Letter
Unknown to General, January 21, 1865
OFFICE OF COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Washington, D. C., January 21, 1865.
GENERAL:
I am authorized to request that the following-named officers and enlisted men of the rebel army, who are said to be in close confinement in cells at Helena, Ark., be immediately released and forwarded, under proper guard, to Lieut. Col. John E. Mulford, agent for exchange of prisoners, Fort Monroe, Va., viz: Lieut. John H. Yerby, Lieutenant Casteel, Lieutenant Thomas, Privates Thomas A. Quarles, Thomas Stoneham, and John [G.] Smith. Please report your action.
very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen., U. S. Volunteers, Inspector and Commissary-General of Prisoners.
and in compliance with it send five of the prisoners first named, and
also Capt. John R. Swan, of Dobbin's brigade, who has been guilty
of the same oftenses charged to the others, but captured since then, to
General Canby, at New Orleans, for his decision whether he will forward
also Capt. John R. Swan, of Dobbin's brigade, who has been guilty
of the same oftenses charged to the others, but captured since then, to
General Canby, at New Orleans, for his decision whether he will forward
them to Fortress Monroe, as requested by General Wessells, or make
other disposition of them. A long time ago I sent J. G. Smith, with
other prisoners, North. I do this as the men will be less liable to
escape by this route than by the northern route, if forwarded to Fortress
other disposition of them. A long time ago I sent J. G. Smith, with
other prisoners, North. I do this as the men will be less liable to
escape by this route than by the northern route, if forwarded to Fortress
Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Indian Territory, 1861–62. Location: Washington, D. C.. Summary: A Union Brigadier General requests the immediate release and transfer of specific Confederate prisoners from Helena, Arkansas, to Fort Monroe for exchange, pending further disposition by General Canby.
Topics
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 8
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