existence of prisoners whom they do or may hereafter hold, depends upon a continuance of the privilege to receive the benefit of outside supplies.

JNO, E. MULFORD,

Lieutenant- Colonel and U. S. Assistant Agent of Exchange.

[Second indorsement.]

CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.

Respectfully forwarded to the Secretary of War, with the recommendation that prisoners of war be allowed to purchase food and clothing freely when they have the means of paying for them. We are the gainers by this agreement.

U. S . GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

[Third indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
Washington, February 27, 1865.

Approved.

EDWIN MM. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

WASHINGTON, February 6, 1865.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

Will the prisoners who are to be forwarded for exchange be released on parole before exchange! In that case they will be required to sign parole before being- forwarded, which will cause some delay.

Respectfully,

W. HOFFMAN,

Commissary- General of Prisoners.

CITY POINT, VA., February 6, 1865- 11 a. m.

Colonel WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Commissary- General of Prisoners:

All exchanged prisoners are paroled before exchange. Flag- of- truce boats will be at point Lookout on the 9th to take about 2,000 prisoners.

U. S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

37 BLEECKER STREET, New York, February 6, 1865

Major General H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inquire whether General Vance has been paroled subject to the same regulations which control General Beall, and if not, whether General Beall will be permitted (as he requests) to send him to our prisons to attend to the distribution of supplies, with or without the privilege of personal communication with the prisoners.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. E. PAINE,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.