The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-03
In the Southland.
Chattanooga, Tenn, \

Chattanooga, Tenn, May 20.
EDITOR UNITED OPINION
As an old cOlored woman said, Chat
tanooga is lousy with soldiers and are
still coming day and night; as yet hear
of no Vermont trains. Living near the
depOts it seems that there is never lull
day OF night and railroad men are worked
nearly to death, one faithful man being
cut to death, caused by being numb from
overwork and want of sleep. In all the
rush for the last few weeks there has
been only one wreck and that a slight
one, only one man being killed and three
wounded. At the hospital there are
eleven sick with pneumonia from an lii
nOis regiment; all have the best OF care.
From FIRST to last they are a healthy,
fine looking crowd, and well behaved.
We seldom see one the worse for drink.
Hope they may be as happy when they
return from the war as they are when
pulling in here; they call everyone to the
windows with their rOuSing cheers. They
are rushed through so fast that by, the
time they get here they are about herce
with hunger.
Among so many there must be some
black sheep. A New Hampshire regl-
ment has been made conspicuous by a
half dozen of their soldiers, two having
been sent to the chain gang for one nun
bred days. One afternoon, (or as they
say south, EVENING" every COW tar ana
!
good naturally, glad to know they cQuid
be satisfied with that sort of drink III is
the truth that southern women are only
too glad to pick flaws with the ankeeS.
reliable married man SAID IN Jne
Times that the soldiers were not all to
blame; that he sat on Market street a
few hours, during which time several
popular young ladies passed and re-passed
| dozen times staring and smiling at the
/ boys in blue, what he called trying TO set
up Irritation. These Yankee boys had
best not lift their eyes to those southern
| flowers even if the mice will play when
the cats away, for they have fierce papas
back of them. Like the soldiers of the
late war, all of these are delighted with
Chattanooga and surroundings, and many
say that when all is peace again they are
coming to make their home here. We
had flag raising at the central depot and
all was enjoyable, the speeches being us
tened to closely. One man said that Tor
every brave man and hero they sent from
the North the South had one to match
him. We wanted to say, all but a
Dewey.
1t has been just leap from our winter
to the fierce heat of summer. The glare
of the sun on the white sand is painful to
the eyes no one can realize how wearing
until they have to bear 1t these long days.
A change to good black soil would be
rest indeed. Chattanooga is all right I'M
til the rainy season sets in, when it is
dark day after day with no let up: then
we long for dear old south Georgia, where
the sky is always blue and it is sunny
every day through the winter. 1t is as
toniShing to see the number OF tourists
| that come in here through the year and L
presume they will come as long as these
| historic hills remain. | don't think any
one would tire of Lookout; from my
window when it is not hazy we can see
all over it so plainly that it seems only
! few steps to the foot, though it is really
! three miles away
| We are to have a grand Decoration Day
at the National cemetery; Capt. Castle
of ST. Paul will deliver the address; have
been promised the best band at the Park.
! There will be about as many living SOL
diers on the ground as there are under
! the sod Very many who have lived here
ever since the war have been laid to rest
there during the winter. At times it has
seemed that Death claimed them contin-
ually. There is a glorious sunset over
old Lookout and st. Elmo nesting at its
foot. As we have no twilight 1t Will soon
be dark; time to quit scribbling. TO live
near the grand old mountains that always
STAY, a comfort when all else in life seems
leaving us, how they bring us nearer to
the eternal hills and our loved ones,
whence we are all fast journeying.
MAY 80. 1t is but fair to the New
Hampshire boys to say that during the
/ week IL DdS D6cu plONCu IllttO lily WV -
the chain gang were not as guilty as at
first reported. A noble woman at the
Park caring for the sick started petition
which has been signed by the best people
of the town that they be released. She
said in the Times: I'VE women OF the
South have hurt ourselves. Why not
treat the boys in blue with the respect
they get in other places" At the close
of the Memorial service a veteran asked
that there be help furnished to plant the
fourteen thousand eight hundred and
seventy six flags: that it might not be
left to the few who went home with bis
tered hands year ago. The Vermont
soldiers have not done much yet: getting
acclimated. There are forty four of them
sick, but as yet not seriously, only the
effects of the change from the braclng air
north to this terrible heat. the Nation
aFcemetery has had ten added to 1t from
the new army from one cause and anoth-
er.
MARTHA L. STEVENS.