Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-01
AIS CouIFabauds IN Kansaa.
LnAvrzwoRrH, Kansas, April 40, ls62.

o10 neGd muol OF the stoontfaOanog" OF Kan
sal, Jet hey know but little Of their zeal
condition. They ought and H1st know more.
There is much connected with them, and
many things are daily transpiring, in which
they are the sectors or the objects acted upon,
which ought to be known and read Of all
men. The imminent danger to which these
unfOrtunats people are exposed, their press
ing ne 'essities, and their extreme destitution,
are very imperieotly known even to the most
devoted friends Of the negro. The reason
for this is obvious. The attention Of the
whole country have been engrOssed with the
preservation Of the government and the pro
gress Of the war.
have been In the city Of Leavenworth
about two weeks, during which time I have,
as Tar ss possible, looked into ell the phazes
Of conaaband life here. have visited these
frssd men in thsIr lowly and, in most eaSeg,
miserable dwellipgs-I have sat by their sick
and dying-I have talked to them in their
msetings-I have been with them in their
religious exercises, IN short, have spared no
pains to hnd out their physical wants, as
we'll as their condition mentally and NOR
auy. propose in this letter to give your
readers some OF the results of my eramina-
tion. Ny sketches, owing to the crowded
state of your journal, must be brief and i'm.
perfect.
Prominent among the feelings and eharac-
tsristlos Of the fugidves here are specially
remarkable, their intense love of Rbsrtg--
their determination to be free-their viii
Hneness to make any sacrifice to get their
freedum-their thirst fof what they call
shook learning g'-their patient endurance OF
al the suffering and privatiOns consequent
upon their want Of comfortable homes and
SUFFICIENT food, and their readiness and anx
isty to work and get money.
The heroic daring and intTipidity shown
By many Of the fugiti7es here, both men and
women, in achieving their own liberty and
fhst Of their children and friends, are not
only startling and incredible, but an over
whelming refutation of the base prO-slavery
slander, that colore6 men are satisfied and
happy as slaves. But It IS no part of my
object at this time 10 chronicle the exploits
Of these 0utrf ged people, or to eulOgize their
heroism, nor is it my intention to herald any
Of their good qualities; but desire rather
70 tell your readsrs something of their desti-
tuition and suffering. There are in this city
and It's neIghborhood, judging from the most
reliable information can get, shout eight
cen hundred eontrsban5s. Some well in
formed persons put the number at two thou
sand, while others put it as low as fifteen
hundred. A large majority Of this number
are women and children, many Of the men
having been taken by their masters, or the
Southern army, into Arkansas, while the
less valuable women and children have been
protected and brought into this State by the
generosity and beneyolence of the Union
soIdiery. Many of them we're brought here
destitute Of the most common neeessaries Of
lite. They came in here during the months
Of February and March ia large companies.
As many ss one hundred and twenty-five
came on q single evening. Some Of them,
particularly the younger portion, walked
through snow several inches deep without
shoes or stockings, their other clothes being
much less than were necessary for comfort
Their appearance was then, and Is nov, az
eloquent appeal 70 the Christian charity and
kindness Of every behOlder.
VIII say q word of some Of the houses
which visited. The hrst house which I en-,
tered found to be the dwelling place o
p fourteen eontrabands. Si3 Of them Wer
well, and had obtsined work in different part
Of the city. hight of them were on the sicl
list; six Of them had their feet SO badly frost
ed thst they walked about the room with th,
greatest difficulty and seYerest pain, o.
son1s Of their feet the toes were entirely gone
The other two had fallen among thieves
kidnappers One was shot in the left arm a
Wgandotte IN this State, but Vss Delivers
from the bands Of his captors BY two Uniol
soldiers. The other, after being beaten witt
clubs and cut with knives, had succeeded Il
making his escape. l next visited contra
band boarding hoGse. It is kept by a fugi
tive family who left Missouri shout the las
Of December. In this house I found twenty
one men, women and children, several .
whom were sick. I was glad TO be informe
that the sick were eonvslesoent These sic
persons, and many Others who are well, hs
been supported and cared for by this famil
for from two to six weeks each without an
compensation, and with but little assistanc
from the friends Of humanity in this city, e
LsavsnWorth has had so many who needle
assistance during the last few months tbs
no one family, or no one house, could reoeiV
mEch. The family came from slavery penn
less and without change Of clothing.
aiked the lnndlady how she had supporte
herself and children during the winter, wit
Sc much poverty and 90 many membranes
HeF ansWer did g tale of want and woe NJ
fold whose ightest words would harrow q
thy soul. In another house Of two rooms
found eighteen persons. Several Of the il
mates we're sick. There have been IN th
house, since the 18th Of March, eightee
deaths. visited many other houses, whic
I found less crowded, and whose inmat
were less destitute and more comfortable.
The above statements will give you but
faint iDkling Of the immense amount of 50
Es-ing which has been experienced this VII
ter end spring By this unfortunate class
car fellow creatures. There is not so mut
anfaring now, The houses are less eroWdt
than they we're q few weeks ago. Son
have died; many are scattered in differe
Psrts Of TIE city and county, where th'
have found employment. Some hsve be-
dagged back into the hell Of slavery, viii
Others, who srs still unable 70 work OF a
without employment are living as best thl
can On the charities Of their white and colo
sd friends here, which have already be-
greatly oFsEtaEad. Connected with an 4
destitution, snd want, and suffering, Is o.
strange fact, IS true as it is strange. L
this, that not one Of these eontrabands b
bssi before the Reooudef's or any other COT
IN this city for petty or grand lsrcshy ,drun
enness, o. assault and battery, or any otE
crime, ID the last two months. Indeed, (
Recorder or the City Solicitor cannot rene
Der Of eEef having one Of these Faople bef,
then Oh any charge or complaint WhateV
YouTa. n "a Il