D. €. Stith to A. A. A. G, July 20, 1861

Lieut. A. L. ANDERSON, : ut A. A. A. G., Department of New Mexico, Santa Fé, N. Mex.: SIR: I have the honor to report, for the information of the commanding officer of the Department of New Mexico, the circumstances connected with my arrest and being brought to this place. While on my way to Chihuahua, in pursuance of instructions from the department,

having proceeded as far as 1 mile beyond the town of Guadalupe,

Mexico—which place is about 40 miles distant from the town of El Paso, Mexico—and while encamped, a party of men from 12 to 15 in number came up; and one, representing himself to be Lieutenant Adams, told me he had orders to arrest me and take me to Fort Bliss. à

I asked him by what authority he did so. He replied, “By authority of the Southern Confederacy.” I told him I did not recognize any such

power, and that it was a violation of the law of nations—my [I] being

E AR A A E E II EA a MANN

» ^ on the soil of a foreign power. He replied that he was acting under the orders of his commanding officer, Colonel Baylor. As I had not sufficient force to resist him, I obeyed the order under protest, and was brought to this place, together with those who had aecompanied me the whole way from Fort Fillmore, which we reached on . the morning of the 18th instant. : : I was brought into the presence of Colonel Baylor, who told me that

I was a prisoner of war. I told him in substance the same I did Lieutenant Adams, saying that I acknowledged no such power as the Southern Confederacy, and that it was a violation of the soil of Mexico. He

replied that he had not given any orders for my arrest, but that as long

as I had been brought to the garrison, he did not see fit to release me;

he, however, acknowledged that his command had exceeded their authority in arresting me on the soil of Mexico. He then offered me a parole, which I signed, the only alternative being close confinement.

I have given the full particulars of the matter, with my regret that my mission has been so abruptly terminated. I beg leave to state that I have been treated by Colonel Baylor and his officers with the utmost kindness and consideration.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,