New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-11
From Lnkc Providenee-Negroes Fioeking
to the Army-Their Horrible suncrings
in tho Swamps-A Black Hero.

A correspondent Of The NJ y. 2i,ae, relates the
following facts:
Every few minutes met little groups Of negroes
who had escaped from their rnastnrs ON the oiher
side Of Bayou Macon We stopped 10 talk 10
many of these gr0ups. They usually comprised ooe
or two famiies-inen, women and ehildsen--who
had ESCAPED together. Many Of them told us OF
fightful hsrdslnps that they had endured IN their
endeavors 10 escape. Two iumits told us that they
had waded scross the swainp, six miles IN width,
which lies on tis side OF Bayou Macon and dur
ing the two days and one night which they had
passed III the swamp, they had the greater pofuo
Of the tue been up 10 their WRISTS III mud ana
water and during that time Lad had nothing TO eat.
They were carrying their children mounted on
their shoulders aud Ill thls posit'on had carried
item through the whole Of those fearful two
DAYS and night The black faces Of the little
creatures looked ashy and haggsrd from long iasng
ana sleep essne-s and more than one Of them looked
IA though death bad oct his seal upon Its pincied
little features. Yet, under all this suffering, the
adults were cheerful. They were clad IN rags, were
half starved, had been bali drowned III mud and
wafer, were suffering frou the fatigue OF carrying
their ,hnren their shoulders and yet their iaces
were radiant with Joy. They had voluntarily
braved the danger OF being detected and shot, VIII
iugly encountered the horrors OF tie swamp for the
one grea, boon offieedom. They had gained 1t, and
were happy. 1t seemed TO me that DO man who had
the least spark Of human kindness IN ms compotition
or whatever HE yTeiudices might have been, could
faces without compaesioD. Group after group we
met, vending their way 10 tho army al Lake
Providence, until in onr ride OF five miles esli.
ated that we had met Overtwo hundred. We asked
some Of tue men If thoy were willing 10 bght Tor the
Government if they were armed, and TO die if need
be- ID the cause. 10 such question the moot OF
them answered in chat quiet but determined manner
which, though but few words were spoken, seems
but the cover to n stern and deadly resolution One
answered: docs you tink, msssa, dat we would
be afraid fight afer DARN 10 20 into dat swamp
We thought not. We were told Of ono negro whom
the soldiers call Union JIM" who, on II recent
scouting expedition, came ACROSS three Rebels IN tho
swamp. he called TO them to surrender. They An
swered by firing upon him, bat fortunately without
hurting Lin. lie returned the fire, killing one OF
theu lie then called upon them second time to
surrender which they considered II discreet 10 do.
They laid down their guns, OF which jim took pos
sesrion, and marched their owners into camp ~ his
prisoners.
The negroes tell us that the Rebel inhabitants Of
Lake Providence and vicinity who have moved bae K
to the other side OF Bayou Macon" have bulls
themselves Lighthouses, aud made quite settlement.
On this side of Bayou Macon" cypress swamp
six miles Ii width extends for 50 miles up and down
tho Bayou Behind this swamp, impossible TO any
dom, the Kebels feel safe, for the present at least
The negroes say, also that thcre are 500 Rebel
troops there, and three or four times that many
negroes. The utmost vigilance on the part Of the
lie Del troops ncCebbhIy w AeeP Soo hekioen lioh
rising 10 iusurrecion, or from running away. II two
negroes are seen takngt to each other they are i'm.
mediaely ordered 10 separate. II ono 10 detected in
second ofense of the kind, he is immediately shot
without mercy. They are as strictly guarded as
felons in tho hulks, and are really more cause OF
anxiety 10 the Rebel garrison OF 500 than our whole
army at Lake Providence. When the idea OF arm
ing and organizing them as soldiers was Fret sug-
res.ed, doubted II they possessed sufficient Inelli.
g.nce and pride TO make good soldiers, and doubted
If they had the moral courage to fight. have now
been with the various armies OF the South-W eat
nearly year. ] have bad good opportunities iOr
observation and have endeavortd TO form al oP,H-
ion OF tho average intelligence Of the slave poslls;
ton, uDpre Gdiced by the color OF their thIn ana
Link that 10 man, whose perception u not obscnreH
by prejudice, could fail TO arrive al be ccpclus0a
hat at least tWs-ihirts Of the men slaves wouid
nake brave ano elective soldiers
PRIvlTrlns.- Capt Gray, Of the brig Resola'e,
rom Ponce, p. r., 9th nlt, arrived on Tuesday
morning. says he heard Of no prvatecrs in that viein
,y. Capt. Peuingill 81 the brig Thomas Owens
rom Nueviias Goth, and CNpt. Duell, from PH'eados
he 24b make similar reports