Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-08

temptation to demand toll by intercepting his
steps with our feet, was more than we could re-
Sist. II hO fell headlong upon somebody else, tee
we're willing to call il even, but we furnished him
no safeguard that the next man should not,
through anger or mirtb, demand an additional
penalty. The motion Of the boat was everything
in our favor, it took but little tripping TO bring
man down. Only the sailors and other boatmen
had free passage. We reckoned without our
host when wc tried to stop them.
Some Of these boatmen had been engaged for
considerable length Of time in the transport SER
vice. heard one of them, that appeared to oe-
cupy superior position, dsscanling at great
ength upon his experience in this line Of bus-
ness, and what be had seem 1t seemed that be
had become strong Observation-Disclosures
man, owing to its peculiar negro policy havirg
fell, out the sentiment Of the soldiers, be tried
to convince them Of the fact patent to every
body as he thought, that the Government cared
less for them than for the blacks. lie told them
he had been with transports loaded with soldiers,
as we we're then, only much worse, and he dwet
largely upon their sufferpgs in those miserable
leaky vessels. They we're always huddled in to-
gether, three times beyond the boats capacity,
in damp dark rooms, and although they had re-
peatedly tried to have Government remedy some
OF the evils, they had always tried in vain. He
III k.I - ttnn. lilo TO-
TO sweep away the mud, that they might have
some show Of a chance to spread their blankets
They had come TO him, wet and shivering, and
begged the privilege Of warming themselves
by his FIRE aud, as far as was in bis power, he
had always Accommodated them. Well, he said
this sime steamboat Of which be was speaking,
fell into the hands Of the Saritary Commission,
who tore the inside all out OF it and r'gged it over
as good as new, and now it was used exclusively
to transport black troops and conrabAnds on the
Mississippi and Gulf coast. This parIialty for
negroes was more than the stewards patriotism
could stand, and so from that time be has been
decidedly " down on this Niger war; II
some Of the boats were as bad as be described,
than the Government or the Sanitary Commission
we're perfectly justi6cable in repairing them even
il they we're to be used only to transport wild
beasts, but they were guilty 10 not repairing them
before, as then they would have saved great deal
Of suffering among the soldiers, and prevented
this man from becoming su abuser Of the Admin
istrit.on.
suppose our appearance when We arrived at
New York would hardly compare, in point oi
neatness, to the fancy soldiers the people had
been sccu,tomed to see. Our clothes we're be-
grmmed with dirt, for We had worn them through
the summer campaign, and they bad acquired a
dirty look that all the soap and water in the
world would not relieve them from. Our faces,
too, from long exposure TO the open air had been
relieved Of that delicate paleness which the dan
dy admires, but which the fighter for bis country
never wears There was nothing Of the orna-
mental sort abou, US, nothing superHuou' or fan
ciiul We only had what ,tern necessity required
II was not our fault il VT looked seedy; 10 look
otherwise they must keep Us out Of the field.
We had done the best we could. We had sub.
mi,ted to an inspection every day on tie boat ex-
cent one, and then we we're too seasick to be
inspected, we had secured our bra'ses, blacked
our boots, brushed our clothes aud did oil tha,
our means allowed, that We might present pas
sable appearance to the fashionable city Of New
York. W. did no, wish to come back from the
field to be laughed at for our looks, certainly not
in the copperhsad city Of New York.
But as we passed along the streets to Washing
ton square noticed we did not entirely escape
the critic. eye, and | heard some remarks that
did not at all hatter my vanity. We wers among
the first Of the troops thst arrived from the army
heard one man remark as we passed him thai
we were Just from the field he knew by ou'
> bronzed face. and unpublished appearance. -
Another replied that we were just the men hi
> had been anxious to see. We were men tia
could be relied upon, for we had been thor
ouebly proved. lie had rather see one regimen
of such troops as we we're, than dozen regl
, ments Of fancy militia That man possessed re
I. markable capacity for Judging of human nature
None but the rioters can disagree with him.
!. A reQusi,ion for clothing was forwarded as soo
.. as we 90. here, but it was aot filled till las
% night. 1t was large reeuisiton, as nearly a
re the boys put their names down for almost an en-
N tire suit. If we get this clothing and have
" throw our old ones away just as we are ready
A, 20 back again, we shall have no reason perhar
a to be disappointed, after having so much exper
~ ence in the circumlocution OF war business, bu
d. we shall feel tha! we have not been treated Ik
IN gentlemen, nor hardly as good soldiers ought
re be. After wearing our old clothes during OF
70 stay here, it will be waste that we can poorI
IL afford, in these times Of high prices to thro
10 them aside and take new ones into the field.
id We we're mustered yesterday for another tw
y. months pay Weexpect to be paid this tim
It. with less delay than usual. An order was res
he on dress parade the other evening for the musi'
id and pay.rolls TO be made out and forwarded
z. soon a, possible, as there was man in the CIT
or authorized to pay US, and we might be paid iu
en- medately The New York people are shrew'
de and doubtless they mean to figure the matter
ell have the soldiers spend their money here.
will suit us as well, for one dollar here is wort
IN. Eve on the Rappahannoek. ANrl'kEBEL.
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