The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-30
lIHP0RTANT FROM KENTUCKY.
INTERESTING FROM THE REBEL CAMP AT
COLUMBUS.


OUR CAIRO CORRESPONDENTS.
CAsRo, H., Oct. "a, 1881.
Visit to Rebel Cdmr~-SpeciaI T'ycrmaHon 70 ne
Htrad-Eaehanse If fPrisoneys--Co'repond't Behoesa
General HcCferndnd and General Polk-tot MI bora
Repor--La Of Union Psisoness Liberated
General foik cnd o0icersAI1earancee q the Ae'' &C.
Without egotsm may lay claim to the honor-it honor
bco have been the first OF newspaper correspondents
20 visit rebel post, and In safety and good WIZ W
see what to be and learn what may be known o.
the sayings and dongs of these who arraycd In arms
against the Union Yesterday visited the rebel camp
at Columbus, where Generals Polk, Pillow Cheatham
McCown, and know not how many more, have an army
variously estimated at from ten 10 seventy thousand
men, the headquarters of the Western division Of the
sopthern fcrccs. Haw | went you will find by tho
details; why went was that the Herald readers
might have the advantage Of pcruslng tho first &C
counts from the South and the Southern army. You
viii remember that about week ago two rebel
officers visited Cairo 70 arrange for an exchanse
OF prisoners bat that officers did not icel authorized
to make any arrangements until the hghr authorities
could be consulted and General Graat ia his answer to
General Polk said that The President could DO
consulted in tA premises and his views ascertained ne
{6en. Grant) would find way Of communicating. The
President was tcegraphed and in due time an answer
received, such led unconditional release Of
thfe rebel prisoners, and the sending thcm, with
ag OF truce, TO Columbus, yesterday Tho mission was
entrusted tho hands Of Colonel n y. Buord, of the
Twenty seventh Illinois Volunteers, who selected the io
lowing gentlemen TO accompany h.in-
tapt,ia Dresser, A.ddc- Camp to Gen. McCisrnand.
Lieutenant Sheldon, OF the Twenty seventh regiment
Dr. simmons Medical Director.
Ir tintan, Associate Of DR.. simmons.
The Cairo correspondent of tie NEw yoRk liERMp.
Iieutenant G. s. Cooper, Of General McCcrnana stan,
and boats
We embarked on board The little steamer Sampson at
twenty minutes past twelve T. NJ aud arrived opt ste
~ fhrar
the best Of spirits. As approached within perhaps a
nie Of the town, gun fired from the fort at the
upper end Of the town, which had the elect OF causing
our little tug TO scream her oudest whistc but on She
kept until another gen cauored rs not to be too sacy
IN approach. Bat officers did not nnderstoDd tho
signals, and Wo kept and little dreaming That
We conrtng reception such AZ came hgh dVest-
is ie Unlon array Of several gallant officers and ths
IfrAIp II reporter; ior, finding tlat we dil rot
round to when tho ;ond Gun fred, the
eGuncrs "chUctedn shot into the jaws of oae OF
their doss and Captain Polk Informs would have
sent throug for the fact that they
afraid q shooting into lhoit camp eD til, oppsite
sic Of tbs river The following eorrespo denco VIII
plain the Nilsson snd ils result; t;at ali that VIII he
cit ~ m " De y not" sch oasse dtcts oi interest
camo within my observation. VIII be noticed that
our ohicers vc hi upou an tn dodge The question OF
rccgnizug the tonfceratcs RS bo orens; but one has
dHcuIy in discovering in what ntal point the plan
pied differs IN its results & ON regular exchange ~
prs nofe ana General Polk right In his tnn
uf the matter expressed in lbs letter 10 General Ne
C!eTnand. Here is the correspondence In full =
LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO COLONEL puFoRp.
HRuAuE IEApgv ApIEBs,
CAMP CARO- Oct. %, 1861. I
Colonel N. u. BCrogD, Commanding Twenty seventh
regiment Illinois yoluntecis-
SpYon are hereby entrusted with q delicate, and In
political ASPECT, q highly responsible mission
A. A. Woodward, Lewis Young atd ffeJcric& Penny
cap,ared in the air at Carestos Mo-, on the 2o,h
OF last Aug st. and have since been detained at tS post
| as prisoners OF war
You viii take them in charge government steamer
AM under the protection Of Tag OF rco proceed To the
camp Of the enemy At Columbus, KY md ihcre makit
known your mission to the commanding oicer, viii de
them to such person as he may authorize toAreccve
! them.
! when you have falN,ied your mission you viii ask o
the co,,nandaRt Of tile camp safe conduct therefrom
| and Immediately return To this pest
In your conversation with the oomnanlant,- ,-cr viii
his representative, you viii avoid all discussion goa t
rights ot bgerents, and place my action herein Simply
upon the ground Of humanity and desire to relieve III.
nnhappy war now wagcd between kDdred Of peculiar
! and aggravated difficulties
Beyond ibs limit DO not deem II advisable for you
! 70 60. Yours, &C., JOHN a. McfiEisNAkb,
| Brgadicr General Commanding
/ GENERAL M'cLEnEAND's LETTER TO GENERAL FOLK.
] BklGAEE iiEADotAf TEis,
CAMP CAIRO, Oct. 23 1861. I
! To the COMMANDING OFFICER Cox hRts, ny.
Sig-The chances Of tho prcscat rnhippy war haviDg
LEFT my hands number Of p-soncrs who have baen
detained ut this pest for sJne tno past aya for sc
ca reasons as wei as III ohedence 10 the dictates Of
humanity, ancoAditionay reeasci tacm.
The p isoncls auGed 10 a.e: A. A. Woodward Low
Young and Edward a. Penny, ali iakon by rarity of
Uncd Staes troops, in the anir q. Charleston, No.
the 10Th tf August last
CooBcl r. b. Bafesd of The Twenty seventh rae,ncrt
Illinois Volunteers, s ch9Tod W me with The aetiyry
Of sid prisoners TO such person as you may authorize
receive hem, tnd for tla purpcse VISITS y5ur camp
under tic ptoiecitn or wh.e ling. You win yca.
receive HIM the epecai character with which hc is
clothed aid af the completion Of his mission give han
safe concnct from your camp.
have tie honor 70 he, yours, re,
JOHN 4. Mct1.FaNhND,
Bis. Gen. Commanding.