Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-07-07

The plactng o Yankee ESTsonera Fro Of
Eo,l<s Et fore Charlest"n.
The following cOrrespo ndence between Major Gene.
raj Jones, commanding at Charleston, and Yankee
General Foster in command of that department. rela-
tive to placing of nuu.ber of Yankee prisoners
IN front Of works at Charleston, appears in the
Northern papers:
LETTER FROM GEN. JONES TO GEN. FOSTER.
HDQ'Rs DEPARTMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA, j
GEORGIA AND FLORIDA.
Charleston, June ID, 1854.
General Five generals and forty five field officers of
the United States army-ail OF them prisoners OF war
have been sent to this city for safe keeping They
have been TUNED over to Bcigadier General Ripley,
commanding the first military district of this depart
inent, who will see that they are provided with COM
modious quarters in a part of the city occupied By
non batants, the majority Of whom women and
children. 1t is proper, however, that should inform
you that it part of the city which has for many
months been exposed day and night to the fire OF your
guns. Very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
SAMUEL JONES,
Maj ten. Comdg.
Major General j. &. Foster, commanding United
States forces on coast of South Caralina, Confede-
rae States.
GENERAL FOSTERS REPLY.
HEADERS DEPT OF THE SOUTH,
HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA,
Juue 10Th, 1864. !
Major GeEeral Samuel Jones, commanding Confederate
Forces Department of South Carolina, Georgia anc
Florida
General have to acknowledge the receipt this day
of YOUR communication of the 18Th instant, Informing
me that FIVE generals aud forty-fve field officers Of The
United States army prisoners of war, have been turn
ed over to YOU by BrigaderG General Ripley with il
sructons that they provided with quarters
10 part of the city occupied by noncombatanta The
majority of which latter you state are women and chill
dfen. You add that you deem it proper to inform mt
that it is part of the city which has been for many
months exposed to the fire Of our guns Many months
since Iai0r General Gilmore United States army nc
tilted General Baauregard, then commanding at Char
Ieston that the city would be bombarded. This notice
was given that ron comoatants might be removed and
thus women add children spared from hardship. Genera
Beauregard in a communication to General Gilmore
dated Augu.t % 1868 informed him that the noncom
atant population of Charleston would be removed with
all possibla celebrity. That women aud children have
been retained by you in part of the city which
has been for many months exposed to fire IS matter
to be decided by your own sense OF humanity.
must however protest against your ACTON IN thus
placing dtenctess prisoners of war in a position ex
posed 10 Constant bombardmenJ. It is indefsDsbf
act of cruelty, and can be designed only to prevent
con inuance of our fire upon Charleston. That city
a depot for military supplies 1t contains not merely
a7sena's but also ouudres and factories for the manu-
facture of munors of war. la its shipyards severa
armed irOnciads have been already completed, Whll
Others are still upon stocks in course of construction
Its wharves and the banks of the river On both side
Of the city are lined with batteries. To destro!
these means of continuing the is, therefore, on
object and duty. You seek to defeat ths effort and b.
NE ans not known to honorable warfare, but by placing
unarmed ard hel pless prisoners under fire. have for
watded your communication to- the President, with 1
request that he place 10 my custody an equal numDe
of prisoners OF ike grade be kept by me in position
exposed to the fire of your guns so long as You con-
tinue the course stated in your communication nav