, 1862-06-27
ALOGICAL DEVEL0PMEMT,
EieusIisfl Rarbarfs1n In South
Carolina.
The Massacre Of Negroes on Hutch
inson Island, 8. G..

The following is the text Of the dispatch
concerning the recent massacre OF negroes on
Hutchinson Island by the rebels:
e. s. SHIP DALE, St. HELENA SoEyD,
SoETu CAROLINA, June i3. 1862. ]
: SIN: This morning -at--4 O'Clock It was re-
ports d to me that there was large fire on
Hutchinson Island. Shortly after precon-
ccrted signal that the enemy were In the Vi
cjnity bad been made from the house Of our
pilot, I Immediately started in the gig, accom-
panied by the tender Wild Cat, boatswain
Downs, senior acting midshipman Terry first
cutter, acting master Billings; second cutter,
acting master Hawkins and cutter coxwain
shatlof, up Horn or Big River Greek, in the
direction OF the fire.
Soon after leaving the ship canoe contain
ing three negroes vas met, who stated that
the rebels, 500 strong, were at Mrs. Mardis's
plantation, killing all the negros. As we i'd
yapced up the creek We were constantly met
by canoes Fith two or three negroes in them,
panic stricken, and making their way to the
ship, while nhite flags were to be seen flying
fom every Inhabited point, around which
we're clustered groups Of heightened fugitives.
When about two and half miles from Mrs.
Mar1ls's, I Eas obliged to anchor the Wild
Cat, from the want Of sufficient water In the
channel, with orders to cover our retreat if
necessary. On arriving at Mrs. Aardis's, the
scene Was most painful. Her dwelling and d
chapel in ruins, and the air heavy with smoke,
while at the Landing were assembled 100 souls,
mostly women and children In the utmost dis
tress.
Throwing ont picket guard, and taking
every proper measure against q surprise, I
EatisGed myself that the enemy were not in
our Immediate neighborhood- the negroes
assuring me that they had left the Island, and
returned TO Fort Chapman. I then gathered
the following particulars: The rebels, during
the night, landed On the Island from Fort
Chapman, with force Of unknown numbers,
and guided by a negro, who for long time
had been on the Islaud in the employ Of the
army, surrounded the house and chapel in
which a large proportion OF the negroes were
housed, posting strong guard to oppose our
landing.
At early dawn they fired yolley through
the house, and as the alarmed people sprale
nearly naked from their beds and rushed fortR
frantic With fesr, they were shot, arrested, OF
Knocked down. The first inquiry Of the reb-
els Has for the d--d Yankees, and st what
tine they were in the habit of visiting the
islands, mingled with explanations Of "Be
quick, boys, the people from the ship will be
up" "Let's burn the houses" tsNot vet;
they will STE the fire from the ship and come
up"
Having collected most Of the chickens and
despoiled many OF the poor people Of their
very Tretched clothing, and told them that as
they belonged to the State, or others nearly
adjoining, they would not mo1est them, they
fired the building and fled.
Az the people we're clamorous to be re-
moved, I filed the boats with them and pulled
down to the tender. On board Of which they
were placed.
On our return for the remainder thew vera
observed, as we approached the landing, to be
IN the utmost confusion, dashing wildly into
coming baek-' On Investigation, however. it
proved thatthe enemy in full sight, about two
miles of, crossing IN open space OF ground.
we're in hasty retreat instead Of .drauclnE, On
our first vish they must have been concealed
n patch OF woods not more than half mile
from our piekets.
Having succeeded in removing OF In rroyid-
Ing. with boats all who wished to reml to
collect the1r little property, I returned to the
ship, bringing with me about seventy. snono
them one man literally riddled with balls and
buckstot (since dead j another shot through
. dubbed nausket, which laid tie bone per
fectIy bare; one woman shot in the leg,
shoulder and thigh; one far gone in pregna1.
cy, suffering from dislocation of the hin
joint and injury to the womb. caused By laap-
ing 1rom second-story window and another
suffering from the displacement Of the can of
thc knee and injury to the leg from the same
cause.
1t appears that the negro who had gnidad
. the party had returned to them after the egac-
uA1lOn Ol tie place, told them all the troons
lad been Withdrawn, and that the islands we're
entirely unprotected, except by this ship. am
therefore at q loss TO account for their extreme
harlarity to negroes, most Of whom were liv-
ing on the plantation where thew had hem
born, peacefully tilling the ground for their
support, which their masters, By desertng.
had denied them, and who were not even re-
moselE connected with the hated government
a1ny,
l trust Eon will approve nv sending The
contrabands to Hilton Head Had not baen
unable to provide for such 1arge number.
and 70 much embarrassed By the frequent de-
hands made upon Inc Tor provisions by new
arrivals. l should have waited for your adE:ca
in the matter.
Last Tuesday We had IN arrival Of thirtv from
the main land, aud Scarcely day passed with
cut one or more Of them, always in half:
starved condition, whose appeals for food /
have not yet been able to resist, though they
trespass rather largely on the ships stores.
all those newly arrived give the same &C.
count Of the want and scarcity OF provisions
among the white population, and Of their own
dangers and suferipgs, in cfftcting their es-
cape. Though exercising no control over the
negroes on the nei5hboring isIands, have,
them to remove to Edisto or St. Helena. and
warned them that some night theT would he
visited By the rebels.
But the majority insisted on remaining be.
Cause there was their home, while all seem ed
to have most perfect faith in the protection ii
the ship, though perhaps, as was the case Iast
night, tea or twelve miles distant from her.
VERY respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
y; T. TKUNTox. Lieut. Commanding.
Flag Officer $. F. DCPoSr, Comnauding
N1nfhRr7s o.