Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-22
IMPORTANT CORREsPONDENCE,

HEADQUARTERS DEPT. SOUTH CAROLINA,
GEORGIA, AND LoRIDA, Charleston, s. c.,
June l3, ls64.-General: Five generals and
forty.6ye 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 Br1gadier General Ripley,
commanding the First Military District OF this'
Department. who will see that they are provi.
ded with commodious quarters in apart Of the
city occupied by non -combatants, the MAJORITY
of v hom are women and children. aiIT ~
1t is proper, however, that I should inform
you that it is part OF the city which has been
for many months exposed day and night to the
Very res pecLIuny yvuI VO'SseI,..
SAM JON E., Major General Cong.
Major General J. g.. FOSTER, Commanding
United States Forces on Coast of South Caro-
lima, q. S. % "n
HEADQUARTERS OF DEPARTMENT or THE
SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C, June 16, 1884,
Major General Sam. Jones, comm dnding Confed-
crate forces Department of South Carolina, Geor-
gia, and Florida a:-General-I have to acknowl.
edge the receipt this day OF your communities
generals and fOrty-five field officers Of the
United States army, prisoners OF war, have
been turned over by you to Brigadier General
Ripley, with instructions to see that they are
provided with quarters in part Of the city
occupied by non -combatants, the ajority OF
which latter, you state, are women and chill
dren. You add that you deem it proper to in
form 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 Gilmore,
U. S. A.. notified General Beauregard, then
commanding Charleston, that the city would
be bombarded. This notice was given that
nOn-combatants might be removed, and thus
women and children spared from harm. Gen.
Beauregard, in communication to General
Gilmore, dated August %, 1863, informed
him that the non-combatant population OF
Charleston would be removed with all possi-
BILE celerity. ..a- '.'f
That women and children have been since
retained by you in part OF the city which
has been for many months exposed to fire, is q
matter decided by your own sense Of human
must, however. protest against your action
in thus placing defenseless prisoners OF war
in position exposed to constant bombardment.
1t is an indefensible act Of cruelty, and can bo
designed only TO prevent the continuance OF
our fire upon Charleston.
That city is depot for military supplies. IG
contains not merely arsenals, but also foundries
and factories for the manufacture of munitions
of war. In its ship.yards several armed IRON
clads have already been completed, while
others are still upon the stocks in the course of
construction. It's wharves and the banks of
the river on both sides of the city are lined
with batteries. To destroy these means OF
continuing the war is, therefore, our object and
duty.
You seek to defeat this effort, not by means
known to honorable warfare but by placing
unarmed and helpless prisoners under fire.
have forwarded your communication to the
President, with the request that he will place
in my custody an equal number Of prisoners.
Of like grades, to be kept by me In positions ex.
posed to the fire Of your guns, so long as You
continue the course stated in your communi-
cation.
your obedient servant, J.G. FOSTER,
Major General Commanding.
Oficial: ID. q. WAGER, A. A. @. =
HEADQUARTERS, June 81, 1864.