New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-05
A Visit % the Enemy.
rom Our Special Correspondent

BArTLnFIELD OF oHlLoh, Anucn 80 A'o-'
While at Gen. Buells headquarters, this morning.
learned that &c wounded Rebel prisoners mad yes
terday been sent under flag of truce to tho enemys
lines under the personal direction of Dr. Murray, the
Medical Director in Chief and that train OF amou
anccs would be sent ont at noon to receive an equs
number of our wounded in exchange. The weather
being propitious, determined at once to improve this
opportunity to pay visit to the enemy's outposts'
and making my way to Gen. McCooks Division'
was fortunate enough to meet the ambnances just Us
they were starting Having passed beyond the lines
of the Second Division, we took road leading over
succession Of finely timbered ridges, and after trav'
cling about a mile, struck the main upper road to
Corinth. Along this road we found our cutmoS
infantry pickets-squads Of from two to SIX men Do
ing stationed every sixty yards Continuing on ior
mile, we came up with the grand infantry gnard-a
regiment. belonging to Gen. Crttendens DIVISION.
A mile further to the south we passed the
grand cavalry guard-a squadron Of the I'd Kentucky
cavalry. Another half mile brought W 10 our
meet advanced mounted videttes, posted at command
ing noiu,s q short distance from each other on each
aide Of ,hs road. With cooked carbines their
saddles and drawn swords the troopers kept their
horses heads steadily turned toward the enemy
hardly throwing glance at the string Of ambuances
rs they were driven past them. Being now Deyond
the protection OF Union arms the white flag was un-
flod and its bearer ordered in advance OF the party
We had not quite moved quarter Of q mile further
on. when detachment OF cavalry suddenly came
around a bend Of the road and rode rapidly toward
ua. Al suppofed first, from their dirty gray and
buternut dress that Rebels were approaching; but
upon coming up they proved to be scouts belonging
to Gen. McCornand division, who had been max
ing one of their regular excursions into the enemy
lines disguised as Rebels. Hearing OF the OBJECT oil
olr expedition, they anxious to take the places
Of our drivers, but this proposition, however, was
declined by the medical officer in command
On both sides of the road traces of the preciptae
retreat Of the Rebels on the evening of the 7th be-
came now visible. Caissons and wagons stood here
and there with their wheels buried up to the hubs
in mrd. Light and heavy ammunition cartridges,
shells, solid and grspe-shot-was scattered about IN
piles. Tents, cooking utensils muskets, cartridge
boxes hundreds of coats and pants, blankets, barrels
and bags of flour and bacon were lying about pro-
nscrou,ly-in short tho most positive evidence 'hat
the enemy fell back hastily, and in apprehension OF
iume date and vigorous pursuit, which, unfor'
tuna,eIy. was no, made by our generals.
was riding about the abandoned Rebel goods
and chattes, hoping to find some trophy worth car
ryinc of. when a shout, Here they ar" from the
nag-bearer induced me 10 forego my search. Passing
10 the front, could make out solitary honeman"
in the middle of a corn-feid on an opposite hill
Following tho road down ravne and across small
stream halt reached our ears ss We were discern
ing a number OF tents in grove on our left, which
anerward proved Rebel hospital. Refining up our
horses in obedience 10 the Rebel command we
awaited the approach Of an officer, who made his ap-
pearauce in a few minutes introduced himself Gs the
surgeon in charge Of the hospital, and invited to
biz quarters II had been stipulated the day before
tha,the exchanged twenty-six OF our wounded should
be Transferred TO us AZ this points but the
Rebel doctoy informed Us that, owing TO their
feeble condi'ion, il had been deemed inad-
yssble to subject them 10 repeated removals,
and thst our ambnanees would be permitted TO pro-
ceed two miles further 10 receive them directly from
the next hosptal-a privilege most welcome TO your
correspondent. Although anxious TO get through
with our business at once, he insisted that we should
take dinner with him, End not wishing to be con-
sdered rude in the face Of so much politeness, we
accepted the invitation. Following him up the road
in the direction of the hospital, pasta squad
of mounted Rebels-full bearded, unkempt, dirty
looking fellows, Of low stature, dressed in "butter
nut and gray, armed with the inevitable shot-guns
and mounted on sorry nags. Hating my horse for a
few moments learned that the miserable cavalry
passed under the name and style of Arkansas rang
era One Of the fellows asked me- Why don't
YOU come out from in thare pointing in the d.
rccion of the Union encampments and fight us 2" in
reply to which advised him to be patient for few
days, when he would be accommodated with as
much fighting as his stomach would bear.
Making after our party, we soon found ourselves
in the midst Of 81 or 10 tents all crowded with
wounded Rebels. Riding mp to the Surgeons quar-
ters we all dismounted, and, after being introduced
to a Colonel and Major Of Tennessee regiment
proceeded to partake of Rebel hospitality. The din
ner was prominently plain-cofee, bread, and fried
bacon-our hos, excusing II with the failure Of their
friends at Corinth to supply them with better va
riety of food.
In the course Of the conversation during and after
dinner, the late battle was fully discussed Our Rebel
entertainers insisted that they had no, 40 600
men engaged in ii, and laughed at the assertion OF
some Of our party that they must have had 100 OO0
Thoy also claimed that their loss in killed, wounded
and missing would fall short Of 5000. They ac-
snowledged, on The other hand that they were fairly
defeated on Monday, and expressed astonishment
that no more vigorous pursuit attempted by our
forces. They boa-ted Of having full information
IA to the strength of our army, but would not give
the benefit VI estimate of it. Bcauregard,
they said, was determined TO give us battle at Cor
nth AMI would oppose our advance with more