of the war by scouting parties who were not very particular so that they brought in a prisoner. Heretofore it has been well to keep them to exchange for better men, but now that they are no longer required for that purpose I would suggest that all against whom there are not grave charges be released on their taking the oath of allegiance.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Lieutenant Colonel Eighth Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

[First indorsement.]

Respectfully referred to the Secretary of War.

It appears to the Quartermaster-General that on taking the oath of allegiance these prisoners could be properly released.

M. C. MEIGS,

Major-General.

[Second indorsement.]

MARCH 28, 1862.

Approved.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

Disposition made of citizen prisoners* at Camp Chase and Wheeling.

Name. Residence. Condition of discharge.

Arnold, James. . Gilmer County, Va. . Released on oath and bond.

Allen, William H., sr. . Kanawha County, Va. . Released on oath.

Allen, William, Jr. . . . do. . Do.

Adams, J. D. . Hampshire County, Va. . Do.

Adams, Jacob. . . . do. . Do.

Amick, Henry. . Wirt County, Va. . Do.

Anderson, John. . . . do. . Do.

Ayres, Jeff. . . . do. . Do.

Bright, Matthew. . Harrison County, Va. . Released on oath and bond.

Boggs. Wesley. . Webster County, Va. . Do.

Barnett, N. D. . Braxton County, Va. . Do.

Barnett, J. D. . . . do. . Do.

Baumgardner, Jacob. . Guyandotte, Va. . Do.

Bowman, A. C. . Barbour County, Va. . Do.

Burner L. . Pocahontas County, Va. . Do.

Byard, Benj. . Wetzel County, Va. . Do.

Bennett, Hezekiah. . Pendleton County, Va. . Do.

Butcher, Harvey B. . Roane County, Va. . Do.

Coffman, J. W. . Harrison County, Va. . Do.

Cooper, Dr. F. W. . Roane County, Va. Released on oath and to live in Ohio.

Cool, Jesse. . Webster County, Va. . Released on oath.

Cool. Archibald. . . . do. . Do.

Collins, Lewis. . Upshur County, Va. . Do.

Carte, George. . clay County, Va. . Do.

Cogar, Tunis. . Webster County, Va. . Released on oath and bond

Cavendish, John. . Fayette County, Va. . Do.

Crawford, W. S. . Hampshire County, Va. . Do.

Cain, Michael. . . . do. . Rel and bond.

Dillon, R. H. . Kanawha County, Va. . Released on oath.

Dulin, Francis. . Wirt County, Va. . Do.

Dent, Cornelius. . . . do. . Do.

Dunn, John. . Hampshire County, Va. . Released on oath and to live in Ohio.

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*The date of arrest and discharge of these prisoners is not stated in the return.

The return was made March 13, 1862.

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