The National tribune., 1901-07-25

III 'COLORED' COMPANY.
warm and very enticing breakfast was
upon the table, we suggested the propriety
of partaking of il, and under the intlu-
ence of several glittering quarter dollars,
they very cordially acquiesccd. 4 tender
steak, beautiful yellow butter, spread
plentifully upon nice corn-cake, rich cream
submerged in a cup of delicious coffee,
sharpened with witty and genial couver-
satiOn-for which the officers of the 9th
are proverbial-these we've the component
parts of that memorable breakfast The
negress narrated that phase of her mis-
fortune referred to by the cid negro with
out, and while she eulogized the memory
Of her dear departed MISTRESS" she
mathematical, without stint, the treach-
erouS and dishOnOrable conduct of Gen.
Lee, who, she said, would never be CON
cerned with anything good, and if he was,
1t would be sure TO go to the bad" She
was very intelligent, and had none of that
ldiom so unsparingly used by the so-called
MINISTRIES when delineating negro life
and character. In fact, though we have
seen nearly all kinds of negroes, and have
had genuine plantation boy in our own
service, We have never yet met with any
who can approach the abSurdities, in ac-
tion, feature, or distorted language. so un-
SparIngiy thrust upon the general public
by these pseudo darkies. We remained
IN conversation there some time, and when
our drums sounded, came away with a
very bad opinion of the moral character of
Gen Lee, however great our admiration
may be respecting his military abilities.
we marched from the grounds of the
Lee estate, about 10 o'clock on the MORN
ing Of the 23d, to that part Of Arlington
lights called Fort Corcoran, where, af-
Ter a slow and weary march over bad
roads, we arrived about ) o'clock halted
hn mic oh IL
from the flights, on the hill fronting the
Fort, and went to sleep, highly pleased
with our reception by the forces of Col.
afterwards Brigadier- GeneraD Corcoran.
who thronged the roads and cheered us
on our way to camp.
IN CAMP AT ARLINGTON NIGHTS.
At an early hour next morning a num-
Der Of men were detailed to proceed to the
HIghts and clear n sufficient space in the
dehse woods for camping purposes. A
Few hours labor and it was done. About
noon the tents of the different companies
were pitched, roads from the camp 10 the
main road cut, and bridge constructed
under the superintendent of Lieut.. Col
Howeu. The bridge was named after
him. After laboring the whole
DAY to perfect the camp, the men,
who were pretty well tired out with
marching and hard work, retired to their
quarters, ana slept comfortably and sound
ly TIL morning. Next day the usual du-
ties OF camp were resumed, and the
regiment, with the exception of those re-
tanned for camp guard and picket duty,
commenced to clear the wood preparatory
to forming al abatis on our front. TO oh
struct the passage Of the enemy's cavalry
should they succeed in forcing our pick
cts. About this time picket duty was be-
coming a serious affair, the rebels being
sIs.r.
front, having a large camp Of infantry and
cavalry In the immediate vicinity of Falls
church. The utmost vigilance had TO he
maintained in order to secure us from the
enemy's incursfOns; but by this time our
men were thoroughly posted in their va
nous duties, and we anticipated good and
yigilant service
II took but short time to complete the
hhatls upon our front and flank; and when
thls was done, new and more stupend-
Gus work presented itself, which was no
less lhan the erection of n large fort on
our left, constructed to mount five guns
10 green troops this was no ordinary
Undertaking; but the officers and men en-
tered into the work with great spirit:
space for a magazine was cleared: the
bredstworks gradually arose; the embra-
sures speedily appeared; then quarters for
oiheers and men, till, in the space of two
months, that noble work known as Fort
Cass,' in memory of our lamented and
gallant Colonel, arose in frowuing de-
tiance-one of the strongest defenses upon
that side of the Potomac.
detachment from our own regiment
ganisoned the fort for few weeks.
when, after it was fully mounted and thor
oughly completed, it was turned over 10
a Wisconsin regiment, which permanent
Iy garrisoned it
These were the principal labors of the
9th while at Arlington Hights; and we
are glad to say they received the highest
eneomium from the general officers of the
division, and the regiment was highly
c9mpilmented for the engineering skill
which it exhibited.