Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-06-25

FRIGHrFUL SCENES ANosG THE SUFFERERS.
a correspondent of the Chicago Tribune writes
from BelefOnte Ala. under date of June g:
passed number Of cabins. around which were
nall dozen nearly naked children but did not stop
ut any OF them till had reached point about three
miles from the edge of the Coosa valley. Here,
within ten feet of the road. of those huts in
been driven from the fertile valleys and plains by
the exclusivenesS and grapng of the wealthy land
owners. have for years taken refuge. Several chill
dren ranging IN age from four to twelve years, and
clothed only In what is an excuse for an under
garment. were sitting around, while two females
were. with emaciated countenances. picking some
wild vegetables in the vicinity, from which to make
meal for themselves and suffering children. could
not mistake their condition Of destitution even at
glance; but determined to hear their story from
their own lips. and accordingly halted my horse,
and asked one of the females:
today"
She paused moment. and repeated the question.
God knows" said she, and tears began to trickle
and traveller away, but there has been an ounce
Of meal or meat in the house for five days. we and
upon boiled greens, with neither salt nor pepper"
How many children have you?" asked.
= Three, and this lady two morc-aIl small, you
see, We have no way to live; cannot even get
seed to plant our gardens. How we are to live God
only knows"
wa an }hHHs4a84f buy % ihtb dePa5s Pa5 ssrvlcs
Abr! she said. .ah they staid out as long as they
could They lived for two years in the mountains,
but they finally taken and carried away in irons
and both killed, just to some of those rich
men,"
WOMAN OF SEVENTY
was the next person addressed; | had passed all
nerves second shock that day; but on the road
met an old. decrepid female. clothed in Il worn
wrapper Of coarse domestic. carrying on her back a
sack, in which was half bushel of meal.
Madam" said l, you are wearied, are you not?
you are too old to carry such load.'
u have toted it eighteen miles; clear from Gun
How far DO you live from here?" asked.
Half mile"
And you have carried this all the way from Gun
tersville; had you no one to send?"
No, SIR" said She; II had two sons who lived with
me, and two more who had families, living near
They all killed in the war, and the wife of
of them is dead, and had to take care of his four
children. the oldest of whom is eight years Of age:
had to carry this clear from Guntersvlle or Starve
NO MEAT SINCE AUGUST,
peck of meal, and asked
How far do you live from the city?"
Are the people bad off there?"
Yes; we have had to live the corn meal given
US. We have had no meat In our house since August
last. and the Lord knows when we shall have any
more"
"Do you get corn meal enough?"
No. sir, we don't average more than q peck a
week, and there are four Of US in the family"
Where is your father?"
He was killed at Mission Ridge"
Are the people around you Us bad off as you
are2"
better oil; we expect to all starve, unless the
KEGS help u.s."
l could fill columns with particulars as heart
rendering these. [ conversed with at least
hundred persons during my stay. which lasted til
the morning of the 4th of june and all of them
gave accounts doleful as these narrated
made inquiries of different parties well informed
on the condio of affairs, and they estimated that
at least twenty thousand persons bordering on
state of starvation! All looked to tho Yankees
and to them alone, for assistance. No one ever
dreamed Of obtaining assistance from the wealthy
planters Of their state.