Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1861-12-05
~. Y Evening Post,
THE cONTRABASDS.

Doats as We landed 10 take pos
session. OF the tort, ard among
those found on shore by the ma
rines were several belonging to
General Drayton, commander Of
the post, whose plantation OH
Hilton Head Island was we'll
stocked with fellows Of the gen.
uine ebony cast. Two Of them
were taken on board the Wabash,
and gave much interesting and
reliable information in regard
to the situation of The affairs on
the island.
One them asserted that his
master had that morning assured
him that he might fall into other
hands before night, and he seem
ed to have been sufficiently pleas
ed with the prospect OF change
of masters to get his little bundle
ready to be taken oft.
THE NEGROES TRADING.
Early in the morning after the
victory the plantation negroes be-
gan to come into camp, with
the genuine African instinct for
trade, each had provided himself
with a turkey, shoulder of bacon
or two shoulders and a brace oil
hams in the shape OF struggling
porker, which he bore kicking
aud squealing under his arm. II
was amusing to see the pertlnac.
ity with which the fellows would
cling to their prize, even while
waiting to be questioned under
guard of a file of soldiers. The
instant one was spoken to, the bl
of wide awake or the rImleS'
crown of straw which did duty a,
a hat would be jerked off will
characteristic obsequlousness, the
negro stand scraplng and bowling
answering meanwhile his cate
chism, as we'll as he could witt
the noisy and struggling beas
distractlng his attention.
Several who came in brought
, wagons loaded with knapsacki
and other accouterments which
they had picked up on the way
All seemed ready to work, ant
those who were fortunate enough
to have possessed themselves o
: some stray horse or pair o
plantation mules found abundan
occupation.
THEY ARE CARED FOR.
As our troops were at first too
busy in making good their posi-
ton to attend to anything else
and the Qaartermasters had al
ready more upon their hand
than they could we'll attend to
: the negroes who appeared were
,, not encouraged to remain bu
were at once sent back, and oil
I, one pretense or another to tax,
care of themselves. But by tn,
morning of the second day fit,
: were at headquarters, and sign
of a much greater influx wer
abundant.
a Those who remained were pu
: under the charge of Capt. Coco
rich, the Quartermaster Of Gen
Wright's brigade, who saw tina
:. their wants were we'll attended to
n giving up an old building to thel
accommodation.
+ Our troops were accompanle
in their first reconnaissance int
the island by DR.. j. j. Craven
2 the efficient Surgeon of the Thlr
brigade, who reports the negroe
on the plantations further inlan
as almost wild with delight a
p the advent of our troops and tn
= hasty flight of their masters
which they describe with the VI
most gusto.
THE DAY OF DELlvHRANcE.
go Lord! massa,' said one
"we'se so glad to see you. We's
prayed and prayed the good Lor
that he would send you Yankee:
and we knowed you'se was CON
ing
,,How could You know that?
asked DIR. Craven. You can
read the papers; how did you g
4, the news?"
n. "No, massa, we'se can't reaC
8. but we'se can listen. Massa an
ry missus uses to read, and some
times they's would read loud, an
Il. then we would listen soma
q, q. king an expressive gesture indie
oil alive of close attention at a key
: hole-"When l'se git chanc
Use would list'n. and Jim, bin