HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Saint Louis, March 19, 1862.

D. L. PHILLIPS, Springfield:

Convey the parties arrested for aiding the escape of prisoners of war to Alton Military Prison and have them placed in close confinement.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General.

FORT HAMILTON, New York Harbor, March 19, 1862.

General L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.

SIR: Inclosed you will receive paper to which I have to request the approbation of the honorable the Secretary of War.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

MARTIN BURKE,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]

U. S. MARSHAL'S OFFICE, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK,

New York, March 19, 1862.

Lieutenant Colonel MARTIN BURKE, U. S. Army,

Commandant Fort Lafayette.

DEAR COLONEL: In your note of the 15th instant* you tell me that a person made use of my name to introduce himself into the fort and serve on you a writ of habeas corpus which you disregarded. Allow me to assure you that I have never authorized any one to use my name to approch you, and should the like be again attempted I would suggest that you seize the person so inroducing himself and hold him in custody until I come down to identify him.

I am, dear colonel, very faithfully yours,

ROBERT MURRAY,

U. S. Marshal.

P. S. -Any individual wishing to see the commanding officer will give his name and business to the officer of the day or the sergeant of the guard during the temporary absence of the officer of the day, and will show his papers if necessary. Should the officer of the day have any doubt on the subject he will indicate to the person above referred to that if he has any purpose of interfering improperly with the state or war prisoners in Fort Lafayette he cannot be received, and that if he makes use of Marshal Murray's name improperly he will be immediately sent to Fort Lafayette.

[NOTE. -This postcrips appears to have been the copy of an order issued by Colonel Burke, forwarded for the information of the War Department. It is printed as found.]

OFFICE OR COMMISSION RELATING TO STATE PRISONERS,

Washington, March 19, 1862.

W. P. WOOD, Esq.,

Superintendent of the Old Capitol Prison.

SIR: You will please discharge John A. Field, W. W. Harper, Wesley Avery, James E. McGraw, Stephen A. Green and James Green, pris-

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*Not found, but see Burke to Seward, March 7, ante.

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