Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-11-14
Interesting from seccshdon.

Mr.. r. w. HURT, OF The Ohio Stale J0hT51d
has just made skiff trip from Cairo to the reb.
el camp at Columbus Kentucky, where he bad
a social interview with Gen. Pillow and Gen
Polk. and ,arried over Sunday in the fortified
Zion of the Bishop General. He had an inter.
estipg time OF 1t, full account of which he gives
in the State Journal Of the 5th. The way Mr.
HURT got into Secesh was briefly this:
-o AT Cairo a Mississippi lady was placed in
| the charge of Mr.. HURT, who was in i'll health
and extremely anxious to reach her home and
family. The distance to Columbus by river IL
only twenty miles, yet Slr. H. could not gel
there with his charge by land carriage no mat
Ter how exorbtant the rates, such were bugabot
stories of the dangers current at Cairo. skif
was the last recourse, and for the moderate sum
OF $40, one man offered TO run the gauntlet Of
being fired upon from both sides Of the river
A pass was obtained from Gen. McClernand. a
skiff bought. white flag raised. the lady,
trunks, band boxes. edihles, &C.. put on board
and Mr.. II. committed himself and little bark
to the swift current OF the muddy Mississippi
and his $40 voyngeur. The trip proved pleas
ant one, attended with no apparent dangers,
Notwithstanding all the horrible reports of pi-
rates and pot-metal. .a .r--f
At Columbus boat and baggage were placed
under guard, and the passengers taken to Gen.
Pillows headquarters. Mr.. H. says:
"A very large crowd Of ,nuniformed and curl
Gus soldiers had gathered upon the bank and
followed us until ordered back by our very
young escort. We were taken TO a dirty. un-
swept room, in which we were seated, and q
very courteous examination conducted by an
amiable looking gentleman, in half uniform
and crowned with gray hairs and wearing spec
tacles. While he would have been the only
man in the room to whom l should have given
The distinction of General, he was by no means
the looking man | would have sought in a
crowd, to call Gen. Pillow.
We were placed at once in the charge OF the
Generals soa, and the brother OF the lady was
informed, by telegraph, that she was there. In
less than two hours answer was received. lhe
General, by the way, both sent and received
the dispatches. Immediate arrangements were
made for her departure for Memphis, and Young
Pillow was graciously offered as her escort. l
quire into matters here, and gived the liberty
Of the town. We had started at noon. and by
this time it was about Z o'clock. had thus
far avoided any conversation concerning our
difficulties, except such rs been elected in the
examination, and which grew out of compile
ment 10 our officers, for allowing the lady to
pass, and the grace of the enemy in refraining
from firing upon our little white flag. But the
General was anxious to tell me how be and the
South felt. and the first opportunity he had. he
hailed me. The access 10 the officers is very
easy, and the room was crowded with all ranks.
1t was a strange looking crowd 10 me. The
men were mostly young men, and looked rough
and dirty, as if Just from camp. They had the
appearance of soldiers without the Uniform
Not much display of rank was seen in any part
ofthe camp to which had access, and no more
here than elsewhere. Everything looked enl-
phaiically democratic, and while it looked less
substantial and comfortable than like places in
our army, it looked more as if these p rsons felt
that they We're engaged in sympathetic family
affair. AS took my seat, at the request of the
General, stated that did not visit him to ar
que the great issues between the contestants in
this war, and while would be pleased 10 know
their feeling. could not hope 10 change them.
Nor could my position be changed any more
than his could. would not argue, therefore,
but would be happy to hear. fa -.
Gen. Pillow is one Of the talking sort. and So
for nearly two hours Mr.. HURT and his rebel
were entertained with South
ern view of this unnatural war, its causes, its
cruelties. its probable termination. with con-
siderable touch of the zeal and prowess. and
bravery. and humanity Of our foe." From the
report of Mr., it appears to have been the old
Southern story revomped. We again quote:
INTERVIEW WITH GENERAL POLK.
We found General Polk in much more COM
Portable quarters. and rather more exclusive in
his company. He is fine, large. gray headed
man, rather amiable looking, but distant. My
case was presented and the permission readily
granted. He began to deplore this war, and
wondered what our people in the North intend
ed by it. He thought they ought to stop it at
once. as they could gain nothing by its eontin-
uance. De. l asked him how he would settle.
Gen. Polk. "By giving us all that belongs to
us"
-. "What belongs to you ?"
Gen. Polk. "All that has always been ac-
knowledged ours" rr
"Do you want Missouri
Gen. Polk. eyes. that is ours, undoubtedly"
''Do yon want Kentucky?"
Gen, Polk. "Of course. the Ohio river has
always been considered the line"
- But Kentucky don't want you'll"
Gen. Polk. 1--WE must hnve her"
- You want all of Virginia?"
Gen. Polk. sol course" rrT
You must have Maryland?"
Gen. Polk "Most certainly" 4
49, "What will YOU do with Washing
toni" 1 -'a
Gen. Polk. "Any trouble about Washington
arises from lis un fortunate position. We don't
want it; remove it if you want it; but Mary
land is ours
i,-- well, General, you will ncrer get
Warrington. "7i. a.i7a'5' "' iaE'sl'i
While this conversation was going on the
Major was com nunicating something to the
Generals Adjutant, who handed it TO him. upon
which was told that, rs there was NO necessi-
ty of my further progress with the lady. he
would have to Withdraw his permission to my
going any further than Columbus. Thus end
ed my attempt to try their leniency. and my
first night in the rebel camp.
At midnight was allowed to see my charge
on the train for Memphis. The town is most
closely guarded. at every second corner we met
a guard who demanded the countersign. This
surprised me as ! had been told that the gov
ernmeht of all their towns had been left to the
Civil Authorities. and that they had not pru-
claimed Martial Law in a single Southern city.
The train sped away and my mission was COM
pleted. ~ sae
~ sABBATHs DELAY.
On Sabbath morning General Pillow pro-
posed to send me home to Birds Point by the
"Grampus. the terrible jeff Davis of the Mis-.
sissippi-to point on the Missouri shore, and
thence by horse to our camps. About 10 o'clock
was escorted TO the boat by the General bin-
self, who gave directions to have neutral man
from the other side to go with me. Inc seees-
sion flag was not rased. and we lett tne 1 curious
soldiers, and moved towards nome. Put our
man escort could not be iound- "ncn we
came back the General bad gone up 10 Inc iurt;
~ r,toL ,nr pupboats. which were reported
aroun., Tho poini. As he did not return until
!, ,as too late for me t, get through before
.,,rl 7 was compelled to lie over. II. -
This delay was anything but pleasant, but
IL caye me chance to hear the news. rs rela-
rod in the South. The General gave me every |