The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-01-18

barrass it they do not revive the recollection,
and reopen the great book which records the
fact tina. they, and they alone, are responsible
for the war and all its sufferings and its atro-
cities.
Old Dlek. the Drummer.
A Richmond paper says: A few days ago,
Dick, a venerable darkey in uniform, was ar.
rested for carrying huge bowie-knife. He
was on his return home, to Danville, from q
campaign against the Yankees, and the May
or discharged him, after confiscating the knife.
The person referred to has occupied the po-
sition of chief drummer for the Eighteenth Vir.
ginia Regiment for the last eight months, and
is highly esteemed by the regiment, not only
as musician, but as . brave and gallant old
man. He is q hero Of two wars, and in several
instances has rendered good service to the
country. When the war with Mexico broke
out, he enlisted as musician for a South Caro-
lima regiment, and followed it through the war,
and was present when the glorious General
Butler fell. The war being successfully ter
minated, he returned home to his usual avoca-
tons. Upon the breaking out of our present
war, though old and gray, he was among the
first to respond TO Virginia's call for volun-
teers, and was regularly mustered into service
with the Eighteenth regiment. Since that
time he has not only carried his drum, but
also the b0wie-knife referred to above, and a
musket.
In the memorable battle of the 21st Of July,
he deserted his drum, aud. with musket in
hand, followed the regiment throughout the
battle. Several days after the battle, while
strolling through the woods, he discovered the
hiding place of what he thought o Yankee, and on
reportingit. went down with several of the regi.
nd xbroo 80
of them Col. Wood, of the Fourteenth Brooklyn
In every scene of danger, or of difficulty, old
Dick, accompanied the regiment, with bowie
knife by his side, and musket in hand. When
on picket duty at Mason's Hill, in sight Of the
enemy, he would 60 beyond the picket lines
to get a fair crack at the Yankee pickets.-
In fine, old Dick, we believe is gentleman
and a true patriot, and we feel sorry that his
knife, ronud which chung so many proud asso-
Citations to him, should have been taken from
him. He valued it above all things except his
musket. It is true the law may have required
its ,.confscation, as setting bad example to
darkeys in civil life; but under the circum-
stances, it does seem hard to have subjected
the old man not only to the loss of his bowie
knife, but the modification attendant, of q
suspicion of evil designs. We hope old Dick
may live to prove his character still further
by Dagging his Yankee.
CURIOUS INTELLIGENCE IN SLAvE.-"I
lived in the family Of o cotton planter who
worked from fifteen to twenty hands, He en-
ployed no overseer. During the planting sea-
son he gave his personal attention to the
field work Of his slaves, but during the
rest OF the season cOntented himself With in.
speeding their work once week, or the like,
and carefully questioning them at night as to
their work during the day. This he common
ly did through one of the older and more trust.
worthy slaves, whose name was Allan. Cot
ton picking lasts some three months, the hands
going over the field once week or oftener. if
possible, so as to gather the contents of the
freshly opened balls before it is bleached by
the sun, or soiled by the rain. My host en-
trusted the weighing to Allan, who was re.
quired to report at night the amount r:cked
by each man. Allan just weighed with the
common steelyards each ones basket-and
the picker must use the same basket through
the season. This weight of the basket Allan
recorded IN his memory. At noon all came
up to the t'gin house to empty their baskets,
and Allan weighed each ones full subtracted
the weight of the basket, and set the amount
against the negrO's name-all in his memory.
for he could not make figure, nor read it if
made with pen. This work was repeated
for the afternoons picking and the sums added
together for each picking. When the negroes
came up at dark, the first thing was to attend
to their own little household cares and get
their suppers. Then Allan called at the door
OF his master, sometimes at the window, and
reported the amount Of cotton picked by each
hand during the day. As my pedagogueship
made 1t usual for me to be at my table in the
evening, with pen, ink and paper before me,
hno co6 70 oc1 - - 4
numbers. This did regularly for two years.
And though subjected Allan tothe severest tests
l could think of to be assured Of his accuracy.
never found q single occasion to doubt it,
Allan's pleasant voice at the window near my
table, 80 often repeated, Take the cotton now,
it you please, mass'r' is ono of the most dis.
tinct remembrances of my southern home. p
Burlington, W., Free rress.
In writing Of literary matters at the capital
OF the model Republic, correspondent of the
y. !. Journa! Of Commerce INDUCES in good
deal Of quiet sarcasm:
St'Mr. Headley came here to write a history
OF the rebellion; but, after collecting few
facts, returned to the North to commence work
l presume on mcclellan and his Generals. -
Caleb Lyon is here and looking remarkably
well for one who has had all his nice books and
pictures burnt up, and took part in the sortie
OF Bull Run. MIR. Disturnel, Of Guide. Book
memory, 10 hard at work in our midst getting
up new scientific association These are
great times for abstract science, and Professors
henry and Bache are undoubtedly in need Of
assistance. Mr.. Willis and Wyckoff are con-
stantly engaged for their respective Journals
rs men should be who keep the public fully
posted in regard to the style Of dressing and
the hne clothes Of orr dignitaries. Mr.. Fred.
erick S0zzens is also in Washington: lint in.
stead OF writing books, he is selling cham
paigne
That MIR. Forney is about to start a nov
Journal is not true. His Philadelphia Press.
rar Press. and Washington Chronicle fall Of
winch are Handsomely advertised on the cover
Of the Congress directory are said TO occupy
All that portion Of his time not devoted 10 his
omciai duties as Secretary Of the Senate.
Co'. mickey, also Of the Senate, has brought
~ Understand, new edition of his U. 8.
consultation, out Of which he Is said to have
already made hfiy thousand dollars Mr. Lam
msn, VINO mas gwen An undying fame to 30
many unknown politicians BY his Directory
=. congress, - also in Government employ, and
As he can make up his mind to lose more , nv.
ey for the benefit Of the public S.r.so,
Pearcs. after engineering the wilkes, Ern,o-
ring Expedition to the tune az ahort IA.
hundred thousand dollars, g Chairman ~ IN
Library Committee, to turn his fsce aes;n.t
public documents. and. - = cot
: great work in the Pacific Railroad Reuorts.
We cannot now look for anything more Il that
llne. Al the 6mithsonian. one 81 the scientiAc
men has been engaged for monthsi 3 disaectine
J. Potomac minncw, and he will prababIy finish
The work before the closa AZ fha varo