Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-02-13
From the west-A Peep at the Enemy
 Under a Flag of Truce.

The Columbus (Ky.) correspondent of the New Orleans Crescent writes, under date of Dec enber 22. as follows:
 Day before yesterday the steamer Prince Capt Trask, went up U Cairo, or rather Fort Holt under a linen damask table cloth, supposed to signify peace. The errand was to hand over nine more Hessan prisoners, released under the recent treaty Of exchange The party was headed by Col. Tappan of the Thirteenth Ark. ansas regiment. and officers of Gen. Folks staff and others. Anxious to see one ot those cOrdla! interviews between our officers and the enemy of which had heard so much accepted a polite invitation to join the party. It was a bright and lovely afternoon, and the ride up through the neutral waters was interesting enough The houses and farms along the shore wore desolate and deserted look, though a few people were to be seen--a lady here and there coming out to shake 8 white kerchef at us At the town of Norfolk the only sign o life was cue man, two boys aud little nigger and dog. Above there lot 1.-the enemys caVal- TT had tied their horses to ience.
 We were stopped about mile and half this side of Fort Holt, by ball and shell from different batteries, fired wide of us but some Fragments of the shell came dsagreeably near. As the boat laid to near the Kentucky shore, d lot of mounted officers came galoping down through the woods 10 know our business. Re ceiving Col. Tappan'S reply, the spokesman an swered, Iris welI.--Ill telegraph to the Fort and to Cairo immediately and off went the tele graph, in the shape of an officer on horseback. One gunb0at and d small steamer were at the fort, and at Cairo: two CT three miles further up there appeared to be quite fleet of gunboa.s and other crafts. At the fort the men appeared to have gone into winter quarters, for long rows .f. l.. :,i f1, AA The Lincolnites took great pains to let us know they were prepared for All the steamers be- gan issuing black smoke; a gunboat came down from Cairo; and such firing of guns, above aud below us, and in the woods on both sides, for nothing, have seldom heard.
 Finally, the ferry boat Rob Roy came down and lashed up with us. Gen. Grant and some lfdozen officers, all splenddy dressed were on board-nDbJdy else save the crew. l was most agreeaby disappointed in not seeing such an in terview as had expected. Col. Tappan aud a few officers went aboard the other boat. The off cers saluted each other with cool courtesy; Col. Tappan and Gen. Grant retired into he cabin; stad there few slnutes; came out, touched caps to each other again and separated, the Pr's oners mea timo having been passed over. No intercourse was premitted betGeen the crew ot the boats; offers by men on our side to give Memphis for St. Louis papers were refused, theli officers having put a bar to such exchanges General Grant, however. ezcAances papers with Col. Tappan. The whole meeting dIu not exceed twenty minutes in duration. And il was just the way such meetings should be couduc- ted l have seldom met in whom the dignity of the soldier and the grace and po lleness ofthe gentleman are 50 happily blended as in Col. TaPqsn, You feel that he is gen teman as soon as you set ~it-iF ten feet of him. As you know, he is the brother of the Hon. Benj. s. Tappan, of your city; larger and healthier looking man than your Tappan. ] expect cur 1race meetings will be few and far between hegeaaee.