But it is needless to argue the question. You have not a foot of ground to stand upon in making the proposed discrimination among our captured officers and men. I protest against it as a violation of the cartel, of the laws and usages of war, and of your own practices under them.

Passing events will clearly show the impracticability in executing the act referred to. In case, however, the attempt be made to execute it I now give you formal notice that the United States Government will throw its protection around all its officers and men without regard to color, and will promptly retaliate for all cases violating the cartel or the laws and usages of war.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. H. LUDLOW,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of Prisoners.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
Fort Monroe, June 14, 1863.

Honorable ROBERT OULD, Agent for Exchange of Prisoners:

SIR: General Orders, Numbers 100, is considered as having gone into effect from the date of its communication to you on the 23rd of May last, and is of course mutually binding.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. H. LUDLOW,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of Prisoners.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
Fort Monroe, June 14, 1863.

Honorable ROBERT OULD, Agent for Exchange:

SIR: Doctor Green will be retained as a hostage for Doctor Rucker. All other surgeons in our custody (three or four now being here) will be released and delivered to you on the release na delivery to me of all you hold, except Doctor Rucker.

Do you agree to this, with the additional understanding that the detention of surgeons shall be confined to these two?

Please inform me when Spencer Kellogg and other of our officers declared exchanged will be delivered at City Point, in order that arrangements may be made for sending up such of your exchanged officers as are at Fort Norfolk awaiting delivery.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. H. LUDLOW,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of Prisoners.

ABINGDON, VA., June 14, 1863.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:

DEAR SIR: I beg the favor of your attention for a moment. In the Richmond Enquirer of the 11th instant I noticed a statement of the arrest of Dr. John A. Hannah, L. Dudley Wilson, and Presley A. Howard, citizens of Montgomery County, Ky., on the charge of using treasonable language, &c. Hoping it might all be a mistake, as I was certain the charge must be, but fearful of the truth of the arrest, I am prompted by feelings of disinterested friendship to bear my testimony as an