Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-06-21
From the Army Before Richmond.


June 10, 1864.
We can add very little today respecting the
military situation. We can only say that our
cause is progressing favoraby and hopefully
Strangely enough the railroad having been
completed to the Chichahominy, is now, being
entirely removed from the front to the White
House, probably with reference to deprivng the
Conlederacy OF rails, which must be useful in
epairing the damage which will be undoubted-
ly done this coming Summer to the railroads in
the vicinity OF Richmond With similar hos
tllily to the enemy's communications our cayal
ry are now at work, and we hope soon to inform
you Of their success.
While we are holding our breath for brief
interval, awaiting another Of those terrible con
hcts OF arms, thousand little incidents are
occurring, which excite only momentary in.
tsresl in the rush of great events but which
cannot fail to amuse or interest cur friends at
home Let US turn page or two in our note
book, to sec if we can find there material for
letter The first thing which seems worthy Of
mention ID with reference to the few colored
soldiers scattered up and down through the army
Although we have scarcely more than respect
able brigade OF those troops, We see them wher
ever we 20, and we always notice one Or two
characteristics. They are aways cleanly and
soderlY in their ppearance-always prompt
and faithful in the discharge Of soldier 5 duty.
We have seen them on picket, their bronzed faces
resting against their hoDds clasped upon their
muskets, looking out with watchful eye into the
woods and fields which might conceal lurking
enemy. We have seen them upon the march,
close ranks, with elastic and willing steps, in
strong contrast with the loose careless, shufllng
gait OF our own chosen veterans. But we must
not seem 10 dlsparage our veterans, on whom
We rely for our seseIest work. Veterans learn
to march in careless, lelsurely manner, and
when physically exhausted, sustain their Ian
guid bodies by mental endurance and pertinaci-
W, while the negroes, like our mule teams, tug
away energetlcaliy until the last moment, and
finally break down all at once, like " 0ne-horse-
shay" think this will be found to indicate
their character as soldiers, 30 far | have had
opportunity for forming judgment.
But We will tell you a service in which our
negro troops seem most peculiarly serylceable,
and most iittiDgly employed 1t is when guard
lng prisoners captured from the enemy Then
their vigilance and iaithfulness, and the hear
lness with which they perform their duties, ap-
rear most conspicuous. How should you like
to zee a tall, lank, straightforward Carolinian
wearing cockney hat, the brim pinned up on
one side, aud ornamented with a rude effort to
initiate N needle work the palmetto or South
Carolina cabbage-tree marching along under
guard Of three blacks, who occasionally acceler-
ate his reluctant pace with such incentives as
March along dar, Massa-no struggling to de
reaT-close up dar, Sir 1t is one ithe most
amu.ing speetacles which we have the pleasure
u witnessing in the Army. The situation IL
slngularly suggestive OF the proprety and fitness
Of things.
Our colored soldiers, who by the way are not
veterans in the army, are very serylceable in
supplying the demand which exists for guards
to protect the property Of the country people as
tie army passes, We recall al instance in
which lady OF respectable family and estate,
who was rapidly losing the few onions and
strawberries that grew IN her garden, together
with the few chickens and turkeys which caught
the wandering gfasshoppers, made application
for protection. The guard was immediately
furnished, and four fine fellows from one OF our
blackest regiments marched up the avenue in
front of the house with shining muskets and
faces Oh, you should have seen the scorn
with which the Virginia gentlewoman refused
the protection OF United States negro soldiers,
and besought destruction and starvation to visit
her house and family rather than to be saved
by negro soldiers. have no doubt
tina, colered soldiers perform guard duty faith
fully, when it is inTusted 10 them, but | must
acknowledge too have seen them, with some
dlsrespect for Confederate property claims, car
rying away fine cuts of iresh pork, lamb or
veal, fastened to their bayonets.
We wish, by the way to correct q msappre-
henslon in regard TO the condition Of such sup
plies IN the parts of Virginia which We have
been recently trsversing. II any one has form
Q ! u picture Of starving, t0Odless, fenceless,
desOlated South, let them look on the true pic
ture of the country which our army has occu-
pied tor several weeks With the exception of
a few Door families, who often make pretense OF
destitution to save themselves from robbery at
the hands OF our soldiers, the country is well
supplied with everything Graneries are filled
with corn unit they overflow. Gardens grow
all the luxuries Of the season. Flocks and herds
have not deserted the pastures and bills. Cory
don and Thyrsis eat their country messes in the
shade. Fowles frequent the barnysrds, and the
dove cotes are no, abandoned by their meek and
innocent inmates Our horses wade through |
clover knee deep, aud the growing wheat brushes
their sides as they pass through IT, Immense
tracts are filled with thriving eorn-6elds, and
one whose Imagination has been filled, as nine
had. with pictures OF want and desolation,
would believe that time had run back and
brought again the folmer days Of peace and
Even the maidens stand IN the
doOrways and smile on us rs we pass, in spite of
their hatred OF Yankees IN the b,traot. We
have very serious doubts, engend red by our |
late experiences, OF ever starving the Couieder |
acy out and we look for the end only by hard |
6ehting in connection with Gen. Grants left |
aank strategy.
We have, by the way, had recently a toler-
able substitute for visit to Richmond, in a
with Il Southern lady OF some
what eyuberant imagination, but with an evil |
dent intention TO convey correct impression. |
| will repeat her language as near as may be.
She said " went to Richmond to make my
Spring purchases took my servant with me, !
who carried my money for me in basket. My
friends told me could bring back my purchases
in the same basket, went to Richmond, ex-
pectng to find halt Of tho stores closed, with |
nothing to sell in the rest OF them. But how |
surprised was when found the stores ali full
OF goods, with young clerks behind the counters,
dong "a thriving business. | could buy any |
thing wanted, from cooking stove to pair
Of kid gloves. bought elegant sheetings for
$40 yard, and money is OF no account, Tor
people who never had so cents before the war
have their thousands now. purchased every
thing that wanted shouldn't have known
but had been 10 market in Baltimore or New
York. The lady continued in this garralous
strain for some time but | have had opportu
nifty several times to verify to some extent the
which she made Of the state OF
things in Richmond.
/ had conversation with countrymsu, who