The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-12-19
THE NEW YORK SUN
THURSDAY MORNING, DEC, 10, 1861.


suggested by the just punishment brought upon
the people Of Charleston, through the agency of
FIRE, Tor their part in this wicked rebellion. The
TpPs in a review Of the present poei'ion Of the
reltls draws the conclusion that they arc fast
reaching the ruin and disgrace which surely
awaits them.
lts Port Royal corr spondout, who visited
this city after the capture Of the forts, anil hts
now returned writes as follows under date o.
Hilton BEAD, S. ., Dec. gh;
Returning here afcs q three week 1h'crce,l
am surprised a. the wonderful chang" which has
been Effected IN tho appearance ot the place,
Evidences OF int touiitaplc Yankee cncrgy arc
abundant. 4 single rickoty plant tion re,i.
dence, with $ hfll-duzon str,gsling out aseS,
and frame hut near the fort, erected by tho
rebels as a mako .hiit barracks, were the only
buildings on Hilton Head whom our army took
pos, scion. Now We might, without inprcpri-
ETY., claim all the rights aud privileges pertain
inl, to village. The houses, which have pu1-
zlei me by their rapia construction are Of i'm
mense size, and are eight or ton ia number.
They have bot built tIr -to-chous's, sta 'l's,
oihccrs' qua tiers. AMI various other purpO'es,
and ttoir occupants seem as much at home in
ihom as though they bad been settled on I'LL
ton Head lifetime.
\ temporary pier has been bul', and the
ervineers aro now engaged unon Rro'hcr, ia.
tended to he permanent affair. The fort it.
self ht, undergone many changes In the way
II strengthening ita weak points and except
in outline il scarcely RESEMBLES tho work which
ihc enemy ab btudonel. A short distance 90 the
l,it OF the tort, upon the site which tho rebels
,hoso for their rncampmcnt, an ar5cnal has boon
c-tablislcd, and the ground Is covcrel with
rows Of ordnance and pyramids Of shot, whilo a
quarter OF mile beyond, line OF esrlhwoTk'
has been thrown across tho fold, defending tho
land apptOachof and rendering the iootholi upon
South Carolira soil perfectly sure.
Ear and near In direction from the fort, are
long reaches OF white tents, glarlng in the
uoautiiul Dec 'mJcr Iulight aud almost weary.
ing the eve with their comi5l uniformity and
rectangular s'fccu.
Tho sights ashore are very iuspiritiug. OH
GERS rallop up to hcadquirtor, throw them
So Ives briskly from their shONy military saddles,
ard Iii appear to make thoir reports, return aud
mount then ride ol as huricdly as though the
fate e nations deponlc upon tn iir spcod. Or
loilcs rush to and fro with a cltuk, clank,
clank, "a sword -scabbard strikes against spur,
keeping time to the horses motion. Soldiers
hasten hither and youdcr at pace which would
not be chosen for pleasure, and team,tori urge
their animsls through the loose sand, with ve-
hcles heavily laden for the distant camps.
nj have seen a great deal Of tho negroes during
the past week. Comparatively few como into
camp, for the reason that the authorities have
given them little encouragement, and it best
sui their prcs,nt impulses TO live in unre-
,iaincd freedom upon tho plantations OF this
AMI The cont guous isl ,nds which tho whites
| ha deserted. Mr.. Leo, the agent having
c n.rol oil them, hes an average number OF 2Ol
tut tisu.u.tcr. AZ ipned for thcir acCommOdt-
Il II They are employed about the camps for a
mul 'tudo oi purposes, aud receive tair wage
| Tor heir ldOCr.
| al.
| u ti1r. TIC tide rise, and falls from to
| g.. nrd when II rCcedHs bel OF ard sand
81, . ding distance Of 10 OF 200 yards iron
| ,',,r'. "a lett hare. At all times grnuy.roll
ing surf lazily washes tho water-mark, and ye
| il force IL heavy enough to swamp bo1
should she offer her broadside 20 il. Ness i
arc constantly arriving with flour, potatoes
beans, cattle, forage, building material, &C..
and nothing can roach the land without passing
through tho surf. II is ver' funny to SEQ the
horses bCdy-deep In water, quietly st'ndint
until tho cargocs are transferred.
As soon ~ the negroes come to camp aud cN'
prcss a desire to remain, they are conducted e
Major Beard, of tho Forty. eighth Regiment
tho Provost Marshal, who questions each on'
separately aud the answers are recorded m
book In this way sometimes important inior
nation respecting tho country and the rehel
Is obtained. was present the other day az on
| of the Provost Marshals examinations.
group Of negroes stood before the tent-raggod
sauaiid, vet apparently happy. EIch OF theu
was questioned, and the burden Of every btor
was tie desire 10 be free. Suppose ] give th
answers OF these people, and you will have
fair illustration Of villa, they think Is the o'
Get of the war. The first said;
81 name Judy. ! work wild lie hoe, and D'
longed 10 Jeems Wells. | dunno how old Is
can wash and cook. doesn't want 10 80 bac
10 nv master-ho lick me too much AMI tre'
| rne too bad he lick me taree or four tunes
week, All we get TO eat was a peck o corn an
8 half a bushcl potatoes. We have no salt cel
:, what We makes from blin' salt water
The second said
~ named Abram, and belonged TO Ephrai
Bennett, who lived at Catalogue Point don
| | know nv age | am hoe man can cut wo
: and handle il pretty COED; ! came here to wori
Massa burn cotton up dc next day after de iig
anil run OIL. MY wife is still on the place.
:, como here 10 work and be tfeo. i like to wo
!, : to make my living. | can't live without wor
y Mesa wanted we niggers to go way with hi
hut we want come to Yankees cause he treat
too bad, We hear you come down 10
4, time ago. Massa said dc Yankees would "a
de niggers and sell US in Cuba, and want US
+ fight, bat we talk y over, anu agresa ~ 10 Al
9 20 do YaI KEGS. When Massa ran away ne 81
J; one man lip of, who refused TO iollo" hlh'
'e want 10 Lo free know froemen have to wo
"eanf live ithout work. Dere's great diff
cnce between free and slave. When you u
ys YOU work and de money long 10 yoursei'
= stephen, aged %, belonged to Ephraim D
nett. lie wanted TO get work had been
house servant, and Mtssa had treated him "
sometimes but he rather he a free man
work for himself than be a slave and work IN
a, cold and rain and everything.
an James, aged 18, belonged to old Arthur ko
al who was in the bank at Charleston. He "w0
ed with the hoe and came in to be Tree.
" William aged AZ, belonged to Pfelo IN
D. holm, and worked on .he mainland, although
he masters residence was in Beaufort, where
81 yometimes came. lie came ~ the camp 10
rs "a free, and to work fcr himself
,ra jefferson and Q lahner, boys, about u, ca
10 de Yankees because the Overseer gave th
NJ too much work to do, and they did not h
as. enough to eat. He used to whip them II
ly, caught them getting fish from the creek
m Gabriel, an Intelligent man, about ~ year
'" age, said he was tailor, and worked Tor VI
.aa Morgan, of Beaufort. lie came in to Wor
.he his trade. His master ran of after the
was taken, and wanted him TO follow, bu
!. was not fool enough to do so. While sttin
the back room Of the shop he often heard
Morgan talk with customers about the Yam
n.y. coming down, and read in the papers that
Lincoln was elected, the soldiers would be
down 10 free the niggers. The niggers. th
fore had been on the look. out for the Yam
" for a long time. he wanted 10 lie free.
.sed 10 think II very hard when he worked
A 'gool fellow" for his master all the week
Er, TO S o'clock at night, and earned him slV
Saturday night 10 come, and all he got nun
TO support his family, was one single DOLLAR
L.. used 10 work very honest for his masier, Du
A. rejoiced for this day.
a tions on this and other islands, and cony
- :. Io,.t cra hupIrad naQrOAA. in Ofut