The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-04
INTERESTING FROM CHARLESTON.
Our Naval Correspondence.

Confederate Money Disposed Of at Discount of Ninety
fire Per Cens-Gold at Premium Of Forty Per Cent
Depreciation Of Negro Propury-Deplorabe Condition
Of Things acknowledgements for the Defence oths
Clty-Largs Numbers Of Vessels Running the Boekads-
Anrisy of the Inha1iants See the Old Flag Float Oter
the CITY, &C., dc.
one week ago we arrived or the Internal city OF
harleston, and dropped anchor near the Palmetto
lily that almost tell the time of day from the
clock whose pendulum hangs within the lofty church
tseps that rises far above tho surrounding buildings
While not far in the distance above the water the
red batements OF Sumter, which looks like huge Gl
altar above which Acas the stars and bars-a rather
minutvo piece Of bunting half the size OF the one
hat shall disclose its beautiful stars and broad stripes
upon the same flagstaff ere the chill OF the North
SHAH mar tho rich vegetation OF the sunny South
With her cold north wind; for "that rag must como
iown' is the language and the determination Of the
avy from the commander down to tho powder monkey,
nd gunners and spongers, and all hands are
itching for tho hour whom this event shall be consum-
mated. Are you not all ready, gentemenf We are.'
Two O'Clock this morning tho officer Of tia deck was
formed by the lookout that boat approaching the
ship, when, in few minutes, boat containing fifteen
contrabands up alongside, and were, owing to
The roagnoss Of the and the danger apprehended
rom swamping, brought on board at that time. They
we're hard looking set of humanity, and evidently
vousy affected having as they would express ii, made
up their minds to die drown themselves before they
would return and half dozen times supposing that the
boat would have swamped they would be ablo to
reach any Of the Yankee feet. They came on board,
using such calculations "Oh, Lord" "Oh, dear!"
Hurry up joel" ~ say you boy, get ont quickl" and
only were they at ease when treadng the deck OF
steamer. They then strung along in bee line and
counted-ffteen in number-and the boss, whose name
tGsbrie' was requested to step and show his
ohiz-which he did with bend and bow. 'Whore have
you fromT the interrogation Of the command
er. "Charleston Massa." elbow did You make your es
eape? "Well Massa, hal boon putting our heads TO-
gsther and talking about it for time and the
night a dark one, jumped into boat belong
ag 10 the Quartermaster's Department at tho Quarter
masters wharf, and pushed slowly along the shore and
passed the batteries without being observed" To a
question that put them about being captured
they all remarked that to remain was to die, for
they were almost starved. receiving in Confe-
dsrate money fifty cents and dollar per
week, and to support their families when pro
visions wero SO high was impossible-that fat
pork was SOC. pound meat 75c., salt &c. per pound
ea ~ dollars coffee S7c., sugar 30c, and butter
not to be had at any price, rice 81 per peck grts 5oc
and the future dreadful to contemplate than
the present, they had made up their minds to al
risks, and endeavor TO their freedom With but
few exceptions they all Industrious set of
and two three very intelligent. One Of them brought
with him nearly two hundred dollars in Yankee god and
silver They disposed of what Confederate paper money
they had at discount Of ninety FIVE per cent evi
dencing the estimate they put Confederate scrip IL
our question, how he was able TO keep much coin
about him, he remarked that did not know any
thing about his having it: he had hid 1t in OF his
wfes stockings Gold he stated worth forty per cent
PREMIUM and very little to be had at that and they dill
not object in the least TO receiving money with the
American eagle on II, though it coinod by the
Yankees.
From their statements negro property has deprecated
much in value. man, worth 81 500 before tho war
sodla week for six hundred dollars that
ia Confederate money. There is also great distress
among the poorer classes, and not little among the chi
vary. Half Of the stores cosod and those that
open have very small stock Of goods hand and
extravaganza is INDUCED in by either SEX Though bu
sincss completely parayzed, and great distress pre-
vas great bitterness and hatred felt Of the Yankees
and tn ugh they every day acknowledge their depend
upon the North little children the Yankees
with all the huoncy or older heads; and soldiers
down the shore and gaze upon the b,ockadins leet
with horrid mprecations calling upon the damned Yam
KEGS TO come up the river and fight My opinion is that
we will come up little sooner than would be congena
To their feelings. Why sir, for ono whole week you
could not make them believe that Fort Pulaski taken
They would. could not believe that and they have
that bad is not permitted TO be published
N the daily papers bat can only he read from the bae
tin boards at the office.
The CLarlcstonians have not been idle. They have
submarine implements Of destruction and death planted
in the channel and internal machine submerged
Fort Sumter, which is TO be hred by teeg ah which
connects with the fort They have also huge RATS and
gs constructed obstructng the of the Yam
feet and have doubt sir, that their weak minds
imagine that they outmaneuvro the ingenious Van
Soe. We'll, they will see. when the time Gomez, what
hey will see and as they desire that we should visit the
ttv yrA will era m
hope, sir that every Yankee that walks the streets Of
this city when the rebels retire and the city Is
aied will ront house. settle down with his family, and
make this city, il would be under Northern industry
and influence the finest city south of Mason and Dxons
line II would be cheaper and better TO do this than to
immediate it, Rents would be cheap for long time, and
the mudsill could lind very comfortable quarters They
also constructing, about to do So three iron
clad gunboats having the kecls of two laid md all the
timber for the crafts the spot They have about fifty
employed. Unable to construct an engine they
going remove the old engine from the Lady Davis
place In one Of the now gunboats. Tremendous efforts
being put forth to raise the required amount for
their construction. Fairs concerts and entertainments
put into requsition, and men, women and children
are busy from "morn 70 dewy eve" collecting pennies
Tor the glorious cause.
could not find out relative TO tha number Of guns but
there batteries all along the Shore and tugs en-
run the blockade and they are mot few il what these
oonrabands say il the reliable truth They state that
last Sunday morning large vessel run the blockade,
and that frequently others are equally Fortunate They
also state that three days after had SAX ships in
the harbor steamer, drawing fifteen feet OF water,
passed over the very spot where the Aforesaid vessels
were sunk.
To our intercgatcns relative 70 the spirit that pre-
vailed among tho inhabitants lfcy remarked that there
were not few, who to their phraseology, were
acting the hypocrte and were wishing that the oden
times would come again, and were sick and Disguised
with the whole Affair and officer overheard TO
remark that the whole O humbug and IL was
for the South TO fight with the North longer
The contraband remarked that what he had overheard
ten out hundred were at heart loyal to the country and
willing TO return TO their allegiance, and that hun
dreds would be glad TO see the old Union restored have
much communicate, but must defer for another
letter. tho mail will leave in few inmates. We have
good from New Orleans, but presume you fully
posted up, 50 will not indulge in repetition
Our Edisto Correspondence.
Epysro ISLAND, s. c., May o, 1862.