H. Wirz to R. B. Thomas, January 21, 1865

Lieut. R. B. THOMAS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: Complaints being made almost every day by chief surgeon of hospital about prisoners stealing hospital property and selling it to members of the guard stationed at hospital, and frequent escapes made by prisoners from hospital, make it a matter of importance to inclose the hospital with a stockade.

i was ordered by the general commanding last fall to put up a stockade around the hospital, but owing to a more pressing work and scarcity of teams to haul logs, I have not been able to doit. The same difficulty, as far as means of transportation are concerned, still exists, and I do not think it possible to inclose the hospital with a stockade, unless I resort to other means. Last fall a third line of stockade around the main stockade was commenced. It was intended as a covered way to march troops from one fort to another. It, as well as the forts themselves, was never finished. A great many of the logs are lying on the ground, either rotting or stolen by the troops for fire-wood. I would most respectfully suggest that this third line of stockade be used to put up a stockade around the hospital. If it should be deemed expedient hereafter to finish this third line around stockade, it would be no more trouble to haul the logs from the woods to finish it than it would be to haul them to the hospital. In the meantime it would enable me to prevent trading going on at hospital across the present plank fence, only six feet high; also the numerous escapes of prisoners.

Respectfully recommending the subject to your consideration,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,