Unknown to Henry W. Wessells, January 15, 1865

Brig. Gen. H. W. WESSELLS, Commissary-General of Prisoners: GENERAL: I have the honor to return herewith communication from P, E, O’Connor, Tenth Veteran Reserve Corps,* inclosing extract from

CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION AND CONFEDERATE. AS

letter of John Brusnan, prisoner of war, forwarded from your office for our information January 11. It is almost unnecessary for me to say that the statements made by the prisoner Brusnan are outrageously false. The daily ration for each prisoner is uniformly as follows: For breakfast, eight ounces bread, eight ounces meat; for dinner, eight ounces bread, one pint and a half soup of excellent quality, made from the meat, potatoes, onions, and beans. Extra-duty men receive per day eighteen ounces bread, sixteen ounces meat, and two pints soup. Three meals, and coffee with each. The total number of deaths among prisoners of war at this station to December 31, 1864, was 1,264. The average number of deaths daily for the sixteen days ending December covered that letters were mailed which did not pass through the hands of the examiner. We have intercepted some hundred of such letters and discovered the parties engaged in the business. One commissioned officer, one acting assistant surgeon, and two enlisted men have been arrested and charges preferred against them. We have adopted such measures for the future for the detection of parties attempting to secrete letters out of camp that it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for them to escape discovery. I would respectfully request that the application of the prisoner John Brusnan to take the oath of allegiance to the United States be recalled and he be held for exchange in case of opportunity. I am, general,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,