Queer Scenes under a Flag of Truce.
The exchange of prisoners taken in the battle in
Tazewell took place in that county on the 15th instant.
Most of the officers present, both Confederate and Federal, were Tennesseeans.
A letter from a participant in the ceremonies, to the Knoxville
Register, says:
‘
On my arrival at
Jones's, some three miles beyond
Tazewell, I met with
Cols. Bird and
Shelly, from
Roane county, and several other officers from
Kentucky and
Ohio, in company with some of our officers who had gone out before me, all quite jovial and friendly, taking friendly drinks together, &c.--I found our friends
Bird and
Shelly in fine health, well dressed, fine uniforms, &c. I had a long conversation with them.
I think
Col. Bird is rather on the anxious seat, and tired of Lincolndom and the laws passed by Abraham's Congress.
Col. S. appeared better satisfied, and said the
North had done nothing that was not right.
I disputed the remark; but we had not met to talk politics, so we said no more.
I inquired after our friends from
Tennessee generally, and found that they were well.
Jim Brownlow is
Lieutenant Colonel of
Bob Johnson's regiment.
Strange for
Brownlow's son and
Andrew Johnson's to lie down together.
I learned that
Dan Trewitt, of
Hamilton county, and
Lieut. Bogard, of
Philadelphia,
Monroe county, were aids of
Brig. Gen. Spear.
Clift, from
Hamilton, was organizing the 7th regiment.
R. M. Edwards was over there, getting up a mounted regiment, to get after
McLean's regiment.
Young
Pickens, who got his hand nearly cut off at Strawberry Plains Bridge, holds an office in one of the regiments.
I could hear of but few from my county.
Bogard and
Jones, from
Philadelphia; Rosers, from
Fork Creek;
John B. Libton's son, from near
Morganton; and a few others, were all I could hear of from my county.
David Cleveland, from near my town, has not joined the army, but is trading in stock; his brother, the
Major, from
Hamilton, has resigned and gone back into
Kentucky, as well as many other
East Tennessee officers.
Cliagan, of
Bradley county is
Captain of a company;
Sneed, of
Monroe county, is a Captain also.
Colonel Bird says that his opinion is that the
North cannot crush the rebellion in less than eighteen months. They also say that they will have six hundred thousand men in the field soon.
The Rev. Mr. Carter, chaplain to
Col. Carter's 2d Tennessee regiment, was present, and appeared to be enthusiastic.
He met with his cousin,
Col. Hal.
Gillespie, of
Colonel Ashby's regiment.
He wanted to convince the
Colonel that he was wrong. &c., but the
Colonel declined.
Mr. Carter seemed to think that his quarters would be at the
Gap all fall, and wanted his mother to visit him there.
I guess he will wake up there soon and think otherwise.
They all appeared to think that the
Gap could not be taken.
My opinion is that to take it by storm will cost us half of our attacking force, if they defend.--From my conversation with different officers, I think the most of their forces have gone beyond the
Gap; but in a few days I hope to be able to give you a correct statement of their whereabouts.
I think there will be a shaking of dry bones about the
Gap.
Col. Shelly exchanged spurs with
Col. Tom Taylor.
Col. Bird also exchanged with me, and we got much the best of the swap.
I think, with
Col. Rird's spurs on, I will be able to overtake him on his retreat; but we all agreed to shoot high if we got in pistol shot of each other on the battle-field.
’
