CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, WAR DEPARTMENT, July 23, 1864

Richmond, Va., July 23, 1864.

General W. H. C. WHITING, Wilmington, N. C.:

Should you arrest Russell and have him in custody you had better make return to any writ that may be served that you hold him under the law suspending the writ of habeas corpus for seeking to evade military service.

J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War.