“I must confess that the explanation does not convince

large number of prisoners, mostly sick and convalescent, also fell

into our hands; but as we could not carry them with ussuch a hurried

departure was an immediate necessity, by reason of our critical

situation--the process of paroling them was not completed, and they

doubtless passed back to active service in the Confederacy, properly

enough unrecognized as prisoners of war by their superiors.

In returning, the column marched back by another indirect route to

its old camp near Farmington, where we learned that the whole army