Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-04-08
WHOLE NUMBER 1877.



/ happened obe present this afternoon
at one Of those interviews which so often
occur between Gen. sherman and the ne.
groes. The conversation was piquaut and
interesting, uot-only as being characters
'.c OF both parties, bnt it was the more
s'gn'ncant because, on the part Of the Gen.
ersi' oeheve TIA fair expression Of bis
feeling on the slavery question. - f'is
a party OF ten or hiieen neeroes had
jnst found their way through the lines from
Cheraw. Their owners carried them from
The vicinity OF Columbia TO the other side
Of the Pedee, with their mules and horses
which they were rnning from our army
The negroes had escaped and were on their
way back TO find their families. A more
ragged set OF human beings would not
have been found out of ihe Slave States.
or psrhaps Italy These negroes were Of
all ages aud had stopped in front of the
Generals tent. which was pitched few
feet back from the sidewalk of the main
street.
Several OFF ;ers oftho army, among them
Gen. SlocIm, were gathered around, inter-
ested 10 The ecene. The General asked
them: a1i i4isi19i"
Well, men, what can I do for YOU
where are you from? s4 a1-'l isa
Wese jus, com3 from Cberaw. Msssa
took US with him to carry males and hor.
ses away from youins.
You thought we would get them. Did
yon wish us.tc get them?
Oh yes, massa, dat's what wanted =
We knowed youins cumin,. and wanted
you to hav dem mules; but no use. dey
heard dat youius on do road, and nuthin
would stop dem. Why, as we cum along
de cavalry run. away from de Yanks as If
dey fright TO de,h. Dsy jumped Into do
river, and some OF dem lost dere hoses
frightened at de very name oh Sherman
Some one at this point said:--That is
Gen. Sherman who is talking to you. ~
G od bless me, is you Mr.. Shermsn2
Yes, / am Mr.. Sherman.
Oats him, SUI nufF, said one. =.
Il dat de great Mr Sherman da! w'es
beard OBJ so long; said another. @
Why, dey SO frightened at your berry.
name dat dey ran right away, shouted
third. -.
II is no, me that they are afraid OF;
said the General, the name of anolhet
man would have the same effect with them
if he had this army. 1t is these soldiers
that ,hey run away from.
Oh no, they all exclaimed, iss's de name
OBJ Sherman. su'; and we hab wanted to
see you 50 long while you trabbel all roun
jis whar you like to 20. Dey said dat dey
wanted TO git you a little furder on and
den dey whip you and all your soldiers; bas
God bress me, you keep cumin' an dey
aller git ont.
They mighty fraid ob you ssr; dey say
you kill de coored men, too, said al old
man, who had not here,cfore taken part
in the conversation.
With much earues,ness, General Sher.
man replec:- ..sd9
O.d man. and all o! yon. understand me-
desire that bad men should fear me, aud
the enemies of the government which We
ore all fighting for. Now we are friends;
you ate now free (rank you, Massa She,.
man, was jlcuated by the group). YOU
can go where you please; you can come
with Us or go home to your children
Wherever you go, you are no longer slaves.
You ought to be able to take care Of your
selves. (Weis; We will You must
earn your freedom. then you will be enti.
tied 10 it, surej you have right to be ell
that you can be, but you must be indus.
ttious. and eara the right to be men, II
you go back 10 your families, and I tell
you again you can 80 with US if you Wish, :
you must do the best you eau. When
you get chance, go to Beaufort or Char
lesion, where you viii have O little farm
TO work yourselves.
The poor negroes were filled with 2 rati.
'ude aud hope by these kind words, utt cred
in the kindest manner. and they went awsy
with thanks and blessings on their lips
Cor Ere Post