Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-22

=
Nov. Z, 1851, tho American flag was planted
in South Carolina, on South Carolina fort,
for the first time since it was hauled down
at the disgraceful capture Of Fort Sumter.
The thousands Of men on the transports
witnessed the event with frantic delight, and
hailed the flag with cheers that seemed TO
have no limit, either in number or enthus-
asm, and in less than five minutes half a
dozen brass bands on the various decks
were filling the rebel air with the Joyous
triumphant, and unaccustomed strains Of
'The Star Spangled Banner" and "Yankee
Doodle"
The action lasted exactly five hours, from
the minute Of firing the first shot to the in
slant drumming up the flag.
THE coNTRADAND ELEMENT.
As soon as the negro slaves observed us COM
ing on shore they hocked along the bank in
great numbers, some bearing parcels and bun
dies MS if expecting us to take them at once to
a home of freedom. Every variety of negro
and slave was represented. l say negro and
slave, for it is melancholy fact that some slaves
are apparently white as their masters, and as
intelligent. Darkies of genuine Congo phys
iques, and darkies of the genuine Uncle Tom
; pattern, darkies young and iublant, darkies
middle aged, and eager, and gray -haired, solemn
: looking fellows. Some appeared mystiied and
some intelligent. The quadroon and the octo-
room, possessing an undistinguishable tint of
negro blood mingled, one drop with seven of
! southern nativity and ancient family, formed,
, to speak mildly, an interesting scene
AS fast as the contraband article came within
reach, it was placed in the guard-house, an old
frame building behind Fort Walker. Here
: quite a collection was made They were hud-
ding Htnsratbnr half IL, half In,
: when naval officer of the Bienville looked in
{ upon them asking, well, we'll what are you
y all about7'
}, Oats jes what we'd like to find out, mass,
It was the response.
d The officer assured them that they would be
,s kindly taken care of and perhaps found some
70 thing to do, and need not be alarmed.
III "rank God for dat, mas'r" was the reply. On
70 drawing them into conversation, they said they
B. caught great deal of fish in Port Royal harbor
@ hshing at night after the plantation work was
over Two slaves were found accommodating
u I about on their own account, and on being bro't
d into camp, explained that they belonged to Mrs.
r Pinckney, of Charleston, and came down to
q "see what dc white people were all about
They said the white people all ran away when
the ships came up, crying, "Great God Great
f God ! Great God the Yankees are coming; fire
the boats" Other slaves reported that "when
> de white folks see the little boats coming up,
dey lated at dem, but when dey see de big
n checker-sided vessels comm, dey laffed on de
f oder side der moufs." aa
Among those found on the shore by our ma
rines were several belonging to Gen. Drayton,
! commander of the post, whose plantation on
y Hilton Head Island was stocked with fellows oi
70 the genuine ebony cast Two of them were ta-
10 ken on board the Wabash, and gave much in.
! teresting and reliable information in regard tC
- the situation of the affairs on the island.
O. One of them asserted that his master had tha
d morning assured him that he might fall int
IT, other hands before night, and he seemed t.
L. have been sufficiently pleased with the prospec
=. of change of masters TO get his little bundl
u ready to be taken off.
THE NEGROES TRADING.
81 u Early in the morning after the victory the
L plantation negroes began 10 come into camp and
l. with the genuine African instinct for trade each
,r had provided himself with turkey, shoulder
! of bacon or two shoulders and brace of hams
= in the shape of struggling porker, which he bore
J. kicking and squealing under his arm It was
l. amusing to see the pertinacity with which the
L fellows would cling to their prize, even while
= waiting to be questioned under guard of file
70 of soldiers The instant one was spoken to, the
IS bit of wide-awake or the rimless crown oi
d straw which did duty as hat would be erked
NJ off with characteristic obsequiousness the ne.
Z gro standing scraping and bowing, answering
u meanwhile his catechism, as well as he could
ir with the noisy and struggling beast distracting
r. attention.
10 Several who came in brought wagons loaded
4, with knapsacks and other accoutrements which
III they had picked up on the way. All seemed
g ready to work, and those who were fortunate tC
ID have possessed themselves of some stray horse,
ID or pair of plantation mules found abundan
~ occupation.
l. TUE DAY OF DELIvERANCE.
!, 80 Lord massa, said one, "we'se SO glad b
see you. We'se prayed and prayed the goo,
10 Lord that he would send you Yankees, and W
knowed you'se was comm" r
d. "How could you know that2" asked DR.. Ora
N ven g You can't read the paper; how did yo
:" get the news?" ss...I f,aI . na.fe =
ns "No, massa, we'se can't read but we Sc can liz
in ten. Aassa and missus uses to read and some
he times they's would read loud, and then W
W. would listen so making an expressive gestuI
T" indicative of close attention at key-hole-
Oh when lse git a chance Use would listen, an
. jim, him would listen, and we put the bits t.
J.. gether, and we knew d tho Yankees were comm
W Bless de Lord, Massa l''a,a ed
ar Another stout fellow asserted that the goo
lat Lord had appeared to him in the shape of
no YANKEES" who assured him that his hour of dt
o,o liverance was at hand. ,IH eca iH uI
- The poor, trusting creatures never seemed {
~ question that war which they had heard wa
to all about them must mean their delverance fror
O. a bondage with which they do not seem TO
sufficiently in love to follow the fortunes of thei
." fleeing masters. 'rraita.- ~. T s.si
wv drivers whip which was picked up, an
rd which the correspondent of the Euening Po
X now has in his possession. was shown one ,
~ them, and he was asked ifhe knew what it wa
10 "GOlly massa - said the negro, with a susp
nc ciOus sidelong look at the familiar whip he ga
err raised aloft, "Guess dis nigger knows what d
as dere is, and he proceeded to explain the use
bo which it was applied. ;. sro sar
10 When some doubt was expressed as 10 the n,
ess gro statements in regard TO numbers, one
'us them answered: ave cant read, but vs'as c.
fir count" El..f r.-a H- T.. I'd &
=, "How did you learn 10 COUNT" I nfaL
u sPiekin' cotton masea. We'se all got to eoul
he when we pick cotton" 81
There seems TO be abundant work for them
do in picking cotton on Hilton head IsIan
:, which our troops have occupied, and il is to
ull hoped that their services will be in some wa
on turned to account for this purpose. Acres of
ost already white foF the harvest, were found with
ra less than annie of Fort Walker, and will be 10
'"' unless speedily attended to. Several buildin
so filled with unginned cotton, were also fouI
er- further back toward Skull Greek and ON t
for Islands beyond that stream similar depos
-. could be seen. A heavy smoke which was Sc
u" at distance the negroes reported TO come frc
!es' lot of cotton which had been fired by the
ing treating rebels.
M "THE LAST ROSE or SUMMER" a
ON Soon after landing detachment Of men pf
nj ceeded up to Beaufort, aud found it tenantle
= except by one dilapidated person, who preseu