Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-09
A GREAT SENsATiONi
FLAG OF TRUCE FROM The ENEMY
A LETTER FROM JEFFERSON
DAVIS TO P-E~g ENf LIN.
coin ARRIySS.

Yesterday, while Col Andrew Porter, Z 9 A,
was scouting at the head Of a party of eish:sen
In the immediate vicinity Of the disunion lines
on toe ether side Of the river, party of twenty
two mounted disuniOn troops was observed ap-
preaching them. Col Porter immediately placed
his men in post ion for brush, and awaited their
nearer approach. Perceiving, when they got IN
hailing distance of him, that one of them had In
hts hand, trailing, a white aag, he demanded that
they should halt where they were, and explain
their Grand. They came to a halt, and declared
that they bore an important communication from
Davis to the Pres dent Of the United States.
Col. Porter requested them to dismount, and
approach with 1t on foot, measure Of precaution
rendered necessary by the fact tina: the officer
bearing the flag was acc ompanied by larger es-
cort than that Twelve mem incident to the pre-
sence Of flag of truce His request was complied
with. and he found their representation correct.
The disunion officer proved to be Capt Tom Tay-
lor, Of Frankfort, Ky "a connection Of Old Zacks
W. o bore a sealed letter from JEFF Davis to Presi-
dent Lincoln, according to representation upon
Its back, written and signed by Beauregard, at
Manassas, explaining the fact, and asking that
Cipt. Taylor might be facilitated in his mission
Col. Porter accordingly sent Capt. Taylor and
his mssive forward with an officer and an orderly,
and directed Uncle Sam hos escort 70 return forth
with Into their own lines-himself and the picket
guard with him following them for some distance
to see that that direction was properly carried
out.
Capt Taylor arrived at p. m. at General
mcDowell's quarters at Arlington, and was de-
tanned there until General Scott was advised OF
his visit.
Gen. Scott directed that he should be brought
to the headquarters Of the Lieutenant General.
Arrived there, Gen. Scott detained him and sen,
to the President the letter which he brought
The President having read the letter, told the
bearer to tell General Scott that he nigh, send
the ambassador back. He took bis departure for
Arlington Immediately, and at seven O'Clock thi.
morning he was on his way back to Richmond
without any answer to the communication he
brought, aud without having accomplished
by his mission. Viz: TO communicate with
traitors in our midst, who had doubtless pre.
pared to send to Beauregard through him i'm.
portant Information concerning the alleged con.
templated movement of Gen. McDowelI,. army
upon the Inevitable Sambo's lines
although the President has communicated the
exact contents Of the letter from Davis brough h,
by Capt. Taylor to none besides mis- constitu.
tional advisers and Gen Scott from certain signs
we are able to assure the public that II amounted
to nothing Of earthly importance In the present
crisis.
On the contrary, 1t was of so little importance
In is tenor as 20 lead to the irresistible
that the real purpose of sending the Gag Of truce
here was but to get an opportunity to communi.
cate surreptItously with Uncle sambo's spies In
this city at this, to hi. cause, critical time.
The impression prevailing around as, that
- 49, A. - an ~~-'....-rU~so UUuUenus
Of the letter 10 Congress Is doubtless erroneous
rho 'gh we presume that 1t will be promptly DIS.
pitched to the Governor Of Virginia at Wheeling
to whom person usurpiag ths government Of
Virginia, rs JEFF. Davis has done, should more
appropriately address such missive, than to the
President of the United States
We repeat the whole affair amounted to little
more than russ or trick Of Uncle sambo,s TO com.
nnnicate ''on the sly' with traitors in WASHING.
tom whicb filled entirely, owing to the careful
watch kept over Uncle Sambo's instrumen,
IN the matter while here, and the precaution
taken not to permit him to remain over nigh. in
Weshing .on