HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
February 17, 1863.

Major-General HALLECK:

After my experience in exchanging the Pennsylvania Reserves by which I gave 270 more officers and men than I received no further exchange will be made with my consent.

HOOKER,

Major-General.

CINCINNATI, OHIO, February 17, 1863.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

Colonel Lynch, commanding at Camp Butler, telegraphs that General Curtis has instructed him to release rebel prisoners upon their taking the oath of allegiance, Camp Butler being in this department. Colonel Lynch refers the matter here for instructions. What shall be done?

H. G. WRIGHT,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, D. C., February 17, 1863.

Colonel HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

COLONEL: Copy of the following telegram is respectfully furnished for your information:

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 17, 1863.

Major-General WRIGHT, Cincinnati:

Rebel prisoners who do not wish to be exchanged and offer to take the oath of allegiance are released when upon proper examination and evidence it is believed that they are sincere in this course. If there is good reason to doubt their sincerity they will not be released.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 79.
Washington, February 17, 1863.

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9. Captain W. T. Hartz, assistant adjutant-general of volunteers, will report in person without delay to Colonel W. Hoffman, Third U. S. Infantry, commissary-general of prisoners, in this city.

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By order of the Secretary of War:

L. THOMAS,
Adjutant-General.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., February 17, 1863.

Major L. C. TURNER, Judge-Advocate, Washington.

MAJOR: Can you furnish me a list of political prisoners paroled from Fort Lafayette giving the date, the authority for and the limits of the