B. F, Tracy to William Hoffman, February 5, 1865

; Elmira, N. Y., February 5, 1865. Brig. Gen. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: Your telegram of the 4th instant, directing the preparation of rolls of 3,000 prisoners of war, was duly received and preparations commenced at once. Permit me to call your attention thus early to the route by which these men are to be forwarded. The Northern Central Railroad to Baltimore is, as I am informed, so pressed with the transportation of recruits and substitutes between Harrisburg and Baltimore that it is with great difficulty that we can get transportation for the few recruits we are now forwarding by this line. The detachment of prisoners that was sent from here last fall were forty hours in reaching Baltimore, a run which should have been made in fifteen hours. To keep sick men upon the road at this season of the year in cars without seats and without water-closets or any of the conveniences usually. provided for the transportation of passengers will result in much suffering. It will cost no more to transport these men to New York than to Baltimore, while the Erie Railroad has a large number of second-class passenger cars and can move a detachment of 500 men on a few hours’ notice and land them in New York within twelve to fifteen hours from starting. Besides, much weaker men can be transported via New York than by the Northern Central Railroad. Unless facilities for water transportation from Baltimore are greatly superior to those from New

York it is very desirable that they be forwarded via New York City.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,