Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1863-11-07
A Sad Picture.
FROM THE NEW YORK TRIBUNE OF OCTOBER !.
letter from Delegate Of the Christian Oom'al'
sion,

d. AoU'' ""' iN"'~" - lN'''
Rev. w. G. Eliot, D. D.-DeGr Sir Know
ino that YOU take deep interest in all that per-
snina to the elevation OF the negro race, have
thought it not amiss to present you some facts
which saw and learned relative 10 thelr cohal-
tion in and around Vicksburg during my recent
Witt ia that place. Through the kindness of Gen
Giant was permitted to passunmolested through
all lines in his army, and thus had Unusual oppor-
,tnplties for observing the condition both Of his
,troons and that Of tie negroes who SO lately bad
heen delivered from bondage, DesiriUg, III an
humble way, to contribute something to your
lnowledge Of the condition Of these people sub
nit to your perasal and use the following nara
tive, with the hope that you may be enabled to 10
something for their relief
On the afternoon of July lst was passing
down the Mississippi hom Lake Proydence TO
yicksburg on the steamer W. Between
Take Providence and Mikens Bend, on the
Iouisiana side Of the river, there arc many fine
.nlantations which we're deserted by their owners
and taken possession Of by the United States
Government. Nothing remained Of their former
beauty but the waste land, the negro quarters, and
cotton gins, the planters homes being mostly des
troyed and marked only by standing chimney and
the scorched groves which once embowvred them
10 give employment and furnish homes for large
numbers Of contrabands, who would otherwise be
destitute and homeless, these plantations were
taken possession Of by the Government and leased
TO certain parties, with permission to employ the
neoroes and raise cotton corn, and other products.
On Tho afternoon mentioned nearly every planta-
tion thus situated was invaded by parties Of arm
ed rebels, the Ieaseholder IN some instances sez'
cd and carried off, with as many of bis negroes as
,could bs found, the cotton-glns and negro quart
ers burnt, and every thing capable Of destruction
DESTROYED. witnessed on every hand the ascend
inc columns Of smoke rising from the burning
ruins. and pited tho poor negroes that had He'd in
terror to the rivers bank for safety. Men, wo.
men, and chlldren' sch a'iu wei" !" ''Ve'e" eu'
ments, which scarcely covered their nakedness'
were crouchng in groups behind The friendly bank
at the waters edge, In evident dread lest thelr
,nusuers should find them. At enc point ttsy
had got possession Of an old skill or das-out, and
two or three at time, qu.eia company 1"d cross ross
ed to q sand bar on the MISSISSIPPI slde, wnete
they were huddled together under shedso oil orIsh'
which they were building to shelter themselves
from the sun and rain and the dews oIngat. Ihey
beckoned despairlngly to be taken on board pnI
we passed on. What became Of these negroes
know not. They must have numbered several
hundred. :,
On the evening Of the Fourth OF July 1 rode
along the levee OF Vcksburg observing the hun
cry multitude pacing up and down. and bcgg,ln2
bread or meat from the fifty or more steamers tna'
were lying in front Of the city, The prisoners
were generally sad and weak from misfortune and
long fasting, but the negroes gathered in com
panes Of a dozen or more were laughing and re-
ioicing with irrepressible delight AT dark al
intelligent looking negro man came to me anf