O.R.--SERIES II--VOLUME VI [S# 119]

UNION AND CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM JUNE 11, 1863, TO MARCH 31, 1864.--#26

«41 R R--SERIES II, VOL VI» <ar119_642>

QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, C. S. MILITARY PRISONS,
Richmond, Va., December 3, 1863.

Lieut. Col. J. M. SANDERSON (Prisoner of War),
Richmond, Va.:

COLONEL: Having heard a complaint from headquarters that the provisions received from your Government were not issued to the Federal officers confined in this prison, and that your fellow-prisoners with you have suffered in consequence thereof, you will please state the facts of this case, at what time the provisions arrived, when they were received by you, and whether issued in proper quantities. Also request Colonel Boyd to state at what time he saw the provisions issued at Belle Isle.

I have the honor to be, colonel, your most obedient servant,

J. WARNER,
Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

[Indorsement.]

There was a quantity of salt beef delivered on Belle Isle for issue to Federal prisoners on Sunday,November 22, 1863. The beef referred to was from the Baltimore American Relief Fund, and was unloaded from boat in the rear of Libby Prison, November 21.

A. VON SCHRADER,
Lieut. Col. and Asst. Insp. Gen., Fourteenth Army Corps,

J. F. BOYD,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Quartermaster,
Committee for Distribution of Clothing to Federal -Prisoners.

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C. S. MILITARY PRISONS, Libby, December 3, 1863.

Capt. J. THORNER, Assistant Quartermaster:

CAPTAIN: In answer to your note of this date I would state that as near as I can recollect you personally offered, on Sunday, 22d of November, to distribute to the officers in this prison twenty-seven barrels containing pork, salt beef, flour, and corn-meal, sent by the Baltimore American Relief Fund, but having no convenience for issuing it, I declined receiving it. On the following day, however, I inspected it in company with other officers, and directed Mr. Burnham, your assistant, to issue it in rations of half a pound per man, to the two officers acting as commissaries for the prisoners, and I can cheerfully state that the instructions have thus far been faithfully complied with, and that these provisions have been issued in addition to the regular rations allowed us by the authorities here.

Very respectfully, yours,

JAMES M. SANDERSON,
Lieut. Col. and Commissary of Subsistence, First Army Corps.

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LIBBY PRISON, Richmond, Va., December 4, 1863.

Capt. C. McRAE SELPH,
Assistant Adjutant and Inspector General:

SIR: In answer to your communication of this date, referring to statements that have been made in regard to the distribution of clothing and rations sent to Richmond by the United States Government <ar119_643> for Federal prisoners of war, the committee in charge of the distribution of clothing desire to submit the following statement:

When the committee entered on their duties November 10, only a small supply of clothing had been received at Richmond. To secure an equitable distribution of this to those who were most needy, and to ascertain what future consignments would be required for their comfort, it was deemed advisable to make an inspection of the clothing of all the prisoners. A careful inspection was therefore made of all the prisoners of war on Belle Isle and in Richmond, and a record made of the condition of each article of their clothing. While this inspection was in progress issues of blankets and such clothing as had been received were made to those who were most needy. Since the arrival of the last shipment of clothing, November 22, two members of the committee have been constantly engaged in the distribution, which is now almost complete.

The committee is unable to prepare a statement of the amount of clothing issued in time for this communication. Statements in detail will be prepared, however, as soon as possible, of the amount of clothing received and issued, and to whom issued, and the amount required to fully supply the wants of the prisoners of war now here, a copy of which we respectfully request may be forwarded by flag of truce to the proper U.S. military authorities.

A shipment of clothing is now being made to Danville sufficient to supply the wants of the prisoners of war at that place.

The committee take pleasure in stating that every facility for the inspection of the prisoners and the distribution of the clothing has been afforded them by the Confederate military authorities.

The duties of the committee were limited by the order putting them on duty exclusively to the distribution of clothing. The fact that rations forwarded by the United States Government and by aid societies in the North were being issued to prisoners of war on Belle Isle and in the prisons in Richmond has, however, frequently come under the observation of members of the committee while in the discharge of the duty assigned them.

Very respectfully, your obedient servants,

A. VON SCHRADER,
Lieut. Col., Assistant Inspector-General, Fourteenth Army Corps.

H. B. HUNTER,
Lieut. Col. One hundred and twenty-third Ohio Infantry Volunteers.

J. F. BOYD,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Quartermaster.

JAMES M. SANDERSON,
Lieut. Col. and Commissary of Subsistence, First Army Corps.

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