The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-09-20

two of soldiers to perform provost duty
and guard the town. Soon some of the
most violent Secessionists, principally la
dies, so said, inauguratcd the pleasing en-
tertainment of splitting from TIE windows
down on the provostguard as they passed
to and fro on their various duties.
These matters being reported TO the
General, he ordered that The white sol
diers be replaced by negro soldiers,
which order was Immediately en-
forced, when the citizens interested were
Inundated. indeed, and collapsed general
ly. Then i'll front of the ferry ticket of
fee was placed the Stars and Stripes, but
the Secession ladies, sooner than pass by
it, walked in the street to get on the boat.
The General, hearing of this unpatriotic
action OF the ladies' in question, ordered
the flag to be placed above the walkway
to the boat, and il was done, thus COM
pelling all persons to walk under the flag;
and, 1T the same time, it was ordered that
the gates in front of the ferry boats
should be closed to all except drivers and
their horses.
Directly opposite the American House
was located the private banking house Of
the Balm BROTHERS. From the period OF
the evacuation of Norfolk and Portsmouth
by the Federal fleet to the recapture Of
the two towns by Gen. Butler, Confed-
crate money alone was the circulating me-
Der of citizens deposited their gold, silver
and Virginia State bank notes in the Balm
Bros bank for safe keeping. The va
rious officials and workmen employed in
the Navy Yard being paid off in Confed-
crate money, soon there was an album
dance of cash in circulation, and this
financial state Of affairs continued until
the occupation Of Norfolk and Portsmouth
by Gen. Butler in the Summer of 1852.
Soon after the occupation of the two
cities Gen. Butler issued an order pro-
hbiting the circulation of Confederate
money in ordinary business affairs, and
forthwith the depositors of money at
Bain's bank applied at that institution for
the withdrawal of their gold, silver and
bank notes that they had previously de-
posted for safe keeUing. The Balm Bros.
positively refused to return the same kind
of money which had been deposited, offer
ing the various amounts in Confederate
money only.
The depositors reported the matter to
Gen. Butler, who had the Balm Bros.
brought before him, and after thoroughly
examining the case ordered the Balm
Bros. to pay back to the depositors the
coin and bank notes they had previously
deposited. This the Balm Bros. positively
refused TO do, when Gen. Butler present
ed to them the alternative of returning
the depositors the same kind of money
which they had entrusted to their safe
keeping, or be confined at the fort on the
coast of Florida know n as the Dry Tor
tugas.
Strange to say, the elder brother,
George, who assumed all responsibility in
the affair, accepted the alternative of 60
ing TO the Dry Tortugas sooner than dis
gorge his hl-gotten gold and silver, and
was sent there and put to hard labor,
with ball-and-chain to his legs. 1t was
reasonably supposed that, after, a brief
experience, he would change his views
on monetary affairs; but, no; he preferred
this Imprisonment and ignominious labor
to giving back the money of the depos-
itors, and remained imprisoned until just
previous to the end of the war, when he
was released By the kind-hearted Presi-
dent Lincoln. This gold and silver was
never paid back TO my knowledge.
After the recapture of Norfolk and
Portsmouth the two towns were isolated
from the interior part of the State, theo-
retically, but in fact news and contraband
goods were frequently carried out of the
two cities southwark, despite the exercise
of the greatest vigilance on the part of
the military authorities; and this was Ow
ing in great measure to the somewhat pc
culiar location of the towns and the en-
tire knowledge of the surrounding eountr!
possessed by the Confederate element o.
the vicinage.
THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMP.
As shall have occasion to make refer
ence to scenes and incidents connected
with this great swamp in southeast Viz
ginia, l have thought that some descrip-
ton of it may be not without interest TO
the reader.
In Portsmouth, Va, we regard the
great swamp as beginning at a point just
five miles south of Portsmouth. at what
is known as the ''fiye-mile tank" In my
youthful days this fiyc-mile tank was our
oh.
ing expeditions, and in fact this point may
be called our hunting base of operations.
With our dogs and guns we could on
such occasions proceed to the hyemile
tank on a hand-car, the motive power be-
ing the stout and brawny arms Of two ne
gro men, who rested each other from time
to time during the progress of this pleas
ant and invigorating ride ON the rail. Dur
Ing these trips we gave these accommo-
dating slaves Small-change and much to-
bacco, and sometimes the fragrant ''sto-
gies;" thus our hunting parties were more
than welcome always, and our coming to
the station" when a hundred yards
away, was welcomed with loud and bois-
ferrous shouts. Further, we always treat
ed the negroes from our, let us say, am
munition flask" which the negroes called
''drap er dram," when their earthly hap
piness would be complete, and on such
happy occasions would render for our de
location some such popular songs as
dearest May, you is lublier dan de day;
your eyes so bright dey shine at night
when de moon am gone erway, or, Run,
niger, run, de patterOle will ketch you"
just in front, or nearly so. of this FIVE
mile tank stood a pretty little country
church where the two roads brancheG, one
leading to Jordan's Sulphur Springs, while
the other, TO the right, led TO Suffolk. al
most direct, Il distance, perhaps, of 10
miles. Behind the tank hundred or two
yards was the prctticst valley in that part
OF the country, studded with the noble
oak, interspeTsed with the graceful hick-
DRY. There was no underground. and this
fairy valley and hillsides were luxuriously
covered and carpeted with unnumbered
leaves of various colors and hues of the
oak, hickory and holly. This valley is
20 or so yards wide at its beginning, so
yards or so from the edge of a farm, and
gradually growing narrower as it pene-
tratcd the Great Dismal Swamp. The
denizens of that vicinity, however, call
this portion of the swamp the Cross
Swamp, which ends at the Big road,