The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-27

regiments OF the same Drlgace. 0one brought
from field near by, some open balls of cotton,
which were curosities to Northern eyes.
| We here, hear of Germantown, as six miles
distant, and near our evening camp, or rather,
presumed to be. When we approached the
town, we heard of rebel .orsemen seen the day
efore. The town itself has been sadly spoiled
! by war, and presented, with its church and
small houses, and deserted shops, rather desc
late appearance.
Three miles beyond this, we found the camp
fires OF few thousands who had gone before
us. All those last few miles were hard on
the inexperienced soldier. Marching a greater
distance with arms, equipments and knapsacks,
/ a distance as great as one would walk when
| free from all membranes was to me, at least,
severe, and almost overcome my strength. When
we stopped, laid down in my blanc cts per-
fectly Indifferent to supper and everything else.
When rose again, was scarcely able to move.
But all this overcome in measure, and with
such lavors as company's commander may
give the weaker ones, | stood the march, feeling
better and better every day.
The soil Of Tennessee and Mississippi is here
a cayey loan, more or less mingled with quick
sand. 1t lie hard, when dry, as pavement, but
very muddy when wet. 1t varies in color from
that OF dull clay to red. STOKES or gravel
are rarely seen. The surface is undulahng
more so as you go from the river, and, in it's
natural state, is covered by heavy forest
growth Of oaks, hickories, popars, beeches and
great variety OF other trees
The holly is common in some localities and
attracts the attention of stranger by it's dark
evergreen leaves, which are thick, and, in size
and shape, somewhat resemble those Of the
black cherry, except that they are lobed, with
spine on each lobe. lis fruit is small red Der
ry. The persimmon tree 10 also attractive at
this time of the year account of it's fine
fruit, which does not fully ripen until long al
ter frost So productive are they that Leaflets
branches bend under the weight Of the fruit,
which is about the size OF plum and shaped
like tomato. The forests are filled with
great variety Of pines and about streams and
swampy places cones grow to three-fonrths Of
an inch in thickness.
The most rspulsive feature OF the country,
i'll the eyes of q New Eoglander, is, that there
are few natural springs of water. Wells are
dug from sixty to one hundred feet in depth,
and then the supply is small and rOily. The best
water is obtained from running streams, which
sre far from being the silvery streams of the
East.
The country bears the appearance OF wealth,
although, at first view, it would seem the re-
verse of this. The wealthiest portion of the
people live in splendid two story white houses
around which are clustered httlo villages of log
cabins that are but the miniature representa-
tives Of those used by the white people of more
culinary means. The barns, pig-sties, potato
holes, negro huts and every thing, of that kind,
are made of logs and the chinks, if filled at all,
are filed with clay and chips. The rude ma
chineTy of the cotton presses and gins is often
laughable. The chief cultivated crops are corn
and cOtton-a planter with sixty slaves will
raise one hundred and fifty acres Of each The
latter within q year or two, has taken the
place of the former. | have seen plantations
containing many hundred acres of cotton that
will never be picked. Corn leaves are used ex-
clusively for fodder, and hundreds of hogs,
white, black, speckled and sandy, are fattened
upon the kernel. The fields are all fenced
with zig-zag fences, twelve rails high, to protect
them from tie hogs and mules which have an