HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, SERGEANT COMMANDING, Detachment Major Taylor's Battalion. SIR: You will report to the commanding officer of the post, who will deliver into your custody J. R. Ritchliff and W. P. M. Means, who have been sentenced by the military commission to be sent out of the country. On taking charge of these persons you will proceed with them without unnecessary delay to Ringgold Barracks, reporting with these instructions to the commanding officer, who is hereby directed to carry the -sentence as above stated into effect, after which you will return, reporting at these headquarters. While you are held responsible for the safety of the prisoners and the execution of the sentence you are charged not to treat them with undue severity. By order of Brig. Gen. P. O. Hébert: C. M. MASON, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. MILITARY PRISON, Alton, Ill., August 23, 1862. I enlisted in the Missouri State Guard service on the 22d of May, 1861. Was elected captain of Company A, Fifth Regiment, Third Division, and received commission on the 24th of May, 1861. Received orders from Henry Little, assistant adjutant-general, by order of General Price, to destroy the bridge on the North Missouri Railroad at Sturgeon or any other in the vicinity on the 13th of June, 1861, and to repair to Booneville immediately with company. I executed the said orders on the 15th of June, 1861. Was arrested on the 15th of April, 1862, in Boone County, and tried at Saint Louis on the 8th of May, 1862, by a military commission on the charge of violating the laws of war and specification destroying said road. I denied the charge but admitted the specification. I pleaded jurisdiction and exhibited my commission and also the order for destroying the road, which was disregarded and retained by the committee, and sentenced to imprisonment during the remainder of the war. All of which is true.* ABSALOM HICKS. WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, August 25, 1862. Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a letter from AdjutantGeneral Thomas, of the Federal Army, in explanation of the fact of supplies being sent on steamers taking prisoners of war to Aiken's. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] ROBT. OULD, Agent, &c. ROBERT OULD, Esq. Fort MONROE, VA., August 16, 1862. SIR: I have inquired into the fact of supplies being on board one of the steamers taking prisoners of war to Aiken's and find the following to be the facts: On the arrival at this place of the prisoners of war from Forts Warren and Delaware they were transferred from the large sea steamers, *For case of Absalom Hicks, see Vol. I, this Series, p. 503. which could not ascend the James River, to other steamers, and finding that those employed were not sufficient to make them comfortable, a steamer of the Sanitary Commission was taken. This steamer had on board boxes of clothing and other articles for the sick, where they are kept until issued. These supplies are not intended for General McClellan's army and were not landed at Harrison's Landing. This additional boat was provided entirely for the accommodation of your prisoners of war. A steamer goes up to-morrow for the 150 officers in Richmond. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Adjutant-General. Honorable SECRETARY OF War. RICHMOND, August 26, 1862. GENERAL: I inclose you an order* of Buell's adjutant-general which may have escaped your attention in regard to paroling prisoners and issued doubtless in response to the intercepted letter of General Nelson. It takes a position inconsistent with the cartel. Very respectfully, WM. PRESTON JOHNSTON, [Indorsement.] Inclose copy to General Bragg and inform him that it is regarded as a violation of the cartel of exchange which requires the release on parole of prisoners taken by either side. [Inclosure-Newspaper slip.] G. W. RANDOLPH. An effort to stop desertion from the Federal Army. Bull Nelson wrote to General Buell in the dispatches that we intercepted and brought to Governor Harris recently that the general dispo sition to desert among his troops was alarming and that something must be done to put a stop to it. He represented that on all favorable occasions his men would desert to the enemy and have themselves paroled. The following order,* which we find published in the Nashville Union, has followed as a consequence. We don't know what military authorities may think of it, but it strikes us as a novel idea that General Buell shall claim to determine when and upon what terms we shall parole a prisoner. GENERAL ORDERS, * No. 62. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE, II. It is hereby announced that no oath of allegiance to the United States and no parole by a person not in military service pledging himself not to bear arms against the United States will be regarded as an exemption from service of the armies of the Confederate States, but persons liable to conscription taking such oath or giving such parole will be enrolled for service. If captured by the enemy they will be demanded and paroled as prisoners of war. By order: S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. * Omitted here; General Orders, No. 41, p. 360. WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, Va., August 27, 1862. B. N. HARRISON, Esq., Private Secretary to the President. SIR: I have received the letter of D. H. Gordon with regard to T. F. Knox and others held as hostages by the enemy, referred by the Presi lent for information. The persons for whom the gentlemen arrested in Fredericksburg are held as hostages are to be released. One of them will first be paroled to return unless the hostages are discharged. By the inclosed order* you will see that I have been assigned to the command of C. S. prisons at Richmond. You will as heretofore continue in command of prisoners at Belle Isle. A report giving an accurate statement of all prisoners under your charge will be sent to his office every morning by 9 o'clock. The countersign will be sent to you every evening. Adjutant Peacock will hand you this communication. He is to take a full list of all he prisoners under your charge, and you will please to render him any assistance, as General Winder wishes to have a new list as soon as Dossible. Respectfully, H. WIRZ, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General, Commanding Prisons. ORDER, No. 2. C. S. MILITARY PRISONS, Richmond, Va., August 27, 1862. The officer of the day as well as officer of the guard will see that nothing is carried into the room of the Federal officers confined here, as they are by direct order from the Secretary of War not to be considered is prisoners of war. They will further see that they do not stand about the door or converse with any person. By order of H. WIRZ, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General, Commanding Prisons. GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 2, By the terms of a cartel for the exchange of prisoners, signed by commissioners representing the Confederate States and United States on July 22, 1862, it is provided that "all prisoners of war captured by either party shall be paroled within ten days thereafter." In violation of this solemn compact the general commanding the abolition forces styled the "Army of the Ohio" has issued general * Not found. + Reference is probably to some of Pope's officers. See General Orders, No. 54, August 1, p. 836; also, Davis to Lee, July 31, p. 830. 55 R R-SERIES II, VOL IV orders declaring all such paroles null and void unless given with his sanction. Commanders within this department will pay no respect to that order, but execute in good faith and to the fullest extent the terms of that cartel until it is abrogated by one or both of the high contracting parties. By command of General Bragg: JNO. M. OTEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. OLD CAPITOL PRISON, No. 9, Hon. D. C. DE JARNETTE, House of Representatives, Richmond. MY DEAR SIR: I was arrested at midnight of the 13th of August at my residence in Fredericksburg by General Burnside under instruetions from Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War. Eleven other citizens were arrested at the same time and we were all brought to this city and lodged in prison. General Burnside gave me a list of Union men held by the Confederate authorities at Richmond for whom we are held as hostages and whose release we are informed will be followed by our immediate discharge and return to our homes and families, separation from which in their present unprotected condition is most grievous. Seven other citizens of Fredericksburg had previously been arrested and imprisoned here as hostages, making nineteen in all. I call upon you as my old friend and Representative to bring your whole influence and exertions to bear upon this subject without a moment's delay and procure the release of the Union men whose names are herewith annexed: Maj. Charles Williams, Fredericksburg; Peter Couse, Spotsylvania County: Squire Ralston, Thomas Morrison, Moses Morrison, Burnham Wardwell, A. M. Pickett. I now give you the names of all the citizens of Fredericksburg now here and held as hostages for the above-named parties: Rev. William S. Broaddus, Thomas F. Knox, Charles C. Wellford, James McGuire, Beverly T. Gill, James H. Bradley, Thomas S. Barton (paroled), John F. Scott, George H. C. Rowe, Benjamin Temple, Dr. James Cooke, John H. Roberts, John Coakley, John J. Berry, Abraham Cox, William H. Norton, Michael Ames, Lewis Wrenn, M. Slaughter, mayor. Please inform my brother, J. W. Slaughter, in Danville, who will co-operate with you. Very truly, yours, M. SLAUGHTER. P. S.-Law. G. Washington and Richard Washington are also state prisoners from Westmoreland County. Since writing the within I learn from General Wadsworth, Military Governor, that our release from prison must be effected by exchange for the same number of Union men held by the Confederate Government, man for man. M. S. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH, Salt Sulphur Springs, August 29, 1862. Secretary of War, Richmond, Va. SIR: In reply to your letter of the 23d instant I have to inform you that there is no evidence bearing on the justice of the claim that Doctor Rucker shall be treated as a prisoner of war except the verbal statement of Lieutenant-Colonel Starr, captured at the same time, that he was provost-marshal at the enemy's post of Summersville. From the voluminous evidence of citizens and others, and which I ordered to be forwarded with Rucker, I am of opinion that he cannot successfully be treated as a spy, but should be prosecuted for the treason of leading the enemy into our settlements and burning the bridge over Cow Pasture River while he was a citizen. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, COLUMBUS, MISS., August 29, 1862. Maj. T. L. SNEAD, Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army. MAJOR: I intend to send the list of Federal officers captured in Missouri to the Secretary of War, C. S. A., and desire to know what became of the company rolls. Please inquire of Weightman and inform me as soon as practicable. Also inform me what was done with the list of officers and privates exchanged. I have examined General Price's records in vain for them. You may be able to ascertain by inquiry. Will the muster-rolls of Missouri troops be ready soon? In the event of movement toward Missouri I hope you will remember the interest I officially have in such information as may be communicable. I do not wish to move my office unnecessarily. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOUGH, Adjutant-General of Missouri. RICHMOND, August 30, 1862. Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH. SIR: I am directed by the President to forward to you for your attention and the proper action the subjoined copy of a resolution of the House of Representatives of this date: Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate to this House the cartel recently agreed upon for a general exchange of prisoners with the enemy and to inform this House whether the enemy is known to have violated the same in any way, and particularly by administering oaths of allegiance to prisoners in their custody and retaining them in the United States. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, BURTON N. HARRISON, [Indorsement.] Acknowledge transfer and inclose a copy of the cartel to the Presi dent and inform him that the Department has no reason to believe that any of our prisoners have been coerced into taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. A list of 309 who had taken the oath, attested by their own signature, was furnished to our agent and were dropped by the enemy from their roll of prisoners, thus leaving an equal number of their prisoners in our hands not embraced in the exchange. We are not informed of any violations of the cartel. An order issued by General Buell which if carried out will be a violation of it has been made the subject of a strong remonstrance by General Bragg, and we hope will be rescinded. G. W. R. |