The national Republican., 1862-08-01
July 81,
From the st Louis (Missouri) Democrat.
How Neg oes, who Serve the Union Cause
are Treated.
KvNrrruv

How Neg oes, who Serve the Union Cause,
are Treated.
PADUcAH, KENTUCKY,
July q, 1861.
Editors of The Missouri Democrat:
During the time that the late Major General
Smiths division occupied this post, several
fugitives sought protection within our lines;
and were not claimed then by their rebel mas.
ters, as the commanders insisted on all parties
claiming contrabands to prove their loyalty and
take the oath Of allegiance. Amongst the mum.
Der were four turned over to me for hospital
purposes. In the winter months the hospital
was quite full of sick and wounded, and no white
person could be induced, either for love or
money, to wash the clothing or clean the sick.
II our poor fellows were not attended to both
by care and proper cleanliness, typhoid fever,
erysipelss, and hospital gangrene would have
been the death Of several Of them. Under this
condition of things, one coored woman and
three colored men turned In and did all the
washing and cleaning up Of the soldiers, be.
sides cutting wood and hauling water.
The entire time that ! had charge. there
were nearly one thousand patients In the hos.
pital, and the kinalpss and sympathy of these
unfortunate contto0Ands were unceasing, and
the most strict cleanliness WAS preserved by
them all through. For these services, by
which the lives Of so many Of our faithful Union
soldiers were preserved to the country, what
was the reward which these unfortunate slaves
received? Finding Columbus evacuated, and
Fort Donslson surrendered, the rebel master
Of Eliza, who had contributed ten thousand
dollars to the Southern Confederacy, came in
and took the oath to our Government and re-
claimed his slave, who, with her child, was
surrendered. Thus this poor creature who
had, by. saving the lives Of our soldiers, pur.
chased herself ten times over, iss restored to
her master, as reward for her loyalty and
her invaluable services to our Government Is
II to be wondered at II our soldiers cry shame
upon such policy! The master Of one of the
men, called Erasmus, picked up courage on
seeing how easily his rebel confrere obtained
possession Of the woman, and he came In and
took the oath and claimed the slave. But Eras.
mus resolved, II possible, never again to return
to slavery, and hid In the woods until suita :
BILE opportunity should allow him to cross the
Ohio. A soldier volunteered to carry him over,
but just as they were entering the boat, the
poor fellow was seized upon by the niger.
ostchers, and the last knew of him, he was In
jail.
slave, had belonged to surgeon In the rebel
service, and was taken In Nashville, where he
had been hired by his mistress to work for the
rebel army In covering saddles. This poor fel.
low was one Of the most intelligent and usafu
men had about the hospital, and rendered In.
valuable service to our cause; and he now rots
in the Jail here until claimed by the rebel owner.
could give you the history Of another slave,
who brought to Gen. Grant the important news
Of the aight Of Floyd from Fort Donelson, and
the distress OF that garrison but fear would
be trespassing too much on your columns.
Suffice It to say that he barely was saved by
the humanity VI DR.. Hewitt, medical director
Of the command, who refused to surrender him
to gang who claimed him under the laws of
Kentucky. Is 1t to be wondered ut that our
Government has to evacuate every important
place taken almost as soon rs our brave SOL
diers have conquered It? Is It to be wondered
at that We are so slow In subduiDg the South.
ern States, ifthese loyal people are to be treat.
ed In this manner? J.B