Part 3 (1/2)

On the 8th of August, 1861, a letter was addressed to Major-General Butler, then in coinia, by the treasurer of the A the people whom he had denominated ”contrabands” In this letter, the writer communicated to General Butler the wishes of some persons in the free states, that, as considerable eard to the increasing nu for protection to the forts and camps of the United States, they should be sent into the free states to obtain employment

A prompt and courteous reply was received, and, in reference to the desire expressed, General Butler stated that the ”contrabands” would be protected; that overninia; and as the freede, there was no necessity for sending any of them to the Northern States

The executive coed by these assurances, at once determined to commence a mission at Fortress Monroe Rev Lewis C Lockas commissioned as their first ton, where he received encourage general, Wool, who had succeeded General Butler General Wool received him cordially, heartily approved the plan, and afforded him all needful facilities

Mr Lockwood conferred with the leading persons aated the condition and wants of the people, anized week-day and evening schools, eifted colored people as assistants, and through the co, &c, for the destitute, and also for additional missionaries and teachers

The late lamented Mrs Mary S Peake was the first teacher e as her health permitted, and near to the time of her decease Other teachers have been employed; chaplains in the army and pious soldiers have proffered their occasional services, and the religious s, Sabbath schools, and week-day schools, have been well attended Mr Lockwood labored there thirteen months, and then removed to another field In his final report, he states that he had e attendance was four hundred; and to a congregation at Fortress Monroe, where the average attendance was about the same

A day school was kept in a house, near Hampton, foriven up for the use of the freedmen This school was subsequently removed to the old Court House at Haovern a portion of the luest under the care of the freedmen's teachers, and nu the ruins of Hampton, which had, at an early period of the rebellion, been burned by the rebels, the colored people erected rude cottages, the athered froitive slaveholders, &c

Such of the freed by fishi+ng, oystering, huckstering, carting, washi+ng, &c

INTERESTING FACTS

Many highly interesting facts have been coard to the freed knowledge in letters and arms, their industrial habits, their shrewdness in business transactions, their gratitude, their courage, their acquaintance with passing events, their confidence that the result of the rebellion will be the liberation of their people, and their piety Some of these facts have been extensively published, and have been read with high gratification It is thought that a few of these facts may add to the value of this little publication

[Illustration: A ”CONTRABAND” SCHOOL]

SCHOOLS FOR THE CHILDREN

A young teacher at Hainia, writes as follows: ”When I first commenced the school here, I found the children such as slavery makes--quarrelsome, thievish, uncleanly in their persons and attire, and seely inclined to almost every species of wickedness; and it appeared tolike intelligent children at the North But I found that I had reckoned without my host in the persons of these children

”At the end of the first week there was a decided improvement manifested, and in four weeks you hardly ever saw one hundred and fifty children more cleanly in their persons and apparel Their lessons were, in most cases, quickly and correctly learned, and their behavior was kind and affectionate toward each other, while in singing the sweet little Sabbath school songs, I should not hesitate to put them side by side with the best of our Sabbath-school scholars at the North And they so fully appreciate my humble efforts in their behalf, thatand noon, with oranges, les too nuh I can do so little for them”

Another teacher, at Beaufort, South Carolina, writes: ”My school numbered about forty of the children Most of them were very dirty and poorly dressed, all very black in color A happier group of children I never expect to witness than those who coht eyes, happy looks, kind and patient dispositions, h they were 'horribly black,' as some have called them, and very dirty at first But they were so innocent, so despised by others, and withal so anxious to learn, that I felt a true sympathy for theradation This is only the result of slavery

”They are very eager to learn Every one wishes to be taught first; yet, unlike so to wait

They do not easily tire of study, but are very diligent in getting their lessons I have known them to teach each other, or sit alone and drill over a lesson for two hours at a time