You will perceive this statement varies some little from the approximated number and how disposed of in my letter to you of the 23d instant, not being prepared at that time to make an accurate report. You will also perceive that the number of recent recruits sent to Vicksburg is double the number approximated. A much larger number of recruits might have been forwarded to Vicksburg but for the fact that many of them were youths of tender years, many of whose parents were of undoubted loyalty, and under General Wright's modified order it was deemed better policy to let their parents take them home on their entering into bond for their good conduct during the present rebellion, which was done. Respectfully, HENRY DENT, Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA, Col. W. HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners: COLONEL: Yours of the 19th relating to the exchange of some officers captured in Missouri is received. There are a large number of both officers and men who were captured in some of the earlier battles in Missouri who have not been declared exchanged. I have urged upon the attention of Mr. Ould, the Confederate commissioner, a speedy disposition of these cases and I have no doubt that at my next interview with him we can arrange them all. The papers and rolls on both sides are so very deficient in these Missouri captures, and the difficulty of arranging exchange by detail of list and by date of capture so very great, that I shall endeavor to secure a general declaration similar to the one of November 11, which covered all Virginia and Maryland from the commencement of the war. If I can proportionately succeed in this as in the latter declaration, by which our Government gained over 4,000 prisoners, I shall be much gratified. If for any special reason it be considered important that the officers named in your letter should be immediately declared exchanged please so advise me. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. H. LUDLOW, Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of Prisoners. ALTON, ILL., November 24, 1862. Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D. C. COLONEL: I have completed an investigation of the prisoners in the military prison. I have taken their own assertions of their residence and where captured when the records of the prison failed to give them. I have now a complete roll of the prisoners confined and have them separated in divisions under chiefs, and officers have them in charge who understand and I think will perform their duty. The returns which you have directed me to forward I will forward this evening. The retained returns prove correctly. The adjutant here assures me that the corrected returns, with rolls to explain alterations, were for 48 R R-SERIES II, VOL IV warded to you at Washington on the 2d instant. There is no record here by which they can be duplicated. The rolls here only show the disposition that has been made of prisoners without giving dates. It is impossible to select those who have been sent away during any designated month. I hope to have completed my duties here by Wednes day evening, 26th instant. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. FREEDLEY, Captain, &c. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, C. F. CUSHING, Demonstrator of Anatomy, Cleveland College, Ohio. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 19th instant in relation to your procuring from Johnson's Island the bodies of deceased rebel soldiers, or those of such as may die during the winter. In reply I am directed by the commissarygeneral of prisoners to inform you that your request cannot be com plied with. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. M. LAZELLE, Capt., Eighth Infty., U. S. Army, Asst. to Com. Gen. of Prisoners. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Brig. Gen. G. W. CULLUM, Chief of Staff, &c., Hdqrs. of the Army, Washington, D. C. GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter from Brig. Gen. J. T. Boyle, and of the inclosures to which he refers, giving a general statement of his action under the General Orders, No. 49,* issued by Major-General Buell, and subsequently modified by him and myself, and to request that these papers be considered in connection with my letter of the 21st instant to the General-in-Chief upon this subject. I would remark that in answer to General Boyle's question, "What is to be done with deserters?" he has been directed in case their claims are recognized to release such as it appears may be trusted on their taking the oath of allegiance and giving bonds, adding in certain instances when thought necessary other conditions, such as restriction to certain limits, and to send such as cannot be relied upon to keep their obligation to Camp Chase as prisoners of war. I have submitted the question of the enlisting of deserters from the rebel service into our own to the Adjutant-General of the Army as I am under the impression it is prohibited in orders from the War Department, though I have failed to find any such orders. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General, Commanding. * For other correspondence relating to this matter see Series I, Vol. XX, Part II. [Inclosure.] HEADQUARTERS, Louisville, Ky., November 23, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Commanding Department of the Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio. GENERAL: Your order in regard to my action under General Orders, No. 49, Army of the Ohio, was duly received, but it requires much timé with the force I have in my office to make a detailed report. I can only furnish you now a general approximate statement, which is contained in inclosed paper from Col. Henry Dent, provost-marshal-general of Kentucky. I had directed Colonel Dent to execute the General Orders, No. 49, modified by Major-General Buell and yourself. I believe 5 he has strictly conformed to orders and modifications. I believe the modifications of General Orders, No. 49, are just and wise. I forwarded to you copy of the letter of General Buell modifying his order, and I now inclose herewith copy of your instructions* modifying the same order. You will perceive that the modifications made by General Buell affected but one class while that made by you affected all. I regard the modification made by you as wise and judicious and necessary to a just administration of affairs in that regard. It is of course subject to abuse and may not have been administered with the limitations and restrictions of a wise discretion. I believe, however, that the modified orders have been as prudently executed as could be under the circumstances. You will perceive from Colonel Dent's statement that there are six classes, as follows: 1. Prisoners of war sent to Vicksburg, about 2,300. 2. Rebel recruits sent to Vicksburg, about 30. 3. Deserters of regular rebel army released on taking oath, being Germans, Irish and citizens of Northern States, 200. 4. Deserters of recent rebel recruits released on oath and bond, 150. 5. Citizens (prisoners) released on bond and oath, about 100. 6. Citizens (prisoners) sent to Camp Chase, about 45. This statement is only approximately correct, but a detailed statement will be furnished in a few days if required. No prisoners arrested whether claiming to be deserters or otherwise have been released since telegraphic order from Colonel Hoffman was received. What is to be done with deserters? Nearly all the rebel recruits claimed to be deserters and no doubt most of them deserted because the rebel army was driven from the State. They would have served the rebels if they had remained in Kentucky. Many of them are youths from fifteen to eighteen years of age. What shall be done with them? They were puppets worked by older heads who conceal themselves and cover their deeds of darkness and villainy. All these rebel recruits can be shipped to Vicksburg, but it seems to me that our State should not be made a recruiting field for the rebel army, and it would be better to send them to Camp Chase. Nevertheless it is evident that there are many deluded youths and ignorant men who have been inveigled into the rebel army who should be released on execution of bonds and taking oath. I send you a dispatch received from Colonel Bruce, commanding at Russellville, inquiring whether a number of deserters from Colonel Hunt's and Colonel Lewis' rebel regiments will be allowed to return * Not found. home on taking oath and giving bond. They say they are willing to go into the Federal Army. I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant, J. T. BOYLE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [Sub-inclosure No. 1.] HEADQUARTERS, Louisville, Ky., November 23, 1862. Brigadier-General BOYLE, Commanding District of Western Kentucky. SIR: I am having prepared a full and complete statement of number of prisoners received at the military prison and final action in their respective cases. As soon as completed will forward to your headquarters. I do not think the result will vary much from the following, to wit: 1. Prisoners of war sent to Vicksburg, about 2,300. 2. Rebel recruits sent to Vicksburg, about 30. 3. Deserters discharged on oath from regular rebel army, consisting of Germans, Irish and citizens of Northern States, about 200. 4. Deserters of recent recruits discharged on oath and bond, about 150. 5. Citizens sent to Camp Chase, about 45. 6. Citizens discharged on oath and bond, about 100. I have endeavored to carry out the spirit of Major-General Wright's modified order and believe much good will result from it. Respectfully, HENRY DENT, Colonel and Provost-Marshal-General. [Sub-inclosure No. 2.] General BOYLE: RUSSELLVILLE, [November] 21, 1862. Numbers of deserters from Hunt's and Lewis' Kentucky rebel_regi ments are deserting and wish to return home, take oath and give bond. Say they will go into Federal Army before they will return. shall be done with such men? What S. D. BRUCE, Colonel, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Hon. W. C. GOODLOE, Judge U. S. District Court, Lexington, Ky. DEAR SIR: A press of business must be my excuse for not replying to your letter of the 13th instant which was duly received. I have for some time been endeavoring to arrange a system of exchange for the home guards of Kentucky, who have given their parole to the rebels, but have not succeeded in hitting upon any scheme which would meet the case. The matter of exchange is fixed by the cartel agreed upon by the belligerents, and announced in General Orders, No. 142, War Depart ment, a copy of which I inclose.* From it you will perceive that no definite provision is made for such prisoners, unless it be in article 3, and * See p. 266. this would be restricted by the condition [which] is complete only when the person exchanged is returned to the lines of the party to which he belongs. This condition would I think make the system of exchange inapplicable. Moreover I am informed that the home-guards of Kentucky have been paroled on the express condition that they are not subject to exchange. How far the Government would recognize such a parole I cannot say-I think not at all. It is binding only on the conscience of the individual giving it. If after looking over the cartel you are still of the opinion that your proposition is a correct solution of the question I should be glad to hear from you again. In the meantime I shall refer your letter to the commissary-general of prisoners who has the management of all matters connected with paroled prisoners. I did modify General Buell's order as modified by himself because it could not be carried out without a violation of the rules of war aud the practice of the service under the order of the War Department. The modifications consisted in treating as deserters those whose claims as such were recognized and in requiring that all aiders and abettors be at once arrested and held for examination instead of holding the examination prior to the arrest, and also in directing that such aiders and abettors be sent as a rule to Camp Chase as political prisoners, instead of to Vicksburg to be turned loose and permitted to continue their treasonable practices. Very respectfully, yours, H. G. WRIGHT, Major-General, Commanding. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Lieut. Col. M. BURKE, Commanding, &c., Fort Hamilton, N. Y. Harbor: The Secretary of War directs that you release Pierre Soulé on his giving his parole to be of good behavior and do no act of hostility against the Government of the United States. Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT HAMILTON, N. Y., November 26, 1862. Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. GENERAL: Please find inclosed the parole of Mr. Pierre Soulé, who was to-day released by an order from the Secretary of War dated November 26, 1862. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] I, Pierre Soulé, of New Orleans, La., do hereby give my parole of honor to be of good behavior, that I will render no aid or comfort to the enemies in hostility to the Government of the United States and do no act of hostility against the Government of the United States. PIERRE SOULÉ. Dated Fort Hamilton, N. Y. Harbor, November 26, 1862. |