New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-17
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
A Sunday NJ Port noyai-The Negro sum
asy-Schoei- Gen. Hunter-Negro Physi'
sgnomy aud Behavior-Tbe "Contrn-
baud" Regimeni-A Drill, Sermon ana
Prayer-stories Of Runaway slaves.

From Our Special Correspondent
HmTos HyAr, 3. c., HgADouASTyRs or rHE isr kssi'
sEsT ScuTH CsR0LISA VOLUNTEERS, July o. i0o1'
have Just bebeld the two best things that have
yet come out Of this war-a Sunday-Sohooi lot ne
groes in the State Of South Carolina ana an eihoi'
negro regiment. In accordance with a promise GA
pressed in recent letter. about 10 give my eA'
perience Of. and impressions with regard 10 'Deh'
Sunday is, us you may suppose, moro thah usu-
allv TRANQUIL day st Hilton Head. Then It's busiest
local,v the long pier instead of Its workingday as
~ ARRIVING or departing steamers, its hustle of
emharkation ard debarkation, its perspiring white
and black l.borers exhibits no veler spectacle than
score or 40 of military or nautical idlers-we have
very few civilians here-gratefuliy inhahng the sea
breeze and enjoying the prospect The many vessels
IN the bsv ride easily at anchor, the waves dance
and simmer in the sunlight, making exhiarant
music on the long reaches of white sand forming the
shore: the implanted store-honses and Government
buildings seem newer than ever, and the tents OF the
various encxmpments stand out against the cloudiess
blue sky with purity of effect betting the scene
and the occasion. can imagine nothing more deli
cously TRANQUIL nor less suggestive of war; Yet we
are here. with hostile INTENT the soil OF the State
most juirncal to our national unity; here, apparently
waiting what you are going 10 DO about hchmonc
Halt the civilized world IS similarly employed,
fancy q part of it with rot at all friendly inten'
tiop OF waiting but q very little longer. Hadn't
you better hurry up matters In that direction tha
we may do 90 In thlsi
On sundays the troops have company iuspee-
ton in the morning, drill just before sunset, gen
orally followed by prayer and sermon Dy the res-
mental chspaia. Il wish, by the by, that there was
an order prohibiting these gentlemen from extending
their dIscourses beyond ten or even hve minutes
duration. To enrauked soldiers, Immediately after
the fatigue Of d,il larger amount must become
iksome, even when they arc standing at ease:
One can or ought to, b. able to say good deal III
five minutes; the Sermon on the Mount hardy occu-
pied longer in delivery. The rest OF the day is q
holiday, or nearly so. j believe there Is preaching
somewhere of Sunday mornings, a, Hilton leao,
but had beard of the negro scaool, ana preferred
going 10 it,
IL il a, about fifteen minutes distance from Gen.
Hunters headquarters "a neat row OF unpaihleo
wooden buildings, fronting the bay or rather con-
tinuous one.) To reach the school involves sandy
walk out to the negro quarters, pact divers long
buildings filled with eomuissary stores, some OF
them smelling 80 strongly OF pork, that man Of
faint appetite might satiae it by walking through or
scross them. Leaving these behind, torrid hve
minutes of sand, with q prospect OF marsh to the
right brings us to the aforesaid negro quarters and
the school, room fitted up for lis present purpose,
and forming part of . long, viii ewashed building,
one story in hight, tenanted by black women and
children.
menced. IL was summoned by decently dressed
negro ringing bell suspended outside the bulldlng
9. the sound of which the scholars appeared, drop
plug in BY ones and twOs-hrst the children, tnen
boys snd girls, and grown-up men and women. The
very frst-a shy, dosky urchin If five, who came
dscorously in and deposited himself in corner
was promptly rewarded for bis 2eal with quarter
dollar given TO bin by q miocle-aeed genllemao,
clad in q loose flannel coat, ample, blue, military
trowsers and straw hat. Ills quetly-fssclu,e lace
l,h, zi.do pIOnply indicative
of character: ore did not need tue removing or
touching Of hate on the part OF bystanders 70 an-
nounce that he was somebody. IL was MAJOR.
General Hunter, Commander Of the Department OF
the SOUTH who will be known in future histories OF
the rebellion as the man who hrst acted upon the
necessity of wrestling from the Rebels their AIN
weapon-Slavery-and striking at the WIN II. 1
WAS better pleased TO rec Gen. Hunter than many
another Ut his rank that | conli name.
But the school-room il filing. Immediately In
front of ne Il sit below the principal teachers deck,
facing the scbOlars is y bench, seating nearly q
dozen very young children pone should say, older
than four years, two three scarcely one; hardly
any of their little sck, bare legs touch the ground
They are all clearly dressed; one has u gay straw
nat, decorated with ribbons, bot the majority are
bare-beaded. Their soft-skinned, dasky, infAntile
faces and white eyebas look upward al US, beneath
the close.curing black wool, with that appealing
rlance peculiar TO the negro-slways, to my think
ing irresstibiy touching, and suggestive OF deperd.
epce on, humility toward, and entreaty for mertlful
consideration at the hands Of superior race. One
has q really charming COMMUNICATIONS are Posi-
lively ugly. The Physio4nomy OF one queer little
thing TO- indeed coufically suggestive OF It's owner
having recently eaten "a bad oyster, aud being
dubious as to results las friend whispers In my
earl; and another, seated upon the ground, being
TOO small for e'evstion to the eencn, Is ensrossea
with her toes the excluson of all other soorces OF
interest; but all are, IN Southern phrase " likely
children. and we-behayed.
Behind them, at least four forms were occupied by
negro men young fellows for the most part, with al
occasional old one. OF the latter one had d face
that might bave beseemed All African bishop Of the
age of St. Augustine. Tue Juniors were all black
generally very black-quiet, serious, and attentive.
On the opposite benches sat the women, young,
With but one exception. that OF wrinkled negroes
Of at least three score, with her head bound up IN
gay handkerchief and her hands resting on sta
or crutch. Probably Sic came bither influenced BY
devotion or curiosity. With partially closed eyes
she sat looking at the younger wonep whose heavy,
bu. not uDintelligent features, were sometmts III;
tent on the pictures in their weli-thumbed
smelling. books, sometimes raised in observation OF
those around them. least three rows Of boys and
au equal number Of girls on either aide OF the teach
ers desk completed the number OF sehoiars-lesS
than usual-in attendance.
To this teachers desk there soon assembled Mr..
McMatb, a gentleman admirably qualified for bis
present position, one, too, who bas evidently won
more than tho esteem of bis pupils. lie began the
exercises by giving out, liDe by line, and verse by
verse hymn, repeated hlter nlui, anu tucn suiS
ty the pulls This wss followed by a brief sd.
dross, another hymn, and the Lords prayer; when
the active business OF teaching commenced, to be
continued until noon, when school broke up for the
day.
As l sat In the humble room, with its doors and
windows open, the bright morning and Gods sun
light without listening 10 the soft mellow voices
and imperfect accentuation of the words of the
simple hymns; as be ELI the dark faces elevated
In humble faith 10 the wisdom and good intentions
Of their instructors or porting over their books, /
felt that il was good 10 be there-that not for