Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-05-27
For the Chronicle.
From Grants Army.
Chaplain, I'd o. V. Cavalry.
YoUNG's POINT, La,
May IA.

Eds. CKronicIe:-Everything is now pro-
crossing finely in this Department. Gen.
Grant has been delayed a few days, await
ing the arrival of supplies. Heavy, bull
ky articles, as hay, coal, &C., are foated
down on barges to the army below. Over
100, 900 bushels of coal have been sent
down in this manner within the past
three weeks. The barges are towed with
in a short distance of Vicksburg, cut
loose, and allowed to drift with the cur
rent past the batteries. The rebels do
not usually waste much ammunition on
such inferior game, nor do they 60 out
and pull the boats ashore, as they might,
fearing, perhaps, to encounter some"yan-
key internal machine"
The health of the army is excellent,
and its spirits admirable. Grant is now
pushing forward with all possible dis
patch, and we are daily expecting to wit
ness the triumphant entry of the Army
of the Tennessee into the doomed city.
We are within two miles of Vicksburg
and in plain view of their troops and for
tiications. Yet all is quiet as the grave !;
the city seems wrapt in solitude. Gazing
on its stately domes and towers, resting
beneath the golden haze of a southern
summers sunset, who could believe that
such dreadful thunders slumbered there;
! who suppose that death in wakeful 81
lence turks on those fiower-clad slopes,or
lay concealed in murderous thousands, be-
hind those grove crested hills. Yet it's
so. Let but a boat approach, and at a
given signal, those hoary bluffs are wreath
ed in sulphrous smoke, from which leap a
hundred tongues of vengeful flame, while
earth trembles with the lannon's answer
ing peal.
Desolation broods over the ill-starred
South. Slendid plantations are turned
to barren wastes. Mansions once vocal
with the sound of ninth and music, and
late the abode of luxury and refinement
are now the habitation of bats and owls,
VI lAC HudllClS VI IL hlICllDH duhCCS
All is changed. Across the sunny
plains, whose gentle breezes lately bore
the sound of the bondman's lash, now
floats the martial strain of a mighty ar
my mingling with the joyous undertone
of a sable race of freedmen. Districts
once white with waving lakes of cotton,
are now converted into dusty plains by
sweeping cavalcades and the steady
tramp of mastering thousands. On eve
ry hand we see the sad effects of civil
war.
And we of North, too, have suffered
fearfully, but not, we trust, in vain. For
twenty miles the west bank of the Mis-
sissippi is literally a soldiers cemetery
But if from the sown teeth of the tabled
dragon sprang a grand army of armed
men, from the honored graves of our hon
ored dead, methinks, will rise a race of
patriot heroes, to whom may safely be
entrusted the sacred heritage of twice
bought freedom.
A good many of our Northern men are
coming down and leasing Government
plantations. | saw a gentlemen from
Ohio, yesterday, who has taken a farm,
employs $50 contrabands, and has plant
ed 1900 acres of cotton. He pays the
men seven, the women five, and children
of suitable age two dollars and half a
month. These prices are established by
the Government. The Government like
wise claims one cent per pound for all
the cotton secured. He is quite sanguine
success, fearing only that the cowardly
guerillas may come in and assist him in
picking his crops, as Uncle Sam guaran-
tees no protection to his tenants. This
work is going bravely on, and it requires
prophetic vision to ~foresee, at no dis
tant day, louisiana, Mississippi, nay, the
entire South, given to the honest, enter
yeomanry of the North. May
God, and the armies of the Union speed
the day.
Everything fit to eat, drink, or wear,
an exorbitant price here
Butter SO cts per pound; eggs the same
per dozen potatoes $500, and onions
$3.50 per bushel; worthless whiskey $500
per gallon, and other things accordingly.
Across the lines the figures are quadrupl-
ed to my certain knowledge.
Our bill of fare is sometimes varied by
vegetables, such as beans, potatoes,
peas, and young ehiskens. Expect soon to
nave peaches and corn.
The guerrillas are growing quite trou-
blesome along the river. The activity of
he gun boats prevents their planting bat
'eries, but they watch their opportunity
fire on unprotected steamboats, with
nusketry. Scarcely a boat comes down
hat does not have some guerrilla adVen-
'ure to relate. Several have been plum
Tered and burned. The Warner was &
ired into on Monday last; two men were
killed and five wounded. Such is the {
lastardly mode of warfare to which the s
,hivalrous ons of the South resort. No \
more boats are sent up without a convoy. {
Refugees and deserters are daily coming i
nto our lines. All agree in representing I
'emberton's army as hopelessly democrat
zed. u
Ward x Co vs. James Laushiia> can give
Murrv re n n Daffa+ purchases 4