SPECIAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

NO.215.

Washington, May 8, 1865.

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9. Paroled officers and men of the late rebel armies whose homes were, at the date of their joining these armies, in States that have never been in rebellion, and who are not excepted from the benefist of the President's amnesty proclamation, will, upon taking the oath prescribed therein, be permitted to return to their former homes in those States.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., May 8, 1865.

Brigadier General A. SCHOEPF, Commanding Fort Delaware, Del.:

GENERAL: In pursuance of instructions received from the Secretary of War I have the honor to request that all prisoners of war, except officers above the rank of colonel, who before the capture of Richmond signified their desire to take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and their unwillingness to be exchanged, be forthwith released on their taking the said oath, and transportation furnished them to their respective homes. Please send by telegraph to this office daily reports of the prisoners released, giving the names, rank, comapany, and regiment, date and place of capture, and place of residence. The place of residence will be noted on rolls in the column of remarks. The foregoing order does no apply to citizen prisoners. In respect to all other prisoners of wa further orders will be issued.

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

W. HOFFMAN,

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

By G. BLAGDEN,

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

(Same to all officers in charge of prisoners of war.)

[MAY 8, 1965.-For order directing arrest of Zebulon B. Vance and resulting correspondence, see Series I, Vol. XLVII, Part III.]

MAY 8, 1865-For Reynolds to Adjutant-General U. S. Army, reporting number of Confederate taking amnesty oath and oath of allegiance at Little Rock, Ark., see Series I, Vol. XLVIII, Part II, p.348.]

HEADUQARTERS DEPARTMENT OF MISSISSIPPI,

Vicksburg, May 8, 1865.

Brigadier General WILLIAM HOFFMAN, U. S. ARMY,

Commissary-General of Prisoners:

GENERAL: I have the honor to forward herewith rolls of prisoners of war delivered at this place on parole by Lieutenant Colonel H. A. M. Henderson, assistant agent of exchange, C. S. Army, for the States of Ohio,