Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-11-28
~ CAPT. :. 7. DREV.
CHAPTER X.

Our Journey to Columbia was the pleas
ant.st une We had had in any part OF the
South. The sound OF Nurk,e guns and TIE
movement OF Northern armies, were creating
something like respect for the Union soldiers.
As we lett the city, we could see thousands
of negroes at work on the Qualifications, and
we met large bodies Of troops that lad Just
come from Manassas.
The "nigeer'' is ce tainly a great insltu-
tion. At the South they can send into the
6.Id all the able bodied men and boys. and
Ieel sure that the nesro,s will till the soil
md raie. their food Then. tlo, IN the army
they have their teams driven by negroes,
SheIr horses cared for by uegIo,s, tn II COOKS
are negroes, their servants negroes; their
druumers. filters and pioneers are generally
colored men. guides. scouts, spies, tordgers,
blacksmiths. cOOpers, unkeIs, carpentere'
tailors. sadd'eis, harnes makers, oraz'ers,
rupsmiths, bOatmen, pontoonmen, engineers
6r,,kem,n. conductors, wOISmen, ana SO IN
MANY other crafts, ave negroes I0s'e you
something of an idea Of the service the rebels
get from their Iegroes, will give the statis-
tics got IRON Col. R, Of Charleston,
sc.
His regiment consisted Of ten companies,
and AZ that time was 500 strong. Here
copy from my !oarnal 900
81 Il. tod me Of the 500 men, he had
nearly 500 WHO were wealthy planters, nav
inc from % 10 go slaves. From has con-
sensation. | was able 10 make cut the follow
Company A. 50 whites, 20 blacks. Az
srape IN every company, so whites, AMI ~
blacks.
Company A,-blacks-3 cooks, 3 walters,
mechanics. 3 laborers, 3 woOd-cboppers, 8
guides and , musicians.
Taking this as an average, and we have II
che regiment, 200 tfhcient blacks to DO The
work that would otherwise require 20O white
men. Then all the remaining slaves owned
nv these rebel planters, can surely DO th'
work of 900 more white men thus WITH
tbeir slaves these 500 rebels are as good al
300 soldiers.
Certainly no honest patriot can Tor q mo
ueut condemn the policy that strips thes'
rebels Of such strong arm as their slaves
Had all the slaves been taken and made US
Of m the onward march OF our army las
spring, more than SO, GOO negroes might b
in our employ that are now IN ard OF tn
rebels.
Tbs Rebels know full well the benefit
.hesa men and hence their howl OF agon
wben the President declares be will emane
nate all the slaves Inc traitors Oh III
North know full well what an apple
discard this slavery has been, hence thei
a. honest wrath as they see it is to be place
forever among the things that have been.
Nothing of interest happened on our JouI
nov and we arrived at Columbia about
o'clock. p. NJ. the first day OF Jan. Is62
IL was not the most happy new year
We had spent. but what We lacked in hapPi
ness we made up in sport -,
We held a session OF Congress, and did d
nanv foolish things, doubt not, as ever
,saI Congress did. The Confederate soldier
md oficers seemed annoyed at our cheerful
ness They seemed greatly disappointed II
our anrearanee and actions. having got th
a. rom Charleston that We were little bet
ter than Banditti. There we're no insults OF
Eered us. and the Jail where we were confined
xas clean and wholesome. The men wer
,nlaced in sheds built for The purpose '"
found Capt. SILVER, the othcer IN charge,
gentleman. So were his ofhcers lhey di'
All thew could for US. But the peopI
nould not endure to see Us allow
.nv nriyileees. The Irish brought Col
Coreolap his meals every day. 50 he and hl
officers here, as at Charleston. had very gooC
food and many comforts that Others wer'
unable 70 have. The masons also visited th'
prisoners. and did great deal lor the com
fort of the fraternity
On the whole our treatment az Coiumbli
was very Just and humane. But Capt SnlV
Or and his Ulcers were afterwards punished
for showing So much kindness to US ner'
apaln. We were held hostages for - brldg'
Lu,ners" that Gen. ualleck had threatened
to hSng.
We lost but few men here, though som'
Sie6 afterwards from hardship and exposure
who mad made their escapeand were retaken
There were several political prisoners here
.nong them a G1rman, who was ~ 10
Ian psring with slaves. "a ain'y charge
mn .because he Was rich and would giS
nothing for the rebellion.