New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-04-02

By order of Brig Gen T. W SBsRsAs ,,..~x
Acting Assi.tan, Adjutant "snef'i
From Gen. Stevens at Beaufort, aud from nj '"'
military commanders ut different posts, MI '''
and the agents under him, received Whatever "'o"
ance was needed II lie gratifying ana 70 .o'"''.
sx,ent nnexpected circumstance that thls a'u anu
svuratbv sbould have been so readily gwen shu
10 ,alen as evidence how far the otherwise de-
,lo,ohIsdeav in the movements Of the exPedinonary
forces and their consequent daily insigbt into The
,e;c, Of the domestic institution have Implanted in
the army the zee ls Of Ani-Savery faith.
During the first fortnight the work Of surveying
the p,antaiions on the different islands, selecting the
best points for occupation, establishing the agents,
and distributing the supplies pushed with vigor
BY last Saturday the agents had all been assigned
their stations, Mr. Pierce establishing bis headquar-
tors at the plantation, formerly owned by Mr.. Pope,
on 81. Helena Island. The islauds on which all or
nearly all the plantations have been placed under
superintendence Port Royal on which beaufort
is situated Ladies'. ST. Helena Parry, Hilton Head
and Da sfuskie. On these the estimated number Of
plantation is l72. One superintendent has generally
charge of three four plantations lying near 70 ehch
other and IN some cases two occupy the Same point,
Jointly caring for seven or eight estates In addi-
lion 20 the estates on tbess islands placed under reg
uar superintendence, il s made the duty OF several
of the agents Oh Ladies', and st. Helena Issnds 10
visit occasionally the plantations on the smaller i'd
iaoent islando, Wassa, Dathaw, C0ossw, aud Nor
gan. On OF tire estates the negroes were found
10 be dong 20 well as 20 need no superintendent
whatever. They were induslriously aud regularly
at work developing the full capacity OF tie panta-
tons, peaceabe aud orderly in their social life, ana
requiring only some supplies of which they were des-
litute and somelimesa word Of advice or suggestion
| The whole number Of agents, including subse-
ouent arrival Of twelve is entirely sufficient FOR the
work to he Done ind / TN desired 10 say that no
more are wanted or can he proftably employed at
present. TIE Rev. Mr.. French, aided by the women
who came out especially for this purpose, has de-
voted himself to religious, educational aud industrial
efforts at Beaufort, and il useiuily engaged among
the negroes there collected.
MANY of the estates have been stripped both Of The
food necessary for tie support of the negroes and OF
The tools and stock for carrying them on Both require
to be supplied and AZ The army on various preIenses
carried oil great quantities Of and other pro-
visions the army commissarist is now obliged 10 pro-
vide for the negroes. 1t seems however. that it was
nluCu eAsler 10 INC tb'u eNlIHNe
il is to return them OF to furnish regular and adequate
subsistence for their occupants. The desttuton on
Por. Royal Island is greater ct present than else
where, the plantations on that having been most
easily accessible, and most recklessly pundered. In
the difficulty Of organizing 81 stem the negroes have
been hitherto relieved by the almost unssesttd edors
Of the Rev. Dr. Peck, who has daily carried on, in
wagons to the different estates such supplies as we're
furnished him by the oommssary Of the post. There
was no trouble about taking possession Of the corn
when wanted by tie army, though Gen. Stevens
Gays lie gave orders always to leave enough Tor The
negroes-of which the ioragng parties were le to be
the udgee-and Gen. Sherman, when informed Of the
plan pursued told me that il was wholly against hir
orders and should he inquired into. The result Of
such inquiries if made | have Dot heard. Fifie'n
thousand bughes Of corn are said have been taken
from Port Royal leland alone. Now that it is gone
Il is discovered thar system Of suppyngthe negroes
with ralous is not easy to be devised applied. An
order from the War Department is thought TO be ne
cesssry, and il lie ey.d nj enough that TO repair the
Losses Of the estates will require considerably more
red tape than used to strip them. Cattle, mules,
and horses have also been taken, and all Of them
now urgently needed for the profitable culture OF the
/
sent experiment it ia eve, to be kept in mind that il
is by tie wasteful extravaganza, not Of negroes, but
Of tie army that the capacities Of tic estates have
been largely reduced.
The dnties OF the agents resident on the plantations
have ltt,le immediate concern with the planting and
raising Of cotton Tia, s the business Of tho negro
driver who has always directed the processes Of oul
tivaion, and may he supposed able to do, now that
he ia free, what he hes hitherto done a slave. lie
retains considerable authority the negroes even
in the absence Of the overeeer and master who for
rnerly supported and enforced it, and with the help
merely Of the presence Of Superintendent ia quite
competent to manage the plantation undera new sys-
TEN. The Superintendent agent is now charged
with the general oversight OF the plantations under
hin; is " protect the blacks and ut the same time
train Them in habits of regular industry; TO give
them 80 far NJ possible, education aud religious in
the General Superintendent, and refer al difficult
questions to bin for settlement.
II the purpose Of Government had been % raise
large crop Of cotton on these abandoned esates the
work should have been commenced much earlier,
and care should have been taken that they were not
stripped of the means necessary for most successfully
carrying them on. In their present condition, aud at
This Iste season. large crop cannot reasonably be
anticipated. Mules aud horses most urgently
needed and Mr. Pierce has sent 10 Nes-York for Il
supply. Tie experiment is to be tried for the first
time in this country of cultivating plantation by
free labor, and lis to be tried et it be remembered
under every possible disadvantage. Perhaps the
most that ought to be looked for ia that a sufficient
crop should be obtained TO pay the expenses of rising
IT. in other words, chat it ought TO be considered