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Assistant Quartermaster's Office. )
City Point, Va., June 9, 1865. }
Dear Journal .—Having this afternoon to my
self I know not how I can better improve tli€
«v .hours as they are passing away, than in
lding con versation with you by aid of my pen.
Your visits to me weekly, laden with good news
aud good things fill mo with with pleasure, and
I welcome you not only as the "Soldier's
Journal" but as the Soldiers' Friend.
And now, since I come to meet you, I can
think of no theme of more interest at this time
than to tell you of n visit from which I have just
returned, along our former lines, through and
around Petersburg, and note the changes from
war to peace.
Having obtained absence for the purpose we
make all things ready, and seated behind the
iron horse are borne swiftly forward,—and here
is a change. Once when duty called us to and
from our camp-grounds behold us climbing to
the top of some war-worn box-car, and there
rattled away, holding on for dear life, or by
ohance crowded inside the same, tbere to make
wry faces at everj' unmerciful jolting. Now a
passenger car awaits us and seated within we
begin to realize the enjoyments of journeying at
home, and feel that even la this there is happi
ness in peace. Arriving at the city, a kind friend
with horses, await our coming, and seated in the
saddle wo prepare ourselves for visiting " our
old camp-grounds." Leaving the city we pass
over Cemetery Hill, around which so many of
the enemy have fallen, and where now they all
around lie buried. It is situated between the
city and where our army lay, and could there
fore be seen quite plainly, and though the place
will long bear the impress of shot and shell, still
when wo observe tho extent of all the damages
stranga to that a city and surround
ings s? Jong beseiijf'd should so lightly, aa a
whok, bear witness to the conflict. Passing on
we arrive at what is now called "Tho Crater,"
better known perhaps as the " Burnside Mine,"
This is now a place of interest to all, but more so
to us because our Yankee curiosity had often
been excited by looking at it from "over the
way," and wo had often wondered if they would
over bo so kind as to ask us over,—and this leads
to the thought that we must have been very cu
rious neighbors, for while there was an almost
continual exchange of the warmest sentiments,
there was at the same time certain obstacles in
ihe way which forbade personal intimacy, and
made a near approach in body not only disagree
able but rather unsafe. This work remains un
changed except by nature; the large number
buried beneath the explosion are undisturbed,
and from the entrance of the mine comes a stream
jf water quite strongly impregnated with the
odor of decomposing bodies. Within is stagnant
water to a considerable depth, and the only ac
cess with safety from this water is of a few yards
into the countermine dug by the enemy, which
though immediately over the mine itself, failed
to discover it because of its depth. As wo viewed
it in every particular and gathered again tho
story from one of our opposing army who was
near, but escaped the explosion, we could not
but think of the perfect manner in which it was
instructed, and consider that it must have been
:hat overruling providence which doeth all
things well, that failed to give it then success
md us tho victory. We felt that then tho time
iiad not come when the great purpose for which
whave endured all these things could be ac-|
peace, and more perfect happiness. This place
has many visitors and there is in contemplation
the building of a hotel by the owner of the
grounds, who has, we learned, already asked
permission to do so. He was present at the time
and showed us, near by, a sulphur spring quite
strongly impregnated, and near it a cold spring,
all of which would offer inducements to visitors.
From there we proceed to Fort Sedgwick, alias
For Hell, also now, as iv times past, a place of
interest, and these, together with Fort Steadman,
aro now the most frequently visited by strangers,
who, having heard their history, desire to look
upon their remains. Fort Hell is well known as
having been one of the hottest places on our
whole line, hence the name given it by those who
know its history from sad experience. This also
■remains the same excepting that now no cannon
[is there to send forth its touching and tender
messages of affection and love (of country) and
none from those once the enemy's, "in front, to*
give back theirs in return. 'Tis approaching
night, and we return, trying our skill in horse
manship by picking our way from point to point
and the road regained, John Gilpin like, retreat
ing towards the city.
Here we found quite a force of our soldiers
j stationed in and around. They are mostly cav
alry, and now preparations are being made to
muster out all those who are dismounted. 'Tis
quite amusing to see them now, choosing rather
to be on foot than be the, by them consideret
unlucky, possessor of a horse. Their motto
seems to be "No horse! no horse! my kingdom
'for no horse!" They have so far gained the
respect of the citizens genenerally that their
I pleasure, and they look upon them not as hero-
I tofore, as cruel Yankees clothed iv the form of !
I devils, but as friends, for in many things are
j they assisting in the establishment of free insti- j
f tutions, and aiding every effort to promote law
and order. Foremost in their labors has been
the establishing of a free school for the benefit
of the white children just across the river (Appo
mattox,) in a place called "Ettricks," quite a
village, and which we are informed was former
ly incorporated with the city. This school we
visited, and I should be lost to the great princi-
I pie for which it is established, were I to make no
mention of it. Perry Chandler, a private belong
ing to the Ist Maine Cavalry, is the teacher, is
detailed as such and has the honor of this, the
first free school of the kind being established
| through his exertions. He has upward of eighty
in attendance, for the most part quite young,
and I must say it is one of the most interesting
schools I have ever visited. They are mostly of
the poorer class to whom the privilege is a nov
elty, and the interest they take is surprising.—
He has tho assistance of a young lady of the
place, and both aro giving their time and doing
all in their power to carry forward the good
work. Tho children seem almost to worship
their teachers, and well they may, for through
them are they receiving new ideas of life ; being
started in a way they havo not before known,
and fitted for a more prominent part in the great
drama of life. It is hoped these schools will be
come general, that the parents will become in
terested in them for the sake of their children,
and that thus all, as well as a part, may come to
know the value of knowledge, which is beyond
all price. We think they will, and feel that in
this there is a noble work being accomplished.
and more than ever believing that our past four
years of trial, of pain, and of suffering has been
all for the best, and that now God's purposes are
being made plain.
At this point there is now not much of interest.
Quiet reigns. The 25th corps is embarking for
Texas as fast as transportation can be furnished.
Two Divisions have already gone. The contin
ual arrival of free African Americans let loose
from bondage is now the most striking charac
teristic of this region. They have already filled
up every camp, barrack and hut found empty,
and their antics would furnish ample subject for
the painter's skill. They have frequent wed
dings upon the broad platform of freedom, and
then may be seen a dark cloud of faces shooting
forth frequent lightning from rolling eyeballs
and mouths wide open with pleasure, while up
on t h*}r persons are displayed all tho colors of
the rainbow, reminding us of an approaching
storm. The oeremony over, the fiddle appears
upon the scene, and while some happy Sambo
draws discord from its strings the dance goes on
1 and merry is the hour. They seem to know
nothing but pleasure, and the thought that they
are free; they have yet to learn that they must
now labor for themselves. I can see for tho
present generation many trials, and much of
suffering, but look to the next, for that improve
ment, not theirs to know in bondage, which shall
show to the world that they are human, and ca
pable of advancement towards a higher life.
_i » _. —._
Discharged Soldiers and Sailors.
An association has been started in the city of
New York to aid the discharged soldiers and
sailors in procuring work. The object is to acb
as agents in bringing together the employer and
tbosf seeking employment. No one is solicited
to employ these soldiers from the feeling bf pity,
but simply because they wish the work done.—
lti_ purely a business transaction, and the em
ployer will not be charged with a commission.
The bureau has its headquarters at 35 Chambers
Street. We learn that already 1,546 applicants
at this bureau for work, and 840 of the applica
tions have been filled. Yet the statistics show
also, that while there were 252 of the applicants
who were mutilated in the service of their coun
try by the loss of a leg or an arm, loss than one
fifth of this number have found employment—
less than fifty out of the two hundred and fifty
two.
Tha report of the commission already issued
contains the following statement:
"Of the 726 men still unemployed, whose
names are now on the books of the society, 198
are mechanios, In different branches, of whom
135 are able-bodied and 63 disabled, more or less
seriously; 112 are clerks and book-keepers, of
whom 75 are able-bodied and 37 disabled; 69
wish to serve as watchmen and messengers, of
whom 30 are disabled and 40 able-bodied ; 16 de
sire to labor as coachmen and teamsters—these
aro all able-bodied ; 321 are farmers and labor
ers, of whom 209 aro able-bodied and 112 disa
bled, but not so as to incapacitate them for use
ful service."
The plan is worthy, and if the branches do not
spring up as soon as the existence of the one in
New York is known throughout the country,
there will bo so great a rush to the city that the
bureau there will not be able to do tho work im
posed upon them. We hopo, therefore, to see
other bureaus started at once in all the priucipal
cities and large towns.
