H. W. Wessells to Commissary-General of Prisoners, January 19, 1865

January 19, 1865.

: Washington, D. O., January 19, 1865. Col. B. F. TRACY, Commanding Depot Prisoners of War, Elmira, N. Y.:

COLONEL: Your letter of the 5th instant, requesting that the balance of the requisition for clothing made by you on the 1st ultimo may be forwarded to Elmira, has been received. The requisitions were held awaiting your reply to letter of the 12th ultimo from this office, which explained the necessity of strict economy in the issue of clothing to rebel prisoners at the present time, and requested that you would report your views on the necessity of such issue at Elmira, N. Y. No reply to this letter has been received, and the requisitions are still in this office. The clothing received by you was sent to Elmira by mistake, and was no part of that required for by you. It was reported as issued before the error was discovered. As the cotton from the South referred to in my letter of the 12th ultimo is daily expected, you will please make immediate requisition for such clothing as may be absolutely necessary within the next three or four weeks, after which time it is hoped clothing from the rebel authorities may be ready for issue.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WASHINGTON, D. O., January 19, 1865,

Commissary-General of Prisoners :

SIR: You will please include Capt. William S. Waller and Capt. Shultz

Leach, both prisoners of war at Johnson’s Island, among the officers to

be exchanged under the arrangement for the relief of officers in close