The new Secretary of War, with his first official act, ordered the appointment of two commissioners who were to visit Richmond and other places where Union prisoners were held "to take what measures as may be needful, to provide for the wantsand contribute to the comfort of such prisoners at the expense of the United States..." Methodist bishop Edward Ames and former senator Hamilton Fish were appointed the following week. This order was not not well received in the Confederacy and was termed "impudent" in the Southern press. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Frank Moore, ed., The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc. (New York: G.P.Putnam, 1862), IV: 15.
Record Data
Date Certainty
Exact
Type
Lawmaking/Litigating
