Feeling, general, that I have worked faithfully and hard since my appointment to this post, and done all possible under the circumstances for the comfort and benefit of prisoners, and knowing that in a short time, with the means now at my disposal, I can place the building in such a condition as to seek myself an inspection from the medical director,

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. W. ANDREWS, JR.,

Lieutenant, Fifth New York Volunteer Artillery, and Provost-Marshal.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., September 3, 1863.

Major General GEORGE G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: I am instructed by the Secretary of War to say that hereafter deserters from the rebel army found within the limits of your command will be disposed of primarily at your discretion. If discharged on taking the oath of allegiance or on other terms a descriptive list of each case will be preserved at your headquarters and a copy transmitted to this office as a means of detecting any violation of the condition of the discharge.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners.

(Same to General Cadwalader, Philadelphia, with slight verbal changes; General Heintzelman, Defenses of Washington.)

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., September 3, 1863.

Brigadier General S. A. MEREDITH,

Commissioner for Exchange, Fort Monroe, Va.:

GENERAL: There are a number of citizens on parole in various parts of the country whose exchange should be covered by a declaration similar to that made by Mr. Ould, section 8 of declaration Numbers 5, with the limitations indicated in my letter to Colonel Ludlow of June 17, 1863. Please refer to Colonel Ludlow's letter to me of June 19, 1863, in which he proposes to make the necessary correction in the next declaration, and also to his letter of June 10. I have several applications for exchange of civilians before me, but as the above will cover all cases I do not refer to them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., September 3, 1863.

Lieutenant Colonel W. S. PIERSON,

Commanding Depot Prisoners of War, Sandusky, Ohio:

COLONEL: Your letter of the 26th asking for information as to the probable number who will be held at the depot is received. There is not at this time any prospect of any further deliveries of prisoners on