Connecticut western news., 1912-02-29
NO.49S~
ON TO WASHINGTON
Comrade Roberts Writes of Second
 Hsavies Start for the Capitol.
BY K. g. ROBERTS


 which crosses the river "Dan" upon which Danville, Va. was situated. This bridge was, as I remember covered one. about two hundred feet in length and the people, realizing that the war was over, wanted to save an expensive bridge, so some of the leading citizens got one or two guns and threatened to blow any one to pieces that attempted to destroy the bridge. And you will re- member, as we marched through it. how fires had been extinguished in several places, but the bridge was saved.
 Danville was a city Of nearly ten thousand inhabitants We turned to the right after leaving the bridge, and marched through the city. The officers of the Sixth Corps took possession of the city and issGed military orders, through the medium of the only printing office in the place. You know that we had representatives Of every known trade, so printers were called for. and soon sim gle sheet paper issued, called "The Sixth Corps a copy of which I secured ana have among my relics now. The streets were we'll filled with both Con- federate officers aud soldiers but they were very communicative and eivil. and as a rule were tired of war and will ing to capitulate and become citizens Of one common country
 It was about l o'clock p. m. when we raanhaI tho riky xxyhSrh Iav nw, Aha Enm between the states of Virginia and North Carolina. We went up through the city on to the hill about three miles and encamped in the woods about sunset April 27. 1865.
 The 2sth we rose early and cooked coffee drew oue days ration. We TO ceived the news of the surrender of rebel Gereral Johnson and his army to Gen. eral Sherman. We lay in this camp un- til May 9; nothing of note transpired. Inspection and muster. Many of the boys got terribly poisoned by ivy. We packed up and started for Danville, and companies F, G and K accompanied the Second brigade of the first division of the Sixth Corps, via Richmond and Dam vile railroad for Burksville, Va. Ths other companies of our regiment march, ed back as guards to the wagon trains. Those of us that went by train remsm- Der we'll the rickety cars used, and the style of rails used on the track. Some of them were simply straps of iron spiked to timbers. We were halted at Glover Station near the Staunton river, where we halted to await the completion of bridge over the rlver, the Johnnies having burnt the bridge and run all the rolling stock to be found into the chasm Engines, cars, etc, were piled on top of each other. his to keep them from falling into our hands.
 It was about o'clock p. m. when we reached this place where we re- mained over night. The bridge was completed sufficiently for us to cross on trains at o'clock a. m., May 8. It was shaky crossing, but we had to cross and we moved on. reaching Burksville Junc- tion at 6 o'clock p. m., and went into camp. hlvipg been gone from this place since the morning of April 23. We marched down to Danville, a distance of one hundred and eighteen miles, in a little over four days time, and remaining four days iu North Carolina and two days in returning on the cars. We had good opportunity to see the country and it was the best farming country that we had seen in Virginia. Did not seem to have suffered the ravaRes of war at all.
 May 4, Companies F, c and K left Burksville at 8 p. m. for Farmville, Va,, arriving there at D. m., and went into camp. Had heavy thunder shower in the night. We were sent here to guard this town which has a population of about 2.200 and a very pretty place. through which we have passed before has large Confederate hospital, 8 tobacco manufactory, etc.
 May 5,we moved just above the village and relieved a portion of the 67th Penn sylvania Volunteers had very pleasant quarters. The companies took turns in guarding the place. May and were quiet days. The latter was Sunday and no inspection or dress parade Wagons came from Burksville with five days rations.
 May 8, the people were unusually gen. teel to us, especially the young ladies, who concluded that the Tanks were not so terrible after all. We were invited to a social and spent a very pleasant even ing had showers nearly every night. We had opportunities to go out into tht country, an 1 visited with some of the F. F. V.'s tFirst families of Virginia."D I became acquainted with Dr. Thomas N. Lewis, of Huntsville, Ala, who wAs one of the surgeons at the hospital.
 Sunday May IA was very pleasant day. A few of us attended the Metho-
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