Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-12
a Letter from Mr.. Arnold Harris
- A.. ~, a-t..,. p;.svp,a

The New York Nelos Of the 22d August, quotes
from an interesting letter received in that city from
Mr.. Harris, now prisoner Of war at Richmond
by friend of that gentleman Mr.. harris Is SAID
to be in good health and well treated but DESTROYS
to set right the statements made in sundry of the
papers, which attribute the arrest and detention of
himself and his companion, Mr.. McGraw, to the
suspicion of being spies
Messrs Harris and McGraw LETT Washington on
the Monday evening after the "Rsce" at Bulls Run,
and proceeded to Fairfax Court House, where, next
morning they awaited the arrival Of the advance
of the Confedsrates. sought out the commanding
officer told him their business, and requested him
to forward a written application for permission to
cross the lines. Il forwarded 70 headquarters.
and the reply received was a refusal, and order
that they should be sent on as prisoners 10 Rich
mond Mr.. Harris writes that this action on the
part Of the commander of the Southern army was
taken in consequence of the course pursued BY the
Government at Washington IN refusing TO recognize
the Confederate States as beligerents, to send or
reply to flags of truce and the like. They naturally
regarded the visit of Messrs. Harris and McGraw
as an attempt to obtain an individual favor which
the Government would not ask for their soldiers
generally on any terms. Had these tive gentlemen
known that President Lincoln resolved to
carry on the war in manner unknown to civilized
nations. II =" writes Mr. Harris, would never, of
course, have ventured forth, even on a mission of
humanity" He adds:
Il wish that you had been with me on that trip
over the battle field, two days after the fight
Rather | wish that those men in the North who
have sent forth armies to invade the South could
have witnessed the awful scene. For miles before
we reached the scene of combat dead bodies lay
scattered on each side of the road; sometimes sing
", then three or four or five together l saw two
powerful ZsuaYes IN their full uniform, their
cOrpses swollen with putrefactiOn to the size Of
Fastaff, and blacker than OthellO. Close by them
lay fine looking young ofieer-almOst q boy-just
breathing his last He had lain there where he
fell, without help or suceor, for two days of tor
ture. The Southerners buried their own dead first,
but, in the meanwhile, and before dead body was
committed to the earth, scouting parties were sent
everywhere through the woods and for miles about,
hunting for the wounded of both armies. They
behaved with the utmost kindness toward the Fed
era troops and the shameful stories of barbarites
committed are all false. The slaughter must have
been immense. passed through small field,
where four hundred Northern men were buried
that day, and the burying party was still at work
by moonlight.
place with thirty-three Federal Ofhcers-amOng
them Col Corcoran. There is no chance for their
regaining their freedom till the Government at
Washington comes to its senses and recognizes the
Southern CoDfederscy belligerent as it has GER
tainly proved itself to be-and = very pugnsciOus
one at that
..One of the officers said to me he was tired of
fighting for Government which gave him three
chances for DEATH viz to be killed in action, to be,
left to die if wounded, to be hung In retaliation
if captured; while the emily chance for life was TO
run away from the battle field. l do not doubt
these officers will be hung if any hanging happens
to the privateersmen of the Savannah and other
prisoners in the hands of Mr.. Lincoln. Will the
President sickle longer upon the miserable dodge
that the Confederacy is not belligerentg Will the
and relatives of the poor fellows here in
.4ptivity tolerate this folly?
1--WE are well treated Beverly Tucker is as kind
IS brother. We have nothing to complain Of
have room to ourselves in the Jail and are board
ID by the keeper Nothing wanting but our liberty"