[Second indorsement.] CHIEF QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, Galveston, Tex., November 16, 1861. Respectfully returned to the general commanding for his considera tion. The prisoners now at Camp Verde have from $150 to $300 due each. The Adjutant and Inspector General of the Army was consulted upon the subject of paying the prisoners what was due them by the United States. He replied that no appropriation had been made for such purpose and that they could not be paid. But he was inclined to the belief that the Government would pay them after the war, provided they enlisted and served faithfully. No one therefore can give the pledge demanded by the prisoners. My opinion is that the large sums due the prisoners of war at Camp Verde ought not to be paid; that their services would not justify it. They have been solicited frequently to enter our service and have declined. They have manifested much bitterness against our cause. Respectfully, your obedient servant, SACKFIELD MACLIN, Major, C. S. Army, Actg. Chief Quartermaster, Dept. of Texas. HDQRS. SECOND REGIMENT TEXAS MOUNTED RIFLES, Capt. D. C. STITH, Fort Brown, Tex., November 11, 1861. Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army, San Antonio, Tex. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that having received information from my spies of the presence of some escaped prisoners of war near the mouth of the Rio Grande I dispatched Captain Nolan and Lieutenant Lively, with twenty-three men, to that point with orders to retake them. They discharged the duty with prudence and propriety. A copy of Captain Nolan's report is inclosed. I shall send the prisoners to San Antonio with the train, which will return within a few days. I have strong hopes of being able to recapture Colonel Anderson. A Lieutenant Williams, Second U. S. Cavalry, is reported to have been in Matamoras two days ago. I have spies on his track. Col. JOHN S. FORD, FORT BROWN, TEX., November 9, 1861. Comdg. Rio Grande Military District, Fort Brown, Tex. SIR: I have the honor to report that in accordance with your instructions I left this post on the 6th instant, accompanied by Lieutenant Lively, of Captain Buquor's company, and twenty-three men of my command, and proceeded to the mouth of the Rio Grande. I arrested and brought to this post Charles Douglas and John Brown,* escaped prisoners of war, who were trying to make their way to the United States, and also John Murphy, who was likewise trying to get a passage North. The man Murphy is supposed to be the person who some time since committed a murder at or near Austin, and although I did * See Bomford to Maclin, December 11, 1861, p. 96. not know Murphy, yet as he appeared so anxious to leave the country I thought it my duty to arrest him. I am much indebted to Lieutenant Lively for his valuable assistance; without it I should probably not have succeeded in making the arrests. I turned the prisoners over to Lieutenant Williams, officer of the guard. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, MAT. NOLAN, Captain, Comdg. Company, Second Regt. Texas Mounted Rifles. WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Maj. Gen. BENJ. HUGER, Norfolk, Va. SIR: Your letter of the 13th instant to the Adjutant-General has been referred to me. * * * * Third. Surg. Wyatt M. Brown, of the Seventh Regiment North Carolina Volunteers, arrived here on parole and reports that he is to be released from his parole "upon forwarding to Asst. Surg. De Witt C. Peters, U. S. Army, a similar release from the obligation he is under not to serve or execute the functions of his office to the detriment of the States now at war with the United States." The words just quoted are from the written orders signed by "J. P. Garesche, assistant adjutant-general, by order of Major-General McClellan." You are authorized to forward in the name of your Government to General Wool a release of the parole of Asst. Surg. De Witt C. Peters, couched in the above-quoted language, with information that Surg. W. M. Brown will thenceforward be considered as released from his parole, and will resume his duties as surgeon of his regiment. I am, your obedient servant, J. P. BENJAMIN, Acting Secretary of War. General S. COOPER, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, Adjutant and Inspector General, C. S. Army, Richmond, Va. SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a communication from Lieutenant-Colonel Bomford, U. S. Army, and others, prisoners of war at San Antonio. I have informed the writers that I have submitted their communication to the Secretary of War for his action. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] SAN ANTONIO, TEX., November 23, 1861. Brig. Gen. PAUL O. HÉBERT, Commanding Department of Texas. SIR: We, the undersigned, have the honor to state that a communication from the officers of the U. S. Army held as prisoners of war at this place concerning their parole was forwarded to you at Galveston, Tex., about the 7th instant. As no answer to this communication has yet been received, we respectfully call the attention of the general com. manding the Department of Texas to this subject, and at the same time mention in support of our request that those officers associated with us as prisoners of war and placed in the same category with ourselves have all been allowed an extended parole. We also respectfully refer to the favorable consideration given to our application by the War Department at Richmond, Va., as well as to the indorsement of that paper by General Van Dorn. In connection with the same subject we beg leave to allude to the case of those U. S. officers taken prisoners by Colonel Baylor at Fillmore, N. Mex., who were allowed the same parole. J. V. BOMFORD, Major Sixth Regiment Infantry, Bvt. Lieut. Col. U. S. Army. First Lieutenant, Eighth U. S. Infantry. J. J. VAN HORN, Second Lieutenant, Eighth Regiment, U. S. Army. R. T. FRANK, Second Lieutenant, Eighth Infantry, U. S. Army. WM. G. JONES, Brevet Second Lieutenant, Eighth Infantry, U. S. Army. Maj. S. B. Davis, SAN ANTONIO, TEX., December 13, 1861. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, C. S. Army, Galveston, Tex. SIR: On the 10th of the present month Lieut. D. Lively, C. S. Army, of Captain Buquor's company of infantry, Third Regiment, turned over to me for safe-keeping three prisoners of war whom he had arrested in the country toward the lower Rio Grande-two of them are deserters from the [Federal] prisoners of war in charge of Col. H. E. McCulloch; the other, a murderer (citizen), who, contrary to the tenor of the President's proclamation, was attempting when arrested to make his way into the United States. I removed the manacles from the wrists of the two deserters and substituted balls and chains attached to their legs. I refer you to inclosed copy of written orders (marked 1) issued by me on taking charge of them. I was aware that it was not essential that the orders should be written, yet, as some difficulty had arisen on this head at the time of the escape of another prisoner of war some time since, I thought it best to take every precaution. Many applications have been made to me by strangers and others to be permitted to visit these prisoners, all of which requests I have promptly declined. I refer you to a letter from Bvt. Lieut. Col. J. V. Bomford, U. S. Army, one of the prisoners of war residing in this city, as bearing on this point (marked 2), and my reply (marked 3), all of which you will oblige me by submitting to the notice of General P. O. Hébert, C. S. Army. As I leave this place for Brownsville on Tuesday next it will be necessary for these prisoners to be committed to the charge of some other officer, and I hope that the course I may adopt on leaving in absence of directions from your office may be approved by the general. I am, sir, yours, very respectfully, ROB. B. MACLIN, Captain, C. S. Artillery, Commanding San Antonio Barracks. SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 1. } [Inclosure No. 1.] SAN ANTONIO, Immediately after guard mounting every officer of the day will issue the following orders to the sergeants or corporals of the guard in relation to the three prisoners of war now in charge of the guard: First. To allow no man or woman, friend or foe, to converse with said prisoners of war, or write notes or letters to them on any subject, or furnish them with any written or printed documents, under any pretext whatever. Second. To allow but one of said prisoners to leave the guard-house at a single time. Fourth. In case escape is attempted the sentinel in charge of said prisoner or prisoners must shoot him or them so attempting to escape, without mercy. Sixth. The sergeant or corporal of the guard to be warned that he is responsible for the safe-keeping of the prisoners to the officer of the day, and the sentinel to the sergeant or corporal of the guard, and also to be warned of the very severe punishment attending a want of strict vigilance on the part of an officer of the guard or sentinel. ROB. B. MACLIN, Captain, C. S. Artillery, Commanding San Antonio Barracks. [Inclosure No. 2.] SAN ANTONIO, TEX., December 11, 1861. Capt. R. B. MACLIN, C. S. Army, Commanding Officer, San Antonio. SIR: Being apprised of the confinement of Sergeant Douglas and Corporal Brown, U. S. Army, now prisoners of war in this place, I have the honor to address you this communication in behalf of myself and other U. S. officers, prisoners of war, residing in San Antonio, for the purpose of obtaining permission to visit them and to ask for them that protection and consideration of their necessities which their helpless condition suggests. I am well aware that no appeal is necessary to insure their relief when your attention is once directed to the subject of their wants. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. V. BOMFORD, Major Sixth Regiment Infantry, Brevet Lieut. Col., U. S. Ármy. Maj. J. V. BOMFORD, [Inclosure No. 3.] SAN ANTONIO, TEX., December 11, 1861. Sixth Regiment Infantry, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army. SIR: Your communication of this date containing a request in behalf of yourself and other U. S. officers residing in this place to be permitted to visit the two deserters from the prisoners of war now in my custody and also asking for them that protection and consideration of their necessities which their helpless condition suggests has been received. My charge of said deserters being but temporary in the absence of higher authority I feel it my duty respectfully to decline your request to be permitted to visit them. Every comfort compatible with their condition shall be given them, and most surely every protection extended to them. This having been the course of the Confederate States adopted toward its prisoners since the commencement of the present war, I could not if I wished act otherwise. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ROB. B. MACLIN, Captain, C. S. Light Artillery, Comdg. San Antonio Barracks. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORFOLK, Norfolk, Va., January 11, 1862. General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. SIR: * * By direction of the Secretary of War I have already offered Lieut. William G. Jones, Tenth Infantry, to Flag-Officer Goldsborough for Lieutenant Sayre, of the Marine Corps, now on parole. General Wool also agrees to receive 147 wounded prisoners, via James River, at such time as may be agreed upon. I notify General Winder. Respectfully, your obedient servant, BENJ. HUGER, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORFOLK, General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. * * A late letter from General Wool states he had requested that Colonel Hoffman should be given for Colonel Bradford, of North Carolina, whereas we have offered Brevet Colonel Chandler, Third Infantry. What reply shall I give? B. H[UGER]. [Indorsement.] Inform General Huger that Colonel Hoffman is of higher rank than Colonel Bradford, who was merely a brevet or temporary colonel of twelve-months' volunteers, not even equal in rank to Brevet Colonel Chandler who was given in exchange. We can only give a full colonel like Hoffman for an officer of equal grade. Adjutant-General.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT of Norfolk, Hon. J. P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War. SIR: I inclose herewith copy of a letter received from Maj. Gen. John E. Wool on the evening of January 20. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 7 R R-SER II, VOL I BENJ. HUGER, Major-General, Commanding. |