Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-12
THE LANDING AT BERMUDA
HUNDRED.
THE PEOPLE REMAINING IN THE
DISTRICT.
A LIEUTENANT PROMOTED FOR
GALLANrRY.


not admit Of the very olose spprosch Of
the transports and pontoon bridges and
other temporary landing places had to he
made. Every body having anything at all
to do with the dsbarostion, exhibited great
energy and heartiness in the work, and
this morning there were plenty Of evi-
dences that very few persons connected
with the expedition had passed the night
in sleep. On the river banks, and in the
fields some distance inland, huge piles Of
ordnance, commisssry and qusrteemsster
stores-sll the bulky and vast material
needed for toe effective working of grand
army-Iesred themselves as monuments
to the industry OF the chiefs Of the Eagi-
Deer and Quartermaster's Departments
Finding my way on shore early in the
morning, from the steamer Greyhound,
where 1 am comfortably qusriered, 1
threaded my way carefully through the
labyrinth Of field batteries, artillery and
cavalry horses, pyramids Of stores, boxes
Of arms, and the incongTuous and confused
incidents and choking dust Of the summery
weather, to q place where l could think
and talk. From one of the Brigadier Gen.
erals, whom l was lucky enough to encoun-
ter, 1 learned that during the night our
pickets had been thrown out q couple of
miles on the Pstsrsburgh road, and that at
dawn the eighteenth Corps, under Major
General W. F. Smith, had taken up the
march and pressed on, while Gen. Gill
more's corps (the tenth) was preparing to
follow. The military aspect being encour-
aging, l next visited few Of the struggling
houses on the beach, still occupied by rebel
families, to have q chat with those inclined
TO be communicative. The first house con
tanned Mrs. Crawford, whom could at
once see was good specimen Of the "poor
Tsaite trash" Of Virginis. She Wss ex-
ctedingly non-oOmmittsl, and very ignO
rant on every conceivable topic. She did
not know whether our army was expected
nor the distance from City Point 10 Rich
mond. Her husband was conscript and
had left his heme as our boats appeared
around the bend in the rive. She and her
three little children appeared to be very
poor. The feet Of the little girl were
sWathed in rags for want Of shoes, and the
little boys wore jackets made Of faded and
worn-out ingram carpets. Our good-na-
tured soldiers, SO they we're called at the
house Of this poverty stricken wemsn, Of |
fered her plenty OF rations of salt pork and |
y. |
and she seemed to appreciate the gift. l |
learned from her that the precise point |
where we had landed was q faVorite fish |
ing ground for shad, and that the rebel |
Government at Richmond for some time |
back had monopolized this business. Her |
husband from the familiarity with the 10.
cation, had been detailed to superintend |
The Government nets. A free negro, liy- |
ing near this rebel woman, told me that |
he had been forbidden, upon penalty of
severe punishment supplying his wants
from the river, and WHs dependent alto |
gether for piscatorisl supplies upon the |
Government fishermen. The Richmond |
monopoly verify surpassed the CamdeA and |
Amboy.
On 8 very large plantation near here, OF |
8 delightfully."- located house on the river |
bank, l found en- old Virginia gentleman |
named Watkins With stately courtesy |
be rendered me the hospitalities Of his |
house, but could not conscientiously &C.
cept them, and preferred to talk with him |
beneath the stately oaks in his door yard. |
He acknowledged that the arrival Of the |
Union army here, just at this time, was
the largest kind Of a surprise to every |
body. They expected Us here sometime, |
but as far ss they had been able to learn |
Of General Buffers intentions, this move |
ment was destined to advance up the Pc |
ninsuls. The old mans manner showed |
him 10 be very coward, and miserable at |
the expected loss Of his farm stock-ne- |
groes and cattle. He said that he was 8
" neutral, and hoped that General Butler |
would protect him. He hoped that would !
speak to the General and have guard |
placed over his house to prevent intrusion
upon him. His negroes he trusted would |
not be carried of. They loved him and
be was sure, would no leave him unless
we compelled them to. I left the old man
and his three shrewjsh looking daughters,
who had come out Of the house to listen to
The conversation, and went down to the
quarters Of the servants, to hear if their
story respecting the happiness and con-
tentment Of their lot coincided with the
statement Of their master. Not bit Of it.
Old and young, they were busily packing
up their hOmely traps to follow the army
Of liberation. They had prayed the good
Lord for this day, they said, and seemed
vaguely happy because it had come. Their
old master, instead Of being loved ss be-
fore, was hated. They accused him of
cruelty, in starving and overWorking
them. His daughters we're worse than he
One old woman, who had borne thirteen
children, some of whom had been sold to
other plantations beyond her power of
seeing them, by this hosry old rebel, told
me ss she packed up her rags in bundle,
that all her life long she had shaved for
her master, who still expected from her as
much labor IS when she Was young and
strong, and she would leave him il she
had only year to live in freedom. These
negroes told me that the news OF cur COM
up the river reached them early yesterday
morning, and as soon as he heard Of it,
old Watkins gathered together the largest
part Of his slaves and carried them to Pc
tersburgh. He then visited those whom he
did not take away, and threatened all
sorts Of punishment If they did not ex-
press TO the "Yankees" their satisfaction
st being his chsttels. He had endesVored
TO frighten them, also, with horrible tales
Of the barbsrity Of the Yankees toward
those who had gone to them. 1t is need
less, however, to say that these stories
were not believed. 1 am assured that
General Butler will put spade into Mr..
Watkins hands, and make him work in
the intrenchments, if these charges Of the
negroes can be proved against him. He
probably will be confronted with his sccu-
sers.
A new Swedish loan has been effected
in London for Sl1, ,1l5OO0 at the rate Of
924 and 4 per cent. interest coupons.
The total funded debt of Sweden il bDf