[6] They are all gone now.—J.S.
INTELLIGENT CONTRABANDS.
An almost daily incident of the Federal blockading fleet was the rescue from frail boats of negro slaves, officially reported by the Federals as "intelligent contrabands," who at the risk of their lives deserted their owners and escaped to the Federal warships several miles from the beach. They numbered several hundred during the war, and I am informed that very few of them returned from the North, where many settled in their new-found freedom. Some of the more industrious prospered, but a larger proportion died from exposure to the rigorously cold winters of the North.
Specimens of the official reports of such cases follow:
"U.S.S. 'Monticello,'
"Off Wilmington, N.C.,
"September 22, 1862.
"Sir: I beg leave to forward you the following information obtained from the within named persons, who came off to this vessel this morning:
"Frank Clinton, aged thirty-five years, belonging to Robert H. Cowan.