, 1862-01-07
Contrabandsn at Work at Hilton Head.

AA~*AAt
The following from letter from Hilton
Head, s. C., Dec. 80, gives tho lie direct to
the pro.slavery statement that the slaves can
only be made to work By the stimulent Of the
lash, aud By the force Of bondage:
The negroes erywhere, in two districts,
are ut work collecting, baling and rolling cot
their task, for which they arc paid at the rate Of
s1.00 for every 100 pounds they deliver, They
labor with 1lncrity under this unwontcd stimu-
lu6; various assistants aud clerks hare been
appointed to oversee their performances,
and though they need to be constantly direct
cd, and skillfu1ly managed, yet good degree
of work is really gotten out of them. This Is
proved By the fact that in less than three days
over $4,000 worth Of cotton was put aboard
the steamboat which accompanied Col No
bles; all this cotton had been baled BY the
rebels themselves, and the bags made. by
them; it was then conveyed to the various
landings, at no one Of which there is wharf.
The supply Of bags having been incomplete,
some thousand bags we're supplied them, aud
| these had to be first p1aced i'll fat-boat6, then
to the decks, before the labors Of the blacks
| were completed. The old drivers we're
generally retained, to find out the hands
and bring them up to the places where their
| labor was required. AS it was Christmas
time, and the negroes have always been used
to work needed to be increased by the pay
1ncnt Of a1l installment Of their dues. They
laughed and sang us they rolled the bales OF
| carried the sand bags On their skulls, and
broad shoulders, and Jumped and danced and
bowed and grinncd, when Massa Mobiles gave
them dime or quarter Of a dollar apiece.
The amount Of cotton taken from each plant
alton is carefully asccrtaincd; each bag il
marked with the former owners Initials, and
an account kept both with the estate and with
the negroes, SO that at any time Government
will be able TO compensate any of the owner
who shall prove to haye been loy,l. The cot
ton found on these islands is, as is wellknoWn
Of d superior quality; it is worth so cents
pound on the island, and Is cents at New ork
1t is in ordinary times sent almost exclu
siyely to France, where it is mixed with sill
in the manufacture Of silk and cotton goods
its texture is of the finest quality, and its cul
ture requires the greatest and most constan
| care. There are immense quantities Of
| stored in the cotton houses on these islands
more even has been discovered than Was anti
cipatcd at least 81. 000, 900 worth are believe
to have been already secured. Since the nc
grocs have discovered that they will be pal
for their exertions, they have brought in som
that was buried in the interior, and manifesto
great care to preserve and obtain as much q
possible. I have heard Of some instances {
their giving warning in advance, when the
masters or thc rebel soldiers contemplated an
| new burnings.
AS for the ginning, most Of it is to be don
: in New York; it is the opinion Of those wh
, lave Charge Of the work, that it can be lcarnc
with ease in day By any woman OF ordina1
capacity, and the labor is By no means ard.
Gus. Here, it will require engineers and G.
gincs, as we'll as gins, and neccssitate I who
corps Of assistant oycrscerS-