The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-01-14
Army Correspondence.
SAVANNAH. Ga. DEc. ed 1864.

10 tHS fFcS IICttT:
Dee. l.-Wcathcr uncomfortable warm.
Our route to-day was in Z direct easterly d.
rection along the railroad, until we sruci, the
Augusta road again and then followed it
about 3 miles and encalnped near the forks
OF the road one branch leading to Milen
and the other to Waynsboro. Our regiment
was placed on picket for the remainder of the
day and the night. Shortly after we had es-
tablished our lines a general rush for camp
was made By the foragcrs and straggers who
had scattered out for miles III all directions.
They reported having seen large BODY of
rebel cavalry some three miles out. They al
so stated that the rebels had captured several
Of the SSth lad. regiment. and were advarc-
ing on US up the Wayusboro road Our pick
cts were N once doubled aad the roads bar
ricaded; hut no enemy made his appearance
This evening an order YVES issued by Gen
Carlin making general Settlement among
the pack mules. The order forbade any one
but negroes to lead them. Company cooks
were ordered to join their companies and en-
trust their pack animals with all their cook
ing utensils and provisions to the care OF ig-
norant aud inexperienced negroes. The or
der also prohibited the use Of pack animals
for carrying the mems blankets. This cruel
order towards the men, Of course, created
general dissatisfaction throughout the army !;
and it remains to he seen what its effect
VIII be.
Several ludicorous scenes occurred along
the road to-day which created a good deal Of
mirth through the lines. Shortly after leaving
Sabastapool we passed a large and splendid
plantation owned by Tom. Burton. Is the
column was moving along some forty or Fifty
negro men, weGchcs and children came to
the road to see rs. just then our band struck
up playing a lively piece. This was too
much Tor the dariies and as if bomhsheli
had burst among them. they scattered in all
directions for their personal effects. And be
fore the whole column had passed they came
out with bundles IN their heads determined
10 follow their yankee trienis. As we passed
along. one old darkey came rushing back
from the front, with his hands raised, and
followed by squad OF wenches, crying ou;,
don 90 too fast. massas, wc s comm too,
aud away they hurried 10 their cabins u
gather up what few articles they wished 70
lug along.
Similar scenes occurred ~ nearly every
plantation along the road greatly swelling
our caravan Of wenchcz and children. Able
bodied negro men. however, are scarce.
Gen Carlia'a puck mule order +, meeting
with tie d.sapp. oJa,iya 81 both men and OH
cers. It. eject j. 10 compel each o.i.cer Ia
his division 90 =, negro Auuuug-u specie
Of degradation which 10 gentleman can sub
mt u without protest.
All through tAe s~a.aer's campaign Gen.
Sherman allowed one or $50 p4ei. animals To
each company for tie purpose Of carrying
the" cooking utensils. cAr.-. u.,lpus aua the
blankets O., SUCH a. would CIV. Ju- And yA
i.a'.a" Atlanta on tA:- campaign. IN his
field Order. lie rather encouraged The men II
sapp.y..a5 themselves nth lae.. animals, than
Otherwise. y oar amDli-Hees are Usually
otherwise engaged these pack animals p:ilE!-s
are found co"Tea:e-t IL carrying along .a2
resting 81. Asa .!..'u and SICK soldiers. lie
c,naa": r.an lad charge ~ the mules and
- IL. country -uYllei 40 Attendance Of t1r-
..5e, these V.oA anIfn4's ar .p! no eNp"asr
- tie yoTcEnue"t. Mo-; = 40. al Of them
arv from condemned styeA is-...- loose from
Tie ;.;44-=
The order issued T.. Ge... C4r.l- Yesterday
delri'es lie laen a! --la great convenience
and tort,s them - paea -a tAe.- clothing.
ra-yn-. ieat> aE4 cooking utensils Oh thor
b-c"-. one pack m.ta =, -.l.r u each
company iar tIg exclusive u-r o.. t-e com
pan. s.i POS, A..s lies t.-'e n..,-. DC .el - e.
negro. =. A- officer docs a'. -.'. % nero .r
Ca-Gt. A-'' IS .'''.N a.'m'.. -..,l"r 'L- -'
have las cooh.n" utensils ait :....a> carried
-, ailN have = Walt, Maa
employed a. A.' PIRATE sr..-a'. ra.e B."
carries ,n,n Ai"aaa.
~. -.-lieIcNe- !-ria I.e"'i tn, morn.
ing =, q giuea. and marched = bIah Head
swamp. Distance ahp". , miles. lie couu-
Try through which "o passed To-Day was VerF
level AM tia sand very deep rendering tie
- 4. I..i. F..t
burned tie bridge at BucS Head and Com
fort Rochcy crock AMI . tAe stream Is large
and yerg deep TIM wer. determined 70 check
our tIrthe. rFogresa Aeza.
Hccv.o.s 10 olr arrival at lis place Gen.
hI!?alr.es hai bee" sent forward and alte-
a severe saisE.aL IN al. vicinity Of he briiSe
with = large portion o. Arei-r cavalry and
cleared them ont. number ni dead horses
cOGia be SEGA scattered over tac -ela AMI
aJn" the road. lie fences were all torn
down and piled INF" 3ar.-ra"es. " hat the
several losses "eF-. nave no' YET 'eaFncL.
y. THIS poison % inc State = 'N'uslV'i!
cultivated. Il }, a. old -. tL-p country. b"
iore-ts are cleared 4H anu converted irtufaai
plantations. lhe number o; residences,
however, are .cw. The plantations are 80
!arct-eacn planter owning such vast tracts
OF land that houses ar very scarce. Zach
plantation rcaembles small village. lie
owner living in large hne house and the
negroes tx hu;S around him. The white
population i therefore very sparse. The ne
-r5es averaging about ten to one. Cotton,
rice. wheat, cora. rye, and oats, are the lead
in. products, while sugar cane seems only to
be raised for home cou,umption The ne
grors throughout the whole extent Of these
plains are Of The most degraded class. Gene
rally field hands and are consequently KEEP.
as ieuo-ant as possible, still they have their
own notions about the yankees. Tbey think
We have come here excl ,iyely to set them
free and to take them with Is.
De. 3.-Nu.l Of the dav was consumed in
crossin., Buck Head and Rockcv Comfort