New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-26
GENERAL EUTLEf,,s COLUMN.
Statement Of an Exchanged Prieorer-Ouf-
RACES by our Troope-e-enerai Pierce and
Au.bpisnces-Where shnu the Pirates BE-
Tr,p
From OM Special Conepondent.
FoRrBYss MONROE,
OLD Porsr CoYroRr, june %, 1915

Reuben NJ Par! er of Company 4, WoOdstock' W.,
Light Infantry, Capt Peton, who was taken prisoner
at the battle OF Great Bethel, exchanged yeser-
day, and has again Joined his regiment
TIE narrative of Mr. Parker IL one Of interest. lie
was taken prisoner abon the time Gen. Pierce ordered
the retreat. lie was with the two hundred ard fifty
Vermonters who, under the command of Lieut.-COL
Washburn, made the bold push on the flank OF Tie
enemy aud who, had they been supported, would in
ten minutes have been in the enemys nireneh-
menis and wbo 10 il was, had tie retieat not been
ordered, would have made The charge alone The
little band had wadel the stream maTsh in the rear
OF the batterie and gained position where they bad
a clear view Of and several effective shots A. the
Rebels on their haDk Receiving no support rey
obeyed the order retire. Mr.. Parker became serar-
aied from his comrades
Observing a wounded soldier, whom he supposed
was one Of his company but who proved TO be
Major Winthrop, lying on the ground, he started
toward him Being cut off, he retraced bis steps and
when he lad goLe few PAGES, file Of seven soldiers
rose before him. Their Uniform being, in almost
every reepect like tlst by the VeTnonters, be
supposed them 10 be Lis comrades, aud went tOward
them and when within FIVE or ak rods Of them, be
wac deliberately fred Oh by Of them. The ball
passed through bis coat aud barely grazed his person.
Mr. p raised hs gun and returned the FIRE when one
Of the seven fl bic face. The others rushed for
ward and with their guns elevated at bis heart COM
manded him 10 surrender. Resting bic gun on tho
ground, Mr.. Z. replied "If can have the assurance
of being taken and treated prisoner according to
the usages Of war, will surrender; il cannot have
such terms FIRE and be d. The terms wero
granted ard he was taken into custody.
He yas marched 10 the church, where lie was bound
hand and foot and kept under strong guard. While
waiting In this situation FIVE wOInded men were
brought in, snd On officer came in and remarked to
another that lie had Just assisted TO carry in seventeen
of bis own usn Ljled, aud proceeding 10 mention
Names when be was motioned 10 keep silence. Bon
after shutdown all the forces took mp their mach for
Yorktown Mr. Parker was stationed in the center Of
the column which DE should think numbered between
two and three tbJussnt men. short time after they
sci out hey oyeto0k wagon ORA VII 10y t~o yoke Of
oxen at Iesst. II wa heavily loaded the boz being
three or four boards high. On starting again come
thing 10 all appearance hanan body rolled out VI the
rear end; and the be.f Of Mr. Parker at the time
that the wagon contained large number Of dead
bodies. Ii was toward morning when they reached
Yorktown Parker walking the entire distance under
close guard. On arriving there, he was marched
sroun town some time ia search Of guardhouse, and
was finally lodged in hut with biz legs bound lie
lay on the ground, without bed or covering all night
In the morning he placed in guard-boufe
where there were three other prsOnep previously
taken. Their names were George Mason, % Troy
Regiment; Daniel A. Mooney, do, and Charles Met
calf Duryee's Zouaye Regiment, who had been taken
az different times while with scouting paIties The
next day the llthl in the afternoon. Parker, Mecaf
and Msson were started fos Richmond. They took
| the steamer Logan to West Point whence they tooa
the railroad Ten ViFgiDsns tax aloug a; the
| same time OF suspicion 0! being Union There
| VIA, slso, in the party a named T. W. Clark,
who had deserted from Col. Townsends Regiment on
the day previous to the battle, and who gave the enc
my sll I5e information lie pcsseseed concerning our
movements and intentions They arrived 81 Richmond
on the morning Of the 18th. They were marched by
die Of soldiers to the Cusiom-House, where brief ex
animation was had. They then taken to the Jail
and LODGED in room together, with the exception Of
CLARK the deserter who the earnes, protesta.iOns
of Parker. who gave notice be would not suffer de-
serter to keep bis company alive, taken to another
| room.
The rext daythe Virginia Union also taken
to another room, and tho prisoners of keptogether
Parker bear witness to the gallant conduct Of his
sires, especially on bis own account and behalf Of
bs comrades to bear testimony TO the kind treatment
shown them by the jailer, Mr.. Staples In this &c
Acknowledgement he cbeerfulIy includes all the officers
With whom they were brought in contact and particu
lasy Sergeant Crew. officer Of the guard. Parker re-
NAMED in Jail at Richmond I'LL the 2Oth during which
time nothing Of particular interest occurred excepting
the burning Of .be steamer Glencoe He called
I IN IL. II. HI
20 see live Yankee from Vermont On the evening
Of the 18th, Parker informed by JaeT Staples that
DO Yves to be exchanged, ind that he would start for
Yorktown in the morning. Such proved to be che fact
and next day in the afternoon, he reached Yorktown.
| He found every body in the widest excitement, on
account of report that 900 men headed BY Gen.
Butler, were marching the place. Every prepara
ton for defence was made I'LL the report found to
be flse lie found Mooney siill in custody, in the
expectation Of being exchanged. Parker remained in
Yorktown one day. in tho guard-house. While there
he had but little means for observing, and wu cheated
out Of his dinner by the guard who bad not enough
for themselves. But he nns1ed 10 gain come idea Of
She actual state Of thDgs and OF the opinion that tho
force there II about six thousand On the morn
ing Of the cd. before getting any breakfast he Wa
taken from the guarhouse, Lis arms bound, his eyes
blndfolded, and placed in a wagon with mscellane
QUE load of camp utenFils and bacon. The wagon
dyen three or four nies out Of town, when he was
unloosed. lie found bnlfelf guarded by about 200
cavalry.
They TOOK up their march to Big Bethel snd on M
irving there, be- wis eivon something 10 eat Parker
was then mounted, and accompanied by Lieut. Vaughn
and four priyses all mounted, started with flag Of
truce for Hampton, where they arrived ebout o'clock