Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-04-14
Letter from Memphis, Tenn.
5sTn u g. ISYI a. D., FsRT PlcErpiNc,
MENpnls. TKNN.. March D Is0i. (

| '' JSei ieaoer ana aumlrer OF your
paper, and having numerous friends and
aequaintances patrons Of the CHRONICLE,
thought little intelligence from our
cause through me might not be uninterest-
ing.
For nearly a century an unfortunate and
unhappy people have been accumuating in
the South, until, short time ago. 1000, 900
Of them were the ignoble slaves of ruling
and relentless aristocracy; but now, as our
victorious armies march through the rebel
South, thousands after thousands come out
from the house Of their bondage and flock
to the standard Of the grand "old fsg."
To do something for the elevation OF those
around Memphis is the object Of our mission
here. Last Nay school was started, num-
bering over 300 in Camp Holly Springs, by
Miss Mary B. Johnston and Miss Aggie j.
Hcrvey. Of course such school could not
progress like our schools in the North, where
thirty or forty make up the school. In Oc-
tober two more teachers-Miss Fannie Kid
doc and myself-came down and assisted
during the winter, till February, when my
classes were combined with the ladies' and
came here to teach the soldiers of this
regiment. Now the report of that school
in Camp Holly Springs shows 574 under our
teaching at one time or another since be-
ginning-reading POI, writing Al, studying
arithmetic 60. Ny first months report Of
I M Sahnnl .p A IL
II writing, studying arithmetic A good
deal is being accomplished, but far from
what is to do. 1t is specially important
that the soldiers enjoy the privileges Of a
teacher now. Most of them in this regi.
ment are in the prime and vigor Of manhood,
and with all their military duties they have
leisure time for study which they will not
possess when engaged in the civil pursuits
of life.
There are nine teachers in the regiment
now. A short time ago every company was
supplied with teacher; but Mr.. Jas. Z.
Ferguson was.obliged to abandon his prom
ising school and return to his home in Bel
mont county, on account of continued i'll
health.
This is fine regiment. You never see
better and rarely as we'll drilled soldiers,
and there is but little difference in the
brigade, consisting of three regiments
5000 strong. Their officers have pride in
showing to their enemies and friends tha,
they do make excellent soldiers. and from
every tried field the vile SANDER of cowardice
is hurled back upon their enemies North
and South. They will be good for cleaning
out guerlillas and bushwhackers for they
have an inveterate hatred to rebels, and in
their ignorance would trea. them very
roughly.
On looking over cory Of the St. Clairs-
vile Gazette, dated Nov. 10, 1868, that
found its way among other papers down to
Dixie, noticed an article, The Philan-
throIy of Abolitionists, beginning
"When the Abolitionists began their cru
SADIE against the South, there lived 4,OOO,-
900 of as contented, we'll fed, we'll clad, and
well-to-do peasantry as ever lived on the
face Of the earth" and assigns as the best
proof Of it the great increase of their mum.
beIs. No doubt satisfactory proof to a
besotted aristocracy whose god is their owr
: ambition, and who revel in the Injuries O.
, another's gathering and live by the sweat o
: another's brow. Does the writer remeln
,, ber how contented, how happy, how wei
!. fed and well clad were the children of Israel
: when their increase was so great that an or
i der was given by their tyrant oppressor
that every male child that should be borr
; must be slain? The very devilish and de
grading influence of slavery, in causing the
disregard of the natural laws that should
govern humanity is cause Of it But a:
to the proposition ITSELF tits base falsehood
:. During five months I have had sufficient
: experience among them to assert this with
, out any qualification. A happy and con
Z tented peasantry; manifested by the rapi'
, increase of their numbersl One of them
) selves made a good reply to the question o
t their previous eontentment: mo slabe da
hab any sense am happy" Let one mingl
. with them, make their acquaintance, liste
Q to the stories of their past experience an
hear their bitter denuneiations against thei
former masters and the eagsrhess with whic
. they embraced tho first opportunity to e:
. cape, and as to their oontentment he ca
Y easily decide. Then, after inserting lon
letter from delegate Of the u S. G. c.
showing the extreme suffering to whicl
!, they are reduced, which is the case to
e great extent, especially in the new camps
l. and which only shows the value placed upol
the precious boon of liberty by humanit,
q everywhere, the following remark is ad
e ded: "God forgive the Abolition schemer
RS who have brought this misery on the negr
}! race, for humanity never can" Well, with
\ \ cut stopping to notice who broughton thi
n terrible suffering, indeed we need not, f
Or the wastes of wars sad desolations Let'
" the ruins of so many desolated magnificeI
homes, give visible evidence of where Il
N retributive justice of God has fallen, Is.