The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-05-14

Congressman Cummings has been gath
ering mp war anec Totes among his fellow
Nom bers Here is au incident Of The
March to the Sea told by Colonel BelknsI
There had been a halt at = stately south
era mansion, which General Sherman had
made his temporary headquarters. The
narraiiye proceeds,
There were numerous cabins near by
W wh,ch sheltered several huadred slaves.
All we're wbitewasted and OF good size
They stood in q circle, AT a distance they
looked like little New England village.
The interiors were clean aud comfortable.
and the surroundings tidy and agreeable.
The male slaves had either made break
for liberty or been sent away to places Of
safety. The black women we're left to the
mercy Of the invaders. Great oak and
magnolia trees adorned the grounds and
patched the green lawns with shade. The
soldiers stretched themselves upon the
fecked sward, drank their coffee and light
ed their pipes.
The presence Of general Sherman srous'
ed one Of the brigade bands. 1t struck up
a martial air. The effect was magical. The
negro women went into ecstacies. They
had beard no other music than the song
OF the mockiDg bird, the bsying OF the
hounds and the mellow twang OF the ban
jo Their very souls awoke to the new re
velations in tho world OF harmony.
The negro women 1ockei to the green
from every direction. The music put an
uncomfortable movement into their feet
and legs. They poured from their cabins
sll sizes, shapes and colors. There were
picksninies, young girls and old auntics,
sll moving to the rytbm Of the music,
Some we're as black as coal, Others tho col
or Of jniube paste and some almost pure
white. There we're woolly heads and cur
ly heads aud beads without kink in their
hair. These were eyes that listened like
polished ivory. eyes oil tswney color. aud
eyes OF heavenly blue that told Of relation
ship 10 the white master. And then the
dresses. All we're similarly clothed. A
bandsnns. a gray ksrcbiei or turban WAS
wound around the head, and cotton dress
was gathered At the waist with . pncker'
ing stripg The skirt fell hall way be-
tween the knee and ankle. The stockings
woro warranted not TO crock. for nature
supplied them. The shoes we're coarse.
They wors no uuderclothing.
Whom they we're once upon the green
there was an extraordinary scene. The
band struck up lively sir, and the sol
diers rprang to their feet They chose
partners from the slaves. aud there wss
lively dance. For hours the fun lasted.
The other two bands came up and 10 their
turns relieved the first one. The music
was continuous. Neither the bands nor
the dancers we're winded. How Sherman
did epioy it For two hours be st upon
the versnds watching the scene His eyes
tsinkled with merriment. and st times he
broke on, into hearty laughter. Soldiers
who bad not touched the hem OF swo
msD's dress for two years were radiant
With hsppiuess. Clasping the muls,to
girls 10 their aims, they wbiried them 10
10. music oi lively valves or INDUCED
lavn 10 jabss aud breakdowus There
sas pure. uoslloysd iun for sli. iiom tho
q ,p-rals do~n 10 the mule drivers II
4as . gala day in the march TO The ses--
RI, IL the cloud Of war And bous oi
the boys .sngLed londsr Hnd longer st the
bt-skdovns aui pigeon wiugs cut ~
sa.ly Doi- than fecnmseh Sherman.