WASHINGTON, D. C., January 16, 1865.

Major-General CANBY, New Orleans:

Mr. Ould reports to General Grant that the cotton was ready on board the lighter at Mobile on the 23rd of December waiting for our transport; that our authorities had been so notified, but no answer had been returned. General Grant wishes that matter to be inquired into, and that there should be no neglect on our part to receive and transmit the cotton.

H. W. HALLECK,

Major-General and Chief of Staff.

48 BLEECKER STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y.,

January 16, 1865.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose a letter addressed to Colonel Robert Ould, Richmond, by General Beall, who went to Fort Lafayette on the 6th instant.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HALBERT E. PAINE,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 16, 1865.

Brigadier General H. W. WESSELLS,

Commissary-General of Prisoners:

SIR: You will immediately take proper measures for sending to Fort Monroe (and send them to Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford) all such persons as are decided in the annexed copy of a letter from General Grant of the 13th instant, addressed to Colonel Mulford,+ in order to their being exchanged without delay.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. A. HITCHCOCK,

Major-General of Volunteers and Commissioner of Exchange.

OFFICE ASST. AGENT FOR EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS,

Fort Monroe, Va., January 16, 1865.

Brigadier General H. W. WESSELLS,

Insp. and Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that I have entered into an agreement with the Confederate authorities for a quarterly return of the names of all prisoners of war who may hereafter die at the various prison posts North and South, the conditions being to make quarterly returns of the names of all prisoners who may die within our respective lines.

This is a matter of deep interest to us as a record, and of great importance to the friends of our deceased soldiers, and I am confident it will be observed and carried out on the part of the enemy in good

---------------

*See Beall to Ould, January 5, and indorsement thereon, p. 27.

+See p. 63.

---------------