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                   Copy
                       War Department Washington City DC
                                 April 24th, 1863

Sir

   The Secretary of War directs me to acknowledge 

the receipt by reference from Col. W. Hoffmane, Com missary General of Prisoners, of you letter of the 5th, [?] in the following words:

                          Headquarters Department of the 
                         [?]
                        Office of the Provost Marshal [?}
                         St. Louis Mo March 5th, 1863

Col. W. Hoffman

   3rd Infantry

Commissary General of Prisoners

               Washington

Colonel,

    Yesterday, as you have already be in-

formed by telegram and letter, I sent [?] [?] to you orders and hundred and fifty citizen prisoners for exchange to Washington City.

     Those remain, of the Guerrilla and irregular

prisoners, many of them captured last fall and other along since then, in prison, a large number of similar cases. For the release of many of these prisoners a great influence and pressure is brought to bear. Many of them fall into bad health. The circumstance of the families of others excite the sympathies of their neigh- bors, and other circumstances combine to induce great efforts to release these prisoners I believe that some of them {…}

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such characters while the war lasts. I respectfully suggest that such prisoners be passed through the lines to be exchanged. A considerable number of such irregular prisoners who are being captured conditionally, are determined rebels, whose [?] [?] no length of imprisonment will change. Would it not be advisable upon the capture of such men to exchange them as once, to detain them fills our prisons at heavy expense to the Government.

       Several rebel mail have been taken in 

the last few weeks and I find that a large number of women have secretively convinced both in secret-correspondence and in carry- ing on the business of collecting and distribu- ting rebel letters. I have now the [?] uproar which these women can be convicted I have for some time past been thinking of arresting and trying them, but the embar rassment is to know what to do with them

    “Many of them are the wives and daughters

of officers in the rebel service

These women are wealthy and wield a great influence; they are avowed and abusive enemies of the Government; they incite our young men to join the rebellion; their letters are full of encouragement to their husbands and [?] to continue the war; they convey information to them, and by every possible [?] they forward secretly, clothing and other support to the rebels. These [?] women, too, seek every opportunity to help […]

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their Husbands and sons. I respectfully suggest that such an order be [?] by the secretary of War.

    Again there is a large number of active

intelligent wealthy disloyal men in St. Louis who keep up a constant intercourse with the rebels in arms; and by every means that they dare, the urge them on in the rebellion. Those men exercise a telling influence upon the rebels in arms, and upon the disloyal [?] in this State. Open ^[?] disloyalty is preferred by these men. To earn a reputation for [?] [?]/ They obtain from open acts such as giving money, arms and other suppliers, but their secret acts, words, association and sympathies are unmistakably hostile to the Government; they openly rejoice at our [?] and lament at our victories.

    Forbearance to this class of people

was first adopted because it was thought that leniency would reform them; but that forbearance has settled in to a usage, which has produced evil consequences and has led these people to believe that it is their constitutional right to speak and conspire together as they may choose. The quiet secret influence of this class is infurious and greatly so. I suggest that they be sent to join their Southern friends of such a course shall be approved by the Secretary of War.

               I have the honor Colonel to be
                     you  [?] [?]
                     […]

[4]

Upon this letter successive endorsements have been made of which the following are copies [?];

                                       War Dept. April 8th 1863

Referred to the Judge Advocate General to report what should be done in these cases

                          By order of the
                                  Secretary of War
                                P. H. Watson
                                Asst. Secretary of War

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“---------------------------

                           Judge Advocate General Office
                                  April 24th 1863

The views of the Provost Marshall, Lt. Col Dick, as expressed the in the within letter are full approved. The policy which he indicates for the treatment of incorrigible rebels is unquestionably the [?] one, and a policy less lenient than this cannot be safely pursued anywhere, but especially in the State of [?] I recommend that he be instructed to carry into execution promptly and inflexibility, the [?] he has expressed as to the proper disposition to be made, bot of the men and women who are in rebellion against the Govern ment in the State of [?], on who are actively, though secretly, giving aid and comfort to those who are so.

                             J. Holt
                            […]