Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-24

they possessed, because of their Union senu-
ments, and had sought shelter under their
fathers root. Christopher Columbus Floran-
da, and Margaret Ann, were the names of the
grandchildren.
In the midst OF this history we were sum
moned to supper, where we found table
spread with a white cloth, upon vi ich we
found roast pork, warm biscuit, sweet pota-
to pie, with Mrs. johnson and her daughter
in-law standing near to pass us the coffee We
kept the cups moving. Supper over, we again
seated ourselves for the evening around the
fire. Mr.. johnson told us that soon al
ter the North Carolina troops came up.
on the island, they pressed his horse into the
service, and used him TO assist in building the
forts. The day OF the battle one OF the rebel
commanders took him TO ride, and he was
killed in the engagement. He also told us
that he had grapes enough stolen from his
vines to have made several barrels OF wine.
He suffered in many ways from their depreda-
tons. The old lady was particularly emphat-
&c towards the rebels, and many times wished
them all where their horse was, dead Beside
the road" She told us in very forcible man
ner, that for six weeks before we came, she
had prayed to Almighty God every night, that
million Yankees might land on the island
and kill every rebel. She said that Sam Jar
Wis had been one OF the bitterest and noisest
OF the rebels all summer, and that his wife had
been very saucy and insolent to all the union
people She warted that we should go there
next day and demand dinner, and make
them get it for US.
In the course of the evening, some OF us
took from our pockets some photographs, and
the old lady thinking them to be caIdS at once
covered up her eyes with both hands but
discovering her mistake, she looked at them
with interest She then told us " hat a feeling
she had against card playing. The rebels
played them Sundays and all, behind the
roads, or wherever they might be. When our
fleet bombarded the fort, the shells and rifle
shots fell all about this house One that
weighed over a hundred pounds we saw and
lifted.
Thus passed the evening, till we were
shown by Mr.. johnson to our lodgings, where
we tried nights repose on feather beds, but
not much to our comfort for we were as uu-
easy as fish out of water, being about as much
ont of a soldiers element Morning at last
came and with it good breakfast, after which
we visited the battle ground, and there spent
an hour or more very pleasantly. We exam
med the places which we occIpied during the
engagement, and it was more of a wonder TO
us than ever, how we got there through such
a swamp. We found many logs there nearly
cut off by cannon ball, just above our heads,
and the ground all about US was covered with
small limbs, cut by the musket balls, from the
trees. We then went to the place of our first
landing where we found the family here re
turned. From thence we went to Ashby land
ing, where were the graves of our comrades,
who fell i'll battle, and those who have died
since-twenty-six graves in all,-neatly ar
ranged, with evergreen trees as kind of
hedge, and most Of the graves with neat head
boards, on which were carved the name, age,
regiment, and company OF the deceased, with
this inscription on most, "whO fell in action,
Feb. 9Th, 1862, on Roanoke Island"
Thus We paid our last tribute of love and
respect to our brave comrades, who fell nobly
doing their duty, and, as we turned away, felt
and expressed SYM athy for their friends at
home. Slowly and pleasantly we wound our
way back to Mr. Johnsons, where we had lett
our haversacks, and, on reaching the house,
seated ourselves tor little rest, when the
daughter in law of Mrs johnson handed round
TO each one OF us large piece of pie. As we
parted we bid them hearty good bye, and
some of us who had left little ones at home
| gould not refrain IRON giving the children a
five years OF age; after which We Went
through Tue uilIelehl can ps on Tue sn0rei ana
| through Gen Burnsides headquarters, to the
three large forts, and to Camp Foster In our
tramp we passed by a newly made burying
ground, where were forty-two graves OF rebels
who died in September and October, reach
ing our quarters about the middle of the alter
noon.
Thus we ended our winter, and commenced
our spring, with a ramble in Roanoke, talking
with the people, listening to the thousand rob-
ms, buebirds, bObolinks. brown thrashers
&c, aud seeing green peas in many OF the
gardens about three inches high The
two days thus spent by six members of COM
pIny A, will ever remain one of the bright
spots Of our soldier life, We had tramp of
over twenty-five miles. You can imagine that
we were glad once more to enter our rough
quarters, where, sitting upor the floor, with
knapsack in lap, this letter has been written,
and with it, thousands go by to-morrow's mail
TO many anxious friends at home. TIE.