having it in charge to relax their efforts to carry it out. My impression is that Col. SANDERSON was not cognizant of the plan concocted by Col. Streight for breaking out and capturing the city-at any rate, he was not fully familiar with details of said plan until after he was accused of betraying the plot.

About the time of Col. SANDERSON'S illness, Brig. Gen. Neal Dow returned from Mobile, and it was suggested by some one of our mess that he be invited to join it; this did not meet with favor, Col. S. being particularly opposed to it. Shortly after his return, a large invoice of clothing and supplies were forwarded by Flag-of-Truce to his address. After some delay he was permitted to visit Belle Isle, accompanied by Capt. Conice, 94th N. Y. Vols., and one or two other officers, (whose names I do not remember,) to distribute it, but in two or three days was relieved, and Col. di'Cesnola, Lieut. Col. Boyd, and Lieut. Col. Van Schrader assigned in his place; with this committee Col. SANDERSON had no connection whatever.

After five or six weeks, however, Col. di'Cesnola, having interfered with some internal regulations of the island, having reference to the volunteering of our men as shoemakers for the Confederate army, was relieved, and Col. SANDERSON was substituted and continued to perform the duties appertaining thereto until early in February, when all egress, in consequence of the escape of some officers, was discontinued.

When Col. SANDERSON first joined the Committee, he took as a companion, (having offered the position to me, which I declined,) Lieut. Col. Cavada; then Major Russel, Jr., and then Capt. Atwood, each of whom accompanied him five or six times. He then took Capt. Wentworth once, and thereafter he selected a different officer each day, giving the preference to those having relations or friends on the island, without regard to his personal likes or dislikes. He also carried backward and forward large number of letters and sums of money. I never accompanied him while serving on this Committee. In the latter part of December, Col. SANDERSON had a difficulty with Lieut. Morley, who was connected with Cǝl. di'Cesnola's mess, owing to some alleged encroachment on Morley's part on the store belonging to the united messes. Out of this a coldness sprung up between Co!. Cesnola and SANDERSON, who never spoke to each other during the balance of my stay in prison.

I have frequently borrowed money of him, which I have since repaid-he refusing all interest or gain. I have known him to lend it to others, and often seeking out the needy and distressed; and, in or two instances, absolutely forcing it upon men with whom he had had difficulties in a greater or less degree. He was easily moved to anger; but, upon the least appearance of a desire to apologise, quickly forgave—one or two instances of this character came under my personal observation.

He was not a profane or brutal man, and was not in the habit of using oaths, curses, and bitter invectives. His general conduct to his brother officers was gentlemanly and obliging; and I never knew him to exact courtesies which he was not willing to return.

His position as director of the kitchen necessarily embroiled him in many difficulties not of his own seeking, and he never received any compensating benefit for the trouble and annoyance he endured fulfilling this position.

Col. SANDERSON had not, at any time, charge of the Sanitary stores more than

any other member of the Committee, and did not have any thing to do with the issuing of them. They came more directly under the charge of Col. Van Schrader. The officers generally obtained a share of them-I. myself, being a recipient. I was informed by several officers that Col. SANDERSON offered a reward to any officer who would convey the news of Longstreet reinforcing Bragg to our Government. I do not remember the sum named. I am cognizant that he lent money to officers to enable them to escape through the tunnel (one of my own party) and I received material from him for this purpose.

He was not generally shunned or distrusted by a majority of the officers. He never expressed any desire to me to know or have any association with Gen: Neal Dow. I have no recollection of his being accused, in my presence, of betraying the plot to escape; yet I am knowing to his being personally insulted on this account. No confidence was placed in the story by any gentleman acquainted with Col. SANDERSON'S character; and I never heard any substantial evidence at all pointing to. Col. SANDERSON.

FROM LT. COL. B. B. McDANALD.

[101st Ohio Vols.]

I know JAMES M. SANDERSON, Lt. Col. and Chief Commissary of First A. C. He was a prisoner in Libby when I was put in. I escaped, leaving him there. I did not, however, become personally acquainted with Col. SANDERSON until near the time of my escape from prison. A very few days before I left Libby, and at a time when all of the preliminary arrangements were about completed (with the exception of a sufficient amount of "greenbacks"—not "graybacks," for we had plenty of them): our party of four, viz., Col. Streight, 51st Ind. Vols. ; Capt. Seaver, same Regiment; Lt. Stirling, 20th Ind.; and myself, set to work to raise the required amount. Having heard it spoken by officers in the Prison that Col. SANDERSON had money, and that he had offered to furnish officers with money to enable them to effect their escape, I went to him and asked him to loan me some; he remarked that he hadn't much about him then, but, if it was a matter of importance to me to have it, he would spare me twenty dollars of what he had with the understanding that, if I remained in prison, I should return it to him in a short time. I promised him that I would do so. He, then, gave me the money.

At this same interview, he also said to me, that if my intentions were to attempt an escape, that he would tell me something that might be a benefit to me. He thereupon took me to a certain window, and pointed out to me a house in which, he said, lived an Union lady that would give me assistance if I could get to her. I did not at that time reveal the fact to him, but at this same time my party had been corresponding with the same lady, and had succeeded through her assistance in securing a plan to stop for some days in the city; should we succeed in making our escape. We made our escape, was secreted for one week in the house in Richmond that this Union lady had secured for us, and we arrived at Washington on the 28th February, 1864,

I am not positive that Col. Streight knew that I borrowed money from Col. SANDERSON, but I do know that all our money was used in common for the bene

fit of all.

FROM LT. COL. JEREMIAH WILLIAMS.

[25th Regt. Ohio Vol. Inf'y.]

During my imprisonment I knew Lt. Col. SANDERSON. In his manners he was gentlemanly, much above an average of the officers. His associates in the prison were among the most accomplished gentlemen there. He was not in the habit of using vulgar and abusive language towards his fellow prisoners, as, I regret to say, some others were.

Hie style of living was more comfortable and genteel than that of most of the others, and this contributed something towards producing ill-feeling against him on the part of the envious.

There was for a time a coolness between Lt. Col. SANDERSON and myself, growing out of a controversy in regard to a matter about which we differed in opinion. Afterwards I had much need of a favor, and having confidence in his magnamity, I requested it of him, and he at once kindly and gracefully granted it. We afterwards became friends, and he several times materially assisted me. I know of other instances of his granting favors to officers, who like myself, had been prejudiced against him by the influence of a little faction, which, for some reason, unknown to me, had arrayed itself against him.

For a considerable time he was culinary director, by appointment of the Chief Officer (selected by ourselves) of our rooms. He performed the duties of this position better, as I believe, than any other officer in the prison could have done it, systematizing and superintending the preparation of food, and instructing the uninformed how best to cook it. His efforts to give equal opportunities to the different messes brought down upon him abuse and rough language from a few, who determined to break through our regulations whenever it suited them. Chief among these was a very low-bred captain named Atwood. I think Atwood was not respected by any officer in the prison.

The privations of such prison life naturally draw out the less amiable traits of men's characters, and often caused them to forget, or disregard the usual amenities between gentlemen. This rendered Col. SANDERSON's duties exceedingly difficult and unpleasant, and it was to be expected that he would make enemies, notwithstanding his diligence and unrewarded efforts to contribute to the comfort of his fellow prisoners. Thoughtless or malicious persons availed. themselves of the absence of any means of enforcing discipline, and used very provoking language toward him. In my judgment, he exercised towards them a very great degree of forbearance.

Col. SANDERSON was exceedingly generous with his money and provisions.. He more than once offered, and in several instances gave, money to officers to enable them to escape, and at one time offered a large reward to any one who

would escape to our lines, and notify our authorities of the re-inforcement of Bragg's army by Longstreet.

When he left the prison, he divided his provisions and clothing among his fellow prisoners, reserving only what was actually necessary to take him to our lines, in this respect exhibiting a gratifying contrast with the conduct of Gen. Neal Dow, who accumulated a large amount of clothing, blankets, etc., and sel0shly took them away with him, whilst officers in the prison were suffering for them, and doubtless are to this day. I may as well add here that Gen. Dow was so selfish, domineering, and "oldwomanish," as to be atmost universally disliked.

To sum up, Col. SANDERSON made himself more useful, and contributed more to the comfort of the prisoners both at Libby and Belle Isle than any other half-dozen officers there. He conducted himself like a gentleman, which he undoubtedly is. He was no more intimate with the Rebel authorities than was necessary for the proper transaction of the business of the prisoners. He loaned money to a number of his fellow-prisoners, charging them nothing for the use of it

FROM LT. COL. F. F. CAVADA.

[Lune Lt. Col. 114th Penn. Vols. & A. A. G., 3d Div., Second Corps.]

I know Lt. Col. JAMES M. SANDERSON. My first personal acquaintance with him was in the month of September. 1864. He spoke to me on the subject of organizing in the form of a regiment, for the purpose of effecting an escape, in case we were removed from Richmond to Salisbury, N. C., or some point south of Richmond. Col. SANDERSON was, I think, the first person in the Prison whom I heard speak of such an organization. Col. SANDERSON was selected by the officers as director of the kitchen, to teach them how to cook their rations. He devoted a certain number of hours to this duty, on each day. As far as my knowledge extends, he performed this duty with zeal and fidelity. The posi tion was a disagreeable one, and gave rise to constant quarrels and contentions which were calculated to render Col. SANDERSON unpopular with many of his fellow-prisoners.

FROM COL. B. F. FISHER.

[Chief of the Signal Corps, U. S. A.]

I have known Lt. Col. JAMES M. SANDERSON since about the 1st of August, 1863. Our relations at no time could be termed very intimate, but were of that friendly character existing between officers thus thrown together, without any resources for pastime save their own minds.

From September 18 to October 19, Col. SANDERSON, offended at the action I took at a meeting held by the officers upon the 18th of September, originated a coolness which existed until the latter date; when he frankly acknowledged that he was in error as to my actions, which opened the way again to our former relations; but never since has that frank feeling and manner existed which had place prior.

I was an inmate of the hospital at the time Col. SANDERSON was there. I believe he was mostly confined to his bed, but conversed freely at times with various officers in the hospital at the same time.

He came to the hospital on the 18th of October, and remained four or five days-the exact number I know not, but he returned to his quarters at the Prison before the 25th; I think he left upon the 23d.

I never saw him at any time in consultation with any Rebel officer, beside the Surgeon in charge.

I have no recollection of seeing any Rebel officers during the time of his stay excepting the Surgeon, Steward, and officer of the guard.

The officer of the guard was the only Confederate official attached to the hospital, in addition to the Surgeon and the Inspector, Mr. Hallett.

The hospital attendants were Federal soldiers or citizens of the North captured, among them was a man named Vermillion. He was, apparently, a kindhearted man, courteous and gentlemanly; but, I am sorry to say, we were forced to suspect his loyalty and honor. He had more privileges than other prisoners.

I was in the hospital when Major Houstain escaped in the Surgeon's clothes, and, so far as I know, those cognizant of the circumstances believed that Vermillion gave information to one of the hospital officials that Major Houstain had escaped.

It would have been possible for COL. SANDERSON to have disclosed anything to the Rebel authorities unknown to the other officers, either at the time he entered the hospital or at the time he left it; but I do not think he could have done so during his stay in the room, and I have no recollection of him leaving the room from the time he entered the hospital until he left it.

I never, for a moment, believed him capable of such treachery.

I knew of a difficulty that occurred between Col. Streight and Col. SANDERSON upon the evening of the 8th of August, when public sentiment in the Prison was perhaps universal against Col. Streight, on account of the language he used towards Lt. Col. SANDERSON in an argument between them.

I cannot say that Col. Streight was considered a most persistent and bitter enemy of Col. SANDERSON after that difficulty. I do not think either had a high appreciation of the other, but that the feeling of dislike was mutual.

I do not think he opposed an invitation being extended to Col. S. to take charge of and systematize the cooking department of the West rooms on account of any personal feeling between him and Col. S.; but because he thought, as many others of us did, that the improvement proposed would be a greater disadvantage than advantage.

He did not take active measures in getting up a meeting against Col. SANDERSON and Col. Tilden. We advised with him, but the meeting was called inde