The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-18
STAIJNTON. VIRGINIA, SEPTEMBER Is. 1879
concluding 1t was no use, they would catch

~ 40
concluding it was no use, they would catcl
us anyhow.
1t was my watch that night, we three
Stle s, William, (colored) driver Of two hors
wagon, and myself, relieving each othe
alternately. discovered about two O'cloc
in the morning, that wagon camp, JUS
below us, of thirty army wagons and OH
hundred and twenty mules had been de
serted by the teamsters or had received or
ders from the major quarter-master to TAX
what they wanted and leave, as there wa
no use trying to get out. We came to thu
conclusion that we had better go and ge
some feed anyhow. Stiles and myself went
down to their camp ground. All the men
had left, or were about leaving, after cutting
the mules loose. We caught a couple, tht
woods being full of them bitched them tt
wagon loaded with corn and threw In 10
of bacon from q wagon loaded with tina
and started for our camp. About half wal
] the wagon stuck in the mud, the lead mule
pulled himself cleaned out of his harness.
kicked up his heels and away he went.
! then cut the harness off the others, anG
William came down and we took eight bagt
OF the corn and the bacon, and carried it tC
my wagon. Iamused myself from then till
after daylight by watching the stragglers
coming along. They would catch these
mules and mount them bareback, and away
they go! a party of seventeen, at one
time, passed us, all mounted on mules
caught around the camp.
| A little after daybreak, who shonld come
along but Maj. Jno. Hartman from the direc-
ton of Danvile; he advised us to cut loose
from our wagons-bury the valuables in the
surrounding wood and leave.
We determined to make another trial how
ever, to get across the Dan, and accordingly
started for Bachelors ford. We had to pass
within seven miles Of Danvlle by that route
and expected to be oyerhauled .here but es-
capped that So we drove on in the woods, l
took one of the leaders to ride towards DAN
vile and see how things were, as the horses
could 60 no further, being completely broken
down-rode into town, found the place evac-
uated but no enemy within 10 miles of it.
Next day took the safes and started for
Charlotte by train leaving Stiles to cut loose
from the wagons and together with Williams
to follow the next day carrying the stock to
Greensboro. l received telegram from
- stating that Stiles positively refused
to come any further, SO the teams had to re-
main here.
remained in Greensboro N. G.. fourteen
days amidst the greatest confusion and ex-
element I ever beheld. Johnson's army
arrived there a few days after did, and lay
around during the ten days. truce between
Sherman and himself. The last of the C. S..
Government was also there part Of the
time including Jeff Davis, Breckenridge,
Trenholm &C., in fact nearly all OF tie big
men. JEFF. Davis and, l suppose the rest,
have since been captured in Georgia. The
c. S. Government had vast stores there, Ia
hogsheads of sugar alone, bacon by the thou
sand, com and enough army grey cloth to
furnish suit for every man in the Confed-
eracy.
| Nearly everything was carried off by the
mob consisting principally OF the North Car
DINA women who beat everything ever met
| in the shape OF woman-and by the cavalry,
citizens and negroes. Besides this they
cleaned out "a trains loaded. with supplies
| from Raleigh. AT last l managed to get
away, the road having been repaired where
Sherman's men had torn it up, and reached
| Charlotte N. G. on the 2Sth. was enter>
tanned while there By Mr.. Bates, Supt., and
as you may imagine l enjoyed his kind hos
pitablity, after living as had done since
leaving Richmond, On corn-bread and fat
bacon and very little OF that.
About this time Gen'l Johnson's army
surrendered to Gen. Sherman and Charlotte
was taken possession of by Schofeld's
troops, Stoneman moving South after jeff
Davis, who had left Charlotte about the time
l arrived there. l at once got my parole
and started home May 9th, but met Col.
Bullock at Lexington, N. c., just from New
York, via a United States troops train. He
thought had better return with him as he
wanted me to transact some business for
him. concluded to do so, and receiving
the appointment OF agent at this place, i'm.
mediately came on here and removed ling.
ling. This place is garrisoned by portion
OF the Sixth Corps U. S, Aarmy, under Gen.
Wright.
do not know when we will meet, as eve.
rythng is so unsettled. l hardly know how
to act.