Interesting from Norfolk.
slaughter of negroes.
It has been rumored for a few days past that the Yankees, who now infest Norfolk, on a recent occasion exhibited their ‘"friendship,"’ for the negroes by shooting down some eight or ten, of them in the streets.
Doubts were expressed as to the truth of the rumor, and we therefore omitted any mention of it; but the Petersburg Express, of yesterday, asserts, upon the most unquestionable authority, that the horrible tragedy was enacted on the streets of Norfolk, and under circumstances of atrocity and blood-thirstiness which would have become ‘"fiends damned,"’ than boasted New England Puritans, who claim all the virtue, all the piety, and all the civilization, which are generally conceded to the people of the once United States. Our informant states (says the Express) that a free negro, brought from New York by a New York Regiment, feeling aggrieved at some offence offered by the officer, and believing what ‘"Massa Greeley"’ and others had so industriously taught him, that he was as good as any white man, redressed his wrongs by killing the officer who had inflicted them.
The killing of their officer so exasperated the men, that they determined to seek their revenge upon the innocent negroes of Norfolk. Infuriated to madness, they left their camp at Harrison's Farm, and proceeding to Norfolk, attacked every negro they met, free and slave, down Church street to Freemason, and down Cumberland and Kone streets. This indiscriminate slaughter was continued until over 100 of the unoffending creatures had been violently cut and claimed. When our informant left three negroes had died of their injuries, two more were lingering in extremis, and scores were suffering excruciating tortures. Dr. --, a physician of great ability and high standing, said at least 100 had been injured by this cruel attack, and the constable in his report to the Mayor, put down the number maimed and wounded at between 120 and 150.
The Day Book, which was then in existence, received orders from the military governor of Norfolk, that under no circumstances was the massacre to be hinted at in the columns of that paper, and the correspondents of all Yankee journals in the city were positively prohibited from making any reference to the butchery in their letters. Fortunately a couple of British officers chanced to be on Church street at the time, and witnessed the whole affair. Through these gentlemen the truth will reach Europe, and our trans-Atlantic brethren will have an opportunity of learning something of the civilization of their codfish cousins on this side of the ocean.
These are the people who make such loud protestations of love for the ‘"poor, downtrodden African,"’ and who have come South to ameliorate his condition. A more deceitful, base, black-hearted race never accursed God's foot-stool, than these very Yankees, and if even the negroes are longer deceived by them, then Cuffed, untutored though he be, has less common sense than we have always given him credit for.
The negroes Revolt against their Yankee masters.
The Express also understands from parties who left Norfolk as late as Monday last, that a large number of negroes confined by the Yankees at the Fair Grounds, near Norfolk, had revolted; and that it required the active exertions of an entire Delaware regiment to quell the outbreak. It seems the blacks conceived an idea after the massacre of their fellows that they were to be put to death. This produced the rebellion, which for a time completely overpowered the guard, and threatened to be a very serious affair. The appearance of a Delaware regiment, however, succeeded in suppressing the riot. It is the opinion of gentlemen in Norfolk that the Yankees will find the blacks exceedingly troublesome customers. The negro has been long accustomed to Southern masters, and he cheerfully submits to their rule. The Yankees he has been taught to look upon as his equals only, and the new governors will find it a rather difficult task to keep them in subjection.
The "evacuation" story Spoiled.
In regard to the evacuation of Norfolk, we learn that it is not the intention of the Yankees to abandon it entirely. They have destroyed many of the fortifications around the place, drawn in their pickets, and greatly reduced their forces, but there are still some two thousand or more soldiers in the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. Appearances indicate a change of programme, but not an entire evacuation of the seaboard cities.
Loyalty of the inhabitants.
The respectable portion of the two places still remain loyal to the Confederate Government, and express a determination to do so, regardless of threatened imprisonment, or the still more severe punishment — gaunt famine. A few low Irish and Dutch, and some even lower, ‘"to the manor born,"’ have taken an oath of allegiance to the Lincoln dynasty. These were never regarded as reliable, and their weakness in the knees which has now been made manifest has excited the surprise of none whose fealty to the Confederate Government is at all desirable. Adversity, after all, is the true test of the patriot as well as the Christian.
