The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-13

The New YORK papers furnish the
following recent correspondence between
Generals FOSTER aud JONES:
LETTER from GEN. JONES TO GEN.
FOSTER.
HD'oRs DEPT SOUTH CAROLINA
GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA, Charleston.
June u, lSG4.-Geucral:, Five general
and forty five field officers of the United
States army-all of them prisoners of
war-have been sent to this city for safe
keeping. They have been turned over
to Brig. Gen. Ripley commanding the
frs. military district of this department,
who will see that they are provided with
commodions quarters in part of the
city occupied by non-combataDts, the
majority of whom are women aud chi,
dreu. It's proper, however, that should
inform you that it is part of the city
which has for many mouths been exposed,
dayand night, to the fire of your guns
Very rcsPeclly, your obcdient servant
SAM. JONES,
Major Gen. Commanding.
Major Gcu. J. G.. Foster, commanding
United States forces on the coast of
South Carolina, Confederate States.
GENERAL FOSTERS REPLY:
Hp'oRs DEPARTMENT OF THE SoUTH,
HILroN HEAD, S. c., June 10.
Major General Sam. Jones, Commanding
Confederate Forces, Department of
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida ::
GENERAL: | have to acknowledge
the receipt this day of your communica'
ton of the 18th inst, informing me
that five Generals and forty-fve field Of.
fcers of the United States army, pris-
opers of war, have been turned over by
you t. Byig.&eneral Ripley, with in
structions to see that they are pro.
vided with quarters in pant of the city
occupied by non.combatants-thc majori-
tv of which latter, you state, arc woman
and children You add that you deem
it proper to inform me that it is part
of the city which has been for many
months exposed TO the fire of our guns.
Many months since Major General Gill
more, United States army, notified
General Beauegard, then commanding
in Charleston, that the city would be
bombsTded. THIS notice was given
that non comabtants might be moved,
and thus woman and children spared
from harm. General Beauregard, in
communication to Gen. Gilmore dated
August %, 1868, Informed him that
the non:ccmbatant population of Char
lesion would be removed with all pos.
: sible celebrity That women and chill
dreu have been since retained by you
! in part of the city which has been for
many mouths exposed to fire is matter
decided by your own sense OF human
ity.
l must, however, protest against your
action in thus placing dcfenceless pris::
oncrs of war in a position to constant
! bombardmcnt. 1t is an indefcnslble
act of cruelty, and can be designed ouly
to prevent continuance of our fire upon
Charleston. That city is a depot for
military supplies It contains not
merely arsenals, but also foundries and
factories for the manufacture of NUM-
tions of war. In its shipyards several
armed iron.clads have already been
completed, while others are still upon
the stocks in course of construction
Its wharves and the banks of the river
on both sides of the city are lined with
batteries. To destroy those means of
continuing the war is, therefore, our
object aud duty.-Iou seek to defeat
this effort and by means not known to
honorable warfare, but by placing un-
armed and helpless prisoners under their
fire.--1 have forwarded your communi-
cation to the President, with request
that he place in my custody an equal
number of prisoners of like grade to be
kept by ne in positions exposed to the
fire of your guns, so loug as you con-
tinue the course stated in your commu-
nication.
have the honor to be, very respec-
tfully,j ,jyour obedient servant, j. FOSTER,
Major General Commanding.