Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-01-06

nagnifcRntpine woods-the savannahs offhe South
as they are termed. ! have never seen. and II can
eonceige more picturesque sight than the arm
winding along through these grand old woods I'll,
pines rise, naked of branches, eightY and niaet,
feet. and then are crowned with turf of pur,
green The trees are wide apart SO that fredaentll
two trains Of wagons and troops in double columl
are marching abreast. En- the distance may Be seer
troop Of horsemen, some General and his Staff
turning abou- here and there, their gay uniforms
and red and white flags contrasting harmoniousls
with the bright, yellow grass underneath and the
deep evergreen.
TOUCHING INCIDENTS.
The most pathetic scenes occur upon our line q
march daily and hourly Thousands of negro wo
men join the coleInn some carrying household truck
others, and many Of them there are, @Ao bear the
heavy burden of children in their arms while Older
boys and girls plod BY their Sides All these women
and children are ordered back, heartrending though
y may be to refuse them liberty. They won co.
One begs that she may 60 to see her husband and
children at Savannah. Long years ago she was for
ced from them and sold Another has heard that
her boy was in Macon, and she is done gone with
grief goin' on four years.
But the majority accept the advent of the Yam
KEGS as the fQillment of the milennial prophecies
The aday Of jubilee, the hope and prayer Of d
lifetime, has come. They cannot be made to under
stand that they must remain behind and they are
satisfied only when General Sherman tells thel--as
he does every day-that we shall come back for
them some time and that they must be patient until
the proper hour of delirerance comes.
The other day woman with child in her arms
was working her way along amongst the teams aud
crowds Of cattle and horsemen. An officer called
to her kindly; Where are you going aunty ~
She looked up into his face with a hopeful be-
seeching look, and replied
II Sc gwlne whar you sc gwine, InasSa.
1t was this place that several factories were
burned. 1t was odd to see the delight Of the me-
groes at the destruction of places known to them
as task-houses, where they had groaned under the
lash
STATION OF THE GEORGIA CENTRAL R. r.,
November 80
With the exception Of the Fifteenth Corps our
army is across the 0geechee, and without fighting
battle. This river is line of great strength to the
Rebels, and they might have made It's passage cost
ly effort for US, but they have been outwitted and
We have heard to-day from Fitzpatrick and from
Millen. Fitzpatrick made splendid march, fighting
Wheeler all the way to Wainsboro, destroying the
railroad bridge crossing Briar Creek, between Au
gusta and Aillen 1t is with real grief that write
that he was unable to accomplish the release of our
prisoners. 1t appears that for some time past the
Rebels have been removing our soldiers from Mil
len the officers have been semitic Columbia, S. c.,
and the privates further South, somewhere on the
Gulf Railroad.
We have had very little difficulty in passing the
0geechee. The Twentieth Corps moved down the
railroad destroying it to the bridge The Seven
teenth Corps covered the river at this point where
light bridge only partially destroyed 1t was
easily repaired, that the infantry and cavalry
could pass over it, while the wagons and artillery
used the pontoons. The 0geeehee is about sixty
Yards in width at this point, 1t is approached on
.he northern or western side through swamps which
would be impossible were it not for the sandy soil
which packs solid when the water covers the road
although in places there are treacherous qucksands
which we are obliged to corduroy.
This evening | walked down to the river. nov
Il and vivid sight was it to the fires of pitch pine
DARING up into the mist and darkness, the figures of
men and horses looming out of the dense shadows
ii gigantic proportions. Torch lights are blinking
and flashing away off in the forests, while the still
air echoed and reechoed with the cries 0fteamsters
and the wild shouts of the soldiers A long line of
he troops marched across the foot bridge each sol
iier bearing torch their light reflected in quiver
ng lines in the swift running stream.
Soon the fog which settles like blanket over the
wamps and forests of the river bottoms, shut down
lpon the scene, and so dense and dark was it that
orches were of but little use and men were directed
iere and there by the voice.
sHERMANs MANGUvREs.
ScARBoRo', Ga, Dec. 3-Pivoted upon Millen |
he army has swung slowly round from its eastern |
course, and is now moving in SIX columns upon par
llel roads southwark, Until yesterday it was i'm
possible for the Rebels to decide whether or not it
vas General Sherman's intention to march upon |
Augusta. Fitzpatrick had destroyed the bridge above
Eaynesboro and falling back had again advanced |
supported by the Fourteenth Army Corps, under |
4eneral Davis. South of this column, moving east
ward through Brdsville, was the Twentieth Corps |
by General Slocum. Yet further south |
he Seventeenth Corps, Gen Blair in command, fol-
owed the railroad, destroying it as he advanced
Vest and south ofthe 0geeehee the fifteenth corps
1eneral Osterhaus In immediate command, but nm |
er the eye of General Howard has moved in two |
columns.
Until now Davis and Fitzpatrick have been cover |
nd shield to the real movements. AT no time |
las it been possible for Hardee to interpose any |
erious obstacle to the advance of the main body Of
ur army for our left wing has always been strong
rm thrust out in advance, ready to put in chance
y any force which might attempt to get within Its
uard.
The Rebel councils of war appear to have been
ompletely deceived, for we hear it reported that |
Bragg, and Longstreet are at Augusta, with ten /
housand men, made up of militia, two three
outh Carolina regiments and portion of Hamp
on's Legion, sent there for one month. It is pos
ibe, now that the curtain has been withdrawn and
s it may appear that we are marching straight for
ayannah, their Generals with their ten thousand,
lay attempt to harass rear, but they can accom-
lish nothing but the loss of a few lives, without
hecking our progress.
The work SO admirably performed by our left /
ing SO far as it has obliged the Rebels in our front
onstantly to retreat by threatening their rear now
ecomes the Office of the Fifteenth Corps, our right
ing, on the bank of tie river. Its two columns
re moving one days march in advance of the main
ody of the army marching down the peninsula be-
Eeen the Savannah and the Ogeechee rivers. The
eeessity and value of these flank moyements--frst
the right wing with Kilpatricks cavalry, then of
layis and Fitzpatrick ON the left, and now of How
rd on right, is because we cannot run over and
emolish any and all the Rebel forces in Georgia
hey could not for a moment stand before this army
pom any ordinary battle ground, but very small
,roe of infantry cavalry at river could delay
oumn half day, aud perhaps longer, and as our
odiers have got tired Of chickens, sweet potatoes
orghum, &C., and have been promised oysters on
le half she'll oysters roasted stewed, &c.n short,
ysters, they don't care to be delayed.
The railroad which has been receiving our inme-
lediate attention within the last week is altogether
he best have seen in the State though the raid IT.
elf is not so heavy as the rail on the Augusta aud
tlanta road. The rail on the Georgia Central Is
artially laid with the U, and portion OF light
iil but it is all fastened parallel strngers which
re again fixed to the ties. The station houses are
enerally built of brick the most substantial