and in reply I have to inform you that all the prisoners at Fort Delaware were [recently] ordered from the front to a point on James River to be exchanged. About the time of their denature, a week ago, I noticed in the papers a statement that 400 or 500 had been released on their taking the oath of allegiance and your brother may have been among the number.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Detroit, Mich., August 6, 1862.

Lieutenant Colonel MARTIN BURKE,

Third Regiment, U. S. Artillery, Commanding Fort Lafayette, N. Y.

COLONEL: Will you please furnish me with a list of the political prisoners in confinement at Fort Lafayette on the 31st ultimo, and I will be obliged to you if you will at the end of each month furnish me a report showing the number of prisoners present, with the changes that have taken place during the month, giving the names of those joined released, &c. I inclose General Orders,* Nos. 62 and 32, which you may not have seen. Political as well as military prisoners are under my charge.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Detroit, Mich., August 6, 1862.

Colonel J. H. TUCKER, Commanding Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.

COLONEL: Your letter of August 4, with a copy of your letter to the Secretary of War reporting the arrest of Dr. L. D. Boone, is received. Your action in the case is in my judgment manifestly proper and I have no doubt it will be approved by the Secretary of War. It will probably lead to your receiving instructions for your guidance in all like cases. It is plain that all persons who interfere in any way to endanger the safety of the prisoners under your charge or to disturb the good order of the camp render themselves amenable to arrest and punishment. The particular mode must be pointed out by the War Department.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary-General of Prisoners.

HEADQUARTERS, Camp Douglas, Chicago, August 6, 1862.

Colonel WILLIAM HOFFMAN,
Commissary-General of Prisoners, Detroit, Mich.

COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of July 31 in which I am directed to prepare a roll of all prisoners in

---------------

* Omitted here; see p. 30, this Vol., and p. 417, Vol. III, this Series.

---------------