Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-08-26
IIDoas. Dsrr. S. c., Ga. AND Fla,
Charleston, Aug. IL, 1861.

SIR-I received last night your letter Of tho
18th instant.
The officers of the United States Navy. pri-
soners of war, now in this city, to whom You
refer, will BIO permitted to receive any clothing
YOU may send them ~ meet their present
wants.
In view of the diligence with which the
troops of your government havo sought for
aud stolen or wantonly destroyed all manner
of clothing even the apparel OF women end
children, that they could find in our country,
and this in many cases by order CT the Gene,
ral commanding, it may seem singular that /
should permit this indulgence. | desire it.
therefore. to be distinctly understood that /
do it only because believe u like INDULGENCE
is allowed cur officers now prisoners OF war.
cannot permit them to receive from you
the other articles you mention. They receive
now tho same rations in kind aud quantity
that our officers receive. IL the articles yoll
mention ore not issued to them regularly, it ID
only because of the blockade Ct our coast, mai1-
tanned by your Government, and the destrnc
ton of grain, agricultural implements and tito
means Of transportation, by its armies. cAn
not permit any running of the tlockadc for
the Of pecial and ex u i've ben'f. ofthosr vi .
maintain it. Your officers wllbc permitted
as heretofore to receive money in REASONABLE.
sums, and to purchase what they wnnt in our
markets.
1t seems that in order "a procure tho re-
lease Of certain Of your ciiicers now prisoners
of war. YOU recently scnt to tho coast ct G'or
gis aad kidnapped twenty-five citizens. You
now inform me that you hold them as rliEon-
ers, and, that ii feel disposed TO exchange
any Of those "persons for any Of tho naval
ofioers captured in September, 1863, at Fort
Sumter, UT elsewhere, Ut any time within the
limits Of this command, and will inform mo
(ycu) thereof, I (you) will submit the question
to the Navy Department"
know not OH what principle you propose to
exchange "Citizens," whom yon have caused TO
be kidnapped and forcibly carried Rway itonl
their homes and imprisoned, Tor officers captured
in baltic, with arms in their hands.
You might perhaps, without going as FAR ~ the
coast of Georgia have captured men whom you
could with propriety have offered in exchange for
your officers; but You would have found iEeml
armed, and would have been obliged TO fight
and overcome before capturing them You need
not trouble the Navy Department with the lies"
| ton. as I do not feel dispnsri" ~ ND you 20
profit by your own wrong, by exchanging officers
captured in battle for privAia citizans" captured
80 wsntonly and ut 80 liitio risk TO tho captors.
But will exchange the officers you refer to Tor
an equal number of Confederate State cllicera,
prisoners of war of like grades rank for rnnk, or
ihsir equivalents, my Government. tes ensling
its officers to be exchanged. lfYou think proper
to sccede 70 this proposition, you have only 10
notify mo when you ars prepared to make Tho
exchange.
The clothing you mny send in boxes nssily
hand led, in a small boat. to the usual point OF
meeting; If R'ttory Marshall I'ut as Major
General Foster has requested that communication
between US bs only by the way Of Port Royal
Ferry, have to request that in future Sny com.
munication you may desire TO send to me, which
does not require immediate action, be sent to
this point.
Very respectfully your obedirnt servsn;,
(Signed) SAM. JONES, MI Irn.
Oficis. PC. WARWICK, A. a. ]. q.