, 1861-10-08
SOUTHERN MARYLAND.
Loyalty OF the Negroes.-TFeAson Of the
Whtsts-Shabby CondncG OF tho Gov

Gen. S;clle6 made an extensive reconncis-
aace il Southern Maryland Inst week. The
reporter who accompanied the expedition
writes description Of it for the N. 7. Times
He describes the counties Ct Prince George,
Charles and st. Mary's, which lie along the
Potomac below Washington, az inhabited bya
set of people ss thoroughly disloyal as II they
LIVED In South Ca1oliaa itself. Many Of tkem
aze now IN the rebel army, while those who
Iemsined at home have not failed to render
sigral seryice to the rebels, By conveying to
them munitions Of war, provisions and mails.
In fact, through these channels, much Of the
information which has enabled the rebel lead
er5 to work Eo un6ctstandiasly, has bean Oh
tanned. Hesays:
The inhsbitants are intensely reasonable In
their sentiments, aad the soldiers Of the Union
were very much Of an eyesore to them. The
men we're slant, but the women gave free
| vent to their feelings Of hatred. But this mat
| :eEed little. The negroes were true to the
| {'vto;t and to u.s. and The most valuable tn-
| formation Was gained. The country Ens
| secured tor miles around, much to the dis
| ccmfture Of the rebel agents On this end Of
| their cOutTa1ard road.
i;F1om Aliens Fresb, the detschuent p.o-
teeded to Pert Tohacco. This village il the
grnnd centre OF treason in Southern Maryland.
1t is email village, lying at the head Of q
fho1f, bread, shallow branch Of the Poton-ac
River. It dates back as far IS 1640, when it
was founded by party Of Scotchmen, who
| elsn settled DumfEies. Records Of the to IN
as it existed in 1860 are still in existence. It
| was originally called Cha1lesto1n, but being
q soz: Of depot for the shipment OF tobacco, L
vas orce nayigab]e to The village, but 1t has
gradually filled up, and with the characteristic
| inertia Of these people, nothing has been done
to remedy it, un;i now it 10 useless almost tol
navigation, having only about Two ieet Wstoi
is autiquatsd, and although Its sfzs is Insig
nifcani (conta,nsng a: this time not fifty rot
ert.) yet beirg tie county town, and located
cs Il is. il hos formed most important sts
1ion in the line Of 1eeel & communications; g1 y
| purtued ty Government toward these rebel:
las rot hem too lenient, especially Ia dealin}
, with their "pecoliar institution" Slaves
! | cftt1 giving valuable Information, have beer
retained by their masters, and after the de
pariure of the troops, no doubt, inhuman1.
. Whipped. A set OF negro-d1iEers were Per
: mi.fed 10 hing around the ou:ek'rts Of tn
!. camp, aud to seize negroes and CARY them o.
WHEN claiming them al their property. ]
would eeem that if the Government wishes +
ob;ain information in this woy, {aad It is
slaves has alrays proved 1eIablf,) It Shout
e protect the 1nfofmers, and not leave them
be punished brutally. And ega:n, this leniene
. toward rebel slave owners has been abused
s In ro les than three or four instances, fre
negroes, the servants Of officers, who b1oust
the II 1rcm the North with them, have Doe
clEjmed as slaves Of men In that section, m
In one case, negro servant, belonging Q
Staten Island, Wss actually taken ont OF
United States bsggag e-Wagon, while in trans
to .WashinRton, and we11d have been coI
mitted to jail - runa way, but fir the time
= in1e1posi:aon Of an ct1lcer Who knew him
q would fare badly with one Of these nigg
thieves should he fall into the hands Of Il
1apI a1d file. This negro question is a 'Te1
i. and perplexing question in au its phases. >.