The national Republican., 1861-11-19


Between Generals Grant
aud Polk since the Bstt'e Of Belmont
Exchange Of Prisoners - Cns OF the
wsunded, DO.
THE FLAG OF TRUCE.
On Friday, flag OF truce was sent down
from Cairo TO make arrangements respecting
the wounded left on the field The officer in
command bore The following Litter from Gen
eral Grant to General Polk:
HEApouARrEs DISTRICT s. r Mo-.
Ouiro, Nov. sub, 1851.
General Commanding Fjrces, n
Columbus, EeatuclW
Sir: In the skirmish Of yesterday, In which
both psrties behaved with so much gallant y.
many unfortunate men were left upon the field
of battle whom It was impossible to prov De
for. now send 10 the interest OF humanity t.
hsve these uDfortunates collectt d and medical
attendance secured them. Colonel Webster.
Chief Of Engineers, District s. E. Mo-, q ,rs
brarer Of this. and will express to you my
views upon the course that should be pursued
under the circumstances, such as those Of y s.
terday
1 am, very respectfully, your obedient ser
want, q. 8. GRANT,
Brigadier General Commanding.
The result Of this visit Is fully explained In
the following letter from General Polk, and
from Major Websters report:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DTvIs. West. DEP'T.,
Columbus, Ky Nou. 8, 1851.
Brigadier General U. s.. Grant, U. 8. A.:
have received your note In regard to your
wounded and killed left on the battle field af
ter yesterdays engagement The lateness
the hour at which my troops returned to the
principal scene Of the action prevented my
bestowing the care upon your wounded which
desired. Such attentions as were practicable
were shown them, and measures were taken at
an early hour this morning to have them oil
brought Into my hospitals. Provision alao
was made for taking care Of your dead. The
permission you desire under your flag ef truce
to aid In attention 70 your wounded is granted
with pleasure, under such restrictions as the
exigencies OF your service may require. In
your note you say nothing Of an exchange Of
prisoners, though yeu send me private mes
sage q to your willingness TO release certain
wounded men and some invalids taken from
our list Of sick In camps, and expect in return
corresponding number Of your wounded
prisoners. Ny own feelings would prompt me
to waive again the unimportant affectation Of
declining to recognise these States as belligpr
ents, in the interests Of humanity, but my Go
vernment requires all prisoners to be placed
ct the disposal Of the Secretary Of War. =,
have dispatched him to know II the case OF tii,
exception
have the honor to be your obedient ser
want, L. POLK,
i Major General, G. s. A.
!, MAJOR wEBsrER's REPORT.
ENGINEER OFFIcB.
Camp Cairo, ILL.,, Nov. 9, 1851.
GENEkAL: l have the honor to report the re
suit of the expedition sent under flag o
truce, to Columbus yesterday.
On our arrival in the vicinity Of tn, place
steamer, carrying Captain Blake, Assistan
Adjutant General of General Polk, met us
delivered to him your letter and offered him
Internationally, the sick and wounded prison
? ers whom / had In charge He informed m
that orders had been recently received by Gen
. eral Polk respecting the exchange of prison
els, and declined those proffered until be coult
. receive further instructions. He then left, say
ing that we had permission to bury our dea
on the field of battle.
Iplsced . working party under command O
D Lieutenant Hart, of the Twenty second Illinoi
regiment, and sent them to the field, wher
n they were employed, for the remainder Of tn
day, In caring for the wounded, rome Of whor
were found yet there, and 10 burying the dead
Il was near sunset when Captain Blak
again came on board our boat, and handed il
u communication from General Polk, whic
Iyave you last night on my return. He In
formed me that dispatch had been sent (
their Secretary of War, in regard to the e1
change Of prisoners, but that they had receive
! NJ reply. IT,. ..s...
|. During the interval between the two visi
!, Id Captain Blake, several parties Of the enem
= visited our boat, Gen. Chestham among then
He informed me that he had directed four
!. hr wounded to be brought to us, and aske
! II would give four Of theirs in exchange
m nj i'm,
cher number that he would accept uncond
: tonally, but hat had no authority to negc
!. tate an exchange, and that as TO the four o
I, ours which he sent on board, l would awsi
!. " be decision Of Gen. Polk.
- Several more of our wounded had also bee
!. oven into the care Of our party in the field b.
q lajor Mason, quartermaster Of Columbus.
y These facts l mentioned to Captain Blake
= and told him that those three put in our charg
!; awaited bis orders. as / wished to avoid 81,
r. appearance even Of doing anything not in stric
n accordance with our Obligations under the fla
Of truce. !; He replied that he did not wish {
inseffere with any arrangements made b
others and l thought that under this state {
tts case II would be putting an unnecessarl
hne point on the matter to decline to take bac
of ths wounded men so politely offered by Ger
IN Caeatham and Major Mason 1t is due to tn
y latter gentleman part cuarly to say that hi
D. disposition to do everything in his power I
d aid us In our mission Of humanity was conspit
L. nous during our entire stay there, and certain
a. y deserves our warmest appreciation.
r. At the second visit of Captain Blake to ou
Of boat he received the sick and wounded pri.
Of oners whom again offered to him uncond
ls tlonally, and they were put on board his boa
y The number of our wounded, as above state
from Gen. Cheathsm and Major Mason, an
,e Brought up by me, was thirteen,
Or lnclosed herewith is o list of our men In th
er hands OF the enemy, given me by Capital
b, Hlak" which he thought to be nearly complet,
e, The number reported buried by them on tt
of held yesterday was sixty-eight.
4. Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
Il. ]. D. WEBSTER,
j. Major and Chief Engineer
is To BrigadIer General U. S. GRANT, Com Di
a. EXCHANGE OF PRIsONERs.-For some da,
y past 1t has been rumored about that a numb,
| OF rebpl nriannara nnRpa1 n tht . -;