Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-07-21

we're three thousand citizens and thousand ne
groes. Their status is not defined, it would ap-
pear from the correspondence, but it is understood
that they will be required to take the oath Of al
legiance or leave the city soon. In the meantime
they will have to be fed OF food there is very
little left. Even the secret boards had all been
brought out before the surrender. Something of
their suferugs may be understood when we dis
cover that -four was actually sold at $40 per
pound or 5000 barrel sugar, $l,75; corn, $40
a busbel; bacon, So pound run, 800 a gal
lon, and other things 10 proportion.
Gen. Pemberton, it s said, refused to allow the
citizens to draw from the army stores, insisting
that the private stock in the city should be used
for that purpose. Mr. GenelIa, a prominent mer-
chant in the city, being accused of extortion in
this matter, publishes card in yindication Of his
character.
The principal part Of the female population is
composed Of the wives and families of the foreign
population, the husbands and supporters of which
have long ago been forced into the rebel army.
Numbers Of these undoubtedly drew rations from
the army stores. Besides these were few ladies'
of good family the wives Of officers, and few Of
the residents Of the town. These we're not free
Of their presence after our occupation. We met
few who were unbroken in spirit and seemed to
call down maledictions upon the ps'tient Yam
KEGS. The most Of them appeared to be stricken
with all the sadness Of adversely and crushed be-
meath weight Of suffering and sorrow.
HORRORS OF THE COMMANDMENT.
When we consider that these people--men,
women aud children--have, for a month and a
half been 10 daily terror Of their lives, never be-
ing able to sleep a night at their homes, but
crawling into caves, unable to move except in
the few peaceful intervals in the heat Of the day,
we may appreciate what a life Of horror was
theirs,
These caves, indeed, are among the most curl
Gus features OF this lie in besieged pity. 10
several places the streets are cut through the
bluff, and 10 the walls rows of caverns have been
hewn, resembling somewhat the appearance Of
rabbits. Most Of these are shaped like the letter
Y, the stem forming the main entrance branching
out some seven feet. Into these subteHanean
pits the inhabitants would crawl 90 often as the
guns and mortars opened out what promised to
be heavy fire. As many as twenty-five have
been crowded into one hole. The sight Of these
poor creatures flying
With blanket in the alarm Of fear caught up
was both ludicrous and melancholy. The CRY
would 90 up from the ireyerent soldiers, Rats,
10 your holes as women and children huddlsd in-
to the bank Tn, nen generally remained out.
,ide, or sought shelter in the bombproos and
magazines nearer the batteries.
cAsUALTIEa.
1t is surprising that the injuries to the citizen.
have not been greater. The lnCessant rain oi
shells and balls, which at times resembled the
fall Of hail, seems for the most part to have fallen
hurtless into the rampMts Of solid earth.
About 5000 wounded are to be found in the
hospitals. About 450 have been buried by the
rebels.
Some Of the most remarkable escapes are re-
ported. Persons have been buried with the show
er OF dirt thrown up by shells in front Of them.
Others haye had their clothing torn from them
their faces blackened with powder and other
strange escapes.
Indeed, the GOODNESS Of these people under the
terrible Ere is most astonishing They have become
so familiar with The sound and symptom Of bomb
Parrott and columbad, as to be able to desiguat,
them and their course with unerring certainty
Such are-baptsm has given them something 0
the salamandrine character, As one Of them des
cribed the philosophy to me If you see shell
burst above you stand still unless il is very high
if it be the sound OF Psrrott, the shot ha'
passed bsIore you heard il alarm is needless, ant
so on. No men 10 the world have ever beer
called upon to endure so heavy FIRE, and nont
We fancy would now prove such splendid artier
lists.
We have seen no conflict between the two par
ties, the yictors and the vanqushed, as yet, Al
day to-day and yesterday, the knots OF soldiers
have been busy engaged in discussing the merits
OF their respective battles and the old, old issut
Of the right OF their rebellion. Many Of oui
men are offering their bayersacks and canteens L
the rebels Many Of the steamboatmen rscog
nize old acquaintance. Here are loyal and dis
loyal Mhsourians fraternising land in one case
fghting) aud few brothers and cousins are
greeting each other with a strange sense Of rela.
Iionshp.
Upon one point the rebel officers are complain.
ing. In their negotiations they show great anxiet,
to save their negro servants as personal property,
but this our leader could not yield. No sooner
we're We in, than the recruiting officers commenced
their unique system Of recruiting, much TO The
chagrin Of the rebels. In one or two cases ap
peals have been made TO Gen. Grant, who replieI
that these men are free to go or remain, upon
fair understanding Of their new state in life."
A correspondent Of the Tribune whose letter
Is dated on the 9th, says
"The rebel soldiers, instead of lying close il
their trenches, are roaming about the city unarm'
ed, in uures,rained but amicable intercourse with
those Of our own army who have been permitted
to enter the town. Gay uniforms Of gray cloth
richly bediaened with gold lace, and profusel,
decked with stars and brigh, trimmings, are il
close iuxtapo.itiOn with the holiday attir. Of ou
own shoull.r-strapped friends-a strange morn
ing sight for Vioksburg. The women and children
have had quiet nights rest in their bed, at hom'
"A thing which has not occurred before for forty
eight days. Guards in blue uniforms are station
ed at the entrance Of the stores and other place
" here goods of any kind are deposited Near
hundred steamboats, are lying at the wharf
sigh, which the people here rejoice at more thar
any other. Where, yesterday morning, starva
,ion was stariug men and women in the face
plenty now reigns. The poor eon,cripts in dirt
colored clothes are making themselves exceeding
" happy over real coffee, which has found its wa
to them from our commissary stores. Many o
them have not seen anything Of the kind befor
for Twelve months. What great changes ar
worked in single day i is the exclamation upOl
every lip"
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