The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-07-29
ASHLAND. ASHLAND COUNTY OHIO. WEDNESDAY MO

of your letter to rue on the I'd instant, pro-
ceeded on the mission therein assigned with
out delay The steamer Torpedo, commanded
by Lieutenant Hunter Davidson, of the navy,
was put in; readiness as soon as possible, by
order of the Secretary of the Navy, and tend
cred for the service At noon, on the Sd,
she started down James river, hosting and
| bearing flag of truce after passing City
Point. The next day {the 4th, at about one
o'clock P, NJ, when within few miles of
Newport News, we were met by small boat
of the enemy, carrying two guns, which also
raised white flag before approaching asia
The officer in command informed Lieuten
ant Davidson that he had orders from ,Admi-
raj Lee, on board the United States Aag SIP
Minnesota, lying below, and then in view, not
| e-allew any boar or vessel to pass the point
near which she was Stationed without his per-
mission. BY this officer I sent to Admiral
Lee a note stating my objects and wishes, a
copy of which is hereunto annexed, marked A.
I also sent to the Admiral, to be forwarded,
another in the same language, addressed to
the officer in command of the United States
forces at Fortress Monroe. The gunbt at pro-
ceeded Immediately to the Minnesota with
these dispatches, while the Torpedo remained
at anchor. Between three and -four O'Clock,
p. NJ, another boat came up to us, bearing
the Admiral's answer, which is hereunto an
nexed, marked B.
We remained at or about this point in the
triv,r until the 9th instant, when, having heard
nothing further from the admiral, at IL o'clock
NJ, ont at day, directed Lieutenant David
son again to speak the gunboat on guard, and
to hand to the officer in command another
note to the admiral. This was DONE copy
of the note is appended, marked q. At half
past two o'clock, p. N. two boats approached
us from below, one bearing an answer from
the admiral to my note to him of the 4th.-
This answer is annexed, marked d.
The other boat bore the answer of Licuten-
ant Col. W H. Ludlow tony note of the 4th,
addressed to the officer in command at Fort
Monroe. A copy of this is annexed, marked
4. Lieut-Col. Ludlow also came up in per-
son in the boat that brought his answer to
me, and conferred with Colonel Ould, on board
the Torpedo, upon same matters he desired to
see him about in connection with the exchange
of prisoners. From the papers appended, en-
bracing the correspondence referred to, it will
be seen that the mission failed from the refu-
sal of the enemy tc receive or entertain it.
holding the propositions for such conference
The influence and views that led to this de.
Termination after so long consideration of
the subject, must be left to conjecture. The
reason assigned for the refusal by the United
tomary agents and cha nels" are considered
adequate for all needful military "communi
cations and conferences" to one acquainted
with the facts, seem not only unsatisfactory,
but very singular and unaccountable for it is
certainly known to him that these very agents,
to whom he evidently alludes, heretofore agreed
upon In former conference in reference to
the exchange of prisoners Conc of the sub
jects mbraced in your letter to me) are now,
and have been for some time, distinctly at is
sue on seve eral important points The exis-
ting cartel owing to these disagreement$, is
virtually suspended so far as the exchange of
officers on either side is concerned. Notices
of retaliation have been given on both sides
The efforts, therefore, for the many and CO.
gent reasons set forth in your letter of instruc
tions to me, td see if these differences could
not be removed and if clearer understanding
between the parties as to ghe general conduct
Of the war could not be arrived at before this
extreme measure should be restored to by
either party was no less in accordance with
the dictates of humanity than in strict confor-
nifty with the usases of belligerepts in mod
ern times Deeply impressed as [ with
thes views and feelings in undertaking the
mission and asking the conference,I san but
express my profound regret at the result of
the effort made to obtain it, and can but en-
tertain the belief that if the conference sought
had been granted, nutual good could have
been efected by it /; aud it this war, so unnat
ural, so unjust, so unchristian and 81 inconsis
tent with every fundamental principle of
American constitutional liberty "must needs"
continue to be waged against us, that at least
some of its severer horrors, which now SO
eminently threaten. might have been avoided.
Very respectfully,
- tT-fsai ALEXANDER Ell. STEPHENS.