Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-11-10

KISe RICHARD ILL.,
The duleet moon of May softly silVered
the sleeping waters as the brisk foetfalls
of the passing column echoed from the
long pontoon that spanned the Roanoke.
The gypsy army of Atlanta had now en-
tered the inviolable confines of the Old
Dominion, and was spreading its nightly
camps over her historic hills and valleys.
For many hours the medley train of men,
mules, wagons and artillery kept moving
in incessant tramp and roll over the
rumbling bridge, until finally all were
over. and the myriad bivouac fires flashed
up against midnight's dusky canopy far
and wide over the undulating landscape
The noisy host sunk to comparative rest
and stiffness, and the cricket mingled his
merry chirp with the solemn breathing
of the soldier sleepers.
The cheerful bugles hailed the first
blush of dawn with their inspiring rev.
eilles, and awakened the sum drowned
thousands entertained in the spacious
hostelry of field and forest-wakened
them to the happy consciousness that at
the next setting of the sun they would be
"a days march nearer home"
The long, blue column of the Twentieth
Corps had again stretched itself out in
busy march before the dew had dried
from the dusty highway, or the cherls-
ters of spring had ceased warbing their
thankful mathis to the great Giver and
Author of peace. Warmed by the sun s
roseate glow and rejoicing in a brighter
dawn of long deferred hope, the hilarious
soldiers trudged merrily along up and
down the rough, wild hills which, echo
ing their song and laughter, were often
made to repeat the happy chorus,
'.Tramp, tramp. tramp, the boys marching,
Cheer up, comrades, they will come,
And beneath the starry flag we'll breathe the air again
or the freeTen in our own beloved home"
By 10 a. m. the head of the column struck
the famous Boydton Plank Road. But
the line of march soon diverged from
this dusty thoroughfare and followed a
more unpretending one leading toward
Suffold's Bridge on the Meherrin.
Here and there by the roadside or down
some long drawn lane, a weather beaten
farm house, with ragged appurtenanoes
of neglected fences, hungry barns, and
squalid negro huts attested the home of a
tobacco planter, the ancient and undis-
puted sovereign of-the soil. Swarming
from their squalid tenements our ever
constant and admiring friends, the con-
trabands, came In dusky crowds to wit
ness the passing of the great Yankee
caravan, the bringers of the year of jubi-
lee, and the vastest wonder that ever
filled their distended orbs. All shades
sizes, sexes and ages huddled in silent
tgroups, with faces sad as memory,
clothed in shabby gray homespun, C'good
enough for niggers' stood with folded
arms and wondering eyes watching the
passing column. DO you know you are
all free now?" some one would say. NJ
! sab. Massa says we're not free yet, the!
would respond in chorus. But you ar
free, no matter what massa says" . L
we? Thank you, massa, thank. YOU
Lord bless de Yankees and while hat
and bonnets swung IN air, the sad, SCOT.
faces became brilliant with joy.
On the 5th the Corps reached the Not
toway and encamped hard by its brush,
banks. The marks Of the relentless war
scourge which for four long years ha'
been lashing this rebellious State, wer
: everywhere apparent. The destitution 0
/ the inhabitants was so great as to max
one wonder how any people with spar
of independence left, could so long an
so patiently submit to a despotism so ar
bitrary and exacting. While all tn
able-bodied had been compelled to joi
: the ranks of rebellion, almost the las
) mouthftIl of food, almost the last comfol
of life had been taken from the helples
ones left behind. But for the negroe
the wives and children of the ehivalr
must often have starved. The instance
were not few where the mansion. of tn
master would have frowned over famisf
ing inmates, but for the crust that dali
e came from the cabin of the slave. Bl
. the devouring dragon of secession ha
now received its death blow, and hel
and there a rebel officer or soldier passe
:. BY, vending his solitary way homewart
and looking as tame and sueaking as
whipped spaniel which expects kick
every turn. When kindly spoken to Il
q disconsolate Johnny would generally b
come reassured, and would reckon" tn
y Lee and his army were played cut, al
"allow'' that the war was about over, al
that JEFF. Davis and his Confederacy hi
gone to an individual whom
ST .The old painters limned with a hoor and horn
at beak and scorpion tail +"
At noon of the 9th the column arrive
at Black and Whites Station on t
Southside Railway, and here for the fiji
Tor time the veteran Star Corps rejoined
lold confreres of the Army of the Pot
/. mao. The gallant Sixth Corps, just /
m turned from its march to Danville, "
scattered along the newly reopened ra
. road for the purpose of guarding it again
7 interruption by guerillas. The wearers
3s the star exchanged many fraternal gree
an lines with the brave heroes who in t
We lsigniof the cross so nobly fought o.
Al lconquered at forts Welch and Fisher.
L. Al -.