The New York herald., 1862-04-23

iounu"t.hr - the lnl0n our northern koliers are
under arms 'saay 90 render sacred and perpetual, and
70 accomplish which they have pledged their lives also
There are bu, few people living about here who we're
here before the advent Of army Most o the nhab
tants fed at tho approach of our troops Confding in
the truthfuness OF the statements Of the rebel leaders
that they would all be killed. thoir dwellings piaged and
burned and all their property oonGscaed destroyed
they hurried panc-sricken away, satisfied with saving
their lives Those who have remained have reason 10
congratulate themselves that they allowed their better
judgment TO oontro their fears They find their persons
safe their property visited one o the old stamp
Virginia mansions yesterday, near Cheeseman's creek
occupied by Mr. Parkhurst andi family. Mr.. Parkhurs
Is past sixty, and has lived in this section OF the
State nearly all his life He had faith In the Union
and tho Union army, and it was faith that had
not been misplaced. His family, which is very nu-
well interesting one, were now rid Of the
painful fears they had endured for long months past and
besides were in the enjoyment Of comfortstea Coffee
sugar salt, and such like articles, which heretofore
could only be procured by paying fabulous prices On
his stating that he had two and son-inaw In the
rebel army could not resist the inquiry how they
came to dor with him upon the subject OF the war aud
enlist in the ranks OF the enemy.
"There are no young men to be found" he said
shade Of sadness overspreadng his counenance and his
eyes sutllsed with tears, "who love their coun-
try more than my boys. They young and stawart,
and there was no hep for them. They were compelled
10 take up Thank God they will not fire shot al
Union soldier. Their shots will be in the air."
fThey may be shot, broke in Mrs. Parkhurst; "but
I shall mourn them as Northern mother mourns her
sons killed in fighting for their country"
"And there are many Southern sons,' resumed Mr..
Parkhurst "who will do as my sons have 10 do.
This has been brought about by lying, ambitious
politicians. Could the rank and file OF the rebel army
to-day their wish and WILL they would come over
to the Union side and work for the capture
hanging Of the rebel army leaders who have so base
ly betrayed them."
In the course Of the conversation Mr. Parkhurst gave
instances OF the incbriacd habits and ferocty OF
officers OF rebel regiments recently encamped in his
vicinity He with bis own eyes the colonel OF the
Louisiana Tigers run his sword through his horse,
because the latter deported himself in style that od
not suit his ferocious fancy lie also confirmed the
story published some time ago in the HERALD of the
shooting Of twenty members Of this regiment IN Rich
mond, for their acts OF awlessness in that city Gene
Magruder fondness for old Bourbon and other aco
hoc distations he mentioned as chronic failing and
well known to every body in his command. They COM
PEELED negroes to do the burden Of the manual work
and made Of shooting one than OF stealing Fat
COW orplg.
A good delegation of the colored population, who
once worked without wages and butter on the hoe
cake, still lnger about here. They failed to see
the advantage of pursuing their fleeing masters One
foly. wisdom and such like intellcctusl coruscatons
that furnish food for the metaphysicaly inclined by
| going among them and talking with them met one
the other day of jim Crow expression Of face and hair
who says ho in Yorktown at the time of the Revo.
tonary siege loft him profoundly impressed with his
reader will be SO impressed on reading the following
portion Of my confab with HIM
| "Dd you see the shootingY' l inquired.
"Yes, indeedee, massa; seed it all"
i'IIow did you like t?
"The musketry wusn I muffin, but SEEM the big can
| non balls skcered mo some"
GLOW did you escape getting killedI'
q" stayed hid in deep, big cellar all de hole time
massa Responded the catechised Ethiopian representa-
tive, with breadth Of grin aud compass Of guaw thai
showed very clearly that in his estimation he had
done smart thing in his life, if he had never done
| another.
second colored brother l have mot in my
| wandorngs whose notions of personal smartness dc
not reach the altitude Of the mentioned. Hs
modcsty, what is more, taxes direction many white
| folks would do well to initiate. He said he hat
been slave all his iifs aad his - las. owner wa was MI
by the way, is corporal in the Psninsuar Guard, 9
| rebel regiment.
"Do you think slavery right wrongf" asked him
| "Wrong, OBJ course, massa"
az know it be wrong, massa, but can't arger"
Here portion OF conversation with third negro
and with it will wind up the negro question He hat
insisted that the negroes were as well of slaves as they
'Ihcy orter have themselves" remarked the argu
mentave ndivi referred to, putting himself in ar
oraorcal attitude and get good masters, like me. and
they will be well taken Of"
| "And you have always been well taken care off'
remarked, in congrauatory tone; you are one Of the
lucky ones"
"lt is not ebry one hab The same luck as me-"
tin what regardy''
"why my Inassa was my fadder"
There is parsonage who is making himself history
in the preliminary siege Of the rebel stronghold in front
OF us-"Cafornia joe" OF the Bcrdan Sharpshooters
spent an ,ur yesterday in his tent. He is character
surprised at his age. He Is past fifty, but looks
score of years younger. He stands straight ar
arrow has an eve as keen as hawk nerves as steady
be- and endowment Of hair and whiskers Rubens
would have liked for pariarchal portrait Ilo has spent
years OF his life shooti grizzly bears in the forests
and Businesses Of California and carries telescope rite
that his hand will carry long ways and with terrific
accuracy. For several days past he has occupied
shooting place hole dug the ground just big enough for
himself His unerring rifle has made many rebel bite
the dust lie says he likes the sport and he means to
keep up rebel rife bail Knocked of portion Of the
upper band of his rife lie esteems this q trne
An acceptable rain storm set IN last evening. IL is
raining close this letter. At left is heard heavy
cannonadlng. stormy Sundays battle may yet have
10 be recorded.