Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-10-31
Frighiini Condition Of The Blacks al
Observation-Disclosures Philanthropy
SAD Picture of Dealh aud Horror.

! oOutS-tUoiiiOn FhiidutnrOpy-I
SAD Picture of DeaIh aud Horror.
The Rev. VIM. d. Butler, an agent of
the Christian Commission, sends from
Nioksburg most deplorahle account of
the sufferings of thenegroes who have been
induced to abondon the plantaions and
come into the American camp. He says
"Ater Pemberton marched out with his
army, Ficksburg was looked upon by the
negroes as the very gate of heaven, and
they came trooping to it as pigeons to their
roost at ght When Gen. Sherman re-
turned from the pursuit Of Johnson, crowds
OF them followed his army across the Big
Black, and spread themselves over the
country between it and the Mississippi at
! Vicksburg. When visiting the Missouri
troops IN General Sherman corps, saw
large numbers Of thee negroes, grouped
in camps or companies, in most wretched
and pitiable condition. Their only sbel.
ter was brush, pieces of old tents, quilts,
and whatever else would afford them any
protection. They lived upon such food as
they could obtain in camps by working
ior the other soldiers or IN other ways
gratifying them. After the departure of
Pcmberton's army on the 18th of July,
thousands Of these miserable creatures
filled the vacant houses, churches, sheds
and caves. Here they crowded together
sometimes twenty or more in single
room, weary, weak and sick from their
cng march and abstinence, spiritless and
sad, and many Of them longing to be nee
mere on old massa S plantation On the
morning of July 30 having slept the night
previous in the Presbyterian church, l
went out early to examine the premises
The first object that attracted my attention
in the rear of the church was the tall skcl-
eton Of negro man sitting on the ground
with his back TO 4 port, and his head hang
ing down upon his breast, and his arms
resting almost powcrless at his side. He
evidently was very sick. raised his head
IA little and asked what allied him. 'Oh,
; Sir he feebly exclaimed, L have the
diaroea and the fever Have you nc
friends !? asked. Yes; my mother and
sisters live in that house, there, point pe
' to little frame building containing about
: dozen or more inmates, 'and have come
: out here to be ceol.' Ipa,sed to the fron
v and on the stone door sill l found anothc
o lying with gourd filed with water at hi
t side. AS l looked al his dirty and wasteC
: form, thought his sufferings would b.
e hut short. He had burning fever, ant
II some kind negro had brought him the wa
ter. l reused him up little, aud he toll
: me that had no medicine, no bread, moth
Il ing to eat. a sodi happened to pas
IS just then with sotnc biscuit under his arm
y / asked one for the negro, which he read
e lily gave. had no mediciue. 1 turne
to enter the basement, and was met by
l. third negro, with swollen feet, tremblin
'F from weakness and want, asking for lit
tie water. A fourth negro was passin
o' with a bucket of water and the sick ma
of was served, and his ievered lips cooled
'r Such was my morning visit before 81
D. o'clock. All these men sold me that the
il had been servants oil officers in the Unlo
e, army, and when taken sick were drive
y, away. After breakfast set out with az
ID other delegate to visit one of the post no.
% pitals. A, we passed along tho streets "
ee encountered on every hand negro mel
lg women and children, gathered in lit
groups on the pavement. in vacant lot
n and in the yards that surrounded houst
d, already filed to OVERLOOKING with others
" " the same color, The want and wretchet
~, ness of shese unlortunates stared us full
,s. in the face. | went into Bapti
ty church, where large number had take
of quarters. shall not attempt to descriI
yc the scene. had before me as filthy al
h. pitiable group of suffering humanity
"a was ever gathered together | learn
from themselves that thay were most
from beyond Jackson. They we
bis mostly plantation negroes, aud many
OIL them were longing to be back to their o
ra! homes. We passed on to the hospital,
'p- While the surgeon in charge was polntil
M out to us the grounds and stating his pla
'he we srw poor negro who had crawl
'ur halt way up to the terraces which su
ng round the building, and apparently dyin
The Doctor remarked that he would d
I'D there; that he had crawled up to get sol
re- medicine, and that they were frequent
yer found dead in the shrubbery aud in 1
are