The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-22
AN OFFICERS BELT.
Humanity's Touch--A True and Impress
sive Incident of the Valley Cam
paiqn of 1864.

With certain classes of men who have
to be approached through the intricate
meshes of nicely woven red tape, there
is an air of chilly, naughty and repul-
sive Indifference, while with others. in
the open handed readiness, walk-in-
and make-yourself-at home welcome
which greets you at the threshold in
response to the first gentle tap on the
door, there is an air of free cordialitv
which is really refreshing and ex-
hilarating.
Late one beautiful afternoon last
Summer I was ~strolling along under
the graceful shades of the waving elms
on New York avenue in Washington,
and it occurred to me that I would pay
my respects, to the President of the
National Farmers Alliance, Col. L. L.
Polk, who occupied a large and com
Portable, though plainly furnished,
suite of rooms neal by. He is an in
defatigable worker, and 1 know from
his habit that, though his office hours
having expired, | would find him at his
table in his ROOM. Sure enough, there
he was, as usual, with letters, papers,
etc, piled up around him. Presuming
upon his we'll known genial disposition
and that warm hearted hospitality for
which North Carolinians are distin-
guished wherever found, I seated my
self without hesitation in esponse to
his polite request.
Lying on the table, ana Immediately
before him, was an object which at
once fastened my attention and plunged
me into deepest thought. 1t was an
officers sword belt, which evidently
had seer much rough service. 1t vas
greatly faded and worn, and as l
glanced at it, the terrible drama of
horrible war unfolded itself to me.
Wa it a belt that he himself wore
through that terrible struggle? Plac-
ing my hand upon it, l found my an
swer in the bucle as we'll as the ma
terial of which it was mode. The
buckle was of United States Army
regulation pattern, with the eagle, the
stars, and a scroll with the words:
E. pLurt6uS Ununl.
l said: Colonel, it has been 25 years
since the war ended, but this old belt
looks like war. Will you pardon me
for asking you what you are doing with
it, 1t is not a Confederate belt"
The Colonel. smiling pleasantly, said
in response as he laid his hand upon
the belt: THAT belt has a history of
thrilling interest to me, and 1 never
look upon it except with emotions of
mingled sadness and pleasure. [ have
just returned from my home in North
Carolina, and brought this belt to send
O a young friend of mine in New York
City"
His manner and tone, no less than
his words, excited my curiosity, and I
insisted that he should take time to
give me It's history.
Laying aside his pen, and p~lacinghis
arms on the table, and fixing his eye
on the belt, he said:
THAT belt, to me, is inseparably as
sociated with n of the most remark
! able campaigns Of our war, It was
the campaign which began on Sunday,
| the 18th day of June, 1854, when Gen.
Early's Corps, then occupying the Me-
~chanicsville turnpike, four miles north
of Richmond, received marching or
| ders and filed away from Lees army,
and marched to the defense of Lynch
burg. which was seriously threatened
by the approach of Gen. Hunter, Of
! the Union army. Crowded as was that
great Valley campaign with eXcit ng
| events, from this date till the latter
par of November, when Early's Corps
was called to rejOin Gen. Lees forces
| at Petersburg, there was no period of
| it fuller of interesting and thrilling de-
| tail than the 80 days occupied by GU:
march from Lynchburg to the north
ern gates Of Washington. These l
could be able to relate to you, if I had
my little old soldiers diary with
minuteness. Marching at the rate of
from % to 26 miles per day, through
m ountain gorges and open fields, with
the direct and reflected rays Of the
summers sun pouring upon US, in pur-
suit of the re~treating enemy, we we're
allowed to catch breath for the first
time, when his rear-guard disappeared
in the mountain pass at Salem, and
fired back at us his last and parting
salute. Turning the head of our col
umn towards Harper's Ferry, we
reached that point and took possession
of it on the 4th day of July. Two days
afterward we crossed the Potomac at
S.o I'D a 6etOUr