The National tribune., 1899-09-07

half dozen officers. 1t being rather a risky
ride the driver and two soldiers kept a
sharp lookout from the front of the large
omnibus in which we travelled, while the
officers kept their arms in readiness, in
case of possible attack by Confederate
providers. Some suspicious cavalry was
seen in the distance, but there was no
attack.
Upon reaching Winchester, reported to
Col Duryea, Proyost-Mar who treated
me with all courtesy, and offered me every
facility for Accomplishing the object of my
visit. Strange to say, the Colonel in
formed me that was just in time to witness
the departure of Gen. Philip Sheridan and
his troops, who were going to join Gen.
Grant at Petersburg, and they would leave
on the following morning. Having pass
from the Provost Marshal, l went the fol-
lowing morning above the town, on great
plateau, and witnessed the assembling
and departure of Sheridan and his 10000
cavalry, gorgeous and imposing military
display, the grandest perhaps that l had
seen during the war.
l stopped at the Union Hotel, and that
day called to see family named Arnold,
ton. When / knocked at the door dis
tinctly heard some one running rapidly
from the room. An old lady-Mrs. Ar
nold-opened the door for me, when /
asked for Miss Laura. "Is Laura in?" she
asked of some one in the room; then, What
is your name, sir?" when Laura rushed in,
having recognized my voice, and deliber-
ately kissed and hugged me. o, dear!
what predicament for young, good
looking widower! Her mother said, 20,
Laura" when Laura explained that 1 had
been a good friend to her in Staunton, and
gave her some valuable advice when she
was visiting friends in that town in the
Spring Of "a.
/ could get no information from friends
in the Valley Winchester friends).
gave them later news than they had, and
after bidding them adieu, L waited upon
Provost-Marshal Duryea, of the Zouaves
and then departed for Portsmouth, where
was offered the place of Storekeeper in the
Commissary Department until the sur.
render of Lee.
THE SUFFOLK CAMPAIGN"
In the latter part of '64 our post was
threatened by Gen. Longstreet with Is, ,OOC
or 10000 soldiers. He advanced to the
town of Suffolk, Nansemond County, near
which town l was born, then threw oul
skirmishers towards our front. We had
then about $1,000 men of all arms, Gen
Robert Viele commanding.
The Notifications being very strong, nc
apprehension was felt. The Notifications
in half-moon shape, extended from the
Nayy-yard wall to just beyond the Nava
Hno,&tat cprprlafaItr inn1npi,or fI,o% =
Portsmouth. News came that the Con
federates were advancing their lines be
yond Suffolk, II miles away, in our direc.
ton; reinforcements were telegraphed for
from Fort Monroe. Gen. Butler rapidly
forwarded 5000 negro troops to our aid
The negroes had been drilled splendidly
and they soon arrived in barges and othe,
vessels towed by steamers. They rapidly
disembarked at the docks near our Com.
missary storehouse the Seaboard Depot
buildings), then formed, and with drums
beating. bands playing, and banners
streaming, they marched through the
town to the Notifications, and singing ir
perfectly tremendous tones the then popu
lar song of Babylon Has Fallen; tn,
negroes shouting till the wool on theil
heads fairly uncurled" and Strengthened
out like that of the white trash"
The loyal whites shouted till the houses
shook, as the negroes marched through tn,
town. The negroes had new uniforms
and were well armed, and marched like OLE
veterans. Next came the Refugee Regi
ment" from Norfolk, marching as if they
meant business, and now had a chance t,
get even with the "Secesh."
The negroes had an ugly, ominous look
too, and j opine that it would have beer
Longstreets last fight had he struck the
front of out Notifications that day. III,
blood was up, confess. That was twice
the Confederates had struck at the flag
where 1 was after passing through the