Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-26
THE "CoNTRABANDS" IN NIR-
GINA.

4 correspondent of the Boston IrGrellr
at Hampton. Va. was appointed to collect
the colorcd men tcgethcr, enroll them, and
put them to work on the entertainments.
lie told them that they had been at work on
the entrcuclmcnts OF the secessionsts, and
that no,r they must work at the Union camp
that they would be only required to do
what white men were doing - that they
should be treated kindly, and no one should
be required to work if he waslunwcl, or
beyond his capacity-that they would be
furnished with soldiers rations or fool.
They eyinccd no displeasure. Their names,
ages. AMI the names Of their masters. were
taken and they went to work chccrfully and
efficiently.
The coutrabauds arc curious as to what shall be
their fate. Ono or two told me that after work
ing on our ontrenchmenti it would go hard with
them If their masters returned One inquired
suspciously Why his masters name was taken
down. All hope that, somehow or other, they will
soon be free and that their fugitive masters will
never return. They call me by various titles, as
boss, massa, general, SC. The post Of an over
seer Of negroes in Virginia is certainly a one
Tor pretty earnest Massachusetts, Republican to
occupy,and as your correspondent addressed them,
there was ono message which he then wished he
could deliver to thom, snd that was that the hour
of their emancp patton had come Indeed in con.
versation with one many. tell them all that
they are a. much omitted TO their freedom as am
10 mine.
And will The Government. ever be So false q.
70 fail to protect every negro VINO has ever served
cur officers or men, OF helped to build dofences
CT in any way aided cur cause II il shall ever
be 50 base and treacherous that, II will deserve
tc be thousand times overthrown and be forever
cursed among the nations. Wha'eFer may be ou
general duty to this oppressed race, to such as W
have thus employed, our national faith and on
personal honor are pledged. The code Of gen
teraan, TO say nothing the grandcr law Of rect
tude, at least nccsstates protection "a that extent
Yesterday was Il the Fort for toe purpose 0
lGquring whether rations could be furnished {
tle negroes on account of their wives and chidre
--'t ,oinS manifest justice TO provide for thei
families Whom they could not labor t. suppor
"h'le e. employed Tho suggestion was cordial
RESPONDED g.. anl rations ordered for them. Thi
morning | inquired Of each man whittier n
- wife and children. In some instances th
melancholy answer was given shat he had a wife
b1; che had ben 5. IA and carried of.
Some slaves come 20 our pickets every dav
-lylns escaped irom their nIste-s. Some vacan
baillInzs are assigned 10 then, and thev are Sc
t. syfk.
lo-- :oaG 1s VII, trust, Ecj c-nplsia :a.t
lave 80 -1uch Il sag about tie negroes. they ar
IS u2ia feature uI interest here. This is our FIR,
l-tfoi -etiyn to slave life in yirginis and We az
roF sGmmou t. confront tho grsgest question {
Il t.. "od graut that we Iasy have the COIL
age ana forecast TO meet it, Tic anxious studer
o. u-sslng events cannot fail TO find il the slay
sc.iety, which is nov presented, objects for re
petusl reflection"