The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-04-24
Correspondence Of The Dispatch.
Trim 10 Hick sford-Thc Village The Negroes
hold Il Fair and Couccrt-Bi>hop Johns, NC.

Dear Dispatch, A ride on railroad Is,
under ordinary circumstances, very
"s,upid " affair. The noise and rattle of
the ears prevents conversation with your
friends. and the motion and wind create a
drow>nc>s which is at times almost ire
SiStibIe. Your correspondent, however,
came down from Richmond on yesterday
under entirely different circumstances.
For a travelling companion, he had I'M
der his charge one OF the most bcautl-
iu and graceful young ladies OF our isis
ter city," and the attentions which he felt
il necessary to beStow on her, and the nu-
merous bundles and pots Of flowers which
she had with her, whicd away the time
most pleasantly; and the only complaint
which he has To make is, that the Journey
was accomplished too soon.
OF the scenes and incidents along the
route he has not much to say. The crops
are looking well; but there seems TO he a
very small breadth of land under cultiva-
tun. The negroes were generally cele
brating Easter by taking holiday, and few
were in the fields al work, but at every
station large crowds OF them We're gathered.
Dressed in their tincry, put on without re-
gard 10 taste or color, and seemingly only
10 crafty the desire to show, they pre-
scented an appearance altogether unique,
and such a is seen nowhere else but in the
South. Leaving Petersburg, we pass
through what will at some day be classic
ground for it was here that was COM
menced, in the spring of 1850, that ccle-
bratcd campaign which resulted in the
surrender of General Lee. For several
miles below the city the surface of the
ground is cut up with entertainments, rifle
pits, &c, which remind us of the four
years of strife and bloodshed from which
we have SO recently emerged. Judging
from the appearances which we saw, IL
will be many year before these people
recover from its terrible effects.
At HckSford we reach the first village
south of Petersburg. This Is an ancient
place, the county seat of Greenes'iiie
county. and is only eight miles from the
North Carolina line. 1t is pleasantly STU
atcd on hill which overiookS the Meher-
rim river. There are in the village one
Episcopal, one Baptist, and one Methodist
church. 1t has also those necessary ad-
iuncts to all villages, tavern and black
smiths shop. There are nine stores, and
! learn that the business here is very good
At this point one of those well-fought bat
Ties which reflected SO much lustre on the
Confederate arms occurred. Ten mile:
this side of Petersburg We passed Reams':
station, where FitZ Lee made a celebrated
raid, capturing large number of the Fed
eral cavalry. The Notifications throw
up to protect the railroad bridge still
stand.
We found here very large number o.
negroes, the occasion which had brought
them together being a fair and concert
held for the purpose of collecting funds t(
pay for a church which they have been
building in the village, and now nearly
completed. The fair was very well at
tended, and the amount realized exceeded
their expectations; but the concert was
the great feature of the day. The fine
choir from one of the African churche:
in Petersburg had come down to assist
them. This was attended by both white
and black, and all were pleased. Several
of the pieces were encored, and all went
away delighted with the exercises. The
proceeds amounted to about 5000.
The negroes here have not been adj
dressed and talked to by any of the in
cendiary speakers who have been speak
ing in other parts of the State, and hence
are obedient and polite to all. Their gooc
conduct was remarked on all hands, anC
such would be the case everywhere were
IL not Tor those mischiefmakers who &C
about the country making inhammatory
speeches TO them.
Bishop Johns was a passenger on the
train, and stopped here, where he will
hold religious services tomorrow and ad.
minister the rite of confirmation to seye-
raj persons. 49,