., agent for the exchange of prisoners, addressed to LieutenantColonel Ludlow, acting for me, I beg leave to submit the following remarks on the nine points of complaint presented by him: 1. The arrest of citizens in Missouri deemed to be disloyal has frequently been made and many of them have been required to take the oath of allegiance to the United States and to give bonds. This course the Government has a perfect right to pursue in that State. 2. Officers and men of the Missouri State Guard should be placed on the same footing with other prisoners of war. If any such prisoners are now held in confinement they should be paroled and sent South for exchange. Inquiry has been made to ascertain if any such prisoners are in our possession. 3. The commanding officer of Fort Lafayette has been called upon to report in the case of Capt. D. B. Vincent, commander of the merchant vessel Emily. In what way are the crews of vessels captured in attempting to run the blockade to be regarded? 4. Partisan rangers and independent companies properly authorized and whose officers are duly commissioned should be placed on the same footing as other Confederate troops. One such company was authorized by the War Department to operate in the mountains of Virginiathat of Captain Means. The cases mentioned by Mr. Ould will be investigated. 5. The three persons named with some 100 other citizen prisoners have recently been sent from this city to Aiken's Landing to be exchanged. In a number of instances citizens have been arrested and held as hostages for the delivery of Union citizens. It is often necessary to arrest citizens when troops are advancing to prevent their giving information to the enemy. 6. Instructions have been sent to Major-General Butler to promptly parole all prisoners of war and to send them across his lines for exchange. 7. The troops paroled at Harper's Ferry, except four regiments, were recently sent from Annapolis to Camp Douglas, near Chicago, Ill., preparatory to being sent to Minnesota to act against Indians. Their employment against Indians would seem to be contrary to the fourth article of the cartel. 8. Orders were recently issued to send all the prisoners of war on the Atlantic seaboard to Fort Monroe, and it appears that on their arrival General Dix forwarded them to Aiken's Landing, he having no suitable place to confine them at the fort. 9. Large numbers of citizens of Union sentiments are believed to have been arrested and imprisoned in the rebel States. In some cases our authorities have arrested rebel citizens and held them as hostages for the delivery of such Union prisoners. It will be seen by Colonel Ludlow's letter of transmittal that among the prisoners sent from Fort Delaware and delivered at Aiken's Landing were nineteen contrabrands, captured as teamsters on or near the battle-field. Am I to exchange such persons as prisoners of war? I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DIVISION OF MISSOURI, Col. E. C. CATHERWOOD, Commanding Post of Sedalia. COLONEL: Yours of date 13th instant is just received. You will hold your prisoners under a safe and reliable guard, allowing no intercourse between them and outsiders. I will send you specific orders in relation to the manner of their final disposition but it is not prudent to do so at present. Hereafter you will cause all persons who have violated their oath of allegiance by taking up arms and where the proof is clear to be executed on your own order, showing the facts on its face which induced you to issue the order. You will remain at Sedalia and will make such arrangements as are necessary to secure the post of Sedalia in case it is attacked. Defer as long as possible to call in the outposts from Calhoun and Warrensburg. Operations will be instituted from the North which will permanently settle this disturb ance in a very short time. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, BEN. LOAN, Brigadier-General, Missouri State Militia. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA, Raleigh, October 14, 1862. Maj. Gen. J. G. FOSTER, Commanding Dept. of North Carolina, New Berne, N. C. GENERAL: I forward by flag of truce four ladies and two children who wish to go to the United States. Col. S. D. Pool, Tenth Regiment North Carolina Troops, who was sent a few days ago with a letter requesting you to send beyond your lines those who were taken prisoners at Fort Macon, reports that in conversation with Major Hoffman of your staff on this subject: I learned that no man although regularly exchanged would be sent out of their lines unless he expressed his willingness to come, but that credit would be given to the Confederates for every soldier thus retained. In reply to my objections to this being practicable, for the reason that we had a large excess of prisoners and that months must elapse before they could give us the credit spoken of while in the meantime they had received and were using against us on the battlefield the very men we had given in exchange for those they were retaining within their lines, the major replied that no cases of the kind had occurred anywhere else than in North Carolina and that they had determined to gain these men as citizens, losing for them an equal number of soldiers. This he thought was General Foster's determination, but should he find that he had mistaken the general's views he would communicate with us by flag immediately upon his return to New Berne. |