[Inclosure Numbers 3.]

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
Columbus, Ky., October 23, 1863, 1861.

Brigadier General JOHN A. McCLERNAND, Commanding, Cairo.

SIR: I have received your note of this date borne by Colonel N. B. Buford, of the Twenty-seventh Illinois Regiment, responding to the overtures made by me to General Grant some days since on the subject of an exchange of prisoners; and although your mode of accomplishing in waives the recognition of our claims as belligerents I am not disposed to insist on an unimportant technicality when the interests of humanity are at stake.

I accept the release of the three prisoners tendered me being as your note implies all of those of the Confederate army in your possession. In return I have pleasure in offering you the sixteen of those of the Federal army in my possession.

Hoping that in the prosecution of the unhappy conflict in which we are engaged we shall never lose sight of the claims of generosity on those who direct the operations of the armies of our respective Governments,

I have the honor to be, respectfully, yours,

LEONIDAS POLK,

Major-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure Numbers 4.]

BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS,

Camp Cairo, October 23, 1861.

The following named prisoners were released to-day by General Polk at Columbst and returned to this post:

Lieutenant J. W. Campion, H. C. Manker, A. H. Rowan, Company C, Twentieth Illinois Volunteers; John Herberich, M. H. Lambert, Company I, Fourth Cavalry, Regular Army, Lieutenant Powell; Theodore Eberder, Augustus Shanaman, Charles Stenberg, Company H, Captain Pfaff's cavalry; P. H. Lippert, Company F, Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteers; Louis Walter, Charles Hesenpfug, George Fisher, Company A, Henry Henser, H. Bossbelbaum, John Fesholt, F. Schmitt, Company C, Ninth Missouri Volunteers.

M. BRAYMAN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS CAMP FREMONT,
Cape Girardeau, Mo., October 27, 1861.

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL,

Headquarters District of Southeast Missouri.

SIR: I wish to inquire of the general commanding what I shall do with the prisoners taken at Fredericktown whom I have here and among whom is one captain and one lieutenant. Two of them I have already released upon their taking the oath of allegiance.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[J. B. PLUMMER,]

Colonel Eleventh Missouri Volunteers, Commanding.

33 R R-SER II, VOL I