Summary:
John D. Imboden, engaged in raising a regiment of partisan rangers in May, 1862, writes from Staunton to President Jefferson Davis to plead for the exchange of his brother, a paroled prisoner.

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His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS,
President Confederate States of America.

STAUNTON, VA.,

May 8, 1862.

SIR:

My brother, F. M. Imboden, was captured at Roanoke Island and paroled as a volunteer aide of Gen. Wise and is now out of the service. As I am organizing my regiment of partisan rangers under authority of the War Department I am exceedingly anxious that he shall command one of my companies. His long service in the mountains last summer qualifies him for most important service to me and the country. As to his soldierly qualifications and character Gen. Wise can speak. Is it not possible to effect his exchange? Cannot some Yankee be sent away in exchange for him? There is now a prisoner in your hands, a New Yorker, named Bryson, captured by my brother in person in the mountains of Virginia in October last, unless he has been sent North, who might appropriately it seems to me be exchanged for my brother. I beg that if it be possible such an arrangement be made so that my brother can again enter the field at the head of a company.

With the highest respect, your obedient servant,

J. D. IMBODEN.

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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 869-870, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.