A negro returned.
--The
Mississippian reports: "An intelligent contraband, " the property of
Vice President Stephens, was shown to us yesterday.
He was just from
General Sherman's army, and estimates his force at 50,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry. --Pretty tall figures, but the statement is, perhaps, not worthy of full credence.
The "contraband" was a fine looking fellow, was captured at
Jackson last summer, and has since been breathing the air of freedom around
Vicksburg and New Orleans.
He says he has enough of it, is thoroughly satisfied with his liberators, and advises all fellow sufferers to "stay where dey are." He gives a most doleful description of the suffering of the contrabands at
Vicksburg — says it is not in the nature of a Yankee to care for a nigger, and when one gets sick there is no one to look after or care for him. Consequently large numbers die for the want of that kindly attention which a human master or mistress is always ready to give.
His picture, we dare say, is not overwrought.