Union prisoners confined at Marianna, to collect white and colored recruits, and secure as many horse and mules as possible. All the infantry will remain here for the safety of Barrancas and surroundings.

Very respectfully, major, your obedient servant,

ASBOTH,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C., September 13, 1864.

Major General SAMUEL JONES,

Commanding Confederate Forces, Dept. of S. C., Ga., and Fla.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, in reply to mine of the 5th, in regard to James Pike and Charles R. Gray, now confined in the jail tower at Charleston. You state therein that they were arrested in Edgefield District, S. C.; that they were not in U. S. uniform when captured, and had about them certain papers which, in your judgment, warranted the belief that they were spies. These statements are at variance with information in my hands. I desire to acknowledge your assurance that they shall have a fair trial, and have the honor to request that when they are tried you will furnish me with a copy of the proceedings, and also of their sentence in case they are convicted.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. G. FOSTER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C., September 13, 1864.

Major General SAMUEL JONES,

Commanding Confederate Forces, Dept. of S. C., Ga., and Fla.:

GENERAL: I would respectfully invite your attention to the inconvenience of exchanging flags of truce at either Port Royal Ferry or at Charleston Harbor. The position of the ferry makes it unsuitable for the delivery or the reception of persons or of packages designed for the prisoners on either side, while in rough weather boats cannot safely meet in Charleston Harbor. I would suggest the Savannah River, off Jones' Island, as a suitable place for all future exchange of flags of truce between us. It is like easy of access to both of us, and is sheltered from all but the most violent storms.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. G. FOSTER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF S. CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA,
Charleston, S. C., September 13, 1864.

Major General J. G. FOSTER, U. S. Volunteers,

Commanding Department of the South, Hilton Head:

GENERAL: The officer to whom I referred your letter of the 21st ultimo, concerning sanitary and clothing stores for prisoners of war, has replied that the prisoners will be allowed to receive them. It will be more convenient for me to receive them in this harbor than