Napoleon B. Buford to Henry W. Wessells, February 3, 1865

Brig. Gen. H. W. WESSELLS, Commissary-General of Prisoners :

SIR: Your letter of the 21st ultimo is received. One of the prisoners named, J. G. Smith, was sent to Northern prisons via Cairo some months ago. The others, First Lieut. T. [C. Casteel, First Arkansas Cavalry; First Lieut. J. H. Yerby, First Arkansas Cavalry; First Lieut. W. H. H. Thomas, adjutant Ninth Missouri Infantry; Private T. Stoneham, First Arkansas Cavalry; Private T. A. Quarles, First Arkansas Cavalry, and Capt. J. R. Swan, of Dobbin’s brigade, who is guilty of the same offenses as the others, will be sent to Fortress Mon- ‘roe, via New Orleans, by the first boat, with a statement of their cases to Maj. Gen. E. R. S. Canby.

These men have not been confined in cells nor with ball and chain, but for security have been locked up at night. They have had the privileges of the whole building and yard during the day. They have twice plotted an escape.

My report to General Canby, which was also made to General Steele on the 12th of May last, shows these men have been midnight marauders on the leased plantations near this place; that they have at different times, before they were captured, stolen 300 horses and mules, besides money, clothing, and provisions, from peaceful loyal citizens and freedmen.

12 R R—SERIES IL, VOL VIII I recommend they should be confined at the Tortugas during the war. Tf exchanged, some of them were brutal overseers on the plautations in this vicinity before the war, and will -be likely to come back and be troublesome again.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,