ial exchange of prisoners. They called upon us and made the
proposition that two naval officers should be paroled and sent to
Washington to see if an exchange of naval prisoners, regardless of rank
or numbers, could be effected. Lieutenant-Commanders Williams and
Prendergast were given the mission. Both were given paroles for thirty
days. If our Government consented to the proposition, they were to
remain North; if not, they were to return to Richmond within a specified
time. All the necessary documents were given to them, and they were
started for Richmond the next day and taken to our lines on a
flag-of-truce boat. Inside the thirty days we were notified that the
exchange would be made. Great was the joy among our party at the
prospect of soon returning home. It was soon known in Columbia that we
were to be exchanged. Then I became mixed up in a mysterious affair
which I have never been able to solve. Captain Sennes came to our room
with a woman.

"Mr. Thompson, this lady has an order from the commandant to see you."

He then went out. The lady introduced herself as Mrs. Hall, of
Washington, D. C. She had been South during the war; her husband was in
Washington, and she had not been able to hear from him, and "would I be
kind enough to deliver a letter to him?"

"Certainly." I was willing to help her in any way possible. We conversed
a short time on ordinary topics.

"Do you know Colonel Dent?"

"No, I have never heard of such a person."

"Why, he is General Grant's brother-in-law, and is confined in this
jail."

"Well, that is news to me. No one ever knew of his being here."

"It is a fact. He is confined on the top floor with the criminals, and I
see him very often. He gave me a number of letters which he wishes taken
to General Grant. Will you take them?"

"Yes, provided you answer a few questions. How did you know my name?"

"Through a lady who knew you while you were in the hospital."

"Why do you select me to carry letters for a man about whom I know
nothing?"

"Because you were recommended to me."

"Very well, I will take them, provided I am allowed to know their
contents. It seems strange to me that Colonel Dent should be confined in
this jail as a criminal and not one of us Yankee prisoners know anything
about it."

She assured me that he was Grant's brother-in-law, and had been arrested
for some transaction about a plantation near New Orleans. There were
several letters in the package, a pe