The New York herald., 1865-05-08
Across Country in Pursuit Of Sheridan's .
Cavalry.
Mr.. william J. Stark's Despatch.
HEADQUARTERS SECOND CoRYa Nav 4 1895

HEADQUARTERS, SECOND CoRPs May 4, 1855.
An order to Join General Shcrdan's command reached
eighteen hours subsequent TO the departure Of the
cavalry from the vicinity Of Pssersburg where II had
been encamped since the surrender Of General Ie
ing from It's glorious abon and confidently anticipating
that the day Of marches and battles over and that
Its members would seon be permitted 10 return 70 their
homes and once again enjoy the pleasures Of peace.
The anticipated renewal Of hostties between Sherman
and Johnston changed all this and at early hour on
the morning Of the oath Of April Sheridan with his in
vincibe riders, again In the saddle.
A RIDE THROUGH LATE REBEL TmMroRY.
Upon my arrival at late hour the evening Of the
same day. finding them gone Immediately returned TO
Burkesv1e ond out across the country to Dauvllc
distance OF about hundred miles, hoping 10 reach
them prior 70 their junction with the Sixth corps that
place Prior TO setting out was entertained with
stories of the daboical acts OF tho gucrla
groes and bands Of marauders from Lees army which
said to be operating through the country, and
cheerfuy assured that, in all human probability
reaching my journeys end, I would be a,ccmmo-
dated with couch the lap Of mother earth by the
waysde with my throat cut from ear to say moth
ing Of the loss oy horsc and such other articles Of value
and comfort my extremely limited Of ranspor
tstion would permit Disreeardng thcss woeful prog
nostcatons in which, sooth say had very little faith
set out upon early hour OF the 25th my immediate
objective point being staunon river Roanoke sta
ton, whore General Benham, with the engineer corps
was engaged In rebuilding bridge which had boon dc.
sroycd after Lees surrender by order Of the rebel
authorities then 10 Danve. This bridge upon the
Richmond and Dsnville road and put an end all travel
beyond that point It's destruction was IN entirely
less act in ways njurng the plans OF General Grant
or interfering with the advance Of the Union army and
the people In the vicinity spoke of 1t with much bitter
ness as one among many acts perpctaed by the rebel
government the only result OF which still to
mpoverish country already devastated by the tread Of
two immense armies
Several days Of fine weather had rendered the roads
most excellent and the advanced stage Of vegetation at
least two weeks ahead Of colder cme made the ride
Of itself most agreeable.
The FIRST idea which strikes tho traveller through this
region s the entire absence Of law and Of the protection
II affords. 'T place my only remaining horse in the
kitchen with my servants at night" said wealthy
PLANTER or fear will be stolen;" and II had been,
constable or sheriff with poss eomitatu volunteer
force Of neghbors would have set out In pursuit when
morning came The could only submit to his loss
far greater than the simple value Of the animal since
with which 10 cultivate his land.
All civil oniccs arc practically abolished, and the
exercise their functions and everywhere might controls
band Of half dozen negroes or few sraggers from
one OF tho armies, will enter house and remove from
everything valuable, including all the eatabes and the
terrified residents are dumb, not daring TO offer single
rcmonstrance and breathing sigh Of relief when the
ruiaans are gone though they bear with them every
th0R upon which the family had depended 10 support
life Tor year TO come constant dread Ia apparent
among oil classes and the anxious conciliatory smile
which invariably greeted me upon riding up 10 house
spoke volumes ne TO the state Of mind OF the people
In conversation with them, do not recoIlcct that
heard ono single unkind word concerning our govern
ment Their bitterness Is all reserved for Jen. Davis
and bis satellites by whom they feel they have been de-
prycd OF everything valuable beneath the is
curious TACT that M unprotected they are, liable
to pllage and robbery at any moment, the universal
testimony is that things preferable now 70 what
they were prior to the advance Of our armies. Then
every man was under surveillance from which there
was no escape and invariably exercised In the most dis
agreeable manner Az every turn he was obliged 10 pro-
duce his pass showing why hc was absent from
tho army. In the market place, at church.
on the railway, riding In his carriage, seated in
his ouse-oycrywherc he greeted by The officials
who could only retain their places by extraordinary zeal
and ohcency In the exercise of their disagree duties
and required 70 show good cause why he should not be
pa cd In the trenches and Fight the hated North men.
Naturally, In country whero aristocracy ruled,
those who were exempt from duty In the ranks either
by deta or Otherwise, wero those who could be best
spared from ther families the merccss conscripton
Uasgng IVn ther homes tho poorer ones, whose wives