Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-02


the advantages are taken by designing men
to fitch thereupon. Not only do thieving
Quartermasters fatten upon property, but
every petty officer in any way patronized by
Government, thrusts in his thumb and alb
stracts plum, with equally as delighted Wis
age, as did juvenile Jack Horner.
The steamer that is conveying us IS char
tered by the Government, at a good price,
and yet she Is carrying insurance freight
belonging to other parties than Government
employees or agents, for which she Is paid
well likewise. Yet the officers of the boat
charge the Government officers fifty cents ex
ira Just because they can take advantage of
them.
have eaten better fare in the camps on the
Potomac, furnished by the United States, and
would think that to make the imposition en-
durable so long meals were extra, they
might have been extra good meals, but there
was nothing extra about them but the charge.
The coffee, which forms the principal ingre-
dent of good breakfast, is execrable. The
beef steak is of most enduring muscle. The
sugar has seemed to survived a high tariff by
hiding itself at the bottom of hogshead of
molasses, and the cornbread prompted me to
sing days of absence in an under tone, whilst
the hulls would rattle against my teeth, making
an accompaniment sounding like the captiva-
ting strains of a loosely strung dulcimer.
Such is life
We have arrived at Fort Henry, and it
presents dreary aspect now. liz is situated
in rather desolate part of the country, and
its surroundings give it the appearance of des-
olation, more especially since the withdrawal
of the troops. The trees are all felled for a
considerable distance. The rebel huts are
L..
for bats A small detachment of cavalry now
garrison it, and but one gun is in position
naming Of its once formidable armament.
The breast-works are preached in several
places, and the sand bags around the embra-
sures are scattered in every direction. Nu-
merous cavities in the earth are within the
fortifcations, indicating the explosion of shells.
The exploded gun, which was a thirty-two
FOUNDER instead OF an hundred and thirty, as
we have been led to believe, still lies around
in broken fragments, which are often subject
ed to frequent and severe hammerings by
those who desire mementos.
1t is now night, and in consequence of the
darkness, we have "to tie up" The spot
where we are to lie all night is some miles
above the bridge which was destroyed, YOU
recollect and not very far from where Major
Schaffer and his men were surprised and so
inhumanely murdered, some weeks since, and
sent to their account unannealed. 1t would
be an easy matter for the enemy to capture
Us, as we are at their mercy.
The passengers consist of returning soldiers
on furlough, and few of them armed and
sanitary commissions, modern philanthropists,
and nOn-resistants, who, of course, are not in
good fighting trim. There is general in
spection of small arms, after which we lie
down, and compose ourselves to rest as
best as we may, and anxiously wait for the
morning. The night passed away without
any alarm, and at daylight we steamed away
on our journey. The country begins to as
sumo a different feature The monotonous
nature is relieved by hills and miniature pail
sades of rock, with wild vines running over
them, interspersed with wild flowers. Farms
dot the shores more frequently, and active
husbandry is apparent. The negroes are at
work-men, women, and picaninnies. l saw
a negro woman blowing. She had pair of
mules. The lines were thrown over her
shoulders, and the stubborn glebe seemed to
yield as willingly, and was turned over as
scientifically apparently as though done by
one of sterner mould. The corn is up In
some places, and in others the farmer is Just
breaking his ground for corn. The grain is
HtdulDB OUt, anu LIDS Ou al CHccliui
face. But the inhabitants seem inactive, and
look as though waiting for something to turn
up Some farms appear to be entirely de-
serted. Generally the inhabitants exhibit
Union signs, and the ladies are for the Union
to mar, and kiss their hands a. us with de-
light. Now and then an obdurate secesher
refuses to cheer for the Union, but we pre-
sumo he is joined to his idols, and let him
alone. They are always very anxious for
newspapers, and we were hailed at nearly
every plantation with the inquiry, Have you
any late papers?" The passengers always
complied, and have no doubt that when they
read of the many successes of the Federal
arms, they will sit down In their ample CHM
ney corners with their cob pipes, and chew
the bitter cud of reflection, wondering what
will come next.
We are now nearing Pittsburg-evdences
of which are constantly passing, in the shape
of floating boxes and barrels, bales of hay,
dead animals, and occasionally the body of a
human being. Now we pass spot from
which the rebels fire on our boats, and the
passengers manifest a disposition to retire.
We pass by safely, however, and at night are
at the Landing | shall visit the battlefield
shortly.
have already seen several Indiana men,
among whom l. would notice Col. McGinnis,
whose merits have been overlooked by the
administration in its protnse distribution titles
of Brigadier- General. and with shame be it
spoken. However, Mac is one of the flowers
that was destined to blush unseen, and having
no impudence nor presumption, he will have
to subside, and let some addle pated coot hav-
ing political jugglers and tricksters for friends
and relations get all the titles and honor.
The nights are chilly, and already feel
symptoms of ague, which disease is insepara-
bic from this climate. l wonder if sanitary
stores contain much quinine? One would
think this point great commercial centre
from the activity prevailing on the river.
There are from twenty to fifty boats lying
along the banks all the while, arrivals and de-
partures constantly occurring. The Quarter
masters are quartered, and have their stores
on their steamers, for there are no houses on
the shore. The gun-boats TYLER and Lex
ington are lying at the opposite shore with
steam up, ready at any time for reconnois-
sance, and they are constantly on the move.
B. j. r.
AHEANv