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One of the surgeons after they were notified to leave said he wished to speak to me in private. He said he would be hung if he was known to say what he was going to, and would not without I would agree not to mention his name to any one. I told him I would not. He said he was glad to get away. That the prisoners would soon have a revolt; that I should immediately increase our force. I replied, "Let them try. We are ready." He said he supposed so, but the prisoners were desperate and would make the attempt, and whether successful or not it would lead to great loss of life to them and outside. I said, "Supposing successful, which I do not fear, how will they get off the island?" He said that if they could not have arrangements carried out for transportation they had determined to take their chance by tearing [down] buildings or fences to make rafts across to the mainland, and there take their chance of getting hold of vessels or walking to Canada, or scattering. I said, "They are not so big fools." He says, "They are, and nothing will stop them unless you have more force, at least in making the attempt." "Now," says he, "act as you please, but never disclose me, and I feel that I have done a duty in saying this to you."

Just as the officers were going on the boat a man who was one of them, but I had never seen him before even to know him by sight, beckoned me to one side and said, "Major, your Government has done a noble and humane act in discharging the surgeons. I want to say to you that you should increase your guards here without delay. It may save a great calamity to do it. I cannot say any more." He said this in a low voice and went right on the boat. I do not know which he I will add that I have not mentioned these circumstances to any person living and shall keep no copy of this letter. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

was.

WM. S. PIERSON,

Major Hoffman's Battalion, Commanding.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
June 26, 1862.

Hon. DAVID TOD, Governor of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.
DEAR SIR: I learned last evening from Major Pierson that when
the rebel surgeons were released under recent order from the War
Department one of them called him aside and under his promise not to
mention his name told him that the prisoners were determined on a
revolt at all hazards and even with scarcely a hope of ultimate escape
from the island. This statement was confirmed by another surgeon
just at the moment of leaving.

Improbable as the story seems I thought it advisable last evening to call on you for a company to re-enforce the guard. I am satisfied there are turbulent and desperate spirits among them who keep up discussions and excitement and who taking advantage of the small guard may by some individual act bring about a collision between the guard and the prisoners in spite of the better judgment and better feeling of the large majority of them. The presence of a stronger guard will overcome the reckless and encourage the well-disposed to insist on submission when resistance would manifestly be only a useless sacrifice of their own lives. I must try and cultivate a little more confidence in the command with less concern about what may be undertaken, but twenty preventions are better than one cure.

If the company is required there permanently as probably it will be I will ask authority to call on you for another company to be added to the battalion.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Maj. W. S. PIERSON,

June 26, 1862.

Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: The company which will arrive to-day from Camp Chase will remove any possible chance of an attempt at revolt by the prisoners, which even without its presence I looked upon as scarcely within the range of possibility. Though not belonging to the battalion the company must perform the same duty and be subject to the same discipline as the other companies. A thorough system of drill must be carried out. Your guards are already strong enough and need not be increased in consequence of the presence of this company.

Kindness alone will not keep prisoners in subjection, and when you can single out a turbulent character you must resort to severe measures. You have the power and you are responsible that it is well executed.

I hope you have secured the services of a good hospital steward. The situation is a very desirable one and there are doubtless many competent persons who would be glad to get it.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

INDIANAPOLIS, June 26, 1862.

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

An order has been presented signed by order Lieut. Col. Bernard G. Farrar, provost-marshal-general, Saint Louis, to release A. W. Clinard, of Kentucky, a prisoner of war at Camp Morton. Has Colonel Farrar authority to discharge prisoners? Answer.

JAMES A. EKIN,
Assistant Quartermaster.

JOHNSON'S ISLAND,

Near Sandusky City, Ohio, June 26, 1862.

Colonel HOFFMAN, General Superintendent of Prisoners.

HONORED SIR: On the date of February, 1862, I was appointed by the medical director (who had the authority) surgeon of the Tenth Tennessee Regiment of Volunteers and was acting in that capacity at my capture at Donelson, and hence my name upon the muster-rolls as captain, placed there by Capt. Leslie Ellis, who with all the command was fully aware of the facts as to my rank and appointment as surgeon and captain. Previous to my appointment I was lieutenant. This is a plain statement of facts and I am to-day de jure and de facto surgeon of the Tenth Tennessee Volunteers and entitled to a discharge as per order releasing surgeons. The enrolling of my name as captain was

unwittingly done as I was not aware that surgeons were registered, only giving my rank, which was captain.

Hoping that the above presentation of facts will be appreciated and that immediate action will ensue resulting in my release,

I remain, with profound respect, your obedient servant,
J. HANDY,

Surgeon Tenth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 27, 1862.

JAMES A. EKIN, Assistant Quartermaster, Indianapolis: Colonel Farrar has no authority to release prisoners. You will release no one without order or approval from this Department.

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Col. G. LOOMIS,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, June 27, 1862.

Commanding Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, N. Y.

SIR: The Secretary of War directs me to acknowledge the receipt of a letter signed by a number of prisoners of war now at Governor's Island and referred by you to this Department expressing their reluctance to be placed under the control of the rebels, and to state in reply that when a system of general exchanges shall be established none of the prisoners of war who will take the oath of allegiance and as to whose future loyalty there is no question will be forced within the rebel lines.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

C. P. WOLCOTT, Assistant Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

Flag-Officer C. H. DAVIS,

Corinth, Miss., June 27, 1862.

Comdg. Western Flotilla, Mississippi River, Memphis, Tenn. SIR: Your letter of the 18th is received. I have received no official information of the gun-boats in the Arkansas and White Rivers. In operating with troops in Arkansas it is of the utmost importance to know something of the movements of the flotilla there. Corporal Warden will be sent to your command. You can negotiate the exchange of your prisoners through any Confederate officer with whom you can communicate. If you have not in your command the men for exchange General Grant on your requisition will be ordered to furnish them. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS, Fort Monroe, Va., June 27, 1862.

Brig. Gen. J. H. VAN ALEN, Commanding at Yorktown, Va.

GENERAL: Please send to Mathews County Court-House and arrest Carter B. Hudgins and send him to this post to be placed in confinement at the Rip Raps, and give public notice at the court-house that

in ease of any further disturbance of the public peace by guerrillas or any further violence done or offered in that county by secessionists to Unionists I shall hold every secessionist there personally responsible therefor.

JOHN A. DIX,

Major-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Washington, June 27, 1862.

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

SIR: In compliance with your instructions I have the honor to submit herewith copies of all correspondence* on file in this office bearing on the Senate's resolution of June 23 which calls for information in regard to the exchange of prisoners or the negotiations therefor.

I have the honor, &c.,

L. THOMAS,
Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS, Camp Chase, Ohio, June 27, 1862. Colonel HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit.

SIR: Yours dated 21st instant concerning or ordering release of surgeon prisoners confined at this post is received, and I have to reply that on the 19th instant pursuant to orders from Governor David Tod of Ohio, dated June 18, all prisoners known to be surgeons were by Col. G. Moody, then commanding, unconditionally released from confinement at this post. A prisoner physician whose claim to a regular surgeonship is not yet clearly decided has been by order of the Governor paroled on condition that he report himself for duty to the post surgeon as his assistant in discharging his duties to the prisoners.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

CHAS. W. B. ALLISON,

Colonel Eighty-fifth Regt. Ohio Vol. Infty., Commanding Post.

Surgeons released as per foregoing: M. M. Johnson, Fifty-third Tennessee Regiment; J. D. Johnson, Forty-eighth Tennessee Regiment; Tomlin Braxton, assistant surgeon (rebel), King William County, Va.; Theophilus Steele, Second Kentucky Regiment; E. W. Harris, Twentysecond Alabama Regiment; O. F. Knox, First Alabama.

HEADQUARTERS, Camp Douglas, June 27, 1862. Adjt. Gen. L. THOMAS, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of June 26 addressed to the commanding officer Camp Douglas requiring him to report immediately the number and names of all prisoners who have escaped from Camp Douglas and dates of escape. I succeeded Colonel Cameron in the command of this post on the 19th instant. No prisoners have escaped since that date. I do not find any records on file from which I can furnish immediately the number and names of those who previously escaped. I have instituted a vigorous inquiry, however, and will forward the information required as soon as it can be procured.

* Omitted here; see correspondence of Wool and Huger in its chronological order.

Hereafter a minute record of all events regarding prisoners of war at this post will be kept on record.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH H. TUCKER,
Colonel Sixty-ninth Regt. Illinois Vol. Infty., Commanding Post.

Col. W. HOFFMAN,

HEADQUARTERS, Camp Douglas, June 27, 1862.

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich.

COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 21st instant addressed to commanding officer of this post. In accordance with instructions therein the medical officers held as prisoners of war in this camp, nineteen in number, were discharged on the 25th instant. I send a list of them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH H. TUCKER,

Colonel Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infty., Commanding Post.

Colonel BoYD.

COPAYE'S MILL, Texas County, Mo., June 27, 1862.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report to you the following as the result of my work. I made a hasty report to you on the 24th. I now include facts:

I arrested Moses Bradford, a noted guerrilla and one who has caused us much trouble. He was not in arms and I do not feel it my duty to shoot him, although he acknowledges himself in the brush for four weeks and coming from the army with Coleman, and is identified [as] a train-burner. I arrested Lewis Morris in arms with letters from General Price's army exciting to guerrilla warfare, who acknowledged himself a rebel (the letters I forwarded to you before in which he was spoken of as Colonel Best), and under Orders, No. 18, from General Schofield and instructions I shot him although it was an unpleasant duty.

I have arrested a number who have willingly fed Coleman's men in order to know what they knew about the rebels in this vicinity and threats which have been made, in doing which I ascertained the hiding place of about forty rebels, it being two miles south of Joel Stevenson's in a house built two years ago but not occupied; hence rode to it. Out of rebel sympathizers I made guides, and under cover of a heavy shower last night I surrounded the place, but from evidence they had not been there after the arrest of Moses Bradford. I have the names of all and they are those who have friends living here. They are the ones who are shooting Union men down in this vicinity. A Mr. Light, near the Gasconade, was shot while in his corn-field. These rebels roam the whole country. I arrested a Mr. King, who has been feeding his son, a returned rebel, and one who is identified as a train-burner, and released him on promise that he would deliver his son as prisoner of war at Rolla within one week. In so doing I think we can again find the hiding place of the rest.

I have left the very best of impression among the people. I have succeeded in getting neighbors and brothers together who have not

*Not found.

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