Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-08

II
is seen at City Point is from the Tribune 5
Correspondence
Beside what have intimated, it is here
that we see most stupendous operations,
by land and water, in army supplies and
munitions Of war. Along the wharves in
front of the city Of white tents, interspers-
ed here and there with an old iamily man
sion with its locust and cedar grove, used
for military purposes--as well as across
at Bermuda hundred on the upper point
of the Apponatt0x and James-the heavy
laden transports, ever coming ever busy,
ever bustling, ever steaming, ever going
and after Il while returning, are contin-
ually striving TO add 10 the mountains
Gus piles Of barrels, boxes, bags,r bales, ve-
lncles, machinery, paraphernaha, &c,
faster than they can be diminished by the
long railroad train, with double team Of
iron horses, putting, slipping, splitting, puff
ting around up the rayIne below town to
the front, ever going and returning, and
by the long wagon trains, pictured with
corps badges, winding up through The
town, along the dusty reads, over mil and |
plain, away off TO where the corps are
camped among the pines, where the level
footed iron horse cannot go, and where an
oeeasiOal shell, with explosion and pull Of
smoke hung in air or whlzzing minnie
ball, tells where the lines are.
One Of the most interesting features of
life at City Point, as well as Is Bermuda
Hundred-in fact, the grand feature of
every dly. is the arrival and departure of |
the mail boat AT the Point, This takes
place at central wharf in front OF the |
I'll. /
Adams Express ollice, several quarter
masters offices, sutler establishments, &c.
On the arrival Of the boat, al albeut or D |
P. NJ, everybody expecting anything or |
anybody, as we'll as all the curious about,
are on nand, and the passengers, military
and civil, US they walk the plank, are
sifted with the most scrutiniZng eyes. 80
with the freight and baggage as it is
brought out, variousiy marked, and, With
ALL there are few who do not bring in at |
least some refreshing association OF home
or Of some new arrival.
But the departure OF the boat is not less
interesting. The first takes place from
Bermuda Hundred about a NJ, and
finally from the Point at 10 A. NJ. On
the arrival of the sbOat from Bermuda,
at the Point, the hustle that is over ut the
former place takes place on q larger scale
at the latter. Everybody is again on hand
to see what movements are UP, and what
fortunate persons, or unfortunate ones, are
going home. First goes aboard, perhaps,
The luggage, all tattered ana torn, and The
thinned ranks of some regiment whose
three years are just out. Poor, brave,
bronzed heroes they will not take up
much room on the proud, painting steamer.
Their comrades have mostly gone, sick or
| crippled, before them, or sleep beneath the
| green sod of some hard fought battle
| deld
Obi what a reward awaits these re-
turning heroes, In d grand fe-union with
their wives and children, sind in the graf
itude and respect with wiIioh their old
f-iarElo oi,d aaqis,ii ratllIaaaal and the people
at large will receive them.
Next go aboard, perhaps, the horses and
staff of some general officer who has been
relieved and assigned to some other field
of duty. These officers are bronzed. too,
and in their accompanying show the
/ wear and tear OF war, but not as much as
the three years men that have just preced-
ed them. But they yet have more work
TO do Go in, gentlemen, and soldiers,
and do it well and decorouslyi whatever it
may be.
Next come Tom, Dick, and Harry. Of
6cers and soldiers discharged, furloughed
detailed, or Oh leave OF absence; Sanitary
and Christian Commissions; delegates re-
turning home for good or Tor while; suit
tiers going north for supplies, and a few
citizens ut large returning -homeward--
nearly all with haversacks and baggage,
and every man his own porter, and All in a
hurry TO get board for fear OF being left,
and so as to get good place. But say,
you civilian fellers if there's any of you
what amt already done SO, you had better
stop to the Captains window, right there
In the big warehouse and fork over your
seven dollars and half and get pass, or
you may be too late vet for you cannot 60
aboard any way You can fix it without such
pass. No. you don'tl Nc money re-
ceived on board and no Other pass Will
pass you.
But what comes herel Whatlong, neat
pine boxes are these, borne In procession,
each on the shoulders Of four colored men?
Let me see On the front end is stenciled
AHEAD" on each side aEmbalmed by
---. Warranted;2 on the top of
the box is an inscription giving the name
and rank of an officer, the regiment, or
other organization to which he belonged,
when and where killed, DC, followed by
the Express mark to eonsignee, &c, and
near TO the foot the trade mark again of
the embalner.
This explains it all. Here are others 60
ing home--to their long home-relieved
from duty here TO report in other spheres
of usefulness. How calm and mute is their
passage. They 60 silently down the plank.
No pass Is demanded of their sable carriers;
no questions areasked or answered. They
are laid upon the bier prepated for them.
The American flag is spread upon the long
row of boxes. Al is noise and hustle
around, but these departed heroes still slunl-
Der on, all oblivious of the warlike scenes
transpiring far and and near
But here comes the Army mail aboard /
Let's seel Twenty bags or so on the backs
of as many colored men, coming in single
file. These, no doubt, bear many consoia-
tions to these new mourners- They also
bear many messages of love and affection
to those who are not yet mourners, and it
is to be hoped, will not be by this war.
"All aboard Cast on that line there p
and the proud steamer, with splashing
wheels and banners flying, with its precious
freight, living and dead, moves maiestical-
| ly of down the romantic and classic James
River.
The Vote .sn A,ennSyIyansa.