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quartermaster with the approval or order of the commanding officer, the bills being paid by the commissary, who will keep an account book in which will be carefully entered all receipts and payments with the vouchers; and he will keep the commanding officer advised from time to time of the amount of this fund. At the end of the month he will furnish the commanding officer with an account of the fund for the month showing the receipts and disbursements, which account will be forwarded to the commissary-general of prisoners with the remarks of the commanding officer. With this fund will be purchased all such articles as may be necessary for the health and comfort of the prisoners and which would otherwise have to be purchased by the Government. Among these articles are all table furniture and cooking utensils, articles for policing purposes, bedticks and straw, the means of improving or enlarging the barrack accommodations, extra pay to clerks who have charge of the camp post-office, and who keep the accounts of moneys deposited with the commanding officer, &c., &c.

6. The sutler is entirely under the control of the commanding officer who will see that he furnishes proper articles, and at reasonable rates. For his privilege the sutler will be taxed a small amount by the commanding officer according to the amount of his trade, which tax will make a part of the general fund.

7. Prisoners will not be permitted to hold or receive money. All moneys in possession or received will be taken charge of by the commanding officer who will give receipts for it to those to whom it belongs. They will purchase from the sutler such articles as they may wish, which are not prohibited, and on the bill of the articles they will give an order on the commanding officer for the amount, and this will be kept as a voucher with the individual's account. The commanding officer will keep a book in which the accounts of all those who have money deposited with him will be kept, and this book with the vouchers must be always ready for the inspection of the commissary-general of prisoners.

8. All articles contributed by friends for the prisoners in whatever shape they come if proper to be received will be carefully distributed as the donors may request; such articles as are intended for the sick passing through the hands of the surgeon who will be responsible for their proper use. Contributions must be received by an officer who must be held responsible that they are delivered to the persons for whom they are intended.

9. Visitors to these stations out of mere curiosity will in no case be permitted. Persons having business with the commanding officer or quartermaster may with the permission of the commanding officer enter the camp to remain only long enough to transact their business. When prisoners are seriously ill their nearest relatives, parents, wives, brothers or sisters if they are loyal people may be permitted to make them short visits; but under no other circumstances will visitors be allowed to see them without the approval of the commissary-general of prisoners.

10. Prisoners will not be permitted to write letters of more than one page of common letter paper, the matter to be strictly of a private nature, or the letter must be destroyed.

11. Prisoners will be paroled or released only by the authority of the War Department, or by direction of the commissary-general of prisoners.

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Detroit, July 8, 1862.

Col. J. H. TUCKER, Commanding Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.

COLONEL: I inclose herewith for your information and guidance a declaration of martial law in and about Camp Douglas which you will publish conspicuously about the camp and in the newspapers of Chicago so that all interested in it may have due notice. Let your camp outside the fence be as closely adjoining it as possible and make the line which bounds the space covered by martial law so clearly that there can be no doubt about it. A line of stakes fifty feet apart and two above the ground will I suppose be, sufficient. Determine upon the line and the mode of establishing it before the announcement is made. Should there be any obstacle in the way which I cannot anticipate refer to me.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

[Inclosure.]

JULY 8, 1862.

By authority of the War Department martial law is hereby declared in and about Camp Douglas, Ill., extending for a space of 100 feet outside and around the chain of sentinels, which space the commanding officer will indicate by a line of stakes, and the area of the ground included within the said line is hereby declared to be under martial law. Any person violating military authority within said line will be subject to punishment by short confinement or trial by court-martial at the discretion of the commanding officer.

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Detroit, July 8, 1862.

Col. J. H. TUCKER, Commanding Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill. COLONEL: Your letter of yesterday with its inclosures just received. The Secretary of War's orders give you no discretion in the matter and William Pinckney Jones, of the Third Mississippi Regiment, must be immediately and unconditionally released. No obligations are imposed on Mr. Jones by the terms of his release. As an exchanged prisoner he could claim the right to return South. Whether he has the same right under his present release I am not able to say. I return the order for your guidance.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

HEADQUARTERS, Camp Douglas, Chicago, July 8, 1862.

Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN,

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich.

COLONEL: By your communication of June 29 I am required to furnish immediately-first, the number of prisoners of war that have been

held at Camp Douglas up to this time so far as the records show; second, the number now present; third, the number now sick; fourth, the number now discharged, explaining briefly the circumstances; fifth, the number now escaped; sixth, the number now dead.

I would as a preliminary report say that immediately on receipt of your letter of June 23 specifying lists of prisoners called for by the War Department I directed that the rolls of the different companies and squads of the prisoners which were in the hands of the U. S. corporals detailed to call the daily rolls should be made use of as the proper basis for gaining the proper information. These rolls have been corrected as far as possible by requiring the non-commissioned officers in charge of the prisoners to give from memory or memoranda in their possession the names of all the members of their company or squad who were here but are not now present, and account for them dead, escaped or discharged. This branch of the work is completed and the names are being transcribed in alphabetical order on the rolls sent by you and at the same time also transcribed in a book to be kept here for reference. Thus two persons are writing and one calling off constantly. In advance of the completion of the rolls I can only report on the different heads, as follows: First, cannot at present furnish the information; second, number of prisoners of war present at Camp Douglas as per morning report this day, 7,807; third, number sick per hospital report, 260; fourth, cannot report; fifth, cannot report; sixth, number died per report of post surgeon to July 5, 650. Numbers of the prisoners appear to have enlisted in the Twenty-third and Sixtyfifth Regiments Illinois Volunteers and are probably in their ranks now. The number of sick in quarters are not included in the number 260 who are all in hospital. There must be I fear a large discrepancy between the number as shown by the lists taken as the prisoners came into camp and the numbers now accounted for.

JOSEPH H. TUCKER, Colonel Sixty-ninth Regt. Illinois Vols.. Comdg. Camp Douglas.

HEADQUARTERS, Camp Butler, Ill., July 8, 1862.

Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN,

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose a requisition* for clothing for the prisoners of war at this camp.

Hoping it may meet your approval, I remain, your obedient servant,
JOHN G. FONDA,
Major, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, Commanding Post.

[Indorsement.]

Clothing ordered July 12.

CAMP BUTLER, ILL., July 8, 1862.

Col. WILLIAM HOFFMAN,

Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich.

COLONEL: I have made a complete and thorough inspection of the condition of the prisoners of war at this camp and would respectfully call your attention to these facts:

The supply of water to be obtained here is entirely inadequate to the

*Not found.

It

demand. Many wells have been dug and water obtained, but they all fail to furnish the required amount. These wells appear mutually to depend upon each other for their supply. Additional wells are now being made and are intended to be carried to a considerable depth. is to be hoped that they may furnish a sufficient supply of this element. Should they however fail water can be procured from a small river (Sangamon River) about half a mile distant. This water is not suitable for drinking purposes.

The prisoners are sadly in want of clothing and I have directed the commanding officer to make a requisition for the necessary amount, which he will forward to-day for your approval. The amount of the estimate was at my suggestion after having minutely inspected and counted the prisoners.

With regard to the fund to be acquired for the use of the prisoners by selling the unnecessary part of the ration I have endeavored to inform the commanding officer and commissary of the manner of conducting it, as directed in your instructions, so as not only to be a benefit to the prisoners but a saving of expense to the Government. This mode at first seemed to conflict with the terms of the contract made for furnishing supplies for this post. It appears this contract has been given out with a stipulation that the contractors should issue the rations at their own expense upon the requisition of the commanding officer or commissary. They heretofore have issued directly to the prisoners. It also appears that there was a distinct understanding with the contractors that they should have the privilege of repurchasing such part of the ration as might not be required by the prisoner at such prices as they themselves had determined upon, the proceeds to be again invested in articles such as the prisoner might require not prohibited by the commanding officer at such prices as the contractors had fixed. This appears to have been done without the sanction or approval of the present commanding officer of the post or officer in charge of the prisoners. Capt. N. W. Edwards, assistant commissary of subsistence, volunteer service, stationed at Springfield, and purchasing commissary of this district, by whom this contract was drawn up on the part of the United States, objects to purchasing the saving of the rations of prisoners as directed under your orders without definite instructions to that effect. The commissary at this post has no funds under his control and all purchases are made through Captain Edwards. I desire and request that unequivocal instructions may be furnished him. I inclose herewith a copy of the contract for your information.

A number of the hospitals for the prisoners of war are situated on the outside of the inclosure. I have recommended to the commanding officer that the inclosure be extended to include these buildings, together with the commissary and quartermaster's store-rooms. they are now situated the physicians, nurses, cooks, attendants and patients are constantly without the line of the sentinels, and are required to have an officer, a guard or a written permission from the commanding officer and surgeon to pass to and from their companies within the lines. Dishonest persons in availing themselves of the privileges of these hospitals may take advantage of their position to escape. By extending the inclosure so as to bring these buildings within the lines of sentinels the above-mentioned persons may pass to and from their quarters and to and from the commissary and quartermaster's store-rooms without molestation from the sentinels. It will

also avoid the necessity of written passes, thus adding to the comfort as well as to the security of the prisoners. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[Inclosure.]

H. W. FREEDLEY,
Captain, Third Infantry.

Articles of agreement entered into this 16th day of June, 1862, between Ninian W. Edwards, captain and commissary of subsistence in the U. S. volunteer service, on the one part, and Edwin S. Fowler, of the county of Sangamon, State of Illinois, of the other part.

This agreement witnesseth that the said Ninian W. Edwards, for and on behalf of the United States of America, and the said Edwin S. Fowler, his heirs, executors and administrators, have covenanted and agreed with each other as follows, to wit:

1. That the said Edwin S. Fowler, his heirs, executors and administrators shall supply or cause to be supplied and issued at Camp Butler and Springfield, Ill., all of the rations to consist of the articles hereinafter specified that shall be required for the use of the U. S. troops, prisoners of war or others entitled to draw rations from the United States that are or may be at either of said posts, to be delivered and issued in suitable packages without charge on the provision return or in bulk at the option of the Government, commencing on the 21st of June, 1862, and ending on the 31st of December, 1862, or such earlier day as the commissary-general may direct.

2. That the articles comprising the rations and the prices to be paid therefor are as follows, to wit (to 100 rations):

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3. When several articles compose the rations the officer making the requisition shall have power to require either article.

4. The said Edwin S. Fowler, his heirs, executors and administrators shall supply, deliver and issue hospital supplies and any other articles that may be required at the lowest wholesale prices, to be delivered by said Edwards, and shall furnish the U. S. officer any of the articles at the rate above specified.

5. All of the articles shall be of the first quality and shall be approved by the commanding officer, the commissary at the post or said Edwards, and payment shall be made as per advertisement for proposals.

6. That in case of failure or deficiency in the quality or quantity of any of the articles to be issued then the said Edwards or the commis

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