New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-17
VISIT TO RtxF.as ISLAND.
Talk with the Rccr"i allow Uncle s"'n'r
Soldiers arr swindIcd.

mr. McDougal the .dical Director reporter vas
permitted TO visit Rivers Island yesterday ana make
particular and perIxal inquiries in RELATION " 'o a.
Lced frauds essnritted BY the Runners agaitst the
white and black recruits temporarily quaVereo mere
I'm the Isl1na thore are about 500 white ard coored
pen guarded by q detachment oil 'esu"As ".u '''u"
h.s wt, have seen service; and. we may add IN inc
nguo, Of one of the officers THAI so great Is INC con-
Saeuo of the parties in charge in the ndehty "hWP"'
xv,,,;.r of the black soldiers that Eumber oil them
a.. ,op chosen 10 perform the duties o; guard of
lssUr
,ed mon who been trained 20 the use Of oars by
white sergeant and they constitute naval force held
i. constant readiness TO pursue with boats any man " no
attempts TO desert by swimming floating of in any
wav These men have the reputation OF being very ac
eomplshed oarsmen. and equal TO any race they may
have 90 run with those who prefer deserton to duty
Thus far not single case OF negro deseron has been
recorded So faithfully and cheerfuly have the blacks
performed their services. they are with the Old 'e'er
ans placed on sentinel posts day and might to Wa'eh
the leland.
Strange as may appear it is nevertheless true tDa'
volunteers conscripts, and regulars, have never NAM
tested the least disrespect toward the negroes mere IN
consequence Of their color
Having heard Of the brutal treatment Of the blacks,
who fen into the hands of the thieves and kdnsppers III
New.York We first directed our steps TO their camp TO
ascertain fhe facts from their own lips.
They were busily engaged in breaking camp ana
pitching their tents pleasanter part OF the island
One had bundle Of straw in his arms another load
Of tent furniture bis back. Here one was driving III
posts there one was mailing boards and they were oil
industrously employed As rs they found out the
object of our mission they left their work and gathered
oln no staf Mt of
snces We select the following facts from many OF sim
liar import:
John Harrison drank liquor q number Of times WIN
white man whom BE met at the corner of Prince and
Mercer streets This white man was rather short in
stature and had curly hair. Harrison was finally In
duoed 10 enlist perform the duties Of servant but
was afterwards compelled 10 Join the ranks. he never
received one cent OF tie County bounty money HarT
son is verv intelligent and goodlooking negro, who
has been in the army bcdy-servant for two years
He says thu he is not afraid Of powder and Lead but he
wants his bounty money for bis wife
? Andrew johnson Of Hartford, Conn. visited New
York, and vas hailed by man in the City Hal Park
who persuaded him to enlist and then pookeied sl5 Of
his money. He received only Si25. lie likes the ser
vice and is willing 70 do lis duty in the camp or in the
field but nc wants the authorities 10 arrest the man
who cheated him.
John W. jackson induced 20 enter the service IN
aserant BY the same artful dodger with short legs
and curly hair jackson did not discover the trick
that had been played upon him until after he was sworn
In. He promised the bounty money. but he did not
receive cent Of it.
John JaiInison was persuaded by police oihcer TO
ioin the army He received only g., and was sent of
with the promise that the balance of the bounty would
be paid TO him his arrival al Rikefs Island, but be
has not received it.
Henry Valentine of White Plains was defrauded Of
$50 by pale skin, who promised him the rest Of the
bounty. but never KEPT his promise
Walter Burl Of Pennsylvania received only s2j out
OF the $500 due 10 him. A man by the name Of Abe
Clemens got 20 eniist ulaol t''v ..oiso 49,. -
should 80 with Col Hallan. as his body-servant
Brown Wesley seized in the streets OF New York
badly beaten. and then locked up all night. He was
not examined BY surgeon. He Fever took tie oath.
but the white men who committed the assault took him
from place to place. though he had been criminal
and then be was TO tie Island. BE was on his way
70 the telegraph Office at the time the outrage ws com
xted He begged 20 be allowed the privilege Of send
fug word Of his wheresbout 10 his WIFE His request
was answered with blows. he never received a far
thing Of the bounty money. BE i willing % serve BIS
country but be utters bte- protest against the treat
ment be has received at the hands Of the bdnsppers
who under false preexts. seized. frightened beat and
finally robbed him Of his bounty.
Walter Dunbar enlisted voluntarily received go, and
was promised tie payment Of the balance in the course
of day or two after he reached the Island. Two
Lishmen did the job for him They thought nasufS
made ixciilint soldiers.
John Williams received si25 and wac cheated out OF
els.
Henry Bailey said he received eco and had TO pay the
$50 to doctor to pass him.
John NarshaIl a thin-faced old man. who was en-
ployed in the Exchange Bank. all street was seized
at night and carried away The doctor did not exam
Inc him On one Of his hands be has bat two fingers
and is in other respects totally unfit for service.
Thomas Leonard Daniel Travers T.. Byard, enlisted
In Brooklyn and we're promptly paid $500 each.
Walter Brown little black boy, an orphan. ffteen
years Of age got s0 The following received the sums
set opposite their names;
John Lee...............95 $50 w H. Lsne..........S1
Jeremiah Thomas 20 r. stout ........... ~
&. r. Mediterranean. 100 John OTeen..s....... 70
Thomas Wilsrns........ l3 Nelson Duer......... 80
John Henderson iyl r. H. bre"''rs''''''' ~
Joseph GorsJn............ lyt
Tie latter Is from Islip, Long Island. He was In.
duced against bis will TO enlist but is willing to
in the army if biz wife and infant child have the ad
yantages Of bis bounty money
There are about 900 colored soldiers The Island
AID in company Of 90 men. only four had received
the $500 bounty which is their due. We saw old
of6O who had been forced into the army and yesterday
poor fellow who had volunteered the day before and
received his money He says Lieutenant advised hin
70 place his bounty money in his Che Lieutenant) keep
ing for the night that would be safe. The officer
took the money promising u return 1t to the recruit in
She morning. The morning 20 him. but the OIL
Ger did not
s.A - Lad ffe