The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-01-22
A LOYAL EXODUS.

OTk lutS tuinlcDcS du lHlClcSiD2 az
count of General W.ld's recent expedition,
with considerable body of colored
troops, beyond our lines into North Car
olina. The results Of the expedition are
thus stated
The material results of the raid may be
summed up as follows: Between two and
three thousand slaves were released from
bondage, with whom were taken along
about three hundred and fifty OK, horse
and mule teams, aud from fifty to seven
ty-fve saddle horses, some Of them valua-
Bile animals.
The guerrillas lost thirteen killed and
wounded; ten dwelling houses, with
many thousand bushels Of corn belonging
to them, were burned, besides two distil-
leries four Of their camps were destroy
ed, and one of their number was hanged
and one hundred rifles, uniforms, infantry
equipments, &C., fell into our hands as
spoils, with loss on the part of the brig
ade of twelve killed and wounded, and
one man taken prisoner Besides this,
fourteen rebel prisoners and four hostages
were brought in.
In regard to its moral and political re-
suits, however, the importance of the raid
cannot be over-estimated The counties
invaded by the colored troops were COM
petely panic stricken. Scores of fami-
lies, for no cause but a guilty conscience,
fled into the swamps on their approach
Never was a region thrown into such
commotion by raid before.
Proud scions of chivalry, accustomed
to claim the most abject obedience from
their slaves, literally fell on their knees
before these armed aud uniformed blacks,
and begged for their lives. / was FIRE.
quently asked how |, citizen, dared to
trust myself among such incarnate de-
mons "Wh hat shall | do to be saved ~
was the question asked on every side.
No sooner would brigade enter a
neighborhood, than Gen Wild's quarters
would be besieged by those wishing to
take the oath of allegiance, and secure the
protection of the Government. Their
slaves might all go-they would give
them up willinsly-only let their lives
and property be protected Union meet
ings were held in several places, and dele
cations sent to Gen. Wild, proposing to
do anything "to be saved"
One set of resolutions were signed by
ffty-nin planters, and another by seven
ty-six, while the return of the expedition
was preceded and followed by hundreds
Of North Carolinans, fastening to Nor
folk to obtain certificates of their loyalty.
One hundred and twenty vehicles crossed
Great Bridge in single day, containing
persons journeyng thither for this lauda
bic purpose. An army of fifty thousand
blacks could march from one end Of Reb-
eldom to the other almost without oppo-
sition, The terror they would inspire max
ing them invineible.
NIGHT RIDE THROUGH THE DISMAL
SWAMP.
We left the camp near Portsmouth
about nine o'clock in the evening, and
dashing into the darkness, arrived in an
hour at Deep Creek, where regiment of
General Getty's brigade is now stationed
A brief delay here, caused BY the coun-
tcrslgn differing from the one in our pos
session, ard we entered TIE ow-path of
the Dismal Swamp Canal, which com
mences at this point. Passing several
pcket-fles, at each of which cavalry
man cried "Dismount one; advance and
give tie counterslgn = we came at length
to the reserve. This consisted of some
twenty men, belonging to tue 9th Penn
syivanla cavalry, who where seated
around blazing fire OF fence-rais, near
deserted house, with several prisoners
that had been brought in. This We
learned was the last Of our piclet-posts,
that 1t was twenty five miles TO Elizabeth
City, and that there were plenty of guer-
rllas ahead. 1t was about midnight when
we babe our friends good bye and entered
the enemy's country We were now in
the dreafiest and widest part of the Dis.
NAL Swamp, the darkness was dense, the
air damp, and the CHASTITY silence was bro
ken only BY the hooting Of owls and the
crying of wildcats. For two hours we
rode through the Stygian blackness of
the forest, when We arrived at South
Mills collection of about twenty houses
where We stopped to rest our horses
Here we lett the canal and descended
into another swamp Of Hades. The mar
row. crooked road was flooded with water,
and crossed innumeIsble little rickety
bridges, over which our horses picked
their steps with great caution and reluc-
lance mile OF this road 10 Jordan. a,
suspicion | had expressed that we had
missed our way, strengthened every min
ute. Turning a bend picket fire, with
four men standing by 1t, appeared ahead,
while further on large campfire lighted
up the forest What could this mean?
We knew General Wild to be in, Eliza
beth City. Were our friends the guer-
rilias on the war path or had q rebel
force come down from the Backwater
Turning our horses aside, after a brief
consultation. we decided to advance, come
vba, might. In moment we were cbal.
lenged. Colonel Draper dismounted. and
led his horse towards a picket, Present.
ly We heard explanations OF welcome. and
then a call OF "sll right-come on p
Riding up. We found that the picket
was from Col Diapers own regiment,
and learned that General Wild had left
considerable force behind TO guard the
bridge he had built need not say that