Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-23
A CURIOUS STORY.
An Illinois colonel visits Jen. DavI

The New York Times prints the follow.
ing story, which is corroborated by a
despatch to the Tribune, relating that Col
onel jacques and his companion had just
returned from Richmond.
can individual fresh from Richmond,
not as q released prisoner, but an honored
guest, entertained three days in the cap
itaI of the southern confederacy, feasted
by JEFF. Davis, Benjamin and their COM
peers, having around him the romance and
the mystery of an unknown mission, and
knowing the secrets of the rebel prison
house, is rdrG AUS enough to make a SEN
sation even amid the leaden and languId
heat of Washington summers day. Such
parsonage, bringing with him all the ex-
perience enumerated, arrived here to. day
direct from Richmond, by way of General
Grants headquarters. His name is COL
onel James F. Jacques, of the Seventy
third Illinois volunteers, Colonel, but par
son also, being a minister of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Though neither envoy
nor ambassador, Colonel Jacques had a
mission of his own, clothed with no su-
tHority to speak for either President or
government, he appears to have had au-
thority enough of some kind to command
|
ers that sit in Richmond; in fine, without
being a plenipotentiary, he seems to be
endowed with certain species of power
behind the throne that caused him to be
attentively listened to and kindly treated
by the chiefs of the rebellion.
CHARACTER OF HIS MISSION.
"Of the real object and end of Colonel
Jaques's mission, am requested by him
| N 2 - e.
state, however, that it is in no respect of
fetal in its character, and that he had no
warranty whatsoever to enter into any
negotiations between the government and
the rebel authorities. Any statement that
would convey a different impression is
false. Secondly, it may be stated that
though Colonel Jaques's mission contem-
plates results of the highest Importance,
these results are Interior rather than i'm
mediate. Finally. it is wArrantable to say
that, though his mission was one of peace
it was not peace mission. Col. Jacques
belongs to the church militant, and be.
lieves most heartily in dealing the rebel.
lion what Hudibras calls "apostolic blows
e and knocks" Yet he has faith that thu
} time will come, and is rapidly coming
n when an agency of RECONCILIATION, which h,
believes to be of immense power, can b.
: used.
5 animated by this sentiment, he sue
o ceeded in SO impressiug his views upon Mr.
Y Lincoln that the President, without &C
cordiug him the smallest official recogni
ton or authority, was willing, believing
b his honesty of purpose, that he should tr-
n the experiment of n visit to Richmond
# Accordingly he gave him personal re
commentator to General Grant to pas
i him through the lines or otherwise forwar
IS his views.
COLONEL JAQUEs GoEs TO RICHMOND.
g "Thus aided, Colonel Jacques, acoompa
: MEN by Mr.. Edward Kirke, made his wa,
# from General Grants headquarters to th
Porth side of the James river, and psssiu
the rebel lines, reached the Confederat
o capital. Here they remained for three days
: Saturday, Sunday aud Monday last. Will
in Richmond, Colonel Jacques, at his owl
request, was placed under guard but b
had the entire freedom OF the city, and pu
4 up during his visit at the Spottswood Hous
the crack hotel of Richmond.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE REBEL PRESIDENT.
3 "The Colonel, during his three days stay
= visited the various Confederate authoritie
as well as the prisons and hospitals il
which our captivss and wounded are con
fined. He had two prolonged interview
with President Davis in his office in tn,
Custom House; and although the nature
and subject matter Of the conversations be
tween himself and the rebel President ART
not proper for present publication, yet it IL
understood that Colonel Jacques met with
considerable success in impressing hi
views upon Mr.. Davis. When taking hi.
leave, Davis took the Colonel's hand il
both his, shook it warmly and cordially
and stated that, leaving out of view thu
present struggle, he bad the highest respect
for his character and aims.
J HOW THE COLONEL WAS EErERrA1SED.
The Coleuel, while a guest at the
SpottsWood House, Jared sumptously, be.
ing fed on chicken, turkey, mutton, and al
the viands of well appointed hotel, and
entertained with fine braudies and costly
wines. His bill would have amounted to
more than $500 in Confederate money, buI
he found it impossible to induce his enter.
tanners to accept any retuFp for the hospi-
} tality he had received.
he VISITS VARIOUS DIGSITARIEs
"Colonel Jacques also had an interview
with Mr.. Benjamin, Secretary of State, Mr..
0uld, Commissioner of Exchange and other
Confederate diguitaries and authorities.
THE REBEL PRISONS.
THE Colonel was permitted to visit the
Libby and Belle Isle prisons, and reports
that he was sgreeably disappointed by the
comparatively comfortable condition in
which he found our Union captIyss there
IN confined. The wounded, also, though
only the more desperate cases, are retained