might be instructed to credit each prisoners by the amount placed to his credit on the list. The quartermaster of prisons in this city might be further instructed to make a similar disposition of the hands of all prisoners who may hereafter be removed, whether by transferred, death, or escape. If the quartermasters making the payment on account of sums stated on said lists be required to return periodical statement of such payments, the accounts would always the balance due each prisoner. I further suggest that the rate of exchange of this money for currency might be established from time to time by the Quartermaster-General.

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

IS. H. CARINGTON,

Provost-Marshal.

[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS POST, Richmond, July 12, 1864.

Respectfully-forwarded.

W. M. GARDNER,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[Second indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT,
Richmond, Va., July 12, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to the adjutant and Inspector General.

For Lieutenant General R. S. Ewell, commanding:

L. R. PAGE,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Third indorsement.]

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL'S OFFICE,

July 16, 1864.

Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War.

H. L. CLAY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Fourth indorsement.]

JULY 18, 1864.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL:

Let the amount be placed in the hands of the Quartermaster-General with a full report of the facts concerning the deposit and the condition of the prisoners.

By order:

J. A. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Secretary of War.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., July 13, 1864.

Brigadier General A. SCHOEPF, Commanding Fort Delaware, Del.:

GENERAL: Your letter of the 8th instant, reporting the repeated efforts of prisoners to escape, is received. The simple attempt to escape by a prisoners is not an offense for which he should be punished, but he may with great propriety be placed in more strict confinement, where he will have no opportunity to make the attempt. If, as in this