Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-03-26

fully laden with provisions we were
again squeezed into those smother
ing cars. We waited patiently for a
| long time and wondered why they
didn't start up. The engine whistled.
"Here we go!' said voice in the
darkness, for it was now pitch dark.
All was still and each man waited
with uncertain expectation. Again
the whistle blew and again the 60
ahead chap replied, "Now we go!'
But still we did not go. Had we got
to remain in this condition and en-
dure the spasmodic contractions Of
the muscles all night as we had en-
dured them all day? The question
was decided in the affirmative. Some
lay down on the bottom of the car,
and by taking up four mems room
|, tried to sleep. The whole company
began to nod and make salutations
in the darkness. One would lean
against another, till the other man
would begin to swear, then he would
try to sit up again. The more drowsy
on the car bottom, until we were
squeezed almost two men into one.
EGet off my leg!" Take care Of that
foot!" "Don't breathe in my face ]"
"Get your hair out Of my mouth !"
ssNow sit up awhile and give me
chance to lie DOWN." Such eX
pressions were continued all night,
intermingled with oaths of every de-
scription from those who we're fast
beginning to lose all reverence for
God or man.
July 9th we went to Columbia, South
Carolina, a distance of one hundred
miles. At Greensboro, North Caro-
lima, and Chester, South Carolina, the
ladies-f1owers of Southern chivalry
brought out biscuits, pies, cakes
and other edibles, such as none of US
supposed the Confederacy could af-
ford, and fed the Johnny guard in
great shape. What sight it was for
US to behold! How we hoped, after
would be a little left for us. Although
the ladies did not curse us for being
Yankees, they plainly told us we
DIDN'T deserve any, and we had to
put up with their vanity and our
vexation of spirit.
July 7th we rode all day and till 3
O'Clock the next morning, at which
time we arrived at Augusta, Georgia,
$50 miles southwest of Columbia, C.
On this trip some of the boys that
had boots sold them for corn bread.
At one place where they stopped to
"woOd-up" a negro eating large
roasted sweet potato, came up and
looked into the car door. 1 asked him
for a piece of the potato, and to my
surprise he gave me the whole of it.
l divided it among few of those
nearest me, keeping liberal piece
for myself, which created a great
sensation with my palate and stirred
up the gastric juices of my stomach
TO such an eXten Mt that they were kept
bubbiing and boiling like teakettle
for the next hundred miles of our
travel. AS we advanced farther south
the heat increased and our condition
each day grew more uncomfortable.
Sergeant Ranger had jack knife,
with which he made a small hole
through the side of the car, near one
corner, and the boys took turns with
their noses at this hole, getting shifts
of fresh air from whole world full,
outside.
At o'clock a. m. on the Sth, we
left Augusta, and at daybreak next
morning were at Macon, within half
a days ride of our destination. AS we
thanked God that we would soon be
rid of those horrible cars, visions of
the EEgood barracks, the broad river,
meal, peas, rice and molasses, with
plenty of cooking utensils" fitted
through our imaginat1ons and we
came near getting happy in anticipa
ton of a good, clean quiet place to
stay.
All along the route we heard stories
of parole and exchange, but here we
were told that there would probably
be none till the war ended They
SAID the Confederate government was
anxious for an exchange, but that
the "Lincoln government" would
agree to nothing because of the diff
ferences of opinion on the negro part
of the question.
e. III. WEBSTER.
TO BE CONTINUED.