The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-21
LETTER FROM CAPTAIN GREGG.
Hopes of a general Exchange of Pris-
OnfrS,
CLAY's HOTEL, Washington, June |

CLAWS HOTEL, Washington, June ~.
Col. DANroRrH-Dcar Sir The import
ancc OF my mission to Washington, and the
labors incident thereto, have 50 absorbed my
time that little was left for my friends at
home.
/ arrived here on Sunday the 9TH instant,
from Selma, Ala, rs one Of Il committee Of
three selected by our brother officers, mum.
bcrng sixty, and paroled by the Confederate
secretary Of war for the purpose of eiiectlng
u general exchange Of prisoners, including
General Buchuer. My colleagues on this mis-
sion are Col Miller, of the Mo. 18th and
Major Stone Of the Iowa Cd.
About month ago Gen. Beaurcgard tec-
graphed to know if Gen. Prcntiss would ac.
cept parole to - to Washington TO effect
an exchange as between himself and General
Buckner, which proposition Gen Prentiss de-
cined, but agreed to 20 to secure general
exchange. TO this Gen. b. made no reply
but it was intimated that parole would be
given to three officers of our number, for the
object above specified our selection
and mission.
On tho evening after our arrival here we
had an audience at the White House, at which
was present Hon. Montgomery Blair and Mr.
Forney. We were graclusly received by the
president but he deemed the subject Of SUI.
fcient Importance fora cabinet council. Since
then the matter has been under advIsement.
\ large majority Of the senate and house Il
in favor Of an exchange, and have to-day 81
signifed by sending a request or petition tc
the president to that effect
There is no opposition save from kcntuc'
ky, and that chiefly from Hon. Garrett Davis
who insists that Buckner shall be given up tC
the civil authorities, tried and executed, be
cause he seduccd the young chiyalry (?) tho
elite(?) Of Kentucky from their allegiance
Poor, innocent lambs! Gen. Buckner sur
rendered prisoner of war OF Fort Donelson,
and as such is held. He is entitled to the
usages of war, but to crafty Kentucky Buck
ner must be hung, and then two or three
union men hung, and then dozen rebcls,and
so on, till q war of determination is Inaugural
ted, such AS the world never witnessed. Buck.
ner is an arbitrator, but we prefer to fight
him in the field rather than die ingloriously
in pestilen,ial southern prison.
| am much indebted to our senators and
representatives from Illinois, Iowa and Mis-
souri, for their ardent interest in our behalf,
particularly so to Messrs. Browning and kel.
logg of H., and Harlan, Grimes and Wilson
OF Iowa. Tomorrow we will learn the result
Of the cabinet deliberations.
Our parole ceases on the 10th of July, and
if not exchanged We will report ourselves
within the enemy's Lines at that time If to
rot in "a southern dungeon better subservcs
the union cause, we will cheerfully submit.
| will accept of no exchange for myself, nor
will ever 20 hence to visit my family until
all our friends are released If unsuccess-
flu, will return to them, and share their
dogs lfc," for such it is, to the bitter end.
| have much to say in my next about the
battle Of Shiloh, much about the injustice done
to Gen. Prentlss was not in his brigade, J
and much, very much, about that criminal
negligence which permitted Beauregard to
march an army Of $1,000 men from Cor
inth to Shiloh--a distance Of 20 miles, and