of the class mentioned in said order. There is a prisoner in irons here, a citizen, supposed to be a Saint Albans raider, and undergoing trial at this time, but does not come under your order. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. GIDEON WELLES, MARTIN BURKE, Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS FORT WARREN, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.: SIR: The officers and seamen of the steamer Florida are willing to give their parole to leave the United States within ten days after liberation, but they have not sufficient money to do so. They wish to be put on board of a steamer for Europe, but do not wish to be landed in Boston for fear of a mob. There are fifty in all. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. A. ALLEN, Major, Second U. S. Artillery, Commanding Post. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, January 19, 1865. Major-General DIx, New York: Under no circumstances can prisoners of war be allowed to act as counsel for a person accused of being a spy. C. A. DANA, Assistant Secretary of War. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPT., EXCHANGE BUREAU, Richmond, Va., January 19, 1865. GENTLEMEN: In response to the inclosed resolution of inquiry of the Legislature of Virginia* in relation to the transmission of supplies to Confederate prisoners in the North I have the honor to submit the following report: At the outset I would respectfully request your attention to the inclosed correspondence between the Hon. Robert Ould, agent of exchange on the part of the Confederate States, and Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States, for full information as to the agreement made between the two Governments for furnishing supplies to prisoners both on public account and by private contribution. It has been agreed that all private contributions shall be received at designated points and delivered free of cost by the party holding the prisoners for whom the supplies are intended. Prior to the 1st of November, 1864, and previous to the completion of the present extensive arrangements, we were enabled by the comparative regularity of the flag-of-truce boats to forward these individual contributions with but little delay. During the months of November and December we were engaged in the reception and delivery of prisoners at Savannah and *Not found. See Ould to Grant, October 30, 1864, Vol. VII, this series, p. 1063, and resulting correspondence. Charleston, and we had no communication by flag of truce at the James River throughout the whole of that time. To have sent such a large number of packages as had collected here to Savannah or Charleston for shipment would, under the existing difficulties of transportation, have been simply a matter of impossibility. It will be seen, therefore, that as we have no control over the movements of the flag-of-truce boat, the present vast accumulation of freight at this point is due to circumstances altogether unavoidable. That you may form some idea of the difficulties in the way of forwarding this freight with the desired promptitude, I deem it proper to state that owing to the obstruction of the river for military purposes we have to put off all packages at Boulware's Wharf, about two miles below Chaffin's Bluff, from which point they have to be transported in wagons to Varina, a distance of four miles, and placed on board the Federal flag-of-truce boat. At our interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford, the Federal assistant agent of exchange, on the 10th instant, which is the first we have had since the completion of our operations in the south, we endeavored to make arrangements for the delivery and reception of all the freight on hand, but owing to the excessive rains about that time both the river and roads were in such a condition as to render either its delivery or reception utterly impracticable. We are daily expecting the arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford at Boulware's Wharf, and he has agreed to remain there until all the supplies for our prisoners are delivered to him. We cannot suggest any remedy for the difficulties of transportation, as it is impossible, in the obstructed condition of the river, to lessen the distance between the places of anchorage of the respective truce boats, nor can we at this time suggest any other point where the same difficulties will not have to be overcome. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Indorsement.] This report was made by Captain Hatch, my assistant, who had special charge of the subject matter. I, however, know the facts therein stated to be correct. J. J. ABBOTT, RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. RICHMOND, January 19, 1865. Agent U. S. Christian Commission, Washington, D. C.: SIR: Your letter of October 28th last only reached me to day. You can make the inquiries indicated, and any information in possession of the Confederate authorities will be cheerfully communicated. I have already entered into an agreement with the Federal authorities to furnish and receive quarterly returns of deaths of prisoners. A copy of such returns would give you tolerably full information. I take it for granted the U. S. agent will furnish you such a copy. Any inquiry out. side of such returns will receive respectful attention. Respectfully, your obedient servant, RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. RICHMOND, January 19, 1865. Lieut. Col. JOHN E. MULFORD, Assistant Agent of Exchange: SIR: Quite a number of privates belonging to Mosby's command are in Fort Warren. Among them are Privates Fitzhugh, Gunnell, Gough, Jarboe, Spencer, Tolson, Woodhouse, Ward, Lambert, Maddox, Pomeroy, Coffman, Crowely, Davis, and Sergeant Rowzee. I beg leave to inquire whether they are considered as prisoners of war; and if not, why? They are all regularly enlisted soldiers in the Confederate service-as much so as any in the field. I understand that some of the party were put upon the list of those to be delivered by the surgeons, but that the Federal authorities refused to send them. Respectfully, your obedient servant, RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. ON BOARD FLAG-OF-TRUCE STEAMER, Maj. Gen. S. B. BUCKNER, Commanding District of Louisiana : GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that I have at this point for exchange 168 officers, prisoners of war, of the C. S. forces of the Trans-Mississippi Department, who are embraced in the cartel between Major Szymanski and myself, of July 28, 1864. I desire to deliver them on parole to await the delivery of their equivalent. A dispatch addressed to Major Szymanski, in your care, intended to notify him of the arrival of these prisoners, was sent from Morganza this morning in the hope of reaching him before he should leave Alexandria. Fearing that he may have left Alexandria before that dispatch may have reached him, and that it may have been forwarded.without its contents being known to you, I send this to request that if Major Szymanski has left Alexandria you will send a boat to the mouth of Red River upon the receipt of this, with some officer who may be authorized to receive and receipt for these prisoners. They are of the Helena and other captures in Arkansas, and of that at Donaldsonville, La. The comfort of the prisoners depends very much upon their prompt recep tion by you. I have also to request that if Major Szymanski shall have left Alexandria before the receipt of this you will notify him of the delivery of these prisoners with as little delay as possible. I am, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR: RICHMOND, January 19, 1865. DEAR SIR: Allow me most respectfully to call your attention to an evil which demands immediate remedy. On yesterday I visited that part of Castle Thunder occupied by the Yankee deserters. This gave me an opportunity of knowing something of their situation. Permit me to say it is one of very great discomfort-so much so that if the weather should become colder or the present cold continue, some of them must freeze, to say nothing of other discomforts. I am the post chaplain at Camp Lee. Yours, very respectfully, HENRY BROWN. [First indorsement.] JANUARY 20, 1865. Respectfully returned to Honorable Secretary of War. The complaint is well founded. These men sometimes pass the night without fire. The quartermaster of prisons is forbidden to get fuel except through the regular channels. I have forwarded repeated complaints without remedy. I do not doubt that there has been considerable loss of life already at the Libby and Castle Thunder from this cause. The fault is with those officers whose duty it was to furnish a supply of fuel, and who have not made proper provisions. IS. H. CARRINGTON, [Second indorsement.] Provost-Marshal. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Respectfully referred to Maj. J. C. Maynard. CH. MIMS, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. [Third indorsement.] QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, Richmond, January 26, 1865. Respectfully referred to Captain Weisiger for attention. There is now plenty of wood at the yard with which to supply all reasonable demands. J. C. MAYNARD, Major and Quartermaster. [Fourth indorsement.] ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, Richmond, January 26, 1865. Respectfully returned to Major Maynard. You are aware of the difficulty in procuring wood for the last ten days. I borrowed wood several days to fill requisitions made upon this office and was not aware that any suffering had existed at the prisons. My receipts for the last two days have increased, and trust there will not be any further cause for complaint. Very respectfully, WM. W. WEISIGER, [Fifth indorsement.] Respectfully returned to the Quartermaster-General. [Sixth indorsement.] J. C. MAYNARD, Major and Quartermaster. QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, January 27, 1865. Respectfully returned to Honorable Secretary of War and attention invited to Major Maynard's indorsement. It is believed that all proper calls for wood can now be supplied. Quartermaster-General. RICHMOND, January 19, 1865. Lieut. Col. JOHN E. MULFORD, Assistant Agent of Exchange : SIR: I beg leave to call your attention to the accompanying letter which I addressed to you on the 25th of November last.* It relates to subjects of considerable importance, and I will be obliged to you for a distinct reply. Respectfully, your obedient servant, RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. Surg. John H. Hunter, inclosing letter to Secretary of War, asking for instructions relative to paroles. [Indorsement.] Returned to the Surgeon General. JANUARY 19, 1865. In no aspect of the cases are these paroles to be respected. First. By agreement, surgeons are to be unconditionally released. Second. If the parole was regular and proper in every respect, recapture makes it null and void. How any military person could doubt this is amazing. Third. The Federal theory, based upon their General Orders, No. 207, 1863, is that prisoners are to be kept in possession and delivered by flag of truce at some point previously agreed upon by competent contracting parties. If, through choice or necessity, paroled parties are released in any other way the parole is null and void. The parole exacted by General Stoneman has been declared by his own Government illegal and void. Fourth. It would be useless to send these surgeons North, as they would be immediately sent back. They have something more serious to attend to than such "shuttlecock and battledoor." They can go to duty immediately without any sacrifice of honor. [RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange.] WASHINGTON, D. C., January 20, 1865. Brig. Gen. H. W. WESSELLS, SIR: You will please send to Fort Monroe for the disposal of LieutenantColonel Mulford, in pursuance of certain arrangements effected by him with the rebel authorities, the following-named officers, prisoners of war at Johnson's Island, viz: Colonel Penn, of Louisiana; Colonel Powell, Fifth Texas; Col. A. W. Harman, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry; Col. Malcomb D. Graham; Maj. R. McCann; Capt. John Tayloe; Capt. Robert H. Davis; Captain Whitfield, First Alabama; Capt. J. R. Hutter, Eleventh Virginia Infantry; Capt. Charles B. Trevilian; Lieut. J. D. Van Benthuysen; Lieut. Charles Norvell, Twelfth Virginia Cavalry; Capt. Claiborne Snead, Third Georgia; Capt. J. Dudley Whitehead, Third Virginia; Capt. W. B. Seawell, Twelfth Louisiana Battalion Artillery; Lieut. William J. Stanford, Forty-sixth Alabama. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. A. HITCHCOCK, * See Vol. VII, this series, p. 1159. |