Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1862-11-28

At . o'clock on Friday morning, Nov.
Z, we were under way. Capt. Budd, of
the gunboat Potomska, had kindly prom
ised the evening before to accompany US
past the most dangerous places. On
reaching his station in Sapelo Sound,
we found him in readiness Oar little
feet, led by the Potomska, and followed
by the Darlington, sailed proudly up
the winding Sapelo, now through
marshes, and then past large and beau
tiiul plantations. It was very affecting
to see our soldiers watching intently the
colored forms on land, enc saying in the
agony of deepest anxiety. ooh, mas'r,
my wife and chilen lib dere," and an
other singing cut, ''dere, dere my brod
der" Or ",ny sister, The earnest loug-
ings Of their anguish h-riven hearts for
landings, and then the sad, inexpressi-
bic Except by sighs,) regrets as the
steamer passed, must be ina the y
cannot be described
The first landing was made at a picket
station on Charles Hopkins plantation
The enemy was driven back; few guns
and sword only captured. The Po-
tomoka came to anchorage, for lack OF
sufficient water, IL few miles above, a:
Reuben Kings plantation. Here we
witnessed rich scene Some fifty ne
groes appeared on the banks, about
thirty rods distant from their master S
house, and some distance from the Dar-
linston. They gazed upon us with in
tense feelings, ultimately turnig their
eyes toward their master, who was watch
ing them from his piazza, and toward
our steamer, which, as yet, had given
them no assurances of landing. The
moment she headed for the shore, their
doubts were dispersed, and they gave US
such bowing welcome as angels would
be satisfied with Some few women
were SO filled with Joy that they ran
leaped, clapped their hands, and cried
Glory to God! Glory to God!'
The Darlington rested entirely in
front of the old planters door. About
so men were formed in line of battle in
the front yard, and some So were en-
ployed as scouts. The men were not
all landed before the dark subjects OF
the patriarchial institution were rush
ing for the boat. It only required about
fifteen minutes to gather their liberal
supply OF cold duds" AS they were
coming with bundles on their heads,
children in their arms and on their
shoulders, loaded also with piggins
pots, trays, chickens, ducks, and squeal-
ing little pigs, [ yentured my unhal
! lowed feet upon the piazza when [ met
the planter and a widowed daughter
VINO was joint owner of the fleeing
''chattels." Sautations being ex.
changed, l remarked to the lady, 'This
is a sad morning to you
Yes said she, this seems hard.
you may consider yourselves fortu
nate in being thus provldentially re.
lieved Of responsibility of going tc
Judgment with the blood of these
people upon you"
''lf it were the wish of Providence
then let him take them by death,'' re
piled she. But their life is worth moro
than their death 1T is d divine insti
tuition"
Ii it were divine, we replied, it woulc
relieve them of their rags, and filth
renovate their dark and loathsome cab
ins, open the school house to their chill
dren, and cease to sell husbands anc
wives, parents and children. You see
how eagerly they rush to us, with {
thousand benedictions, while they ex
press no kind regards to you. Tht
good lady had no reply, except that the
negroes were all their dependencies.
After relieving the old planter ant
daughter of twenty thousand dollars
worth Of humanity, i. e., ffty-two slaves
and the leather Of his tannery, we re
embarked. Our boats were sent once
ANA again, however, to the shore TO
men, who, having heard the steam
whistle, came in greatest haste frop
distant plantations.
As the Potomska could 90 no further
Capt. Budd kindly offered to accompun,
us with Que guns crew We were glaG
to have his company and the services 0
the crew, as We had only one guns GREY
o. coiored men. Above us was benz
in the river, and high bluff covere'
with thick woods. There we appre
hended danger, for the rebels had ha
ample time to collect their forces. Th
men were carefully posted, fully in
structed as to their duties and danger
by Col. Beard Our Parrots wer
manned, and everything was in readl
ness. No sooner were we within riH
shot than the enemy opened upon us
heavy fire from behind the bank an
trees, also from the tops of the trees
Our speed being slow, and the river
bend quite large, we were within rang
of the enemys guns for some time
How we'll our troops bore themselve
F will be seen by Capt. Budd's testimony
Our next landing was made at DAME
McDonald's plantation. His extensiv
and valuable saltworks were dem oishe
and he himself taken prisoner. b
documents captured, it was ascertaine
that he was rebel of the tallest klno
We took only few of his slaves, as b
drove back into the woods about ninet
of them just before our arrival. On
fine looking man came hobbling dow
on a crutch. Mcdonald had shot o
one of his legs about eighteen month
:, before. The next plantation had som
! 500 slaves on it; several of our troop
had come from it, and also had relative
there. But the lateness Of the hot
: and the dangerous points to be passe
on our return admonished US to retrea
Our next attack was expected at til
bluff. The enemy had improved tn
time since we passed them in gatherin
= reinforcements. Col. Beard prepare
the men for warm fire. While every
, thing was in readiness, and the steame
> dropping down hard upon the enem..
the writer passed around among tt