W. Hoffman to 6 Prisoners Of War And State, Etc, January 2, 1865

Nashville, January 2, 1865.

Maj. Gen. G. H. THOMAS, Comdy. Department of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tenn. :

GENERAL: I am informed that wounded rebel prisoners are being collected at Pulaski and Columbia, as well as at Franklin, and I have therefore the honor to request that the surgeons in charge of them may be instructed to forward them as rapidly as pessible to this city. Those who are able to be moved should be sent forward at once, and others as soon as they are sufficiently recovered to bear the journey. It is not desirable to establish hospitals for prisoners south of this point, but as for the present it is unavoidable to provide for extreme cases, it is desirable that all such cases should be collected in the hospital at Franklin, to be forwarded as soon as they recover. By this arrangement guards and attendants will be saved and the prisoners will be properly accounted for. I fear if special instructions are not given wounded prisoners will not be forwarded as promptly as they might be.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,