C. S. MILITARY PRISONS,

Salisbury, N. C., June 6, 1862.

Brigadier General JOHN H. WINDER,

Commanding Department of Henrico, Richmond, Va.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that your order directing me to select by lot two captains from the Federal officers of that rank in confinement here to be held as hostages for two or our captains now in the hands of the enemy has been carried into effect. The names of the officers thus selected are Captain George Austin, Company B, Second Kentucky Regiment Infantry, and Captain Timothy O'Meara, Company E, Tammany Regiment, New York State Volunteers.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. C. GODWIN,

Major, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF EAST TENNESSEE,
Knoxville, June 7, 1862.

Colonel JAMES K. SIMPSON, Deputy Provost-Marshal.

SIR: Yours of the 5th instant, together with the papers relative to prisoners, was handed in by W. V. Sevier, esq. In reply I can only say that no more of the prisoners who have already taken the oath of allegiance will be released.

Respectfully,

W. M. CHURCHWELL,

Colonl and Provost-Marshal.

By R. F. FULKERSON,

Assistant Provost-Marshal.

HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
Tupelo, June 8, 1862.

Brigadier General D. W. ADAMS, Columbus.

GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you will forthwith convene at Columbus a military commission to examine into the charges against political prisoners. All will be discharged against whom no charges are preferred or substantiated. Many have been confiend on grounds that they were suspicious persons. Such if the reside within the present lines of the enemy can be released. The proceedings of the commission will be reported with as a little delay as practicable to these headquarters.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servnat,

GEORGE WM. BRENT,

Acting Chief of Staff.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS WESTERN DEPARTMENT, Numbers 75.
Tupelo, Miss., June 8, 1862.

I. A military commission consisting of three commissioned officers will convene at Columbus, Miss., on the 12th day of June, 1862, at 10 a. m., or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the trial of certain political prisoners and others as may be legally brought it. The commanding officer at Columbus will cause the members of the commission