The Federal Generals Under Fire At Charleston

The fblloYving w tho corrospor.dcnce between Gens. Jones and Fostöf, reien-cd to in a recent dispa.toh of Secretary Stanton : Charleston. June 13lh, 1864. General - Kive Generáis and 45 field oflicors of the United States army_a] of them prisppers of war - havo been sent to this city for safe keeping. They have been tiïrned over to Brig. Gen. Ilipley, eornrnanding the first military district of this depurtment, who will see tliat they are provided with cnimodious quarten? in a part of the citv occapied by non combatants, tho majonty of wliorn ure wömen and children. It is proper, however, that I should inform you that it is a pare of tho city vvhioh has for motiths been exposed, day and night, to the firo óf your g'u'ns. Vory respeetiully your bedient servant, . ' KAM JONK8. Maior-Oeneral Oommandjng. To Maj, Sen. J. G. Foster, euinmaiuling U. 8. foreüs. SN. FOSTHJl's ItF.i'LY. Hilton Head, S. O; June 1G, '64. Maj. Oen. Sam. Jonea, ooinmanding (Joni'etlerate tureca, Department of South Carolina, Öeórgla, and Florida: Gk-nkhal - I havo to ackuowlodije he receipt thia day of your communi.ation of tho 1 3 L h iritt., infonninür we hal íive Generáis and 45 tield offioers f tho TJoited Stntes army, prispners )1 war, h:ivo been turried over by you 0 Iirig. Gen. Eipfey, with instrtiCtions o see that they are piovidcd wilh quarers in a par of iho city oecnpied by non combátante, tho raajority of which atter you state are wotnen and chiliren. You add that you deem it jroper to nform rne that it is a part of ,ho city whioh has been for many nonlhs ëxpbeea to the ficé of our gün. Manv inonlhs sinee Maj. Gen. Öitlrnorëj Tnited Statod Array, notilied Gen. ieauregard, then cornmanding at Charleston, tlmt tho city would be lombarded. This notice was giveri ,hat non-combutants might be removed incl thus women and children ppared rom harm. Gen. Beanregard, in a communicatian to Gen. Gillmoro dated, August 22, 1863, inibrmed him that tho non-eombatant populati'on of Charles ,on would bo removed with all possiblo oelerity. That women and cln'Idren ïave been sinco retaioed by you in a 3art of the city which has been for D&ny months expesed to firo, is a raat-'1 ,er docidod by your owq sense of humanity. I raust, however, protest against your action in thus placing defenscless prisoners of war in a position esposed to constant bombardmeut. It is un indeensible act of cruelty, and can be de signed on'y to previent a continuanoe of our fiie upön Charleston. That city s a depot for military Si'ppl'k'S. It contains not merely arsenale, but also foundries and faetories fop the manufacture oí miiiiitions of war. In its ship yarls severa! anned iron-clads have boen already coinpleted, whilo ntl'.ers aro still upon Stocks, in couree of contitruction. lts wharves and the banks of the rivers on both pides of the city, are lined with baüertes. To destroy these means of continuiug the war is, thorefore, öur object and duty. You seek to doi'oat this effort, and by means not known to honorable w arfare, by placing unarmed and helpless prioners under lire. I have forwarded your communication to the President, with a request that ho place in my custody an equal number of prisoners of like grade, to be kept by me in po?itions exposed to the fire of your guns so long as you continue the coursó stated in your communication. I have the honor to be, very respectfully your obedient servant.