The National tribune., 1883-08-09

covered a train of wagons, drawn by oxen and
a squad of soldiers on foot guarding it. Word
was sent hack to the command, and the Sixth
was ordered ahead. They charged in on the
double-Ggick, and, after exchanging a few
shots, the whole train, consisting of q thirty
| two-pound Parrot gun, fourteen hundred
pounds of powder and two WAGONS loaded with
conmissaries en- route for Grand Gulf, was
captured. The gun was spiked and the balance
of the property destroyed by FIRE. The pris-
oners were paroled. Alter proceeding q few
miles further we went into eanp on HargFOye's
plantation.
PANIC-sTRICKEN DARgIEs.
1t was very amusing, sometimes, 20 witness
the astOnishment depicted on the countenanees
of the negroes when they learned that we were
| Yankees. They had been told by their masters
and nistresses that we were ugly, deforned,
and Very wicked and the poor slaves had con
jured up in their minds q fearful picture.
Being naturally superStitiOus, they were easily
worked upon. The plantation was quite an
| extensive one, and / was somewhat surprised at
not seeing any negroes about; but the mystery
was soon solved upon finding an old negro IN
one Of the cabins, whose wO0lly locks were
gray with age. l asked him where all the
negroes were. 81 tell you, massa" said he
dey am in de woods You see, Use an old
/ niger, and knows better massa. l tell dem
| not TO run to de woods 10 hide; de Lord knows
| did. Yes, massa, dey am in de woods over
| dar, '-pointing with his finger. l asked him
why they had run away, and told him we
| would not harm them. well, l tells you,
massa, de white folks tell we black ones dat
| you-alls viii kill us: SO dey hear dat de Yanks
! be coming, and dey runs. Now, massa, Use
| like 10 ak one question" well, Uncle" said
| |, go ahead" =" wish you tells dis old Niger
| when am all de- black folks to be free?" SnlI-
ingly, replied: Just as soon as Uncle Abra-
| ham sounds his trumpet so that it will be
| heard throughout the whole land. Then he
viii fold you all to his bosom, and you viii
become free and happy people" left the
old darkey grooming to himself, " De Lord send
HIM dis way soon!"
A number of the men had meanwhile fanked
| around into the woods on the lookout for
horses, and they discovered the negroes hiding
| behind logs and stumps. They betrayed much
fear and alarm, but were Quoted by the kind
manner III which our men approached them.
| Indeed, they soOn became dOeile and commuui-
cative, and hid great curiosity TO see the
horns" which they had been told stuck out
of our heads.
TWELFTH DAY.
After good nights rest, we left camp at
| a. M, making our course due south. We found
the roads IN good condition, aud we made good
| time occasionally capturing guerrilla) until
| I'D o'clock, when the column was halted, aud
Colonel trierson decided to send out companies
| a, +, III and III, of the Seventh Illinois, under
command OF Captain Traitor, (acting MAORI
with instructions to proceed to Bahala, ON the
| New Orleans and Great Northern Railroad
/ below Hazelhurst, and destroy the railroad and
other Confederate property. was ordered to
| take one Of my men and accompany this expe-
! dition. Away we went, taking a Ieft-hand
road, while the rest of the command moved
forward on the road to Union Church, the Sixth
| in advance.
Leaving the main command TO continue its
=! march, l. took DIy place, in company with my
| scout,-GeOrge SteadmaB,-in the advance, on
the road to Bahala. Nothing worth noting
| occarred until We were within few miles OF
/ the latter place, when, as We were passing
through a thickly tinbered and slightly roll
ing country, we discovered two army tents
| about seventy yards ahead of u.s. and to the
| right of the road. We at once halted and made
hasty though quiet survey but could not dis
cover any living being. However, sent Stead
man back TO inform Captain TraftOn and on
coming up ne deployed one company as skir-
| misheTs. We knew the tents must be empty
or there must be an ambush avail ting Us. The
t advance moved up cautiously and on the alert,
/ expecting each moment TO hear She sharp crack
of the rifle, bat the tents were surrounded
without disclosing any signs Of life and quickly
| captured. The contents proved TO be one
| darkey, asleep! We learned from him that :.
squad OF eavalIy had been eanped there, en-
gagged in burning coal for the Confederate gov
| eminent, but had left the day previous, being
ordered to Osaka. The tents were destroyed,
together with large quantity of coal. While
this was being done Steadnianaad proceeded to
| recounOiEer the town, Whch was done by flank
ing around through the timber. We could see
| no signs ofany force there; everything appeared
TO be quiet, and we 50 reported back 10 the
| command which went IN on d charge, cap
turing Major Weader, On General GaFdner's
staA, who was chief cOmnissary Of subsistence,
and very much of a gentleman. After destroy
thsa y 4
steam engine, we rested awhile and then began
retraeing our steps, taking the major along.
ANOTHER SURPRISE.
| Westopped at a plantation and fed, after which
| we pushed along until we reached the main
road upon which Colonel Grierson was march
| ing. It was now 5 o'clock p. m, and We had
| thirty miles yet to travel before overtaking
him. After proceeding about mile stopped
| at plantation, and what was my surprise TO
learn that q force of the enemy had passed
along about five hours before, and were follow
| ingup Colonel Grierson, but were ignorant ofany
| force having been sent to Bahala. immediately
reported to Captain Trafton, and the men were
ordered to observe strict silence. Arrange
mentS were perfected, so that the column should
halt whenever the scouts gave the word for
everything seemed TO depend upon our vigil
lance.- We had proceeded but few miles fur
Their when | saw light. We advanced boldly
| and when near enough discovered an old man
standing ont on his doorstep, holding light
in one hand and shading his eyes with the
other. He was conversing with man who
was mounted on a horse, standing inside the
front yard. As [ drew up TO the gate cried
out: Hello; step this wayl" My summons
was entirely unexpected, and the horsamau
| quickly disappeared in the darkness. The old
gentleman, however, called out: who's
| there?" and / replied: "a friend; step this
way q moment want 10 ask you some CUES
tons" He toddled out to the gate and asked
if was not soldier. | replied that was. and
| wished 10 know how long since Colonel Adams
had passed and what force he had: Well, IdOn't
know rs l can tell. l can't see but a short dis
tance, but there appeared to be good many
pass and then some cannon" How long
| sinoe?" / inquired. "WeII about five hours
| or it may be SIX" "Wh0 was that man talk
| ing with you when / came up?" Well, / really
don't know; he is a soldier aud stranger TO me,
and was inquiring the way to Port Hudson"
| We'll, goodnight" said l Eve must go, FOR
we have got acknowledgements for Colonel Adams.
Tell that man If you see him not to be alarmed.
The Yanks are all ahead and We expect to
overta1e them Tomorrow" IL hope you wiIl,"
exclaimed the old man; they took two horses
and mule from me-" Returning to tbs head
of the column l reported to Capt. Trattcn. just
then up rode single horseman. &c occurred
to me this was the man who had lodged out
! of sight at the last house, and gave the mon
signal fo keen still at the same time ordering