Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-03-31
FROM THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE OF MARCH 81.
From VicEsburg 49, The Contrabamds Leased
Plantatioas-A Interesting RevieaO.

YIcKsBURG, miss. MARCH 12 1864
To the army the disposition of the negro is becoming
subject of gigantic proportions, and unless it is relieved
by the phan people of the NORTH who have shown
their loyalty aud benevoence in tho organisation OF SAM
tary commissions for the soldiers it will be so overbur
dened necessarily impede the operations OF the coming
campaign The constant iugress to our lines Of refugees
both white and black with every shade OF color between
the two who have travelled long distances exposed 10
inclemences of the weather md without food clothing
presents spectacle wrec! to behold far ouyleing IN
poverty restitution and suffering the worst class oil pau
per emigration which lands upon our Atlantic shores
The banks of the Mississippi river are lined with negro
huts and rude cabins among whom there Is vast amount
Of desutoD, starvation, and sickness The late exped
ton Of Sherman on their return to Vcksburg brought IN
from ten to eleven thousand coored persons OF all
very many died on the route They were taken imme-
disey on board transports and sent to different places
the river mostly. am informed, by those VINO had
them in charge on the expedition they were destined r
JEFF Daviss plantation where they were quartered ana
supplied as well as may be by the Government Yet hey
dying from fifteen to twenty day, and need What
is almost impossible for Government to supply them win.
The general tendency Of change in their naps 10 INC
army rations and exposure to scorbutc Diseases hh
important that some measures be lmmsaiatoy '0Aoh :"
supply them with vegetables. There is no reason WY
they should be left to suffer, although there seeus
but little feeling exhibited by many officers IN Inc army,
who talk if their extinction rather 10 DO oeso
than otherwise The extreme scarcity and high prices
of prov makes it matter Of certainty that great
many will die of starvation, especially exposed as 'ney "
to the visits OF guerrlas who carry on 10 many pooo
their supplies limited they are. The genera loohns "
insecurity of plantation business has prevented tne ro
getting employment The rebel raids to Shippers and
n, tha llu nf In
and plantation supplies until mounted force occupies
these places The gunboats themselves offered but little
protection to these nightly rebel raids composed Of expert
Texan outlaws who plumber for the sake Of plumber all
parties Very many Northern men have already TAKEN
plantations Many more anxious to do So PROVIDED
the Government will afford protection, and are awaiting
both action in this direction and the arrival OF supplies
already purchased They feel much alarmed ana ra'ner
Respondent yet promised that orders will arrive az
Vcksburg, by Thursday Of this week from Washington
giving them the invalid corps and the marine corps lot
this purpose There said to be five hundred persons IN
Ycksburg engaged in cotton buying who have TO get per-
mts from each county they operate in aud the scouting
from the gunboats is mostly in those places where cotton
expected to be found, and where spectators ABOUND
My own opinion founded upon conversation with the old
planters and residents of the South that the plantation
busness is hazardous best and extremely unsafe with
out thorough protection of the stationed forces at all points
where such operations carried and they will not
work their own without security from the Government
aud Of protection from al parties whatever.
An expedition is board OF Transports gong up Red
river for thirty DAYS. after which another expedition OF
magnitude and importance is expected,
The late proclamation of the President has brought
many of the citizens Of Vcksburg back to the lines anx
ous to take the oath Of allegiance aud got possession OF
their property occupied by army officers and their
familes by boarding house keepers, and contrabands
The matter at best will be very much mixed as personal
property and furniture has been disposed OF or changed
about and in many instances transported by official dRn
tares as we'll as changed houses by the remaining clti
Gems themselves before the officers occupied them Vcks
burg is full Of negroes to overlooking. The Prentice
House is occupied hospital for them II s undergoing
repairs, and is commodous and we'll kept DIR. ID. o.
McCord medical director for the freedmen and his office
is in this building Col Eaton has the general supervision
of the contrabands and schools established here and
| at various points where they congregated where
teschers directed by him from various commissions
reports the results Of their labor but suffer
much embarrassment from the transition state OF affairs
where the children often changed from one point
to another Here is almost uaitnited field for the
missionary operations but the first great want
food aud clothing until they get in condition to help
themselves and find employ ment raise something to
subsst upon. The Northwestern Freedman's Aid Com
mission organic alton for this purpose, and has
ust commenced IFS operations.
J d. SrrLLMAN, M. ID.
A. A. Surg ", s. A Mt Columbus Ky.