New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-10
THEIR NEW HOPES AID OLD FEARS.
THE NEGRO MELODY.
OFFICERS STILL URGENTLY NEEDED
!rhs New Steam Erigate Pensacola.
From Our Special Correspondent
FORTRESS MONROE, Old Point Comfort
Aug. z, 1861.

to give an idea of the satisfaction, the sense of
security, which the sight of the fortress affords
to this unhappy class of beings. Once under its
guns, they begin new life, 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 chaoged situation, or Of the prospects be-
fore them; what taeir own idea is do rot
know, any further than that they comprehend
that great event has happened, which. if it has
not given them their freedom aud permitted them
20 90 wherever and whenever they please, has at
least placed them beyond the reach of the dam
ger from which they have fed, of being sepa-
rated forcibly from friends and relatives and sold
for service in tho Cotton States. i do not think
that many of them canvass the probabilities of
ever gong North, of setting up for themselves,
Of owning property and being their own owners
and masters. At present they only realize that
they are among friends, who have 40 such pur-
poses. The measure of cOntentment which such
a realization affords is quite sufficient, and is
probably fully equal to their capacity. They go
10 work with entire willingness, and | believe
that all are agreed that 80 laborers they are not
e1celled. They arc faithful, cheerful, and even
zeaous. Every morning they are taken out in
4" Details" with Oyerseers, always marching in
regular order, under the direction and leadership
of one OF their number. They initiate the man.
ners and discipline of the soldiers with great
quicklesl, and eyince much aptness in learning
whatever they are set to do. gang has for
some time been engaged in building the railroad,
and am told by the engineer that he could not
desire better hands. Ratons are regularly issued
to thp,n the same as to soldiers, and clothing is
furnished as it is needed. Most of them have
tents inside tho fortress, but the women who
have not situations in the families Of officers, or
elsewhere are quartered in buildings on the out
side with the children and those that are inca
pable of labor. Many of them do washing, and
some carry on brisk business in selling pee,
cakes, ard other things to the soldiers. There
is building outside of the fortress where large
number are quartered, and where, every evening
before tattoo, they sit and sing, TO the edifca-
ton Of all the neighborhoOd. The scene is orig
inal and attractive. The singing ia always
characteristic, and generally OF devotional
Kind, the tunes being plaintiye, aud frequently
limitations of wel-known airs. When, as ia
frequently the case, q hurdred, and sometimes
more, voices join in swelling the chorus. he have
an unabridged idea of negro melody, uucorrupted
by art or other skill than what is nature TO the
negro. Occasionally tune is started in which
all the parts are well sustained by male and fc-
male voices, and sometimes it happens thas there
are specimens of rude melody which the most
celebrated Mlnstrels in Broadway might strive in
vain to equal. At later hour, when the gather.
ing has broken up, the lights are put out, and the
night is comparatively STILL the voice OF prayer,
loud aud earnest, interspersed with fervent re-
sponses may be heard within; and thus the
" contraband"-lor they are known by no other
name-introduced into new existence, prove
their usefulness, their capacity for rational en-
joyments, and live, indeed, almost reyel, | may
say, in the new hope Of better days for them.
selves and their race.
Some half dozen ncroes-meD, women, and
chi!dren-came into camp at Newport News last
night, having como across the Roads distance
of six miles, in open boats of the frailest sort,
bringing with them beds and United, vet TO
them all.suficient, wealth of household effects.
Ii was a bold venture, that bordered on herosm,
a push for little less than life itself. This morn
ing they came by steamer, and their names now
figure conspicuousy in tho catalogue which Ser
geant Smith keeps of such as know that
"who would be free, ,hernseve, strike the blow"
The number seeking refuge within our lines,
now on the increase would be even greater but
for the report that has been spread among the
negro population that they are not wanted, aud
will not be received. This story has doubtless
besn set ahoat to keep negroes from running
away, but il does not in all cases serve the pur-
pose The other day delegation of two came
TO the fortress to ascertain the truth Of the
statement. Finding that it was falsehoOd, and
that protection and the means Of living would be
given to oil comors, with the only requirement.
in return that those who could should work for
It, and that it would be free and equally certain
to such as could not, they returned to convey
the tidings. They will probably return before
many days with q numerous train.
As a general thing the fugitives speak kindly
Of their late masters, who, III many instances He'd
from them. They have terror of being sold
lown South" or of being compelled to work in
tho intrepchments Of the Rebels. They mani
fest no reluctance laboring on our Notifications.
The idea, whether true or false, is prevalent
among them, that tho Rebels intend to place
hem in tho front rank to be shot down first,
m idea that is not sustained by the theory that
tho Saves arc property, and that consequently
his would be wanton sacrifice of shekels as
well as life.