and says that on Thursday, the 6th instant, and Friday, the 7th instant, he was on duty his regiment (the First Virginia Reserves), and that on one of the above-mentioned days, which he does not definitely remember, he, with his company (Company A, First Regiment Virginia Reserves), went from their camp, which was then on the intermediate lines near the Darbytown road, to Richmond, Va., and took from Libby Prison about eighty-two colored men, who were there then as captured prisoners of war, and brought them to the intermediate lines between the New Market and Darbytown roads, where they were put to work throwing up entrenchments, and where, to the best of his knowledge and belief, they now remain, doing work of the manner described above, he having left there on the morning of this day.

Deponent further says that they were clad in uniform.

JAMES F. KNIGHT,

Sworn and subscribed to before me this 12th day of October, 1864.

JOHN I. DAVENPORT,

Lieutenant, Aide-de-Camp, and Assistant Provost-Marshal.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, City Point, Va., October 12, 1864.

Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War for his information. I have approved of the retaliatory measures proposed by General Butler, and accordingly sent to Dutch Gap this evening all the prisoners of war now with this army.

U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, October 12, 1864.

OFFICER COMMANDING CONFEDERATE FORCES ON NORTH SIDE OF JAMES RIVER:

I send a flag of truce herewith under charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Kensel, inspector-general, for the purpose of conveying to the Honorable Robert Ould, agent of exchange for Confederate forces, certain communications with Lieutenant-Colonel Kensel with hand you. Also a package of letters such as usually go by flag of truce, and also to inform you that a flag will be received from you to convey the replies at or near the same point.

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

BENJ. F. BUTLER,

Major-General, Commanding.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA, ARMY OF THE JAMES, In the Field, October 12, 1864.

Hon. ROBERT OULD, Agent of Exchange, Richmond, VA.:

SIR: As commissioner of exchange for this Government to negotiate exchanges with the belligerents represented by yourself, I propose to exchange all the prisoners in your naval service which we hold for all the prisoners in our naval service taken by you which you hold, man