, 1861-08-13
ICorrespops ence Of the n 7. Yrihune,l
FoRfgEes MONROE, Old PoiEt Comfort, |
An1nht T. 1881, e

EORTEEeA MONROE O4Q 1CiEE Co1lQELs
Angust 7. 1851. E
Every day adds to the number Of negroes
who seek protection within our lines. It is
impossible to give an idea OF the satisfaetton,
the sense Of security, which the sight Of the
fortress affords to this unhappy class Of be-
inge. Ones under it's guns, they; begin new
LIE, and are doubtless animated with hopes
never before cherished, and to which they
would otherwise have been strangers forever.
Little is said to them; about their changed
situation, or of The prospects before
know any further than that they comprehend
That o great event has happened, which, II It
has not given them their freedom aud permit
ted them to go wherever and Whenever they
please, has at least placed them beyond the
reach Of the danger from which they bare lied, i
relatives and Eo1d for service in the Cotton
States. I do net think that many OF them
canvass the probabilities Of ever going North,
OF setting up for themselves, Of owning prop
erty and being their Own owners and masters.
among friends, who have no ;euch purposes.
The measure Of contentment which such
realization 6tfords is quite sufficient They
20 to work with entire willingness, and be-
ueye that all are agreed that as 1RhoreEs they
are not excelled. They are faithful, cheer
are taken out in "de taila," with ovefseers,
the directlaa and leadership Of one Of their
number. They initiate the manners and
discipline Of the soldiers with great
| quickness, and evince much aptness In learn
foI some time been engaged in building the
railroad, and am told By the engineer thst
I be could not desire better hands. Rations
| are regularly Issued to them, the same as to
| soldiers, and clothing is furnished az it is
needed. Nest Of them have tents inside the
| Fn- 1.1% +fta1 1rhn mt a;fra.
tiops in the families OF officers, or elsewhere,
are quartered in buildings on tbs outaide,
with the Children and those that are fncapa-
b1e OF labor. Many Of them do washing, and
ecme ca11y on brisk business in selling pies,
cakes, and other things to the soldlerr. There
is building outside Of the fortress where
large number are quarteEed, and where,
ere1y evening before tattoo, they sit and
sing, to the editication of all the neighbor'
hood. The singing Is always characteristic,
snd generally Of devotional Kind, the tunes
being p!sintive, and frc9nsntly limitations
Of wei known Mrs. WheD, as il fre
quently the case, hundred, and sometimes
more, voices join In swelling the ehorua, VI
lave an unabridged idea Of negro melody, IN
corrupted BY art OF other skill than what i
started in which all the parts are well sus
tsined by male and female voices, and some
| times it happens that there are specimens 0
rude melody which the most celebrated Min
stre1s in BroadTay might strive in vain Il
equa1. At later hour, when the gatherin!
has broken up, the lights are put out, and th
night Is comparatively still, the voice Of pray
er, loud and earnest, interspersed with feryen
responses, may be eheard within; and thus tht
"contraband for they are known By nj
Observation-Disclosures into new existence
| prove their usefulness, their capacity for ra
! tional enjoyments, and live, indeed, a1mos
revel, Imay say, in the new hope Of beste
] days for themselves and their raca- :-.. = =
Some half dozen negroes-mea, women aui
| children-came into camp at Newport New
, last night, having come across the Roads,
distance Of six mlles, in open .boats Of th
| fa!1est so1t, bringing with them beds an
a1fmited, yet to them III efficient, wealth q
household goods. It was q bold venture, th1
bordered On heroism, q push for little fes
than life itself This morning they came b
| steamer, and their NAM esnoW figure conspicI
! / ously In the catalogue which Sergeant snit
+ keeps Of such as know that
"Who would be free, themselves nuat strike IL
1 bloW.' 1'-'
4 The number seeking refuge within our line
s Gow On the increase, would be even great
but for the report that haa been spread amor
the negro population that they are not Wau
| ed, aud will not be received.