Exchange of Confderate officers — Scene at the exchange.
It will be recollected that a few weeks since our Government sent fifty-six Yankee officers, including
Generals Wessel,
Seymour,
Shaler,
Hickman and
Scanmon, to
Charleston, to be placed in prison there.
They were placed in an elegant mansion in the western portion of the city, near the
Ashley river, so far out of range that the only shell that burst near them was one which exploded the day before their exchange.
They enjoyed themselves in a fine court-yard with games of ball, &c., and also had a very fine bath-house at their disposal.
When the
Yankees determined to place as many of our officers actually under fire at
Morris Island, it was rumored that we had determined to place these Yankees on the ramparts at
Fort Sumter.
This rumor came to the ears of
General Seymour, one of the prisoners, who intimated to
Captain H. H. Raymond, Adjutant and
Inspector-General, that probably an explanation would lead to less dreadful results.
Captain Raymond informed
Seymour and his companions that if they desired to make a proposition to
General Foster for an exchange, he thought no objection would be made on our part to such a course.
The result was that
General Foster requested one of our staff officers to meet one of his, in order to effect a negotiation, which was effected--
Major Lay acting on our part.
The exchange took place on Wednesday, nearly opposite Battery Wagner, steamers having carried both parties to the spot.
In leaving, the
Yankee officers expressed their thanks for the kindness with which they had been treated in
Charleston.
The roll was called for our officers, and the following then came on board our steamer:
Major-General Edward Johnson,
Virginia;
Major-General Frank Gardner,
Louisiana;
Brigadier- General George H. Stewart,
Maryland;
Brigadier-General J. J. Archer,
Virginia;
Brigadier- General M. Jeff.
Thompson, Missouri.
Colonels James N. Brown, Fourteenth South Carolina;
H. M. Barbour, Thirty-seventh North Carolina;
R. W. Carter, First Virginia cavalry;
Norvell Cobb, Forty-fourth Virginia infantry;
B. E. Candill, Tenth Kentucky cavalry;
B. W. Duke, Second Kentucky;
W. H. Forney, Tenth Alabama;
W. J. Ferguson, Sixteenth Virginia;
J. M. Hanks,
Kentucky cavalry;
R. C. Morgan,
Kentucky;
W. H. Peebles, Forty-fourth Georgia; James Pell,
Forrest's cavalry; Vandavender, Fiftieth Virginia;
W. W. Ward,
Tennessee.
Lieutenant-Colonels James T. Tucker, Seventh regiment;
James T. Brown,
Forrest's cavalry;
P. E. Davant, Thirty-eighth Georgia;
William Lee Davidson, Seventh North Carolina;
J. P. Fitzgerald, Twenty-third Virginia;
C. L. Haynes, Twenty-seventh Virginia;
D. H. L. Marty, Tenth Virginia;
W. M. Parsley, Third North Carolina;
A. L. Swingley,--;
M. J. Smith, artillery;
O. A. Patton,--
Majors D. M. Anderson, Forty-fourth Virginia;
J. W. Caldwell, First Kentucky;
J. T. Carson, Twelfth Georgia;
W. T. Ennell, Third North Carolina;
J. E. Gross,
Assistant Adjutant-General;
E. M. Henry, Fourth Missouri;
H. G. A. Higley,
Commissary Subsistence;
W. H. Manning, Sixth Louisiana;
E. A. Nash, Fourth Georgia;
L. J. Perkins, Fiftieth Virginia;
E. J. Sanders,
Sanders' battery;
Thomas Steele, Third Kentucky;
T. E. Upshaw, Thirteenth Virginia;
F. F. Warley, Second South Carolina artillery;
Thomas B. Webber, Second Kentucky;
J. M. Wilson, Seventh Louisiana;
G. H. Smith,
Assistant Adjutant-General to
Major-General-
Wheeler.
Lieutenants A. DuPre,
Aide-de-camp Major-General Gardner's Staff;
T. G. Jackson,
Aide-de-camp Brigadier-General Anderson's Staff;
J. A. Jacques,
Aide-de-camp, volunteer to
General Gardner.
The Yankee band struck up "Home," and the steamers parted.
Upon the arrival at
Charleston,
Major-General Ed. Johnson was presented with a wreath of flowers by the ladies.
In receiving it, he spoke of having tried hard not to be captured, but said that hereafter he would try still harder.
General Jeff Thompson also made a speech.
General Thompson and several of the officers exchanged arrived in this city yesterday.
