[451]
It was a little before sunset when we reached Petersburg. I was surprised to see, in the outskirts, how every spot sheltered from the bombardment had been seized upon as a dwelling-place by those whose residences were in the more exposed part of the city. The citizens were living there in scores, in all kinds of habitations,—tents of cotton-duck; wigwams of poles tied together at the top, and covered with bed-quilts; booths of boughs of pine-trees; and now and then a log-cabin. As we filed through the streets we were pleased to see that many of the houses had great gaps in their walls, made by the passage of our shells. We were fortunate enough to pass the church by whose clock it was the fashion of our men to set their watches when we first came in sight of the town, so as to be able to give each other Petersburg time, until a three-inch shot tore through it, completely upsetting its internal economy. The citizens looked rather black as we pointed up to it, but our guard only laughed.
We passed the night on an island in the river, and in the morning we were counted, searched, and robbed. Everything of value was taken from us. The search was especially keen for money. Their own currency was exceedingly plentiful, and correspondingly worthless. We had been much surprised, the day before, when we were led through the town, to have little boys come to us to buy buttons from our blouses, offering four or five dollars a piece for them, and showing the money. Some of these boys tried to find a Yankee with a watch to sell, and went about with a handful of Confederate promises to pay, shouting that they would give two hundred dollars for a silver watch.
I had a little experience of my own in regard to the value of Rebel scrip. Glidden—my ‘partner,’
