, 1861-10-29
Correspondence Between Een. Nc
Clernand, Een< Folk, etc,

When you have fulfilled your mission, you |
Win ask Of the commander ct the camp, safe
conduct therefrom, and Immediately retnrn to
this post
In yonr conversation With the commandant |
or with his representative, you will avoid Ill |
discussion upon the rights Of bel1igerents, |
and place my action herein, simply on the /!
ground Of humanity and = desire to relieve
OF peculiar and sggrayatlng difficulties.
Beyond this Limit do not deem 1t advisable |
Tsigned] JONI 4 McC1zRsAsp,
Brig. General Commanding.
GEN. MeCLEKNARD TO GEN. POLK.
Brigade HEAD QUAETrRs,
CAap CAIRO, Oct. 23d, 1861. +
10 the Commanding Officer at Columbus, KY.
SIR The chances Of the present unhappy
war, having left In my hands number Of
prisoners Who have been detained ut this Post
for seme time past, I have for special rsa-
humanity, determined, unconditionally, to re.
lease them.
The prisoners a1luded to are: a. 4. Wood
ward, Lewis Young, and Edward A. Penny-an
taken by party of United States troops in
the affair at Charleston, No, on the Goth Of
Auguat last.
Col. n. B. Buford, Of the 27th Regiment Of
illinois Volunteers, IL charged by me with the
delivery Of eaid prisoners, to such person as
you may authorize to receive them aud for
thst purpose, visits Four camp under the pro-
lection 10 Of q; white III & fsE You will please e.
he Is clothed, and after the completion of hiI
mission, give him safe conduct from your
camp.
I have the honor to be yours, &C.,
JoHN 4. McCLEBNAND,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
COL. BCFORD TO GEN. McCLERNAND,
cA4P MccLHRMAhp,
Cairo. Oct. 2a, 1851.
sR:-1 had the honor this day to convey
your despatch with flag OF truce on board
the, steam ting Sampson, to Major General
was received By the General with true Mill
tary courtesy, and delivered to him, with your
despatch, three prisoners who had been cap
tufed BY our forces ut Charleston, Mo. He
desired to discuss with me the question Of an
exchange Of prisoners, but upon smy exhibit
| ing to him my orders iron you, and inform
ing him that should confne myself strictly
to tEen, that Sentiments OF humanity alone
had prompted Jour action, be ceased to press
the discussion, but went on to inform nc
that he held sixteen Of your troops - prisoners
| ate them uG conditionally.
| The GeI era1 received my suite, Capt. Dres-
! eer, of the Artillery; Lieut.. Sheldon, Of the
| 9Th regiment Illinois volunteers; Surgeons
! 6mmcrs and Brenton, Of the!U. s. Army, and
! u. A4apllAu, At CEcIEl&I5. R4LQ G0EO12HLY,
| and We were Introduced to General Pillow,
Captains Black and Polk Of his staff, and
maDy other officers. He remained on the
! steamer Cha1m, With our tug along side, for
1our hours while the prisoners we're being got
ready to be delivered to me, during which
time the most friendly conversations mas en-
| joyed.
Ny party were Hospitality entertained. I
| Teutu1ed to propose the sentiment 1t Wash.
ineton and his principles II which were re.
peated with hearty appreciation.
Generals Polk and Pillow expressed high
appreciation Of your character, and commend
cd you for sending tho tug on an an er7an6
Of humanity. They deplore this immature:
War, but maintained that they should be sepa
rated irreVocab1y from the North They pro
3essed to believe many things which I though
erroneous, which ccmbatted with Arguments
and state ments Of facts. The conference
ended without An unfrien11y word or Occur
renee
/ left Cairo at u 20 r. H., reached Co1umbu
at . T. H., parted company With General Pol5
on the steamboat Charm at F. n and arriv
1T Gefe r s:on a.PRH P4RS L h. hss1ag s ess
| liberation Of n11eteen capEves.
Yopr ob't servant, N. B. BUFoRp,
Col eth ReE't Ill Vol
?. 81 herewith append list Of the pris
cners liberated By GenI Polk.
GEN. POLK TO GEN. AcCLERNAND.
HE4nQuAkzEas F1RsT D1v1s1oT}
| WKsTEKS DEPAETMENT,
Brig Gen John 4. nc Cleraatsd, Commanding
Cairo:
S1R:-1 bave received sour note Of this dsts
borne By Col. N. B. Buford, Of the 9th III
nois Regiment, responding to the overtur
On the subject Of an exchange Of prisoner.
and although your mode OF accomplishing
walyes the recognition Of our claims As be
lIgerenta, I am not disposed to insist on 8
, unimportant technicality, when the interest
Of hnmauity are at stake.
accept the te1ease of the three prisoner
: rendered me, being, ~ your note implies, =
, OF those Of the Confederate army in your po
session. In return, I have pleasure IN offeriu
,, Yon the sixteen Of those OF the Fedesal arm
! Hoping that in the prosecution Of the u:
happy conflict in which We are engaged, y
shall never lose sight of the claims Of gene
: oei.y On those who direct the operations
! ! the armies OF cur respective Government
have the honor to be
Respectfully yours,
:; | ,LKoSIpAS POLK,
= Msj Gen. Commanding.
! AD'T.~GEN. BRAYMAN TO AD'T..GEN. I,
. c4aP oa1so: 6et: stth, isst.
Q Capt. Caauney 4teEesper, Assistaas Adj9taas G.
d eydt, st. Louis, No.:
t SIR: I aua instructed By Brig. Gen. McClt
i capd commanding at this post to enclose
t 1. Copy of bis Communication to the oftlc
r commanding the hostile forces, at ColuR1bl
l. Ey., accompanied BY return Of the perso
il therein named
, .. Copy Of reply Of Major General Polk,
It ccmpsn1ed By sixteen persona.
{. 8. List Of the persons thus received.
le 4 Copy Of instructions given Col n. B.
I ford, 21h Reg't Ills 7oIunteers.
IT Addit & thaI tho proceedings passed OF Vi
& ont accident, and, as appcaIs, with good
i. ftct> Yours, &C., u. BRyrNAN.
u Asst AIT General