Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-03-07
How COntrabands were Enlisted in the
Federal Army--HOW Union Soldiers
got the NegOes to Capture, Spoons,

AsO6Vc" " |oPeuIC> SpOOnSs
A great deal has already been said and
written relative to the articles used by the
best Government the world ever saw and
Its agents to get the slaves of the South
into the Union army; but much yet re-
mains unsung." 1t. is an interesting sub
jcct, and ought to be thoroughly ssventil-
lated. at this time, in order that the peo-
pie may know the true character of our
woafd-be masters. g
During the last year of the war, while
IN Richmond, we formed the acquaintance
of distinguished surgeon, DR.. F., who
had previously been on duty with the Con-
fcderate forces along the Mississippi river,
before the surrender of Gen. Pemberton's
army at Vicksburg, from whom we learned
many interesting particulars upon this
subject. DR.. f. was Texan, profoundly
skilled in his profession, learned in every
branch of practical science, and withai a
most worthy and reliable gentleman. It
was his misfortune, on certain occasion,
when the force with which he was serving
was defeated by a superior force of the en-.
envy, to fall into their hands as prisoner
of war. He was taken to the rendezvous
of detachment of the Federal army, some
distance above Vicksburg, consisting of
several gun-buats and several thousand
soldiers, whose duty was to prevent the
Confederates reinforcing the army on this
side the Mississippi, and at the same time
enHstall the negro men they could for the
Union army. Detachments of this force,
mounted and well armed, would make raids
upon the inhabitants of the adjacent coun-
trys onboth sides Of the river, telling the
negroes that Mr.. Lincoln had sent his ar
my to give them the boon of freedom, and
that if they would steal all they could from
their masters and mistresses, such as
horses, mules, cattle, wagons, carriages.
hogs. poultry, -four, bacon, gentlemen's
and ladies' wearing apparel, dishes, spoons,
knives and forks, cooking utensils, window
curtains, bed clothes, towels, and the rest,
and bring their plumber to the Yankee
camp, they should share literally in the
distribution Of the spoils thus obtained;
and !, the negroes were further told that,
when the war should end, they would be-
come the: owners of their masters lands,
DC. The real design upon the negro men,
overwhelmingly, that Of putting them in
the army-was studiously kept in the
background for reasons which will be
appreciated by all who understand negro
character. As matter of course, the un-
suspecting, credulous negroes, whose eve
ry want had been anticipated by their
masters did lot spend thought about
their future subsistence or welfare. 1t
was enough for them to believe the stories
of the licensed thieves who were beguiling
them from their happy homes to "a life of
restitution, prostitution, starvation and
death, as We Shall presently see.
In q day or two after these raids, hun
dreds Of deluded negroes, men, women
and children, some with wagons heavily
laden with the various kinds Of property
above named, women with huge bundles
upon their heads and in their hands, and
boysand girls carrying baskets, bags, &C.,
might be seen trudging toward the camp
of their friends, so-called. Dr. F.'s gra-
phic description Of the ludicrous scene that
usually followed the arrival of these unso-
phiseated creatures at the camp would be
amusing if We could divest our minds of
the. unhappy consequences that were so
sooneto follow.
The negroes, having brought their booty
to headquarters, were ordered to carry it
on board the vessels intended for that pur-
pose, where it vas slowed away for safe
keeping The larger bundles hauled in
the wagons and carried upon the heads Of
the women were first opened and disposed
Of. These contained fine bed-quits, coun-
terpanes, sheets, pillow-cases, fine window
curtains, ladies silk and other fine dresses,
gentlemen's apparel Of every description,
andschildren's clothing generally, which
were packed away in apartments set apart
for the purpose
Next in order came the baskets, &C.,
containing silver table and teaspoons, salt
spoons, butter knives, knives and forks,
and other valuables, which were put away
in cotton baskets, which hold about four
bushels each. Having disposed Of the