Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-11-04

NEW York. Oct. 3l.-On the 18th
inst. Gen. Lee wrote to Gen. Grant,
complaining Of Buffers placing rebel
prisoners under fire, in retaliation for
the rebels putting colOred soldiers cap
tured by them in like position, and pro-
ceeded at much length to show that it
has always been recognized that owners
of slaves were entitled to their slaves
when recaptured. 1t was so under the
United States Constitution, so even af-
ter the war Of 1912, England paying in
demnity for slaves captured; hence
when cOlOred soldiers were captured
the owners could claim them, and they
had been put at work on Qualifications
he Gen. Lee) had, however, ordered
them withdrawn from their exposed pO-
stion and sent to the rear.
! Grant, in reply, informed Gen. Lee
that these prisoners OF war having been
removed from the exposed position, the
I rebel prisoners had also been removed.
He also informed him that lie had moth
ing to do with the discussion Of the
slaves, and declined to answer Gen.
Lees arguments, but he assured him
that though he would regret the neces-
sity, whenever he is informed of our
prisoners neing treated unkindly, he
would inf'ict like treatment uDOn an
equal number of rebel prisoners.
New YORK, Oct 3l.--The Times cor
respondent with Buffers army details
how two of our brigades fell into rebel
trap on Thursday last.
When Gen. Weitzel reached the Will
llamsburg road he found wide open
Space and disconnected redoubts on eli
ther side Of the highway. The place
seemed favorable for a demonstration,
and the works seemed only teebly man
ned, the enemy using but one gun in
the redoubt to the right of the road
Gen. Weitzel deemed it advisable to es-
say the capture of the works, and sent
into the assault CulIom's and Fairchild's
brigades. The troops advanced gallant
~ with cheer to within q few hundred
yards Of the work OH the right, when
suddenly the other work opened Il dead
~ cross fire OF grape and shrapnell, and
our troops We're Ill trap from which
they could not escape. The majority Of
both brigades were made prisoners.
| New York, Nov. 1.-The TriJune's
| Washington special says:
Gov. Seymour's commissioners called
on the President thi;: morning. They
were courteously received, but on the
subject matter o. their mission were re-
ierred TO Secretary Stanton, who had all
The evidence in the case. They then
proceeded TO the war office and held
long interview with the Secretary, and
! it is reported that they We're much mere
courteously received and considered
than they had expected. 1t is under
stood that they desired the punishment
of Ferry and Uonahue should be made
as ighs as possible but their principal
pressure upon the Secretary IS uMoer-
stood to have been in reference to Col.
| Il f,t, k,
ing evidently of q secondary consiGera-
! ton.
| The Secretary submitted to them such
evidence as was before him, and it is
SAID, somewhat staggered their hopes of
an easy escape Of their friends by its eX-
tent and cleurness. He referred them to
the military court for further III foIma-
ton. He granted them permits to visit
the prisoners ut Old capitol, and assured
them Of Il desire TO vindicare the most
sacred rights OF all the soldiers in the
| field.
Tonight the three Commissioners
had u conference with Assistant Secle-
tary Dana, Col. Foster, the Judge Advo-
cate and Capt. Ellis, Of the Court, and
sundry other gentlemen We're present at
the interview. Judge Parker was the
principal spokesman, ana urged as
matter OF policy that the prisoners now
! confined mere should be released. He
stated the great popularity and high
social position of Col. North in the
state OF New York. He was an aid
Oh Gen. Scymour's statt and enjoyed the
confidence OF men OF ali parties, who
would not believe him guilty, whatever
evidence may be adduced, and only ir-
ritation and strife, and possibly more
serious disturbance WOULD De the couse-
Vuence on the trial.
! Ghe Judge pressed hard to learn the
evidence in the hands OF the Judge Adj
vorate, but to little purpose. lie was
shown several blanks, sworn to and wit
messed as having been signed, without
any signature having been inserted,
which were seized in Col. North's office,
aid others lik" the ones seized at Balti-
more. He then made the point that the
! fac. that these We're found i'm Colonel
| Sorsh's office would not convict him of
a knowledge and participancy in their
| execution. The Judge Advocate is I'M
derstood to have replied that the fact Of
mined by trial, and he deemed it of
great Importance to Col. North. as well
as 10 the government, that il should
proceed Immediately.
Judge Parker then insisted on having
the trial postponed until after the cleo
ton, but lie found the Judge Advocate
equally determined, and tomorrow the
court will be occupied with IL prelimi-
nary examination of the documents
seized and of witnesses and the evidence
in their possession.
1t is rumored that much proof was
destroyed, rs they had "a hours notice
before their arrest. The commission
will remain till a trial or some definite
action is taken.
It is said the finding of the court in
the cases of Ferry and Donahue which
was submitted to the Secretary OF War,
is much more severe than hitherto con.
jectured, but the evidence in defense OF
the commissioners as to the fate of the
Baltimore victims is in striking contrast
with their anxiety for Col. North.
CHICAGO, November IA terrible
collision occurred last evening, on
the Lafayette & Indianapolis Rail-
road, by which thirty persons were
killed and about as many more
wounded. The facts are these: The
regular passenger train from Indianap-
oils, going north, composed of one bag
gage and eight passenger cars, and con-
tanned about 800 passengers, nearly all
diers, on their way to Chicago. At
Culver's Station, eight miles south of
Lafayette, this train met and passed the
regular passenger train proceeding
north. 1t had reached only one mile
when it collided with a heavy freight
train which was going south. The
collision was terrible one, and it's eff.
fects frightful. The engines were de-
molished and the baggage car and first
passenger car of the train coming North
were grouud to powder.
Thirty dead bodies, and thirty moro
or less mangled, were gathered up from
the wreck, all of whom were soldiers
except three.
We have no further particulars, and