The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-23

We are permitted to copy the following letter
from Mr.. Harris, who, it will be recoected, en-
tered the Confederate lines for the purpose of OBJ
tanning the body of Col Cameron:
RICHMOND, July 90, 1861.
DEAR 10y GU will see all sorts of versions in
the papers about the arrest Of Magraw and myself,
spies apprehended on the battlefield Be- and
| wish you TO have the true version given and at
the time have the facts herein mentioned pub-
lished. Magraw and myself were not taken as
spies We left Washington on Monday evening
after the battle, and proceeded to Fairfax Court.
House, where on Tuesday morning, we waited the
arrival OF the advance of the Confederate army.
sought out the Commanding Officer, told him our
business, and requested him to forward a written
application to permit us to cross the line. He for
warded it to headquarters, and we waited four
hours for the reply. 1t was refusal of our re-
quest, and stated that must be sent on as pris-
oners to Richmond. This action of the Command
ing General has been in consequence of the position
of the Government at Washington not to treat or
recognize the Confederate States as belligerents
by sending flags of truce, &c. The authorities
here regard the visit of Magraw and myseifas an
attempt to obtain an individual favor, whilst the
Government will not openly and manfullv ask for
their other prisoners any terms. have no com
plants to make, though have been prisoner sew
eral days. One thing is certain, that if had
known that the Government at Washington had
determined to carry this war according TO tie
old savage principle of no exchange of prisoners,
no flags of truce, &c, never would have ventured
out, even on mission OF humanity. ! wish YOU
had been with me on the trip to the battle. field
and over it two days after the fight. wish all the
North who have sent forth their best men to invade
the South, could have witnessed the scene In nv
| humble opinion no more fighting would be DONE
| For miles before reached the field dead DO
dies were strewcd along the road five in one spot;
three in another; two stalwar Iouaves in full uni
| form, swollen to the size of Fallstatf and blacker
than Othello. Close by, young and tine-looking
officer just breathing his last, and had been there
| two days without help. The Southern army first
buried its own dead, but in the meantime. sent all
through the woods huntington the wounded, and
behaved with the utmost kindness to ALL The reports
| ofbarbarites to the wounded are all false. The
slaughter was immense. 1 passed through one
small field where 400 Northern men were buried
that day, and the men were still at work by moon
| light.
We were confined twenty four hours in the same
prison with thirty-three officers. Among them
| was Col. Corcoran. They have no chance of re-
lease until the Government at Washington recog.
nlzes the Confederacy belligerent in the fullest
sense. That this must come is inevitable; not only
beligerent, but very pugnacious one at that
Some OF these officers told me that they were ired
OF fighting for Government who gave them three
chances for DEATH viz: to be killed on the field tc
be left to die if wounded, or be hanged if taker
prisoners; and only one chance for life and that +,
run and escape from the battlefield. For haneec
| they will be to a certainty unless the Savannah
prisoners are exchanged. Of this have no doubt
My regards to all friends. We are well treated
| It's so with all the prisoners here.
| Yours truly, A. HARRIS,