Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff to J. B. Hoop, February 1, 1865

General J. B. Hoop, C. S. Army, Commanding Confederate Forces : GENERAL: On the evening of the 1st of November, 1864, while the U. S. forces under the command of Major-General Howard, known as the Army and Department of the Tennessee, were near Powder Springs, Ga., three enlisted men belonging to that command were captured by a band of guerrillas commanded by a captain, and two of them brutally * See Welles to Allen, January 17, p. 83. murdered in cold blood by those guerrillas, and the other one shot at twice and was wounded each time, but succeeded in making his escape, and has made sworn statements as to the manuer of death of his comrades, with the additional statement that the rebel captain informed him that he would kill al! Federal prisoners captured by his command. The names of the men who were captured are as follows: Corpl. Charles E. Ellis, Privates George Ford and Joseph Phillips. The corporal was killed instantly; the other two were taken ten miles in the country and then were shot at by a party of these guerrillas. At the first volley Private Ford was murdered, and while Phillips was wounded another volley was fired which again wounded Private Phillips, who then ran and jumped down a bank into a stream of water, where he concealed himself until the guerrillas left and then came into our lines. This statement is forwarded by Brigadier General Woods, commanding a division in Major-General Howard’s army, with the recommendation that Private Milton Dotson, of Ferguson’s command (Perrin’s regiment), be either shot or hung in retaliation for one of the murdered Union soldiers, which recommendation met the approval of Major-General Howard in these words: Private Dotson has been sent as a prisoner of war to Chattanooga. I would respectfully recommend that he be shot in retaliation for the cold-blooded murder of Private George Ford, Company G, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, herein described, and that action be published so as to come to the notice of parties interested. I have the honor to inform you that the prisoner Dotson is now under guard at Louisville, Ky. The papers in this case have been returned to General Howard with the information that the prisoner is held subject to his disposal, and will be sent to him on his application. [Indorsement.] This letter was originally intended for General Hood, but as there was at the date of this letter no other business requiring a flag of truce to be sent up, it has been retained until the present time, and is now sent (February 18, 1865, the letter being entered according to date) to Major-Genera] Forrest, as the successor in command to General Hood. This by direction of Major-General Thomas.

W. M. DOW PIP Pi Es