New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-05


40, a week 10 getting through the euenys
lima. He says that the rebel scouting parties
v,h;cb va see from time to time are the old
,scSet Guards. which are required to make
econ, before coming in. A week ago there
wa. regiment of Infantry at Germantown, q
ssousond strong, which does all the picket
.day Near Hancocks lines no other consid-
ar.ble force is on this side of Centreville
Thu Rebels often come down in force and go
hack again. Three weeks ago, when this iugl-
tive was at Centreville, there were from Sky
TO eighty thousand troops between that place
and Bull Run, and few more on road
leading to Manassas. Two South CarolDa
regiments and battery were then expecting
10 20 South on the following Saturday iHo
south Carolina and Virginia soldiers "eie y"
bad terms. There were no troops az oi'
On Sunday. when the enemy was last seen ~
the vicinity of Hunters Mill, consideraoie
.,oav rsmaiped all night at the Union School
Honse betvesp Peacock Hill and McCan
Iines On Tuesday week large force OIL
.,r.Ir,, and considerable infantry marched
f.ar. u,,ter,s Mill past Walters Mill to the
.urn,;ks and threw out force to Difficult
.Creek and another toward Mccall.
THE CONTRABANDs IN WASHINGTON JAIL.
Senator Wilson, in the course of his remarks
to-day referred to a. report made to Provost
Marshal Albert Porter, by Detective Allen, in
the employ of the Government, on the con-
ditien of " contrsbands" in Washington Jail.
1t is dated November IL, and says:
al find incarcerated in the City Jail in this city,
in the midst of ith vermin and contagious diseases
on q cold, stone floor, many without shoes, nearly
all without sufficient clothing, bedding or fire, and
all in a half-starvipg condition, 60 coored persons
nlale and female confined because-in the language
of their commtments-they were suspected Of
being runaways, and no proofs had been
adduced that they were not runaways
There are number of Cases Of free-born men, such
as that of John Aleslock alias Wexford, committed
Nav 10, 1861, who states that be IL a freeman OF
about "a years of age, born in Albemarle County
Va; has wife and child in Charlottesville, free;
left home because they were taking up all free col
-ored persons and compelling them TO go in the
front of battle and came direct TO Washington was
taken up the second day after bis arrival, while
crossing the aqueduct the constable saying that he
would have TO keep him year and then sell him to
pay his fees; a month ago he understood the fees
amounted to 500; he has had no change of clothing
since he came here; he hasn't had enough TO eat.
Richard Oliver, committed Aug 81 born free In Bal
timore; came TO Washington with the
2lst Pennsylvania Regiment; was arrested
on the way with them TO Georgetown;
John Matthews, committed July %; born in the
District "a years old. slave OF Mrs. White. Hired
out to Company c, ID. Ohio, cook; stsid with
diem till they went home. On the day he to be
paid be was arrested. No objection to returning TO
Mrs White. Bill Bowie, committed Sept. II by
JOHN III. Newman; born in ST. Paul, Minnesota
aged about 81; left last Summer with LIST Minnesota
NJ q
Company A; taken up in Georgetown as runaway
when going 70 the regiment. He was not allowed
90 send there for proofs Of freedom. The constable
said pass would make no difference, as runaways
frequently got them from regiments. Eliza A.
Wet, has II children. Her master is a rebel. She
ieft because she was struck with poker by Der
muster, and was refused to let 60 to Church. One
or two miscellaneous cases may be added.
Statements from each of the sixty follow. FILL
ing over fifty pages. In seine cases the slaves
say that they have no objection to returning to
their masters, why let any one tell us
John Davis, born in Alexandria County, commit
ted Aug 5; always slave of Col. George Minor;
came with his mother, who was Minor housekeepeT,
to town with load OF wood, which they sold;
Drake de KAY aud Gen. Msnsfeld's aid TO whom he
applied for ass, advised him not To g. back, hia
MASTER was a rebel. After staying two days
IN Georgetown they went again for pass.
Finding the Office crowded, he carried the baggage
20 the depot for soldiers, and was arrested on the
way; be would rather return to Col. Minor than
stay in the horrid Jail; six confined in
BY 10; nearly all sick with measles; they lave
had no change Of clothing for three months; many,
like John Davis, belonged TO masters who had
ioined the Rebel army; others belonged TO masters
who had sent their sons others still 10 those who
supplied Rebels with provisions, clothing, or food;
while others fed rather than go to work the
Manassas forIitcatiOns; some OF these were from
Virginia, others from Maryland; for example: Ca
IL. (lrf xIyuo in
Charles County, Nd. a slave Of Philip Linton once
of Washington, now in the Rebel army;
heard him sav be wished Lincoln dead; hired her
at g. month; was taken up while ironing at Mrs.
JacksoBs by two men, ho raid they were instructed
by her boss" take her 10 jail for safe keeping,
her sister had away and he was afraid che would
she has bad two children, one cold South; does mt
know the whersabout of the other, nine years old
who was hired out for vctuals and clothes when old
enough to wean, because he bring more. Edward
Parker, committed Aug Is, slave of John A. Wash
ington; raised at Mount Vernon; left because
ordered by the to 90 te Manassas 10 wait
upon master and Gen. Lee hsd heard among the col
ored folks that negroes were taken to fight;
thought he'd try tue chances at the North;
two OF bic masters slaves working the Manassas
ntrenchments came TO this city with the Fire
Zouaves, and were arrested when trying TO 20 TO
New-York with them; John Courtee, committed
Oct. q, aged 20, living in Ann Arundel County,
Nd; mistress gave him 10 her grandson-in law Gus
,avus Bird, minister, To work until 25 and then be
freed; has been living with his father DIR. Bird, in
Anne Arundel County, Nd, who employ ed his slaves
IN making up things TO send to the rebel army, and
in helping rebel officers who came TO recruit
was seized by three men near the Navy
Yard Bridge, who seemed to be ON the watch
He was tied after chasing with pistols and dogs,
one of whom held him until the came up.
Richard Digs was born in Prince George County
Nd; - years old; hes lived at Springfield Station
Fairfax Court Hause, Va; bis master left Alexan-
dria on the day the /ouayes entered the Mace his