Governor Reynolds has sent me a copy of these letters and I will take it upon myself to remark in addition to the letters of Governor Reynolds that whenever such threats are used as that which is believed to have been uttered by you in the letter referred to or that whenever any such threats are carried into execution I will retaliate to the utmost of my ability. Yours, &c., ADJUTANT-GENERAL, M. JEFF. THOMPSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST, Headquarters Department of the West, Saint Louis, Mo. SIR: Mr. Emmett MacDonald, a messenger from the rebel army, is now here with a view to making an arrangement for the exchange of pris oners. They have many more of our men than we have of theirs and propose a mutual liberation which I will agree to unless orders are received from the commanding general to the contrary. Mr. MacDonald is anxious to visit Saint Louis for a day. To this request I have not acceded but will thank you to lay the matter before the commanding general that he may consider it and authorize him or not as he may deem best to visit Saint Louis. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, S. D. STURGIS, Major First Cavalry, Commanding. OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL, Saint Louis, Mo., August 21, 1861. Lieut. Col. S. BURBANK, U. S. Army, Commanding Arsenal. COLONEL: The major general commanding directs that Mr. Brownlee, now a prisoner in charge of your guard, be released from confinement and allowed to leave the arsenal on the following conditions: First. That he resign his commission as president of the board of police commissioners. Second. That he sign a pledge to leave the city to remain in some of the free States and not return here without the consent of the military authorities of the Government. The foregoing conditions must be complied with and the necessary papers put into your possession for transmittal to this office before Mr. Brownlee is released. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. MCKINSTRY, Major, U. S. Army, Provost-Marshal. Major-General PRICE, Commanding Missouri State Guard. SIR: I am instructed by General James H. Lane, commanding Kansas Brigade, to say that he is willing to exchange Henry N. Rosser and Michael McCarty, prisoners in his hands, for any two commissioned officers of his brigade now in your hands. You can send them to this city and on their arrival I will immediately discharge and send under proper safeguards the two prisoners above named. I send this message by Lieut. Thomas W. Scudder, of my command, whom I will expect to have treated as a gentleman and soldier. Respectfully, &c., THOS. J. ANDERSON, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. CAMP CAVENDER, Saint Louis, September 7, 1861. Capt. J. C. KELTON, U. S. Army, A. A. G., Western Department. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to ask what disposition is to be made of our men who were taken prisoners at Springfield and released on parole? I have been informed though not officially that an exchange has been made which absolves them from their parole. Please inform me if this is so. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major First Missouri Volunteers. [Indorsement.] SAINT LOUIS, Mo., September 7, 1861. The exchange referred to within was accomplished by Mr. MacDonald on the part of the rebel forces and myself on the part of the Government verbally. I declined to enter into negotiations of any other kind. The exchange was to be equal and without the imposing of any restraint upon the prisoners of either side, and I have no doubt but when the rebel forces learn of their prisoners having been released without parole they will consider ours as absolved also. S. D. STURGIS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers. U. S. MARSHAL'S OFFICE, Springfield, Ill., September 8, 1861. Maj. Gen. J. C. FREMONT, Saint Louis, Mo. GENERAL: The undersigned desires your order to arrest and deliver to you in the city of Saint Louis Hon. James C. Robinson, member of Congress from the Seventh Congressional district in Illinois. Robinson is notoriously opposed to the war, the administration and all who are connected with it and busily engaged in making the most treasonable speeches that can be made. He is not without influence and sympathizers and if permitted to remain at large he will cause much trouble. He is suspected of holding communication with the rebels and boasts of his sympathy for the cause of treason. If you will issue an order directed to me at this city I will deliver him into your hands in a few days. Yours, respectfully, We indorse this. 9 R R-SER II, VOL I SAINT LOUIS, September 9, 1861. Maj. J. M. SCHOFIELD, First Missouri Volunteers. SIR: Your letter of the 7th instant relative to the status of soldiers who were taken prisoners and released on parole has had the attention of the major-general commanding. He has decided under the circumstances of facts indorsed on your letter by Brigadier-General Sturgis that the men are to be considered released from their parole, and directs that you furnish each of them with a certificate representing their release from parole oath for the reasons set forth by General Sturgis; then order them to duty. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. EATON, Major, U. S. Army, and Military Secretary. General U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE, Camp Cairo, September 17, 1861. Commanding District of Southeast Missouri. SIR: Having just closed the investigation of the cases of the steamers John Gault and Jefferson seized by the gun-boat Conestoga, under command of Commodore Rodgers, and the prisoners taken on said boats I have the honor to report that I have released all the prisoners taken on the above-named steamers (twenty-five white persons) upon their parole of honor, and seven colored persons who were cooks and cabin servants on the steamer John Gault. I could find no evidence whatever which would warrant me in detaining them as prisoners. I have also examined into the cause assigned for the seizure of the steamer John Gault and can see no reason why she should be longer detained. The evidence shows that the boat was engaged in legitimate business; that all her papers were properly certified by the surveyors of the ports of Louisville, Ky., and Evansville, Ind., and covered an authority to her to transport such articles as she had been carrying. I might further add that the evidence shows that the boat has not been beyond the Kentucky line since the vote upon the question of secession was taken in the State of Tennessee. I would therefore recommend a release of the steamer John Gault and that she be chartered for Government use. As far as relates to the steamer Jefferson the captain and clerk were not on board at the time she was seized. I will make the case of the Jefferson and her cargo the subject of a future report. Yours, &c., Maj. Gen. JOHN C. FREMONT: JOHN A. MOCLERNAND, BROOKFIELD, September 22. 1861. I have just arrived here from Quincy and have 100 of our men that were in the battle at Lexington; 2,000 more are at Hamilton, fifty miles west of this. Colonel Mulligan surrendered 4 p. m. Friday. Water cut off. The entire command after surrendering were disarmed; non-commissioned officers and privates sworn and released; commissioned officers are held as prisoners. Federal loss 39 killed and 120 wounded; rebel 1,400 killed and wounded. I send provisions forward to our gallant soldiers who have not been fed for two days. They were not re-enforced. B. M. PRENTISS, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Hon. S. CAMERON, Secretary of War: September 23, 1861. Nothing since my dispatch of this morning. Our loss 39 killed, 120 wounded; loss of enemy 1,400 killed and wounded. Our non-commissioned officers and privates sworn and released; commissioned officers held as prisoners. Our troops are gathering around the enemy. I will send you from the field more details in a few days. JNO. C. FREMONT, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Brig. Gen. B. M. PRENTISS, Quincy, Ill. GENERAL: Your dispatch received. The surgeons of my staff and the sanitary commission are directed to communicate with you in regard to the wounded. Keep me fully informed of facts in relation to them so that their wants may be provided for as promptly as possible. J. C. FREMONT, Major-General. General PRICE, SAINT LOUIS, September 24, 1861. Commanding Missouri State Guard, Lexington, Mo. GENERAL: I am instructed by Major-General Frémont to say in reply to your proposal for the exchange of Col. Thomas A. Marshall, First Regiment Illinois Cavalry, for Mr. Prince L. Hudgins that it is accepted and the latter will be released and delivered over to his son, the bearer of your letter. Please on receipt of this give to Colonel Marshall facilities for reaching the nearest station of our troops. Respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, J. H. EATON, Colonel and Military Secretary. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Capt. G. GRANGER, U. S. Army, Commanding Officer, Saint Louis Arsenal. SIR: Deliver to the bearer to be placed in his custody Mr. Prince L. Hudgins, detained as a prisoner in the arsenal. He is released by order of Major-General Frémont, having been exchanged on an arrangement with General Price for Col. Thomas A. Marshall, First Regiment Illinois Cavalry. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. EATON, Colonel and Military Secretary. HEADQUARTERS MISSOURI STATE GUARD, General JAMES H. LANE, U. S. Army. SIR: I am instructed by Maj. Gen. S. Price, commanding Missouri State forces, to say that he is willing to exchange two of the U. S. officers now prisoners of war for Henry N. Rosser and Michael McCarty, prisoners in your hands. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Adjutant-General. Major-General FRÉMONT, HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, Commanding Army of the West. GENERAL: The bearer of these lines, Major Tyler, who was captured at Lexington and released since on parole, is a graduate of the Military Academy of Virginia. He wishes to be exchanged as soon as possible if such measure will be taken, and I take the liberty of recommending him to your favorable consideration. I am, general, your most obedient servant, F. SIGEL, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, U. S. ARMY, Maj. Gen. STERLING PRICE, Commanding Missouri State Guard. SIR: An order has been received at these headquarters signed by Brigadier-General Harris, Missouri State Guard, exchanging Lieut. Edwin Moore, First Regiment Missouri Volunteers, for Captain Blackford, Missouri State Guard. I am directed by Major-General Frémont to inform you that as the proposal is not grade for grade he declines to approve this exchange. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. EATON, Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. JEFFERSON CITY], September 30, 1861. Maj. Gen. STERLING PRICE, Commanding Missouri State Guard. SIR: I am directed by Major-General Frémont to propose to you the exchange of Lieut. Col. John Knapp, prisoner of war now at Saint Louis, for Lieutenant-Colonel Thacher, U. S. Volunteers. If this meets with your approval please notify me at once. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. EATON, Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. |