[Indorsement.]

OCTOBER 15, 1864.

Referred to Lieutenant-General Grant, with authority to act upon the subject in such manner as he deems proper, and with authority to take such measures as he deems consistent with national honor and safety for the release of all soldiers and loyal persons held by the rebels in captivity.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT,

Richmond, Va., October 7, 1864.

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

SIR: On the 6th instant I addressed the accompanying letter to Major John E. Mulford, assistant agent of exchange. * I think it proper to notify you that I have done so, in order that you may be made acquainted at an early date with the views of the Confederate authorities in relation to the matters to which that communication refers.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

RO. OULD,

Agent of Exchange.

RICHMOND, VA., October 7, 1864.

Brigadier General J. H. WINDER, Millen, Ga.:

You were telegraphed on the 1st instant to send no more prisoners to Charleston or Savannah. The order is reiterated, as General Hardee telegraphs that prisoners still continue to arrive. They must be stopped at Millen and you will withdraw to that place as many as possible from Savannah.

S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF S. CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA,
Charleston, S. C., October 7, 1864.

His Excellency M. BONHAM,

Governor State of South Carolina, Columbia, S. C.:

SIR: I received your telegram, protesting against establishing a prison depot at Columbia, last night. I am glad you have made your protest to Richmond. The arrangements for the accommodation and distribution of the Federal prisoners were all made before my arrival in the department.

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

W. J. HARDEE,

Lieutenant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE,

Washington, D. C., October 8, 1864.

Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

SIR: Having been instructed by you to prepare a detailed report upon the mass of testimony furnished me from different sources in

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* See p. 926.

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