Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-02-17
al Ipclaens efllae War

E
A 6orrsspohdsnt Otshs, Chicago Timss,
with our army at Helena, gives the follow.
ing incident Of the war in that region that
will afford food for reflection to the limited
few of our Abolition lfisnds who sre capa-
bic Of reflection upon any subject eonoec-
ted with the negro:
Helena is the county seat Of PHILIPPE
county. Ark, and On important point now.
as it was before the war began. The vii
lage contains about two thousand inbabi.
tsnts. IL 10 situated on plateau, backed
by range of broken hills EXCEEDING back
$40 miles from the river, where the fines.
prairie country the South can boaet Of
commences. This prairie 10 about one
hundred end Fifty miles vide, and thickiy
covered with splendid cotton plantations
The planters arc, or we're, previous to the
var, very wealthy, their plantations and
negroes being worth an average Of about
two hundred Thousand doIIars each. The
Federal pickets extend two milee back
from The river. Beyond them ell are enc
mics. Guerrillas swarm through the coua-
try. picking OF pickets ct the rate Of from
one 90 thirty . night. Helena itself it all
secession. There 10 not truly loyal man
in the entire county. except those in uni
form. -..
Since the LIST Of January the children Of
Ham are having Q hard time Of il. They
ere free, with no one 20 care for thorn, moth
iLg to live on, half clothed and worse fed.
GUd Osly knows what will become of the
poor creatures. t
Col. Busy Post Commanded, 10 Q true
gentleman and we'll liked. Prompt, cOnr-
teous, and business like, ke 10 . good man
for the position. Every day negroes are
coming into bis camp with eheir little bar
dles, claiming protection end food. Tba:s-
day afternoon the following actual event
took place;
j. B. Pillow, brother Of the rebel Gen.
eral, who hes beautiful plantation few
miles from Helena, anj Who Was worth
half million Of dollars previous to the
wi =, came into camp through the lines,
with one hundred and eighty three negroes,
Of both sexes and al ages. At the bead oil
his servants who followed in single file, he
walked to the COlonel's headauartoru, tha
following conversation took place:
GOOD morning. sir"
"Wbere 10 thO comm andant Of the
posti" .. ~,
Before you. SIR"
well, Colonel, here IL my sms II change
in the shape Of free American citissns Of
| African descent, which I deliver over q
you. Here is q correct list OF their names
| ages, sexes, and occupations Please send
them on TO the President. with my compli
meDts, and say TO hin that, IL be Wishel
anything else under my roof, on my
grounds, or 10 my pockets, all hS has 20 do
is to AJAX and receive" ... ,
"Mr. Pillow, cannot receive these PEG
pie, have no food for them-have moth
ing for them to do-have not food enough
for our soldiers. hardly.
"And / cannot use them. ] had bacoT
TO keep them on, but it has been stolen.
had corn, but it has been gobbled. Nov
have nothing for them 10 eat and az Lin
coin has turned this army into DigRe
boarding house. you win please seat thes,
people st your table,"
But have no such power"
"Then give them work. II you fail h
manage them will teach you. The or
can be learned 10 about thirty years."
81 have nothing for them 70 do"
''NOr have l. You will not see then
starve, ] hope. ] am loyal man,-hav
been Q prosperous one, but can no lonRe
care for these people. You have surel,
some use for them. Nearly oil trades sr
here represented among she men. Thr
Vomen you can find use for somewhere"
"Wcll. ! can't take them." f-
my God what will they live on Ca
you sell me corn and bseoni They vii
stsrVe unless you do"
mo, cannot" Il
And you cannot keep themp
mo"
well. God only knows what will b.
come Of them" ... .-
At the head Of bis old servants be left
and the free people followed him back
crying and wondering what next will com
in their behalf. The poor creatures com
into cawp.-steal provisions, &C., are kicL
ed snd cuffed about BY ell hands, aud q
times most numerically pounded BY som
soldiers who will DOT stand their "sass %
The only idea ninety i've Of every huudre
of slaves have Of freedom 10 ease, frsedor
from labor, theft, and lost.