I wish you would have this matter inquired into as soon as possible and have every thing necessary for the health and comfort of those confined in hospital supplied. Let me know the facts about these supplies being furnished as soon as you can.
Very Respectfully
U. S. GRANT
Maj. Gen. Com
ALS, PHi. See letters to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, July 16, and to C. S. A. Maj. Gen. Martin L. Smith, July 24, 1863.
1.
On July 12, 1863, Maj. Gen. Martin L. Smith wrote to USG. "I am
under the impression that parolled or non-parolled prisoners leaving Gen'l. Pem-
berton's command without authority, will endeavour to cross the Mississippi at
or near the following points above and below this city, to wit: Lake Providence,
Greenville, Milliken's Bend, Young's Point, Warrenton, Grand Gulf, Port Gib-
son, Natchez. If orders covering this extent o[f] river, have not been given to ar-
rest all said prisoners, permit me to request that as far as practicable they be given,
and that all boats armed and unarmed as well as all officers and men be directed
to capture whenever and whereever met and return them to this point." LS,
DNA, RG 393, Dept. of the Tenn., Letters Received. On July 14, Smith wrote
to USG. "I have the honor to enclose a statement from Surgeon Boyd C. S. A
regarding his detention in place of two Surgeons U. S. A thought to be detained
in Jackson. I have no knowledge of these cases, but take the liberty of requesting
that surgeon Boyd, if to be kept as a hostage, be allowed to report himself at
some hospital here, where his services may be of benefit to the sick and wounded,
until further investigations may be had. Surgeon Boyd informs me that although
permitted to pass around the City during the day, it is on condition of reporting
at Short intervals to the jail Guard, by whom he is confined at night subject to
great discomfort and exposed to the weather. I do not think injustice would be
done any one were he unconditionally released, but should it be deemed your
duty to further detain him, I trust the request made in his favor may be complied
with" ALS, ibid., RG 94, War Records Office, Dept. of the Tenn.
To Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck
Vicksburg Miss
July 15th 1863 10 A M
MAJ GEN H W HALLECK
GEN-IN-CHIEF
Genl Sherman has Jackson invested from Pearl River on the north to the River on the south. This has cut off many Hundred
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