two private, and selected, as far as possible, from the commands of the rebel Generals Marmaduke and Cabell, captured in Arkansass. None will be sent who do not wish to be exchanged. You will send with this party Sergt. D. W. Smith, Watson Battery, now confined at Camp Chase. Send them in charge of a suitable guard, with the usual instructions, and direct the commanding officer to report on his arrival at Cairo to the commanding officer, and ask for transportation by steam-boat to New Orleans. Report by telegram to this office when they leave.

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

W. HOFFMAN,

Bvt. Brigadier General, U. S. Army, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

(Same mutatis mutandis, to Colonel A. J. Johnson, commanding Rock Island Barracks, Rock Island, Ill., Bvt. Brigadier General B. J. Sweet, commanding Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., Bvt. Brigadier General A. A. Stevens, commanding Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Ind.)

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., April 26, 1865.

Colonel E. T. SPRAGUE, Commanding, Cairo, Ill.:

COLONEL: By authority of the War Department some, 1,800 prisoners have been ordered from the following Western camps: Camps Douglas, Chase, Mortonm, and Rock Island Barracks, to be forwarde via Cairo to New Orleans, to be turned over to Captain William H. Sterling, assistant agent for exchange. The prisoners will be forwarded in parties from 300 to 400, and I have the honor to request, by direction of the Commissary-General of Prisoners, that you will prepare the proper transportation in order that there may not be any unnecessary delay.

Very respctfully, your obedient servant,

G. BLAGDEN,

Major, Second Mass. Cav., Asst. to Com. General of Prisoners.

[APRIL 26, 1865.-For Canby to Taylor, in relation to a personal conference, see Series I, Vol. XLIX, Part II, p.481.]

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., April 26, 1865.

Major General N. J. T. DANA,

Commanding Department of Mississippi, Vicksburg, Miss.:

GENERAL: Regerring to my letter of the 14th instant, I have the honor to inform you that no equivalents will be forwarded for the Federal prisoners recently delivered at Vicksburg, as the account of deliveries of prisoners of war made up to the present time shows a small balance existing against the rebel authorities.

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

W. HOFFMAN,

Bvt. Brigadier General, U. S. Army, Commissary-General of Prisoners.