New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-18
FROM FoRTREss MONROE.

Circumstances have recently ranspired calculated to
weaken the confidence that has been feposed IN the
negroes who have been allowed the freedom OF camp
and fortress and are employed in various ways in the
public service Yesterday soldier belonging to the
4th Massachusetts, Regiment went into a held near
Hampton for blackberries, where be was joined by
negro who represented that berries were pentier on
the edge of wood near by where both consequently
went The negro Immediately commenced questioning
the soldier sharply ne 70 the number Of men in the
fortress and camp He replied by saying that there
were enough to take care Of the rebels, whereupon
white man sprsng from an ambush and exclaimed,
"then there will be one less" az the same TINE
vrenching the soldiers pistol from his bel. The negro
at the same insiaat dealt him heavy blow on the
head with club The soldier was prostrated and the
white rascal placing the pistol 70 his besrt, was about
10 FIRE when the soldier knocked the pistol aside and
received the charge in bis hand The firing alarmed
the picket near and on their coming up the negro and
white man ran away. Subsequently large party
went out and captured several negroes and white men,
among whom IL is believed are the ones who commit
ted the assault The occurrence has caused no little
change Of feeling, not only toward negroes, but GER
tain white men who have pretended 10 be loyal, and
who have enoyed the freedom and protection Of our
eamps. Many have for some time doubted the policy
of allowing 90 much liberty to negroes, and especially
of employinR them az scouts and In confidential rela
tions near headquarters. Weeks ago, gentleman
who has long resided in this nsighborhood, and who
understands the negro character well, assures
ne that he has reason 10 believe that Gen.
MsQrnider was in constant communication with our
camps and the fortress, 20 the extreme eastern
side through the medium Of negro spies, employed In
more or ess confidential relations. This suspicion han
been strengthened by variety Of incidents, and it 10
M, lpoesble that ON inquiry il will be found that In
tended movements are systematically discloed through
thi, Medium. Some Of the negroes ssgHcious and
intelligent and the fact that hundreds Of them remain
aloof though protesting fendsp, without attempting
toescape from the seritude from whehtbey momen
ts-iy relieved h well caleulsted 10 rase doubt as 70
,her fidelity. Gen. Butler has number Of the ne
eroes employed a. servants, and has employed them,
as learn from public rePorts 10 obtain information.
II is not impossible that Of them may carry infer
nation quite assys.emstiealy.
The number Of the party from Col Bendx'sregimeni
At Newport News still missing, is fourteen, including
two officers. They have uBquostionabiy been taken
prisonors 1t IL now represented that they wero bat
short distance from camp. Itwould seem that the coun-
try Should be cleared permanently ahdthOroughy ofhs
enemy, at least within ten miles Of our encampmenis
But for the Bethel misfortune such undoubtedly would
have been the a. before now. understand that the
Commanding Generals orders guard strictly against al
risks hereafter There is such thing as standing
eesasy stiff whepthe rebels shsIl havefuy possessed
the district referred to and seeurely inirenched them
selycs behind batteries orders win probably be given
20 advance on them. One thousand men viii accom-
plish now what Eve thousand may find IL difficult TO
accomplish two weeks hence Surely the rebels could
~ iicv pard
to be framed especially for them, not Tor our side.
The policy Of the Government in this Department s
inexplieabe. II ever ii had purpose, il seems TO
have been abandoned. large force is kept here in
idleness et an Immense expense, not for drill or 70
perfect the msh soldiers--for no such means are
adopted. With the psesept force grand results could
be achieved At any nntc fhe men might be perfected
In discipline, and mace good soldiers.
understand that The impression is generally enter
taped by naval men congregaed here that the Rebels
are constructing battery Of nied guns on the opposite
sbore below Sewars Point. have not ascertained
bow soon the Minnesota intends 20 han! ou, In antc
patton Of the timo whenthc latefy N ready TO open
on ber IL s not mpossible that Commodore String.
ham, live Inan as be s, viii conclude to stand bis
ground and take the battery or knock il up with bis
broadsdes and gunboais. Time and the powers at
Washington will determine these things.
infer that business &C Old Point has many times
doubled within a very short time. There Is good
reason for the inference, though there Ia positive
evidence Of the fact The ground Of inference s tina,
Gen. Batter two weeks since Issued General Order,
irving notice that person would be allowed 20 land
who did not have business with the Department, but
came from motives Of Curiosity" On Saturday the
spaulding, from Boston, brought between thirty and
forty gentlemen who were permitted 10 como ashore
with as little delay az possible. Yesterday morning
there was another arrival Of business men, who
also landed with little difficulty as the business
men from Boston and Lowell. Among than was Mr..
Russel, tbe correspondent Of 1Ae London 7ftses He
was taken to Newport News, whore little shooting
with rifed a2.pounder was ndulged In. parole at
Camp Hamilton was extemporized for Mr. Russels
benefit who, extending his observations too far into
the evening" retused after the Baltimore boat, which
had been detained two hours and half for his accom-
modstiop, bad left, and who, mt midnight lef in
propeller which CHANGED to be going to Baltimore for
repain. 80 t.sa tfel a = rs
Tho most spirited event Of the aft few days h the
gallant dash that has been made az the batteries of
bethel, brs ut the bars wbereat smdry persons took
their /" strong poiatons." The sfIair however, was
bat partally suecesfu since there was one bar that
was left open. s A. srs ~ - ~ p
The machinery ordsred from Bcsson by Gen. Butler
for rniDg cannon has arrived, and workmen with H.
The necessity for r;aed guns has been abandantly
shown and IL Is that obstacles sboald be
inteposed to postpone, IL not defeat the plans Tor pro-
dueing them. sfrt ~ za
FOETRTss MosEsF, TusSday. July &c, 1861, i
Vie BAIrnoss, weS3 >edsy, July ~. I