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have had a terrible time of it. Now that I am back I intend if possible to have my revenge for being incarcerated in the penitentiary, robbed and abused generally. I saw mother, who sends you a great deal of love. Yesterday I paid a long visit to Mr. Davis. Himself and family were well. I wish you to know in connection with my capture that it was unavoidable. With twenty-seven men I fought two hours and a half, losing five of my men and killing more than our number of the enemy, and only surrendered when the building in which we were was fired. I hope to make a better record next time.

With much love to Mrs. Davis and the children,
Sincerely,

ROBT. C. WOOD, JR.

BALDWIN, MISS., September 24, 1862.

Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond.

SIR: I have just received a letter from a Missouri congressman in which he says that General Price is severely censured at Richmond for not transmitting to the Department the rolls of the prisoners that were paroled at Lexington, and that

The matter as it now stands is disgraceful to the character of the officers who had the management of the surrender on our part.

As I was at that time the acting adjutant-general of the Missouri State Guard and as it was my duty as such to attend to the details of the surrender I may be permitted to make the following statement and explanation:

Rolls of all the prisoners that were captured and paroled at Lexing ton by General Price were carefully made out and preserved. These rolls were not transmitted to the War Department because it had nothing whatever to do with the prisoners. These were captured by the Missouri State Guard and were properly held as prisoners to the State of Missouri and not to the Confederate States, between which and the State of Missouri there was not at that time any connection either civil or military.

To have sent the rolls to Richmond under the circumstances would have been manifestly improper. I therefore filed them in the office of the adjutant-general of the Missouri State Guard to remain there till such time as they might be transmitted to their proper custodian, the adjutant-general of the State of Missouri, to whom they were subsequently delivered by me and in whose custody I presume they still are. I am, sir, with the greatest respect, your obedient servant, THOMAS L. SNEAD.

RICHMOND, VA., September 25, 1862.

Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

SIR: Having just returned from Camp Chase, Ohio, where I had been detained as a prisoner of war, via Vicksburg, Miss., allow me to call your attention to a few facts regarding the Virginia prisoners who were released at the same time with myself, viz, on the 10th instant. They to the number of about 300 are held at Jackson, Miss., by General Lloyd Tilghman, to whom they are ordered to report and who expressed his determination to form them into a separate battalion, as he said, temporarily, yet for service at that point or with the Army of the Southwest. You can easily imagine the dissatisfaction this would

The

cause among troops taken from at least half a dozen different regiments and representing I believe every different arm of the service and who have but one or two commissioned officers in their whole number. reason assigned by General Tilghman for this detention was the want of transportation. But he added at the same time that-"We (the department I presume) want them here." These troops, principally from the mountains of Virginia, are exposed of course to all the diseases incident to that climate at this season of the year. Great numbers of them were already sick when I left and if anything could be done to alleviate their condition it certainly could do the service no harm and confer a great favor on the men thus concerned.

Allow me to be, dear sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. BOSTON STEWART.

RICHMOND, VA., September 25, 1862.

Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

SIR: Allow me to call your attention to a fact that has come under my immediate notice in regard to certain orders given by LieutenantColonel Hall, who was in command of the post at Beverly, Randolph County, Va., at the time of my capture by an expedition sent out from that point to Hightown, Highland County, August 8. After my capture, as they were proceeding on the Staunton and Parkersburg road about two and a half or three miles west of Havener's Store, the advance was fired on by some persons in ambush and two others (prisoners) escaped. I was not with the other prisoners at the time, being in custody of their cavalry. The infantry halted at the point at which they were attacked till the cavalry came up and then Captain Jarboe gave his troops what he said was a standing order, viz, that if they were fired on by any persons whatever to turn and shoot all the prisoners in their custody. I extended my protest verbally, of course, against this, and though three of the officers, viz, Lieutenants Myers and Hart, of Captain Keys' Ringgold Cavalry, and Lieutenant Barclay, of the bogus Tenth Virginia Regiment, declared that they would not obey the order, it was not withdrawn but reiterated. The same order was tried to be carried out on the person of Granville Carlin, of Barbour County, who was raising a company of rangers for a batalion I was authorized to raise under order of 22d of May a few days previous to the time I was taken. He after being taken prisoner was fired on and wounded in the arm when they were attacked in an open woods in Pendleton County, Va., but escaped, though not trying to do so at the time. I state this as I got it from him the next day. The officers named above belong to the Tenth Regiment (bogus Virginia), Federal Army.

Yours, respectfully,

D. BOSTON STEWART.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE,

OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL,
Knoxville, September 25, 1862.

By authority of the major-general commanding the Department of East Tennessee the following persons have been appointed deputy provost-marshals for the districts following, to wit:

First District, Johnson, Carter and Sullivan, Capt. A. L. Gammon, Blountsville; Second District, Washington and Greene, Capt. Giles Cecil, Jonesborough; Third District, Jefferson, Grainger, Sevier and Cocke,

Capt. William McCampbell, Morristown; Fourth District, Hawkins, Hancock and Claiborne, Capt. Walter R. Evans, Tazewell; Fifth District, Campbell, Scott and Fentress, Capt. J. D. Thomas, Jacksborough: Sixth District, Knox, Union, Anderson and Morgan, Capt. W. W. Stringfield, Knoxville; Seventh District, Blount, Monroe and Roane, Capt. W. J. Hicks, Loudon; Eighth District, McMinn, Polk and Bradley, Capt. J. M. Carmack, Athens; Ninth District, Meigs, Rhea and Bledsoe, Capt. W. E. Colville, Washington; Tenth District, Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie, Capt. C. W. Peden, Chattanooga.

JOHN E. TOOLE, Colonel and Provost-Marshal.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, September 26, 1862.

Maj. Gen. G. W. SMITH, Richmond, Va.

GENERAL: Your attention is respectfully called to the inclosed copies of a letter from the Hon. A. R. Wright and a resolution of the medical committee relative to the condition of the hospital of the Federal sick and wounded, and you are requested to cause your medical director to inspect the prisoners' hospital and to report on it at this Department and to correct abuses that may exist.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[Inclosure No. 1.]

G. W. RANDOLPH,

Secretary of War.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Richmond, Va., September 22, 1862.

Hon. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

Mr. SECRETARY: You will find inclosed a resolution passed this morning at a session of the committee on the medical department. In the discharge of our duties we visited the hospital of the sick and wounded of our enemies now in our custody. All of the wards are in a wretched condition. The upper ward was such as to drive the com mittee out of it almost instantly. The honor of our country will not permit us to bring the matter to the attention of Congress, thereby making the matter public.

We attach no blame to the Secretary of War. We know that in his almost overwhelming labors this matter has escaped his attention. We address you in the full confidence that you will have this condition of things altered at once. We think that the hospital for prisoners ought to be on average at least with those for our own soldiers. Regretting to add another to your very many labors,

I am, sir, with high consideration, very truly,

AUGUSTUS R. WRIGHT,
Chairman of Committee.

[First indorsement.]

Acknowledge receipt of the letter and inform Mr. Wright that the letter and resolution have been sent to General G. W. Smith with the request that he would cause his medical director to inspect the prisoners' hospital and to report upon it and correct abuses. Write accordingly to General Smith and inclose copies of letter and resolution.

[Second indorsement.]

G. W. R.

To General Smith, and inclose copies of letter and resolution.

G. W. R.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

Resolved, That the chairman of the medical committee be instructed to address a letter to the Secretary of War in relation to the condition of the Federal prisoners of war now confined in the hospitals in Richmond and urge him to have the same placed in a more comfortable position as soon as possible.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, September 26, 1862.

ROBERT OUI.D, Esq., Commissioner for Exchange.

SIR: The inclosed copy* of a letter from Lieut. Hunter Davidson is respectfully called to your attention and you are instructed to change the place of delivery of prisoners to City Point, of which due notice must be given to General French at Petersburg.

Your obedient servant,

SPECIAL ORDERS,
No. 225.

*

GEO. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

ADJT. AND INSP. GENERAL'S OFFICE,
Richmond, September 26, 1862.

VI. Capt. Henry Wirz, assistant adjutant-general, Provisional Army, will proceed to Montgomery, Ala., and such other points as may be necessary, to hunt up the missing records of the Federal prisoners of war. He will report to Col. R. Ould for specific instructions.

By command of the Secretary of War:

JOHN WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS, Richmond, September 28, 1862.

Hon. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

GENERAL: Your letter of the 26th instant inclosing resolution of committee calling attention to the condition of the hospital of the Federal sick and wounded was received and referred to the medical director. He reports that the hospital, by his direction, has been inspected since receipt of your letter, and adds that all of the many existing abuses will be promptly corrected. The hospital to which allusion is made was not included in the certified list of hospitals obtained by the medical director from the former inspector of hospitals. I have directed further examination to be made into the causes of the condition in which this hospital was found, and, if the circumstances do not go far toward exonerating the surgeon in charge from blame, ordered his arrest and charges made out against him for neglect of duty.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. W. SMITH, Major-General, Commanding.

[First indorsement.]

Inclose copy of this letter to Hon. Mr.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1862.

from whom a letter

concerning the hospital of the Federal prisoners was recently received. The reply in my letter book a few days ago will furnish his name. G. W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War.

[Second indorsement.]

Copy sent to Hon. A. R. Wright.

Not found.

SEPTEMBER 30, 1862.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Bardstown, Ky., September 28, 1862.

SPECIAL ORDERS, Į
No. 15.

I. The names, rank and regiment of all paroled prisoners coming in will be immediately reported to general headquarters with the circumstances of their capture.

By command of General Bragg:

Capt. GEORGE A. MERCER,

JNO. M. OTEY, Assistant Adjutant-General.

MADISON, GA., September 28, 1862.

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Military District of Georgia, Savannah. CAPTAIN: The Federal prisoners desire me to lay before you an application for two of their number to be paroled for twenty days for the purpose of going North and procuring supplies of clothing for them for the incoming winter. If permission be granted they suggest the names of Capt. C. C. Andrews and Capt. P. Gregg as suitable persons. Captain Andrews is of the Third Minnesota and Captain Gregg of the Fifty-eighth Illinois. Captain Gregg was once before paroled for the purpose of negotiating for an exchange of prisoners. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[Indorsement.]

W. L. CALHOUN,

Captain, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF GEORGIA,
Savannah, September 30, 1862.

Respectfully referred to General G. T. Beauregard.

H. W. MERCER,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

RICHMOND, VA., September 29, 1862.

Honorable SECRETARY OF STATE.

SIR: I am directed by the President to forward to you the subjoined copy of resolutions of the House of Representatives of the 27th instant:

Resolved, That the President be requested to enter into negotiations if practicable with the authorities of the United States for the purpose of securing the release of all citizens of the Confederate States held in confinement by the enemy or paroled by them or forced by them to enter into bonds with the Government of the United States: Provided, That such persons so held by the enemy were taken prisoners while in armed and active hostility to the United States, although not regularly enrolled or enlisted in the Confederate Army.

Resolved, further, That the President be requested to demand in writing from the authorities of the United States the immediate and unconditional release of all citizens of the Confederate States held by them as prisoners, either in confinement or under parole or bond, who were arrested by the agents or officers of the United States while peaceably engaged in their ordinary avocations and not in arms against the United States, and that he communicate to Congress the result of said demand. BURTON N. HARRISON, Private Secretary.

Your obedient servant,

RICHMOND, September 29, 1862.

General H. W. MERCER, Savannah, Ga.:

Reorganize the returned prisoners as rapidly as possible.

G. W. RANDOLPH,
Secretary of War.

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