; N. B. Forrest to Julius Henry Dana, January 6, 1865

Major-General DANA, Commanding U. S. Forces, Memphis, Tenn. :

GENERAL: I have the honor herewith to transmit copies of communications between Major-General Rousseau and myself relative to an exchange of prisoners.* The arrangement or agreement failed on account of the defeat of our army at Nashville, and about 1,600 Federal prisoners captured by the cavalry of my command still remain in my possession. Accompanying his written communication I received a verbal message from Major-General Rousseau through Captain McConnell, of his staff, requesting “that Lieutenant-Colonel Grass, of the Sixty-first Illinois, be treated as kindly as circumstances would permit, as he was a high-toned gentleman, a brave soldier, and a magnanimous foe.” Since his capture Colonel Grass has remained at my headquarters, and is now released upon parole and accompanies my adjutant-general, Maj. J. P. Strange, to Memphis under a flag of truce with these dispatches, for the purpose of effecting an exchange for Col. E, W. Rucker, of my command, who was captured and wounded during the recent. engagement in front of Nashville. You are no doubt aware also of an agreement made between Major-General Washburn and myself for

*See Forrest to Rousseau and Rousseau to Forrest, December 16, 1864, Vol. VII, this series, p. 1233.

exchanging prisoners, which has been approved by General Hood and by Lieutenant-General Taylor, commanding this department, and under which a number of exchanges, both special and general, have been made. I am still willing to continue that arrangement; also to meet the expressed wishes of Major-General Rousseau in regard to Colonel Grass, by sending him on his parole of honor (a copy of which is herewith inclosed)* to effect an exchange for Colonel Rucker. My adjutantgeneral, Major Strange, is fully authorized to arrange for any further exchange of prisoners, mau for man, rank for rank. And believing it to be the duty of every government to relieve their faithful soldiers, whether sick, wounded, or in prison, I shall, so long as permitted to do so, hold myself in readiness to exchange, as far as in my power to do so, all Federal prisoners falling into my hands for those of my own command first, and then for any others belonging to the C. S. Army in the hands of the enemy. Quite a number of your men recently captured are without sufficient clothing, shoes, and blankets. Should you desire to supply them with any articles necessary to their comtort, I will see that they are safely transmitted and issued to those of your army who most need them. Assuring you of my desire, as far as practicable, to mitigate human suffering and lessen the privations of the soldiers, I am, general,

very respectfully, «c.,