The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-04-23
LIVELY TINES,
Plenty TO Do In Old Virginia In the Spring
of 1864.
Continued from last ireek)

au iinneDSe amount ol supplies aU TIC STA
ton for Lees army, consisting mainly OF
cornmeal and bacon. Provisions were
cheap that night in "ole Virginny." The
darkies in the vicinity came in for share.
met an old negro rolling away barrel OF
meal. i asked him where he "swiped ii
"Sah?n
~ think you stole that barrel, ~ said.
No, sab, said he; de General done give
it 10 me-"
Well, you had better watch out, uncle
interposed a comrade, that Bob Lee don't
catch you with it,"
"Tse too sharp for dat, sab. I hide i'm
| in de woods"
Later i saw him and others carrying of
loads of bacon, and doubtless they feasted
royalty that night on hoe-cake and bacon
| fat.
The pile of bacon and meal, big rs barn.
was set on fire. The railroad was torn up,
ties piled, with the rails across them, and set
on fire, and when the rails were heated they
were bent around telegraph poles.
The train that was to take MS to Rich
mond was burned and the engine demol-
| ished. When we started out the next
morning Lees Iations were still burning.
1t seemed pity 10 me to see SO much food
destroyed when there were so many hungry
ones in the world.
This day, May 10, we went through a
part of Virginia where, i believe our army
had never been before. We saw no whites,
excepting old men, women, and children.
They were intensely "Secesh," and the
| chatting between them and our boys was
amusing. In all arguments on the progress
of the war they would, as clincher, ask /:
When are you-all going to take Charles
ton?"
Many of the slaves took an opportunity to
strike for freedom. Big and little, old and
young darkies, mae and female, on foot, on
horse or muleback, or i'll wagons, Joined the
procession. l noticed one family, man
| and wife and one or two children. They
had two mules and wagOD-load Of stuff.
/ saw fine feather-bed and bedding,
some dishes, and big, stuffed rocking
chair / asked the man where he got the
"swag."
Il dunno what you mean, sab" said he.
Where did you get so many fine fixingsP
l did not know that you darkies were al
| lowed to have such things"
Deed, sab" said he, when you all kim
along we jes took desc things from de big
house and kim along with you-ali."
But, did you not know it is wrong to
steal2" asked.
Deed. sah," broke in the woman, we
done worked for ole massa all our lives, an
he wont low rs 10 raise a pig nor chicken
for ourselves; so we thinks we have a right
TO desc tings."
asked them if they knew where they
were going.
"Up MORT, sab, to see Marsa Linkum, and
| he slaves no mo-"
i remember this day as we were marching
along that some struggling infantry and dis
| mounted cavalry came tearing down the road
| yelling Bushwhackers! bushwhackersi !"
creating panic among the non combataDts.
An officer drew his sword.and planted him
self in the middle of the road, and swore he
would kill the first that passed him.
This action of his quelIed the panic in
stanter.
have often thought since then that we
| little know what power one man possesses
when be takes a determined stand for The
right. We camped the night of the 10th on
a big plantation with typical old Virginia
manor-house The owner, an old man, had
his slaves corraled down by the smoke
house, and was vainly endeayoring 10 keep
them together; bat in spite of his efforts
some of them went with US the next morn
ing.
saw Gen. Sheridan at this place playing
with some small children on the front porch,
which act was somewhat antagonistic in
those days to my idea what great General
really was.
Early on the morning of the 18th we were
on the move toward Richmond. Some time
during the day our cavalry encountered the
rebs and drove them steadily hack until we
all came to a standstill in n field surrounded
by woods. There was sharp firing in front
and on both flankS. A rebel battery was
throwing shells into tie field among ia.
The negroes were badly frightened. Some
wounded eavaIrymen brought in the
port that Beauregard had come up with his
whole army from Richmond and, in conjunc
ton with Stuart's cavalry, had completely
surrounded Us. The firing from all quarters
seemed TO confirm the iumor. As in such
cases, the most improbable stories were be-
lieved, and our situation looked desperate,
indeed.