, 1865-02-05


Sunday, Jan. %, 1s65-10 a. m.
For many days the weather bus been In
tcns"ly cold, and many cases of frost-bittc1
iect, ears, checks. Ec., on the picket n,
| arc reported. To-day the intense cold ha4
1aodelaxd, esd thou. .h the sun shenc blight
T. and the air was calm, the rosds were so.ii
and travellers many.
In front Of Col. Halriman's brigade, of vii
coA's division, 9th Corps, about noon to-day
3 flag OF truce WAS displayed on the parape,
o. the cncmy's works, q few rods to tic rielt
Of the center. The bearer stated that *.H1u,
Alexander Il. Stephens, Vice President OF the
Southern Contedcracy, and Hon. L. u. r.
ceeting to Gen. Grants headquarters that
they were expected, and would hare ap.
preached via the James River, hut were una
tic to do 80, OWN. to theicc in the stream. y
The message sent BY the bcarer Of The Con.
1ederatc Tag of truce was sent at once to the
headquarters Of the 9th Corps.
The news thnt Messrs Stephens and Hun
lines few like wild 1ire through the camps.
They were distinguished men :; they had made
Ianlcs for themselves before the war begun.
before acqu1escing In the severance OF the re.
public, and the Union soldiers, who are rcad-
Ing men, knew it. Curiosity Is one Of the
fai1ings Of the Union soldier, and, as the news
Of the flag passed from camp to camp, tents
y buried soldiers emerged, pickets brought
their ritled-muslcts 10 an = order" and au,
not otherwise engaged, covered tue parnpcts
Of the works of the main and picket lines.
As you know, for many days there has been
q tacit understanding along this part OF the
today, the members Of the corps did not
think it conducive to their health to exhibit
themselves prominently.
The white flag, however, brought both en-
fontsts and Coniederates within plain, point
blank shooting rungcof each other, and wait
Ing for reply to the rebel request, they
showed themselves in clouds on the works Of
the contCudinE armies, "How are yoa Fort
Fisher - Gays the Yanks; "Good-bye, Euro
pcan importations; )" Have you heard from
Hood ~" Did you know That your Visgtnian,
Thomas. had presented to Old Abe worsted
Hood :" and many other remarks Of like
nature
The " Confeds'' seemed to take 1t all in
good part, aud made, in some instances, quite
happy replies, such as, s'Fos Fisher may be
gone UP, bnt why don't you take Fort Cra-
ter:" "Gwin's q fool, and VIC don't care .
d-n for anything more from Europe;" aud
hoods hoodwinked old Thomas, and you'll
hear from him directly, I reckon.''
So they passed the time intervening before
the reply came. Men who, few moments
later. might be engaged in mortal combat,
whi]ed away the closing hours Of the bcaati-
full Sabbath in seemingly friendly intercourse.
But does any one dream that, II In the midst
had been given, Prepare for action" any
oft soldiers, So jocose and free from care,
would have disobeytd the commando No!
But, shoulder 10 shoulder, they wouid have
repeated the lesson they have been endeayor-
ing to teach the foes Of their country for
these long years. In the soldiers life there
is sunshiue and shadoT; but, alas the slad-
ow prcdomInates. The Union soldier lives
cn in the hope that through the shadow
will finally break the sun Of peace, rejecting
against the b:nk of adyersity's clouds rain
bow Of victory, telling In unInistakable colors
Of Union" conquered and thereafter indi-
visible.
As the bright orb Of day neared the Vest
ern horizon, and glnnced upon the lofty
spires If the get unconqucrcd "Cocka1e
City" an officer from The headquarters Of the
Ninth Corps Eeared our foremost line, All
were on tho tptoe Of excitement; but, SOL
dferlike, the gallant Colonel kept his own
from o white handkerchief, proceeded to
scale the works; and, with one companion,
advanced to the neutral ground.
After some minutes waiting, he WIS met
By four officers of the Confederacy, aud q
conference Was held within stones throw
q the scene Of the terrible trugedy Of the
s0th Of July last. What The result OF this in
believed that no word had been received
from Gen. Grant, ana asa consequence, the
"dis1iuguished gentlencn'' IRON Geor"sa
md Virginia would have to bidc their time,
perhaps Until tomorrow.
As the flags recedcl from each other, the
Thousands who covered the works suddenly
disappeared, walking into their tents, crawl
ing into their holes. and descending into their
bombproo:s, to speculate upon the meaning
Of such seemingly urgent desire on the part
Senator to enter the Union lines. S3ecula-
tien upon This subject !s not only rife among
the soldiers, but among other thinking men,
aud the most cxtrayngnnt propositions arc
put forth. OF course il Is useless to spccu-
late. 1t may be that the yieit Of these noted
Southern gentlemen will be productive Of
good but lime alone will tell.
G. F. WILLIAMS.