that I gave in my name as a citizen upon my arrival here. Colonel Moody was I understood in command of the post. For some time after my arrival no questions were asked me, and when finally I was called upon by your gentlemanly sergeant, Mr. Dean, I told him upon his asking me that I was a soldier and belonged as before stated to you to Colonel Williams' Kentucky regiment. I since learn that the said regiment is denominated the Ninth [Fifth] Kentucky Regiment. Upon his asking me my rank I jokingly responded, "High private front rank until you promote me by finding out." I now cheerfully ask pardon for contributing inadvertently even so much in confusing the facts in my case, and inform you that I am a captain in the C. S. Army and entitled to all the rights and privileges of a prisoner of war. It is a fact patent to every one in the vicinity of my former home, Covington, Ky., that Col. Robert Patton (my father) and myself joined the Confederate Army at the breaking out of hostilities. Any prisoner here from that quarter will so inform you. I have in my possession an item from the Cincinnati Commercial showing that it is a well-known fact that I am a soldier; that the public at least know who and what I am. I refer you to the following-named gentlemen in prison No. 1, whom you can swear and question concerning what they know of me: Mr. George W. Bromback (a soldier) and Thomas P. Taylor, also a soldier. I inclose two [three] statements* which you can convert into affidavits if you please. I repeat I am a soldier in the C. S. Army, sworn into the service for the war. I was captured by a detachment of a Federal regiment while engaged in the legitimate duty of recruiting for the C. S. Army. I never misrepresented my true character. Colonel, the manner in which you addressed me a day or so ago led me to believe that you intended to wound my feelings by your remarks, to wit: "You are not recognized as a prisoner of war;" that I would be held and tried as a spy. By my reply to the latter quoted remark I did not intend any impertinence if you so understood it (the latter quotation was your first remark then), though I meant the import of what I said that my Government would upon your refusal to surrender me make a special demand, and your Government would surrender me as she has all the prisoners who have been sent off. I demand my unconditional release, parole or exchange, agreeably to the cartel. I am, very respectfully, colonel, your obedient servant, C. S. Army. P. S.-Pardon the length of this statement. Please inform me of the ultimate result of the examination of it. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Maj. W. S. PIERSON, Commanding Depot of Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio. MAJOR: Your letter of the 10th is received. In regard to the irregular military prisoners of war who are at the depot you can only be governed by the rolls which are sent with them. None who are known to be Confederate troops should be sent to the depot, but in many cases * Omitted; they tend to sustain Patton's claims. O. A. P. IBRA RIVERSIDE it is difficult to tell how to classify them, and in such cases where there is reason to suppose they are regular troops the matter will be referred to the War Department. As yet there is no authority to release any on taking the oath of allegiance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. ON BOARD TRANSPORT STEAMER CHAMPION, General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. GENERAL: I have the honor to report to you that I arrived on the evening of the 10th instant, just twelve days after leaving Cairo, with four transports (having on board 3,900 prisoners of war) at Young's Point, twelve miles above Vicksburg, Miss., the place designated by the authorities of the Confederate States for the delivery of prisoners. These prisoners, including in their number six captains and twelve lieutenants, have been delivered to the agent of the Confederate States appointed for their exchange, with the exception of a number not exceeding twenty, privates, who escaped at Memphis, Tenn., through the gross negligence of the guard of one of the boats while the boat was receiving coal. A portion of these have reported to the authorities at Vicksburg, Miss., and as they escaped while the boats were under a flag of truce they will in the same manner be credited to the Government at Washington as though actually delivered. Most of the remainder of those who thus escaped were apprehended at Memphis, and I delay for a few days forwarding the rolls in order that the corrections may be so far as possible made upon them in a complete manner of all absent, though the loss from those who escaped will be very trifling. With the highest respect, I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant, H. M. LAZELLE, Capt., Eighth Infty., Agent for Delivery of Prisoners of War. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. ROLLA DIV., DIST. OF MISSOURI, Rolla, September 12, 1862. I. Major Gallup, of Third Missouri Cavalry, is hereby relieved from duty as commander of the post at Rolla temporarily and directed to proceed to-morrow morning to Waynesville, Mo., and investigate the killing of prisoners by order of Colonel Sigel as complained of by Joseph B. Reavis, provost-marshal, and report in writing to these headquarters the evidence touching the case that shall be elicited by the investigation. Said major shall have power to send for persons and examine them under oath touching the case and also to send for papers relating thereto. By order of J. M. Glover, colonel commanding division: First Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, DEPOT PRISONERS OF WAR, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich. COLONEL: Major Pierson has informed me that you desire me to state why transportation was not procured sooner for the prisoners that were sent away from here. In answer I have the honor to state that every effort was made by both the major and myself to get transportation as soon as possible after you left. The superintendent of the Sandusky, Dayton and Cincinnati Railroad told us that that road did not have a sufficient number of cars to carry 1,200 men and we were delayed until he could get cars from the connecting roads. The major and myself went together every day to urge forward the preparations. I desired the major to assist me because be knew the men with whom we had to deal better than I did, and also from the fact that he had more experience in all matters connected with railroad transportation. We were unable to get cars sooner than Monday. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. W. H. READ, Captain, Eighth Infantry, U. S. Army, Actg. Asst. Qmr. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Detroit, Mich. : Send the rebel prisoners taken in New Mexico, and supposed to be at Fort Riley or Leavenworth, to be released in the West. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, September 13, 1862. Mr. G. H. C. Rowe is released on parole and will be permitted to go to Fredericksburg, Va., to negotiate for the exchange of state prisoners on giving his parole not to communicate any information, aid or comfort to them in arms against the United States. He will be permitted to cross the Federal lines between Alexandria and Fredericksburg. [JAMES S. WADSWORTH,] Brigadier-General, Military Governor District of Columbia. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, DEPT. OF EAST TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. G. W. MORGAN, Commanding U. S. Forces, Cumberland Gap. GENERAL: I received your letter of [12th] to-day in which you state that you had received my letter of yesterday "informing me (you) that there are no such companies in the Confederate service as "Jessee's,' 'Nelson's Rangers' or 'Dudley's."" If you will refer to my letter you will find my words to be as follows, viz: The list referred to contains the names of eighty-six whom I cannot at present receive as prisoners of war. I know of no such companies as "Jessee's," "Nelson's Rangers" or "Dudley's" in our service, and I cannot therefore recognize them until I can ascertain if they have been organized by proper authority. 33 R R-SERIES II, VOL IV RIVERSIDE Never having heard of those companies I preferred to decline to receive them until I could ascertain if there were any such, and have sought the information from the proper source. If you are not disposed to construe my letter of yesterday properly I state to you here that I neither expressed nor intended to express to you that there were no such companies in the C. S. service. It is probable there are such and at the proper time your Government shall be informed of it. The following is an extract from your letter, viz: I am glad to find, general, that you desire an example to be made which will hereafter be a warning to marauders who commit murder and robbery under the pretext of war. A military commission will at once assemble to determine upon the guilt or innocence of these parties, and it is proper that I should inform you that your letter will be submitted to the commission as proving that "the eighty-six persons" whom you decline to recognize as prisoners of war are mere outlaws and as such must be treated. I cannot believe that on so flimsy a pretext and so manifest a distortion of my words and with the full knowledge of what must inevitably result you meditate any such action against these men. General, when you threaten you offer an insult. Our official intercourse, general, has been such as to have induced me to believe that you were incapable of tendering unprovoked so offensive a letter as that which I unsuspectingly received to-day. I believe that upon reflection you will withdraw it. I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant, OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. GENERAL: Prisoners of war belonging to the Confederate Army con tinue to be sent to Camp Chase, though provision is made in the cartel as I have seen it published in the papers for their immediate release on parole. I have called the attention of General Wright to this matter that he may take such steps as he may think proper. I beg again to call your attention to the subject of political prisoners confined at Sandusky who claim to be loyal Union men and assert that the charges against them are unfounded or frivolous. These cases should be acted on at once and the innocent set free. All I believe are willing to take the oath of allegiance and give bond for good conduct. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, General H. G. WRIGHT, Detroit, Mich., September 13, 1862. Commanding Department of the Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio. GENERAL: By the terms of the cartel as I have seen it published in the papers all prisoners of war belonging to the Confederate Army are to be paroled if practicable within ten days after their capture. As yet no understanding has been had how far State and irregular organizations are embraced in this arrangement, but recently prisoners of war who clearly belong to the Confederate Army have been sent to Camp Chase. I call your attention to this matter as it is not according to the cartel and leads to much expense. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. FORT MONROE, VA., September 14, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief : The accounts we have of the suffering of our prisoners of war at Richmond have decided me to send for them, the agent, General Thomas, not being here. Transports have gone up the river and I expect some of them back to-night. I shall send the prisoners, probably 5,000 or 6,000, to Annapolis. Mr. Ould expressed a desire ten days ago to parole and deliver them to us. Major Ludlow, one of my aides, has gone to Aiken's to receive them. JOHN A. DIX, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF, Major-General HALLECK, * Commanding Armies of the United States. GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose to you copies of correspondence between General Richard Taylor and myself upon the subject of exempting certain prisoners from the operations of the cartel for exchange. The correspondence will explain itself and I trust you will approve the terms of the reply. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, BENJ. F. BUTLER. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, DEPT. OF EAST TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. G. W. MORGAN, September 14, 1862. Commanding U. S. Forces, Cumberland Gap. GENERAL: I have received satisfactory information that "Jessee's" company and the "Nelson Rangers" belong to the C. S. service, and I respectfully request that you will discharge on parole agreeably to article 4 of the cartel such prisoners of those companies as are now held by you. I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant, *Not found. ULC. RIVERSIDE |