June 10, 1863. -- Capture of the steamer Maple Leaf off Cape Henry, Va.
.......

FORT MONROE, VA., June 11, 1863--4 p.m.

SIR: I have just returned from Williamsburg, where I went at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. At 1.30 the Maple Leaf left for Fort Delaware, with 97 rebel officers. They rose on the guard, overpowered it, took possession of the steamer, and landed below Cape Henry. Thirty of the officers refused to participate in the transaction, remained on board, and are here. Our cavalry is in pursuit of the others.

The officer in charge of the guard was grossly negligent, and should be dismissed the service.

Lieutenant-Colonel [B.C.] Ludlow will make a detailed report, which I will forward to-morrow.

JOHN A. DIX,
Major-General.

Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief.
OR I, V27 Pt. 2, p. 786

.................................................................................................................

OFFICE COMMISSARY-GENERAL OF PRISONERS,
Washington, D.C., July 2, 1864.

Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS,
Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf, Headquarters New Orleans, La.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d ultimo, addressed to the Adjutant-General, transmitting rolls of prisoners of war captured by the forces under your command at the times and places specified and sent North in June, 1863, and transmitting also a letter from Maj. Gen. R. Taylor, of the C. S. Army, together with other papers in reference to the reported close confinement in irons and murder of officers of colored troops and the maltreatment of colored troops. On examining our records I find that all the enlisted men named on your list except two were delivered at City Point on the 6th of July, 1863, to Capt. W. H. Hatch, assistant adjutant-general, Provisional Army, C. S., whose receipt is on file in this office. The officers named on the list forwarded were on board the steam-boat Maple Leaf en route to Fort Delaware with a number of other officers, prisoners of war, who on the 10th of June rose upon the guard, took possession of the boat, and compelled the officers of the boat to land them on the Virginia shore. All of the officers named made their escape except one, Capt. E. W. Fuller, gun-boat Queen of the West, who afterward died at Johnson's Island on the 25th of July, 1863. General Taylor's letter, with the accompanying papers, have been submitted for the information of the Secretary of War. I return herewith the two lists with my certificate of the facts above stated.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. HOFFMAN,
Colonel Third Infantry and Commissary-General of Prisoners