The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-12-19
rEan uAnnARIsu OF SLAVERY
Hilton Head Correspondence N. Z. Tribune.

The policy of Gen. Sherman, or whoever is
responsible for his remarkable proclamation,
cannot pretend to fathom, nor am able to see
why the services of the blacks should not re-
lieve the overw0rked soldiers from some of the
heaviest tasks imposed upon them The com.
ing of" the Yankees" has been watched for
with anxious soictude at this as at all other
points, and the troops are hailed as deliverers
where ever they go. Few negroes are so dull
as to be imposed upon by the fctions of their
masters that they are TO be sold to Cuba, or
would be worked day and night harder that ev-
or, or other such inventions. The instances in
which any attachment 10 the master il shown,
are extremely few.
But the slaves come slowlyiinto camp for sew
eral reasons. The invitation held cut is of the
coiest- the accommodations, when in, are
wretchedly insuficient--they cannot bring their
families in any number-they cannot return to
them if they are left behind-their condition on
the deserted plantations is one of ease and COM
fort, and every obstacle to access to camp il
thrown in their way. That they have been shot
in numbers by overseers and masters 10 beyond
all question. The fact is attested by every sort
of evidence The horrible fact stands out with
appalling clearness and certainty that the MUIR
der of the slaves who cannnt be compelled to
follow their masters is a deliberate policy and
relentless purpose. On the roads which lead
to the Islands, tor thirty to forty miles in all d.
rections, guards are stationed to intercept the
negroes and prevent their escape. If caught
they are sent inland, and there logged, tortur-
ed and imprisoned in irons. II they cannot be
caught, they are shot without hesitation or mer.
cy. At Beaufort regular watch IS maintain
ed When the gun-bUats go up the river az
they do every two or three days, the whites
keep OUT Of the way. If the coast is clear they
.-I,.. y III NJ
negroes remaining in the place are captured, If
possible. and taken to the mainland Ii pur-
suit is unavailing, they. like The others are then
Shot.
There is a more horrible story yet. A slave
named Priscilla, formerly owned by Mr.. Ora.
ham of Grahamville, now a servant of Captain
Charles e, Fuller, one of the Brigade Quarter
masters, relates that before she left the planta-
ton, the slaves were ordered into Barn to shell
corn that when all were in, the doors were
locked the barn was fired, and women and
children were burned alive. Capt. Fuller as
sures me that he has no doubt of the fact.
When after such n horror as that tw slaves
captured q Beaufort few days ago az known
to have been taken TO the mainland and hang.
ed, seem to record only q commonplace bar
barity, the truth which needs no affirmation. 1t
is not merely men who are trying to escape that
are murdered. The families of those who have
escaped are treated with the utmost cruelty,
and some Of them have actually been massacred.
The knowledge of the fact has created so much
excitement among the negroes in camp that it
was found necessary to double the guards, to
prev ut their leaving, in order to bring away or
to hide their wives and children.
Que other fact Of different nature, and
turn from this frighttul picture of the amenities
of the social institution, whose rights and i'm
nuuities are so carefully acknowledged and pro-
tecteJ. ! am indebted for the account to Gen.
Yiele. There is a Slave girl in camp who left
her master under the following circumstances:
Sac bad been compelled to share her masters
bed, end the fearful reluctance with which the
story was gradually drawn from her, showed
how bitterly she fot the disgrace to which she
bad been compelled TO submit Her masters
wifJ discovered the fact, removed her from the
house, and inflicted upon the innocent victim OF
her husbands brutality the severeSt punish
foggings. She escaped at the
first opportunity, aud came to the camp. Is
this tragedy horrible enough! This girl WAS
the personal attendant of her masters dughter,
IS years Old.