Jno. I. Winder to S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, January 24, 1865

General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General:

GENERAL: There are now at Andersonville, Ga., more troops than are necessary for guard to the prison. I had intended to order the Second Regiment Georgia Reserves to the prisons in South Carolina, where they are much needed, but I find the law authorizing the transfer of reserves out of their States has expired by its own limitations.

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION AND CONFEDERATE.

I therefore cannot do it. I understand that application has been made to General Hardee to send the Georgia reserves now with his army to Andersonville. I have written to him requesting that it may not be done, and I request that in no event may the headquarters of the reserves be placed at any of the prisons, as it has been found that as there is nothing but the prison it is much better that the officer commanding prison should command the whole.

The Georgia reserves now with General Hardee and those not required at Andersonville might be profitably employed at Augusta or some other point in Georgia.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,