Mr. Seward to Lord Lyons.
Department of State, Washington,
February 12, 1864.
My Lord: I have the honor to recur to your
communication of the 23d ultimo, requesting information concerning a
military commission for the investigation of the cases of certain
persons arrested and detained at Forts Lafayette and Warren, and to
acknowledge the receipt of your note of yesterday upon the same subject.
Having submitted to the Secretary of War, with a view to being enabled
to supply your lordship with the desired information, a copy of your
first communication, I have the honor to enclose, in reply, a copy of a
letter of the 3d instant, upon the subject, addressed to me by Brigadier
General R. S. Oanby on behalf of the Secretary of War.
Regretting the delay which has occurred in responding to your lordship’s
inquiries, I have the honor to be, with high consideration, my lord,
your obedient servant,
Right Hon. Lord Lyons, &c., &c., &c.
General Canby to Mr. Seward.
War Department, Washington City,
February 3, 1864.
Sir: The Secretary of War instructs me to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d instant,
communicating the copy of a note of the 23d ultimo, from Lord Lyons,
relative to an order issued by Major General Dix for the appointment
of a military commission to investigate the cases of persons
arrested and detained at Forts Layfayette and Warren other than
prisoners of war and convicts, and, in reply to the questions
submitted in the note of Lord Lyons, to say that persons brought
before the commission will be tried for violation of the laws of
war, and that every facility of defence will be afforded them, with
the privilege of counsel, witnesses, &c.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
EDWARD R. S. CANBY, Brigadier General, A.
A. G.
The Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
