The New York herald., 1864-10-28
10 "Interoepted Letter" and MIR. Bar
low.
TO TEE EDITOR or TIE HERALD.


NAw YoRK, Oct q, 1854
In your paper OF to-day 10 stated "that the covers
mon; has received en- intercepted letter from s l. n
Barlow o. New York, to the rebel Secretary Of stats
Benjamiu), In which II Is stated, he (Barlow) urgo4
upon tho rebel authorities personal favor the reiesss
OF ono Of the HERALD correspondents Imprisoned Ioh
mund.n
The statement is in every particular false. shousA
not notice II, were not probable that II is tho prelude
20 the publication Of forgery under the auspices
the leaders Of tho republican party; aud therefore,
take this method Of stating have any time
directly indirectly, written held any correspond
ence with Mr. Benjamin or tho "rebol authorities"
the commencement OF the war.
have on two three occasions wrttn opsn letters.
In reference to prisoners confined In Richmond to CooneE
Oud but In every instance have them through
authorities Fortress Monroe On the 18th OF Sepie-
ber 1884, wrote to Colonel Ould asking tho release Of
one OF my immediate relatives, belonging to the Six
teenth Connecticut Volunteers captured at Plymouth.
and also asking for the reease OF two other prisoners,
whom did not know, but whoee relatives had calico
upon aid them in securing their release This lot
ter sent open to the headquarters OF General Butler ana
his chief Of staff Informed me that IL had besn for
warded In accordance with tho regulations. could moe
have been intercepted" am not that eiths9
tho Herald
II may interest tho public to that have never,
to my recollection, been applied to by any Que since the
war commenced for letters to Mr. Benjamin. except In
single instance 10 September 1883 was asked to give
letters introducing well known resident OF Now York,
to Mr. Benjamin ard others In Richmond l declineds
whom informed that the applicant had full permig
from Mr. President Lincoln visit that city, and 10
showed Mr. Lncons autograph letter. authorizing tha
visit. thereupun declined my assistance In writing,
stating:"I regret very much that cannot give yes
letters 10 these gentlemen, which might facilitate youR
Journey But 70 do would be Ia violation Of rule,
the proprety OF which you will readily oomprehan0,
which have acted upon sDce the OF Thu
terrible have no occasion written 20 any per
son within the enemy g lines, and my old frsnds at the
South have none OF them written 10 mo for more thar
two yoars."
In October, 1863 Mr.. Lncolns friend returned from
Richmond bringing pencil note from Mr.. Benamn -
myself simply saying that he was WELL and asking 70 bo
kindly remembered 70 my family. The sext day Wa
applied TO by this gentleman, who asked permission 70
carry this note TO r Lincoln evidence that he hsA
communicated with the rebel authorities" declined
In writing follows to give him the letter.
"1hough the scrap which you brought me from ne
South OF consequence TO any ono and contains only
q message OF remem brance yet am sorry 70 have ~
coved IL. 10 those times correspondencs IL Tor bddon
have neither written to OF my old friends nor re-
ceved anything from them since the began and pre-
fer TO- unless with express authority from ths
President such a. you had
As you express desire 10 my correspondence
have given you all that know anything about and ySQ
will SEQ that the only letter have received wa1 dcivcrc
by Mr. Lncoln's friend, against my wishes
further details TO this visit TO Richmond, its o.
sct and result wished for bY the War Dtpartmsuv
respectfully refer its ch6f 10 the Preside0t who o.
him the necessity OF 'Gntercspsug" that which
does NOT exist Your obsdient servant,
SAMUEL l. n BARLOW