1862 July 21 Baltimore, Md.

Baltimore, July 21st 62
Captain P L DeClouet
Dear Sir
Your favor
of July 7th came safely to hand
If I can do anything for you, let
me know, and to the extent of
my ability, it shall be done.
I sincerely hope that there
will soon be a general
exchange of prisoners of War
on both sides, as from what
I see in the newspapers, nego-
tiations appear to be going on in
regard to it.
J. Hanson Thomas is with the
army in or about Richmond,
he was well about two weeks
ago when his friends here last
heard from him
Randolh McKim is aid

[page 2]
to Gen G H Steuart CSA
Jim is Lieutenant of artillery
he is at present in the
fortifications before Richmond,
and was well two weeks ago.
Tom Hackall is like your-
self a prisoner.  he was taken
at Island No 10, together
with his relative the Gen
on whose staff he was serving
he is now at Fort Warren
Boston harbor Massachusetts
Harman Dinwiddie a brother
of your old school teacher died
last summer in Western Va
A schoolmate of yours named
Field was also killed in
the valley last spring: he was
with Jackson's army: the story as
we have it here (from one of
Dinwiddie's scholars who has
hurried home to his place)

[page 3]
says that after he surrendered
a soldier rushed up and blew
his brains out with a pistol.
I hope that it may not have been so
Jno Haskell was severely wound
ed in the fight before
Richmond; he had his arm
amputated and was in a
dangerous condition.
I hope that nothing I have
written you about old comrades
& school mates will come
under the head of Contraband
of War, so that you will be
prevented from getting this
                    Respectfully
                    yours &c
               W R Howard
My sister has received
your letter acknowledging receipt
of bundle
               WRH

[page 4]
I sent you the Maryland
News Sheet.  do you get
it?

Paul L. DeClouet was a son of Louisiana Congressman Alexandre Etienne deClouet and served in the 1st Field Battery Louisiana Artillery at New Orleans until the city fell

MSS 9564-a