The New York herald., 1862-02-26
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.

oUn FORTRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.
FoxrRxss MossoE, Feb, ID, 1862
Iupovtons Order Rs:asss C0xraoands-IAsss f"os'sa"1
nu,s Rsfcees at FORTRESS Aonyoe-Ce~sse~daoe Aeeo"
9 GessraI Woot-TA< Abosaiensas Asddil"s Wus GO
w-<., Agat,s-A Military kase nae Lodes-1Asy 0sus
- Exrtai.s. es.s-7oass, Ssrtnssnts. Speeches, de-
rn colowiag General Order (No. 81, issued by this
<spartInent on the 30th ut, promulgated on the
rst INST t will found not only interesting, but Of
the most vital importance everybo who svnces any
interest the condition and treatment OF vagrant
saves on this Pointer according General Bntlsr'a
Senomnal ion, "contrabands." but whom General Woo
treats vagrants;-
GENERAL ORDER--NO. 8.
HKADQUAKrsR Rs DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,
FoRr MONROE, Va, Jan. 30, 1852.
l. Colonel 7. J. Cram Inspector General, Colonel Le
Grand b. Cannon and Major VIM p Jones, Aids de Camp,
are hereby appointed and constituted commission
the purpose Of making critical examination OF the
dition OF the persons known vagrants, contra
bands" who employed in this department under
Department General Order No a. Of 1861 in reference to
their pay clothing, subsistence, medical attendance,
shelter and treatment, yscal and moral.
2 Chiefs OF the departments, their suoordi-
reports and information tho comm ssion may require
" enable 1t 10 perform the duties mposedthe ooect
eeng TO do justice to the claims OF humanity IN proper
discharge Of the grave responsibility thrust upon tne
military authorities Of this department. IN consequence oi
nume persons (men, women and children already
ccngregated and daily increasing, being abandoned oy
their masters or having fed to this military command
for projection and support .
y
foregoing specified class Of persons as
have been employed under Department Special
Order IT, 1861, and will further examine whether
the several chiefs departments have sucency
Of employees or aborers 10 enable them to dis
their respective duties and greater or less number
than are now employed can bo economically employed
for these duties having been reported that the said
GLASS or persons known vagrants or "contrabands
have not been properly treated in all cases by those
having them in charge, the commission cannot be too
rigid In its examinaton IN order that justice may be
done 70 them as well as 10 the pubic service.
T. The results of the investigations will be reported
practicable, with such suggestions as the commission
may deem proper for the Of the treatment
authorized employ such clerical assistance may
nsSd, to be detailed from this command; NO.,
W. D. Wmrrnr, Assistant Adjutant General -
BY the above order will be that General Wool 10
determined any and all abuses practsod
this unfortunate class Of human beings and places the
responsible duties Of the commission upon two worthy
and well qualified officers Of his immediate stan.
IN this department there at present over three
thousand negroes nine-tenths of whom abandoned
saves cruelty and hearsssy left behind by their own
srs who prscptatey rushed into the heart OF secession
and considering slaves incubus than aid and
comfort" compelled their chattes to shift and take
e themselves.
Since General Wool assumed command Of this depart
nmt 1t has been his study provide literally
for the constantly increasing vagranIs who arrive daily
from their masters The duties Of providing shelter,
rssons, clothing &C., for them entrusted to Chie
Captain Grier Talmadge who has appoint
ID Mr. Henry Marsh late Of the Metropolitan Hotel New
Ysrk. accountant for the clothing, &c. In this dc
paT:ment . number Of clerical assistants also em
pioyed.
Ths desire Of the Major General in constituting this
commission plainly to bring to light all. any abuses
practised upon the negroes The rule in relation
grants already here and those arriving and tho
According to . general order issued some timo
published at length in your columns and also COM
nented upon sdtorally in relation to the pay and al
TO the vagrants al these able to labor
pslled 10 work and their living. stipulated sum
b paid thsm, from which deductions made for
clothing and also 70 accumulate fund to support the
SICK, young and INDECENT negroes unable to lve
hood. Clothing 10 issued them similar to the amount a
bowed to troops and the hospital accommodations
also on the best principle, and In charge Of
risnoed aad accomplished physicians.
Notwithstanding the great bestowed upon the sub
jset Of keeping thsse vagrants properly, alleged
that abuses creeping in upon tho system and with
visw ths abolition thsrso General Wool has clothed
10 commission with power 70 send for persons and pa
psrs order obtain fall aud reliable intelligence upon
The subject before them. That abuses appear in the
sonnscton se srs concerning these vagrant negroes
apparent bat whether they the fault Of those
es remains 70 be sssn and for solution Of this pro-
b,sm must await the ANAL report Of tho commission.
In . letter short time ago answered some allsga
ssons made BY "sontraband" named Davis, shown up
n New York By Rev. l.. g. lockwood, who was ap.
parcnty sent hers to cultivate negroes took
70 correct . statement which Mr.. lockwood IL re-
ported to have said that 1.-the negroes compelled
work hard and do not receive any compensation there
sor" This false then and there corrected
md uontlv hava furfh IN he
subject will only mention passant, that the Rev
Nr lockwood has again made bis appearance at Old
Point and taken up his headquarters at the Hygeia
Hotel
large number OF the vagrant negroes hired out
70 officers regiments servants, who pay the stpu
lated sum- riding TO general ORDERS TO the govern
mont, at the time providing them with substantial
food. Clothing is furnished by the authorities. Tho
quartermasers commssary Of subsistence engineer and
ordnance departments, stsvedore, wagon master and
other public ocers employ large number Of them 10
do their work. and keep strict Of their earnings
Az soon negro arrives from the rebels he taken
charge BY the Superintendent Sergeant Smith, and
his name age occupation and BY whom owned recorded
In book kept for that purpose in order TO compute his
and sarnings and also that he may be
70 his at future period, when the war Is
overprovided, always, that Congress does not decide
Otherwise.
THIS 10 tne ooJect OF tne eommisson and their report
viii give all details connected with the administration OF
this most important branch In the department Major
General Wool.
The rebels, in their journals some time ago giorsd
supposed wranglns between the negroes and the
soldiers, and said that General Wool compelled to
keep guard continually the negroes whom the rs
Dels deem equal 10 Yankees. is hardly necessary for
that such is not the The negroes are,
the whole, very orderly class, and only glad 10
receive excellent treatment General wools sdmnis
tration accords TO them It Ia to see
negro in the guard house for any offence.
Maor General Wool 10 treating these people - W.
grants without habtation and entitled to ths greatest
charity. However, in providing for them the Gsneral
adopts the workhouss system compelling them earn
thcr living according thsm the privilege of sscur