The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-08-02
LETTER FROM GEORGIA.

u e :"
Augusta, Ca, July u 1865
This section having just emerged from the
hell OF war, is undergoing the purgatorial
process of reconstruction prior TO admission
into the paradise of the Union Shortly af
ter the capitulaton of General Lee this ci V
became flied up with returning soldiers on
their way to their homes in the Calf states
On General Johnson's surrender The number
was still further increased, and desirous per-
haps, of having one more "breeze before set
thing down to peaceful pursuits, the bled
veterans proceeded to sack the various builds
ings wherein the Confederate Authorities had
stored provisions, clothing and material gene
rally. From side of half tanned leather to
some dandy clerks ruffled shirt, from bolt
of cloth to mouthful of bacon, nothing came
| amiss to the spoilers. Liquors kept s'strictly
for medical purposes"i. e. to whet the whistles
of thirsty functionaries, G, s. mules, horses
and wagons, blankets and uniforms, camp
kettles and raw hide saddles, all went the
same way, and for several days after the great
storm the victors filed along the stress and
roads on their homewaid way laden with the
booty of the sack. This episode over, the
next excitement was that attendant on he
advent of Federal officer, Brigadier General
Upton, to take possession in the name of the
United States This being about the only
or seriously threatened by hostile force,
much curiosity was manifested 10 see the Off
Ger named, curiosity still further evoked by
the arrival of a small force of troops to take
formal possession of the arsenal and public
works.
At this juncture Confederate money gave its
last kick some idea of its last purchasing
power being obtained from the statement thai
! five hundred dollars of it was once or twice
disbursed fer drink, and hundred for h
cigar. Next day some adventurous spirit
proposed to sell gold at $1,000 for one, but
in twenty four hours thereafter it became so
worthless that, on passing along by some ne
groes, heard them laughing at the fallen es-
tate of five dollar bill that lay on the pave
| ment, trampled under foot by each way farer,
and not even worth picking up as cigar
lighter After the demise of the curr, nee
and the excitement consequent upon raising
''the flag" we had peace till the advent of a
representative OF the Ere edman's Bureau,
with worthy coadjutor, in the form of
thrifty young man from M ,ine, who rendered
good advice on the subject of emancipation
to the whites as we'll as blacks This was
the first of the freedman business here-some-
thing that from small and timid beginnings
has bloomed out into the proportions OF
'job' that would delight the heart of any
loobyite in America.
On the announcement of their freedom the
slaves became violently excited, and gave vent
to their joy by indiscriminately running
away OF went the town negroes into dusky
resorts on the suburbs, and in came the plan-
tation darkies to sun themselves on the main
city streets. You see freedom was too good
to believe, unless it could be practically test-
ed, and as the only way was to do that, it &C.
Cured to the Afrite mind one must buodle
up his traps and go somewhere-just exactly
where, it was no matter, provided it was
somewhere away from old plantation and the
old folks at home. Consequences was," as
Arteman has it, Augusta was overrun with
foundations of every varietyof the colored