New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-06-13
SOLDIERS, LETTERS.
Correspondence OF The n. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence OF The n. Y. Tribune.
ROANOKE ISLAND, N. c., June ?, 1852.
The health Of the troops here is good. Col.
Hawkins, commanding the island, has recovered
from the wound which be received at the battle OF
South Mills. There are five hundred " contrabsnds
here. Already they have done us good service The
finest fort on the island ia rev one constructed bv
Lieut.. Lyons, skful ron of Rhode Island, and
erected by the contrabands." These have come
from various portions Of tie State, always bringing
with them valuable information regarding the move
ments of the Rebels To-day party arrived from
up the country. They came here IN small boat.
The party numbered twelve. IA they came into
camp noticed some leaning on others shoulders. l
went up TO see what the matter was. Poor fellows /!
They were bleeding profusely. On their voyage,
night having come on, they pat ashore on POWELL
Point, where three white men discovered them rest
ing on the beach, doing no harm. No sooner
were they discovered than these monsters
grasped their guns and fell Ike so many
savapes, upon the deienseless pilgrims hr-
ing upon them, and woundipg Fix. Three OF
the poor creatures were eft behind, beiugso badly
wounded that they could not move TO the boat. The
others rushed to the boat, wading into the water
wsist-deep, 30 as to push the boat along AZ good
speed. and thus escape capture. Ere they entered
the boat however, three of them Were badly
wounded, and before reaching this ''cty Of refuge,
lost considerable blood, and suffered seriously in
consequence. One OF these wounded IN e part
of his body which, in order to work upon the wound,
Surgeon Humphreys had to reach by exposing a
considerable portion Of the whole booy. Here a
fearful sight presented itself. The cruelty OF the
slave-naster was visible. The body was one shock
ing mass of scars. 1t looked if it were laid upon
a red-hOt grdiron at some period. 1 have often
tremted at merely reading OF the fortunes to which
poor humanity has often been c. mpeed 10 submit
in former ages; but here is torture as barbarous,
yea, as diabohca as tie torture OF he'll itself. We
boast of civilization, and Of our religion, too
we find both IN our pubic documents aud
printed sermons; but honestly. i am not able
TO comprehend either civilization religion enough
in this generation to applaud the escape OF poor
fellow being from torture and bondage bordering
on hell irseli or enough TO conslgn TO unutterabe
shame and punishment the being who would stop
hlm in bis flight TO a better country. Since 1 have
come South to do my share in this fearful contest
have seen Slavery IN the awful blackness OF lt5
character. / have feen It's cruel mark upon the
poor, down.trOiden whites, and upon everything;
and, 10 help me God, 1 would rather die THAI draw
Il sword, utter prayer, breathe sentiment, cast a
vote or do any other single act which could IN any
way tend 10 foster the institution. begin 10 treBi-
bic over the condition OF affairs; and for the reason
that all the monitOns OF good Providence teach
the American people 10 crush Slavery-tO shake OF
tie disgrace which its existence causes, moi only 20
this country. but to this generation. DO not events
lead To the belief thai, III slavery i1 "ot
10y AinsI Jeans, tho pEiufsI guhuiali: "a H"
that ,oe Almighty determined 10 do IL : aud wh1
B knows bat He will overthrow MS because Of our
wicscdness Let us not fear Freedom Is the nat
ural end 20 which mankind Of every description ID
tending. IL may be through rivers OF blood,
mountains of dead bodies and all the other fruits OF
war, but the end il certain as eternity.
1 have struggled for Freedoms banner now for
over one year, and followed it with our " Hawkins
Zouaves into sharp contests: l sm now re-
,olyei more than ever 10 be frHs 10 the freedom of
which that banner is tho proper ensign. Z.