The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-18
NO 29O
FROM LAKE PROvIDENoE.
Negroes FlOcking to the Armv--
Their Horrible SufFerings in the
SWamps-A BIao, Horn

Their Horrible Sufferings in the
Swamps-A Black Hero.
A correspondent of the New York
lines relates the following facts:
Every few minutes We met little groun,
of negroes, who had escaped from their
masters on the other side of HRavor
Macon" We stopped to talk to many Of
these groups. They usually comprised
one or two families--men, women and
ohildren--who had escaped together.
Many OF them told us Of frigAiful hard
ships that they had endured in their en-
deavors to escape. Two families told ma
that they had waded across the swami
six miles in width, which lies on ihis
side of "Bayou Macon" and during tba
two days and one night which thew had
passed in the swamp, they had tbs
greater portion of the time been mn 40
their waists in mud and water, and dur-
ing that time had had nothing to eat.
IAey were carrying their children
mounted on their shoulders, and in this
position bad carried them through The
whole OF those fearful tive davs and
night The black faces of the ittls
creatures looked ashy and haggard from
long fasting and sleeplsssness, and mora
than one of them looked as thoueb 6o.b
had set his seal upon its pinched IItIa
features. Yet under all this SUFFERING.
the adults were cheerful. They wora
clad in rags, were half starved, had besn
half drowned in mud and water w.
suffering from the fatigue of CARRYING
thelr children on their shoulders, and
YET their faces were radiant with
Joy. They had voluntarily braved
the danger of being detected ana
shot willingly encountered the horrors
OF the swamp for the one great boon of
freedom. They had gained Il and were
happy IL seemed TO me that no man who
had the least spark of human kindness
In his composition, or whatever his pre-.
ludices might have been, could have
looked upon their patient, trustful and
joyful faces without compassion. Gropn
alter group we met winding their woH
to the army at Lake Providence. until IN
our ride of five miles | estimated ,hst
we had met over two hundred We asked
some OF the men if they were willing "A
light for the Government if thew wore
armed, and to die if need be in the oause
10 such question the most of them an.
swered in that quiet but determined
manner which, though hut few words
were spoken, seems but the cover 10 n
stern and deadly resolution. Ono an.
swered: "DOes you tink, massa dat w.
Wouiu be afraid TO fight after DARN 10 ca
into dat swamp We thouoht net
We were told Of one negro whom m.
soldiers call Union lin. who, on a ros
cent scouting expedited, came across
lhree rebels in the swamp. lie called 10
them to surrender. They answered bv
ilring upon him, but fortunately without
hurting him. He returned the fire. kin
ing one of them. do then called mon
them second time TO surrender. which
they considered it discreet to do. Tbev
laid down their guns, Of which Jim took
possession, and marched their owners
into camp as his prisoners.
The negroes tell us that the Rehet IN
habitants Of Lake Providence and vioip-
ity, who have moved back TO the Other
side OF Bayou Macon" have built
themselves log houses, and made ouite a
settlement. On this side of HBayou
Macon" cypress swamp six miles in
width extends for 30 miles up and
down the Bayou. Behind this swAmn.
lmpassable TO any one but tho negroes
melted by their desire for freedom Iha
Rebels feel safe, for the present Al least.
Ihe negroes say, also, that there are 500
Rebel troops there, and three or four
times that many negroes. The utmost
vigilance on the part Of the Rebel troops
IS necessary TO keep the negroes from
rising in insurrection, or from runnino
away ii two negroes are seen talking
70 each other, they are Immediately or
dered 70 separate. II one is detected in
second eilense of the kind, he "a inn
medialely shot without mercy. They
are as strictly guarded as felons ia the
hulkS, and are really more cause of anr-
iety to the Rebel garrison of 500 than
our whole army At Lake Providence
When the idea Of arming and organizing
them as soldiers was first suggested I
doubted IL they possessed sufficient in
telligence and pride to make good sol-
diers, and doubted IL they had the moral
courage TO fight. have now been with
the various armies Of the South West
nearly year. have had good oppor-
tunities for observation, and have en-
deaVored to form an opinion of the aver
age intelligence Of the slave population,
unprejudlced by the colog Of their skin,
and l think that no man, whose porcep.
tion Is not obscured by prejudice, could
fail 10 arrive At the conclusion that az
least two thirds Of the men slaves would
make brave and effective soldiers.