The New York herald., 1862-04-23

Spring has at last made its appearance, aad are at
present enjoying the saubrious weather. The rays
Of tho sun very powerful and the day is like
July than tho middle Of April Parties that have been
living this Point for years and who supposed 70
know something about the weather, prophesy that
viii take place until fall This is cheer.
ing indeed to the thousands who In the open aed
Our brave army have had sufficient difficulties 70
ter the way Of rain, hail and snow storms and the
cheerful prospects Of clear weather must prove sti
muus TO their srdor which will make itself manifest at
the hour OF trial
In this department everything que, as in days of
yors when Fortress Monroe and the Department Of vr
sina wore only known exist from letters published
the HxsALD The ouartsrmaster and Commissary de.
partments however, ars kept very busy in providing
the grand army before Yorktown with stores and
subsistence.
when General Butler first announced the doctrine thai
negroes were contraband OF war; the manifesto hail
Cd with delight By the abolition and antaboliton fac
tons The former, Of course, construed the policy into
free pass conrsband negroes 60 where and when
thsy pleased Ths latter, however, thought tina, loyal
Southern people could any claim their property,
bringing ample proof Of their loyalty, and thus have
their rights respected II is well known fact that at
time there at this point nearly 900 negroes
Nearly the whole Of them were employed In the various
departments and had to work for their living, and In
that way government a. least received partial
equivalent Tor the support Of these people. Bat the
prosperity the negroes seemed an eyesors TO the
Niger worshppers Emssaries the guise OF mission.
aries sent hero and the entire cement Of the
contrabands taken out OF the hands OF the military
thortes. During the early part OF last winter any
Der OF blacks were engaged in repairing roads and the
highways were kept in good condition. But atterly the
roads are horrible state and notwithstanding there
nrs hundreds Of coored men here, none OF them
at work mending the roads, 70 make them
passsbe for the immense transportation over them All
the for the conrabands were once issued by the
Provost Marshal and numerous monthly passes granted
by the Assistant Adutant General On the 14th inst.
however the following general order issued from the
hssdquartsrs, which speaks for Itself
GENERAL oRDERs-NO. So.
HEADouARTsRs, DEPARTMENT oF VIRGINIA.
FORTRESS. yosRon, Va, April u, 1862
IL Mr. Charles wilder superintendent OF the Contra.
bands empowered 10 grant passes 10 coiored persons
10 90 10 Hampton Fox HILL aud within the lines and TO
cultivate the ground and the property Of rebels In
arms against the government, who have abandoned
Their homes. BY command Or
Major General Wool.
WnD Wsppts Assistant Adjutsnt General
3. CAsScRoes, Adds Camp.
According 70 this order all passes in the possssson NJ
negroes prior 70 issuing this order are nv ths ssn
tries and new ones issued by the of ~.
contrabands How this thing will work time will tell
Que Thing, however s certain that n most denartmsn,s
here where negroes were employed white men arc 90
tally substituted and is SAFE TO assert th, ors ,I,
can and doss perform the labor OF thre.
short time ago commission, appointed by General Wan
al the request or Congress, forwarded their rsnrt ~
read a Washington By national lawmas.rs .ns
that was the last OF H. General wools order 80 80
negroesor their labor and creating yatjon
,e making the able and healthy oontrabsnds snnna-,
ths 0 sick and Ind gent-although good plan d NJ no,
81 work WE'LL and the project abandoned The
order however still good the records nasmuch as
nay csrtan knowledge II has not been cancelled up 4,
thss day by a counter general order.