New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-28
FROM VIRGINIA.
Movements on Alexandrin-Dearh of Col.
Eilswcrfh--A Night wish the ZOuaves-


Slave Pens.
coreavoD lence OF The N. y. Tribune.
ALEXANDRIA, May "a, 1861.
The stars and stripes float more on u sil OF
Eastern Virginia and over the City of Alcxandris.
The Secession Aag which for weeks has nsultcd
and dcfed the power of the American nation in sight
of the Capitol this day was trailed in ito dust.
But there ia sonowing tonight in the camp Of the
Zouaves. TIE intrepid and heroic Ellsworth was bar
barously slain. Long may his memory be green!
"Solder, rest, thy waime's DER,
Dream Of haiil. field. more.
Days Of danger ngiis OF wAins'
Learning this morning of the departure OF trcops
and having determined 70 60 with the ist New-York
regiment which moved South, I endeavored 10 reach
this place by land, but Gen. Mansfield refusing
any passes over Long Bridge. I came therefore, to
tho Navy Yard, and, by tie aindness of Calt Dahl
gren, obtained passage board sieau-iug and late
this afternoon landed at the wharf of this city, IN com
pauy with Lieut. Stryker of the Zouav,s. But few
persons were at the landing scattered through the
town. Inquiing Of the citizens we learned that the
Zouaves were quarterod the rti!.oad depot in the
rear of the city. Passing through the principal sreets
we found groups cOngregated the corners OF alley
ways, nienty talking, and casting threatening and
from the windows of the Secession printing Office wac
not complimentary, though not alarming. Tic Lieu
tenant was armed with pistol, bowie-kniie, and sword
and had what WAS supposed TO be an excellent Mime
rife.
Two regiments are quarered here.
The Zoua,es landed from boat about a. m. a few
sentines at the wharf fired upon them, and fed the
whole Secession army 500 suoDg following their eX-
ample in such haste that left armsand kEaT Tsacks
What followed You know.
Great az the proyocaion was, retaliation has been
made upon tie citizensro private rights invaded, aid
no property taken or destroyed.
I'm one OF The loaded the track were found 100
packages labelled hssks. On uakiog of the rapers, as
many red nasLs were found, filed with powder neatly
marked with label Of Hazard, and two kegs Of pow
der OF the same mark.
IL is. of course, not known when Hazard or HE
agents shipped this powder, but bfore our own Gov
ernmeI gives anoher large contract TO tbs bouse il
would be- well 10 inquire when be or bis enI loyect
n, $, Mt powder the South. is not well tiat the
same brand Of powder should send b.leis from North
ern and Southern muskes. Another car not YET opcn-
Cd, "a supposed 10 contain arms.
About 9 o'clock Lieut.. Fergus inquired II bad
quarters. Cody in the depot replied. "Walk
along with me-" be faid, aud Of course | followed,
passing two or three senuels who with layoneif pre-
sented, demanded the counIersign. We stopped in
front of a large three-story building with the sign,
over the door and windows in large letters, Of
"PRicE, BURcH Co.,
DEALERS IN SLAsEs."
| Strange place for me to be accom- rnodatedl What
would JeG. Davis and Wsfall say il they knew tie
slaye-nlar were thus decorated Mi,Liean trVops
occupied the lower stories. We marched ~ the third
all the fun,ure was gone. Hay was brought up and
scattered on the floor for bedding, with Iuda-rubber
shirts and blankets for covering.
went down TO take looh at the pens. During the
day the boys bad Uncovered that lone slave was
locked up in one Of them, aud lest be might perish by
starvation the trader having fed they forced the lock
opened the prison Doors and the captive free. IL Is
said the ignorant negro declined following his mgs.ef
but preferred staying with the army.
In the rear and annexed 10 the house is large pen,
uncovered, about 20 feet square, with walls over 20
feet high, with a heavy iron door, protected BY bolts
and locks, From th.s another iron door opeus into a
dungeon under the houses, the dimiButive wlndows
guarded with bars. There was no furniture in the pen
or dungeon except bed-teads, beds Of straw, and n
few dirty blankets Nothing else 7" you ark. Yef
three large iron rings fastened in the floor Of the dun
geon. The flicker of our candle made htful specters
! on those gloomy walls.
Who can tell how many tears have moistened, how
many spbs and prayers have startled the rayess gloom
of those dampened vaults; how many broken hearts
and curbed spirits have been chained To this cold floor,
for the commission Of crime, by the decree Of no
| tribunal but only because claims owncrthip in
man
IL it possible that people become 30 doadened
as to look upon such prisonbouses without indignation
and pity To extend sucb Dungeons, bolts bars and
chains into the Territories now own or hereafter
may acquire the Union must be overthrown the Gov
eminent destroyed!
| From this sad scene went 10 quarters. While my
Zouave friends were sleeping | sat down upOn the
floor, some baf-dozen account books made table,
and upon the sole OF Nh uptuned boot mado stand
for my candle.
The account books on which am writing show
heavy sales of slaves since ISS and many invoices of
human merchandise TO New Orleans by ship when one
George Kephar kept the Keys of this Base. At that
time the color Of the negroes clasecd black,
brown and yellow. The traders charged % cents per
day for their board, and doubt made good profits.
The books show that the profits TO the later dealers
were from 900 TO $500 slave, after keeping few
days Among the papers many bills of SALE the
form of which you will see, as nm forced TO the he
cessy Of sppropnating few to write this letter on.
You will observe how simple is tho transfer Of body
and soul. C. ~ W.
EorsThe printed form Of bill Of sale the back OF sheets
ofwhch correpondens letter 10 written Is a. iooss:
$50 :.
9'33b
S,i,5 Received OF
80 Dollar. being In fall for the purchase