The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-08
SERGEANT BATES AND THE FLAG
.. OF THE UNION. ~.s :

Sergeant Bates draws near Richmond.
Yesterday we announced his arrival at
Glover depot, on the Danville railroad
last night he expected to reach Amelia
Courthouse, and to start for this place this
morning. As4o'clock P. NJ. he will enter
the city by the Danville railroad, and those
who wish to see him on the march had bet
ter be punctually on the ground, as be has
reached allof his stopping places punctu-
ally at the hour announced. Whether he
will 90 right on toward Washington, or
spend the night here, he has not yet de-
cided; but it is settled that he must reach
the Federal capital on the 14th-the ami
versary of the fall of Sumter in 1861 and
the assassination of Lincoln in 1865. Yes
terday afternoon at $40 o'clock he passed
through Burkville, stopping for dinner.
He was then in good spirits, and started off
at good pace, although still suffering
from swollen leg, injured by a fall
through C bridge.
There seems to be in this city an entire
misapprehension of the antecedents and
purpose of Sergeant Bates. He is no
money making Yankee, or sportsman walk
ing for wager. So far as he is concerned,
not one cent of money is at stake. He is q
disbanded Federal soldier, On earnest De-
mocrat, with an ardent love for the Union
as it was, and 6 warm side for the south
ern people, in whom he has all confidence.
He undertook the walk from Vicksburg to
Washington to vindicate the loyalty of the
southern people and if that walk is sue
cessfully accomplished, according to his
idea, that loyalty will have been established
beyond controversy. The conditions un-
der which he commenced the task were
stated in a written contract. He was to
walk every step of the way, staar7ned and
aoithout money, never stunning forests or
cities when they were on his route, never
travelling at night, never asking protec-
ton, and never passing white men without
displaying the unfurled flag of the Union.
These conditions have thus far been
faithfully fulfilled, and Bates has every
where been met with overwhelming kind
ness by the southern people. The only
harsh words which he has received have
been uttered by Radicals and negroes, the
latter having been, in some instances, led
to believe that the viii riii again be reduced
W 7iavery should the walk be finished. In
the North, too, since it has become almost
certain that the Sergeant will reach Wash
ington in safety, the Radical papers have
assailed his character as soldier but,
fortunately, he carries in his breast-pocket
papers which establish beyond doubt the
fact that he served gallaptly for four years
in the artillery, and as scout in the
mean time, being four times severely
wounded. Since he entered North Caro-
lima he has even received anonymous let
ters from parties at the North and West
warning him that should he persist In bis
purpose he will certainly be killed. The
Radicals do not acant him to reach Wash
ington, for if an unarmed, penniless man,
bearing the Union flag, can travel through
the southern States on foot without mo-
lestation, it will appear to many minds con-
elusive proof that those States are recon
structed, and hundreds of votes may thus
be gained for the Democratic party.
Without unnecessary parade, let us give
Sergeant Bates cordial welcome to the
capital Of Virginia.