, 1862-04-03
The ContrabaHds ut Camp Chase,

FROM Lee tutumnua JDnfnal.l
No small measure of indignation has been
status of the "colored population'' held in
confinement at Camp Chase. The committee
Of the Senate, i'll their report upon the subject,
PROFOUND the inquiry why these negroes are
there at an. And the question was certainly
most appropriate one. It tnrnseout, upon
investigation, however, that they wtHe placed
tlele as prisoners Of VA, ia position us dig
nifed as flat enjoyed by their masters
Upon inquiry Into this matter, it is shown
that the negroes We're taken as participants in
the rebel cauEe,-some captured with arms in
their bands against our loyal troops, aud
1trs in camp duty. This being tile case, they
we're sent by Gtn. Hal1eek to Camp Chase in
the came category as their masters were, as
prisoners Of: war, taken in battle. Gen. Hal
leck made ~ ta=tiuclion as to complexion;
but, from snowy white to sooty,' consigned
Camp Chase. The comnlandant Of the pest,
Col. Moody, received them, not as servants Of
the white men whom they accompanied; but
as persons consigned to his military charge in
the capacity of prisoners by virtue Of the
orders Of his chlef IN command When placed
cesh," too "sLifuesss' to wait upon them
selves, incoutinently fell back upon their usual
otiunl cum dignitdte, requiring the negroes to
them; as was likewise their custom to
do,-seyezal Of them having been, indeed, the
SLAVES Of some Of these secesh officers.
But to this status Col. Moody gave no as
sent. TO show this, We need but refer to his
orders concerning them, for, when finding
need Of an additional force in his hospital for
washing, Hurting and caring for the sick gen.
orally, Col. Moody respected the convenience
Of those prison gentry so little as to issue an
order to bis post surgeon to detail rom s ths
prison all the negro men he might need
for that purpose. This he did because Of their
! ....-ing experienced in such personal service,
snd sf;,.: the smallest regard to, or even a
thought Of tht.*.. T.. being under any claim to
service upon the insolvn. ss'ssa VI Ane
prison.
Again, when Col. Moody received All order
from, the War Department to forward sonle
20 Of these stcesh officers to Fort Warren un
der the guard Of a United States officer sent
for that purpose, he made out the list in con.
fornity with the order, and issued the neces-
sary marching orders and, behold: when
these Fort Warren gentry came forth from
their prison, Col: Moody Was surprised tc
find number Of negroes marching in the
rear Of their white fello~.pr1soners Of the
"secesh'' persuasion, and each negro carry
ing trunk, yaliee, carptt-sack, &c, for these
toplofticl " Masters who seemed to be quite
pnaware that they were not in -seccssIa
dclusion on this subject. The line was ut halt
In Il voice of sternest tones he demanded
t4what those negro men we're in the line for =
| He was insolcnt1y told by the secesh that the
| Eeeroes wcretheir servants, and were to carry
t4eir baggage! No, Sir shouted Golone
herc nor in this country; You have no suct
claim to them nor to their service" The1
eSde ordeTea I ihcm m At once Ito iay dow dow
| that baggage, and clear out Of the line! =
The negroes hesitated: looking alternately q
lr% +r
obey. Seeing their hesitation, Col. Mood,
shouted, in tones that left no doubt as tt
which had better be obeyed, "Throw do VI
that baggage and clear the line, every one O
| ycuin ard at the same time ordered an Office
ard squad Of soldiers to sec his order ezecu
ted, and mnrch the negroes back to prison
forthwith; which was promptly done; ami
"secesh'' were allowed the high privilege 0
| getting their trunks and other traps to tn
Iail1oad station In such manner as they be7
could. Also, when the negroes we're detal1e'
to hospital service, secesh Col Hanso1
| hire man for such service, SO that his " ma,
JIM might be left for waiting on himself
but this, Col. Moody absolutely refused.
The subject receiEed stormy yentilatiol
| wind to usher m the first Of April. Butwha'
ever may be the fact permitting slavery
exist at Camp Chase, as the Senate's resolu
/ lion says, we do not see how it can be charge
upon Col Moody. He simply received th
men, black aud white, from his superior office
He Kept them in prison alike. II be detaile
the blacks to serve for the hospital, II wns bt
cause they knew more than their masters di
-{bow to make themselves useful!) And 0
every occasion where such claim arose, h
= s.ernly and peremptorily refused all recogn
/ ton Of it's validity. We think the statement
made by the officers Of his regiment, publishe
in our legislative column, show all this abul
dantly.