Summary:
Paroled Confederate prisoner F. M. Imboden writes from Staunton in May, 1862, to
General Henry Wise. Imboden asks Wise to arrange a prisoner exchange so Imboden
can return to service.
Gen. H. A. WISE.
STAUNTON, VA.,
May 8, 1862.
DEAR GEN.:
Inclosed I send you a letter written by my brother to the President asking my exchange if it can be effected. If you will present it to him upon some early visit and use your influence with him to effect this exchange I will be very greatly obliged to you. An exchange just now would be most gratifying to me as it would enable me to go into the service at once in the mountains. I fear the prospect for an exchange of the prisoners of your legion in a body is very poor, but the President is, I understand, granting individual exchanges in some few cases. When the rolls were made up at Roanoke I was greatly at a loss the circumstances that found me there to know how to report myself, but was advised by Col. Anderson and others to be enrolled as a volunteer aide, which would I think entitle me to an exchange as a private. I hope this conclusion meets with your approbation.
The rangers I think have nearly all re-enlisted or been scattered about by the fall of New Orleans, where they were quartered, so that they cannot again be organized. In the court-martial of Capt. McLean I don't think my testimony could be of any importance and telegraphed Gen. Winder to that effect, and hope my absence will not interfere with the trial.
Hoping you will effect my release and add to the obligations imposed by many former kindness,
I remain, truly, your obedient servant,
F. M. IMBODEN.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 2, Volume 3, Serial No. 116, Pages 869, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
