Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-23

What Mr.. Arnsld Harris Thinks absut 10.
The Baltimore EzeAaags (seoesh) Of this morn
ing says:
We are permitted 70 copy the following letter
from Mr. A. Harris, who. Ii win be recollected,
entered the Confederate lines for the purpose OF
obtaining the body Of Col. Cameron; ,a.,
RICHMOND, July 20, 1861.
DxAR- You viii BEE all sorts 81 versions In
the papers about the arrest Of Magraw and myself,
as spies apprehended on the battle field &c; and
wish you 10 have the true version given, and at
the same time have the fac's herein mentioned
published Msgraw and myself were not taken
a. spies We left Washington on Monday eve
ming after the battle, and proceeded 20 Fairfax
Court Bouse, where on Tuesday morning, we
waited the arrival Of the advance Of the Confed-
crate army; sought out the commanding ofhcer,
told him our business, and requested him 20 for
ward written application to permit Us to cross
the line He forwarded IL 10 headq uarters, and
we waited four hours for the reply. IL was
refusal Of our request, and stated that must be
sent az prisoners to Richmond.
This action Of the Commanding General has
been In consequence Of the position Of the Gov
eminent at w ashington not 70 treat or RECOGNIZES
the Confederate States az belligerenb, by sending
hags OF truce, &c. The authorities here regard
the visit Of Magraw and myself az an attempt 10
obtain an individual favor, whilst the Government
will not openly and manfully ask for their other
prisoners on any terms. / have no complaints to
make, though have been prisoner several days
One thing IL certain, that IL had known that the
Government at Washington had determined to
carry on this war according to the old savage
principle Of no exchange Of prisoners, Gags Of
truce, &c | never would have ventured out, even
on a mission OF humanity. i wish YOU had been
with me on the trip to the battle field and over II
two days after the fight. ! wish all the North
who have sent forth their best men 20 invade the
South, could have witnessed the scene. In nv
| humble opinion no more fighting would be done
For miles before we reached the field dead
| bodies were strewed along the road; Eve In one
| spot, three In another, two stalwart Zouaves in
| full uniform, swollen to tie size Of Falstad and
| blackef than Othello. Close by, young and
nne-lookiGg officer Just bresthing his last, and
had been there two days without help The
l Southern army frst buried Its own dead, but. In
| the meantime, sent all through the woods hunt
| Ing for the wounded, and behaved with the Ut
| most kindness to all The reports of barbarities
| to the wounded are all false The slsug hter wal
| Immense passed through one small Geld where
4OO Northern men were buried that day, and the
| men were still at work by moonlight.
| We Were confined tweuty-four hours in the
same prison with thirty Three officers Among
| them was Col. Corcoran. They have no chance
| recognizes the Confederacy az q belligerent In
| the fullest sense. That this must come 10 inevi
| table; not only belligerent, but a very pugna
| ctous one at that. Some Of these officers told me
| that they were tired of fighting for Government
| who gave them three chances for death, viz Il
be killed on the field TO be left to die IL wounded
| or be hanged IL taken prisoners; and only on,
| chance for life, and that to run and escape from
the battlefield For hanged they will be TO
| certainty, unless the Savannah prisoners are eI
| Changed. or this have no doubt
My regards TO all friends We are well treated
| Ii 10 so with all the prisoners here.
| Yours truly, A. Harris.
/
II Salt is selling at six to seven dollars II
Il az