The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-01-23

1
after our guns are fired. L am writing
now not what [ have heard, but what
have seen. [ am not sending you opin-
ions, or conclusions at which | have ar
rived, but facts that | have observed.
mean each statement that | make to be
taken literally; it is not garnished for
rhetorical effect, but put into such form
as will most exactly convey to the mind
Of the reader the impression made on me-
L have seen negroes who reported them
selves as just escaped from their masters,
who came breathless to our forces, and
said they dared not go back, for their
masters would kill them who told that
| their masters were at that time armed and
| threatening to shoot any slave that did
not fly with them who declared that thew
had tricked their owners and came away
in boats that they were hidden to take
back to the whites. L have talked with
drivers and field hands, with house maids
and coachmen and body servants, who
who were apparently as eager to escape as
any. | have heard the blacks point out
how their masters might be caught, where
they were hidden, what were their forces
have seen them used as guides and pilots
[ have been along while they pointed out
in. what houses stores Of arms and ammu-
milton were kept, and where bodies of
troops were stationed. In few hours [
have known this information verified. |
have asked them about the sentiment
of the slave population, aud been inva-
riably answered that everywhere it is the
same.
[ have invariably been told by the ne
groes that they were not we'll fed The
first reason black man or woman or child
assigns for deserting his owner, is the
small quantity and poor quality of food
given him; the next reason is the same
story about clothing; then comes the
complaint about hard usage, hard work,
and occasionally about cruelty. The last
is rare, in my experience. The most Of
them speak, it is true. of instances where
negroes have been recently shot, but few
allude to previous hardships worse than
whipping. OF late the accusations of
masters shooting their slaves are more
frequent, indicating (this is inference)
that the desperation Of the rebels increa-
ses.
General Stevens is pursuing very good
plan with the negroes who come TO him
for protection. He makes them all work,
which they do cheerfully and readily upon
the promise of receiving wages. Instead
of allowing them soldiers rations, as is
dcDe at Hilton Head, ne gives them bacon
and corn-just such fare as that to which
they have been accustomed, although in
larger quantities. They appear to be we'll
satisfied with the arrangement, which has
the advantage of being economical.
Cotton is being rapidly secured, perhaps
not in such large quantities as might be
desired, as the burning Of the baled mate
rial has been very extensive; but still the
worth Of millions Of dollars will be OBJ
tanned. The blacks are beginning to dis
cover that we wish TO secure it, and apprise
us beforehand, in some instances, when
destruction Is about TO be attempted.
One singular result Of the war is thus
far apparent. The negroes leave no doubt
in the mind of any sensible person that
they have recently received but inferior
and insufficient clGthing; as ii must have
been to the interest of the masters to pro
vide we'll for their slaves, and as many, If
not ALL Of the masters have been persons
Of ordinary humanity, do not doqki that
heretofore this has been the case. The
sufferings and want of the shareholders
have probably aggravated the condition of
the slaves, and made these reader to de-
sert their former owners. The absurd
attempts of Southern papers to pretend
that the blacks are still loyal can only ex-
cite a compassionate smile. The poor
wretches cling to this hope, the absence
of which would present to them so appal-
ling future.
The slaves not yet escaped, of course,
pretend to be faithful, but some have told
ME how they said to their masters and
mistresses on the day of the fight, ''The
Yankees will be whipped, Massa and Mis-
sus," while they prayed and believed 9th
erwise. So, casual allusons are made in
the Charleston papers to the fidelity Of
their "servants," as If it were a matter of
course, but there is no labo-ed discussion
of a subject too terrible for discussion
AS for my own judgment-it may not be
worth much--but | came hither prepared
to find all the negroes attached to their
masters, aud L have gradually observed a
feeling OF bitterness displayed by the
blacks at FIRST there was only e,ation at
their own escape Of late this has been
Mingled with Indignation at the insane
attempts of the masters to fire on them
| have known of several instances where
slaves asked for arms to fire on their own
masters I have known where slaves as