New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-17

/, !, an oid.fasbioned wooden one, two stories in
bivbt cilayndated like most Southern country
bnrseai and standing upon an open foundation Of
Ink With two tall formal chi pneys, apparently
growing through IT, and porches in front and rear
The former looking eaward. Like the house OF the
Reeve in Chsucef, il is all "yshsdowed with greene
trees" the cedar, the cottonwood, the liveoak, fg
mulberry, and magnolia, all eme giog from the sand
or light soil sccruing from vegetable decomposition
Owned once by the Rebel Gen. Dray ton, II now
affords quarters for the officers Of the brst negro
regiment raised III South Carolina, the eA-sia'es
being encamped il front
The occasion was rather special one, Commodore
Dupont and etaf being present. Gen. Hunter ano
Gov. Sax;on (whose headquarters are now at Beau
fort) bad also been expected. but Old not appear
possbly the arrival of mail from the Nortn, ana
RESPONSIBILITIES tberctrom, detained them. pstthi-
ion drill, a sermon by the Rev. Mr.. Gubby, s',er
that singing by the men-such was Tue ai'efh"on
programme. 4.
The drill began at 81 P. M, in an open space 10
the left of the house. bordering little grove Of I'VE
oaks and other trees, Whose branches rescn tne 'cH
underground beneath and create SHADE ey d III
the noonde, shtterng the solitary tomb Of James
Stoney. who died ut his late residence, on Hilton
Head Island, on the 10Th of February, 1877, agen
81" The embryo regiment, somewhat less than
500 in number, was drawn up In line, facing tne
evening shadows, and put through the manual OF
arms by an aid of Gen. Hunters, Temporarily Its
head in the absence of Col McKinzie, who recently
returned to his native State OF Illinois IN charge Oh
M,;or Wright wounded at the fight on james
Island And this is what the negro regiment looked
! like:
A row of strong, sturdy negroes, averaging from
81 TO 80 wears in age, and feet inches Ia hight,
clad in a decent military uniform OF dark blue, wear
ING felt bats and armed with rifles OF Belgian manu-
facture and bayonets, the which they handled az
promptly and dextrousy in obedience TO the wore OF
command rs one could wish " see-as we'll as any
eaul number of white men, not especially selected,
could have done. As Observable ut the sunday
School noticed look of honest endesvor III their
black faces Indicative Of an earnest desrs 70 learn,
their docility Of character rendering item aps pupil
was told by their officers, and the dlil bore VIII
ness. that their proficiency was remarkable. when
the regiment was marched by flank oh the parade
ground until it arrived in front OF headquarters ana
there formed by divisions Ia double row, thooght
its steel cleaned O. brightly, its ranks $1,000 as
steady NJ many one l Tad seen 10 New-fork ar.
mories. duly-pufed Of newspapers. Also, ths'
| Toussaint l. Overture was negro.
All these men have been slaves-slsves who have
abandoned or been abandoned by their masters
Ia to them, and you shall hear their ;toIles, Some
suggestive enough Tuat intelligent looking SER
ges1t (who can read and write) was house servant
coachman and cnatrel TO Mr.. Stewart OF Beaufort,
one of the $50 furnished by that charming little
snmmeriDg.place to create the Rebel i3rts beaare
gard and Walker, His master carried him OH, up
he country, but Prince oistrusted the universal
Southern fiction that the Yankees would transport
| him TO Cuba and there sell him, being somehow
persuaded that his freedom lay in their direction, and
this CONVICTION he presently ac.e~ moon' Ina' mus
cuar mnlatto, once q field hand, potsee.r, 'u'n
strength that his owner required that he should pso
100 more POUNDS of cotton day than his fellows
hence Jacks back ia "caliused" with lasbes. A
third has lived for elk months together In the swamp
been hunted by the State MI itA-captnred, pun
isbed and eet to double labor. Que day. bis mater
rode into the cOston.Geld, and perceiving but one
half of the tbreeparte done task, ordered Pomp'yto
strip with the intention Of administering the usual
stimulant. Blinded with rage, he would not listen
to the true state Of tho Stung by atrocious in-
jastice into manhood, the slave rebeed, armed him
self with 90 AK aud dehed Massa." For this, he
Law three months and three weeks in irous in Beau
foIt Jail, receiving forty lasles daily The nsrss
are on his body, TO testify OF 1t. subsequently, he
ran away, and, when opportunity occurred, joined
the Yankees lie Ii just sucD black man as South
ern advertisements, ornamented with neat little
cut of negro running away, describe as very
GaLgerous." / hope be will prove 30 when brought
face to face with the whole generation OF
| {. massa's."
"Ali lies, these niger storie.~ says ProSlavery,
Conservative Democracy. Very good, gentlemen !!
You won't have the negro 1t any price, we know
let the South 90 on having him, aud see what comes
OF it.
Mr.. Gubby's sermon had an appropriate text from
Timothy exhortinR his hearers "to endure hardness
ne good soldiers of Jesus Christ" II was lot above
tie rehension OF bis audience, who listened to
ter one OF the negroes prayed, lis prayer being OF
touching and even eloquent character.
| lie began by expressing thanks for the occasion,
for that the white man, Z" his superior in color
thought it not robbery to come aud teach dis nation
OF bondrnen do way out Of bondage into liberty"
He blessed those set bis companions, trusting
that the latter might learn from them their duty
| God and their country. He exhortsd them not 10
EXPECT the white 10 come hitner fron the cold
land of the North, where the cool winds blow free
| do 6,ht sud hred and die a nj
the negro was willing TO help himself:' lie then
PRAYED for IBIS cruel old massa, who was tome-
where dis blessed afternoon Ia dc pine barens OF de
main land, fghtin' 10 destroy dis glorious country,
and to try 10 make dis people slaves forever, i'm
ploring for him repentance and a blessing. lie
added beuediction on the President Of the United
States trusting that though no might never see him
in the flesh he might meet him In the next world
where ali are equal" With final suppGcation for
the speedy return of peace, the prayer concluded.
This nevros name wa Columbus Smmans, a SER
peant, Zone OF Natures noblemen," testified the
officer who gave me his name, We can trust him
anywhere"
The prayer ended, the men marched to their tents,
stacked arms and returned forming as before, when
they sang several hymns. l thought detected q
spce OF the African in their rendering OF the
RHYTHM aud chorusscs, and certain Of 1t with
spect 70 the dances witnessed at later period in
the evening. But the singing ended the days de-
yoiions the guests departed, and the regiment went
back to quarters, dsporiog themselves according to
their own pleasure uutil tattoo. Then lights were
pnt out and only the noise Of the frogs and locusts
disturbed the silence that rested on the Drsyton
| plantation.
This letter is already atrociousy long, yet add
few brief details AS TO the regiment. To Gen.
Hunter belongs the honor of orig mating it. The
mel, gathered together from this aud the adjacent
islands, have all been subjected to surgical ex.m
nation but they are lot yet mustered into the
United States service, consequently they receive no
NN.ti Tod horu aYl kindlV treatel fhHV
are willing and anxious to perfect Themselves ~
soldiers ONLY accustomed to the license Of planta-