The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-02

1 scenes Wcro presented, charged % auHlisSlon
i went one evening TO the latter place in CON-
| pany with Col. Wilson, and found it well fill.
| cd with citizens officers soldiers and numerous
! females. Next to me on the right n soldier,
! with two girls got seated, and they had not
! been there long before the girl next to me de-
sired me to exchange places with her and al
| low her TO take my place. did so, not know
| ing what strange freak it portended. | heard
| Col. Wilson ask her why she changed her
place, and she stated that the other girl invited
her TO come with her and the soldier who was
named Mountcastle, of the Provost-Guard.
She said she had not looked at him before she
entered the hall. " But" said she, look at
him now" / turned and looked. and assure
you he was hard-looking case.
his UNIFORM WAS TATTERED AND TORN,
and the hat. which rested on his knee, looked
as if the cows had been chewing il, while his
toes projected through his shoes He was
harder looking by far than any Confederate
/ soldier had seen in the field, aud wondered
| how he was kept on the PrOvost-Guard. Yet,
i suppose they must have been hard cases. for,
on inquiry, learned that one of them named
Jim Breeden was then in Jail for poisoning
girl named Emma Nucllols, for which ha was
atterward executed. / went past the WASH
inrton statue. where had seen the 9TH \. Y.
at its unvaling, when little thought of war
i'm old Virginia, and ! took glimpse at Libby
Prison and Castle Thunder before i returned
home, almost unable to make up my mind
whether the Confedoracy would be a success or
not. i remember reading an article in the
Richmond Wing, which said that the South was
stmining every nerve TO meet the tide of in
vasion about 10 be poured on them; that the
North was organizing huge armies, and oiler-
ing immense bounties and large pay for re-
cruits which had the effect of bringing thou
sands of foreign mercenaries over to enlist. II
wound up by saying that, Tho South has
nothing but her gallant children to put into
the field, and thus she is condemned to stake
her most precious jewels against the trash of
Europe"
At this time in 1862, the enthusiasm OF the
South was being forced TO q great extent, aud
the ladies had thrown themselves heart and
soul into the contest. THE Bonny Blue Flag"
and The Homespun Dress" wero fayorite
songs with dozen other sentimental ones
which / have forgotten. and numerous mlito-
comic ones. But the song which impressed me
most, as sung by Southern soldiers. was one
they had on "The Georgia Militia" IL was
very amusing. especially when properly sung
! wish had written il down, as only remem-
bcr the chorus. which goes:
Talk not Of glory. talk not Of fame.
OF deeds that live IN story. giving a name.
Here will iii down. wholly at my ease,
Drinking pineiop whisk-i-ay and eating gouber
peas.
Peas peas. peas, peas. eating gouber peas
The Georgc-iay nilish-iay. eating goubrr pens"
The "peas" was pronounced with popping
Of the lips, which made it both peculiar and
iudicrous
When reached home things looked
GLOOMY RNoUGH FOR THE SOUTH.
Most of the young men were gone, and they
were still picking up Others while older men
were finding substitutes, and tie energies Of
the State were strained TO get out its forces
quickly. The dull, matter-uf fact life of the
try ad Al true ia I'm
city in one depression and doubt, aud in the
other animation, extrAvaganee and exultation.
But then came the news Of the Confederate
rain Virginia cleaning up the Federal fleet at
Hampton Roads; but while joyful over tie vie
tory we wondered why she did not ret oat
and attack New York or Phiisdclphia We did
not hear OF the little Monitor having checked
her career until two months later. when Nor
folk was surrendered and the Virgins in destroy
ed. Then came news OF victories gained over
the Feaerals at Elkhoru. Mo-. aud at Shiloh.
Tenn, Ben McCnlloch being killed at the
former and Gen. 4. $. Johnston at the latter;
but it surprised us 20 hear that after such
glorious victories the Confederate armies
shsud withdraw and allow Island No. 10
Beaufort. $. g, aud New Orleans 10 be taken
When news came OF how Longstreet slangh-
tered the Federals at Williamsburg, and then
fell back also began 10 think that a re-
treat did not signify victory. So when
word Of Seven Pines reached US we were not SO
enthusiastic aud the only thing that reused us
up Was the news ofSiouewalI Jacksoil's victories
in the Valley, magniGed a hnndredfold by men
Of his command who came home on leave or
struggled he pushed on to join Lee nj Rich
mond for the Seven Days fighting. But num-
bers OF citizens left the Valley with Jackson too,
and the Federals were in occupation. so we
found little consolation ia that. But the large
shareholders amused aud coutenied themselves
o
States. which seemed put up for their especial
benefit. One clause forbids the importation
OF negroes OF the African race from any foreign
conntTy or Stale not q member OF the Confed-
eracy: while another provides that The Con.
federate States may acquire new territory" aud
Ia all such territory. the institution or negro
slavery, as it now exists in tho ConfesleIale
States. shall be recognized and protected by
Congress" etc. Thus they saw in the territory
which IL was expected 10 acquire from Mexico.
six months after the ratification OF treaty OF
! peace" as it says on the Confederate notes
market for their negroes without any foreign
opposition, and the demand they expected would
enhance
THE PRICE FOR THEIR STOCK.
The best way to illustrate this feeling Of the
Shareholders is the following incident: Col.
John Thom, Of whose place have spoken else
where, was the largest stakeholder aud breeder
in this section A few years before the war
/ George Hamilton had raised a large crop oi
wheat On his place on Mountain Run. After il
! was all cut, thFAshed and cleaned, at which he
4 was busiy engaged for over a month, aud
/ had TO bire hands from all around the country
+ 20 assist he got ready 10 send IL 20 Frcdercks-
4 burg TO market. and was then greatly worried
about getting IL there. As his FIRST train Of
eight wagons came out Of his gate on their road
/ 70 6ermaBIa, Col. IhOm came up la a buggy
/ and said: Well, George. / suppose you arc
/ having great deal of trouble with such big
4 crop Of wheatf" Yes, indeed, and it is not
| over yet until get IL 20 town. said Hamilton
/ Ihom laughed aud pointing over his shoulder
1 said: Well, George, here cotaes nay year ! crop
10 sell of. IL hasn't given me half the trouble
! that yours has. and it's worth five times az
much in Richmond" Then up drove a wagon
containing - likely negro men aud women
/ WAC would bring almost many thousand
/ dollars. and Col. Thorn drove on with his
4 crop" lie must have lost a good deal. too,
/ while making 20 mach, during his career rs
I behind the quarters 90 the Berry Hill place is
| q slave cemetery containing over 200 graves
/ Negroes were not only profitable 10 sell be-
fore the war, but were hired cut at good rates
% the numerous gold mining companies tear
ing up the earth la this CoHHty-Spottsyl-
vania-S.aIofd, aud FaHquier. by cxpend ing
foreign capital. Host Of these companies sur
viyed the California rush Of '49 but after The
| Pixies Peak epidemic Of 80 they almost closed
down, although some Of them are running
yet.
Every night the country was secured by a
patrol, and all "niggers caught out without a
pass were examined aud punished They also
/ Slipped around the negro cabins on plantations