Portland (OR) Oregonian, "Slave Difficulties at Fort Monroe," June 26, 1861

Slave Difficulties at Fortress Monroe.

              Gen. Butler has shown the same military promptness and activity which has heretofore characterized his movements at Annapolis and Baltimore. His reconnaissance have been pushed for some distance in the vicinity of Fortress Monroe. The Vermont regiment has been encamped in the village of Hampton. As an evidence of what may be expected in Virginia, it is remarked that as soon the troops were early ensconced in Hampton, ladies and heads of families came to their doors waving handkerchiefs and offering other demonstrations of welcome. The same things, by the way, was visible at Alexandrian, and may be expected all over the Old Dominion, wherever there is any love for the Stars and Striped remaining. Besides the occupation of Hampton, Gen. Butler has formed a camp and erected a battery at Newport, a short distance up the James river and commanding the entrance to that important stream in the most effective manner. At present twenty- five hundred troops are located there. The batteries at Sewall’s point have been strengthen by the Rebels by the can besiege and the garrison starved out without the loss of a single life. But the most important event since Gen. Butler has reach Fortress Monroe is the decision n regard to some fugitive slaves who reach the post from one of the adjacent Virginia batteries. Col. Mallory, to whom they be longed, sent a flag of truce and demanded their release. Gen. Butler replied that he considered the negroes contraband of war, as they might be employed in the war against the U.S., and in fact had been employed in that capacity; so he refused to give them up and the darkies wore set to work on the fortifications. The action of Gen. Butler has been approved by the Administration and will be precedent for all future cases. It will make a vast difference in the termination of this if the slave property of the Southerners is to be confiscated, and if the fact over becomes known throughout the South, the negros will stampede as soon as possible. At the same time this decision will make up an intensity of bitterness in the Southern States and measures of retaliation are expected.