New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-03
vc0-n TEE pfxsBIss;PP7.
Tn. Connscatrd Rebel pIaniations-At.
tn.k On thcu by tho Iscsels-Negroes
in Gen. Grnnps Army md In Viehs'
burg Their Terrible SunerinEs in
Vicksbura.

burg Their Terrible SuGerinEs an
vicLsbura.
Letter fsorn Delegs,. 0. the Christian Conni'ionl
ST. LoUIs Sept. l. l5o3.
Rtr. VI. G. ELIOT, d. D.-Dear Sir: KNOW
Ing that you take deep interest IN oil that pertains 70
tho elevation Of the negro race have thought 4 not
enss to preen. sou some facts which saw
relative TO their condition In and around NcksouTB
during my recent visit to that place. Through tho
Kindness Of Gen. Grant permitted to poss unno'
tested through eli lines IN his army and thus had I'M
usual opportunities for observing tie condition botD OF
bis troops and that Of the negroes who 90 atey had
been delivered from bondage. Desiring In en- humble
WAY TO contribute something 10 your knowledge Of the
condition Of these people, submit to your perrsa and
use the following narrative with tho hope that you MY
be enabled 10 do something Tor their relief.
On the afternoon Of July was passing down the
Mississippi nom Lake Providence 10 Ycksbgrg. on the
steamer W. Between Lake Providence and Mill
kent Bend on the Louisiana sdo Of the river there are
many ine plantations which were deserted By theif
owners. and taken possession Of by tho United States
Government Nothing remained Of their former beauty
bu. the waste land the negroquarers and cotton sns
the pan.ers homes being mostly destroyed and marked
only By standing chInneys aad tie scorehed groves
and furnish homes for crgs numbers d contrabands,
Who would otherwise DO destitute and homeless, these
plantations wore taken possession Of By tie Govern
neni and leased to certain parties. With permission to
employ tie negroes and raise cotton corn. and other
products. On tie afternoon mentioned nearly every
plantation thus situated was iaraded by parties O.
armed Rebels the leasehOGer In some instances sezec
and carried C with as many Of his negroes as could be
found tie oo.,ongn and resroquariers burned ahd
everything capable Of destruction destroyed. VII
nes,ed on every hand tie ascending columns OF smo1s
rising fro tho Burning rgins. end pited tie poor ne
rroe. that had fed N terror tie rivers hank toE
safety. hen. women and children, sick and wei. Il
t.tterei garments which scarcely covered Their naked
ross were croucAng In groups behind tie friendly bank
At tho waters edge in evident dread les, ther puIssef
should End them. Each had q dirty bundle OK clothes
or ta,erea tsg doubtless filed with provisions or an
old irving pen bucket kettle or basket OF such Other
article az could be hastily SEIZED aad carried. Women
held their Little babes 10 thelr painting breasts whe
their older children eiurs "a terror 10 their mothers
nrnts Al one point they Lad cot possession o!
al old skin dug ont. sad. 40 three .iErs.
cutie COMPANY had cF's3ed 20 asard bar On tie Ms
..sippl side where they krddod together under
.heis Of brush which they were building 10 shelter
themselves nom tie and RAIN and tie dcws Of night
They bcckoned iespA.riay t. be taken on board. BIT
ve passed on. What became q these negroes know
ro, They mos, have numbered seyorl hundreds.
landed late Ia the ovenins al Chckcsaw Landing. on
Tie Yazoo and on tho following day set OF. foF tie
CAMPS and hospitals In o. tie forces thA, were con-
duciug the siege. obsoryed.Arge numbers Of negroes
emp.oyed Transfers COOKS servants. ard !aboFers
IN The camps and about tie hospitals oil laborng sqra-
rcrtly With energy. and accomplishing more or less
according 10 ihe!r seycr capacities, There was sen
sral desire among them 70 drive sharp bargain aud
get good wages. On tie eyoning Of tie memorable
Fourth oiJuly. rodo along the lcyee Of VieksbGrg
observing the hungry multitude pacing up and down.
ard begging bread OF mea, from the hty steam
ers that lying In foni u the city The prisoners
generally were sad and weak iron misfortune aud long
lss,nf bu. tie negroes gathered IN companies OF 4
dozen or more. laughing And rejoicing with ire.
preside delight. a, dark !Hteli gentlooklng negro
man came 10 and said "Aa.sa an Alnos: starved
ave had nothing 10 eet since yesterday" gave HIN
some meat crackers and pickles. lie then asked ne
10 excuse him TIL he could share his food with his wife
who was at hose near by He returned after brief
absence and then told re that 10 and hi, vito belonged
20 Or Booth who lived some eli .ht miles in roar Of
before its surrender. Ee eonfded implicitly in ne as
soon 90 he learned tha. nom TIE North. Whlo
slept on an elevated platform In front OF old
mil. this negro faithfully guarded and my horse
through the darkness Of the night trusted him. and
found lin faithful as ON quite SIRE the negroes gen
orally are 70 their Geverers and such they regard oil
Union soldiers and Northern men III deceived. While
he thus guarding NE. ulan tried in yain By fair
promises and LIBERAL Offers TO induce hin 20 turn my
horse loose and 60 on ose OF the veseS Of the marine
Geet. 10 oonfdcntlaly Informed that he had bcet
saving money for long time and tina. be had then ESQ
IN gold and silver. Ie wanted ne 10 sc. permission
for him and hs wife to keep boarding house. made
como inquiries but matters then In much con.
fusion that could give hin no satisfaction other than
TO act as o freeman. Ho was soon after employed BY
the Government, and saw lin no more. Immediately
after our troops took possession Of Vicksbure. the
sroes who taking Of their masters in camps
and hospitals at orsook them for their deycrers
On July g. visited several Of tie Rebel hospnls and
convacscon. camps and found IL On In very distressed
condition owing In great TO the teseron Of
tho negroes, WHO had been cooks nurscs aud etterd
ants These slayss showed hit little affection FOR tAel.
masters when ffeodo-i was brought so near
After Pcmhcrton marched on. with bis army. yieks.
burg looked upon by tho negroes the worry gate Of
heaven and they came roopug to It az pigeons to thcr
roost at night. When Gen Sherman returned from tho
pursuit OF Johnston crowds Of them followed his army
across tho Zig Black AID spread themselves over tie
country between 1t and tho Mississippi c. yicAsbarg.
Whon visiting tho Missouri troops in Gen shormans
corps. saw large numbers OF these negroes grouped
N camps and companies, in a most wreiched and
lliisbo condition. Their only shelter was brush piece,
4 old tents. quilts and whatever else would afford them
my protection. They lived upon such food as they
ould obtain in camps by working for the soldiers or in
'ther ways gratifying them. After tho departure Of
emlert0ns aTmY ON The I'm nf LulY hnnsnnln u these