The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-07-26
Old Caroline.

rapid march from Spottsylyania. The
smoke of camp fires curled from
forest and field. There was smell of
beefstakes and coffee in the air. Some
of the soldiers had roast chickens, the
fowls having been "appropriated' du-
ring the march. Boo -r5 30 Hts
/ found quarters for the night at a
farmhouse owned by little, weak, fee
BILE, forceless, gray-bearded, black-eyed
man, feeble, not from sickness, but de-
bilitated by circumstances. There
was constitutionally want of starch
in his organization. He was kind, free
and frank, but altogether shiftless. He
owned eighty acres of land, two me-
groes, an old horse, ricket cart, prim-
tive in style. His house was dilapida-
ted. 1t was charmingly located-over-
looking the broad valley of the Matta-
pony, and was surrounded by locusts
and magnolias. Nature had done
what she could to make it a paradise,
but the inefficient steward had done
nothing toward developing the abun-
dant resources at his command.
Lying upon the grass beneath the
trees, / fell into conversation with the
owner of the grounds, I g tesn
"This is Caroline county, believe"
eyes, sir, this is old Caroline-a
county which has sold more negroes
down South than any other in Virgin
ia.' aif 0n alf1qs
"Indeed, ] was not aware of that,
but / remember now negro song
which used to hear. The burden Of
twas; fe1 jf9.9 ~ uem
Il wish was back in old Caroline
sQuite likely, for the great business
of the county has been niger raising,
and it has been our curse. / never
owned only old Peter and his wife.
1 wish I didn't own them. for they
are old, and / have got to support
them, but how in the world / am to do
it / don't know, for the soldiers have
stripped me of everything"
The Union soldiers, do you mean?o
Yes and ours (reDeIs) Also First
they conscripted my two boys. | kept
them out as long as i could, but they
obliged both of them to go. Then
they took my horse. Then your caval-
ry came, and took all my corn, broke
open my meat-house, took all my hor-
ses, ransacked the house, and took all
my -four, killed my pigs and chickens,
and here am stripped of every thing"
cit is pretty hard; but your leaders
would have it So" a.a
II know it, sir, and we are getting
our pay for it."
1t was frankly spoken. 1t was the
first admission had heard from South
ern lips that the South was suffering
retribution for its crimes. What
crimes! The crime of secession ?-of
firing upon the fag?-of broken oaths I?
That undoubtedly was the idea up
permost in the mind of my host.
ri.s 4oli:aes nf slaves -fha hraakinor
up of families, the sundering of heart
strings, the cries and tears, and prayers
of fathers and mothers, the outrages,
the whippings, scourgings, branding
with hot irons, the long years OF woe,
anguish, misery and death of the thous-
ands of men, women and children who
had been sent South; that was no part
of the crime for which Virginia was
getting her pay! That simple-minded
farmer did not see it in that light. '
Broken hearts were nothingi to him.
Slavery had blunted his sensibility.
That day, during the march, halted
at farmhouse. The owner of the
plantation was in Richmond, but the
overseer was there, a stout, burly, red
faced, tobacco-chewing man. There
were score of old buildings on the
premises. 1t had been notable plan
tation, once yielded luxuriantly, but in
stead of wheat, the proprietor had been
for several years producer OF bodies
and souls. He sold his annual crop to
the Southern market. The day before,
hearing that the Yankees were coming
he hurried forty or fifty souls to Rich
mond. He intended to take all-forty
or fifty more-but the negroes like a
flock of sheep, suddenly fled to the
woods. The overseer did his best to
collect the drove, bat in vain They
would not collect. The proprietor raw
ed and stormed, and became exceeding
" vexed, but the appearance, OF
Gregg's cavalry put an end to storm.
ing. He fled in haste toward the reb'
el capital, hurrying up his sable drove
But now the runaways were all back
They cared not for the oyerseer.
He was powerless. The moment the
first soldier in blue made his appearance
on the plantation, the overseer lost al
power to fog, TO order and command
and the negroes suddenly gained the
right and the power to do as they pleas
ed. Their first pleasure was to smile
| from ear to ear, thier second to give cv.
ery body drink of water who wanted
I it; their third pleasure was to pack W
their clothes in sbig bundleto be in read
mess to join the army.
2 "Are You not afraid of us ?" / ask
ed, addressing a bald-headed [" Uncle
Ned" -
g Afraid of you! Why, Boss, Fst
been praying for We to come and now
he is here, tank the Lord"
care you not afraid we shall sci
you?"
"No, Boss, / is mt. The overseel
said you would sell us otto Cuba, t.
to work In the sugar mill, but we did N
believe him."
have had the same reply from 9th
ers. Tho masters tried to delude them
to make them, believe that they were t.
be sold, but there was universal unhe
lief on the part of tie negroes.
Among the crowd on shis plantation
was niulatto girl who was very hap
DIV. She manifested her pleasure b,