New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-11-18

We take the following from the Richmond En-
quirer of the 18th:
The selection Of hostages was made on Sunday
last, at the Office Of the Provost Marshal of the
PRISONS in the presence of Colonels Smith and
Noford, as witnesses for the Confederacy, and Of
Mr.. Ely and Colonels Lee, Cogswell and other
Northern officers. The drawing of the name Of the
officer whose life should be held asa hostage for
that of Capt. Smith, convicted Of piracy at Pha-
delphia, was entrusted to the Hon. Alfred Ely, NJ.
c., OF New York, the lot falling upon Col Corcoran,
who is now prisoner at Charleston, S. G. OF the
remaining hostages Col. Lee, Major Revere and
Capt. lockwood are from Massachusetts Wilcox
from Michigan, Woodruff and Nef from Kentucky
and Potter, Wood and McQuade from New York.
The following is the correspondence between the
Secretary Of War and Gen Winder:
G. s. A. WAR DErARTNENr,t
Ricamond, Nov. 9, 1851
Sn'-You are hereby instructed to choose by lot
from among the prisoners Of war of highest rank
one who is to be confined in cell appropriated to
convicted ielOns, and who is to be treated in all
respects as if such convict, aud to be held for
cutlon in the same manner as may be adopted by
the enemy for the execution of the prisoner of war
Smith, recently condemned to death in Philadel
phia
You will also select thirteen other prisoners of
war, the highest in rank Of those captured by our
forces, to be confined in the cells reserved for
prisoners accused OF infamous crimes, and will
treat them as such so long the enemy shall con-
tinue SO to treat the like number Of prisoners Of
| trial in New York as pirates.
As these measures are intended to repress the
infamous attempt now made by the enemy to COM
init Judicial murder on prisoners of;War, you will
execute them strictly, the mode best calculated
to prevent the commission of so heinous a crime.
Your ooedient servant,
10 Brig. General JONI WIsDEH Richmond, Va,
HEADQrARTERs DEPARTMENT OF HEERIco
Riehmoud Va November IL 1861.
Hon j. P. Benjamin, Secretary Of War
ISU.1n obedience to instructions contained in
your letter of the 9Th inst one prisoner of war of
the highest rank in our possession was chosen by
lot, to be held for execution in the same as
may be adopted by the enemy for the execution of
Smith, recently condemned tc death in Phadel-
phla. The names Of the six Colonels were placed
in can. The first name drawn was that of Col.
C0rcoran, SlXty-nlnth Regiment N. Y. S. NJ, who
is the hostage chosen to answer for Smith.
In choosing the thirteen from the highest rank,
to be held to answer for like number of prisoners
Of war captured by the enemy at sea, there being
only ten field officers it necessary to draw by
lot three Captains. The first names drawn were
Captains J. B. Ricketts, H. McQuade and J. W.
lockwood.
The list of thirteen will therefore stand-Colonels
Lee, CogswelI, Wilcox, WoodruFand Wood; Lieut..
Colonels Bowman and Net; Majors Potter, Revere
and Vogdes; Captains Ricketts,, McQuade and
lockwood.
Respecttuly,
isned J9ITN Il sW1iiNbER, Bdgade General
HEADeuARTERs DEr4hrNENT HEsRrco
| Richmond. EH Nov. Il, 1861.
Hon j p Benjamin, Secretary of War; Richmond, Virginia
Su-ln obedience to your instructions all the
| wounded officers have been exempted as hostages
to await the result Of the trial of prisoners cap
tured by the enemy at sea. I have, therefore
made selections by lot of Captains H. Bowman ant
7. keffer to replace Captains Ricketts, and Nc
| Quade, wounded.
| The list OF thirteen will now stand -Colone
Lee. Cogswell, Wilcox, Woodruff and Wood
| Lieutenant Coonels Bowman and Netf; Majors
Potter, Revere and Vogdes; Captains Rockwood
! Bowman and keffer.
! Respectfully, your obedient servant
| Is gnedD JOHN II. WINDER, Brig. Gen'