CONFE SIR: As it appears to be mor in captivity by both belligerents though foes, we all owe a con adopted for the relief of such as government shall have the privi prisoners as are held by the oth their distribution, with all prope procity is only asked. The art of agreement. I propose that of meat, bread, coffee, sugar, t ceipt of the stores and their di might be authenticated by the pots. In order to carry out this we should make purchases outs them to one of your ports. boats. Of course the supplies re It w in addition to such rations as a custody. Neither belligerent is the prisoners in its charge. This is a matter of such grave response will be made. Respectfully, your obedien WAR DEPARTMENT, October 15, 1864. Robert Ould, agent of exchange, dated October 7, dressed to me, is herewith referred to you, together he same signature, dated October 6, and addressed = of exchange. You are authorized and instructed pers, and the subject-matter to which they relate, ef of our soldiers held as prisoners by the rebels. that you may deem proper to effect the release and sons, held as prisoners by the rebel authorities. efforts, consistent with national safety and honor, all soldiers and loyal persons in captivity to the grounds; and the subject is committed to you, s you shall deem right and proper. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. COLONEL: The letter of Judge "Richmond, September 12, 1864, ing the propositions made by him on each side be released from con placed in the condition of other pr lent," has been duly referred to m that the proposition as made by J is just and equally fair and benef Judge Ould, without delay, that o hereintofore referred to, without ex General Butler and referred to in for whose release said agreement w the excess to receive proper equiva into immediate effect on our side. Very respectfully, Colonel JOHN E. MULFORD, Assistant Agent of i nt of exchange. I think it proper to notify you that I have done so, in order be made acquainted at an early date with the views of the confederate aulation to the matters to which that communication refers. etfully, your obedient servant, in M. Stanton, Secretary of War. RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. OCTOBER 15, 1864. Lieutenant General Grant, with authority to act upon the subject in such many deem proper, and with authority to take such measures as he deems consistent 1 honor and safety for the release of all soldiers and loyal persons held by the ivity. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, War Department, Richmond, Virginia, October 6, 1864. appears to be more than probable that a large number of prisoners will be held by both belligerents during the coming winter, the cause of humanity to which, we all owe a common allegiance, demands that some measures should be the relief of such as are held by either party. To that end, I propose that each shall have the privilege of forwarding for the use and comfort of such of its are held by the other necessary articles of food and clothing. The manner of tion, with all proper safeguards, can be agreed upon in the uture. A fair recily asked. The articles that can be mutually sent can also be made the subject t. I propose that each may send necessary clothing and blankets, and rations ad, coffee, sugar, tobacco, pickles, and vinegar. I would suggest that the restores and their distribution among the prisoners for whom they are intended thenticated by the certificate of the senior officer at the respective camps or deder to carry out this arrangement with effectiveness, it would be necessary that hake purchases outside the limits of the Confederate States, and then to ship of your ports. It would be impracticable to send the stores by your flag-of-truce course the supplies referred to in this communication are to be considered as being to such rations as are furnished by the government which has the prisoners in either belligerent is to be discharged from the obligation of feeding and clothing s in its charge. matter of such grave importance that I sincerely trust an early and favorable ll be made. ectfully, your obedient servant, HN E. MULFORD, RO. OULD, Agent of Exchange. Assistant Agent of Exchange. CITY POINT, VA., January 13, 1865. .: The letter of Judge R. Ould, agent of exchange, Confederate States, of date 1, September 12, 1864," in answer to yours of the 10th of the same month, acceptpositions made by him under date of August 22, 1864, that "all prisoners of war e be released from confinement, close or irons, as the case may be, and either e condition of other prisoners of war or sent to their respective homes for equivabeen duly referred to me for my consideration and action, and I am of the opinion position as made by Judge Ould, and accepted by the government through you, equally fair and beneficial to both sides. You will, therefore, communicate to 1, without delay, that our government stands by its acceptance of his proposition referred to, without excepting from its operations any of the cases proposed by tler and referred to in his (Judge Ould's) letter of September 12, that the parties elease said agreement was made shall all be mutually delivered, the party having to receive proper equivalents, and that you are authorized to carry the agreement iate effect on our side. respectfully, JOHN E. MULFORD, Assistant Agent of Exchange. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, January 21, 1865. House of Representatives of the 21st December, to the exchange of prisoners, I have the honor to General, together with such communications upon olished. atler details the action in regard to the exchange of -n him by the order of the War Department. nges was placed under the direction of Lieutenant uy steps he might deem proper to effect the release persons held as prisoners by the rebel authorities. the President that no efforts, consistent with nao effect the prompt release of all soldiers and loyal rs of war, or on any other grounds, and the subity to act in the premises as he should deem right ject of exchanges has from that time continued in e as he deemed proper to obtain the release of our v of our prisoners-the articles to be distributed led for that purpose; and the corresponding privIn order to afford every facility for relief, special ired, on behalf of our prisoners. Such exchanges he rebel authorities, but in many others they have all the sick, has been effected within a recent pes has been directed to make a detailed report of all since the general exchange ceased. It will be s soon as completed. it gives reason to believe that a full and complete made. It also appears from his statement that ers and distributed by officers of our own selec TERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, "Washington, D. C., January 21, 1865. 1, agent of exchange, to renew negotiations for her party. The first interview between our agent been had. No doubt but that an arrangement th of that interview, an exchange-limited one "U. S. GRANT, Leutenant General. [Received Will you please say to the Pre and is now on his way north. Arrangements for exchange o rapidly. All but two of those steamer New York. I am also in receipt of commu plies of clothing for our prisoner distribution. Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secre NOTE.-This has the appear in with the view of securing t [Telegra Major General H. W. HALLECH Our prisoners will probably h without reference to the numbe thorized those west of the Miss southwest at Mobile, and those alents will be delivered on the Please notify Canby and Seh to them. barracks to be paid and furloug General Canby had Annapolis, according to the di Schofield of course will send all Lieutenant General GRANT: Some thousands of our prison arrangement be made to lasten furnished by friends of prisoners are also forwarded for distribution in the same The nature of the supplies authorized to be furnished by individuals is specified in d order of the department. espectfully, your obedient servant, HUYLER COLFAX, EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. -eaker of the House of Representatives. [Received 12.25 a. m., 6th February, in cipher.] CITY POINT, VA., February 5, 1865-11.30 p. m. please say to the President that Lieutenant Markleit has been released from prison on his way north. ments for exchange of all prisoners are now complete and exchanges will go on All but two of those who were in close confinement in Richmond are now on the ew York. in receipt of communication from General Hayes, acknowledging receipt of supthing for our prisoners, and the completion of arrangements for transportation and 1. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General. -This has the appearance of being a special case, but it was a trial case, persevered view of securing the release of all of the same class, and which was accomplished. E. A. HITCHCOCK, Major Gen. of Vols., Com'r of Exchange. [Telegram.-Received in cipher, 2 p. m., 16th.] CITY POINT, VA., February 16, 1865-12 m. eral H. W. HALLECK, Chief of Staff: oners will probably be delivered to us as fast as they possibly can be got through ference to the numbers received from us. To expedite their delivery I have aucose west of the Mississippi to be delivered to any point on the river, those in the at Mobile, and those in North Carolina at Wilmington or Richmond. Their equivbe delivered on the James river. otify Canby and Schofield of this and direct them to receive all prisoners delivered General Canby had better send all that are delivered on the Mississippi to Benton o be paid and furloughed. Those received at Mobile can be sent either there or to according to the direction transports may be taking at the time of their delivery. of course will send all he receives to A nnapolis. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General, [Telegram.] t General GRANT: WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, April 9, 1865. ousands of our prisoners in the hands of the rebels are still undelivered. Can any ent be made to hasten their release? EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. MILITARY OPERATIONS. Grant, of the armies of the United States, ade and P. H. Sheridan, of the campaign ort of the campaign of Atlanta, 1864. ort of the campaign of Georgia and cap rt of the campaign of the Carolinas, 1865. ort of Johnston's surrender, &c., 1865. ort of operations in the Shenandoah valfront of Petersburg, between February rt of operations from September 7, 1864, of Franklin and Nashville. rt of operations in the department of the 1, 1865. operations in West Virginia, 1864. of operations against Fort Fisher, 1864. of the capture of Fort Fisher, 1865. -port of operations against Price, in the - General U. S. Grant. MIES OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D. C., July 22, 1865. following report of the operations of the ate of my appointment to command the on I had been impressed with the idea f all the troops that could be brought into her, were necessary to a speedy terminaenemy and his numerical strength were to this, we had a vast territory with a garrison, and long lines of river and railole us to supply the operating armies. ted independently and without concert, 5 together, enabling the enemy to use to communication for transporting troops most vigorously pressed, and to furlough vity on our part, to go to their homes and ort of their armies. It was a question sources were not more than balanced by perior position. viction that no peace could be had that appiness of the people, both north and ebellion was entirely broken. he greatest number of troops practicable 7; preventing him from using the same one and then another of our armies, and d producing necessary supplies for carrycontinuously against the armed force of should be nothing left to Behind the Union lines The enemy had concent into two armies, command ablest and best generals. bank of the Rapidan, exter covering and defending R Potomac. The army unde at Dalton, Georgia, coverin importance as a rail |