fact and the character of General Hindman's communication I deem it proper to detain the bearer of the flag of truce until I can receive instructions from the major-general commanding.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Brigadier-General.

[Inclosure.]

HEADQUARTERS ADVANCE, ARMY IN THE FIELD,
Camp on War Eagle Creek, Ark., October 23, 1862.

COMMANDING OFFICER U. S. FORCES, Near Hunstville, Ark.:

I am directed by Major-General Holmes, C. S. Army, commanding Trans-Mississippi Department, to send by flag of truce the accompanying official paper* which he requests that you will forward with as little delay as possible to Major-General Curtis, U. S. Army. The original (of which this is a copy) was sent to Brigadier-General Steele, U. S. Army, with a request that he would forward the same to Major-General Curtis.

Lieutenant McCoy, First Missouri Cavalry, is the bearer of this flag of truce.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. S. MARMADUKE,

Brigadier-General, C. S. Army, Commanding.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Washington, D. C., October 25, 1862.

COMMANDING OFFICER, Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Mass.:

By direction of the Secretary of War you will not permit any civil officer or other person to enter your fort to serve any civil process, writ or order, and you will not obey or notice or permit any person under your command or in you custody to obey or notice any such process, writ or order whether service of the same shall have been made or not.

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General.

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., October 25, 1862.

General L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.

GENERAL: In laying the accompanying paper before the Commander-in-Chief I would respectfully call attention to the fact that the restrictions on the service of paroled soldiers are twice specified in the cartel, covering nearly all the duties that may be required of a soldier, and besides it distinctly states: "They shall not be permitted to discharge any duty usually performed by soldiers," and if it is to be understood as it reads they can perform no service. But if the War Department is at liberty to say that it could to have been meant or understood by the parties making the arrangement that troops so paroled were restricted from performing any of the ordinary camp or garrison duties

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*Omitted here; Holmes to Curtis, October 11, Series I, Vol. XIII, p. 726.

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