, 1864-06-09

him /; that slavery has not been his natural |
condition; that It is better for all that he be |
paid for his labor, and that hs is capable OF
The advance Of the army is practl- |
lions OF orders need be made. Whe,e
tho army treads slavery Is always found
afterwards to hare "gone up" OF the four
million negroes In the South I do not b.
% into haniet n ~ yaile1 t me1ntsIn. ' nook s END and
woods and met them there, that there is q
man. women OF child who does not hail the
Appearance OF the Federal army AZ their de-
liVerets, and look npou their masters q their
jubtlo" has shot electrically throughout the |
entire race, consequently when our columns |
pass NE find them alWafs ready to fall In our
rear with their household gods and goods. |
Every military post becomes docked with
them, and out Of nere humanity the army
has to provide for them. Deprivation and
suffering Of course occurs during this tranal
tory state until they become org lnized and
employed, and the results Of their labors be-
ginto come in; but they bear 1t With fortf-
tude and Il eenslb1e hope In the future and
freedom. / verify believe that not another
class Of people Of any nation, thrown into
the same kind Of revolution would bear 1t
posure, or give them so little uneasiness. By
these miniature colonizatlons-these contra
band camps, many thousands hare become
.Jr<e, useful, happy, se1fRupporting. Families
have become united, the head of the fnmily
assumes his proper dignity, and from thou
sands Of cabins yon hear the songs and
prayers OF ferTent praise
SUPERINTENDENT HARRIS CA2rs
are eix in numberat present, extending along
the Alabama and Tenuesses Railroad from
Columbia to Decatur through garden spot,
They are located upon deserted and conds-
Gated plantation. Most Of the able bodied
freedmen 60 into the Corps d dff4ue; but
there remain large numbers of useful old
men, strong, muscular women, accustomed
to work in the field, and children. In their
earliest history these camps were not self
supporting, Rnd only intended as = refuge.
They were supplied with clothing, ratIons
and quarters at an immense expense to the
Government; but
LIEUT.. JOSEPH 4. MISREPRESENTATION
lae, with the poblest philanthropy, patri-
oti6m and disinterestedness with great labor,
gradually vftalized q system by which these
little colonies have become entirely self
supporting. "Honor to whom hoaor Ia
due" ana short sketch OF this officer is
appropos.
He IL a substantial citizen OF Bureau county,
Illinois, about forty y-tre years OF age, Tor
read read IN n @a history ana % practical @ economy. p
mind generally enlightened and liberal, Of
1nfmpeachable integrity, and always an Abo-
lilioniet, but in noWise oEthe rabid character.
he enters upon his present work with hts
whole soul, from rnre principle, and with
well defined purpose. When rallied at his not
! making money with the immense force sad
land at his command, be replies that he has
enough at home to satisfy him. Ills scrupu-
1ous regard for principle in the cause in
which be is engaged fits him for leader In
the grind transition Of the negro race from
inf~- &r3 T. fu1r Ia #
iron constitution. man Of Hork-not words.
He may at all times be seen IN broad
! brimmed hat, riding boots and spurs, army
shirt, with brown hands and bronzed face.
bis horse alFays sadd1ed and near him. He
never tires physically OF in patience. He 10
He could COLOMBO four millions Is easily as
be has bis present fire thousand, and with
out asking dollar Of any e1tzaneous source.
Ills negroes reverence him, for he pursues
one steady course upon principle Kindness
but f1rmness is in his government he al
| Just emerging from IN unnatural condition.
| and his Patience Is required to tho sterne6I
| extent. His patriotism Is 4 leading feature
as his leaving position of social infu-
ard a. la,ge pfopeFtyh yhi5o to b. fost, hieutfn
has now been managing contraband camps
over year, here and In Western Tennessee,
aud 1t is to be hoped that for his experience
and capacity his sphere OF usefulness will be
enlarged Already his system has called
| central. Prominent emanclpationiBts and
colouIzetion1sts are in correspondence with
him, soliciting practical yiews mud schenes
with regard to those subjects.
TIE ORGANIZATION
Of the cumTB Is systematic. There are at
p1escnt in Lieut- Ha1ris' charge about Ave
thousand contrabands, and be has under
cultivation about two thousand acres, en-
bracing one thousand acres Of cotton and
the rtst in corn, po1atoes, wheat md gar
dens. The Lieutenant Is ably assisted by
Trustworthy non-commfssloned officers and
soldiers, practical f4rfners detailed from thei1
respective regiments. Eacn has his own
| department, and ig held strictly accountable
duties. Every branch Of industry Of colo.
uT Is Ia ope1ation. There are saw-mflls,
cristnills, blacksmith, c1blaet, carpenter,
Shoe, tailor, drcssmaker Hhops, &c. From
! the extensive EnrdeDB vegetables are isanet
tnirly and systematically to the contrAbands
md sometimes 10 the neiehboring military
hospitals. They are Kept in good eraf b
! infa1m and old negroes TIE hum Of ~
spinning wheel and the clatter Of the Zee
and loom rcsounds from the labor Of the olt
women. Little girls are bnisily applyin:
the knitting needle; yoang, women, too del
icate for the Ae]a, a,are seamtt1essss for other
who Weld the hoe and guido the plow
Every thing is harmonious The negroes ar
industrious aud ambitious. They COM
promptly to roll call, receive their order
for the day, repair TO the field. and theT
perform their duties faithfully without driV
er, without curse, or kick, or lash, hummins
merri1y-pe1haps "de gear Of jubilo.".
have ii establishment seen them toiling alonl
under the burning gun in the seemingly M
ending rows Of cotton or corn, when l re
tlected how the incentive Of the lush ha
been removed. But I reflected how tn
dusky bosom there heayed with the vision Q
Saturday night md Sunday, With her ne =
hat and feather. her hoop skirt, &C.; and tn
braHny arms Of the men kept ut 1t faithful
by the stimulus Of monthly wages, by theft
ture scene of u present to hts sweetheart, o
something to adora the household Of 4 fam
LIZ man, himself responsible head, til
rights Of the family respected, with the fea
, ! no more Of brutal White beast entering hi
cabin with the lreh, to debauch his daughter
sell his children, or humi1fate him by bloH
It Is affecting and notifying to see Wit
what readiness and equilibrium the freed ma
appreciates bis change, and how like ma
, he deporte hiaseL
Lieut.. Harris commenced these camps o
small begsnn,pgs. The first funds wei
raised by hiring his force to ne1ghbor.n
planters. Gradually . large fund has bee
faiscd, and now evtn the tools for his Go
~ernmtnt tn1ms he buys, andseven the nails 4
;: building barracks without drawing On tt
> Government or the Qunrtermaster's Depar
mcnt for single dollar OF article. The fur
TO be raised OF the present crops Will esta
lsh more camps with complete octflts as Il
army Idynceta-
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Are prominent feature Ihaye seen IL
hundred little black children together vii
their spelling ..books, rs apt and tractable
Hlite children. They are Instructed In m
sic, accompanied BY piano. The youu
. idea is tsught how to shoot, and SO far
these children arc concerned the next gan
ration will be m advance The adults al:
study in evenings, and In eVery cabin mi
- TIE spelling book be seen passing from bar
!s to hand. Throughout tho whole race the
!. il q strong desire for intellectual i1nprov
: nett.
FURNISHING STORE
Is in the main camp. Hero the Aegro
can go and suit their ta8te8-the articles
ken being charged TO their wages The lar
esfjtem fseued has been fourteen hundrl
Wtbster's Spelling Books.
y RELIGIOUS EXERCISES
y Are regular aud encouraged and attend
;, by Lieut.. Harris and his subordfnates vi
= commcndable sincerity, The Sabbath ii
- day Of good order, quiet and rest
10 conclude, must Say that have neF
= known community Of the number of the
> camps with 20 much peace and harmony
~ 80 much usefulness accomplished, ana the
: conditions can be extended, If there BE- lan
= fo the whole race. There arc deep polite
+ + and social truths cnyolved In these cont
y band camps. Licut- Harris, hare learne
T. nrrposcs eosn issuing his views In a boo
which will be Of Interest to the ent1fe 20
of freedoms friends.
E 4 Terrible Murder.
Z. auos+ terrible murder Vas committed II