Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-04-21
1ndcnce of the Cedar Falls Gazette.
Matters and Things.
BY A STRAY TowNsMAN


rRovIDEScE, RHODE ISLAND, April Sd, Is.
Friends Hank and Geo.:
expected to have written you before.
I have many things dotted down in way
of the great oil topic and the panics, but
L have been unable to get time to place
| them in form.
! | left the city Of New York on the
first, my purpose being to go to Boston
however, stopped with friend four
miles from this place. While here the
news came Of the great battle of Grant,
and a call to the Christian Commission
to send on Immediately all that could
be had to attend the killed and wound
ed ut the front. Two members of the
family where l stopped, having been
down twice before on Same business, So
licited me to respond with them, and |
accepted, considering the uncertainty of
! the time when it would be safe to do
business of worldly nature. These
friends, members of the Senior Glass of
Browns University. here, with seven
others of the same college, making ten
in all, will make up party
have just received my papers of the
Agent here to take me to Philadelphia,
where weshall get our commissions and
outfits. Fare, rations and blankets are
furnished. In a few moments we shall
be on the go-ria railroad to New Lon
don, and boat to New York.
AprH M.--Got to n. Y. 6 A. NJ. Are
to take cars in half an hour for Phila-
delphia.
Philadelphia, 10 o'cloCk.-We have
our commissions, and transportation pa
pers as far rs Baltimore, and in a few
moments We will be on the go.
Baltimorc.--We arrived here at 8 ?.
NJ, and must say never rode on cars
SO fast. There were seven coaches, and
we went as If we were wanted ut the
front Immediately. We are ordered to
report at City Point, but cannot leave
here till tomorrow, / z. NJ, which is n
disappointment to US, and doubtless to
the Commission. We are to take boat
down Chesapeake Bay and up James
river. | hope l may have time to write
you from that place, if not from the
battle field where we expect to be sent.
Our commissions are made for only ten
days.
In all the cities have passed through
there have been tue greatest demonstra-
tions of joy. Money, also, is being
poured out by thousands of dollars for
the relief of the soldiers. 1t il n dav of
JOY in the East. Business is suspended
and all have Il lively hope that we may
be able to catch JEFF Davis and Zee.
NEW YORK, April Sth 1866
Friend IT. 4. & G. u. Perkins;
/ think my last was written at Balti-
more, the morning before expected to
start down the Chesapeake Bay and up
the James river to City Point. The
boat Louisiana was the one to take us
the hour OF p. NJ. had nearly arrived
: we had taken passage, paid for our stat,
room, and were, as we thought, consid
ering the great rush Of soldiers, civili
ans, Sanitary and Christian Commits
sion agents, lucky to get berth. And
although the citizens of Baltimore and
all along the coast of the bay between
this and Fortress Monroe, were very
much excited over the news that rebel
pirates were committing depredations
on the bay, (having only few hours
previous captured steamer Harriet De-
ford, which plies between Baltimore
and the various landings on the patux-
ent river, while some were intimidatcd
from going for the present, still there
were hundreds who might be seen hur-
rying to and fro, making ready to de-
part. All had to get pass from the
Provost Marshal before even stepping
foot on the boat. We had got past all
obstacles and were taking observations
of all that was transpiring around us.
The captain was hard mt work, and the
mate appeared to be the most excited,
having by appearances all the or
dering to do; and the way "Uncle
Abraham 5 pets Were moving the ear
go was not matter to be overlooked,
as the poor fellows were worked on quick
time. All was nearly ready to start
fifteen minutes more and the time for
our departure would be up. Bat alas I!
while surrounded with my fellow pas
sengers, who appeared all satisfied with
being 50 far on tie a0oy toward the ar
| M 10 a.,
some assistance to our brave and wound
ed soldiers, and in the same good time
visit the spot where friend and foe had
fallen, we bcheld messenger coming
on horseback at full gallop. All eyes
! saw him, ana although we knew not
the tidings some said he must be one
bringing news of more piracy on the
/ bdy, and that the boat would not gO.--
/ The messenger stopped before the Pro-
vost AIarshal's office, and had only u
moments consultation there, and then
was seen coming towards the boat with
papers in his hand. All were anxious
to know what was up. This was the
news: a telegram from City Point from
the Agent of the Christian Commits
sion, "not to send any more agents !;
We have all that are wanted at present. 4"
This news came like a clap Of thunder
to the hearts Of those who had got their
minds so Clearly fixed on things to
come. Some were not little amused
took it as good joke, and Others as
/ far rs their Christian character would
allow showed strong symptoms Of an
4 ger, but of course did not spit it out as
that would look bad. The time being
short, the boat SOON to be eff, we had no
/ time 10 party. Our satchels In hand we
were soon on our way up to 81 Balti-
more street, agents room, there to know
our destination, expecting to DO sent to
other fields of labor. But not so; we
could wait until to-morrow for further
orders. At this juncture 1 thought |