[Second indorsement.]

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., March 21, 1865.

Respectfully returned to the Adjutant-General.

The prisoners within referredt o have all arrived at Annapolis and the rolls are in this office. No reports of the transaction have been received at this office. Papers are returned as directed.

W. HOFFMAN,

Bvt. Grig. General, U. S. Army, and Com. General of Prisoners.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE GULF,
Mobile, Ala., March 9, 1865.

Major General GORDON GRANGER,

Commanding Dist. of W. Florida and S. Alabama, Fort Gaines, Ala.:

GENERAL: In obedience to orders I have the honor respectfully to transmit to you copy of the letter of the lieutenant-general commanding this department, under date of the 6th instant,* in connection with the subject of negor laborers employed here, to which I respectfully call your attention.

I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

DABNEY H. MAURY,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C., March 9, 1865.

Major General P. M. B. YOUNG,

Commanding Confed, Forces in Georgia, S. Carolina, and Florida:

GENERAL: In reply to your letter of the 27th ultimo, suggesting Sister's Ferry, on the Savannah River, as the place for exchanging prisoners, I have the honor to state that all the prisoners of war recently in my possession, except such as expressed a desire to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, have been sent to City Point, Va., for exchange, in compliance with recent orders from Lieutenant-General Grant.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Q. A. GILLMORE,

Major-General, Commanding.

RICHMOND, March 9, 1865.

Colonel BEN W. JOHNSON, Fifteenth Arkansas, Johnson's Island:

SIR: Your note of February 15 has been received. It is not at our instance that the oldest captures are detained. For more than a year I have been endeavoring to make the Federal authorities agree to the rule that those who have been longest in captivity should be the first sent. I have not been able as yet to succeed, although I learn that the last detachment sent from Johnson's Island were selected on that principle. I sincerely hope that rule will continue. It is the earnest

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* See p. 361.

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