The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-01


count Of journey in the Southern States,
taken during holiday, referring specially to
~ the events of the past, and the feelings me-
eessarily awakened in the mind of the soldier
by n trip through the section of the country
lately grown familiar by the Impressions OF
fjoined the Congressional party from WASH
ingtOn, bound for New Orleans, and as the
marty was to stop at the larger places for the
purpose of observation and enjoyment a suffi-
eient time to enable me to make inquiries and
taLa notes I considered myself particularIv
fortunate in an invitation to accompany them.
left Washington at daylight on the 22d of
December last, in the cars, passing through
those places which have now become so histo-
Tical that their simple association takes you
back into what now seem more like dreams
and visions than real events. Through Alex
andria past Fort Ellsworth, in sight of Fairfax
court house and CentTeyille across Bull Run,
lett's, Warrington, Rappahannock, and Brandy
Station. ,,.. ,--..,-
fields. Although beholding the places where
brave men and true were sacrificed, 1t was diff
cult to repress feeling or JOY that the hard
bloody war was over and the dark days were
passed and God had blessed us with the victory
"a victory in whose crown we now behold the
Inestimable Jewels of perpetual Union, sacred
Constitution, and liberty and even-handed
We stopped for a few moments at Culpeper
Court House, and had time to make inquiries
about the white and colored people. A Freed.
mems Bureau officer there Joined the party on
the train and went on with us to the next sta
tion, He reported all classes in good condition,
the colored people attending good colored
schools, taught by an excellent lady teacher;
and passing on through Charlottesville, Cor
louisville, and LynchDurg, and other small
places on the road, there was the same testl-
mony, accompanied with an occasional shrug
of the shoulder, and some expressions of con-
tempt for the Niger Bureau and Niger school.
AS the cars halted at Westdale, town on the
boundary line between Virginia and Tennessee,
two colored girls came into the train with
subscription list for the purpose of raising
money to aid them In erecting school-house.
said 1--WE have school, If pOllapt
one hundred dollars, and buy lot, our people
will build house. Then we wish you TO send
us teacher" This is only one evidence of the
spirit that cries everywhere:-"Build schools
for our children and ourselves; we want to
learn"
At knoxville we saw large numbers of people
of every color, generally very poorly clad. They
received the party with every possible demon
stration, and Governor Brownlow, too weak to
stand, sat upon the depot platform and re-
eeived our compliments by warm grasp of the
hand and word of joyous, welcome. But
though his body trembles, and he totters in his
gait, his eyeis clear and steady indicative of the
indomitable spirit of the man. (Applause)
Here we met veteran officer, one several
times wounded in the war, member of the
Reserve Corps We found in his office that
schools had been organized, and that several
others existed In this region, Here IL was that
Burnside defended success fully the place against
Longstreet, until we came to his relief; here II
was that men, women, and children came out
to meet our army with Joy, ! recollect pany
incidents characteristic of this loyal people.
In the evening we passed on down the Hol-
stein bank, across the east branch of the Ten
nessee. through Layton, Sweetwater, through
the charming valley of Clearburg, whence
started in 1854, at the head of the 4th Army
Corps, in that stupendous campaign to Atlanta
on through the vast forest, past mountain
ranges and through sne cut OF ~ To 40 fEe
old Quaker school-house and the hedge in my
boyhood and all these familiar names of famous
places, as they were mentioned to me, quick
ened recollections and called back history.
From Knoxville TO Chattanooga felt a sense
OF freedom that we were not still marching on,
inst SuCh night four wears before, on the rough
ridges. on that night the rain poured on us in
torrents. Who can estimate the fortltude or
our soldiers and the faith it required in them
never to falter during those years of exposure
and hardships?-and who dare to say that God
did not lead them in the darkness, and mete
out to them strength of heart to enable them
toovercome these hardships
Hoping TO explore Lookout Mountain and
Missionary Ridge, as 1t was Sunday, 1t was
agreed to remain for the day at Chattanooga.
longed to climb the hills and visit the seen es
where had seen men charge on their foes L
conceived it my first duty, however to look
after the interest OF the colored freedmen. I
learned that there We're two colored churches,
Baptist and a Methodist. Senator Davis and
wife and Senator Ramsey accompanied me to
the building was just opened. We entered and
sat down near the front,
wish l could describe the building. The
wooden boarded seats for the people were the
best offering they could make, but found il
one that God did accept, and perceived His
spirit was here. l watched the people as they
came and filled up those rough seats. Nearly
all looked cheerful, and We're comfortably
dressed. Inc minister Ieau Win some dltl
Guilty. Probably he had not been able to reat
at ali long, but he preached the truth will
fervor and effect. AS soon as ne ended his dis
course, converts came forward, and he CAV
them his hand; then he prayed for them.
Having learned my name, the minister aslket
me to pray with them, and with heart NOR
with them the best / could in commendin
them and their cause to the Lord.
AS we had a few hours TO spare, in spite OF Tn
rain the ladies privately drove to the NationG
Cemetery, situated couple of miles from th
railroad depot, to the eastward. A beautifU
Cemetery has been located here, under tn
direction of Chaplain Van Horn. He is remark
able for the love he bears for our fallen heroes
ing-pace, and sat down with his quiet famil
at the gates.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ofiallsour generals stoo
during the battle of fChattanooga-a man whor
we may love and trust, whom you may Low
and trust as / do, and ever shall, the noble kinC
unassuming, unchanging General George
Thomas. (ApplauseO General Grant was the
the commander of the Held.
The cemetery is traVersed from the base {
the hill by gravelled paths and roads, so lai
out as 70 allow you Eo rSht band and ON ~ ~
left you see the unbroken ranks or the hea(
boards of our companions-in-arms' Ihese al
gathered in companies, troops, ana CORP
1'Here General, are your men of the llth Corp
Here are those of the 18th, who fell during III
night. Here are those who mounted the rock
orags. Here are the men who burst the gate
yonder mountain with Hooker and drove J1
persistent enemy from his stronghoId. lAl
pause.) Here they all are--the dead mean
the Germans of ScnurZ and Steinwehr. Hel
are the white men, the red men, the blac
men. All sleep there quietly beneath the so
They seem TO say to us, Behold how we tougl
and bled for the same glorious cause! Unite
in life, united in death, shall we not bequeat
TO our brethren what we have saved, the con
mon right to treat every inch OF American so
as freemen entitled to all the blessings an
benfts of an undivided republic (Applause)
But must hasten on. In the afternoon v
metthe school teachers and children the Am
riean Missionary Association have plante
here: a little band OF teachers and superil