Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-02-05

fine grove but our request was de-
MED, the only reason given was that
there were "snakes over there
They would not even allow us to go tc
the water's edge to wash our dirt ano
powder begrimed faces. In the
afternoon, under the pretext of ascer-
| tanning whether or not we had con-
| cealed weapons, they overhadled our
knapsacks, haversacks and clothing.
! As we were heavy artillerYmen from
the forts, possibly they expected to
find some hand grenades up our sleeves
or three hundred pound parrot guns
under our vests. Not finding any
thing in this line they coniscated
what letter paper, pens, pencils and
ink they could find. This was robbery
No. 2.
At last the fiery sun, after torturing
us for twelve hours, relented and in
seeming pity, and accompanied by a
couple of sun-dogs (prophetic of
bloodhounds) sunk down behind the
western horizon, and the shades Of
evening, with their delicious draught
of cool refreshment, were great re-
lief so far as external comfort was
concerned and were thankfully receiv-
ed by all.
The next morning I had my "Sol-
dier's Dream of Home'' interrupted
by big Pennsylvania Dutchman, who
placed his No. II under my spare rib
and rolled me over SO quick that, as
French Canadian once remarked
under similar circumstances, 81 didn't
know where I was; looked all round
and couldn't find my name; I put my
hand in my haversack and found my
hardtack all gone, then I knew it was
me-" The Dutchman explained that
his cup, his haversack, his spoon, his
three biscuit and his blanket had all
been stolen. I told him he might
search the house and if he found any
of his property on my premises he
might march me off to jail at once.
About noon we were again gotten
into line We were marched to the
city and halted not far from the depot.
AS the train was not yetready to start,
we had perhaps half an hour in which
to ''see the sights' within a very linn
tied area. We discovered it was quite
an important city Of about $4,000 in
habitants, on the Appomattox River
only % miles from Richmond, at the
junction of several railroads. with
harbor for light draught vessels and
shipping port for tobacco and other
produce and quite center of trade.
We were sorry indeed that we had not
the place instead of being
ourselves captured.
Our halt gave the Inhabitants an
to gather around us and !
get another look at ''the realup- north |
Yankee" as one expressed it. |
Among the crowd were a fair sprink- |
ling Of white women and girls who |
were neatly dressed and who offered |
US no insult. The negroes in particu-
lar seemed to understand our situation |
and willingly complied with requests
to fill our canteens with water, and |
would have given us food
had they been allowed to do So
While we were engaged in slaking our
thirst from onr canteens, an incident
occurred which we greatly enjoyed
and which caused CONSERVATION
among both whites and blacks around
Us. Our friends, the Yanks, had sent
is parting salute in the form Of
huge shell which burst little beyond
and perhaps a hundred feet higher
han our heads. The negroes put up
heir hands, showed the whites of
7heireyes, exclaimed, ooh Lorddy,"
md disappeared like mice. The white
5olks, probably expecting more of the
same kind, also Immediately dispers-
I'd to look after their homes and
household goods. As for ''we'uns'
We gave a good cheer and remained
"a statu quo. The guards called us
Yankee sons Of the canine
Kind" and hurried us away to the
lepot.
TO BE CONTINUED.
E :. H WEBSTER.