The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-04-18
Our Special Correspondence,
From the Army OF the Potomac.

Conrersition nth RsJei Prisoner-H'Aai he
ConI,derdiss think ~ Gen heClenan- Deteyn1ind-
ton Of the Sotph--Thoss " Quaker Guns'-A Re
bel opinion 81 Brfg1disr Generais-Generdl M
GrudeT ~ a ncr Character.
CaNP BEroRE YoRKrovS, April 18th, 1861.
I have just returned from a visit ~ party q
seven prisoners, taken some ten days since by our
troops advancing along the James River. Two q
them citizens or at ieast claim y be- such one
0f the others lisa sergeant in Virginia imcnt, and
Tie others are prlysies from m Alabama regiment
Tie latter are not very likely specimens Of human
ty. The sergeant found 10 be q young man %
more than usual Intelligence. OF the prcseui
disposition Of the Confederate forces ia this
peninsula lie could, u course know nothing,
as he was taken prisoner al tie time %
our hrHt advance, more than week Sill ..
During the past winter, he tolls me, tie
rebels had at no time more than 10000 men uIun
IT, peninsula back u Fortress Monroe, sul these
were scattered at several different points. S.uco
the evacuation Of Msnaas4. tie trOoIs viii ,rawnE
from thst vicinity have been thrown IN horr, who're
the confederate Generals resolved T. make ies
perhte stanl, realizing that this must he Of the
most decisive eng 'gcmsnts u the war They have
"a wholesome dread II N Jiolisn, who IL regarded
Nruus luut tie SDutheru army decidedly the
ATTEST GENERA We have. They are directing against
him here their bet military talent. MNsrudcr Is
here, johnson and 10th JCf, Davis aud Gen. Ler,
oUuiuandor -n-chief - the Confederate forces,
will be hand when the decisive move
uent comes. Had Gen. Mcclellan marched at
once upon YorktpWn when tlo army first advanced,
Tn days ago, from Fortress Monroe, We should
have been badly WHIPPED, Sergeant Cole thinks
Now Ne believes the chances T. be decidedly against
the Confederate This prisoner tells me Il is IN
decd not unlikely t,t Virginia mly he quiet )
evacuated within thc next tlIty days. T. console
the s. rScaut iUr his own misiortunes tud him ~
the victory At Pittsburgh Landing, adding that four
uithe IutIeIu Ergtdiers were taken prisoners
bt Of b. priuttuu that Was received souew At To-
my establishment with al expression Of sstisfac-
lion rather than ~ chasriu
"lou might t,se 70 whole regiment OF those fsl-
lows, AMI not DO M any HARM" said tho phiautru-
pLiuai rebel. 1--WE can spare them. Many %
them are mere Politicians, who owe their appoint
mruts T. pcrso'Hd Influences entirely, aud npt n
any special military publications, aul we shall be
better 81 " tN1ut them"
Sergeant cole denies the stories ~ Gen. Magru-
drrH ltlltupl mtuyicatiUu, asserting that he gave
mp drinking II tie time Of his appointment u n
B1Rniirr-GcupraisIip, ant has nDt touched a drop
for SIX months. lie admits that Gen. M,gr'tler
lts tie rep ttt.an among hsuvu soldiers " having
h''u drunk when hc Doe burnt Hampton IA We, As
n'tou since, hut claims g. have direct personal
knowledge ~ the tact that report iors the me al
ul I-t.us, be- being now strict temperance man.
lie II represented u Ire very Popular I'll his men,
WIN have great confidence VA his abilities as Gen.
cra'
such, IN hri,G Nre the outlines - HAY an hour.
| Conversation with "A rebel prisoner whose state
mentl are gwen for what they are worth.