Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-01-17

mallleu auAlouoiy """i'i"S OlueIS-fu.
mors that We were to join the Vermont
Brigade, and replace the Dutch Cavalry
from Pennsylvania, delighted some, while
the more prudent perhaps sought some
camp instrI ction.
On Christmas Eve We received orders
to strike tents aud march to AnnaloIis
and at 3 A. NJ, the tents were struck, and
at 6 IL the first squadron LIST Vt. Cayal
nv marched on toward the capitol of Mary.
land. Our route (after We succeeded in
finding it, and it took some time) was
principally through the largest plantations
of the State. 1t gave us an opportunity
to witness the peculiar institution. On
large plantations there are few fences, to
see field of hundreds of acres is not IN.
common, and the highway running thrO'
it. In travelling from one plantation to
another the guide had always to dismount
and unfasten the gate that Was on the
boundary between the two; the houses
are not built close to the road, but back
perhaps 40 or 80 rods; these plantation
houses at distance seemed in good order
but closer inspection shows everything
in poor repair, fences down, windows out,
steps to houses going to decay, and every
appearance of approaching ruin. Now
and then neat white house with grounds
well laid out was visible-in those cases
| could hear the soldiers in the road be-
hind me, observe, the owner of this house
must he Northerner by birth or educa..
ton. In one case the Lieut.. Col. asked
man leaning over neat, white fence,
where the owner of the mansion was
born the answer was, "in Philadelphia"
which verified our predictions.
The first days march must have t4km
u through many townships, yet an occaS.
ional store with one step, was the neat
est sign Of any town We saw. The road
was in many places exceedingly narrow,
so that We marched mainly Ivy twos. The
land undulating and sandy. The first
night we brought up at Marlborough.
The entrance to this Furnishing town is
through splendid fivetarred gate erected
ages ago it is to be presumed by the town
authorities with appropriate ceremonies.
The gate after being swung open is secur-
ed by chip inserted in rut for that
purpose. The regiment encamped in
pine grove. and at once commenced to
erect covering for the night-built fires
and eat bread, and tried to sleep, longing
both for the dawn Of day and the arrival
of the baggage wagons where the rations
were kept. In due time both arrived, and
at six next morning the Regiment started
at evening reached Annapolis, and on
a dark night; the regiment broke for the
woods and slept under cover until morn
ing. The march occupied two days and
nights.
To ascertain the condition Of people
Or the progress they are making in physi.
Cal and moral culture, ride or walk
through that section will do more to in
struct than any other means of convey.
ance; traveller by rail bestows but
passing glance at house as he hurries by,
the foot traveller or rider perhaps stops at
the very house, and sees inside and is bet.
ter able to judge than he who bestows a
mere cursory glance of the bare outsiue
walls. Travelling that short distance from
Washington to Annapolis gave me an OPP
portunity to satisfy myself respecting the
institution which for the present engros.
scs the attention of all others-Slavery
here VIC saw III fact what we had read of
in theory. The slaves, it being holiday
week. were at leisure. and evidently had
spent their Christmas money in buying
turbans and fashy cloth. They seemed
well treated with but few exceptions, no
complaints were made, yet wherever you
saw the slave you saw a lack of nea ness ;
wherever you saw the owner you saw a
weak, languid, good for nothing man. 1t
has not been my individual fortune to
partake of Southern hospitality. yet many
of the Regiment have, and speak highly
of the urbanity aud generosity of these
nr;u.os ,boy ,.o..t- - l. L.:.,