why we took the name of his master.  My reply was, that it was taken in order to identify them,—­an explanation with which he was more satisfied than I was myself.  Several were without shoes, and said that they could not drive the shovel into the earth.  They were told to use the picks.  The rest of the forenoon being occupied in registering their names and ages, and the names of their masters, they were dismissed to come together on the ringing of the bell, at two, P.M.

It had been expressly understood that I was to have the exclusive control and supervision of the negroes, directing their hours of labor and their rests, without interference from any one.  The work itself was to be planned and superintended by the officers of the Third and Fourth Regiments.  This exclusive control of the men was necessarily confided to one, as different lieutenants detailed each day could not feel a responsibility for their welfare.  One or two of these, when rests were allowed the negroes, were somewhat disgusted, saying that negroes could dig all the time as well as not.  I had had some years before an experience with the use of the shovel under a warm sun, and knew better, and I wished I could superintend a corps of lieutenants and apply their own theory to themselves.

At two, P.M., the contrabands came together, answered to their names, and, each taking a shovel, a spade, or a pick, began to work upon the breastworks farthest from the village and close to the new cemetery.  The afternoon was very warm, the warmest we had in Hampton.  Some, used only to household or other light work, wilted under the heat, and they were told to go into the cemetery and lie down.  I remember distinctly a corpulent colored man, down whose cheeks the perspiration rolled and who said he felt badly.  He also was told to go away and rest until he was better.  He soon came back relieved, and there was no more faithful laborer among them all during the rest of the time.  Twice or three times in the afternoon an intermission of fifteen minutes was allowed to all.  Thus they worked until six in the evening, when they were dismissed for the day.  They deposited their tools in the court-house, where each one of his own accord carefully put his pick or shovel where he could find it again,—­sometimes behind a door and sometimes in a sly corner or under a seat, preferring to keep his own tool.  They were then informed that they must come together on the ringing of the bell the next morning at four o’clock.  They thought that too early, but they were assured that the system best for their health would be adopted, and they would afterwards be consulted about changing it.  The next morning we did not rise quite so early as four, and the bell was not rung till some minutes later.  The contrabands were prompt, their names had been called, and they had marched to the trenches, a quarter of a mile distant, and were fairly at work by half-past four or a quarter before five.