The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-06
,SHERMAN'S BEE BATTLE.
After They Got Up the Generals
Trousers Legs He Surren-
dersd Camp.
Congressman Amos Cummings
vividly Describes q Very Novel
Plantation Scene.
An Invisorating Horse BACK RIdo-Pigeon
Wings Out Mt Shady Dale
Beseigcd ny Dees.

rSpscial Correspondence Of THE INDEPENDENT.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-Col. Charles L
Relknap was among the members represent,
ing the house of representatives at the fu'
neral of Gen. Sherman. He il a modest
gentleman, thin and of medium stature
He has hardly a military bearing, yet he has
seen az much active service in the war as
any man upon the floor of the house. He
is only A years old. Entering the army
when a mere boy OF 16, he Won a captains
commission within a year. He served in
the esmy of the Cumberland. and became a
great favorite with Gen. Sherman. The
colonel was an active member of the COM
mittee on invalid pensions in the late con
gress. Gen. Clusters and many another
soldiers widow are indebted to him for
their pensions. On the way back to Wash
ington after the Sherman funeral pageant
he told many a story of the dead general.
I've remained impressed upon the memoir
les of those who hesrd them.
The colonel said that he was attached to
Gen. Carlin's division of the Fourteenth
corps. It was composed of three brigades.
Each of the brigades had a good brass
band. While or the march to the sea the
music of these bands lightened the burdens
of many a tired and footsore soldier.
II never shall forget one day in Decem-
Der, 1854 the colonel continued. SAT
MONDAY our division halted at a beautiful
plantation. 1t recalled all the feudal glo-
ries of the south. Uncle Billy and his staff
peared, and little fires were built. The COT
fee was simmering when the general rode
into the division. Preparations for his
dinner were also made.
s'Ihe plantation was a large ono. The
masters mansion was the typical home of
southern chivalry. There were numerous
cabins near by which sheltered several
hundred slaves. All were whitewashed and
of good size. They stood in a circle. At a
distance they looked like a little New Eng
land village. The interiors were clean and
comfortable and the surroundings tidy and
a break for liberty or had been sent away
to places of safety. The black women were
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
lighted their pipes.
1.-THE presence of Gen. Sherman aroused
one of the brigade bands. 1t struck up a
martial air. The effect was magical. The
negro IN went into ecstacies. They
had heard no other music than the song of
the hooking bird, the baying of the hounds
and the mellow twang of the banjo. Their
very souls awoke to the new revelations in
the world of harmony. The pleasure was
irrepressible. Whsn the instruments gave
. combined blast it seemed to startle them.
You know that the African mind is more
susceptible to musical influences than any
other, but it requires a brass band to stir it
to it's lowest, depths. What is there IN it
that starts all the black girls and boys with
in a dozen blocks to running in Washing
&4rS vnn h -NS &c 49, 81 -
heard? They have been born in a city
whose streets daily ring with music, but
nothing stirs their blood like a band, They
flock to the sidewalks, and eyes, tongue and
feet keep time to the music.
S with the band that played for Sher-
man. The negro women focked to the
green from every direction. The music put
an uncomfortable movement into their feet
and legs. They poured from their cabins.
all sizes, shapes and colors. There were
p~iokaninies. young girls and old aunties.
gil moving to the rhythm of the music.
Some were as black as coal, others the color
of jujube paste, and some almost pure
white. There were woolly heads and curly
heads and heads without a kin in their
hair. There were eyes that glistened like
polished ivory, eyes of a tawny color, and
eyes of a heavenly blue that told of relation-
ship TO tho white master. And then The
dresses. All were similarly clothed. A
bandana, a gay kerchief or a turban WAS
wound around the bead, and a cotton dress
was gathered at the waist with a pickering
string. The skirt fell half way between the
knee and the ankle. The stockings were
warranted not to crock. for nature supplied
them. This shoes were coarse. They wore
no undetclothing.
"When they were once upon ths green
there was an extraordinary scene. The
band struck up a lively air and the soldiers
sprang to their feet. They chose partners
from the slaves, and there was a lively
dance. For hours the fun lasted. The
other two bands came up and in their Turns
relieved the first one. The music WAS CON
tinuous. Neither the bands nor the dancers
we're wlnded. How Sherman did enjoy it.
For two hours he sat upon the verandah
watching the scene. His eyes twinkled with
merrlment. and at times he broke out into
hearty laughter. Soldiers who had not
touched the hem of a woman's dress for two
years were radiant with happiness. Clasp
ing tne mulatto girls In their arms, they
whirled them to the music of lively waltzes
or INDUCED them in JUDAS or ~breakdowns.
Theirs was pure, unalloyed fun for all, from
the generals down to the mule drivers, It
was q gala day in the march to the sea-a
rift IN the cloud of war. And none of the
boys laughed louder and longer at the
~breakdowns and pigeon-wings cut at shady
Dale than Tecumseh Sherman himself.
Among other incidents recounted by Col.
Belknap was one that occurred in 1864, when
Gen. Sherman was near Chattanooga. One
day the general expressed a desire to have
some honey. There were some hives upon
debatable ground between the two armies.
They had escaped the hands OF the forapers
ypr some time. Turning to Belknap one
day, Uncle Billy said:
IF you can find one convenient, CAP
ain, wish you would bring i'll a good bee
gum
That was enough for the Michigan CAP
tain. In a jiffy he mounted his horse and
was OF. With IA little squad of troopers he
made a raid .upon the gums. After select
Ing the most likely in appearance, he
peep tent over the open end of it. A mean
tent il what was termed a shelter tent in
the army of the Potomac. After the GUM
was thus secured it was lifled up in front Of