OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., April 11, 1863.

Colonel HENRY DENT, Provost-Marshal-General, Louisville, Ky.

COLONEL: Your letter of 4th instant with rolls of political prisoners and deserters is received. The following extract* from a letter addressed to Captain S. E. Jones, aide-de-camp, will instruct you how to dispose of deserters from the rebel army. Your letter of the 22nd ultimo is received and I have to reply that deserters from the rebel army cannot be considered prisoners of war, but to insure their loyalty they should be required to take the oath of allegiance, with the penalty of death for its violation. If professed deserters come with our lines they may be spies and every commanders judge of each case after careful inquiries according to the circumstances.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, April 11, 1863.

Lieutenant Colonel MARTIN BURKE,

Commanding Fort Hamilton, New York Harbor:

By direction of the Secretary of War you will forward without delay the prisoners of war named on the accompanying list+ now held at Fort Lafayette under the authority of the Navy Department to Fort Delaware for exchange. Please send duplicate rolls with them and one to this office. You will also forward to Fort Delaware at the same time Thomas alias R. T. Zarvona. The Quartermaster's Department will furnish the necessary transportation and you will can on General Brown, commanding New York Harbor, for a suitable guard. As an additional security and to avoid the necessity of a large please take the parole of these prisoners to be bringing until exchanged.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

WASHINGTON, April 11, 1863.

Lieutenant-Colonel LUDLOW:

About eighty rebel officers are at Fort Delaware. Four hundred and fifty should arrive there in a day or two from Camp Chase. I will notify you when their arrival is reported. Prisoners from Fort Lafayette are ordered there to-day. Will send you lists of citizen prisoners.

W. HOFFMAN,

Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., April 11, 1863.

Lieutenant Colonel GEORGE SANGSTER,

Commanding Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md.

COLONEL: The thirteen officers who arrived at Camp Parole from Richmond on the 8th instant under Major D. J. Hall, Eighty-ninth Illinois,

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* Not found, but see Hoffman to Jones, p. 19.

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30 R R-SERIES II, VOL V

+ Omitted.