HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
Fort Monroe, Va., December 19, 1861.

Major General G. HUGER, Commanding at Norfolk.

GENERAL: Some friends are anxious to have Captain John W. Sprague, Company E, Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers, now a prisoners in Charleston Jail, released on parole or exchanged. Can you name any person, a prisoner of the Confederate Army, who would exchange for Captain Sprague? I would consider myself greatly obliged if such an arrangement could be made.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN E. WOOL,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI,
Saint Louis, December 19, 1861.

Brigadier General W. K. STRONG,

Commanding, &c., Benton Barracks.

SIR: It appears that Article XIX, Revised Regulations, is not fully understood. Enlisted men taken prisoners by the enemy and released on parole or when unfit for military service in consequence of wounds, disease or infirmity can only be discharged from the service of the United States by the major-general commanding the department.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. C. KELTON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORFOLK,
Norfolk, Va., December 20, 1861.

Major General JOHN E. WOOL,

Commanding Department of Virginia.

SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant asking the exchange of Captain John W. Sprague, Company E, Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteers, prisoner of war, now at Charleston, S. C. I will forward your letter to Richmond at once and have no doubt my Government will gladly comply with your request as they have always been willing to exchange prisoners of war according to the custom of all civilized nations.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

BENJ. HUGER,

Major-General.

U. S. FLAG-SHIP MINNESOTA,

Hampton Roads, Va., December 21, 1861.

Major General BENJAMIN HUGER,

Commanding Department, &c., Norfolk, Va.

SIR: I send you herewith Mr. Hilary Cenas, late a midshipman in the U. S. Navy, in place of Acting Master's Mate W. A. Abbott, and I trust you will receive him accordingly. On your relesing Mr. Abbott from his parole Mr. Cenas will be released by me from the pledge he has given, a copy of which accompanies this.

Agreeably to your request it affords me pleasure to say to you that Messrs. Butt and Dalton are to-day released lupon parole for fifty days