O.R.--SERIES II--VOLUME V [S# 118]

UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM DECEMBER 1, 1862, TO JUNE 10, 1863.--#21

NEW BERNE, N. C., April 24, 1863.

Maj. Gen. J. G. FOSTER,
Commanding Eighteenth Army Corps, New Berne, N. C.

GENERAL: I beg leave to report to you the following circumstances connected with the capture of some of my men and their treatment as prisoners of war. On the 12th of March, 1863, six of my men were detailed to guard some negroes who were chopping wood near Elizabeth City for the use of the garrison. They were attacked by the Partisan Rangers and 3 of their number were taken prisoners. Also 3 negroes were taken and 2 killed. On the 6th of April Lieut. L. A. Bigger was sent down the river to Little Flatty Creek for a schoonerload of wood. He had with him six men and some negroes. They went ashore at night and were surrounded and taken by the Partisan Rangers. We got information of the affair on the morning of the 7th and sent out an expedition in pursuit but did not succeed in retaking them. I got a note from Lieutenant Bigger the next day stating tho facts above stated. On the 23d of April I received a letter from Lieutenant Bigger dated April 13, at Fortress Monroe, saying that he had been paroled but that the men would be confined in Castle Thunder, where the three who were captured March 12 had been confined in an awful dungeon, from the effects of which two of the men had died. A description of the prison by Lieutenant Bigger was a gloomy cell 15 by 20 feet occupied by twenty-eight men.

Thus my men are treated as felons of the deepest dye instead of as prisoners of war because they are North Carolina Union volunteers. While I was in command at Elizabeth City I had some of the guerrilla prisoners and treated them as prisoners of war, and they were released by General Palmer's orders on taking the oath of neutrality and giving $250 bonds not to take up arms against us again. <ar118_519>

The following is a list of the prisoners taken from Company D, First North Carolina Union Volunteers, on the 12th of March, 1863: H.C. Palmer; A. W. Kenton, died March 31, 1863; Frank M. Tow, died April 6, 1863.

The following is a list of the men taken on the 6th of April, 1863: Lieut. L. A. Bigger, Corpl. Benjamin Pendleton, Privates Henry Luters, James Luton, John A. Mead, Henry Boyd and Lemuel James.

I have been informed that there were two men from a company at Washington, N. C., during the battle at that place last summer and that they were confined in same way as those of my company and one of them had died since being confined in prison, and that there had never been any demand made for their release.

Praying that there may be something done by the authorities in power to have these men treated as other U.S. volunteers, prisoners of war, I subscribe myself,

Very respectfully, your humble servant,

E. C. SANDERS,
Captain Company D, First North Carolina Union Volunteers.

[First indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
New Berne, April 26, 1863.

Respectfully referred to Colonel Ludlow with the request that he will take some action in the case, these men having been regularly mustered into the U.S. service.

J. G. FOSTER,
Major-General, Commanding.

[Second indorsement,]

FORT MONROE, May 3, 1863.

Respectfully referred to Hon. R. Ould, agent for exchange of prisoners, for information about and delivery of the persons within named.

WM. H. LUDLOW,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of Prisoners.

[Third indorsement.]

Respectfully referred to General Winder.

R. OULD,
Agent for Exchange.

[Fourth indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF HENRICO,
Richmond, May 12, 1863.

Referred to Capt. T. P. Turner, commander C. S. military prison, for information concerning these men.

By order of Brigadier-General Winder:

W. N. STARKE,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Fifth indorsement.]

C. S. MILITARY PRISON, Richmond, May 12, 1863.

The within-mentioned men, excepting Palmer, were paroled and sent home by flag of truce on the 5th of May, 1863. Were captured in Pasquotank, N. C., April 6, 1863.

TH. P. TURNER,
Captain, Commanding.

<ar118_520>

[Sixth indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF HENRICO,
Richmond, May 13, 1863.

H. C. Palmer is at present in Castle Thunder. Will be transferred to the C. S. military prison to be sent off by first flag of truce.

By order of Brig. Gen. J. H. Winder:

W. N. STARKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Seventh indorsement.]

FORT MONROE, May 18, 1863.

This copy of this communication with the indorsements thereon is respectfully forwarded to Major-General Foster. All the men seem to be accounted for. Those delivered before the 6th of May have been declared exchanged and are now at Camp Parole, Annapolis, ready for active service.

WM. H. LUDLOW,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Agent for Exchange of Prisoners.

[Eighth indorsement.]

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
May 30, 1863.

Respectfully referred to Lieutenant-Colonel McChesney, First North Carolina Union Volunteers, for his information. This paper to be returned.

By order of Maj. Gen. J. G. Foster:

S. HOFFMAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

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