The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-23
Special from a staff Correspondent.

defensive position in the woods and
Major Woods men of the Second bat
talon attacked them. 1t was planned
by Major Wood to come upon the foe
from three sides and the plan would
have carried but for one company on
the right flank disclosing itself by sud-
IDENTIFY breaking out of the brush into
an open field. Two companies, c and
D. were sent against them and they
had to retire.
This disorganized the whole plan of
attack, but despite the accident Major
Wood gained a good position with his
main body and if lead was used in
stead of blank cartridges it would have
been even up, one battalion having the
protection of the woods and the other
having the heavily covered gully for
protection.
The most notable feat of the engage
rf1ent was the daring accommodating of
Major Wood and his adjutant, ii. Nj.
Coursen. They. succeeded in reaching
an old slave cabin within the enemy's
Hines, watched the work of the foe ana
got away again without drawing a
shot. Some of the companies crawled
two miles through the dense woods to
gain positions to which they were as
signed. They are ready to aver that If
Cuban barbed wire trochas are any
worse than Virginia creepers they want
q plentiful. supply of wire clippers
when they go to the front.
THE CAMP. GROUND.
The ground on which the regiment
is now encamped contains much of in
terest to the northernmen and the
boys, between times, find profit and
al n, Nvapdaripp pNnr the old
plantation viewing the relics of slav-
cry days and learning of the historical
incidents that transpired here and
horeabouts. No battles were fought
in the immediate neighborhood, but ac-
cordin2 to the local historians there
were any number around about. In
wGr days the plantation was owned
10y Nat Hunter, who went with his
state as a quartermaster and was taxi
en- prisoner three days before the sur
render. One of his slaves Jim, just
Jim, now 50. years of age, is still on
the farm although the "mahstuh" died
years ago and another man has been
running the farm for over fifteen
years.
Jim went into the confederate SER
vice as a teamster in his masters wag-
on train. He Indignantly resented the
intimation implied in the question;
Did you enlist or did you just go
with your master?"
mo, sah No, indeedee, suh., I
stood up fo' nah state l went out
fo' ole Virginy, | did, suh."
lie was and still is Just as much II
rebel as those who would have kept
him In bondage. A younger and un-
usually intelligent negro, Charles Tay-
lor, who married one of Mr.. Hunters
women and was brought by Hunter
and placed in charge of the farm dur
ing the owners absence at the front,
tells that the slave owners in this re-
gion We're as "A rule very good men and
their slaves, generally, felt as keenly
as their masters, the reverses which
the war brought upon them. They
were all glad to be free, of course, he
said, but they We're contented as they
were and that they did not care to
leave their old masters, was attested
by the fact that the most of those who
have died ''on the place" are still here.
o.. MANY LIKE JIM.
There were many old fellows like
Jim, he said, who thought more of their
masters and their masters interest
than of their own freedom. The slave
cabins, now fast falling to decay, are
encountered all over the farm and the
bell which formerly summoned the
workers from the field still stands on
crotched pole in the rear of the
house. Most of the farming is now
done by day laborers. Few of the
larger plantations are worked to their
full capacity. Acres upon acres are
allowed to grow. wild and unfertile for
the want of tillng and what ground
is cultivated is from the appearance
Of the crops, but poorly cared for, the
the corn for instance in the same
patch ranging in heighth from a foot
10 six feet
The only drawback the place has as
a camp ground is that in common with
all other parts of the country herea-
bouts the soil is of such a porous ma
ture that streams of any considerable
size are impossible. One could dig
one hundred feet in the ground with
out having to use pick. The artesian
well went down 10 feet before it
struck anything solid. A lake or a
good swiftly courslng brook would
make this an ideal camp.
The we'll Sinkers are still pounding
away without results. While waiting
on this, measley method of providing
water the 900 men of the regiment are
securing the neighborhood with cans
and barrels for the water. Yesterday
water was being bought from colored
teamsters for twenty-five cents a bar
rel There is no telling how long this
state of affairs will exist.
Charles Campbell the owner OF
Campbelrs acres, was held yesterday
at Fairfax court house for permitting
intoxicants to be sold on his premises
and was fined $3.50. The maximum
penalty is $1,000 fine and three month,
in Jail.
RIFLE PRACTICE.
Now that 1t is evident the second
corps will remain here for the sum
mer, headquarters has taken steps L
give the men something practical In
the way of shooting in warfare. Nine
teen rifle ranges are to be established
on the banks of the Potomac, and eacl
brigade on it's turn will be sent Their
for a two days sojourn, to get uset
TO hard marching, to enjoy bathing
and to get some rifle practice. Th'
schedule has not yet been published
Word was received yesterday tina
Private Fred Page, one OF Compan!
BIS missing men, is in Scranton hav
ing a good time, There is a good tim
awaiting his return. Nothing has lee
heard Of the other missing man Pri
vate Jessup Kirkendale. Having bee
absent over ten days. he is a deserte
in the eyes f.the law. and would hav