Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-12


GoLDsBoRo, N. c., Dec s, 1865
yT. P,y,o,d foa Ne,sJern to Goldsboro'- Country
along the Rq 7 p%fseegers-7 7 leiey t ron
I Xxx Pcnt IL GoldgJoro-Good FeeIing among
Wercbant, 'orards BALTIMORE General Grant
Hoeh.
There cng no railroad guide book for the South,
,t least mat L know of, shall give to the public
qncb in 0rmation in this respect as | may acquire.
The ra road between Goldsboro' and Morehead City
;scoIlc the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad"
The distance from this place to Newborn is sixty
mile and from Newben to Morehead City forty
mics. There is daily passenger train each way.
O,rroute from Newbern to this place lay over ground
mere many life was lost in the late bloody war.
The reader will remember that numerous fights took
place when "a Federal s army was stationed New
kinSton is halfway between Newben and Colds
boro The line traversed by train passes through
u sandy and all but barren tract of land covered
tirely with rather stunted growth of pine trees,
until within few miles of Goldsboro' when occa
sional desoIate and-as well as | could see in the
moonlight-unenclosed field spread for a short dis
lance Its sere and stunted vegetation; We passed
but two places between Newborn and kinstOn where
| noted any sign of human life. At one was small
dwelling-hut, built of pine boards, and equally
small structure, Of pine logs. which was probably
meant for a stable.
At the other place in an open spot in the woods,
little distance from the railroad, We're couple Of
knots were burning before the open fronts OF the
tents. We saw no living thing moving bout; the
tenants Of the miserable spot were no doubt in the
tents. All that l saw at Kinston, besides the dim
visions of houses here and there, was large two
story frame building, near the station, the upper part
some kind The car in which sat was dimly lighted
by two candles 1t was good strong car, apparent
ly; but l had noted when first entered it at New
bern, by the daylight which had not yet gone out
that it was dngy and much in need of new paint. 1t
capable of seating fortytour passengers, and
looked dingy and gloomy enough in the faint light of
the candles. This effect was added to by the dresses
of the passengers The Northerners were mostly ar
rayed in travelling gear, which has no brightness
gayety in it; and the S0utherners were clad In plain
homespun, not new in every instance About three.
were but three ladies in the car when we left New
bern. One OF these, young glrl VINO wore Jockey
hat and feather, sat some three or four benches be-
hind me- she sang the we-known song, Tramp
tramp-tramp;" nearly the whole way to ;Kinston.
looking young man. The other ladies were accompa-
MED by boy about ten years Of age, and of them
carried an infant in her arms. Their dresses were
and very Questionable and one of them a home
made shawl of dark woollen. Being enabled
cuing one of their packages from passing feet,
we soon established kind of travelling aequant.
acquaintance in New Orleans and elsewhere. The
party were on their way to Halifax, Nova Scotia, to
ioin the husband of the younger lady, who was the
daughter of the elder one. They had never been
so far north before. These ladies spoke in touching
y s ad nam r q" on Of beI ur IN Ns NE var
leans with but little of their cothng their plantation
house in Louisiana. to which they had then resored,
was burned to the ground with all their furniture and
even all their clothing except what they were wear
ing at the time; and, afterwards establishing them
selves at Jackson Mississippi they again burned
out of house and home when that place captured
by the federal troops The younger lady told me
that they would not have been able travel had she
not been so fortunate as to collect $500 out Of 81 500
due to her at Newhern. They left Goldsborough by
the midnight train for the north.
| have COnVersed with many men here, and the
general feeling among them seems to he to accept
frankly the position in which the rebellion has left
r Init rf,re Il
ly, and he said that in case OF between this
country and Frame or England, he would fight on
the side of the enemy. am sure, however that he
would not. There is genera! expression of weari-
ness and dependency on the faces Of people here.
You seldom hear laugh or see smile. Even the
colored population seem to have lost their usual
elasticity of temperament AT the railroad depot.
which is in front of the hotel where am boarding,
some negro freedmen gather at night and kindle
ire of pine knots, and have heard there occasional
y the tinkling of the banjo and the shuling of feet
But have never heard laugh even from them.
The colOred people impressed with the vastncSS
of the recent revo luton in their lot and await in
silent expectation the result of the great change.
Colonel Clapp, connected with the Free dnens Blu
reau in this Department tells that the condition of
the liberated negroes here is much improved and that
but little SUFFERING among them is anticipated during
the coming winter. lie informed me that he called
Il flew days ago upon the Mayor of GOldsboro' in
reference to statement giving the latter for author
iy. which appeared lately in some of the New York
papers, to the effect that the condition of the poor
whites and freedmen here was deplorabe. This in
tervieW with the Mayor. Colonel Clapp said was had
that the particulars might be learned upon which The
statement was based. and that the Bureau might en-
deavor to afford relief The Mayor told him he re
ago to some gentlemen from the North who made in
quirieS of him, but acknowledged that the condition
of things is much improved. 1t requires close cXami
nation however, think so, at least from what |
am told-to find out some of destitution among
both whites ana freedmen many sniler who make no
day. that so many negroes build fires in the streets
and gather around them Because they have no
houses, he replied.
House rents are very high in this place, l was
present when seventy-dve dollars month was re
fused for single story frame building about sixteen
feet in front and thirty in depth and which is I'M
pasered. Real estate in the town sells at an eXor
bitant price for place like this. An intelligent gen
tlenan, with whom ] fell into conversation. attri
butes it partly to the great number comparatively
of negroes who have left the plantation and crowded
to the town; partly to the number OF planters who,
dissatisfied with the changed appearance Of things
at their country homes come here where change Is
not so apparent: and partly to the demand for resi-
dences and PLACES Of business by northern immigrants
may add to this that there seems to to he want
of faith among the southern part of the population,
both here and at Newbern, in the national currency
they think that 1t will rapidly depreciatc and
they doubt if ii will finally he redeemed. This may
appear strange to us who are perfectly convinced OF
the contrary; but we must remember that they have
had one experience III currency which we have not
had; they have proved currency in which they
trusted perfectly valueless.
! find general disposition among the merchants
here to deal with Baltimore, if as prompt and cheap
transportation can be had wi city as with New
York; A number of them have told me that they
would rather deal with Baltimore than with New
York, philadelphia, or Boston. noticed this state
of good feeling towards our city as being general
through the South, when | travelled in this section
yearly for the SIX or years next preceding the
civil war. The impression was general among the
mercantile community that they could purchase goods
rs chcaply and good terms in Baltimore as any
where else. All that was wanting then, and all that
Is wanting now 10 make this good feeling available,
IS the establishment OF an adequate number of lines
OF steamers between Baltimore and other Southern
ports.
Lieutenant General Grant passed through this
place on Friday last ina special train, on his
from Raleigh to Wilmington. | suppose that you
have learned from your exchanges of his graceful
cepton by the two Legislative Houses of the State
| advise visitors to this place to stop" at the
Granger Hotel" 1t is the best kept and most com
Portable hotel at which have put up since have
lett Baltimore. Board So day. 0RIoNIS.
Rnprl of 'EraHn