J. A. Campbell to Peter Hamilton, April 2, 1864

PETER HAMILTON, Esq., Mobile, Ala.:

There will be no objection to your detail of any person to assist you in the performance of the duties of commissioner under Orders No. 31 who may not be liable to service in the field. An exempt from disability or other cause may be detailed, but the Department desires that the details shall not exceed the exact necessity for service. Several cases of hardship and injustice arising from arrests in the Department of Alabama have been reported to this Department, and lately a Mrs. Knox was sent to Richmond without any charges being sent or cause assigned for such a proceeding. The Department expects of you to examine all such persons and that your direction to discharge a person under arrest shall be sufficient. If there be a reasonable cause for arrest or detention you will perform what is required by Orders No. 31.

There is not the’slightest disposition upon the part of this Department to use the power conferred by the act of Congress for the arrest of parties except to maintain the efficient execution of the acts of Congress for the organization of the Army and to protect the country from the invidious operations of the enemy. It desires that a candid investigation shall take place in all cases, and that justice be awarded to all persons charged with offense in any form. It desires that the administration under this law shall be such as to vindicate those who made it under the extraordinary circumstances of the time for having intrusted the powers it confers with this Department.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,