The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-05-01
Stories of Freed Negroes.

Si'iHS interesting accounts CT tne negroes
Who have come within our lines there:
There are some five hundred or more ne
sroes at work near US building an earthwors
tortltication, and probably two or three thou
sand IN all within mile or two of us, who
are refugees from the aeighboring planta
uons. find them as class much more in
telligent than | expected. Of course there
are none, or but very few, wh) can read, bul
| have been many times surprised at the
amount of information they have picked up
The most of them appear to understand all
about the geography of the country both
north and south, and all about the situation
SOIL climate, productions, &c, of the differen,
t.tes in the Union and three fourths of
them, have no doubt, have picked up more
general knowledge from observation than the
average of whites either North or South.
This may look rather steep, but | think it is
true. | do not say that they are as inteli-
gent or as smart, but that they are more OBJ
serving, and recolect what they hear and see.
The;r work is generally hard and dirty, such
as digging bitches and throwing up fortifica-
tions, and | have asked great many the
question how they liked to work, and their
answer is always, "Wc like to work massa !;
We always used 10 work we never mind hard
work cappea, only jest give US chance" l
have never yet seen one Disconnected or
complaining, though they fare pretty hard even
now also ask item if they would fight to
gain their freedom, and have seen only one
who mas hesitated in the least.
Negro No. Born in Kentucky; brought
here and sold to Massa White Oh sugar plan
t.tlon when about seven years old; remem-
orrs seeing snow in Kentucky, some forty
years ago, never married did not want
wife and children to be separated from
And, by thesway, find that Ma ority OF
the more intelligent negroes tell the same
story: tnat they have 10 children and do not
want ANY. Ihls was a new idea to me, but a
very interesting one, and shows that they are
possessed Of some of the finer feelings of hu-
man nature, and even prefer that none of
thsir blood be left in slavery, and deny
the natural instincts Of social ties
and paternity rather than see their children
slaves. lie was used well and never whip
ped except by his oyerseer once, and then
his master took his part. Did not work very
hard, except when they were making su-
gar, but he salways wanted to BE- free and
was willing to work all his days and fight,
too, fol- nothing, if the colored people could
be free.
No. "A large, stout, coarse. black look
ing negro, six feet high, and weighs some
two hundred pounds. He brings all the wa
ter for our whole company, some 100 rods
from the river. 1t takes some six or eight
barrels day, and ne does it promptly and
cheerfully and keeps US Supplied all the time,
and does it easier than any two men in my
company can do it. Before he came | detail
ed two men each day TO bring it, and they
called it very hard work but he does it very
easy III four hours, and is contented to take
his pay in yictuals that would otherwise be
thrown away. He is always gentlemanly
and polite, and does anything any of the
boys ask him to do. One day l asked him
some questions in presence of quite num-
Der who are always blowing about the "cuss-
ed niggers." and drew from him the following
history: Born in Kentucky and married
there and had three children; three years
ago was sold south by his master; has no,
seen his wife or children since, and did not
expect to when he was sold. He wanted TO
die when he was sold has heard since that
his wife was compelled to live with another
man since he was sold-and the tears ran
down his cheeks as he was telling it. He
has not married since, and would not on any
account. "The white men can make the
slave women marry when they don't wish to-
because there are always bad coored people
who will have them but there are many col
ored men who will not marry" He expects
to see his wife and children again soon :;
thinks there is no doubt of it; wants to 90
with US North will be glad to fight if he
can get his wife and children, and then will
fight TIL he dies to help free the rest
No.3. Belongs to battery on the fortif-
cations, which is manned who'll, by negroes,
except the officers talked with him while
he was on guard. He gave me salute due
to a colonel, ard | corrected him and told
him | was not entitled to that salute but
oily to common salute. He thanked me,
and after eylng me moment, said, "cappen,
| tell you what It's, its nj ighty hard for me
to be on guard. | nt; er used to dare speak
to white man without taking off nv hat,
and now they tell me | must say halt to
white men and to big officers too. tell you
1t comes mighty hard and pears SO | can't
do it, but | will try and do as well as l can.
Id stop the rebels desput qrick if they come
here. sure" He was born in Maryland
sold south when he was a small boy; don't
know ny,hing about his family; his master
used hun very hard and he ran away. got
caught. and shut Up to be whipped broke
out in the night ran to the swamp, put herbs
on his feet, so the dogs could not smell him
and escaped and went IS far north as A
miles beyond Nashville. He was in compa-
ny with l6 other Slaves. and in crossing a
railroad in the night they were seen and
sent back One of their number could read
and tell where they were by the guide posts
and posts on the railroad. He was ut Is
months and travelled by The north STAR
They would have got 10 the free states in q
f5w weeks if they had not been seen. This
was two years ago. He was carried back
and punished severel V. When the Yankees
came here he ran away again and now he
was g ad OF the chance to fight the {" she
shesh." This negro artillery is very effective
and drill as well as any I ever saw, and
have no doubt will make very brave soldiers
find that they all understand their rela
tons to the government exactly and thai
there is large party at the North agains
their having their freedom. The great ide;
among them all is to get piece of land fo
their family, and they will be contented will
a very little. They all say they could get
living very easy on small piece of land
some say one acre for family, some two, an,
none want more than four acres for a lars
family. think this is the true solution t
the contraband difficulty. Confscate tn
rebel estates, divide it among the slaves, Civ