eral Curtis requested me to act as commissioner and at my request detailed Lieut. L. J. Barnes to render me any assistance I might require. As the number to be exchanged of the Lexington prisoners was limited to a portion of the whole and all being on parole I decided to exchange only those who signified their intention to re-enlist for service. Much delay and labor ensued in getting the names from the recruiting officers scattered in various portions of the country. Were it not from such delay this report would have been made much earlier. The full number authorized has not yet been reached, but I cannot procure further lists of prisoners re-enlisted and therefore hand in my report. We have exchanged The above gives the United States an excess in the exchange occasioned by the fact that only 489 officers and privates of the Camp Jackson prisoners were found desirous of joining their fortunes with secession and General Price. Yet I am informed unofficially through good authority that many of the prisoners at Camp Jackson are in the rebel army yet without exchanges, and a majority of those now in the army violated parole before exchanging. With the report you have memorandum marked A,* giving a complete list of exchanges on both sides with rank. D. R. Barclay, the rebel commissioner, has attended principally to the exchanges and I hereby take occasion to mention the uniform courtesy and liberality toward me he has evinced in transacting the exchanges. I am, colonel, respectfully, &c., CHAS. H. HOWLAND, Miscellaneous Captures; Treatment of Political and Military Prisoners, and Tentative Efforts at Exchange. Capt. S. WILLIAMS, SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, May 16, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the West, Saint Louis, Mo. SIR: In consequence of the frequent arrivals at this place of persons from Potosi complaining of revolting outrages and being driven from their homes because of their loyalty to the General Government I caused a party to proceed to that place to apprehend offending parties and give consolation and relief to the sufferers. The object seems to have been very judiciously accomplished by Captain Cole, of the Fifth *Not found. Missouri Volunteers, whose report is herewith inclosed.* It will be seen that at De Soto a large secession meeting was defeated and their flag taken by the timely arrival of Captain Cole. A list of the prisoners detained and against whom most palpable evidence is understood to exist of persevering and systematic cruelty toward the friends of the Government is herewith inclosed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. LYON, Captain, Second Infantry, Commanding. [Inclosure.j List of prisoners taken May 16, 1861. John Wiatt, Jefferson County; N. B. Buck, S. T. Dunklin, L. W. Casy, Joseph Dunklin, W. A. Mathews, George B. Clark, Patrick Doil, H. S. Cater, and Edward Willoughby, Potosi, Washington County; D. S. Smith, Jefferson County. Captain COLE, [Sub-inclosure.] Commander U. S. Troops at Potosi, Washington County, Mo.: The undersigned petitioners, residents of the town of Potosi and County of Washington, would respectfully represent that they believe that in their present disorganized condition and without arms their lives and property would be in danger unless you should leave a company of U. S. troops stationed at said town until they can be organized and armed. They would respectfully represent that they are and have been loyal to the United States Government and acknowledge their allegiance to the same and are willing to submit to her laws and regulations. They state they will use all necessary efforts to organize and arm in conformity to the laws of the United States and the usages of her army at the earliest possible period. [Signed by fifty citizens.] Col. F. SIGEL. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., July 11, 1861. SIR: In accordance with your order I most respectfully make hereby a statement of facts concerning the surrender of myself and men at Neosho July 5, 1861: After you had left Neosho on the 4th day of July I observed that the city was very unquiet. I took all necessary precautions by placing extra sentinels and sending out patrols every half hour day and night. The Fourth passed off quietly. On the 5th day of July the same precaution was taken. About 11 o'clock I heard the cannonading, whereon I immediately dispatched a patrol of twenty men under the command of Lieutenant Damde to inquire if possible the cause of it. At 1 o'clock I received orders signed by Brigade Quartermaster Richardson to retreat with my command if necessary. Lieutenant Damde with his patrol returned about the same time. They had scarcely returned-in fact had not been in camp more than ten minutes-before the enemy came pouring in in all * See Series I, Vol. III, p. 10, for Cole's report. directions to the number of about 1,200 to 1,500 men under the command of Colonel Churchill and Major McIntosh (Arkansas Rangers). Finding it impossible for me to hold my post with success, after due deliberation-after due consultation with my officers and men-I concluded it would be best to make the surrender as it was requirednamely unconditionally. We were after the surrender of our arms placed in the court-house where we remained until Monday, the 8th. I must mention here that the officers of the Arkansas Rangers as well as of the Missouri troops behaved themselves quietly, accommodatingly and friendly both towards myself and men; but their privates on the contrary in a most insulting and brutal manuer. On the 8th we were released, we officers having before given our parole of honor not to serve any more against the Confederate States of America during the war, my men having before sworn to the same effect. We left Neosho on the evening of the 8th, at 5.30 o'clock, with an escort of about thirty men under the command of Captain Boone for our security and protection, the people of Neosho and farmers of that vicinity having threatened to kill us in the streets. Captain Boone escorted us about four miles from the camp. After innumerable hardships and dangers, without food and water our canteens having all been stolen from us by the Southern troops we at last reached Springfield, my men all broken down having traveled the distance of eightyfive miles in fifty hours with hardly any food at all. Having made this statement I respectfully place the same in your hands to judge my actions. Very respectfully, yours, JOSEPH CONRAD, Captain of Rifle Company B, Third Regt. Missouri [Union] Vols. SAINT LOUIS ARSENAL, July 30, 1861. Capt. J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. SIR: I would respectfully call the attention of the general commanding the department to the condition of the political prisoners confined here. Officers in command at distant points have been in the habit of arresting persons upon charges of treason and sending them to the arsenal. In all such cases I have called the attention of the U. S. district attorney to the matter but am not aware that any have been indicted. There is no suitable place at the arsenal for prisoners of war; they have to be confined in the prison or else allowed the liberty of the grounds. To confine them is inhuman and to let them mix with the men is likely to produce trouble. * * * * I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHESTER HARDING, JR., Assistant Adjutant-General of Missouri Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Col. J. B. WYMAN, Commanding at Rolla, Mo. SIR: The general directs me to say he will hold as prisoners those men taken by you bearing arms against the United States; others the charges against whom are not more serious than entertaining secession feelings he has discharged. The arms and prisoners taken, if the men were apprehended while constituting an armed body, will be detained; all others will be restored to their rightful owners. * I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [J. C. KELTON,] Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Col. J. B. WYMAN, Commanding at Rolla, Mo. SIR: The prisoners you sent to the arsenal a few days since have been discharged. The offenses against the majority were of too trivial a character to detain them longer. You are directed to send no more prisoners here unless prisoners of war. It is thought an unnecessary expense in transporting them to the arsenal is contracted and that no good object is effected by their detention. If entertaining secession feelings constitutes a grave offense, one sufficient to imprison a man on, the Government would have twothirds of the State to feed at its expense. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. JOHN C. FRÉMONT, [J. C. KELTON,] Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Cape Girardeau, August 18, 1861. Department of the West, Saint Louis, Mo. * SIR: * * I have the honor to inclose you a letter from ex-Lieutenant-Governor Reynolds (a copy of which has been sent me); also another from Jeff. Thompson to me containing several threats. I plead guilty to the charge of having written the note mentioned and would have done as I promised had Captain Price committed the threatened outrages on the peaceable citizens of Commerce. My threats had the desired effect and prevented his doing any act of violence there. I tried hard to get hold of Captain Price and his troop of marauders but they always run even when but half their number of foot soldiers are opposed to them. The young man Price and his brother-in-law who were taken prisoners have been notoriously active in aiding the enemy. Their father, the brother of Captain Price, was the agent for procuring supplies for the New Madrid forces and his mules, servants and family were all engaged in transporting them. I am happy to learn that the pretended governor of the State disapproves of the proclamation of his commanding general and I shall most certainly endeavor to aid him in carrying on the war according to civilized usage. I can furnish the ex-governor with information which if he means what he writes will keep him steadily engaged for some time in punishing Missouri forces. * * ** Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. C. MARSH, Colonel, Commanding Post. [Inclosure No. 1.] NEW MADRID, Mo., August 15, 1861. Major-General FREMONT, U. S. Army, Commanding U. S. Forces in Missouri. SIR: Capt. Charles Price, of the Missouri State Guard, has received a letter from Messrs. B. S. Curd and William M. Price dated Cape Girardeau, August 10, 1861, in which they write: "The colonel says that if you attack Commerce to-night he will hang us." With this note is another recognized to be in the handwriting of Col. C. C. Marsh and of which the following is an exact copy: HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Cape Girardeau, August 10, 1861. SIR: Your relatives have written you the above note. It is true. If you injure the people of Commerce or their property I will hang them and take a bitter revenge on you in other respects. C. C. MARSH, Colonel, Commanding U. S. Forces, Cape Girardeau. The gentlemen held by Colonel Marsh are as I am credibly informed citizens of this State and unconnected in any way with military operations. Even were they so connected in a manner justifying their being made prisoners of war the Articles of War and Army Regulations of the United States require humane treatment of prisoners. I also learn that the detachment of Colonel Marsh's troops which captured Mr. William M. Price wantonly burned his father's warehouse and took away a large quantity.of corn and sixty mules. Similar outrages are believed to have been very lately committed at the farm of General N. W. Watkins near Cape Girardeau, and also by Colonel Marsh's troops. I therefore in the interest of humanity lay these matters before you and request a frank answer to these inquiries: Does this conduct of Colonel Marsh and his troops meet your approval? If not what steps do you propose to take in respect to the guilty par ties and in order to prevent the repetition of such conduct? It is the desire of the Missouri State authorities to conduct the present war according to civilized usages and any departure from them by Missouri forces will be properly punished by their officers if aware of it. I deem it proper to add that on seeing Colonel Marsh's letter I immediately instructed the general commanding the Missouri State Guard in this district to hold in close custody a number of prisoners recently taken by him and belonging to your forces. Should Colonel Marsh's future treatment of Messrs. Curd and Price necessitate the hanging of any of those prisoners in retaliation I am content that impartial men shall judge who is morally responsible for their melancholy fate. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure No. 2.] HDQRS. FIRST MILITARY DIV., MISSOURI STATE GUARD, Camp Sikeston, August 17, 1861. Col. C. C. MARSH, Commanding U. S. Forces, Cape Girardeau, Mo. SIR: I send Edmund Burke, a citizen of Scott County, as bearer of letters from Governor T. C. Reynolds to General Frémont and yourself. |