Office of the Historian

[88] *Mr. Barlow, United States marshal, to Mr. Hoar, Attorney-General.

United States Marshal’s Office, Southern District of New York,
New York, July 2, 1869.

Sir: The confusion yesterday and this morning, as to who should take charge of and feed the prisoners, arose from the fact that the orders of the Navy Department of July 1, saying that the captured men were to be taken charge of and fed by me, were not communicated to me. No duplicate was sent to me by the Navy Department, nor copy by the admiral; consequently, the last order I knew of was that given on June 29, through the district attorney, that the men and vessels be put into the control and charge of the admiral. Therefore I supposed that he, and not I, was to keep and feed them. To-day I learned of orders from the Navy Department of July 1, and got your dispatch of this morning, to keep the prisoners until further orders. I have arranged to feed them. The telegram of the President as to their disposition has been received, and shall be obeyed.

Respectfully,

FRANCIS C. BARLOW,
United States Marshal,

Attorney-General, Washington.