Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-09


On the 10th of November, 1874, Sher-
man set out upon his march. His army
was divided into right and left wing un-
der the command of Gems. Howard and
Slocum, and was composed of about sixty
thousand men. Most extraordinary efforts
had been made to purge it from non COM
in the ranks was "well equipped and pro-
vided as we'll as human foresight could
with all the essentials of life. strength, and
vigorous action. Provisions enough for
twenty days and forage for five were tax
en-. Sherman's description of the morning
when the march began is vivid and pic
ground whereon was fought the bloody
battle Of July o. and could see the copse
of wood where Mcpherson fell. Behind
us lay Atlanta, smou!dering and in ruins,
the black smoke rising high in the air and
hanging like a pail over the ruined city"
fright before us the Fourteenth Corps,
marching steadily and rapidly with a
CHEEKY swinging pace, made light Of the
many hundred miles that lay between us
and Richmond. Some band struck up the
anthem Of John Brown. The men caught
up the strain. and never before or since
have heard the chorus done with more
spirit or better harmony of time and place.
Then we turned our horses heads to the
East. Atlanta was sCon lost behind the
screen of trees. and became thing of the
past Around it clings many Il thought
of desperate battle, Of hope and fear,
which now seems like the memory of
dream, and | have never seen the place
since. The day was extremely beautiful;
clear sunlight. with bracing air, and an
unusual feeling of inspiration seemed to
pervane all minds-the feeling of some
thing to come, vague and underlined. still
full Of venture and intense interest. Even
the common soldiers caught the mSpira-
ton, and many a group called out to me
as | worked my way past them, Uncle
Billy, guess Grant is waiting for us at
Richmond Indeed. the general sentiment
was that We were marching for Richmond,
where we should end the war " :" had
no purpose to march direct for Richmond
by way of Augusta and Charlottesville, but
always did design to reach the seacoast at
Savannah OF Port Royal, and always kept
in my mind the alternative of Pensacola
Gen. Sherman's style becomes pictur-
csque and vivid in treating Of this march
to sea. At Covington the negroes were
simply frantic with JOY, and clustered
about his horse. shouting and praying in
their quaint style. which had a peculiar
eloquence that will move a stone, and
L can now see n poor girl in the very
ecstasy of the Methodist shout, hugging
the tattered banner of one of the regiments
and jumping up to the feet of Jesus. >
Then there came an old. grav-haired
negro-''tbout rs fine Il head us | ever
saw. asked him if he understood about
the war and its progress. lie said that he
did; that he had been looking for the
angel of the Lord ever since he was knee
high. and though we profcssed to be fight
ing for the Union, he supposed that slavery
was the real cause. and our success would
be his freedom. | asked him if all the
negro slaves cOmprehcnded this fact, and
he said they surely did 1t was hard
time with the plantation of Howell Cobb,
the famous rebel general, when Sherman
reached it. He gave orders to Gen. Davis
to spare nothing, and that night the
plantation was destroyed. Sleeping in
front of the fire that evening" says the
general, Il became conscious that negro
with tallow candle in his hand was scan
ming my face closely. | inquired. What
do YOU want. old man" He answered,
'Dev say YOU is Ma>sa Sherman | an
swcred that such was the case. and in
quired what he wanted. He only wanted
to look ut me, and kept mutterinT dis mig
ger can't sleep dis night There We're
appeals from the SouthernerS to rouse and
defend their native soil. but Sherman kept
marching steadily on. when the soldiers
took Milledgevile they organized 4 legis
lature of their own. and had merry prankS.
Bcauregard callad the Gcorgans to rise
for the defense of their soil. as he was
hcstcning to join them. Senator Hill
telcrraphcd from Richmond that every
citizen with his gun, and every negro with
his spade could do the work of the soldier,
and members of Congress tclegraphed to
;ls>ail the invader in front, flank, and rear,
bv night and bv day. and let him have no
rest At one point there were torpedoeS
on the road, and Il handsome young
officer foot was blown to pieces. Sher
man formed his prisoners into IN advance
guard. AMI made them march at the head
of his column and remove the torpcdoes.
Finally on the 18th day of December,
about Il month after the department from
Atlanta, Sherman's troops captured Fort
McAlli,ter. and his army WAS on the sea-
coast under the protection Of the guns of
the Federal navy, and with abundant sup
plies.
\ VALUABLE SECKET.-It is related Of
Franklin, that from the window Of his Of
flee in Philadelphia, he noticed Il mechan
ic among a number of others. at work on
a house which was being erected close by
who always appeared to be IN merr,,
humor. and who had kind and cheerful
smile for every one he met. Let the day
be ever so cold, gloomy, or sunless, the
happy smile danced like sunbeam on his
cheerful cOuntenance. Meeting him one
day, Franklin requested to know the Sc
crct of his constant happy flow of spirits.
" It's no secret, DOCTOR tie man replied.
i've cot one of the best Of wives, and
when | 90 to work she always gives me 4
kind word of encoura !ement and blessing
with her parting kiss and when | 90 home
she is surc to meet me with 4 smile and 4
kiss of welcome; and then tea is sure to be
ready: and as we chat in the evening. |
find she has been doing SO many little
things through the day to please me, that
| can not find it in my heart to speak an
unknd word, or give an unkind look. to
any BODY And Franklin adds: What
an influence, then. hath woman over the
heart of man, to soften it, and make it the
fountain of cheerful and pure emotions.
Speak gently. then; a happy smile and Il
kind word of greeting after the tolls of the
day are over, cost nothing. and go far to-
ward making Il home happy and peace
full"
Too Much MARRYING There is alto
rether too much marrying, by form of law,
those who, at the most, are only 4 third or
a half married in other ways. And there
is altogether too much urging and coaxing,
and alluring young people into the most
important and sacred of all human rela-
tions before they are prepared for its re-
sponsiblities, or moved to assume It's bur-
dens, and by those who ought to know
better, and act with more consideration.
We make too much of marrying and being
married. until it is thought by many peo-
pie. somewhat of a disgrace for Il woman
to pass through life alone; when. in fact,
the life of many a single woman is poetry.
romance, rapture even, in comparison with
that of many wife. SO there is vast
deal of marrying with very little of real