New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-21

greater, through which the soldiers waded ashore
part of the way up to their waists in water, and
sometimes getting an unexpected plunge into hole
As the day is warm and the water not very cold,
the men enjoy it well enough for the time but when
night comes on, and the air grows chilly, and clothes
are wet tie fun will be considerably diminished.
This is not climate in which unnecessary exposure
and risk can be afforded II wetting is thrilling
affair in ITSELF it must lie remembered that its conse'
quences may be very serious, especially If no pre-
cautions are taken against its probable effects. NO
body who has seen case of congesive fever brought
on, perhaps by equally slight exposure, can think
any caution excessive against such danger.
Seabrook Landing, where a guard has been hitb-
erto stationed to protect the wharf is now occupied
by strong force. Until the dock is finished the
heavy stores will be unloaded at this point Vessels
can carry up "a feet Of water at high tide. The
stores have to be brought six miles to camp over
very heavy roads, but at present this is the best, and
for some purposes the only, means of getting them
where they are wanted Seabrook is on the west
side of the island, and is approached by the channel
which reioces in the cheerful name of Skull Creek.
Immediately after the arrival Of the troops, and prob
ably from an apprehension that further advance
as contemplated, the town of Button wasdeserted
Tie news of this latest Southern hegia was brought
as almost all news is by the contrabands IN this
case by two intelligent articles Of property, who re-
ported that the cotton in town ard vicinity lad been
burned, and the frightened inhabitants had fed to
Hardyyiile, the present rendezvous Of the fugitive
white population Of the island, and Of the new-ieved
militia in other words, of those who have run away
and those who will.
| The number of contrabands Is rapidly increasing
Including those at Beaufort and Otter Island there
cannot be less than thousand good and true Union
men who have responded TO Gen. Sherman's procll-
nation and claimed the protection Of the flag. Was
there anything in the terms Of that proclamation
which excluded from its appeal any complexion or
color Of fidelity have no copy and cannot say,
but if there were, then so much the more credit TO
the negroes who came without being asked, aud are
faithfully serving the Government which never par
ucularly served them. But the proclamation was
addressed TO citizens Of rebelious State Whoever
questioned the loyalty Of the negroes or their reaoi-
ness to fight and work under the Stars and Stripes
Yet not the negroes majority Of the inhabitants
of this rebelous State, and why is State permitted
to be rebelous when four hundred thousand Of its
citizens are loyal and only three hundred thousand at
most are traitors o., to put the question little
closer Why are a minority OF traitors still aided ard
encouraged by the Federal Government to control,
imprson and shoot the only men loyal to that Gov
erl ment which prefers be striving to reduce trail
tori TO submission and protect loyal citizens' Per
hans some reflection would not be wasted in the
honest endeavor to that question, instead Of
giving hard names to those who honestly ask it.
A thousand men, whose fate seems TO depend in a
measure on the will Of one, are, for the present
emancipated from the immediate operation Of the
laws of South Carolina As these lave however,
are deemed to exist for some purposes even on con-
quered SOIL possessing perhaps suspended vitality,
il mus, be considered Ia violation Of their sovereignty
that an effort IL made to do what be done mean
while for the negroes in camp. "A school Ia TO be
Immediately established, and a part Of the three
hundred who are in charge of the Superintendent at
this point will begin their education az soon as any
materials for the work can be procured. There are
no books and not eyenthe simplest meanso lnsrnc'
ton for teaching the alphabet-a process with which
few Of the blacks of any age dispense at the out
ret The number who can read little is very small
"A fact not to be wondered at when the severe PEN
allies Of Carolina laws against teaching negroes TO
read are remembered In default Of other resources,
it has been recollected that in the schoolhOuse ut
B.aufort--there known q college-two or three
tlackboards are still remaining.
On these the alphabet can DO chalked out, and,
with the help of reading and talking, rude begin
ming made. There is no room yet TO he bad for the
school. When the new hospital lie fnished perhaps
the barracks now used for that purpose can be had,
or ZONE other accommodation may be sooner fur.
nished. Gen. Sherman has given bis consent TO the
plan. Capt. Saxton, whose position as Chief Quarter
muster makes his cooperation especially important,
gives his sincere interest and best efforts i'll ito behalf,
and Mr.. Lee, the Superintendent sactiyely engaged
in the work There will be 10 obstruction here, there
fore, in tho way Of success. Beginning in the open
air. without books, and without regular teachers,
with no other immediate object than the elementary
instruction in letters and morals of the few negroes
who can be reached at fret, yet cannot help think
ing that this attempt may be the basis of wider efforts
and hope of some general plsn Of education for the
slaves whom this war must free-some, II not oil.
Something has been tried have heard, at Fortress
Monroe, but l know nothing of the results,
or the present condition Of the school, il there be
one. Whatever it be- the position can hardly be
so important as this. Monroe has never passed from
Union control. Carolina about a year ago, asserted
her independence, and it is lees than two months
since her territory reoccupied by Union power.
She Is the peculiar representative and champion Of
Slavery. and the fountain of rebellion. The district
Of Beaufort contained 80 900 slaves and 5000 whites
larger proportion Of the former than any other
county ia the State. II is to Carolina what the State
is to the South This citadel Of Slavery ID the tpot
selected with singular felicity, for the first landing Of
what is called the invading force. An army large
enough to hold and soon to be large enough to ex-
tend its conquests, is established on this central
point Of the Slayery-cursed coil As it was the heart