it shall be to arrange all exchanges, and such agents must be appointed by the War Department. It is therefore not proper that a subordinate should assume such duties for himself or assign them to another, and Colonel Lowe can scarcely be warranted in exercising the duties of an agent of the exchange of prisoners.

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

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY- GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., December 22, 1862.

General CHARLES W. HILL,

Adjutant-General of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio.

GENERAL: In reply to your letter of the 6th instant addressed to the Adjutant-General have the honor to state that Lieutenant - Colonel Ludlow, agent for the exchange of prisoners, will have an interview with the agent from Richmond in the early part of next month when an exchange of all prisoners on parole on either side will be arranged as far as numbers will warrant it. It is hoped that all of our paroled men will be exchanged whether still in the service or not, but if there are not enough rebels in our hands it is probable those of our troops in service will have the preference. I will forward your list to Colonel Ludlow.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary- General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY- GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., December 22, 1862.

General W. W. HORRIS,

Commanding Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md.

GENERAL: A boat will leave this city in eight or ten days for Fort Monroe with prisoners for exchange, and if there are any prisoners at Fort McHenry belonging to the rebel army I respectfully request you will send them to the provost- marshal in this city that they may be sent South.

I a, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,

Colonel Third Infantry, Commissary- General of Prisoners.

OFFICE COMMISSARY- GENERAL OF PRISONERS,

Washington, D. C., December 22, 1862.

Colonel JESSE HILDEBRAND,

Commanding Military Prison, Alton, Ill.

COLONEL: Orders, Numbers 193, of the 22nd November from the War Department, a copy of whih is herwith inclosed,* require that two classes of prisoners shall be released, and it is for you as commander of the prison at Alton to execute the order. The first paragraph refers to those who

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*See Vol. IV, this Series, p. 746.

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