The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-06-11
The Negroes of Winchester
Va, and Our Soldiers.

The Winchester (Va.) correspondent
of the Wheeling Press, a Union paper,
says:
The streets of Winchester are crowded
with negroes whose masters have fled
further South. AS the Federal army
marched up the valley, and invested the
counties of Jefferson, Clarks and Fred
erick, large numbers of slaves focked
into the camps. claiming protection. SO
far but few owners have attempted to re-
claim their property, actuated either by
dogged obstinacy aud determination not
to ask favors of an army whose purpose
they alege is to subjugate the South and
liberate the slaves. or by feeling of shame
and humiliation ut the thought of afford
ing tie Government an opportunity of
giving the lie to their unfounded charges
| was panied, however, to learn from
Union citizens that since the advent of
the Tenth Maine Regiment into the town
of Winchester. gross outrages and inde-
Ecences have been committed. 1t is no
unc ommon sight to see soldiers of this
regiment walking arm in arm with negro
weuches along the streets. | myself saw
them engaged in conversation in gtoups
at the corners, and the amorous glunces
of the fair Dinahs were responded to by
the loving smiles OF the cold and unim-
passioned Yankee boys. One of oul
company met soldier and yellow gir
promenadipg the street together, both
enjoying it immensely, the girl twisting
herself into the most agonizing attitudes
and the soldier erect as grenadier. Tht
chaplain of the regiment held service ii
the colored peoples church, and blacl
and white were seated indiscriminatel,
; together, and at the conclusion there wa
great shaking of hands aud rendering o
thanks to God that white and black wer,
enabled to meet and worship togethe
upon an equality.
] All this information I received from
Uaion men, and saw enough to satisf,
me that there was much truth in the state
ments. It is said by certain individual
!. that these little departures from stric
rules of propriety are merely done t
annoy and devil. the Secessiohists, AM
! not because the Maine soldiers have
hankeriug after the society and charm
, of the negro wenches. While those VIII
!. are engaged in this "labor of love" ar
: Furnishing the rebels, they are ontra gin,
: the feelings of Union people, whose iu
: stincts and education revolt at such dis
; gustizg exhibitions. ~. ss.
An intelligent, though bitter Seces
:, lady, said to me that the vermin n-allud
. ing to the solders-crept into her kitche
and corrupted her servants before he
eyes. "Is this the Government" sal
. she, -.you want US to support and de
fend? A Government that sends set {
depraved and abandoned wretches her
under the guise of soldiers to steal ou
! negroes!" l eXpostulated with her, bu
e in vain. ] could not satisfy her that tn
n Government would protect all those VIII
would return to their allegiance. Sh
e insisted upon it that the evidences of
:, determination upon the part of the Go,
ernment to destroy them were too palabl
Is to be misunderstood.
The negroes running at large in tt
A streets of Winchester embrace all age
Is Women with their children are ther
q. without any fixed purpose, loupging abo,
and expecting the soldiers to take care
is them. and all are fed at an expense I
10 forty cents per day to the Governmen
Clarke County has lost two-t5irds of i
r slave population. and those who profe
" to know, say that not one-half of Il
wheat can be harvested this season, ar
SO in Jefferson aud Frederiek, though nj
TO the same extent re ID gs.ra3