PHILADELPHIA, May 3, 1865-7.30 p. m.

(Received 8.40 p. m.)

Brevet Major-General RAWLINS,

Chief of Staff:

Your telegram of 12.30 p. m. received. Please order the work stopped.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Nashville, Tenn., May 3, 1865. (Received 7.30 p. m.)

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,

Philadelphia:

Do you design opening the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad through to Lynchburg; ar small repairs be discontinued from this date? The road is completed to Jonesborough, East Tenn.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, Commanding Department of the Cumberland.

NASHVILLE, May 3, 1865.

(Received 4.50 p. m.)

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT:

I forward the following dispatch just received from Major-General Stoneman for your information.* As I have several days since directed General Stoneman to use every means his power to capture Davis, and as he has Colonel Palmer after him, I have much hope of his success.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Nashville, Tenn., May 3, 1865-4 p. m. (Received 7.50 p. m.)

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT:

Are paroled prisoners of war surrendered by Lee now to be permitted to come to their former homes in Tennessee? Many have come here with order granting them that privilege made from your headquarters in the field in Virginia. Have I authority to release on parole prisoners of war in prison and hospitals in this department upon their taking the oath of allegiance? These prisoners were all captured in battle. Among them are Brigadier-General Quarles, of Tennessee, and Brigadier-General Sears, of Louisiana, both severely wounded.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, Commanding.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL,

Washington, D. C.:

I would like to be instructed as to the policy of the Government regarding prisoners of war recently paroled and desiring to return to the loyal States. One case is this: Clarence Prentice, son of the editor

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*See Stoneman to Thomas, May 2, p. 570.

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