The Placer herald., 1862-06-14
From the New York Caucasian.]
Scenes in "Dixie"-the "Gideonites.
PoRT ROYAL, S. c., March 18th, 1862.

landing OF the "Abolition Pilgrims" the
missionaries of the National Freedman's So
ciety. A Mr.. Edward L. Pearce, an agent
selected by Mr.. Chase, is the leader or pio-
neer Of the movement. He brings with him
some fifty or sixty male and female women,
who have come here to educate the negro,
teach the negresses the use Of sewing ma
chimes, and perform all and singular duties
appertainng to that undertaking, Of turning
black man into white one!
1t was astonishing to note the egotsm
and pomposity of these individuals whe,
they landed here. Coming under the pro-
lection and patronage Of the Government
they evidenty felt that the whole nation restt
ed on their shoulders. No one could give
them any nform;.t tion about negroes or their
management They knew all. At first they
they were not satisfied with the subsistence
that Uncle Sam gave them, for, it should be
remembered by working men who pay all
the tax@s, that these negro missionaries are
supplied with rations the same as the soldiers.
They stuck up their delicate Puritan noses
at salt beef and pork and dry bread; but
when informed that what was good enough
for men who were fighting, surely ought to
be good enough for negro missionaries, they
subsided. They drew at first, ten days ra
tions, and had them taken to Beaufort and
placed in an outhouse near one of the resi-
dences which thay had chosen for their head
quarters. The Quartermaster expostulated
with them as to the danger of the negroes
stealing the provisions, and offered to fur
nish guard to protect them; but they retu-
ed the proffer with evident Indignation, and
proceeded to lecture the Quartermaster for
his not having confidence in the negroes.
Never" said one, can you elevate humani
ty without having confidence in men. You
must trust these poor coored people, and
make them love you by kindness. Human
nature is the same all over, and it is only
those that understand it who can deal with
it. Never fear, we know what we are
about"
This was addressed to man who went to
Port Royal red hot abolilonist, but soon
got effectually cured So he said nothing
bat let the missionaries 90 on. 1t was only
a day or two afterwards before some of the
fenal women, Of tbs Band of Gideonit es,"
as they called themselves, came rushing down
to the Quartermasters Department, declar.
ing that their rations had been stolen! The
negroes had snelled the good things-they
were gone. The negresSes also, who had
been so kindly treated by the women, and
taken so warmly to their embraces, getting
access to their roons had taken off calcoes,
mnslins &c, and even gone so for as to pur-
oin the under clothing Of their dear white
friends, who had come to exalt them in the
scale of humanity, The case was serious
one, for ladies' under'clothing is not plenty
in Beaufort, and, it is said, some Of the gen
tie sisters from Boston were sorely puzzled
for some quite necessary articles. One lady,
Mrs. French, was, at first, SO enraptured with
the kinky headed contrabands, that she rush
ed up to an old wench, and, throwing her
arms about her, kissed her with great fervor,
telling her in the meanwhile that "she was
her sister, that she was free, as free as she
standing little way off, and seeing the per-
formance, jumped and clapped their hands,
showing their ivory, and shouting: "Gorra.
Massa! gorra! see dc white woman kiss nig'
ger!'
The inquiries of one Of these silly Yankee
missionaries show what simpletons they are
as to negro piety. For instance, 'they de'
sired to know Of one of The officers, what he
thought of the depth of negroes piety?" 1t
should be remembered that the negroes are
all very religious-in fact, they are apparent
ly, the most religious of all human kind.
Some declare they never "enjoyed religion
so much as since the U. S. army has been at
Port Roya', which simply means that they
have never before been allowed to be so la
zy. But these Yankee school teachers are
blind as bats, and hence they had much anx.
iety to attend negro meeting, and see the
depth of their piety. Now, the Quarter
master is a good deal of wag, and since
he has been converted from the error of his
ways, enjoys the sport of prosecuting the
abolitionis,s with real zest. He therefore
told the negroes that they must all come to
meeting at such time and place. The no.
groes call them Shouts" He also gave no
tice to the male and female Gideonites to be
in attendance. All came at the time ap-
pointed. The tender-hea missionaries
were all placed on one side of the room.
The day was hot and sultry one, and the
signal being given, "the shout" commenced.
An old negro, who led the singing, COM
menced the dance or double'shuff1e, some
what after the fashion Of the Shakers, by
getting in the middle Of the floor, and strik-
ing out right and left, and coming down at
the end of each line with stamp that made
the building quiver. All the other negroes
then joined in until some seventy or eighty
we're huddled together in the middle OF the
room, singing jargon which no one could
scarcely understand, but the substance OF
which believe is as follows:
II pray for de country,
sing for de Isand
I'm gwine home"
The last line is brought out with terrlfi'
cally loud noise, and as the word nome" Is