WASHINGTON, December 9, 1863 - 12 m.

General MEREDITH:

Please state your knowledge or your belief as to whether our prisoners at Belle Isle are provided with shelter, either barracks, tents, or shelter of any kind.

E. A. HITCHCOCK,

Major-General of Volunteers.

FORT WARREN, December 9, 1863 - 5. 50 p. m.

Major General E. A. HITCHCOCK:

My belief is that our prisoners on Belle Isle are in tents. I have requested Mr. Ould to share the clothing and subsistence sent by the Government with our citizen prisoners. I have no doubt it has been done.

S. A. MEREDITH,

Brigadier-General.

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT,

Richmond, December 9, 1863.

Major General B. F. BUTLER:

SIR: The package of vaccine matter has been received, and will be faithfully devoted to the purpose indicae in your letter. Permit me, in response to the friendly tone of your letter, to assure you that it is my most anxious desire and will be my constant effort to do everything in my power to alleviate the miseries that spring out of this terrible war.

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

RO. OULD,

Agent of Exchange.

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT,

Richmond, December 9, 1863.

Brigadier General S. A. MEREDITH, Agent of Exchange:

SIR: Permit me, in response to the friendly tone of your letter of the 7th instant, to assure you that it is my most anxious desire and will be my most constant effort to do everything in my power to alleviate the miseries that spring from this terrible war.

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

RO. OULD,

Agent of Exchange.

EXECUTIVE MANSION,

Washington, December 10, 1863 - 10. 25 a. m.

Major-General BUTLER, Fort Monroe, Va.:

Please suspend execution in any and all sentences of death in your department until further order.

A. LINCOLN.