truce boat from City Point brings us too many living
and dying witnesses to admit of a doubt of this terrible
fact. I am informed that the authorities at Richmond admit
the fact, but excuse it on the plea that they give the
prisoners the same rations they give their own men. But can
this be so? Can an army keep the field, and be active and
efficient, on the same fare that kills prisoners of war at a
frightful percentage? I think not; no man can believe it;
and while a practice so shocking to humanity is persisted in
by the rebel authorities, I would very respectfully urge
that retaliatory measures be at once instituted by
subjecting the officers we now hold as prisoners of war to a
similar treatment.

"I took advantage of the opportunity which this visit to
Annapolis gave me to make a hasty inspection of Camp Parole,
and I am happy to report that I found it in every branch in
a most commendable condition. The men all seemed to be
cheerful and in fine health, and the police inside and out
was excellent. Colonel Root, the commanding officer,
deserves much credit for the very satisfactory condition to
which he has brought his command.

"I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,

"W. HOFFMAN,

"_Colonel 3rd Infantry, Commissary General of Prisoners._

"HON. E. M. STANTON, _Secretary of War, Washington, D. C._"

This report does not refer to the treatment of the soldiers of the
_Phalanx_ who were taken by the confederates in battle,[29] after the
surrender of Fort Pillow, Lawrence and Plymouth, and at several other
places. It is inserted to enable the reader to form an opinion as to
what the negro soldier's treatment must have been. The same committee
also published as a part of their report, the testimony of a
number,--mostly black, soldiers, who escaped death at Fort Pillow; a few
of their statements are given:

38TH CONGRESS,} {REP. COM.
1st Session. } {No. 63 & 68.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.

_Report of the Joint Committee on the Conduct and
Expenditures of the War to whom was Referred the Resolution
of Congress Instructing them to Investigate the late
Massacre at Fort Pillow._

"_Deposition of John Nelson in relation to the capture of