As citizens of Virginia we ask that we may beat once released from this prison.

CHARLES M. HUBBARD, of James City,

JOHN P. PIERCE, of New Kent County,

A. B. TIMBERLAKE, of Hanover,

SAMUEL EDWARDS, of King William,

Committee in behalf of the whole.

HEADQUARTERS, Fort Monroe, Va., July 7, 1862.

Messrs. LITTLETON, PIERCE and HUBBARD,
Prisoners of State, Fort Wool.

GENTLEMEN: I am directed by Major-General Dix to say in reply to your letter* of this date that he will forward any proper communication from you to Richmond by the first flag of truce; that he holds you under orders from General McClellan and does not know for whom you are held as hostages. If you are in want of any articles needful for your personal comfort the will be glad to supply them. A personal interview he cannot at present conveniently grant.

By command of Major-General Dix:

Yours, respectfully,

[WILSON BARSTOW],

Captain and Aide-de-Camp.

HEADQUARTERS SAINT LOUIS DISTRICT,
Saint Louis, Mo., July 7, 1862.

Colonel FARRAR, Provost-Marshal-General.

SIR: Certain of the prisoners of war confined in McDowell's College having escaped in disguise as negroes you will immediately on receipt of this designate some one to call upon Colonel Tuttle and request him to exclude from the prison all negroes. A proper temporary provision will be made for their shelter elsewhere.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SCHUYLER HAMILTON,

Brigadier General of Vols., U. S. Army, Commanding Saint Louis District.

(Copy to Colonel Tuttle, commanding Saint Louis District.)

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MISSOURI, Numbers 41.
Saint Louis, July 7, 1862.

From the report of Colonel J. M. Glover of an investigation made by him in pursuance of orders from these headquarters the circumstances under which one Colonel Best, a rebel spy, was execute by Major Tompkins, Thirteenth Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, and affidavits accompanying said report, it is evident that the said Colonel Best richly deserved his fate and would have received it at the hands of a military commission had he been tried; yet his case does not appear to have been one of that class which requires the summary punishment inflicted upon members of

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*Not found, but see petition of Messrs. Hubbard, Pierce, Timberlake and Edwards, July 4, p. 144.

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10 R R-SERIES II, VOL IV