The following conversation occurred at Normandy, Tennessee, between a Confederate prisoner, captured at Knoxville, and the correspondent of a Northern paper:

“Are you going to take the oath?”

“No; I’ll rot in prison first.”

“What are you fighting for?”

“Our rights.”

“What are your rights?”

“Well,”—hesitating, and attempting to clear his throat,—-”well, I can’t ‘xactly tell yer; the fact is, I can’t read; but there’s them that does know.”