The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1862-05-09
Interview between Generals Prentiss
and Beauregard,

The correspondent of the Savannah Re-
publican contributes for that paper an
account of the battle of Shiloh, in which
occurs the following conversation between
Generals Prentiss and Beauregard
1 witnessed the arrival and presentation
of Gen. Prentiss, who was taken by a !
staff officer or officers of Gen. Polk, and
conducted to the latter, who sent him,
with his compliments, Immediately to
Gen. Beauregard. The following is the
substance of the conversation that ensued
after they had shaken hands:
Prentiss Well, sir, we have felt your
power to-day, and have had to yield.
Beauregard-That is natural, Sir You
could not expect it to be otherwise. We are
fighting for our homes, for our wives and
children, for generations to. come after US,
and for liberty itself. Why does your
government thus war upon us, and seek
us upon our own soil ?
Prentiss-Our people have never yet
been able to bring themselves to consent
to see the Union broken up. Such
thing has not entered into our calculations,
and cannot.
Beauregard The Union is already bro
ken, and the last man, woman and child
in the South will willingly perish before
it shall be restored. What force have you
had engaged to-day
Prentiss-Six divisions, numbering a
little over 5000 each; the whole not
amounting to more than 10000. General
Grant commands, assisted by Gems. Sher-
man, McClernand, Hurlburt, Wallace,
and myself. Gen. Smith is sick, and has
not been upon the field. My division was
the first to receive your attack, and we
were not properly supported; if we had
been, the day might have been otherwise.
There has been mismanagement some-
where. Had 1 been supported in time,
we should have broken your centre at the
time we stopped your advance.
Beauregard-You are mistaken, Gen
eral. My order of battle was such, that
if you had even penetrated the centre of
our front line, it would only have been to
tencounter certain destruction we would
have cut you to pieces. Has Gen. Buell.
arrived, and what Of his forces
| Prentiss (hesitating) IL do not know
where Gen. Buell. is, or the number of his
forces. have heard he was at Nash
vile, and then at Columbus, and also that
he was on the road. We do not look for
him under forty eight hours. fear you
will capture the greater part of our army
on this side of the river. You have met
and overcome to-day the best troops we
have. s-E -.. -'.
Beauregard-I am glad to hear it, and
trust that the result of ;he days work
may bring your government to frame of
mind more favorable to peace.
Prentiss-That can hardly be, sir. II
your army had pushed on after the battle
of Manassas, it might have taken Wash
ington and overrun the North, and
brought us to peace. We had an INSULT
cient supply of arms then, and were not
prepared. The muskets purchased in
Belgium by Fremont were but of little
account you could turn your thumb in
the muzzle, the bore was so large. We
also procured from England the old arms
that have been stored away as useless in
London Tower ever since the war with
Napoleon in 1915. They are of no value
whatever. 1t is only within the last sixty
days that we have become thoroughly and
efficiently armed. Our supply is now
government has made two mistakes-frst,
in not availing itself of the fruits of the
battle of Manassas and, secondly, fol
waiting until we had become we'll armed
and organized. We have now 100000
men in camps of instruction, who will be
brought upon the field as they Bay be
needed. We do not doubt the tna
result.
Beauregard--Nor do we. Our cause
is just, and God will yet give us victory.
Prentiss-We know that You have able
5 officers, and a spirited army to back them
but our confidence is firm, and permit me
to add, General that among all the Con
federate officers, no one is so great ia
vorite with us as yourself. Such is my
own feeling, and that of our army and
people. .-.--....-.t .-,..
Beauregard- are very kind, sir
but we have better officers than | am
General Sidney johnson, and General Jo-
seph johnson, are both my superiors in
: ability as well as in rank. have served
S under both Of them most cheerfully and
| know them. well. | care nothing fol
rank the good of my country is what
. look to. ...... $500 =
> Other observations were made, but the
I foregoing embraces the chief points ol
the Interview. General Prentiss was easy
and pleasant, and not at all depressed.--