Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-06-27
~ INCIDENT or rHE WAR.

1t will be seen, is highly complimented by The writer
We copy it from the TribuH, of the 29th ultimo:
| FLAG TRUCE.
| McCook' division of Buells army, and Port Royal
Sherman's of Thomas army, with some other troops,
under orders 10 make a reconnaissance in force
beyond Seven Mile Greek towards the enemy's lines"
yesterday mornng-the movement TO begin at half past
o'clock. Learning the direction they were TO take,
resolved avoid the crowding in the roads while the
/ troops marching, by riding ahead of them to
our outer pckes, and there awaiting their approach.
soon had reason TO rejoice at the lucky determination.
Galloping out on the old leading Corinth road past
Haecks new headquarters, soon left the camps and
the forming regiments to the rear Presently the grand
guard came in sight, then smaller outposs OF pcket,
and finally, within mile of the camps the last
picket line Looking down the next turn of the road,
beyond the two or three blue coats duty noticed
group Of officers among whom were two conspicuous
for the gaudy uniform of the Confederate army, while
the presence, Just beyond of tall groycoated pri
vae, bearing white flag, explained the phenomenon.
Riding up, was introduced TO Col. Thompson, Of
Gen. Beauregard's staff The cordial warmth of man
ner, the fine head expressive features and grizzly
beard and moustache were not unfamiliar in Washing
ton late the beginning of the present year.
1t Mr. Buchanan's we-known Secretary of the
Interior, the Hon. Jacob NJ. Thompson, Mississippi
millionaire, ex-Congressman from the very district on
whose soil he now stood under flag of truce, and
still entitled to northern respect, the only one
of the resgning secessonists who left Mr. Buchanans
cabinet without the stain Of dshonor upon his name
The Colonel bad been sent in by Gen. Beauregard
TO turn over TO Gen. Haeck SONG sxtytwo prisoners
recently captured near Fort Holman, Tennessee, land
released under parole not to bear arms against tie
COnederacy until regularly eXchanged,) and to see
what Gen. Halleck would agree TO in the way of
general system of exchanges. He was escorted by
Beauregards bOdyguard, fine body of cavalry from
New Orleans under the command OF Captain Dreux.
II might be ungenerOus, after the very pleasant inter
view We bad, but our officers could not repress their
suspicion nat there another object beside the
lease of siXy-two paroed prisoners, and that they
DESTROYS Of learning precisely where our lines
were, and what they could, by penetrating them
| as far as possible.
COLONEL THOMPSON AND CAPTAIN DREuI.
They had of course, been stopped beyond outer
pickes, and hour of pleasant talk filled up
the intervals while Beauregards letter TO Haleck and
Thompson request for personal interview we're taken
back TO head quarters and answers awaited. Both the
Colonel and Cap. DreuX made themselves agreeable
as possible, and there sort OF tact understanding,
BY which both sides avoided unpleasant subjects. The
grounds Of complaint the South had against the North
were alluded to for moment, but with Col. Thomp-
sons Well, well, can it in the light,
the matter dropped.
They prouse in their expressions Of regret that
the war should have broken ALL and particularly
bitter against the abolitioniss ave dom like to fight
YOU northern men, said Col. Thompson; sit grieves
us to think of having 10 meet men we like as we do
you in battle; want TO fight your abotonists.
know" he continued, :" you have very few of them
here but if you could collect regiment Of them Id
pick out regiment Of our fre-eaers, and have them
brought out face to face in open field. I'D be willing
abide by the result go which way would. But we
don't like TO have to fight you"
al do regret one thing, he said again, addressing
himself to the officer commanding the pickets Of the
9Th Ohio, Col Cornell, whom he had known as an
odlne Democrat, "and that is, that the old Demo
cratic party is permitting itself 10 be used by the abo
litonists aud is now absolutely under their control"
Col Cornell disputed the proposition. "You'l see
how it will be when the war is over, said Col Thomp-
SON. Even now you see how Congress is drifting,
and the TO set and stronger and stronger
in Z P SAM
the current Il your members had stayed m Congress,
suggested a bystander. "Oh, no! might, perhaps,
have pushed of the evil day little further but that
was all. Abotionism is going To sweep everything
before it, Just foresaw it would II was just as
well to meet the matter any time, but we did
not expect you northern Democrats to help swell the
abolition power.
conc of the saddest Of all the sad things in this
war" said the Colonel again, is in cases like this:
Lieutenant - is in our army. He has two brothers
with you. One of them, some months ago, was Sc
yerely wounded at Mill Spring. where he fought, too,
and he has never vet been able 10 learn whether he
died or not Can any of you tell me" Unfortunately
none of us knew and the family suspense remains
unbroken notwithstanding the CoOnes kindly effort.
| And then followed inquiries almost innumerabe,
about old friends on the other side. Among others,
| Col r. asked after Matt. Martin, OF Columbus. told
him of his being the editor of the Salesman and when
| added with trife of malice aforehought, for which
trust Matt will forgive me, that up North we accused
him of being pretty fair sccesslonls for Ohio latitude,
II
1 q" Very glad, indeed, assure you.
The Colonel was anxious to know what Cox chances
for reelection were from the Columbus district. "
know of course that he is doing well but will he get
10 Congress, again. 1t particularly pleasant To be
able to assure him that the Legislature was supposed
to have stumbled on wise Precaution in that case.
"You havnt heard of your taking Richmond yet,
have you:" We told him we had not dispatches TO
that effect vet but that confidently expected them
| within few DAYS. "You wont get them," said he;
"you re not going to take Richmond without much
harder fight than you're counting on The loss Of
| New Orleans Pensacola and Norfolk freely adj
mitted and the immense advantage thus gained acknow
| lodged "But it all wont do, gentlemen You may
take some of cities, but YOU cant suhJugate the
South Your conhscatiOn, which, staye 1t Oft as you
will in Congress, you bound TO come to- and your
Subiugation simply determination. stoo great
an undertaking for any power.
II was pretty hard TO lose New Orleans, they said;
and Ben Butler establishing his head quarters at the
II Charles was the btteTeS pill vet; but still all this
would ONLY give them the energy OF desperation They
must fight, because they couldn't afford TO fail "And
gentlemen" solemnly repeated the maral-looking
yalry Captain, "you may win some victories over u.s.
but you can never subdue us.
The secession prisoners at Columbus were inquired
after and the story of their kind treatment was re-
ceiyed with great qualification. Col. Thompson had
some relatives among them; and "could arrange il
so that he could send them message, Or if possible
few lines in writing" True to newspaper habits,
had writing materials with me, and the Colonel at
availed himself of the offer, and sat down on log TO
write a letter. He insisted on reading II over TO Col
Connel to assure him there nothing improper in
what he had written, and expressed great delight at the
opporunity for such certain and speedy communication
Meantime our officers had been minging freely with
the rebels and all of good natured remarks or
tart reioinders were being exchanged. One of our
captains and tall, lank, long haired, sallow-faced
back-ey Louisanian, struck boldly out into first
principles and the wrongs of the South and the theory
of secession were most yoluby defended and rdculed
Horse trading proposed by Others, and but for the
- and apfn MIR IN
ferred their allegiance, and have been enjoying another
government before shutdown.
HALIEsK's REPLY TO BEAuREoARp.
At last the officers returned from Hallsek's head
quarters, The General could not consent that Colonel
Thompson should come within lines requested
and he would be willing to reciProcste the release of
prisoners by returning them an equal number in ex
CT nriL.nllL cha..rinal aL