The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-12-07

THEY PASS THEIR TINE, AND WHAT IS DONE IOs
rHsx.--One Of the most remarkable features OF
the new life in South Carolina, 10 afforded BY
negroes Black servants have been hired by
many Of the officers, as walters and was5ermen
aud women. Black gangs have worked on the
shore, or been used IS oarsmen; blacks nave
served as scouts and guides in the reconnois-
sances. Crowds of the women and the children
may be seen in various parts Of the camps, but
especially near head quarters, where they build
fires to cook their food or do their washing, and
cluster into odd looking groups, picturesque for
all their squallor. The men and boys join them
at night, and always, after supper, in dilapi-
dated clubhouse, is held q prayer meeting.
listened outside. last night, and heard ardent
calculations of thanksgiving for the favorable
chance God had given to .'my colored bruddern. !"
The jarg0n was absurd, but it was earnest; tho
singing was out of tune and time, but it was fer
vent. In some quarters the blacks are less reli-
gious, and held q ball to celebrate the coming
Of the Yankees. Ihave talked with nearly half
Of those that / have seen; have asked them
which they preferred, the new or the old order
of things, and though some few here and there
spoke kindly of their old masters, there was no
mistaking the genuineness of their gratitude for
the change
At Beaufort where not few seemed sad at
the pillaging that had occurred, yet even these
declared they had long prayed for our coming.
They laughed at the idea of our injuring them,
which all declared their masters had endeavored
to instill. The fact that they received pay for
their labor seems especially to delight them; and
as for comfort, mary huve told me that they
never lived 80 well before. None evince vim
dictive spirit; even those who speak of having
been whipped often and severely, are by no
means indignant; but on the other hand those
who seem to have been most kindly treated
evince no regret for their old condition. Two
or three, perhaps half dozen, were undoubted.
ly found armed 1t Beaufort, but no other indica-
tons of q warlke disposition have been detect
ed. The determination Of all who can escape,
to leave their masters, is, however, continually
asserted. So far as the slaves are concerned,
an advance into the country from this place
would undoubtedly be followed by an immediate
rush of the whole population toward our camps
l doubt whether they would be guilty of greater
atrocities than those Of pillase unless the whites
should madly provoke them, or insist upon the
slaves following.-Port Royal Cor. o. N. Y.
Times.
{ REBEL ARRESTED ST. HELENA's IsLAND-The
Herald's correspondent gives an account of an
expedition to st. Helena's Island, which resulted
In tho arrest Of Capt. BENJAMIN Chaplain, the
commander of mounted rife company, and a
terror to the negroes whom he was endeavoring
to capture Chaplain contended that, according
to the Presidents proclamation, he was not La
bic TO arrest, as he was staying at home mindiDg
his own business, and also attempted to bribe
Capt Falconer. 1t is said that one white Union
ist is still living on st. Helenas Island, but ne-
Their his residence nor name could be discover
ed. In short, he appears to be mythical per-
sonage. A Union man, Coffin by name, the
owner of several fine plantations, was driven of
by his tratorous neighbors several months ago
An expedition is on foot to work its way thro'
the inside passage toward Charleston, for which
renforcements are being sent as fast as possible.
CoTToN READY FOR EXPECTATION The same
writer says: Capt. Phillips, Of the United States
steam transport, Mayflower, with detachment
of sailors from the gurboat Mercury, made a
successful reconnaissance 10 Paris Island, eight
miles from here, on Sunday last. The island is
situated at the junction of Broad and Beaufort
rivers. 1t is the property of DR.. Joseph Means,
and is considered one of the most prolific places
for the growth of Sea Island cotton in South
Carolina. The place was entirely deserted by
its white inhabitants; the slaves, of whom there
were several hundred, alleged that their master
made furtive retreat on the day of the bonn
bardment of Fort Walker, without leaving them
any instructions what to do with themselves
One old negro assumed to be the triarch of
the Others all were jolly and were, seemingly,
having jubilee over their masters retreat The
island is well stocked with cattle and garden
vegetables. The mansion house is quite large,
but tue furniture was al. displaced, and most of
it appropriated to ornament the negro quarters
Several large storehouses were filled with cotton
ready for market No disposition, however, has
been made to secure it as prize.
. THE REBELS IN FoRcE-IEDIASs.--AtH ardey.
vile, on the Charleston and Savannah Railroad,
eighteen miles west of Blnften, and about TWEEN.
ty miles from here, between there and the Poe
otaligo Railroad depot, there are $4,000 rebel
troops concentrated under the command of Bril-
gadier General Drayton. The majority of these
soldiers have been impressed into the service,
and therefore can have no desire to meet the
Union troops in the field.
On Friday last five hundred Indians reached
Pocotaligo from Savannah. Pocotalgo is ten
miles north Of Port Royal Island. The most
strenuous exe.tions are being made BY the rebels
to impede the advance OF our troops on Savan-
nah and Charleston; but their efforts will all
prove futile when our overwhelming forces shall
be ready to take the initiative.
o.