The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-07
ExPERlENCEOrAN OrFIoER IN DIXIE
What tIIe Negroes TItnIS About Fighting
fur Iho Rebels.

What the Negroes Think About Fighting
fur Lho Rebels.
Lieutenant Henry l.. Estabrook, of Dorches-
ter, belonging to the 25h Massachusetts regiment,
who was captured By the enemy during Sheridan's
first battle with Early In the Shenandoah valley,
at Berryylle, on the 10Th Of September, but who
has been fortunate enough to escape from cap
tiyily, has communicated to as a very interesting
account of his experiences while in the enemy's
country.
cater his capture he was marched, together
with thirteen other captured Uu on officers and
about two hundred and hty soldiers, 70 StauntOn,
from thence taken TO WayuesD1JO by carr, then
marched over the Blue Ridge to Moacham River
Station, and from thar point conveyed by cars TO
Richmond, u distance altos ether OF one hundred
and twenty miles, sixty Of which was performed
on foot. Great hurc5hps were cruelty imposed
upon them curing This journey. Ony six hard
crackers and half q LOAF of soft bread wss all owed
to each man for the whole time, and the march
ing bore severely upon all, while some suffered
terribly from sOrG feet and from the wounds
which they had received in battle, and which re-
NAMED uudrCs-od.
"SOme OF the men would drop in the road from
sheer exhaustion, wheu the RYugls struck them
with their muskg.s aud complied them 10 rise
but only 10 sta2g,r on q suOrU distance and fail
again, faint irUm PAIN, fatigue, aud loss OF God.
Early S army, II reJreated IRON sheridan after
the battle, was q mere rAbJlc, all organization
was lost, aud there was no unity except in seek
ing saitty IN tlG same ulfec ION. ILb Rebel who
took Lieutenant hstsJrOOk prisoner robbed him
Of his watch on the spot.
"Iieutenaut EslablOOk informs us that the
country through which he passed IS very scanty
supplied with the neCesslres Of life and the peO-
pie look forward with great apprehension 10 tho
coming winter, not knowing how they are TO
avoid much suffering. The drought was very
severe and the meat has all been swept off for the
use Of the Rebel army. Planters go many
miles and offer any price 70 obtain meat
for their families, but cannot get any. The
people are dsheartened and thoroughly tired of
the war. Every man and boy that can carry
musket has been cOnsCnpted The negroes every
where befTiended him although the fact tlat he
was an escaped Yankee prisoner was probably
known TO two hundred cOlored people, including
the families Of the men who helped him along,
not one Of them betrayed him. The slaves, Of
whom there are many Ia that section of country,
Conyersed freely with him in regard 70 their being
armed and put in the Rebel army, and declared
that il they were they would shoot their officers
and 90 over 10 the Federals In body. They said
they knew who their friends were, and they
would not fight for the men who had ensayed
them and robbed them Of the rewards Of their
labor. They assured him that there was q COM
pete understanding among the slaves through
out the South on this subject, and that none Of
them would fight for their masters, They would
be glad Of an opportunity 70 get arms and get
together, and then they would turn against tho
Rebes."-Boston Journal, Nov 3.