Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-25


You may have heard before this that Cos
E and +, of the 5lst, left this place Monday,
May 4, and, together with other companies OF
the regiment stationed between Morehead
and Newbern, along the line of railroad, and
went to their old home, Foster Barracks, on
the Trent. l understand that these barracks
are to be taken down and removed to the
north side of the fort, com anding the river
and the bridge crossing the river at that place,
for the purpose of commanding a range of the
large plain facing the south. Cos. L and F
left this place in high spirits, having spent
two months here very happily, and were
much recruited. On leaving, they gave
''three rousing cheers for the Union and It's
friends here, and as many groans for the Sc
cesh, and seemed to leave rejoicing that other
tired and WORKOUT soldiers might come here,
fill their places, and enjoy the many Injuries
this place affords over most Others in this
latitude. They were relieved by three COM
panieS of the Slst New York, who had been
before Yorktown and Richmond and through
the war on the peninsula, had seen much ser
vice, and were somewhat worn by long expo
sure and many marches.
The patients in the hospital here now num-
Der not far from 300. They are all doing
very well, and in most of the wards are con.
valescent. But few deaths have occurred at
this hospital for the past two months.
1t is now the season of foliage, and all ma
ture has put on its gay attire Flowers of
many kinds seem to abound here, and the
rose, of which there are a great many yarie-
he in, full
soil just in and about this place is very sandy
yet the gardens where there is a suficiencv of
loan mixed in with the sand are looking very
finely. The first crop Of green peas is past
and soon new potatoes will be on hand The
sun is taking an elevated position, and the
weather is becoming more regularly warm
Yet the breeze of each afternoon coming
from seward cools and tempers the atmos-
phere, and renders the nights comfortable
Fish of variety Of kinds have been and are
still caught along this coast, or more properly
in the channel, and are daily brought to this
place for sale.
There seems to be three distinct classes of
reople here, besides the soldiers. The rich
and poor whites, and the colored population
the latter being most numerous. Neither of
these classes associates with the others-the
more wealthy despising the poorer class, and
tiS III uih uSSp lSllS lhc NEGROES. But al
most all classes, old and young, and more
particularly the female population, are united
in one habit, and that is the habitual use of
snuff; and very unlike our northern people,
who sometimes indulge in pinch through the
nasal organ, they chen it. 1t is very seldom
that you can pass house or even enter one,
where female may be seen, and not see pro.
trudlng from her mouth a short stick or twig.
the tibers upon the end of which are separated
like broom. They commonly use the black
gum bush, on account of its fibrous texture
which, after being chewed into broom, is
used as Il swab, upon which is gathered the
snuff from the box. 1t is rubbed upon the
teeth and gums. | can not say whether it is
elected from the mouth or swallowed, but |
suppose the former, from appearances. 1t is
not uncommon for females to ask for a pass
over the lines to gather this bush, for the pur-
pose of making snuff brushes. Their COM
peXiOn partakes of the plant upon which they
feed, which ottentmes renders it difficult to
distinguish the white from the mulatto. The
Yankee must be on the lookout, or he will
be caught asking some white lady if she was
ever slave, or with what regiment she came
in as a contraband.
On coming here we found Il school for white
children, and not many attending that; but
the cOlored people had no such advantages.
Two schools were, however, soon started for
the blackstone for the adults, taught by cor
poral Mcclellan of Co. Il, and one for the
children. taught by private in Co. f. When
these companies left Beaufort these teachers
were detailed for some duty pertaining to the
regiment, and they continue their schools.
The two schools have now increlsed-one to
ninety, and the adult school to eighty Schol.
ars. The school for children has been very
short OF suitable books, having only few
spoilers. Last week, two boxes of books were
received from the north, box of new school
books from friends in West Brookfield, and a
box OF secondhand school books collected
and sent by lady of Providence, r. |. To
these several donors we would express our
sincere thanks; and to Miss c., through
whose agency they were obtained. If they
could visit these schools, and see the progress
made since they first received instruction, and
that they are now making by aid of the new
books, they would feel more than rewarded.
A sabbath school was instituted in the
church for colored people, by corporal j. &.
Hastings of Co. f, 5lst regiment, some five
weeks ago, which now numbers more than
200 scholars, and is in prosperous condition.
Some members of the 5lst, here from New