Wo E. Oha Tor to R. O. Ould, January 19, 1865

GENTLEMEN:

In response to the inclosed resolution of inquiry of the Legislature of Virginia* in relation to the transmission of supplies to Confederate prisoners in the North I have the honor to submit the following report: t

At the outset I would respectfully request your attention to the inclosed correspondence between the Hon. Robert Ould, agent of exchange on the part of the Confederate States, and Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant, commanding Armies of the United States,+ for full information as to the agreement made between the two Governments for furnishing supplies to prisoners both on public account and by private contribution. It has been agreed that all private contributions shall be received at designated points and delivered free of cost by the party holding the prisoners for whom the supplies are intended. Prior to the Ist of November, 1864, and previous to the completion of the present extensive arrangements, we were enabled by the comparative regularity of the flag-of-truce boats to forward these individual contributions with but little delay. During the months of November and December we were engaged in the reception and delivery of prisoners at Savannah and

Charleston, and we had no communication by flag of truce at the James River throughout the whole of that time. To have sent such a large number of packages as had collected here to Savannah or Charleston for shipment would, under the existing difficulties of transportation, have been simply a matter of impossibility. It will be seen, therefore, that as we have no control over the movements of the flag-of-truce boat, the present vast accumulation of freight at this point is due to circumstances altogether unavoidable. That you may form some idea of the difficulties in the way of forwarding this freight with the desired promptitude, I deem it proper to state that owing to the obstruction of the river for military purposes we have to put off all packages at Boulware’s Wharf, about two miles below Chaffin’s Bluff, from which point they have to be transported in wagons to Varina, a distance of four miles, and placed on board the Federal flag-of-truce boat.

At our interview with Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford, the Federal assistant agent of exchange, on the 10th instant, which is the first we have had since the completion of our operations in the south, we endeavored to make arrangements for the delivery and reception of all the freight on hand, but owing to the excessive rains about that time both the river and roads were in such a condition as to render either its delivery or reception utterly impracticable. :

We are daily expecting the arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Mulford at Boulware’s Wharf, and he has agreed to remain there until all the supplies for our prisoners are delivered to him.

We cannot suggest any remedy for the difficulties of transportation, as it is impossible, in the obstructed condition of the river, to lessen the distance between the places of anchorage of the respective truce boats, nor can we at this time suggest any other point where the same difficulties will not have to be overcome.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,