The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-28
VAUDEVILLE, Caswell County,
IL.

VAUDEVILLE, Caswell County, | .
July %, AS70. I
This Is the seat of war in North Carolina and
Che military headquarters of Colonel George w.
Kirk, commanding the First regiment Of the pro-
yisional army of the State. The county borders
on Virginia, being only sixteen vllcs distant from
Danville, on the Richmond and TDanville Railroad
and is noted as the wealth,est Of the counties
that constitute the great tobacco region Of south
zide Virginia and the northern section Of North
'Carolina. In ante-bszuns days Caswcll boosted Of
Q prlnoely aristocracy, which rivailed and was
closely related to the chivaIro FIRST families Of
Virginia, not sny In q social and commercial
point of view, but by ties Of blood and intermar-
riage also, which gave them the characteristics Of
tho latter more than those Of their native
brethren. The county is dotted over with hand
some residences; the farms and plantations are
rich, productive and highly cultivated; the pco-
pie are true type of the educated and refined
classes at the South, and, notwithstanding the
osses and calamities of the late war, Caswell is
now probably the most aourishing county in the
State.
If, however, 1t has recovered its former pros
perity to-day it is the theatre Of o most unfortu-
nate civil conflict, resulting partly from the dis
orders growing out Of the late war, but more
particularly the selfish and ambitious designs Of
unprncipled and INSCRIPTIONS politicians, Of
which the populace here are now the dis
mayed and terror-stricken victims. Cover
nor Holden has declared this and the ad-
joining county OF Alamance In state
of instruction upon the ostensible pretext Of al
legged Ku Klux outrages which exist more in the
columns Of his organ at Raleigh than they do in
fact; but the real object is to influence the Con-
gressional and State elections which take place
on the 18th proxinio. North Carolina gave $4,000
republican majority when the present constitu-
ton was adopted. This fell off in the last Presi-
DENTAL election, when the influences against it
were weak and shallow, to Il, 900 majority. What
then can now be the prospects of that party when
the reckless extravaganza, corruption, fraud and
the hgh-handed measures Of the present admins
traton are exposed in their most aggravated
form to the peope2 1t viii be 4 telling defeat of
Governor Holden and his abettors and the rescue
Of the State from bankruptcy and ruin. Hence
the garrison here, the arrest and Imprisonment
of citizens the refusal to regard the writ of habeas
corpus, the reign of terror ana the present dsas-
trous civil conflict In this section The levles from
EAST TENNESSEE
called North Carolina State troops, were quar-
tered until this morning in the Court House yard,
where their white tents were pitched and their
stacked arms glistened in the summer sun. II
was o sight, indeed, to see the tabernacle
Of civil justice surrounded by all the
paraphernaa of grim-vlsaged war, while
the jury rooms up stairs were converted
into temporary dungeons for citizens now
beyond the pale of that sacred right and
privilege of every American, the habeas
corpus. The troops are mostly youths from
The mountain districts Of East Tennessee and
this State, clad in the uniform Of United States SOL
diers, large majority of them having that sickly
saffron colored complexion peculiar to the class
known in the South as "clayeaters." Few if any
Of them ever handled q musket before; they are
raw, undisciplined and half starved. Since they
have been here only one fourth rations have been
Issued to them, and as a consequence the citizens
of the surrounding vicinity are constantly being
plundered, besides being importuned for some
thing to eat by the recruits of the army Of inva.
sion. They are dirty, filthy and in many instances
perfectly alive with vermin. Only few of them
have yet received shirts, and the quartermaster's
department is more defective than the commissa-
RVS. But what is most surprising is the fact that
the troops are already.
DEMoRALIzED AND TERROR
stricken. An attack by the veritable Ku KluX Is
nightly anticipated, and as measure Of defence
the doors and windows Of the Court House have
been removed and replaced by the most fornid-
able barbados, pierced for musketry. Pckets are
stationed on the outskirts of tho village
after Dightfall and all the PRECAUTIONS of snga-
Cious general are taken against surprise by the
imaginary enemy. The troops sleep on their arms
too, which keeps them in readiness to retreat into
the Court House building at o moments notice in
case Of alarm. This constant sleepless terror, as
much as the shortness Of raons, the lack Of shirts,
they have been in service, has completely demo-
rallied the troops, many Of whom have deserted
since the occupation of Yanceyville. Four took
French leave to-day.
HOW TO SEE COLONEL KIRK.
Presenting myself at the Court House railing,
within which the troops were busly engaged
striking tents for change of camp, specimen
recruit being seated on box at the entrance with
his musket placed diagonally across to prevent
ingress or egress, asked to see Colonel Kirk.
Sentnel-You can't see him unless the Of
1cer of the day gets permission.
Correspondent Where is the officer OF the
day9
Sentinel-I don't know.
Correspondent--Can you call the corporal
Sentinel-Haint got no corporal
Correspondent-Well, let me in and will find
the colonel myself.
Sentinel dasent
At the close of this first effort remained stand
ing at the gate over fifteen minutes, when, luck
tly an individual whose clothes were infinitely too
big for him, wearing the insignia OF major, APP
preached, and renewed my application for ad-
mission to the colonel The major took my card,
told me to remain whore was until he saw the
colonel, and In ten minutes more he reappeared
sentinel. Entering the Court House was ushered
into room in which we're two pallets on the floor,
table with writing paper and three chairs, and
asking me to be seated the major sent for =
COLONEL KIRK, y
who shortly afterwards entered. He was in his
shirt sleeves, but he at once put on greasy uni
form, with eagles on the shoulders. In stature
the colonel is about six feet, square and well built
light complexion, sandy mnstache and goatee,
blue eyes, heavy lower jaw, with an expression
in his countenance Of determination. He eyed me
closely, and after an examination Of my card or
; dered the major and quartermastefr who was also
present, to leave the room. AS soortas they were
gone the colonel locked and bolted It's door, and
being alone and free from intrusion The. following