Unknown to William Hoffman

Letter to Col W Hoffman

State of Illinois

Executive Department.

Springfield March 6th 1863

WF

Col Wm Hoffman

Commissary General Prisoners

Colonel:

I have the honor to enclose three communications from paroled prisoners of War requesting their removal from Annapolis to a camp in this State

The frequency of appeals of this kind impels me to suggest the propriety of having a camp established in this State for the reception and keeping of all paroled prisoners belonging to Illinois regiments until they are exchanged.

It is but fair to presume from the tone of the numerous letters received here asking for transfers to camps in this State that it is the general wish of these men to be nearer to their homes than they now are. In their opinion, they will

receive better attention and treatment, when in their own State under the immediate supervision and control of their own officers, than they do at the places where they are now kept.

From Sec. 3 of General orders No 72 June 28th 1862 I infer that it was the intention of the War Department to have the prisoners sent to a camp as near their home as possible. Why this has not been carried out I cannot conceive. The fact is that more dissatisfaction exists among the paroled prisoners from the cause of their being kept at camps distant from their homes, than from any other.

After having endured the hardships of imprisonment whil in custody of the enemy, they look with joy for the day when they may be allowed again to come to their State, which they left, to fight for their common country, and are bitterly disappointed when kept in camps so far from home.

The complaints about this are so numerous that I would specially request you to give this matter your special attention. If the locations of the camps is under your supervision I wish you to locate one in this State, if the War Department makes the selection I wish you to do all in your power to have the change made, and the prisoners in different camps transferred to the one selected.

I am &c. &c.