This is submitted for consideration with a single desire to relieve the soldiers now in a condition to enlist all our sympathies.

I can make these suggestions all the more freely as I leave this evening to as of this department in North Carolina, and can have probably no personal part in the matter.

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

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

WASHINGTON, November 18, 163.

General MEREDITH:

The newspapers report that the rebels refused to allow your provisions to go to our prisoners in Richmond. I hope and believe that this is not true. What is the fact? I have written to inquire the name of the chaplain said to be confined at Columbia, S. C. The report came from Boston.

E. A. HITCHCOCK,

Major-General of Volunteers.

FORT MONROE, VA., November 18, 1863.

Major General E. A. HITCHCOCK, Commissioner of Exchange:

The rebels refuse to let our commissaries distribute it. I sent yesterday 48,000 rations, which will be distributed by their commissaries.

S. A. MEREDITH,

Brigadier-General.

FORT MCHENRY, Baltimore, November 18, 1863.

Colonel W. HOFFMAN:

J. C. Green, surgeon Fifth Virginia Cavalry, is held here as hostage for Surgeon Rucker. Is he to be forwarded for exchange with the others? Shall we parole the surgeons we send?

P. A. PORTER,

Colonel, Commanding.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 18, 1863.

Colonel P. A. PORTER, Commanding Fort McHenry:

All rebel medical officers in our hands, including Doctor Green, are to be released and sent South unconditionally. They are not to be paroled.

E. A. HITCHCOCK.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Bridgeport, November 18, 1863.

Colonel W. HOFFMAN,

Third U. S. Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners:

DEAR COLONEL: Yours of November 6 is received. Although I command a department, you see I am personally here near Chattanooga, having marched a part of the Army of the Tennessee all the way from