Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-08
Interesting Conversation.


 of Gen. Prentiss, who was taken by staff ofil- cer or officers of Gen. Polk, and conducted to the latter, who sent him with his compliments immediately to Gen. Beauregard. The follow ing is the substance of the conversation that en- sued after they had shaken hands.
 Prentiss. We'll sir, we have felt your power to-day, and have to yield. Beauregard. That is natural, SIT. 1ou could not expect it to be otherwise. We are hghtlng for our homes, for our wives and children, Tor generations yet to come, and for liberty ltseii. Why does your government thus war upon us, and seek us upon our own soli!
 Prentiss. Our people have never yet been able to bring themselves to consent to see the Union broken up. Such thing has not enter ed into our calculations and cannot.
 Beauregard. The Union is already broken, and the last man. woman and child in the South will willingly perish before it shall be restored | What force had you engaged to-day!
 Prentss. Six divisions; numbering little over 1,000-the whole not amounting to more than 10000. Gen. Grant commands. assisted by Gems. Sherman, McClernand, Wallace, Hurl' l burt and myself Gen. Smith is sick and has not been on the field. My division was the first to receive your attack, and we were not properly supported; if we had been the day would have gone otherwise. There has been mismanagement somewhere. Had l been sup ported in time we should have broken your cen ire at the time we stopped your advance.
 Beauregard. You are mistaken, General | My order of battle was such that if you had even penetrated the centre of our front llne, It would have only been to encounter certain deS- truction We would have cut you to peices. Has General Buell. arrived, and what are bis forces?
 Prentiss, (hesitatingly.) Ido not know where | ~ 3l I,ar If have heard he was at Nashville, and then at Columbia: and also that he was on the road. We do not look for him under forty-eight hours l fear you will capture the greater part of our army on this side of the river. ou have to- day met and overcome the best troops we have.
 Beauregard. I am glad to hear it, and trust that the result of this days work may incline your government to peace.
 Prentiss That can hardly be, sir. If your army had pushed on after the battle of Manassas it might have taken Washington and oyerrun the North and brought us to peace. At that time we had an insufficient supply of arms anc were not prepared for the war. The Belgian muskets, purchased by Fremont were ofhttlt account, you could turn your thumb in the muzzel, the bore was so large. We also pur- chased from England the old arms that haC been slowed away as useless in the Tower m London ever since the war with Napoleon II 1915. They are of no value whatever, 1t IS only within the last sixty days that we have become throughly and efficiently armed. Oul supply is now ample, and we cannot be over come. Permit me to add that your government has made two mistakes-frst, in not availin9 itself of the fruits of the battle of Manassas and secondly in waiting until we had become through ly armed. We have now 250,O00 men II camps of instruction, who Will be brought upol the field as they may be needed. We do no doubt the final result
 Beauregard. Nor do we. Our canse is just and God will give us the victory.
 Prentiss. We know that you have able off cers and a spirited army to back them, but ou confidence is firm. And allow me to say Gen eral, that among all the Confederate officers, nc one is so great fayorite with us as yourself Sucl is my own feeling and that oI our army and peo pie.
 Beauregard You are very kind, sir; but " have much better officers than 1 am. Genera Sydney Johnston and Geneaal Joseph Johnston are both my superiOrs in abilities as well as il rank. 1 have served under both of them mos cheerfully; and know them well. l care nothin. for rank; the good of my country is what look to.
 Other observations were made but the foregc ing embraces the chief points of the interview Gen. Prentiss was easy and pleasant, and not a all depressed. Apparently; too, he was quit candid and yet 1 thought detected disposi ton to evade if not to mslead, in his reply as t 1. the whereabouts and forces of Buell..