Brigadier-General to P.G.T. Beauregard, February 3, 1865

General BEAUREGARD, Commanding Military Division of the West:

GENERAL: While we occupied Huntsville we captured some twenty or more Federals, which was the occasion of Colonel Prosser, commanding cavalry brigade, sending in flag of truce, asking an exchange of prisoners, to which I replied in the affirmative if the exchange could be made general. Some time after the raid which burned the poutoon train returned to Decatur, one lieutenant belonging to General Armstrong’s brigade, two to mine, and one private were sent out from Decatur with authority to exchange themselves for eight Federals captured from the raid. I sent the eight men called for, but declined making further exchanges without it was a general one for all of my men, promising to return those specified and procure others to make up the equivalent for all mine. Inclosed tind copy of communication received by flag of truce to-day in reply.* The prisoners wers sent below by railroad from Corinth when General Hood fell back from Tennessee—I think one captain and twenty men. I now have from ten

to twenty prisoners here and some have been sent below via Tuscaloosa. The enemy hold between 300 and 400 men of mine, captured in the last six months, many of them the best men I had, and I wish to inquire of you if I can get the number needed to complete the exchange and when I can promise to deliver them.

Very respectfully, P. D. RODDEY