W. P. Richardson to Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, Commanding, February 15, 1865

Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, February 15, 1865.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. WILLIAM HOFFMAN, Insp. and Com. Gen. of Prisoners, Washington City, D. C.:

GENERAL: In reply to your dispatch, inquiring if there are any prisoners of war on parole at this camp and by what authority, 1 have the honor to state that on the 31st day of October, 1864, I addressed a communication to the Commissary-General of Prisoners (a copy of which is hereto attached *) on the subject of employing prisoners of war as nurses, attendants, &c., at the prison hospital. From the indorsement of Brigadier-General Wessells you will see that authority was given for their employment and the precautions against their escape left to my discretion. Under this all these men were placed on parole to this time. A list of the names is herewith inclosed. * There are three commissioned officers on parole: Col. W. S. Hawkins, of Tennessee; Col. J. E. Josey, of Arkansas, and Capt. C. T. Smith, of Virginia. On the 12th of December, 1864, I received a communication from BrigadierGeneral Beall, O. S. Army, addressed to the Confederate prisoners of war at this camp (a copy of which I also inclose),* asking me to take the necessary steps to carry out the proposed arrangement. On the same day (December 12, 1864) I forwarded these papers to the Commissary-General of Prisoners, asking for instructions, The papers were returned with indorsement directing me to carry out arrangements entered into and approved by General Paine and inclosing a copy of General Orders, No. 3, dated December 16, 1864, from your office. Under these instructions I permitted the prisoners of war then at this post to select three officers, which resulted in the choice of those named. To perform their duties it was necessary that they should be permitted to visit all the prisoners and converse with them to ascertain their wants. The supplies when sent could not be received in prisons, I deeming it proper that they should be examined after being received by the Confederate agents before being distributed. In my opinion these duties could not be performed by them, nor safely permitted by us, unless these officers were placed upon parole. I therefore placed them upon special parole (a copy of which is inclosed), and forwarded a copy of the same to the Commissary-General of Prisoners December 24, 1864, for his approval, with an explanatory letter, a copy of which is also inclosed.t I am, general,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Colonel Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, Commanding.
RICHMOND, February 15, 1865.
Lieut. Col. JOHN E. MULFORD, Assistant Agent of Exchange:
SIR: I understand that Maj. J. Thompson has been in close confinement at Johnson’s Island. For what cause I do not know, as I have
already delivered to you every prisoner of war who had been at any
time in close confinement or in irons in the South excepting Capt.
Shad. Harris, who will be delivered to you. I hope that Major Thompson will be speedily sent.