UNION AND CONFEDERATE
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE
FROM JANUARY 1, 1865, TO THE END.--#10
<ar121_236>
CITY POINT, VA., February 16, 1865.
General R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. Army:
Inclosed I send you communication from W. N. R. Beall,
relating to James Monnehause, with indorsements thereon, and an extract
from the Richmond Examiner, dated December 8, 1864, containing statement
of the capture of thirty-seven Union citizens and their commitment to
Castle Thunder, to be held as hostages for the good treatment and return
of Confederate citizens alleged to have been captured by us.(*)
Previous to the receipt of the inclosed communication and before my
attention was called to the extract from the Richmond Examiner, I
directed the release of all persons held by military authority within
the Department of Virginia and North Carolina against whom sufficient
evidence could not be found to convict them of the offense with which
they stand charged, and also such as were imprisoned without proper
charges, if any such there were. Similar orders were intended to be
given throughout the entire military command of the United States, but
before such orders are now given I desire information as to the truth of
the statement of the Richmond Examiner, before referred to, and, if
true, the names of the persons held by us for whom they were seized and
held as hostages, and when and where captured, that their cases may be
inquired into and the proper action had as to each. I would respectfully
propose the release and exchange of all citizen prisoners now held by
military authority, except those under charges of being spies or under
conviction for offenses under the laws of war on both sides.
