occupied by a single regiment is so elevated as to be rendered tolerable by ditching, &c., but the residue is covered with water during the open weather of winter and spring and is too low and flat to be ditched. I am informed that the only eligible winter camp in Ohio is Camp Dennison, where there are still accommodations for a large force, twice or thrice the number at Camp Wallace. I would respectfully suggest that by ordering the paroled force now here to Camp Dennison better quarters would be secured and the expense of erecting barracks obviated. Awaiting your orders, I am, with the greatest respect, your obedient, humble servant, JAMES COOPER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Paroled Forces, Columbus, Ohio. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Surg. JOSIAH SIMPSON, Medical Director Middle Department, Baltimore, Md. SIR: I have just returned from an inspection of the hospital at Camp Parole, near Annapolis, which I did not find in as comfortable a condition as I think it should be. In part this grows out of the want of stoves, which I was informed you had ordered. But save putting the sick on cots in tents I could see little that was done to alleviate the many privations which sick men in camp are exposed to; nor do I think the surgeon in charge appreciates the importance of not only prescribing for the sick, but also as far as in his power of providing for the many wants which must be met to diminish their sufferings and insure a speedy recovery. A surgeon of experience is required for this posi tion; one who, besides prescribing medicines for the sick, will devise the means and use every effort to put them in force for giving his patients every possible comfort, and I urge it on you to send such a medical officer there with at least two good assistants. It would be impossible for me to give minute instructions in this matter and they would be of little use unless the surgeon is the right person for the place. On inquiry I found there was no morning report of the hospital kept and there was nothing to show the number of sick but the regis ter. There did not seem to be any hospital fund, though the rations undrawn due the hospital amounted to several hundred dollars. I inclose herewith a report* which I called for, made by Doctor Norval and indorsed by the colonel commanding. According to each great improprieties have been committed in sending sick men from hospitals to this camp who were almost in a dying condition. Such things I am sure do not meet your approval and I would be glad to be informed who it is who has been so reckless of his duty. One stove in three tents I am afraid will make the middle one too hot, while the other two would not be warmed, and I therefore suggested to you by telegram to use two small stoves. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. *Not found. HDQRS. HOWARD AND RANDOLPH REGIMENT, Brig. Gen. LEWIS MERRILL, Commanding Northeast District, Macon City, Mo. GENERAL: I am gratified to be able to report that the efforts of the Enrolled Militia since their organization in this county have resulted in the restoration of peace and apparent good feeling amongst our people, and to guarantee a continuance of this state of affairs for the future I beg to suggest that after consultation with my officers and influential Union men in this county the following active and persevering rebels should be banished to some loyal State, there to take their abode during the continuance of the war. This done and I feel confident that permanent peace will speedily ensue, viz: Gerard Robinson, Wade M. Jackson (brother of ex-Governor), Rev. David Fisher, James S. Thomson, Alex. Aldridge, Dr. J. C. Heberling, Dr. William C. Harvey, Thomas E. Birch, Richard H. Robinson, Stephen Bynum, John S. Haden. Lieutenant-Colonel Green, Lieutenant McNair and myself expect to start to Brunswick to-morrow in compliance with your special order. Your obedient servant, TH. J. BARTHOLOW, [Indorsement.] LEWIS MERRILL, Make order for banishment. HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Maj. Gen. H. G. WRIGHT, Cincinnati. GENERAL: It is officially reported that the rebel generals in Kentucky paroled men as prisoners of war who have never borne arms and are not of suitable age so to do. No such prisoners will be recognized or exchanged as prisoners of war. Again it is reported that certain conditions not included in the cartel have been introduced into the paroles. Such conditions are not binding and will not be observed. The terms and meaning of the parole are fixed by the cartel and cannot be varied from. The parole is virtually given by the Government and not by individuals, and where individuals see fit to incur obligations not authorized by the Government and which the enemy have no right to impose such obligations will not be recognized by the Government. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK. General-in-Chief. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 10, 1862. His Excellency Governor E. SALOMON, Madison, Wis. SIR: In reply to yours of October 20 calling attention to alleged illtreatment of paroled prisoners from Wisconsin I am directed by the Secretary of War to say that the subject has been referred to the commissary-general of prisoners for investigation, who reports as follows: On a personal inquiry I can learn that there was unavoidably a good deal of exposure and suffering among the paroled troops at Camp Parole, near Annapolis, in consequence of large numbers being sent there before adequate provision had been made for them. All the troops now there are as well provided for as they can be in tents, and with few exceptions they are suitably clothed. The accompanying report* of Captain Freedley will show the condition of the paroled troops at Alexandria. There are but three men there from Wisconsin and they are well provided for. W. HOFFMAN. Very respectfully, C. P. BUCKINGHAM, Brigadier-General and Assistant Adjutant-General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 10, 1862. Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. SIR: I have the honor to report in the case of Richard H. Clark and others implicated, as already disclosed in the accompanying report* of E. J. Allen, detective, &c., that it is manifest that Richard H. Clark (now in custody) has been quite actively engaged in corresponding with persons within the rebel lines and in forwarding correspondence to and from such persons and is otherwise implicated in disloyal practices. It is also disclosed that Edward Ives, a Boston merchant, is in clandestine correspondence with his brother, Col. Joseph [C.] Ives, an aide to Jefferson Davis, and expresses himself in sympathy with the rebellion; that there is an officer in the Federal Army stationed near Alexandria who is in treasonable communication with the rebels, aiding the escape of Southern sympathizers to Richmond, writing treasonable letters and signs himself "J." In one of these letters, postmarked "Alexandria, October 18," ultimo, addressed to Mrs. Wood, of Dorchester, Mass. (the mother of Colonel Ives, of the rebel army), the writer says: Our division is still at the same place as it was after Bull Run the second, and are willing to remain rather than meet Jackson or his confrères again. We have become very peaceable in our dispositions lately and anxious that our names should not be used in the effective measures to crush out the rebellion. This letter of "J." discloses the name of Miss Olivia Floyd, at Port Tobacco, and that she is engaged in all sorts of disloyal practices and is in frequent and intimate communication with this officer in our army who signs himself "J." Miss Olivia Floyd has been ordered arrested and conveyed to the Old Capitol, and from her it is expected can be obtained the name of the traitorous officer who signs himself "J." There would seem to be hardly room to doubt the disloyal and treasonable complicity of the persons above named with rebel officers, in aiding and assisting the rebels and acting as spies, &c. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Brig. Gen. DANIEL TYLER, Washington, D. O., November 10, 1862. Commanding Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill. GENERAL: I am authorized by the Secretary of War to direct that at the camp of paroled troops where the regular company organizations *Not found. are so much broken up the surplus rations may be commuted into a general fund to be disbursed under the direction of the commanding officer for the benefit of the troops, and the fund may be used for the purchase of any articles that will really conduce to the comfort of the men, whether for furniture, for fixtures about their quarters, for the extension of the accommodations of the camp-anything, indeed, that will conduce to the general good. The ration is much larger than can be consumed by the men and the amount of the reduction is left to your discretion. Whatever is saved will be paid for by the commissary, who will be the treasurer of the fund and who will disburse it on your order, which will be his voucher. At the end of the month he will furnish you with an account of moneys received and expended with abstracts and vouchers which you will forward to this office with your comments. I inclose herewith a scale* of rations which I suggest as being ample, as it has been found to be elsewhere, though you may find it necessary to make some changes. When organized companies leave the camp its proportion of the fund should be turned over to the commander and his receipt taken for it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Col. C. H. TOWN, Commanding First Michigan Cavalry, Camp near Fort Scott. COLONEL: Yours of yesterday is just received, but your orderly did not wait for a reply. All men delivered at Aiken's Landing on the 13th of September, 1862, are exchanged, though this date is not given in the order. No other evidence is furnished that exchanges have been made than what is contained in the general orders to which I referred you. Men who were delivered at the times there stated need have no doubts that their exchanges will be recognized by the rebel commanders. The men who have not been exchanged must be sent to the camp at Annapolis. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, General M. C. MEIGS, Washington, D. C., November 11, 1862. Quartermaster-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. GENERAL: At the following-named stations quartermasters have made large disbursements for the care of prisoners of war which should be charged to the appropriation made for that purpose: Fort Warren, Fort Columbus, Fort Lafayette, Fort McHenry, Fort Delaware, Fortress Monroe, Depot at Sandusky, Ohio; Camp Chase, Columbus, * Omitted. Ohio; Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Ind.; Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.; Camp Butler, Springfield, Ill.; Military Prison, Alton, Ill.; Washington City; Saint Louis, Mo. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Capt. H. W. FREEDLEY, Washington, D. C. CAPTAIN: You will proceed immediately to Alton, Ill., and see that all the instructions heretofore given for the government of the military prison be immediately put in full force. Make a careful examination of the prisoners' fund and see that none but authorized expenditures be made. If any have already been made they will not be allowed in the account but will be charged to the colonel. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. HOFFMAN, Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners. OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS, Lieut. Col. GEORGE SANGSTER, Forty-seventh New York State Militia, Comdg. Camp Parole. COLONEL: I am directed by the commissary-general of prisoners to inclose herewith all the orders* that have been published relative to exchange of prisoners of war. These deliveries in numbers refer only to nou commissioned officers and privates. The deliveries of September 7 and 21 are exchanged (see Orders, No. 147). The 2,000 Shiloh prisoners are non-commissioned officers and men captured at Shiloh paroled at Montgomery May 24, 23, 22, 28 and 26, 1862. The Gainesville prisoners are those whose paroles were given at Gainesville August 30 and September 1, 1862, and delivered, respectively, to Maj. Č. E. Livingston, Seventy-sixth Regiment New York Volunteers, and to Lieut. D. S. Uncles, Fourteenth Regiment New York State Militia. The commissary-general of prisoners further directs that you report without delay the number, officers and men, in your camp who have been exchanged, designating rank and regiment. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. FREEDLEY, Capt. Third Infty., Assistant to Commissary-General of Prisoners. ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, General L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army. DEAR SIR: Inclosed herewith I send you rolls or rosters of Indiana volunteers in camp in this State waiting to be exchanged. On the * Omitted. |