New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-12
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE THURSDAY DECEMBER l2 1861

the origin Of these. they said that as means OF
Inshment their master was in the habit of dropping
melted sealing wax in blaze on the bodies of his
victims. Their description OF him was too pungeni
in some respects to be quoted. " He was the mean
est man God ever pitched into this world. He gin
we no salt to our hominy. gin we no shoes, gin we no
coat" &c.
The negro relish for all sorts of fun, their keen ap-
probation of the udierous side of every incident,
and their love for music and rude natural talent for
it, are all more or less familiar. Their genius in i'm
provisaton was comically illustrated in the case OF
Capt Cuthbert, a rebel officer, who came over In
boat. last week, with a number Of his slaves, from
St. Helena Island, and was taken st. Phillips by
party of the 10Th New-York Highanders, who are
encsmped at Bay Point. The delight Of the negroes
at their UNEXPECTED liberation only equalled by
their sense of the misfortune which had oyerthken
the captain, and finally found expression in the fol-
lowing lyrical refrain:
'De Northmen dey's got msssa now,
De Mortimer dey's got massa now,
Glory Hallelui !"
Deeming the exuberant rapture of the dlsen'
thralled chttels an Infringement Of the coureses OF
war. the officer in command finally checked the flow
of this victorious pan but ever and anon their IRE
pressible delight broke forth in fTagmentary vocal
iza,ion. Indeed, it was only too plain that they, like
20 many Others Of their unrelecting brethren IN
bonds, were wholly insensbe TO the mistortunes
which their change Of condition had brought upon
them-the loss of a master to care and provide for
thenl-and himself-out Of the proceeds OF their
labor and the severng of the domestic relation
between him and them, specially ordained as the
means of their salvation.
Prayer-meetings are held by the contrabands in
camp almost every night. The building IN which
they gather is often surrounded by crowd OF SOL
ders listening TO the quaint feryor OF the devotions
with silent and interested attention. From these
soldiers YOU will hear no word Of rdicue- nothing
like mockery contempt for the unlettered simple
ity which fears not TO ask ignoranty while 1t asks
trustfully and truly. The men whose daily lives
leave no hour unstaned with oaths, and WITH the
coarse brutality Of speech which is woree than pro-
fnty. pass with clean lips and sileniywondering If
not reverent thoughts from the religious assemblies
of the negro whom they have been taught TO regard
as cursed of God, despsed of men, and destitute Of
social and political rights. Accepting the Pro-
81 very dognas Of commercial pulpits and adopting
the atheistic politics Of On unprinciped parry, what
room WAS left them fos religous faith or belief in
humanity Yet they cannot resist the feeling which
this pyerful earnesness inspires repel the con-
viction il brings hat they have been taught lie.
Does any friend of Southside theology reply that
only by means of Slavery have these negroes been
instructed in religious truth Let him listen to that
old man who is thanking God out Of the depths OF
bis soul that at last they meet together for wor-
ship without fear or notwithstanding God and ui
that he il permitted now 10 pray aloud beg the
most hasty or unrehectng reader to consider ior Que
moment all that such an expression OF grai'uue
implies That "A slave was forbidden W READ inc
Bible or anything eseat least 10 be taught to read
| had heard; but confess il was with wholly new
emotion that / learned that the Southern answer 10
an audible prayer was the overseers lash. Mr. Lee
whose humane benevolence makes him the best poe
sibe man for bis difficult place. will tell You how
often nj flint De has iInidy approached by some
newly arrived negro, with the hesitating petition
" Please, Massa, may pnyr With their cfildlke
piety, also, minglcs ID. broadest charity Prayers
for wives and children let hehind, and for the sol
diers who have come 10 fight for their freedom are
followed by prayers for the rebel masters from whom
they have fed In conversation nothing like an
affectionate remembrance of their masters can be
on the other band is their spirit
often vindictiye. Only the religious element Of
character inspires such petition, and the negro pos
sesses both religious and afec,ional elements very
largely developed
Thursday, Dec j.-The fortfca,ion on Otter
Island, ST. Helena Sound, which tie expedition
of last week, under Commodore Dayton, found
abandoned, If to be Immediately occupied. A large
force goes up to-day 10 take permanent possession.
They carry with them stores aud supplies Of all
kinds, and a. many heavy gunsa ean be mounted in
the fort. Those which were found there had been
rendered useless by The Rebels-two Of them broken
in pieces, and the tunnOns knocked oil the other.
The point IL one of considerable importance, and the
Rebels had chosen 10 defend il, might have given ms
come little trouble, though il MUTT speedily have
fallen before the force that could have been directed
against it. glance at the map will show It's ritua-
ton" twenty five miles Charleston than we
are now, as was rather significantly remarked by
the officer who kindly showed ms bis charts and the
plans of the deserted work.
have had little opportunity, since coming ashore
10 visit the fleet, or speak of lie operations, but 1t
must not Do SUPPOSED tnat III I'm
been idle. The memoir of it, surveys has been
promised me fer perns; from which good idea oil
what has been accomplished can be had.
The wonderfully minute accuracy Of the coast
survey is illustrated by an incident in Col. Hawleys
experience when possession was first taken OF the
lower end of this island Not only was the general
laid down in the plan with such exact
meas that they were able without difficulty 10 advance
in the night through strange country TO particular
point, but pckets were sent out and posted along
ditch in the fields at some distance from the house
fonnd ON rIa,, ,ybicl, ouideI them d