Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1862-01-09
Current Gppits
Interview Between jeff. Thomp.
son and a Yankee Colonel.

A correspondent of the Ne,
Orleans Crescent, writing fror
Columbus, KY, gives the follow
ing report of an interview be
tween Gen. Thompson and Col
Bulord of the Federal army:
l have already said something
about released prisoners coming
down from Cairo. To-day the
steamer Iatan came down under
a white flag; she was stopped
above the point, and our. steamer
the Yazoo, with the proper officers
on board, went up to meet her.
Her errand was to deliver within
our lines Gen. Frost, Major VII.
liams, and some 20 others of the
Camp jackson prisoners, taken
by the Hessians at the first out.
break in, St. Louis, released ON pa
role, and now entirely released In
exchange for Col. Mulligan and
his men, lately taken by our forces
at Lexington.
AS the Yazoo neared the Iatan
one of the prisoners on the latter
exclaimed, "Why look, hang me
If there amt Jeff Thomson
standing on guardl '.Where,
which is him?" quickly asked Col.
Buford.' JEFF: was pointed out,
and long and intense was the scru-
tiny indulged in by the Hessian Co.
lionel. When the boats lashed and
the officers met, there was the usu-
al shaking of hands, introductions,
ETC.; and when jeff made the ac-
quaintance of Buford, he smiling
ly remarked, 81 believe you are
the man that was after me q
few days ago?' ''Yes, | am"
was the polite response. The
crowd gathered around to hear
the chat. And it was one of the
chats. ''Iow is it, General" asked
the Colonel, "that you are in, so
many places at the same timer
l thought you were at New Mad
rid, getting ready to wipe US out if
we came there?' 'You did, eh?"
said jeff. laughing; ''but you see
Tm here now, don't your "Yes,
/ believe | do" The whole con
versation need not be reported.
| will mention only, as they are
told to me, a few Of the sharp raj
lies that occurred during half an
hours conversation, rendered the
more free and good humored by
well, | won't say what, You're
not such very savage locking
man." said the Colonel, taking i'll
Jeff's good humored face and
gaunt anatomy at a glance. "My
wife is the only person who ever
called me good looking" he an
swered; ''I've never been troubled
about mems opinion of my looks.
3 :" g General, how do you
manage to fly about sofast with
your men-how is it you are new
er where we expect to find ybn?7
Because I'm fast, and you're
slow, that's ALL" "But why don't
you stop somewhere and give us
an open fght?' 'Didn't l do 1t
at Fredericktown?" "Yes, but
didn't we run yoh?' "Not much
you didn't, but | didn't want to
fight yoti there; you had ten to one
against me, and | knew id well
you could clean me out; but for
one thing, you would never have
got a shot at u.s." "What was
that?' "Well, you see, / had al
lot OF wagons loaded with lead
and things to keep up the fun with;
the roads were bad, and we had
to stay behind and fool with you
till the wagons got on a piece. l
need'ntsay how much lead we had;
but it was enough to last us about
two years. "Then you don't in
tend to give up the fight?' "Not
much 1 don't" "Well, General,
what are you fighting for, any
howl" ''Colonel, what are you
fighting for?' s.I'm fighting for
the Union" "And / am fighting
for the Union, too, and | am now
a better Union man, and am fight
ing for the Southern Union, the
only real Union now in America;
the Yankees and the Dutch are