Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-12-19
A Yankee Visits CoIumbas--.-What
he Saw and Heard under Flag
Of Truce.

writes of his visit, the place, for
tifications, etc: p
If any of your readers feel dis
satisfied that our brave soldiers
did not take Columbus the other
day (Which they did not attempt
TO do)let them come here. The
celebrated chalk bluffs extend for
a mile and a half above this town,
being from one hundred to one
hundred and seventy-fve feet in
height, and are SO situated as to
command the river six miles above.
The armed reconnaissance at Bel
mont on Thursday, demonstrated
the fact that they have one hun
bred and fourteen cannon, of dit
ferent calibre, mounted and in po-
sition, so us to sweep the entire
country for miles around. These
cannon cannot all be seen. Some
of them are masked, but enough
can be seen to convince the most
skeptical that what nature has not
done for this place, land it has
done wonders)rebe engineers have
done, to make this the strong st of
all their Notifications.
Ny information as to the num-
Der of the rebel guns here | have
from one high in position, and in
the confidence of eur government,
one who does not wish to magnify
this wicked rebellion. But to
know the real strength Of the en-
envy, and knowing it, viii not UNI
derrate our foe, but to bring to
bear against them such an over
whelming force as will make vic
tory sure and complete.
There must be some twenty or
twenty-five thousand troops here
now Judging from the number OF
their tents, which are as thick as
snow flakes on the mountain brow,
lining the bluffs for a long distance,
both above and below the town,
and at this present writing thou
sands of the rebel soldiers are
gathering upon the bluff and peer
ing at us ever its rugged brow.
AS we neared Columbus, two
heavy guns opened fire on us, and
we hove to, and waited until the
rebel steamer Mohawk came to re-
ccive our flag of truce. Gen.
Folks aid-de-camp, Captain Blake,
received us coolly but gentleman
ly. Major Hatch, in equally as
gentlcmallly and more dignifed
manner, told the rebel captain his
business, and that he had an auto
graphlotter from Gen. Grant to Gen.
Polk. etc.
Gen. Folks headquarters were
near by, and soon appeared on
board and received Major Hatch
in very naughty and unfriendly
manner. The General had on his
suit of fine cloth, minus his shout
der straps, and nothing to indicate
his rank except q major-generaF S
sash.
In reply to Major Hatch's re-
quest for the release of Col. Dough-
erty, Internationally, as he had
had his leg amputated and could
never again enter service, Gen.
Polk said he could not release him,
adding: 81 am waiting instruc-
tions from my Government at
Richmond; there is a new order in
relation to the exchange of prison.
ers, and for the present | can only
exchange Col. Notwithstanding
to the usages of war. If you
will not recognize us as a nation,
you must recognize us as a belliger-,
ent power before you can make
an exchange of prisoners" Ma
jor Hatch replied that he asked
''his release on the ground of hui
snanity, that he would sacrifice a.
fortune to obtain his release, for
he knew him well, and knew that
he was a brave and noble man,
but our government was not I'M
favor of acknowledging a rebel
power (although we must admit
tina they were incliaecT to be quite
belligereat) us a belligerent pew
err"
Maj. Hatch further requested safe
protection to Mrs. Dougherty, and
privilege to escort Mrs. d. to Mrs.
Owens house, where Col. Dougher-
ty lay sick, stating upon his word,
and honor, that he would commu-
,,icate nothing that he ssM4 Gen.
Po,k assured Major Hatch that