I have the honor to be, with high consideration, sir, your obedient
servant,
Hon. William Stuart,
&c., &c., &c.
Mr. Stanton to Mr. Seward.
War Department,
Washington City,
September 23, 1863.
Sir: In reply to your note of the 12th
instant, enclosing a copy of a memorandum dated September 10, from
the honorable William Stuart, charge d’affaires ad
interim of the British legation in this city, relative to
the case of Mr. J. M. Vernon, I have the honor to transmit the
accompanying copy of correspondence between Major General Hitchcock,
commissioner for exchange of prisoners, and Colonel Justin Dimmick,
commanding Fort Warren, where Mr. Vernon is at present detained.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of
War.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
General Hitchcock to
Colonel Dimmick.
Washington City, D.
C., September 15,
1863.
Sir: I will thank you to inform me
whether J. M. Vernon, a prisoner at Fort Warren, receives any
peculiar treatment different from that of other prisoners
[Page 699]
similarly situated.
State whether his condition has in it any suffering other than
that which is incident to the measures necessary for his
safe-keeping, and please state, generally, what treatment the
prisoner receives, as to food, confinement, and opportunities
for exercise.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. A. HITCHCOCK, Commissioner for
Exchange of Prisoners.
Colonel Justin Dimmick,
Commanding Fort Warren.
Colonel Dimmick to General Hitchcock.
Headquarters, Fort
Warren,
Boston Harbor,
September 17,
1863.
Sir: In reply to your letter of the
15th instant, “whether Mr. John M. Vernon, a prisoner at Fort
Warren, received any peculiar treatment different from that of
other prisoners similarly situated,” I have to state that Mr.
Vernon is treated like other prisoners confined at this station,
with the accidental exception that he is better quartered than
other prisoners, having a front room in the officers’ quarters,
19 by 15, with only 5 persons in the room. The room is the same
size and similarly situated to the one I occupy; there is a wide
stone pavement in front of the whole line of officers’ quarters.
The length of the pavement is 116 paces;’ the prisoners have the
whole range of the pavement which leads them past my quarters,
and also that of the officers of my command. The prisoners are
allowed to be out of their quarters from reveille to retreat.
The food is that of the army rations, well cooked, though not
the variety one could have elsewhere, but good, wholesome food.
The bread is admitted to be as good as could be procured
anywhere, and is the same that I eat myself, and all my
officers. I have just asked over 40 prisoners, who eat at the
same time and place with Mr. Vernon; they all said they were
very well satisfied, and the living was very good, except one
person, who said the provisions were all good, but he wanted
more variety, and wished they “could have beefsteaks, or roast
beef, instead of so much boiled.”
I am, sir, with high respect, your obedient servant,
J. DIMMICK, Colonel United States
Army, Commanding Fort.
Major General E. A. Hitchcock,
Commissioner for Exchange of
Prisoners.
[Untitled]
The situation of Mr. J. M. Vernon having been referred to me, I
addressed a letter of inquiry to Colonel Dimmick, and received
the accompanying answer, dated Headquarters, Fort Warren,
September 17, 1863, and am of opinion that the case of Vernon
calls for no special orders at this time.
E. A. HITCHCOCK, Major General
Volunteers, Commissioner for Exchange of
Prisoners.
