Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-26
Letter from Soldier in Mlssls-
sippl.

sippl'
The following are extracts from private let
ter written by soldier il Gen. McArthur's d.
vision Of Gen. Grants army The letter is da-
ted Lake Providence, La, April l6.
Last week we received visit from Gen.
Thomas, Acjutant General OF the United States
army. lie cane . euuneiale and put 10 prae-
tco the ayowed pohcy Of the GOyerument IN re-
gard 10 arming tue negroes. The troops OF tins
division assembled at Gen. McArIhurs head
unarters, where Zen ruomss made us speech.
lie came To authorize the raising Of negro regl-
meuts, and To issue commissions to TIE officers
Of the regiments The Commissioned officers are
TO be all white men. We also heard speeches
from Gems. McArthur and Mcpherson and
lew others il was a very enthusiastic meeting,
and it reminded Tue Of the times when | used To
attend political meetings and hear stump speech
Cs. Three cJlored regiments are being raised at
this point. Ther ranks are filling RAPIDLY
There have already been over twenty regiments
organized In this STATE, and they will soon be
| full, and you will understand that we have only
operated along the NJ ssissippl This is the
,reat movement Of the war aud the future al
ready begins to look brighter before US.
vou have read III the papers about our Lake
/ Providence canal before this time. ! was on
the ground when the leyee was cut and the wa
| ter let into the canal The ad accent country is
many iect lower than the riyer the men only
cut channel four feet wide at first, hut with
in twenty four hours it had made itselI chan
mel Of hundred yards in width it is bend
OF The river where the current strikes the bank
with great force, and OF course it rushed thro'
the gap with almost irightiul velocity. The
water has been running nearly month, but the
current still flows with undated strength aud
velocity Full one-third of this State is inun.
dated and completely delopulated in eonse-
quence of it.
In camp like this there are incidents occur
ring every day which will be interesting to you,
and will tell you few Of them. About five
miles from our camp is large plantation owned
by a'man who is Major in gnerrilla band
His wife remained at home unmolested by oui
troops. One night about four weeks ago he
came home to visit his family, and was accom-
panied by thirty of his bAni Their horses
wee put into the stables, and The men occupied
a aigl Iog house toat was built for grapary
After all was quiet, one of his negroes came
val, aud offered to conduct party to the place
t. capture them, Fifty men were immediately
dispatched rnder the guidance of the negro.
They arrived at the place about an hour before
/ day. break, The rebels were so unsuspiclous OF
danger that they had no sentnels posted to give
the alarm, anu the negro conducted the officer
who commlnded the party-with few OF the
men--into the house, when he lighted a candle
and led them into his masters room, where they
/ found him sleeping soundly They awakened
him and took him along Meanwhile the rebels
IN the log house had been alarmed by the bark.
/ Ing OF dog, and found that they were in u
trap, and prepared to defend their position
they could fire their carblnes at our men,
through the spaces between the logs, with dead
/ y eject, without danger to themselves. The
Captain sent into camp for piece vi artillery,
which was promptly furnished him. They fired
shell at the building, which struck the ground
close by and made the bark and spinters ny
frum the logs, when it burst. Before they had
time to reload the rebels hung out white flag,
and SURRENDERED Internationally. They were
brought into camp, horses aud all they we've
a hard looking crowd assure you. The negro
was handsomely rewarded, and our General got
him "a hremans berth on one OF tho steamers.
The Farsi Kansas regiment, OF which have
spoken before is encamped near us, Que of
the members Of that regiment, Sergeant, died
in the hospital two weeks ago, Alter death
his comrades discovered that their companion, by
the side oil whom they had marched aud fought
Tor almost two years, was s-woman. You may
imagine their surprise at the discovery | vent
to the hospital ana saw the body after it was
prepared lor burial, aud MADE some inquiries
about her, She was OF rather more THAI ave.
rage size for woman, with rather strongly
marked features 80 that with the ald Of man 8
attire she had quite a masculine look. She en-
listed IN the regiment after they went to Mis-.
souri, and conslq ien,ly they know nothing Of
her aIly history. She probably served under
an assumed name, She was il the battle OF
Springfield, where Gen. Lyon was killed, and
has fought In a dozen battles and skirmishes =
She always sustained an excellent reputation
both rs man and soldier, and the men all