[Second indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF MILITARY JUSTICE,

June 15, 1865.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War.

In cases of this character of homicide of one rebel prisoner by another at one of our prison camps this Bureau has expressed and still adheres to the opinion that such crime is not one that can properly be taken cognizance of by a U. S. military court. If the local criminal tribunal should desire to pass upon this or any similar case, the post commandant would properly respond to a formal request to that effect by placing the accused party in the hands of the civil authorities for trial.

In the absence of the Judge-Advocate-General:

WM. WINTHROP,

Major and Judge-Advocate.

[Third indorsement.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, June 21, 1865.

Approved and sent to the Commissary-General of Prisoners.

By order of the Secretary of War:

C. A. DANA,

Assistant Secretary of War.

HEADQUARTERS POST COMMANDER,
Indianapolis, Ind., June 3, 1865.

Major J. W. WALKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General, District of Indiana:

MAJOR: I have the honor to report that in obedience to Special Orders, Numbers 38, from district headquarters, dated Indianapolis, Ind., June 2, 1865, I proceeded with a guard of thirty-two men in charge of prisoners Bowles, Milligan, and Horsey to Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, June 2, 1865, at 6 a. m., and delivered them to the officer in charge of the penintentiary, Columbus, Ohio.

Inclosed herewith is a copy of the receipt. I returned this day at 12.40 p. m.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN H. GARDINER,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Veteran Reserve Corps, Commanding Post.

[Indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF INDIANA,
Indianapolis, Ind., June 5, 185.

Respectfully forwarded to Adjutant-General of Army, Washington, D. C.

ALVIN P. HOVEY,

Brevet Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.