Col. John M. Harrell, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 10.2, Arkansas
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[147]

Headquarters Federal Forces, In the field, December 7, 1862.
Commanding Officer, Confederate Forces:

General: The bearer, Dr. Parker, visits your lines with a flag of truce for the purpose of caring for my wounded.

Jas. G. Blunt, Brigadier-General Commanding.

The bearer of the flag indicated twelve hours from sunrise next day as the desired period of truce. To this I acceded, detaining the Federal officer and notifying General Blunt immediately of the fact. Receiving no written reply, and the bearer of my first note not returning, I again gave him the same information. He replied as follows:

Headquarters Federal Forces, In the field, December 8, 1862.
Maj.-Gen. T. C. Hindman, Commanding Confederate Forces:

I have the honor to acknowledge your second note, under flag of truce, and express to you my regards for the privilege granted of entering your lines to care for my wounded, which is in accordance with the usages of civilized warfare. Instead of returning a written reply, as perhaps I should have done, I sent an unarmed party with ambulances, accompanied by commissioned officers, to meet General Marmaduke and to be by him conducted within your lines.

I have the honor to be, General, your obedient servant,

Jas. G. Blunt, Brigadier-General Commanding.

General Blunt's officer had submitted a proposition, as by authority, that surgeons, hospital nurses and attendants on the sick and wounded should not in any case be regarded as prisoners, but released unconditionally. This was not in such shape as to be conclusive. I therefore requested that General Blunt should meet me, personally, next day. He assented, and we met about 10 a. m. on the 8th. The result of the conference was the adoption of the proposition before referred to, with the additional stipulation that ambulances and hospital trains, medicines and hospital stores should be exempt from capture.

The following is an interesting acknowledgment of trophies:

Headquarters Trans-Mississippi Department, Little Rock, Ark., December 24, 1862.
Maj.-Gen. T. C. Hindman, Comdg. First Corps, Trans-Mississippi Army, in the field:

General: I have the pleasure of acknowledging receipt, at the hands of Lieutenant Hammett, acting assistant