The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-25
Farley with the Rebels-Flag Of
Truce Violated.

The correspondent Of the Cincinnati
Commercial at this place, ia 4 late number
of THAT paper, gives very graphic ac-
count of pArley with the rebels, on the
Murfreesboro pike, near this place, in ref
erence to an exchange of prisoners, which
we have copied at length.
NASHVILLE, December 49, 1862.
went out with a flag of truce on Sat-
urday to call upon the rebels at home.
Our mission was TO forward dispatches
to General Bragg touching exchange of
prisoners, and TO send several parties out
of our lines. By mutual agreement all
flags of truce pass over the Murfreesboro
Pike. Captain Buford of Majo General
| Crittendens staff, with an escort of a
dozen cavalry, commanded our flag. An
orderly, with our emblem of peace, NOV
| ed few hundred feet in advance, and
the cortege trotted gently across debatable
territory, meeting no enemy until we were
halted by rebel vidette, vino maintain
cd vigilant watch on the crown of a COM
handing hill.
/ thought it rather attractive picture.
| The day was balmy as May. Masses of
variegated clouds were floating caprici-
ously above the horizon. Now and then
CLEAN of sunshine frightened the SOM
bre woodland which fringed the fine
plantations that were spread in undula-
ting variety on either hand Looking up
through dark avenue of cedars shading
the white roadway on either side, the eye
| oil ipfn vNar
which seemed blue lake girt by masses
of fantastic rocks. Nature itself medi-
ated genially to soften the asperities of
hostile men. But these were lights and
shades of the picture. The eye and the
| Imagination dwelt with fascination upon
the sharp cut figures of horse and horse
man, which stood sternly and silently,
like an armed centaur, in the center of
the highway, watching with jealous sus
picion the approach of hostile intruders.
| saw, the horse and horseman, for the for
mer, with sagacity nearly human long
accustomed 10 the art of outpost duty,
plunged violently at glimpse of us, striv-
ing to wheel and fly from foes. The alert
trooper sharply reigned the painting steed
to his post, resting the butt of his finely
FURNISHED piece firmly npon his thigh,
and grasping the lock nervously with
thumb and finger, as if in act to level
for action.
The flag approached within hundred
yards of the solemn sentry and halted at
challenge. A nom commissioned rebel
officer and two orderlies debouched from
the cedars and trotted slowly down.
Captain Buford moved up and required
the presence of the commanding officer.
With touch of steel and rapid wheel, a
rebel trooper dashed up the hill and dis
appeared behind the crest the rattle of
gathering hoofs giving audible proof
that the highway stretched away in the
rear of the plain.
Our own escort had halted fifty yards
behind the flag. The rebel squad en-
gagged the herald in reserved CONVERSE
tion. We quietly disposed ourselves
midway TO await response. We were
not long detained. Fifteen minutes later,
perhaps, an orderly announced the APP
prevail of Major Prentice and escort.
Etiquette required mutual meeting,
mounted, but Capt. Buiord preferred the
free and easy way, and thus met the reb-
Ell ofIicer-who reigned in sharply from
brisk trot down the hill, and saluted
with becoming gravity. Hands were
courteously extended, and our mission
announced. 1t was necessary, however
to tarry for the transfer of parties in our
escort, TO the rebel lines.
But there was something of the pic
turesque in the scenes and grouping
around us worthy attention. One sharp
, ly criticises the foe under truce. You
have eager curioaity to see them on
. equal terms, where steel and lead do moi
, interfere. IL was something to quietly
inspect the adventurous cavalry, which
d have kept us so disturbed. We wer,
chatting with Forests men-Alabam.
ians, Kentuckians, Tennesseeans. There
was nothing of soldierly uniform abou
them, but the ease, grace, and firmness
. of their seat in saddle, and theil
military self-possessiOn, were un'
q mistakable. lncontestably, those troop
L ers are hell raky fellows-reliable at {
/. pinch, under gamey leaders. Yet i
J. seems impossible that they can contend
equally with our brawny limbed fell
I lows under "gay old Stanley"
They were not prepossessing at all il
II their everlasting butternuts ombcr dingy
y threadbare and patched-with their darl
20 Visages ambushed in long, ragged beard
!. and tangled locks. They were Sigh
men, mostly thin and narrow in body
= but enormously developed about the hip
--shapen by exercise like a woman