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Reprimand for its Destruction — Exchange of Prisoners. --The Washington
Republican, of the 19th inst., says:
‘
A lieutenant of the N. Y. Eighteenth, in command of pickets near
Annandale, was severely reprimanded by
Gen. Franklin a few days ago, for negligence in extinguishing the flames in a costly dwelling in that vicinity, fired by the Garibaldians.
The dwelling had been deserted, but the furniture had been left in it. Large shade trees fronting it were girdled, and the entire property destroyed,
Gen. Franklin caused an order, reprimanding in severe terms, to be read at the head of every regiment in his division.
Capt. Bennett, with a party of fifty of the Lincoln Cavalry, four miles within the enemy's pickets, reports that many of the dwellings, built in fine taste and surrounded by beautiful gardens and shrubbery, are deserted by their owners, who have not even taken care of their contents.
He saw
silver ware and other valuables lying on the tables and in the closets, the buildings in all their apartments bearing evidence of having been abandoned in haste.
Many of the negroes he had met begged most piteously of him to take them in safety to his camp.
For some days past it has been rumored about that a number of rebel prisoners confined in the military prisons in this city had been taken to
Fortress Monroe for the purpose of being exchanged for Union prisoners now in the hands of the rebels at
Richmond.
At first we gave the matter but very little attention, not having heard that any arrangements for an exchange of prisoners had been made.
We have now positive information that a number of rebel prisoners have been removed, within a week past, either to
Fortress Monroe by water, or to
Richmond by the inland route, for the purpose of being exchanged.
’
