From Princess Anne and Norfolk counties.
We have received some intelligence from a private letter relative to affairs in
Norfolk and Princess Anne counties.
The enemy continues to rob the citizens of their slaves.
Gen. Vicle allows no negro to return who comes in his lines.
The pickets however, stationed at the sally port of the entrenched camp have arrested and returned several ranaways to their masters.
This may be understood, however, by the fact that they are well paid force.
The negroes are shipped off to unknown ports every week.
Many of the negroes have returned to their masters because they were fed badly and had to work.
The letter above referred to gives some account of the brutality of the
Yankees towards the negroes.
A large number were killed at one Point during the last of July, for insubordination.
It is also stated that one of our batteries on the
James river sunk a barge in tow having 680 negroes on it mostly from the lower counties, all of whom were lost except four.
The captain of the steaming, when the barge was fired into, cutter loose, thinking that our men would endeavor to capture her, knowing that there were slaves on board, but they continued firing until the barge and all in her was sunk.
None of our good citizens have yet taken the oath, nor will they ever do so.--Only fifty have taken it in
Norfolk, none of whom were citizens of any respectability or influence.--Property has not been much troubled.
The women continue to be loyal, even more so than the men. --Those who have taken the oath in many cases regret it. Small negroes are offered in
Norfolk at $5 per head, children at $1.
