O.R.--SERIES II--VOLUME VII [S# 120]

UNION & CONFED. CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, ETC., RELATING TO PRISONERS OF WAR AND STATE FROM APRIL 1, 1864, TO DECEMBER 31, 1864.--#25

MILITARY PRISON, Salisbury, N. C.,
August 18, 1864.

On or about the 22d day of the month General Van Dorn captured and destroyed General Grant's stores at Holly Springs, thereby compelling him (Grant) to fall back from his position at and below Oxford with some haste in order to obtain a base for supplies. My brother being too low to admit of his removal I resolved to stay with him and nurse him, which I did, until the 26th of December, 1862, when Lieutenant Burrow, of the Arkansas cavalry, entered the town and, hearing of me, said I must go to Vicksburg for exchange and leave my brother to the care of other hands. I was then sent to Jackson, where I arrived too late to be sent to Vicksburg, as exchanges at that point had ceased. I was sent to Mobile about the 1st of March, 1863, when I received the assurance of General Mackall that I would be sent home at the first opportunity. On the 16th of March I was started for Richmond, where I arrived about the 21st; but, unfortunately for me, in company with some Confederate deserters. The guard who had us in charge reported to the provost-marshal, who told them to put the deserters in Castle Thunder and me in Libby. When we arrived at the Castle some of the officers there said it would make no difference about my going to Libby, as I would be sent from there (the Castle) by the first boat, and, accordingly, I was put in the Castle. After waiting several days and hearing nothing further of my case, I asked Captain Alexander about it and was told I should go by the next boat without fail. I then waited several weeks longer, when, learning nothing further, I wrote to General Winder a full statement of my case. This resulted in getting my case before the Secretary of War, who issued an order for me to be sent North by the first boat, and I was sent to the Libby for that purpose on the 18th day of May, 1863. After waiting for over three months to be sent North, I, with other citizens of much more recent capture, was sent to the <ar120_611> Castle and finally to this place. That I should be kept nearly two years, with no shadow of a charge against me, and still retained after the order of the Secretary of War, seems too strange to have been intentional.

Very respectfully submitted, by:

FRANK B. DORAN

[ Indorsement. ]

SEPTEMBER 3, 1864.

Respectfully returned to the Honorable Secretary of War.

This flippant Yankee is where he ought to be. Know nothing about any order having been issued for his release. The enemy constantly arrests and detains our people under the same circumstances. I respectfully recommend that this party be kept where he is until he can be put to some use.

Ro. OULD,
Agent of Exchange.

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