demanding the muskets taken from the guards. I then got down from my bunk and went to another part of the prison on which the cannon was not bearing. I thought the plot to get out a very foolish one. I could not myself have escaped, as I was wounded. Doctor Whitfield, surgeon of the prison, was here called in to examine the prisoner, to see if he was physically disabled to make a march, and testified that he is capable of making a march any distance, and "not at all incapacitated from his wound." Prisoner recalled: I did not know a single man engaged in the plot, but said that I would remain in prison 122 days before I would inform on the mutineers, if I knew. Arrest-Patrick Ponsonby, G, Thirteenth Illinois Infantry: 100 men. About 8 o'clock the night of the riot I was sitting on my bunk when one of the men came to me and asked if I know anything about the break they intended to make that night. I told him that I did not, and that it would be very foolish as I once broke out of prison at Meridian and afterward gave myself up, knowing I could not make our lines. Miller was the name of the man who asked me if I know anything about the plot. The next morning I was awakened by men crying out "He will not steal another blanket." Shortly after I heard some one calling for So far as I could see there was no response to the call, but many of the prisoners cried out, "Lay down. Lay down." About ten minutes afterward a Confederate officer came to the door of the prison with a cannon and demanded of the prisoners the guns. Was told that Captain Hanchett came into the prison as a citizen, but heard that after the riot he changed his citizens' clothes and said that he was a captain in the U. S. Army. It was the prevailing opinion of the prisoners that Captain Hanchett was a captain in the U. S. Army and that he was the instigator of the mutiny. Witness-George Sherman, recalled: I know Martin A. Becker; saw him running about the prison and calling for 100 men; attention drawn to him by his cries for men. This was after it had been announced that the guards had been captured. Becker said, "The guards have all been mugged-and my God, boys, ain't you going to stand by me?" (Identified Becker under arrest as the man.) Prisoner said, "Lay down; did you never see a crazy man?" and did not manifest a disposition to join him. Becker went to the back part of the prison and I saw no more of him. Thompson Hanson told me that Becker was one of the instigators of the mutiny. I was informed that only twenty men attacked the guards and that they depended on others joining them. I know James Morrison; I saw him before the men were ordered back by Confederate officers, running from the front entrance with a gun. This was before 100 men were called for. Shortly after leaving the entrance two men turned off to the right and went down the dead-line, and Morrison moved in the direction of the privy. This the last I saw of him. I know Osmond F. Foster; did not see him the night of the disturbance; I saw him after and he told me that "we got up a plan before in which a large number were engaged, and before the time occurred some one turned traitor and the scheme was abandoned. This time we thought it best to have only twenty." Foster admitted to me that he was a participator. I know George H. Hoff. Did not see him on the night of the riot; he told me the next morning that there was a major-general in there who got up the mutiny. Said he knew who the mutineers were, but that he would stay in prison 122 days and fast before he would give any information. Did not say that he had anything to do with it. I know Patrick Ponsonby; was sitting on a bunk with Thompson Hanson and Ponsonby passed; Hanson pointed to him and remarked, "There is a man who was engaged in the mutiny." H. A. M. HENDERSON, [Indorsement.] HDQRS. C. S. MIL. PRISONS WEST OF SAVANNAH RIVER, Augusta, Ga., February 15, 1865. Respectfully forwarded for information of and instructions from Honorable Secretary of War. I have approved the course of Captain Henderson in ironing and confining these mutineers, but under orders of the Adjutant and Inspector General of date January 24, 1865, they have been ordered to be released, except Captain Hanchett, in whose case I have ordered a trial on the charge of being a spy, the result of which will be communicated to the War Department as soon as ascertained. I inclose copy of an order which I have published in consequence of this mutiny. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 2. J. D. IMBODEN, Brigadier-General, Commanding. [Inclosure.] HDQRS. C. S. MILITARY PRISONS I. In consequence of a recent mutiny and attempted escape of pris oners from the military prison at Cahaba, Ala., it is ordered that if any prisoner or prisoners of war confined in any of the military prisons in the States of Georgia, Alabama, or Mississippi shall engage in any mutiny or attempt by force to escape, the guard shall instantly fire upon the mutineers and, if necessary, upon the whole body of prisoners until perfect order is restored. And every prisoner found with arms in his hands at the time of any mutiny or forcible attempt to escape shall be instantly shot to death; and this penalty will in no case be remitted where such armed prisoner is overpowered by or surrendered to the guard on the suppression of a mutiny. II. The brigadier-general commanding directs that all prisoners of war who conduct themselves in an orderly manner shall be treated with that humanity becoming the Christian people of these Confederate States, who, notwithstanding the barbarous atrocities inflicted upon them by a cruel and merciless foe, have not yet learned to forget their own high civilization, but he is resolved that no ruffianism shall be tolerated amongst the prisoners under his control. III. This order will be published to those confined in the prisons of this department, and their own conduct will then determine whether their lives are to be spared or not. By order of Brig. Gen. J. D. Imboden, commanding: AIL, G. W. MCPHAIL, Aide-de-Camp and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, U. S. Army: RICHMOND, January 24, 1865. SIR: Your communication of the 19th instant, inclosing the names of a number of gentlemen who have been selected by the U. S. Christian Commission to go South for the purpose of visiting our prisons, has been received. You further state that any privilege granted in the matter would be extended to an equal number of gentlemen sent by us for similar purposes, and that such action might probably serve to satisfy the friends of prisoners both North and South of the exaggeration of the reports of suffering so rife in both sections. On the 24th of January, 1864, in a letter to Major-General Hitchcock, commissioner of exchange, I proposed that a proper number of surgeons, to be selected by their own government, should be permitted to attend prisoners on each side, respectively, for the purpose of taking charge of their health and comfort, receiving and distributing contributions and making report of any matters relating to the welfare of the parties under their care. Although just one year has elapsed since the date of that communication no answer has been returned. I have no doubt but that the persons referred to in your letter are very respectable gentlemen; yet they are certainly not as well suited to minister to the wants of prisoners as accredited officers whose routine of duty makes them peculiarly fitted to relieve the sick and wounded. I therefore respectfully suggest that your application be so changed as to embrace my offer so long treated with silence. I am quite confident that all the interests of humanity will be promoted by the modification. It is true that your prisoners are suffering. It is one of the calamities and necessities of the war, made so not by our choice. We have done everything we can consistently with the duty we owe to ourselves. We intend to do the same in the future. But that great suffering must ensue if your prisoners remain in our hands is very certain. For that reason I propose that all of them be delivered to you in exchange, man for man and officer for officer, according to grade, for those of ours whom you hold. Will not the cause of humanity be far more promoted by such a course than even if, as you suggest, the friends of prisoners both North and South are satisfied of the exaggeration of the reports of suffering so rife in both sections? If, however, prisoners are to remain in confinement, at least let us mutually send to their relief and comfort stationary agents whose official duty requires them to devote all their time and labor to their sacred mission. For the reasons stated I decline the proposed visit of the gentlemen to whom you refer. In doing so I shall be glad to hear from you whether either of the alternatives presented meets with your favor. Respectfully, your obedient servant, RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. HDQRS. U. S. TROOPS, CITY AND HARBOR OF NEW YORK, January 24, 1865. GENERAL: I have the honor to call your attention to the inclosed copy of an order directed to me.* I respectfully state that I arrived here to-day from Mobile Bay direct with a cargo of cotton on the U. S. S. transport Atlanta, now lying at Pier No. 41, North River, which by my orders I am directed to turn over to Major-General Trimble or Brigadier-General Beall, of the rebel army. I have been informed at headquarters Department of the East that you have been designated by the United States Government as the officer to transact some portion of the business, and I respectfully request information regarding the time and place I can deliver the cotton to the officer designated. Will you please appoint a time and place for me to see you in person as soon as convenient? My address is 33 Beekman street. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK G. NOYES, Captain and Commissary of Subsistence. *See Vol. VII, this series, p. 1265. NEW YORK, January 24, 1865. Capt. FRANK G. NOYES, 33 Beekman Street, New York: Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. E. PAINE, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. NEW YORK, January 24, 1865. Brig. Gen. W. N. R. BEALL, New York Hotel: GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that the long expected cotton has arrived on the U. S. S. transport Atlanta, which now lies at Pier 41, North River, and I am to have an interview with the officer in charge at 48 Bleecker street (General Hunt's headquarters) at noon to-morrow, at which time and place I should be pleased to meet you if convenient. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. E. PAINE, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS FORT LAFAYETTE, Brig. Gen. H. W. WESSELLS, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.: SIR: Inclosed you will receive a certified copy of a letter* received this day from Brig. Gen. H. E. Paine, U. S. Volunteers, the person who brought Brig. Gen. W. N. R. Beall, C. S. Army, to this post, upon the receipt of which I have this day released General Beall. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, MARTIN BURKE, Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY STATION, Brig. Gen. H. W. WESSELLS, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to transmit herewith a special roll of prisoners belonging to various regiments in the service of the United States who enlisted in the Tenth Tennessee (rebel) Regiment while held by the rebel authorities as prisoners of war at Andersonville, Ga., and were captured by the U. S. forces at Egypt Station, Miss., in General Grierson's late expedition. These men were received here with other prisoners of war on January 17, 1865, and were duly reported as such, but special rolls corresponding with the accompanying were received at the same time from the authorities sending the prisoners. The remarks on the rolls and the accompanying letter of Colonel Noble, Third Iowa Cavalry, will explain the status and history of these men as far as known at these headquarters. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brigadier-General, Comdg. Military Prison and Post. + List omitted. Lieut. JOHN S. LYTLE, [Inclosure No. 1.] STEAMER E. H. FAIRCHILD, Eighth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, In Charge of Rebel Prisoners of War on Board: SIR: At the request of Capt. Samuel Wilson, provost-marshal, post Memphis, Tenn., communicated to me by yourself, I have to make the following statement touching the prisoners of war now in your custody and whose names are set forth on the roll to which this paper is attached: These men were captured by the First Brigade of Brigadier-General Grierson's troops, under command of Colonel Kargé, Second New Jersey Cavalry, at Egypt Station (Mobile and Ohio Railroad), on the morning of the 28th of December, 1864, with several hundred more prisoners belonging to the rebel army, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Burke, of the rebel service, and have, as they claim, been formerly in the service of the United States in the various regiments designated opposite their names on the roll. On the evening previous to the engagement at Egypt several of these men designated on the rolls deserted the rebels and, coming into our lines, gave information of the force opposed to us and reported that many of these men would not resist us in battle. In the engagement which ensued in the morning this proved true in many instances, although the fight was a severe one and required great valor on the part of Colonel Kargé's cavalry to gain the victory. The general report of these men to me during the time they were under my charge from Vicksburg to Memphis agrees in the following particulars: That they were prisoners of war at Andersonville, Ga., when they enlisted in the Confederate service; that at the time they were in great want of food, fuel, and clothing, which, with exposure to weather, rendered disease and death imminent to them all, and that many dead were carried from among the prisoners daily; that they were told there would be no exchange of prisoners, and if they would enlist in the Confederate service they would be received, taken from prison and treated like other Confederate troops; that these (on the rolls) were enlisted by Lieutenant-Colonel Burke, now a prisoner on board, and have been under his command since; that they were enlisted under an oath they do not now remember and many of them claim with the design and determination on their part to rejoin our ranks at the first opportunity, and that they did avail themselves of the only opportunity that had presented itself; that they were never fully trusted by the Confederates, being deprived of many privileges extended to other troops, kept under strict camp guard and unarmed; that they were given muskets on the day before the affair in which they were captured, and ammunition; but on the night before that foreigners were first solicited, but many others finally taken, and that they now wish to be sent to their old regiments to fight for the Union. These statements will not apply universally but generally to this class of prisoners. My regiment was not in the engagement when these men were captured, nor do I know of my own knowledge their acts before and in the fight, but state that in this particular-which was communicated to me by officers on the march, this communication being given on the request before mentioned and to form the foundation for further inquiry by the authorities of the Government if deemed important—from my intercourse with these men, I believe that most of them are worthy of clemency, a few of special favor, but many at the same time are not to be trusted. As to the more general effect of the treatment of these men upon other prisoners in the rebel prisons, and again upon the rebel |