ED. Knoble to and Actg. Asst. Insp. Gen., Dept. of the Cumberland, February 1, 1865

z Eastport, 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.

WM. DOW PIP Pi Es Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HDQrs. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, INSPECTOR-GENERAL’S OFFICE, Chattanooga, February 1, 1865. Lieut. Col. A. VON SCHRADER, . Assistant Inspector-General, Department of the Cumberland :

COLONEL: In obedience to your order I make the following report of an inspection of the prisons of this post: o

The military prison (Department of the Cumberland) under charge of Captain Wiggins, Ninth Michigan, is in very good condition, and improvements have been made lately that will make it quite comfortable, at least more so than it has been during the past winter. Everything is kept clean, and the regulations, both sanitary and for discipline, are good. k The prison (District of the Etowah) under charge of Captain Wassem, Thirty-second Indiana, is quite dirty and therefore very uncomfortable. Captain Wassem accounts for this by saying that it has been impossible

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION AND CONFEDERATE.

to get brooms and such other things as are necessary to keep it clean. He says he has made repeated applications for these things, but the persons to whom he has applied have failed to furnish them. Captain Brayton, Fifteenth U. S. Infantry, who has lately assumed the duties of provost-marshal, District of the Etowah, assures me, however, that the prison shall have a complete and thorough renovation. ;

The post prison, under charge of Lieutenant Scovill, Regiment, is a miserable place, barely atfording shelter from the rain, much less protection from cold. It is a mere shell, open at both ends and very dirty. If possible some other place should be prepared as post prison, or this repaired or put in such condition that those confined can at least be protected from the inclemency of the weather.

There are generally three classes of prisoners confined in these prisons: First, Federal soldiers; second, Government employés and citizens; third, prisoners of war. Federal prisoners receive full rations, while all others receive half, except when at work, when they receive something additional. It seems, however, that even half rations are sufficient, except in cold weather, when it is said that all seem to want more than they get. In warm weather they don’t eat all of half rations. The only complaint that is made by the prisoners is that they don’t get enough wood; that they suffer very frequently from cold. The keepers of prisons tell me that it is sometimes impossible to get even all they are eutitled to for lack of transportation. There seems to be no lack of wood, but a want of the means to get it to the prisons. At the post prison, where they are entitled to thirty cords per month, they got but fourteen for the month of January. Something should be done by which wood enough can be furnished. In all prisons where wood is not sufficient suffering is always very great.

Sometimes men, from the peculiarity of their cases, are confined for months before they can be disposed of. During this time, no matter what the enormity of their crime, 1 don’t think it right that they be compelled to undergo suffering, sometimes far greater than the punishment for their crimes would be. Every crime has its punishment and that punishment is sufficient. I think, therefore, that everything should be done to keep these persons from suffering until they are disposed of by court-martial or otherwise.

In your instructions you directed me to give the names of all prisoners confined and their offenses, whether charges had been preferred against them, and whether acted upon or not. I refrain [from] giving these names for the reason that upon investigation, questioning of prisoners, examination of prison records, &c., I feel that none are unjustly confined, and it would, therefore, make a very long and useless report. Men sometimes lie in prison for months owing to some informality in charges, &c., but can not be released because they are really guilty of the crime for which they are confined; others for want of evidence, owing to the difficulty in getting it. To this class belong the “bounty jumpers,” and lately some have been confined upon mere statements, but subsequently released and steps taken to prevent the continuance of the practice. There are many causes that delay the prosecution of these persons and prolong their confinement that cannot be remedied. Upon full investigation I find that none are confined unjustly. If you still desire, however, that I furnish the list of names, &c., I will do so, as I have the records in my possession.

I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lieut. and Actg. Asst. Insp. Gen., Dept. of the Cumberland.

RICHMOND, February 1, 1865.

Lieutenant-General GRANT:

GENERAL: We had the honor to forward to you on the 14th of

January, by flag-of-truce boat, an application for permission to proceed

to the United States for the purpose of supplying the wants of prisoners