M. Lehman to I. T. Tichenor, January 8, 1865

No. 4. j Fredericksburg, Va., January 8, 1865. I. Privates Hussing and White, Seventh South Carolina Cavalry, will proceed immediately to Dumfries, and farther if necessary, and arrest Henry S. Foote and family, who have been reported at these headquarters to be making their way to the enemy. Their papers will be examined, and unless they exhibit proper passes from the Secretary of War they will be brought to these headquarters immediately. They will impress horses, if necessary, and be as expeditious as possible. H. S. DOGGETT, Captain, Commanding, de. FLORENCE, January 13, 1865.

(Care of Hon. David Clopton.) Accept command offered. Notify War Department. Get full instructions. E. M. LAW, Brigadier-General. [Indorsement.] The command suggested and herein referred to is that of the prisons and prisoners east of the Savannah River. : e

Richmond, January 14, 1865, Lieutenant-General GRANT, Commanding U. S. Armies:

GENERAL: We have the honor to announce to you that the State of Alabama has appropriated $500,000 for the relief of prisoners from that State held by your Government. The undersigned having been appointed agents for the purpose of carrying into effect the design of this appropriation, most respectfully ask, through you, permission to proceed to the United States on the object of our mission. Having obtained permission from the Confederate Government to ship cotton to the amount of this appropriation, we are instructed by the Governor of Alabama to ask permission to pass it through the blockade. We would further state that it would be agreeable to the Governor of Alabama if a vessel of the United States should be permitted to carry this cotton to the port of New York, to be there sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase of blankets, clothing, and such other things as may be needed for the comfort of prisoners from that State. We beg leave to suggest Mobile Bay as the point from which this cotton may be shipped. Wedeem it proper to state that our mission is confined strictly to the object stated. It embraces nothing of a military or political nature, and if permitted to carry out the design of our State we will cheerfully submit to such rules, regulations, and paroles as are usual in such cases. We well know that a gallant soldier must feel ifor those brave men who by the fortunes of war are held as prisoners, exposed to the rigors of a climate to which they are not accustomed, the severities of which are augmented by the privations necessarily attendant upon their condition. We ask this favor with confidence, assured that your sympathies with the unfortunate brave will lead you to do all in your power to promote the benevolent design intrusted to us by the State of Alabama.

We have the honor to be, most

respectfully, your obedient servants,