The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-21
INTEREsTTNG FROM CHARLESTON.

ICorrespondence Of the Baltimore Americanl
THE SLAVE AMUSING CONvER-
sATlON WITH THE sLAvES-AFRIcANUs WITH
THE WHITE FEATHER-How THE NEGROES
WoRK-EDMUND RUFTIN-CASTLE FINCKNEY-
INCIDENTS OF IT'S cAPTURE-FoRT AOULTRIE-
TREASONABLE SAND--PREPARING FOR THE
FIGHT-MoRRrs ISLAND wORKs-THE PALMETTO
RoYAL-MoRRIs ISLAND Observation-Disclosures
OF THE isLAND--GoING 70 THE wAR--AN Az
fECTING SCENE, ETC.
On Sunday last visited all the fortihcatons In
cupancy South Carolina troops except Folly Island
Hog Island and Fort Johnson in the Charleston harbor
1t with the greatest difficulty that ! could obtain
permission 10 do however; and had not ayaied my
self of opportunity should have done no more
than visit the respective landing places Of the tofences
without being privileged to enter. Sennes are posted
everywhere and the striccst watch and ward Ia kept
up at all points without an authoritative pass 1t IS i'm
possible to gain amittance into the lortincaons, and
after you there is next TO impossible to get away
unless you have officer az yonr back TO sing out a
right and touch his hat to every sentinel passed
My trip exceedingly Interesting one and would
entertain your readers abundany. saw many things
that were new unexpected though fear discretion
will compel me, IN my narrative, TO keep back great
portion Of my observations.
The South taroIinans arc a peculiar peopl, in their
ideas about publication matter. well ether things.
They regard for the part the great desire of the
Northern people 10 read 20 learn all that going
in the light of morbid curiosity They are satisfied,
themselves with pnin statement Of fact without
terng details You, the contrary, viii be satis
lied with nothing elso than all that can b. said or written
upon q given subject. However, in writing for yol,
shall consult your taste iar az am ablemnd.u that
not ransgress the bounds Of the restrictions feel III
duty bound 10 observe. The task is tcksh one, for
what might estinaie 1T 20 publish others might
strue INTO treason But 70 my narration
THE HARBoR
Sunday with US ~as a bleak, cold and windy lay. The
water Of the harbor was very rough, and the waves
tossed and rolled excessively Tho steamer Clinch was
shed her sides and pitched her about in mo-t uncom.
Portable manner but aftef we bad cast loose orr moor
ngs the motion became easter, and, If anything quite
pleasant though the clear sweep given the tempcsuous
gale the broad waters made the temperature anything
but agreeable ON deck.
TIm SLAVE YASEp3 ylGITERs
At starting had board in addition % the party OF
gentlemen in the suite Of officials going the rounds Of the
forts about hundred and fty two hundred hearty
strong negro men, Intended for abores Sullivan's
Island These fellows chartered and abbercd their pecu
liar negro lingo with infinite delight the prospect
becoming, they termed IT, "sogers to light for
Souf Carliner.n Rolled up in huge knots wherever
the shone, they dozed away in peaceful slum-
bcrs, grinned with delight az anything pleasing
to the fancy passed in review Tho ideas and language
nterchanged among them, and 10 all who chose 70 ad
dress them evnced almost arbaric simplicity. The
ority OF them exhibited wonderfully stupid set Of fea
lures. Ono OF them, howevcr-ths most intelligent fel
low in the ctgavc quite 81 istactory answers To most
of tho inquiries propounded 20 HIM All the rest seemed
satisfied simply with showing their worries and acquesc
ing 10 whatever replies their spokesman should make
He 70 my questions nio med me that most of
Tho SCI OF hands were from tsantee sab from ode big
plantation, sah, on de riber."
oueston-were you ever on the sea or rough water
beforeS AnswerOh, yes, rnassa; dc Slnteo some time
run so high dat co0noo (canoes) swamp.
o-How would you like 70 cross this harhor n cancer
A. (With two short, ndescrioabIe grunts)-o'Doo sink,
sab.
Q-whcre are you going now A.-To Moutry (hfoul
tric) sab.
up forts on de island, sah.
o--who are YOU going hght9 Abe dam Yankees,
sab, and abumlishnsts. tiaughter)
o'-You don,t dislike Yankees A-Not 'zac;y. sab
but do and Sides dey come here " steal u.s. and
young Massa John come up he peoples quarters day
fore YESTERDAY and when he call al OF together he
dc 10 and tell US dat suhn was goin wrong
down do city Dat DE- Yankee Niger tief would fight
I.spA Agtst 4 hal,, L4
o-what did you say % thaiS Ave all volun-
teered right away but Massa John picked out the best
lot OF hands and sent EN- right away to join desc here
other boys and SO all come down.
o-Do you know how r. shooty Ayes sah. (The
fellows ey "a winked with pleasure at the prospect
learn young Nassa John to handle he ride When he
BOY used 10 shoot deer together, and learned him
where to strike and how to load up
! Q--will your master come down TO the island and
AghtY Ayes, sah; he promised 70 nc us soon in the
works with he company.
ArRcasrs WITH rm WHITE T,krnR.
One great big fellow in sunny corner Of the
deck had been attentive listener the conversation
and whenever the replies of his fellow slave gave him
peculiar pleasure. or conceded with his views grin
would spread clear his face and thinking that he
mghtbe inclined 70 talk approached him and put the
question, "Well, sam, what can you do In fgbu'
A--'Run, sab, when Bucra man come wid de gum
and at the same time tipping his hat and scrapng his
foot asked If masea please give him chaw terbac erV
Several negroes each other signihed thcir
dsapprobaton Of the fellows conduct and repag by
calling him "yah hoo niger" Their respect however
for the presence OF white persons prevented any other
expression Of contempt.
NEGROES
In this lot Of stout fellows there not one badly
clothed or underfed. They all above the medium
height OF the white man. strong healthythough rough
and du-such swarm the "yArdn Of every large plan
tation. All provided with large, comfortable
blankets strapped 70 the shoulders in military style, and
most Of them carried besides quantity Of baggage
Their destinaVon learned not 10 the fort but 70
the works Of defence above Moultrie, on Sullvans
Island An extensive causeway here being constructed
to connect with the main land and upon this, upon
The redoubts now being thrown up on the island, very
large force Of negroes Ia employed am told that they
number seme seven or eight hundred fellows. very
largo number Of Irshmen also employed In the
work. but for endurance the negro beats them all hol
low. There u no for the pickaxe, and with the
shovel have the slave work oil round the white
man. and then turn round and grin what he had done
EDwuSp RuYyIv, rso
Among the paseepgsrs In cabin Edmund Ruhn,
Of virginia This gentleman has been in tho south since
the commencement Of the secession movement ncticc
his venerable the sovereign Convention almost