GEO. B. McCLELLAN, July 13, 1861

Beverly, Va., July 13, 1861.

Styling himself Lieutenant-Colonel, P. A. C. S.:

Sr: Your communication, dated yesterday, proposing to surrender as prisoners of war the force assembled under your command, has been delivered tome. As commander of this departinent I will receive you, your officers and men, as prisoners, and I will treat you and them with the kindness due to prisoners of war, but it is not in my power to relieve you or them from any disabilities incurred by taking arms against the United States,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Department.
I replied to Major Williams, U. 8. Army, the bearer of this letter, who
told me that General McClellan had with him at Beverly a force of three
thousand men, that I was in no condition to dictate terms, and was
obliged to accept those of his general. I then formed the companies,
and found that one officer and about forty men had left during the night.
I now found my force to be twenty-two officers and three hundred and