The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-01
RICHMOND In 1865.
"REMINISCENCES OF. AN EYE-WIT'
NESS.


surrender-A Gallant Irishman-Djsap-
pointed Negroes.
Twas an uncomfortable position tina,
We three CoDfederates had at Camp
Lee ia the midst OF some thousands #
negro troops. and subject to the con
t Of OF muatto sojutant. The medi
C Al officers were all white. and were
KIND and obligipg. They promptly r.
plenisbed our exhausted medical stores.
and offered to furnish us food for tn
silk. or the latter we had an album
dance. owing to the industry courage.
and personal devotion of one whose
pane will not be mentioned here. but
who. since the end OF the war. has msde
himself illustrIous in the Church as d
missionary TO the lately erected South
American Republic. Under bis super
vision large SUPPLY OF fish had been
cared on the Rippahsnuock river. :
cellar we'll supplied " it'll vegetables aud
dried fruit and pen Of some forty
hogs had been y, cured. When the ne
gro troops took possession OF the camp.
Il was concluded that all these supplies.
iolcibly appropriated by them. W.
could not believe that even military
discipline could restrain the natural
cravings OF the negro palate for
fresh nOg meat. THIS nad never been
possible under the slave system. These
negroes were OF the back 81 and most
pronounced type. Tney were zen rally
from North Carolina aud Kentucky.
with. a few from Maryland. Tnelr
quarter master soon sa,zed our ice sup
piy and the Ii h. and was about 20 az
proprite an old topless buggy for winch
udd paid % 700 m Confederate funds
Under Instructions from myself my
s-r,ant ai claims % IT. aud succeeded
in selling It to him for so IN green
backs. one half OF which only received
Tor Was the first nGaIcIai footing |
mad felt since the paper delugs Of h.
Conf, deracy had eSap)rated. Wi,h
tais $40 note IN my pocket | was the
richest * Confederate in that region.
aud was as sixIous for an opportunity
tO spenu part OF II, as boy on the
muInIng Of a holiday. Kpowing the
habits o. quarter masters. that they al
Nays give the best seasons Tor
doug as they please az well
"a tor not doing what they
do not waut To do. it WAS determined 10
sell the hogs. If possible. before they,
100. shouli be appropriated. Up to
this moment the discipline of the pOst
had preserved Them. Az soon a. 1t
got abroad amo z the negroes that the
pork was for sale they f1cked to our
superintendaut hetdq larters aud ~
less than day bought tue eutIre forty.
Tne proceeds of this sale were divided
equally among the Confederate at
tend nts and nu ses remaining IN the
hospitals. Ihe tcene cons, equent upon
lhls sudden requirement OF fresh PORK
amot < the negroes beggars description.
While the animals were being delivered
now aud theu one would get loose. aud
as each purchaser had TO secure his Own
pig the most exciting ch8ses took
place. In the running and scuiliing
fails aud collisions would occur amid
IN uproar Of shouting and laughter
Il was no longer for the time
negro military camp. Cuffse was
himself again, happy in the auticipa-
u0us of pig-tail and pork stakes. alike
Obvious OF freedom or the flag: OF VINO
owned him. 'Ole marstero or Uncle
Sam One pig had given his owner a
long AID tires0me run. As the two
passed near US the negro, in the ardOr
of pursuit. was beard sollloquiZpg:
He many hogs / dun koch. Kun
kotch your / ketch you ef die %
/ lg oh N l.
painting brute, and throwing himself
at full length upon the hog secured hi
pie by grisping it with both arms
about the neck Following the froiic
vas the massacre of the innOcen s. an
which the negro seemed especially to
delight. and 10 whose ears tie sqneals
OF the sufferers WAS more than music
Thee de,als are gwen rs part OF the
drama hose first act IN the trausIu u
II this doomed race was now being
performed. Should it conunue the
hldeous farce we were now looking
hpOn. or shall it ultIm itely eud 10 the
grlmm-st OF tragedies Near tWeaty.
nve wears have passed aud tn ques
tIon demands answer now more than
ever.
Ia day or two the episode Of the
hCg- and their prosecutors was succeed
"a by matters Of more serious Import.
We had already become aware Of the
severe discipline exercised by those
lmmandiDg IN the CITY. S-ntlnels had
been posted at intervals along The cnlei
streets, aud in -psclal casts guards were
set m compliance with the Ieques S Of
ciIz..s. The strictesL orders had been
issu,d forbidding soldiers from enter
Iug private premises anywhere = Y ept
w permission. a case occurred snow
lug how promptly these orders were
,ulOTced. Just on the edge of the
town. quite near the camp, d negro 30
der. IL returning from leave. ven ur,d
To enter The house Of a poor family. Be-
fOie he had time u escape from the
premises be- was shot down by " hiie
reuuuel He belonged to one OF the regI-
m.nis then III Camp Lee. consequently
ne Mas brought TO Us, with request
from the commanding officer that d Tel
b. sugpied HIM III our no. pl.al. IL
must be remembered that attn uzn
General Diaper was chef ia com
maud, he nad insisted that the Con-
l. derate surgeon in charge OF the Con-
frderIte sick shOuld hold over uuul
luther orders. TINS he nad no TI.hf L.
DO. We were prisoners OF war. su c
o fne then prevailing cartel. But II
was thought expedienL 10 acquIesce On
account OF our own men. aud btcause
ne nd been exc eiIrgly KIND All pJ- |
iite to Us. Oh course. therefore. We hai |
. furnish bed IN the same hospital |
FOR tue wounded negro with our own |
= hite ratients. We asked Tor a consul |
alton with the surgeon of MS r. gimenl.
ont The latter decliGed. expressing al
the sane time entire confidence ia the |
medical officers. Upon ex /
animation the DegrO was found 10 be
mortslly wounded. and soon died from |
Internal bemorIhage. his body was
sken IN charge by his company aud |
burned with military honOrs Just out
sue toe grounds.
Some DAYS had passed since the fore
going events. Our position. sur-ouud- /
"a as We we're by aliens and negroes. I
VAS a di-agreeable one. We thee /
alone wore the gray uniform OF
Inc COME ieTate service. Inls began
III. ....o,, ,ha nnfte. of aur uptplt b.rs