GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF OHIO,
Adjutant-General's Office, Columbus, August 1, 1864

Hon. JOHN BROUGH, Governor, &c., Columbus, Ohio:

SIR: In obedience to instructions from you, based on a letter from Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, dated July 1, 1864, relative to inspection of rebel prisoners, &c., in Ohio, I have the honor to submit the following report of the condition and treatment of the prisoners now confined at Camp Chase:

This camp is situated on the National road, five miles west of this city, and consists of wooden barracks for the prisoners as well as for the garrison. The prisons are surrounded by tight board fences twelve feet in height, surmounted by a parapet for the sentinels, from which a full view of the entire inclosure is obtained and any unnecessary movement on the part of the prisoners observed. The prison inclosures are lighted with coal-oil lamps at night to guard against any unnecessary collection of prisoners or any concerted efforts to overpower the guard.

The prison buildings are similar in construction and material to the temporary military prisons in the Northern States, and, in my opinion, are as safe as wooden buildings can be made. The garrison consists of the Eighty-eighth Ohio Regiment, which has been stationed there since their organization. The available strength of the regiment is now 895, aggregate, officers and men. From this regiment all the guards are detailed, and, with the exception of the post commandant, Col. W. P. Richardson, Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, the quartermaster, Captain Kerr, assistant quartermaster of volunteers, and Captain Harrington, commissary of subsistence, all the details for office work, &c., are from the Eighty-eighth Regiment.

These details consist of officers in charge of prisoners' money, to receive contributions from friends of prisoners, to inspect the mail to and from prisoners, provost.marshal at the post, adjutant, &c., together with all the clerks in these several offices. So heavy are the necessary details for these duties and for the regular guard duties immediately over the prisoners, together with the necessary details for fatigue duty, that no guard is established around the camp to prevent the egress of soldiers. For this reason many of the men of the regiment stroll beyond the limits of the camp, to the detriment of neighboring farmers, who suffer grieviously thereby in their henroosts and milk-houses.

To guard against this straggling of the garrison one of two things is absolutely necessary to be done. The garrison must be so much increased that a chain of sentinels can be established around the camp, or a fence must be built inclosing the entire camp--a fence similar to the prison inclosure, that cannot be scaled. Looking at these two plans with a view to economy, I would unhesitatingly recommend the latter. The fence will be about 6,000 feet in length and will cost something less than $2,000. This comprises the entire expense, while to increase the garrison sufficiently to guard securely the entire camp would require one entire regiment in addition to the one now there. I have no hesitation whatever in saying that every consideration of economy and safety requires the construction of a close, high fence around the entire camp.

Another consideration in favor of this change is that with it the number of the prisoners may be doubled without any increase of garrison, while the camp can, at the same time, be made the rendezvous of new organizations to the number of 5,000 men, or for paroled prisoners of equal number, without increase of guards. The precautions taken to observe all actions of prisoners looking toward efforts to escape, &c., are ample, in my opinion, to prevent any such efforts from being successful. The discipline and morale of the regiment is good, and their vigilance is evidenced by the fact that while efforts to escape are often made they are very seldom successful.

Treatment of prisoners.--On arrival prisoners are deprived of their money and other articles, which are kept for them in the prison office. The money is merely kept on deposit, however, as they are permitted to draw it when they please, the officer in charge of this branch of the business assuming the position of banker to the prisoner, safely keeping the money subject to the order of the depositor. With the money so drawn the prisoner repairs to the sutler's store in person and makes purchases of such articles of comfort or luxury as he may desire. To facilitate the purchase of articles by prisoners the sutler has an opening on one side of his store directly into the prison inclosure. In addition to this convenience to prisoners their friends are permitted to contribute to their comfort in the shape of liberal and frequent supplies of clothing, money, and food, which contributions are given them without hesitation and without stint. These comforts, together with the rebel ration, certainly constitute a bill of fare much more creditable to our generosity than to our proper consideration of the treatment due an enemy which has constantly violated the commonest dictates of humanity in the treatment of prisoners of war, and is an unpleasant contrast to the treatment received by our soldiers now languishing in Southern prisons. I would most respectfully but earnestly urge that these prisoners be confined strictly to the rebel ration in all cases, cutting off entirely the access to the sutler's booth and the reception of contributions from friends. If, after due notice given that supplies of this nature will not be received, they are still sent, I would suggest that they be turned over for the use of loyal men, sick or wounded in hospital. The sleek, fat, comfortable looking rebels were never better fed nor more comfortably situated, and the mere fact of their being thus comfortably circumstanced may account for their resting so quietly under their confinement.

Intercourse with prisoners.--In this regard the custom is certainly very commendable. No intercourse is allowed with the prisoners unless in case of dangerous illness. On all other occasions no persons whatever are allowed to visit prisoners. The mail matter for prisoners is carefully inspected by an officer detailed for that duty, and if anything objectionable appears therein the letter is destroyed. All money is taken from the letters and deposited to the credit of the prisoner to whom it was sent.

General remarks.--The general business of the camp moves with commendable regularity and promptness, all the officers seeming intelligent and prompt. The commandant devotes himself personally, as far as practicable, to an inspection of the details of the different departments. The hospital department is neat and clean, and the very small number of sick (forty-five) is sufficient evidence of the healthfulness of the location and the general good treatment of the prisoners. The treatment of the prisoners in the matter of food, &c., to which I have taken exception in the foregoing report, is strictly in accordance with instructions from Colonel Hoffman, Commissary-General of Prisoners, and there is no authority in the camp or elsewhere in this vicinity to correct the abuse. For this reason I would respectfully suggest that the personal attention of the Secretary of War be at once called to this matter.
I have the honor to remain, Governor, very respectfully,

B. R. COWEN,
Adjutant-General of Ohio