, 1861-12-04

Correspondence Of then. T. Times]
HAToS head, S. G., Nov. IS, 1851.
Nothing Of particular interest hls occurred
III this vicinity since MY letter Of tho 20th
list. Gen. Sherman is displaying great zeal in
t'rttying his position here, and In few weeks
this post will be perfectly yimpregnablea against
any force the enemy may bring agai1lst il.
ContIabald negroes arc constantly comm.
into camp and placing themselves under the
protection Of our faE, The Government at
Washington should 1T once take measures for
their final disposal. Up to this time several
hundred have been employed very protitably
in discriminating army stores from the fleet;
others are employed on the new fortiacations.
The female slaves find plenty Of employment
IN washing clothes for the troops. We have
enough now to supply Ill demands, and those
that may come in hereafter should be removed
as they a1r.ye.
One Of the most remarkable fcatures Of the
new life in South Carolina, is afforded by The
negroes. Black servants have been hired by
many Of the officers. as walters and washer
men and women. Black gangs have worked
OIL the shore, or been used as oarEmcn; blacks
have served as scouts and guides in the recon-
noissances. Crowds Of the women and children
nay be seen in various par Of the camps, but
especially near headquarters, where they in
habit their old hut6 still. There they receive
their rations, there they build fires to cook
their food or do their washing, and cluster in
to odd-!ooEing groups, picturesque for ill their
squalor. The men and BOYS Join them at
night, and always, after supper, in d tlilapida-
ted outhouse, is held a prayer meeting. lis
tened outside. last night, and heard ardent
calculations Of Thanksgiving for the favorable
Glance God had given to 'smy colored brud-
drcn.' The jargon was absurd, but it was
carnest; the singing was out Of tune and time,
but it WIS ferrent. In some quarters the
blacks are less religious, and held bali to
celebrate the coming Of the Yankees. I have
talked with nearly llalf Of those 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 snas 10 zsistaklag the genuineaes,
ofthcir gratitude for The change.
At Beaufort, where not L few seemed sad al
the pillaging that had occurred, yet even thcst
declared that they had long prayed for OIL
coming They laughed at the idea of our in
jurinT them, which all declared that their mas
tiers Lad cnde;Norcl TO instill. The fact tha:
they asceier pay their zabor seems especially t
0e1igIt them and as for comfort, many llayt
| told nc that they never lived so well before
| None c1ince 4 vindictiTe spirit: even thos'
| who speak Of having been whipped often AMI
| severely, are by no means Indignant; but o.
| the other hand, those who seem to have bcc1
most kindly treated, cyincc no regret for thei
I old condition. Two or three, perhaps half
| dozen, were undoubtedly found armed a
| Beaufort, but no other Indications Of a wal
| like disposition have been detected The dc
termination Of all who can escape, to lcay
their masters, is, however, continually assert
cd. 50 tar as the slaves arc concerned, an ad
vance into the country from this place woul
undoubtedly be followed by an imnlediat
rush Of the white population toward on
camps. doubt whether they would be guilt
/ Of greater atrocities than those Of piilagt
unless the whites should naadly provoke then
or insist upon the slaves following. Ccnturic
Of bondage has lad its eilret, and the spirit ,
the race is ef1ectually cowctl; they are not sa,
ayes, hut slsve5; they have already torccd tw
Of three hundred Of The negroes away wit
them. Lady's Island, near By, is full Of fur
tive blacks.
a rebel schooner, containing 60, COO blanket
4 large number Of Colts rcyolyers, and othe
army stores, has just been brought in, captu
cd by the Dale, Of the blockadlng squadron
Tie prize is one Of the most valuable recent
obtained It wis taken off Fernandina.