, 1864-11-23
BERMUDA HUNDRED.

= The Rev. j. NJ hard1ng, OF LongneadoH,
thus describes
TIE coLoREp SOLDIERS.
These colored soldiers have strong arms and
warm hearts. They salute us respectfully :;
their bearing is soldiezly, and the highest
reader or testament. They are bent on
learning to read. It would please youto see
me in tho capacity Of primary school teacher
to some cavalry slx-foofer. He stands By my
side cap in hand, booted and spu7red, his
bright saber clanking at his heels, and eagerly
spelling ont the words which shall unseal for
him the fountains Of knowledge; could de-
sod so lesane neGs ssson fhsn ;@ you ses
see them on their well-groomed horses md
marching in 3 squad Of rebel prisoners. They
soy nothing, but they look everything, and
so do their crcst-fa1len prisoners, and more
than crest~hllcn. We found some prisoners
in the guard:houso yesterday, who were actu-
ally a ha IN mo,t dFe9a Tae 9l pa theE fGloed s an5
violent hands on them. There Is no doubt
that saluta.y fear Of our colored soldiers Ia
pefvading the rebel camps. And then you
should see these black troopers escorting in
their wives and little ones and sweethcarts,
each loaded On the head aud In both hands
with the spoils Of the Egyptians, and the
little smiling darkies who cannot march,
A CAMP RIOT.
But what is this tnmult outsidce There
stands q sntler's tent with d noisy crowd
around it. We hear angry words. 4 white
Lieutenant with squad Of his c01ored SOL
dicrs is attempting to tear the tent down.
There has been previous quarrel, and now
the Lieutenant Is excited by liquor, and his
proceedings violent, and the sutler, respec-
table looking Massachusetts man, becomes
enraged, and puts pistol ball through his
head. The Lieutenant falls into the arms Of
his men, and ono Of them, his Sergeant they
say, by the Lieutenants order, shoots the
sufier through the body. he runs by our tent
the crowd Of exasperatcd colorcl soldiers af-
ter him, and for moment the balls fly dan
gcrously. But soon order Is restored, and /
lind the two wounded men in their tents.
The sutler cannot lire long. He asks, ":Arc
you minister? I wish you would pray;for
me-" l kneel BY his side with another Who
seems to be Christian man, and find nfler-
wards is Chaplain, and ne both, at the dying
mans earnest request, present his case to the
heavenly throne. He confesses his sins and
his unpreparedDess to die, but sues now for
mercy. carry mutual messages Of sorrowtiul
regret between the men thus laid loN by folly
and violence. The Lieutenant will probably
handledsby martial Law, but the poor sutler
lies embalmed for his grave. This will show
you the demoralfzfng Influence Of the campfn
!essening the sense Of the sacredness Of human
life, md show also the importance Of Chris
tian men to be near by with the Offices Of re-
Nsiou. It is gratifying to Bee what Immediate
and free access is always accorded u.s. and the
confidence rep0sed In us as representing the
Christian Commission.
IN THE TRENCHES.
But to return to our tent, 1t is time for the
days work to begin. My brother delegates
70 out their several ways, one to tho post
hospital, witAcr sick and worn-out men con-
tipua1ly come from their several regiments to
receive care which they cannot get 1t the
front; another to the conralescent camp
where men nearly recovered from sickness,
wait to be distributed to their regiments,
another goes with a six-mu1e government
wagon, loaded with stores, 10 an out station;
another to some Distant camp where there
arc no cbaplains; or It it bo Too far to walk,
and the ambulances arc not busy, We load one
Of them, kindly detailed for our use By the
Qrnrte1mnster, md 70 TO the extreme front,
where men lie in the rifle pits, and redoubts,
and intrenchments, and many of them III
their rat-holes,'' or bomb-proof butts. This is
intensely interesting work. Our ambulance
halts in a wilderness Of camps, here on one
side Massachusetts regiment, and there
around si1 and eight deep, and with such
show Of hands, 50 eager for anything and
everything to read, and us eager for letter
paper. envelopes, pencils, comfort bags. The
chaplains come, and they are privileged to
get into the ambulance and select for them
selves their fnvorite papers, and books and
tracts. Often meet very happily and sud-
denly come old familiar face from Hampden
county, aud we talk over old times.