Unknown to James A. Seddon, March 29, 1864

Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:

Sir: I received the inclosed letter + from Mr. Boyden to-day. Mr. B. resides in Salisbury, but you will see that the letter was written from the residence of C. I. Pierson. I have written Mr. B. in reply that he misinterpreted my letter in supposing that all persons who had sued out writs prior to the orders from your Department of the 10th instant were to be put upon the same footing as those who were discharged at Salisbury. In the latter cases the ordinary return was made that the parties were held for military duty. In the cases referred to by Mr. Boyden the returns were under the orders of Colonel Mallett, he having received orders before yours of the 10th instant from the Conscript Bureau. Mr. B. states the returns and says that a motion will be made to discharge the parties upon the ground of the insufficiency of the returns—I presume for the reason that they do not correspond with the orders of the 10th. I have explained to Mr. B. the whole matter and said to him that I had neither power nor inclination to interfere further, and also that I did not believe the general would regard any discharge granted in any such case. How many cases there are of this kind I know not. There were some 115 or 120 of the Salisbury cases.

I received your last letter. Am I to receive any commission as comimnissioner, or any other instructions than those embraced in the order of the 10th of March, 1864?

Very respectfully,