They did excellent service during the morning hours, and at seven were dismissed till eight.  The roll was then called again, absences, if any, noted, and by half-past eight they were at their post.  They continued at the trenches till eleven, being allowed rests, and were then dismissed until three, P.M., being relieved four hours in the middle of the day, when, the bell being rung and the roll called, they resumed their work and continued till six, when they were dismissed for the day.  Such were the hours and usual course of their labor.  Their number was increased some half dozen by fugitives from the back-country, who came in and asked to be allowed to serve on the intrenchments.

The contrabands worked well, and in no instance was it found necessary for the superintendents to urge them.  There was a public opinion among them against idleness, which answered for discipline.  Some days they worked with our soldiers, and it was found that they did more work, and did the nicer parts—­the facings and dressings—­better.  Colonels Packard and Wardrop, under whose direction the breastworks were constructed, and General Butler, who visited them, expressed satisfaction at the work which the contrabands had done.  On the 14th of July, Mr. Russell, of the London “Times,” and Dr. Bellows, of the Sanitary Commission, came to Hampton and manifested much interest at the success of the experiment.  The result was, indeed, pleasing.  A subaltern officer, to whom I had insisted that the contrabands should be treated with kindness, had sneered at the idea of applying philanthropic notions in time of war.  It was found then, as always, that decent persons will accomplish more when treated at least like human beings.  The same principle, if we will but credit our own experience and Mr. Rarey, too, may with advantage be extended to our relations with the beasts that serve us.

Three days after the contrabands commenced their work, five days’ rations were served to them,—­a soldier’s ration for each laborer, and half a ration for each dependant.  The allowance was liberal,—­as a soldier’s ration, if properly cooked, is more than he generally needs, and the dependant for whom a half-ration was received might be a wife or a half-grown child.  It consisted of salt beef or pork, hard bread, beans, rice, coffee, sugar, soap, and candles, and where the family was large it made a considerable pile.  The recipients went home, appearing perfectly satisfied, and feeling assured that our promises to them would be performed.  On Sunday fresh meat was served to them in the same manner as to the troops.