Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-05-07
The Battle Of shiloh Interview be
tween Gen w c. Prentiss and Gen
Beauregard.

Inc bdJllB OF DOllOH- -1nJelNltW ub
tween Gen. w c. Prentiss and Gen
Beauregard
The Savannah Republican, Of April H.,
publishes letter from its army correspon.
dent, giving n description Of the battle OF
Shiloh. We extract from it the following
conversation which is alleged to have ta>
ken place tetween Gen, Beauregard and
Gen. Prentiss, the latter Federal officer
who was taken prisoner - Bah SIN.
witnessed the arrival and presentation
Of Gen. Prentiss, who was taken by a staff
officer or officers of Gen. Polk, and con.
Quoted to the latter, who sent him, with
his compliments, Immediately 10 General
Beaurega7d. The following is the sub.
stance of the conversation that ensued
after they had shaken hands:
PrentSS Well, sir, we have felt your
power to-day, and have had to yield.
BeuUCgarf.- That is natural, sir. You
could not expect it to be otherwise. We
are fighting for our homes, for our wives
and children, fer generations to come ai'
ter u.s. and for liberty itself. Why does
your government thus war upon us, aud
seek US upon our own soil?
PrcnhSS-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 calcutions and
cannot
BeuuegQrd. The Union is already bro.
ken, ana the last man, woman and child
in the South will Willingly perish before
il shall be restored. What force have you
had engaged to,day?
PrcntSS-Six divisions, Numbering a
! little over 1000 each--the whole not
amounting to more than 10000. General
Grant commands, assisted by Generals
Sherman, McClernand, lIurlbuft, Wal.
lace and myself Gen. Smith is sick, and
has not been upon the field. Ny division
was tie first to receive your attack, and
we were not properly supported if we had
! been, the day might have been otherwise.
There hfs been mismanagement some
where. Had | been supported in time,
we should have broken your centre at the
! time we stopped your advance.
Bsaurcgard -Yo are mistaken, Gen"
eral my order OF battle was such that if
you had even penetrated the ceutre OF our
front line it would only have been to en-
! counter certain destruction ; we would
have cut you TO pieces. Has Gen. Buell.
arrived, and what Of his forces
Pr1a'iSj (Ge5itating.)-l do not know
where Gen. Buell. S, nor tho number Of his
forces. have heard he was at Nashville,
/ and then at Columbus. and also on the
road. We do not look for him under for
! ty.eight hours. | tcar YOU VIII capture
the grea ter part of our army on this side
Of the river. You have met and overcome
to-day the best troops we have.
Bsmucgud.-I am glad to hear it, and
trust that the result OF the days work may
| bring your government to frame Of mind
more favorable to peace.
PreuhSS.-Ihat can hardly be, sir. #
your army had pushed on after the battle
of Manassas, it might have taken Wash.
! ington and Overrun the North, and bIo't
us TO peace. We had an insufficient sup
! ply Of arms then, and were not prepared.
! The muskets purchased in Belgium by
| Fremont were of but 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 bee n sto-
red away as useless in the London Tower
ever since the war with Napoleon in 1915.
Icy ulC VI liO NUiNt " Ltb ~ NI' ~ - OulN
within the last sixty days that we have
become thoroughly and efficiently armed.
Our supply is now ample, and We cannot
now be overcome. Your government has
made two mistakes--frst, in not availng
itself of the fruits oil the battle Of Manas
sas and secondly, for waiting until we
had become well armed and organized
We have now 100000 men in camps OF
instruction, who will be brought upon the
field rs they may be needed. We do not
doubt the final result.
Bsawegard-N do we. Our cause is
just, and God will yet give US the victory.
PrentiSs.-We know you have able off,
GERS and a spirited army to back them, but
our confidence is firm, and permit me to
add, General, that among all the Conted-
crate officers no one is so great fayor!te
with us as yourself. Such is my own feel,
| ing, and that of our army and people.
Bearcq0d Y ou are very kind sir but
we have much better officers than | am.
Gen. Sidney johnson and Gen. Joseph
johnson are both my superiors in ability
as well as in rank. have served under
both of them most cheeriulIy, and know
them well. care nothing for Iank the
good of nv country is what ! look to.
Other observations were made, but the
foregoing embraces the chief points of the
interview. Gen. Prenl:ss was easy and
pleasant, and not at all depressed. APP
parently, too, he was quite candid and
yet thought detected disposition to
evade if not to deceive, in his reply as to
the forces of Buell.. believe that Buell.
is near at hand. 1t is to be hoped that
am mistaken, and that our men, who have
already fought long hours, may not have
to encounter a fresh force tomorrow.
GEN McCLELLAN's DIvIsIoN.-T Ro.
chester IN. y advertiser says: "When
Gen. Mcclellan left Washington, General
McDowells corps had orders to follow in
q given time. But after Gen. Mcclellan had
reached Fortress Monroe, two new Depart
ments were carved out of that of the Po.
tomac, and Gen. Mcdowell was assigned
TO the command of the one he already oc.
cupied Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed the
President for the expected and desired