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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Letters from Port Royal, by Various, Edited
+by Elizabeth Ware Pearson
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Letters from Port Royal
+       Written at the Time of the Civil War (1862-1868)
+
+
+Author: Various
+
+Editor: Elizabeth Ware Pearson
+
+Release Date: March 1, 2008  [eBook #24722]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Diane Monico, and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
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+      See 24722-h.htm or 24722-h.zip:
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+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/2/24722/24722-h.zip)
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      [=e] in waterm[=e]lions represents a macron over the e.
+
+
+
+
+
+LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL
+
+Written at the Time of the Civil War
+
+[1862-1868]
+
+
+Edited by
+
+ELIZABETH WARE PEARSON
+
+1906
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Copyright 1906 by Elizabeth Ware Pearson
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+INTRODUCTION               xi
+
+1862                        1
+
+1863                      128
+
+1864                      243
+
+1865                      291
+
+1866, 1867, 1868          325
+
+CONCLUSION                333
+
+FOOTNOTES                 335
+
+INDEX                     337
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+With Commodore Dupont's capture, on November 7, 1861, of two earth
+forts which the rebels had recently thrown up at Hilton Head and Bay
+Point, South Carolina, the Sea Island region became Union territory.
+The planters and their families having fled precipitately, the United
+States Government found itself in possession of almost everything that
+had been theirs, the two chief items being the largest cotton crop
+ever yet raised there, nearly ready for exporting, and several hundred
+demoralized, destitute slaves, the number of whom was daily being
+increased by refugees and returned fugitives. The negroes were plainly
+a burdensome problem, the cotton a valuable piece of property. The
+first thing to do was obvious, and fortunately the same
+"cotton-agents" who were despatched by the authorities at Washington
+to collect and ship the property were able, by employing negroes for
+the purpose, to make a beginning towards solving the problem.
+
+In another month the next step was taken; the Secretary of the
+Treasury sent down Edward L. Pierce, of Milton, Massachusetts, as a
+special agent charged with the duty of getting under way some method
+of managing the negroes and starting a cotton crop for 1862. Mr.
+Pierce, who the summer before had had charge of the contrabands at
+Fortress Monroe, did his work quickly and well, and his suggestions
+for organization were promptly adopted and put into practice by the
+Government. Meanwhile he had written to "benevolent persons in
+Boston," setting forth the instant need of the negroes for clothing
+and for teachers, meaning by the term "teachers" quite as much
+superintendents of labor as instructors in the rudiments of learning.
+The response to this appeal was immediate. An "Educational Commission
+for Freedmen"[1] was organized in Boston, New York and Philadelphia
+were quick to follow, and on March 3, 1862, there set sail from New
+York for Port Royal[2] a party of men and women who were almost
+without exception inspired purely by the desire to help those who had
+been slaves. Government made them an allowance of transportation,
+subsistence, and quarters; and, since few could afford to give their
+services, the Commissions paid them salaries of from $25 to $50 a
+month.
+
+There was a good deal of courage in what these people did. The climate
+of the Sea Islands is unwholesome; the rebels were more than likely,
+from across the narrow Coosaw River, to invade the territory held by
+Northern troops; it was not improbable that the negroes might refuse
+utterly to work; it was not impossible that they might wreak vengeance
+for their wrongs on every white man who should try to control them.
+Furthermore, as a rule these men and women knew little of any kind of
+agriculture, and still less of the local conditions under which they
+were to do their work, or of the people with whom they were to deal.
+They had, in fact, no other guides to action than enthusiasm and good
+sense, and of the latter, in particular, they carried widely differing
+amounts. Some, who went supplied with too little of either, were back
+in their Northern homes before summer was under way; the majority,
+making what they could of the means, or lack of means, at their
+disposal, had within the same period of time got about thirty-eight
+hundred laborers at steady work on fifteen thousand acres of corn,
+potatoes, and cotton. For the first time in our history educated
+Northern men had taken charge of the Southern negro, had learned to
+know his nature, his status, his history, first-hand, in the cabin and
+the field. And though subsequently other Southern territory was put
+into the hands of Northern men and women to manage in much the same
+fashion, it was not in the nature of things that these conditions
+should ever be exactly reproduced. The question whether or not the
+freedman would work without the incentive of the lash was settled once
+for all by the "Port Royal Experiment."
+
+Of the many thousand letters that must have been written by these
+people to their Northern homes, those of one small group only are
+represented by the extracts here printed. The writers were New
+Englanders and ardent anti-slavery people; W. C. G. and C. P. W. were
+Harvard men just out of college, H. W. was a sister of the latter. A
+few of the later letters were written by two other Massachusetts men,
+T. E. R., a Yale graduate of 1859, and F. H., who remained on the
+islands longer than the three just mentioned. All five are still
+living. Richard Soule, Jr., now dead for many years was an older man,
+a teacher, a person of great loveliness of character and justice of
+mind. The principal figure in the letters, Edward S. Philbrick of
+Brookline, who died in 1889, was in one sense the principal figure in
+the Sea Island situation. He began by contributing a thousand dollars
+to the work and volunteering his services on the ground, where he was
+given charge by Mr. Pierce of three plantations, including the largest
+on the islands; being a person of some means, with an established
+reputation as an engineer and a very considerable business experience,
+he was from the first prominent among the volunteers. When, in the
+following year, he became personally and financially responsible for a
+dozen plantations, this prominence was increased a hundredfold. Thus
+he found himself the victim of the vituperation hurled by many
+Northern friends of the blacks at the "professed philanthropists" who
+went to Port Royal to "make their fortunes" out of the labor of the
+"poor negro." The integrity of Mr. Philbrick's motives stands out in
+his letters beyond the possibility of misinterpretation. This record
+is a witness of what sort of thing he and his kind were ready to do to
+redress the wrongs of slavery.
+
+The extracts have been arranged in chronological order, except in a
+few cases where chronology has seemed less important than
+subject-matter. They tell a complete story, the greater part of which
+falls within the period of the Civil War. They give a vivid notion of
+the life from the midst of which they were written; of the flat,
+marsh-riddled country, in which few Northerners saw any lasting charm;
+of the untidy, down-at-the-heels plantations; of the "people," wards
+of the nation, childish, irritating, endlessly amusing; of the daily
+toil of Northern men in managing farms and of Northern women in
+managing households under Southern and war-time conditions; of the
+universal preoccupation with negro needs; of the friendly interchange
+of primitive hospitality; of the underlying sense in the writers'
+minds of romantic contrast between their own to-day and the yesterday
+of the planters,--or a possible to-morrow of the planters. It is not
+with matters military or political that these letters deal. They
+record the day to day experiences of the housekeeper, the teacher, the
+superintendent of labor, and the landowner. For this reason they form
+a new contribution to the history of the Port Royal Experiment.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE SEA ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.]
+
+
+
+
+KEY TO MAP OF THE SEA ISLANDS OF
+SOUTH CAROLINA
+
+
+PLANTATIONS.
+
+  Cherry Hill (T. A. Coffin)         16
+  Coffin's Point (T. A. Coffin)      12
+  Corner (J. B. Fripp)                5
+  Eustis                              2
+  Alvirah Fripp (Hope Place)         18
+  Edgar Fripp                        20
+  Hamilton Fripp                     10
+  J. B. Fripp (Corner)                5
+  Capt. John Fripp (Homestead)        8
+  Capt. Oliver Fripp                 22
+  Thomas B. Fripp                     9
+  Fripp Point                        11
+  Frogmore (T. A. Coffin)            19
+  Rev. Robert Fuller ("R.'s")         4
+  Hope Place (Alvirah Fripp)         18
+  Dr. Jenkins                        21
+  Mary Jenkins                       28
+  Martha E. McTureous                14
+  James McTureous                    15
+  Mulberry Hill (John Fripp)         17
+  The Oaks (Pope)                     3
+  Oakland                             6
+  Pine Grove (Fripp)                 13
+  Pope (The Oaks)                     3
+  "R.'s" (Fuller)                     4
+  Smith                               1
+  Dr. White                          27
+BRICK CHURCH (Baptist)               24
+WHITE CHURCH (Episcopal)             23
+ST. HELENA VILLAGE                    7
+FORT WALKER                          26
+FORT BEAUREGARD                      25
+CAMP OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA
+  VOLUNTEERS (COLONEL HIGGINSON)      1
+
+
+
+
+LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL
+
+1862
+
+    _Arrival of the "missionaries" at Port Royal.--The household
+    at Pine Grove.--First impressions of the blacks.--General
+    Hunter's attempt to recruit a negro regiment.--The Planter
+    episode.--The labor situation.--Establishment at Coffin's
+    Point.--Hunter's proclamation of freedom.--Details of
+    plantation work.--Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of
+    emancipation.--Unwillingness of the negroes even to
+    drill.--General Saxton's efforts to raise a negro
+    regiment.--The cotton crop of 1862.--Mr. Philbrick's plans
+    for buying plantations._
+
+
+FROM E. S. PHILBRICK
+
+_Boston, February 19, 1862._ Dear ----: I think you will not be
+greatly astonished when I tell you that I am off for Port Royal next
+week. I go under the auspices of the Educational Commission to make
+myself generally useful in whatever way I can, in reducing some amount
+of order and industry from the mass of eight or ten thousand
+contrabands now within our lines there. Boston is wide awake on the
+subject, and I am determined to see if something can't be done to
+prove that the blacks will work for other motives than the lash.
+
+The Treasury Department offer subsistence, protection, transportation,
+and the War Department offer their hearty coöperation to the work
+undertaken here by private citizens, but can't take any more active
+part at present for reasons obvious. They ridicule the idea that
+these blacks can ever again be claimed by their runaway masters, which
+is a satisfactory foundation for our exertions in overseeing their
+labor and general deportment.
+
+You don't know what a satisfaction it is to feel at last that there is
+a chance for me to _do something_ in this great work that is going on.
+
+    The next letter describes the sailing of the first party of
+    superintendents and teachers.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO MRS. PHILBRICK
+
+_New York City, Sunday, March 2._ We have a rather motley-looking set.
+A good many look like broken-down schoolmasters or ministers who have
+excellent dispositions but not much talent. As the kind of talent
+required where we are going is rather peculiar, the men may be useful,
+but I don't believe there will be a great deal of cotton raised under
+their superintendence.
+
+_Str. Atlantic, March 5._ We all repaired to the Collector's[3] house
+Sunday evening, and were sworn in squads of half a dozen with our
+hands on the Bible, after which our passports were made out and signed
+by Mr. Barney in his library with the whole thirty-three of us
+standing about.
+
+[The next morning] I found Collector Barney on the pier with his Bible
+and papers, swearing in the rest of the New York delegation. The last
+of the cargo was slung aboard about eleven, and we started off at
+quarter past, in a drizzling rain, freezing fast to everything it
+touched. Our Boston party consisted of twenty-nine men and four
+women; the New York one of twenty-three men and eight women, including
+those from Washington, making sixty-four in all. At dinner (2 P. M.)
+we found some one hundred and twenty cabin passengers, besides a lot
+of recruits, perhaps one hundred in all, who live forward. The larger
+part of the _Atlantic's_ staterooms have been taken out to make room
+for stowing troops or cargo, leaving enough for only about half our
+number. These rooms were assigned by the Steward and Mr. Pierce[4] to
+the ladies and the oldest of us gentlemen; so I got one with Uncle
+Richard,[5] for most of our party are quite youthful. Half a dozen
+ladies sat on the bare deck (no other seats provided), during most of
+the evening, singing Methodist hymns and glory hallelujah till after
+nine o'clock. I have talked with several of our party, and got
+slightly acquainted, chiefly with Messrs. Hooper,[6] G----,[7] and
+Mack; also with Mr. Forbes.[8] There is a general medley of cabin
+passengers, recruits, sutlers' and quartermasters' agents, and crew,
+the latter not being dressed in uniform, but in nondescript old
+garments such as can be found at any old Isaac's shop. Those
+passengers who are outside our party are coarse-looking and
+disagreeable,--Mr. Forbes and Mr. Augustus Hurd of Boston being almost
+the only exceptions. I had some talk with Mr. Pierce yesterday about
+your coming on, and he said as soon as I found it advisable he would
+send you a pass, but I am very glad you are not here now, for I don't
+believe these ladies will find anything but bare boards to sleep on.
+
+_Thursday evening, March 6._ We had a sort of lecture from Mr. Pierce
+before dinner, consisting of some very appropriate and sensible advice
+and suggestions, expressed simply and with a good deal of feeling. Mr.
+French[9] followed in his vein of honest, earnest Methodism. He is the
+head of the New York delegation, and a worthy man, though not so
+practical as Mr. Pierce.
+
+Our Boston party improves upon acquaintance, and the longer I think of
+the matter the more wonderful does it seem that such a number of
+disinterested, earnest men should be got together at so short a notice
+to exile themselves from all social ties and devote themselves, as
+they certainly do, with a will, to this holy work. It must and with
+God's help it _shall_ succeed! The more I see of our fellow-passengers
+and co-workers, the more do the party from Boston stand eminent in
+talent and earnestness, as compared with those from New York, and I
+can't help thinking that the former were more carefully selected. The
+Boston Commission acted with more deliberation than that of New York,
+and I think the result will be shown in the end. But it's early to
+form any such opinions, and out of place to draw any comparisons in
+disparagement of any of our colleagues. We are all yoked together and
+must pull together. The work is no trifle. It is Herculean in all its
+aspects--in its reactive effects upon our country and its future
+destiny, as well as in its difficulties. Yet never did men stand in a
+position to do more lasting good than we, if we act with a single eye
+to the object in view and pray God to guide us aright.
+
+_Friday, March 7._ We waked this morning still adrift off Port Royal
+Bar, where we had been tossing all night, near the lightship. The wind
+was blowing cold and clear from the northwest just as it does at home
+in March, almost cold enough for a frost. We continued to drift till
+the tide was near the flood, about noon, when a pilot came out and
+took us in to Hilton Head. Here in this magnificent harbour, larger
+than any other on our coast, lay some fifty transports and steamers at
+anchor, and here we dropped our anchor, almost directly between the
+two forts[10] taken by Dupont last November. These forts, by the way,
+are so inconspicuous as to be hardly perceptible to a passer-by, and
+would certainly fail to attract the attention of a person not on the
+lookout for them. The shore is as flat as flat can be, sand-banks and
+beaches being the only variety, backed by long dark green masses of
+foliage of the pitch-pine, reminding me forcibly of the coast of
+Egypt, with its sand and palm forests. Yet even Egypt was sufficiently
+enterprising to line its coast with windmills, while this state has
+not yet arrived at a stage of civilization sufficiently advanced to
+provide them. So, there being no water-power and no steam, every negro
+grinds his peck of corn in a handmill as in the year one. We came to
+anchor about one P. M. and have been waiting for the necessary passes
+from the quartermaster to enable us to proceed up to Beaufort, the
+only town in possession of our forces. Here we lie in the still
+harbour under the splendid moon, surrounded by the regiments encamped
+on the neighboring islands, with the prospect of another day afloat,
+before we can begin to be distributed over our field of labor.
+
+8 P. M. The acting Provost Marshal has just come aboard with our
+passports viséed, enabling us to land here, but I don't care to do
+that to-night, there being nothing but sand-banks to sleep on, while
+we have tolerable berths aboard. To-morrow I may go, if there is time
+before going upstream to Beaufort, though I imagine there is little to
+see but sand and tents, which look quite as well at a distance.
+
+_March 8._ We spent the greater part of the day transferring freight
+and baggage to the _Cosmopolitan_, a white river-steamer. We got
+started at last about three P. M. The distance to Beaufort can't be
+more than fifteen miles, and we had already made half of it at a
+tolerable rate of speed when we ran aground in the mud, about two
+hours before ebb tide. We were in the middle of a creek called
+Beaufort River, between Cat Island and Port Royal Island, whose flat
+shores did not look very inviting. I fell to reading about
+cotton-culture in my book, but some of our companions got a boat and
+went ashore on St. Helena Island, bringing back their hands full of
+beautiful flowers from some private garden, peach-blossoms,
+orange-blossoms, hyacinths, fleur-de-lis, etc. We succeeded in getting
+afloat about 9.30 P. M. and arrived at Beaufort about midnight, after
+poking slowly along the crooked channel under the glorious moonlight.
+On getting up in the morning, which we did betimes, we found the deck
+slippery with hoarfrost, and are told that it is the coldest night of
+this winter. Somebody has told me that Beaufort was on a bluff, and
+that its environments were not so flat as the rest of the islands.
+
+_Beaufort, Sunday, March 9._ But I can't find any place over ten feet
+above tide-water, and no hill over six feet high. So things are judged
+of by comparison. We all went ashore soon after sunrise and walked
+about the town, which is laid out in rectangular streets, lined with
+pleasant but weedy orange-gardens and often shaded by live-oak and
+sycamore trees, _i. e._, when the latter leave out, as they will soon.
+The soil is a fine sand, very like ashes, and the streets are
+ankle-deep with it already, wherever the grass doesn't grow.
+Dilapidated fences, tumble-down outbuildings, untrimmed trees with
+lots of dead branches, weedy walks and gardens and a general
+appearance of _un_thrift attendant upon the best of slaveholding
+towns, was aggravated here by the desolated houses, surrounded by
+heaps of broken furniture and broken wine and beer bottles which the
+army had left about after their pillage. Quantities of negro children
+lay basking in the morning sun, grinning at us as we passed. We saw a
+chain-pump in a yard and walked in to wash our faces, there having
+been no chance on the steamer, and were waited upon by an old negro,
+who brought us bowls, soap, and towels. Mr. Pierce succeeded in
+getting us some bread and coffee from one of the regiments, having no
+time to go to headquarters. They were carried to an old negro cabin in
+the remotest corner of the town, where the coffee was made and served
+up in the poultry-yard in our tin mugs.
+
+Our quarters are in a very fine house in the east end of the town,
+bordering on the river, against which is a garden wall, built of
+oyster-shells and mortar, there being no stone to be had here.
+
+We are to wait here till our positions are assigned to us by Mr.
+Pierce, which will be done in a few days. He told me he wanted me to
+take the most important one, which I suppose means Coffin's.[11] I am
+to have W---- G---- for my clerk and assistant. He is a very
+agreeable, quiet fellow, and works like a beaver, but like several
+others, is too young to take charge of the organization of the labor
+to good advantage.
+
+There is something very sad about these fine deserted houses. Ours has
+Egyptian marble mantels, gilt cornice and centre-piece in parlor, and
+bath-room, with several wash-bowls set in different rooms. The
+force-pump is broken and all the bowls and their marble slabs smashed
+to get out the plated cocks, which the negroes thought pure silver.
+Bureaus, commodes, and wardrobes are smashed in, as well as
+door-panels, to get out the contents of the drawers and lockers, which
+I suppose contained some wine and ale, judging by the broken bottles
+lying about. The officers saved a good many pianos and other furniture
+and stored it in the jail, for safe-keeping. But we kindle our fires
+with chips of polished mahogany, and I am writing on my knees with a
+piece of a flower-stand across them for a table, sitting on my camp
+bedstead.
+
+I am anxious to get to work, as I hope to in a few days. Mr.
+Eustis[12] has gone to his plantation, a few miles distant on Ladies
+Island, and Mr. Hooper is spending a few days with him. The latter is
+to be Mr. Pierce's private secretary at present.
+
+_Beaufort, March 10._ I can't tell until I get settled at my post what
+to say about your coming on here. If my post should be exposed to any
+of the rebels' scouting-parties you had better stay at home. I must
+say it seems rather _near_ to live within rifle-shot of their
+outposts, as some of the plantations are.
+
+_March 11._ We had a visit from the Provost Marshal last evening. He
+has had a good deal to do with the contrabands and came to give us
+some advice about them. He thinks that rebel spies may come among us,
+but don't apprehend any trouble, says we can govern the negroes easily
+enough by firm and judicious treatment, and says the officers in
+charge are very glad to have them taken off their hands.
+
+_Hilton Head_,[13] _March 13._ This is a most desolate-looking place,
+flat and sandy, and covered with camps and storehouses for a mile
+along the river. A line of intrenchments encloses the whole, some
+seven miles long, resting on the river at each end. There is a long
+wharf just built out to deep water, at the end of which the _Atlantic_
+is discharging. This is the general dépôt for stores for the whole
+army on the Atlantic coast and the blockading fleet.
+
+_March 14._ A fortnight has passed since I left Brookline, without my
+being able to get at my work. This loafing about and waiting upon the
+movements of Government officials is the hardest work I ever tried to
+do.
+
+If you can't come early in April you had better not come at all, for
+it will be too hot for even me to live on the plantations later than
+June 1. They say the planters never lived on the plantations in summer
+months, though they were acclimated, for fear of fevers. Beaufort is
+the healthiest place on these islands and their resort when leaving
+their plantations. Yet, if H---- W---- will come with you, _and not
+without_, and you think it will pay, come as soon as you can. I shall
+probably be on Coffin's plantation then, about fifteen miles east of
+Beaufort, on St. Helena Island, coast of St. Helena Sound. This
+plantation is one of the most secure from any interference from the
+rebels, so I don't feel the slightest uneasiness on that score, for
+the whole circumference of the island is picketed, and our forces also
+occupy the opposite or northeasterly coast of the sound.
+
+Now as to outfit. Not over $5 each in money, _silver_, for you are
+supplied with transportation and food by Government and there's
+nothing here to buy. Bed-sacks and pillow ditto. Three umbrellas with
+light covers, fly-paper, tin cups, bowls, and tea-pot, set of wooden
+boxes for rice, sugar, and other stores furnished by army rations.
+Spring-balance that will weigh about twenty pounds, knife, fork, and
+spoons for each of you, _plated_, thermometer, three pounds of tea in
+one of the boxes. We now have plenty of rice, sugar, molasses,
+vinegar, hominy, potatoes, coffee, and beans, from army stores, and on
+plantations can get fresh lamb, mutton, chickens, eggs, milk; so we
+shall fare better than I thought.
+
+_Beaufort, March 17._ I don't think they would let you take a servant;
+it's difficult enough to get you here alone, and there are plenty of
+servants here which you are supposed to teach not only to read
+but--what is more immediately important--to be _clean_ and
+industrious. If you feel any hesitation about coming in contact with
+them you shouldn't come, for they are sharp enough to detect apathy or
+lurking repugnance, which would render any amount of theoretical
+sympathy about worthless. Tell your father their nature and
+disposition is nothing new to me. I was with them in Egypt long enough
+to get pretty well acquainted, and though these sons of Western Africa
+are not exactly of the same stock as the Nubians, they are certainly
+no more degraded or lazy. In fact, from what I have already seen here
+I am agreeably disappointed. Think of their having reorganized and
+gone deliberately to work here some weeks ago, without a white man
+near them, preparing hundreds of acres for the new crop! The Irish
+wouldn't have done as much in the same position.
+
+    This comparison of the negroes with the Irish is made by the
+    letter-writers, as will be seen, more than once,--almost
+    always to the disadvantage of the Irish. Forty years ago the
+    Irish were still merely immigrants, and, further, they were
+    practically the only people in this country who suggested
+    comparison with negroes.
+
+    The next letter is the first from W. C. G., whom Mr.
+    Philbrick has already mentioned as destined to be his
+    assistant.
+
+_March 24. Coffin's Point._ It is the largest plantation on the
+Islands, numbering in its full days over 250 hands, or head, as the
+negroes call themselves.
+
+A large amount of cotton is still in store here, for which the boat I
+hope will call this week; meanwhile the cotton-agent[14] and a guard
+occupy the house with us. The former has been on the place three or
+four months in charge of a large district with several plantations; he
+is a smart young fellow, very dashing and jockey-like. We were
+received by the guard with shouldered arms and by this agent, who did
+their best to induce or rather bluff us into leaving the premises and
+taking possession of another house; for we have two plantations
+besides this,--estates belonging to William Fripp's sons.[15] We
+stayed, however, and are now occupying two rooms, with plenty of
+furniture of different kinds stored by the agent, probably for
+removal. The whole business of our Commission and all its agents are
+much disliked by the cotton-agents, partly because they don't
+sympathize with our purposes,--partly because we seem about to usurp
+their authority, to which of course we do succeed.
+
+The cotton-agents have started the corn-planting on most of the
+estates,--and almost everywhere the whole condition of people and land
+is much better than I expected to find it. The present state of a
+plantation depends on the previous character and age of the people,
+the influence of the drivers,[16] and the circumstances to which they
+have been exposed since the soldiers came. If the people are on the
+whole old and steady, if the drivers are intelligent and
+strong-minded, if their masters have been humane and fatherly, and if
+they have seen few soldiers,--then the work has usually been kept up
+pretty well and the negroes are still at home and willing to go
+a-field,--and their condition varies as those items vary. On the
+larger number, as I have said, things are much better than I expected
+to see them. As is proper, more attention has as yet been paid to the
+_corn_ lands, and very little to the cotton. Two precious months have
+been lost for that crop. On most of the plantations corn enough
+remains to last through the next crop,--so there is little danger of
+much suffering for want of food. But everything except corn, and their
+own eggs and poultry, is wanting,--no molasses, no sugar, no salt, no
+tobacco,--and no clothing.
+
+On two of our three plantations things are doing well, but this big
+Coffin place is in a very miserable, demoralized condition. It used to
+be very successful in cotton--and of late, especially, the hands have
+been worked very hard. There are many _young_ people--so all the more
+likely to leave. They are within a few miles of Bay Point opposite
+Hilton Head, so the temptation to leave is very pressing, for smart
+fellows can get money there,--one York with whom I was talking
+yesterday got over $30 a month by cooking for two or three messes; he
+is sick now and thinks he had better come home for the good of his
+_soul_. And perhaps as evil an influence as any was the early presence
+of the guards from the 19th N. Y. V., a regiment rather notorious for
+wild ways, I believe,--certainly one which greatly injured these
+people by their talk about _freedom_ and no need of work, etc., and
+their rampant deeds. We are therefore in a hard place here,--and shall
+take pretty energetic measures and do the best we can. Mr. Philbrick
+has charge of the farming, etc.,--I of the teaching. We were not all
+sent out two by two; small plantations had single men. Some men are
+expected to overlook several estates lying near each other.
+
+_March 29._ The women work much better than the men, but very few are
+faithful. Nor can we hope for any regularity and real improvement till
+we are delivered from our cotton-agent and the influences which
+emanate from him and his interests.
+
+The people are very discontented here, and as they have logic and need
+on their side, it is hard to meet their complaints. In fact, they
+can't be met,--very few do full work, many half or none. They need
+_clothing_ very badly. They need salt and tobacco,--this summer they
+need a little molasses and some bacon. These things[17] they have been
+accustomed to receive in stated quantities at stated times,--at
+Christmas, and in April or May. If we could supply them simply as they
+have been supplied by their masters, the majority I think would be
+contented and would work well. The _promises_ to pay to which they
+have been treated by the agents of the Government for the last three
+months haven't kept them warm. The agent here will probably soon give
+them some cloth in part payment. Money they don't know the value
+of--and especially now can't spend it to advantage; besides, as I
+said, I think few desire it.
+
+    The following fragment of a letter, from which the date and
+    the beginning are missing, was written from Pine Grove at
+    about this time; its subject is, of course, the negroes.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+They have not yet got any diseased appetite for alcoholic stimulants,
+and are happy in their comparative ignorance of such things.
+
+They are a simple, childlike people, almost ignorant of malice,
+patient and easily influenced by an appeal to their feelings. There is
+far less family feeling and attachment to each other than among the
+ignorant Irish, apparently, though I don't know how much allowance to
+make for their being so much less demonstrative in their emotions, and
+more inured to suffering. They are most eminently a religious people,
+according to their light, and always refer their sufferings to Divine
+Providence, though without the stoical or fatalist ideas of their
+Mohammedan brethren, whom I got to know pretty well in Nubia and
+Egypt.
+
+We find it very difficult to reach any motive that will promote
+cleanliness as a habit. It requires more authority than our position
+gives us as employers to make any police regulations very effectual in
+their quarters. This plantation is the neatest one I have seen
+anywhere in respect to their houses and yards, but there is room for
+great improvement here. They have the same dread of fresh air in
+sickness which is common to poor people at home, but there is very
+little sickness among them. Only one death has occurred since we came
+here, among a population of 420, and that was an infant. They place
+great trust in our doctors and keep them pretty busy jogging about.
+
+    The next letter, the first from H. W., records her arrival
+    with Mrs. Philbrick.
+
+_Beaufort, April 15._ The sail up was very beautiful, the green beyond
+description brilliant, and now and then the deeper shade of palmetto
+or live-oak. Some of the plantations were very picturesque. Roses and
+azaleas were plainly visible. An hour and a half, very quickly passed,
+brought us to the wharf, where Mr. Pierce and Mr. Hooper met us with
+the information that we were to go to Mr. Forbes's, whither we walked
+a long half-mile, a sentry at the street-corners, darkies bowing in
+every direction, birds and the scent of flowers filling the air,
+everything like a June day after a shower. Mr. Philbrick hopes to be
+ready for us on Saturday. A cotton-agent in his house prevents us from
+going just yet to the Coffin house, but we shall be established for
+the present on one of the smaller plantations adjoining.
+
+    The letter that follows, written at Pine Grove several days
+    later, narrates the events of these days, beginning with
+    April 16, in Beaufort.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Pine Grove, St. Helena, April 21._ H.[18] and Miss Towne[19] carried
+the letters to the post-office, Caroline, Mr. Forbes's chamber-girl,
+following to show them the way there, take them to the schools and
+into some negro quarters. They were derided by the soldiers, they
+said, who called after them, "See the Southern Aristocracy with their
+nigger behind them!" which amused Caroline very much.
+
+Mr. Forbes took me in his open wagon, a tumble-down affair he has from
+a negro to avoid the annoyance of always having to make a requisition
+upon Government, the only owner in these regions of anything, and
+drove me down the river to a plantation[20] we had noticed as we came
+up on the boat, and where there was a cotton-gin Mr. Forbes wanted me
+to see. The greater part of the way our road was shaded by woods on
+the water-side, live-oaks with their ornamental moss, gum-trees and
+pines with quantities of cat-brier and trumpet honeysuckle in full
+bloom. The cotton-fields were unshaded, of course, and very large,
+containing from one to three hundred acres. We passed some freshly
+planted, but most of them were covered with the old bushes, dry and
+dead, at which I was much surprised until I found that it was the
+habit to leave the fields as they are after the cotton is picked, for
+a year, planting on the same land only every other year. It makes
+dreary, desolate-looking fields, for though a few weeds spring up, no
+grass grows in this region, and they are brown instead of green all
+summer. The Smith Plantation is about five miles from town, the house
+in the centre of a live-oak grove, beautiful and beyond description,
+open underneath, and so hanging with moss that you can scarcely see
+any leaves as you look up. A little chapel on the place I got out to
+look at, made very roughly of boards whitewashed, inside an earth
+floor covered with straw, rough wooden benches, the pulpit and altar
+made in the same way, but covered entirely with the grey moss, as we
+trim for Christmas. The house looked rough and ordinary to us, as they
+all do, except a few in the town; we did not go in. I believe there
+are cotton-agents there attending to the ginning, which process we saw
+in a little house by itself, where a steam gin worked four stands
+tended by one hand each. The funny thing was to see them pack the
+bales. There was a round hole in the second-story floor and a bag was
+fastened to the edges, into which a man gets and stamps the cotton
+down. I saw it swinging downstairs, but did not know what it was till,
+on going up, I found a black head just above the floor, which grinned
+from ear to ear with pleasure at the sight of a white lady, and ducked
+and bobbed in most convulsive fashion.
+
+We drove through the negro quarters, or "nigger-house," as they
+themselves call the whole settlement, and they flocked to the doors to
+look at us, bowing and smiling as we went by. There were eight or ten
+separate houses just raised from the ground so that the air could pass
+underneath, and, as we looked in at the doors, apparently with very
+little furniture, though in some we saw chairs which were evidently
+Massa's. Dirty and ragged they all were, but certainly no more so than
+poor Irish, and it seemed to me not so dirty.
+
+I saw palmetto-trees for the first time on this drive near enough to
+know what they really looked like. They stand alone in the
+cotton-fields like our elms in a meadow, though there are fewer of
+them, and they are stiff and straight. The Spanish dagger, looking
+like a miniature palmetto, was planted for hedges round the garden and
+fish-pond. Mistletoe I saw for the first time.
+
+Mr. Hooper came over in the morning [of the next day] and told us he
+should come for us at 12.30, but it was five before we got into the
+boat.[21] The negroes sang to us in their wild way as they rowed us
+across--I cannot give you the least idea of it. Indeed, I can't give
+you the least idea of anything, and you must not expect it. The town
+looked very pretty from the boat, some of the houses are large and
+quite imposing in appearance. We found Mr. Pierce and his carriage
+waiting for us, having been there without any dinner since one
+o'clock. (This is the land of waiting, we have discovered--patience is
+a virtue our Northern people will have to learn here.) We drove at
+once to Pope's plantation, passing Mr. Eustis on the way at his
+overseer's house, bedaubed from head to foot with molasses, which he
+had been selling all day to the negroes, a pint to a hand. Here Mr.
+Philbrick was waiting with his sulky (a two-wheeled jockey-cart), an
+ox-team for the baggage, and a dump-cart in which he and H. were to
+drive, while I drove the sulky alone in my glory. But it was too late
+for us to think of driving ten miles farther, so we laid our beds down
+and prepared for another halt. The next morning Mr. Pierce sent us
+home in his carriage.
+
+We reached here not long before two, and went to work to try and
+muster up some dinner. I had a cup and saucer, tumbler and three
+knives and forks, and the rennet, which soon supplied one dish; the
+negroes brought china in limited quantities; we opened a box of
+sardines, and coffee, and, with the army bread we brought from
+Beaufort, fried eggs, and hominy, made a most excellent meal; a
+tablecloth, napkins, and silver spoons forming some of the
+appointments. Joe, the carpenter, young and handy, made a very good
+waiter, but when he went out and cut a bough of sycamore and began to
+brush the flies as we ate, it was almost more than I could stand. Then
+we went to work to put what things we had to rights, H. got her
+servant, and moreover we had to receive and shake hands with any
+number of negroes, who came flocking round us at once, following the
+carriage as we drove up in true Southern style, and coming into the
+house to satisfy their curiosity.
+
+W. G---- was here and aided us with a will, and about five o'clock I
+went with him to the praise-house,[22] where he has his school. The
+children were all assembled by Cuffy, and he was teaching them when we
+went in. Mr. G---- read in the Bible, substituting words that they
+could understand, made a very simple prayer, all kneeling, and then
+heard them their letters and words for an hour, with a great deal of
+tact and ability--strange words, you may think, to use in such a
+connection, but you have little idea how much it needs of both. We
+are not used to these people--it is even very difficult to understand
+what they say. They have been born and brought up just here, in the
+most isolated way, for generations, with no chance of improvement, and
+there is not a single mulatto[23] on the place--they are black as the
+blackest, and perfect children--docile, and with "faith enough to live
+by," W---- G---- says. I find I have no shrinking from them, and hope
+I shall be able to do my part. I take this school off his hands--he
+has two other plantations to teach on and has been working like a
+beaver. I made my first attempt this afternoon and got along
+comfortably. Flora, the house-servant (that is, ours,--she is a field
+hand), took me on my way to see the old mammas, and I went into
+several of the cabins and came home with a present of nine eggs!
+
+These houses are all built of hard pine, which is handsome on the
+floors, but the rest of the woodwork is painted, in this house an ugly
+green, which is not pretty or cheerful. The walls are always left
+white. Clapboards are unknown, but hard-pine boards, a foot or more
+broad, are put on in the same way, and everything outside is
+whitewashed. The place is very attractive-looking, grapevines and
+honeysuckles and pine woods near.
+
+_April 25._ The house is raised high from the ground, as all are here,
+and boarded in loosely underneath. There is a circle of orange-trees
+round the house, and roses in abundance, but no grass, which is
+dreary. The quarters are a quarter of a mile off, and the
+praise-house is near them, where I have school twice a day. It is very
+interesting, and I enjoy it much, though of course there is nothing to
+teach but the alphabet and little words. They sing their letters very
+nicely now. They are much better-mannered than the Irish, and I have
+had no trouble as yet.
+
+Perhaps when I get to understanding things better I shall be able to
+tell you some things they say. They were uneasy till they discovered
+our first names, and were pleased that mine was that of the "old
+Missus." They have brought me presents of eggs two or three times.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove Plantation, April 22._ You see that we have changed our
+home. The ladies have arrived. The house is in better condition than
+that at Coffin's, the people better disposed, and the locality is more
+retired and does not boast of a cotton-agent. In a month or two we
+shall probably move to our old quarters, if it doesn't take longer to
+clean it. Miss W---- will be a grand helper. It will be a pretty rough
+life for them, and New England comforts and neatness and intelligence
+will be sadly missed, but we certainly have been well,--our table is
+the most refined thing on the Island, I fancy.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Pine Grove, April 29._ Our days pass pretty much after this fashion.
+Mr. Philbrick gets up about six, calls me, and I obey, having
+stipulated for a full hour in which to dress. After we get downstairs
+it takes the united efforts of most of the family to get the breakfast
+on the table, and we are fortunate if we get up from that meal by
+half-past eight. It generally consists of hominy, very delicious eaten
+with either milk, butter, or molasses, corn-cake, or waffles of
+corn-flour--the best of their kind--concentrated coffee, chocolate, or
+tea, army bread--when we can get it--crackers, when we can't, and
+boiled eggs or fried fish, as the case may be. The important
+operations of dish-washing and arranging the rooms upstairs take
+longer than you can imagine, and things are not always done when I go
+to school at ten, which with our simple style of living is rather a
+nuisance. H. begins to pity the Southern housekeepers. This morning,
+after making the starch in our little kitchen in the house, she waited
+about for two hours, before she could get hold of one of the three
+servants. They were all off at the kitchen, smoking and talking and
+taking things easy. Joe was nominally cleaning knives, Flora had gone
+to empty a pail of water, and Sukey had no thought about her starched
+clothes!
+
+Well, I walk off to school, under the white umbrella if the sun
+shines, dressed as warmly as I can if it does not. My way lies between
+a row of large "Heshaberry" trees, as the negroes call them; a
+corruption, I suppose, of Asia Berry, as it is the "Pride of Asia," in
+full blossom now, with scent something like our lilac, but more
+delicate. On each side of these trees are the corn-houses, stables,
+cotton-houses, and near the house a few cabins for house-servants, and
+the well. They stretch an eighth of a mile, when a gate (left open)
+shuts off the nigger-house and field. Another eighth brings me to the
+cabins, which have trees scattered among them, figs and others. The
+children begin to gather round me before I get there, with their bow
+and curtsey and "goo' mornin, Marm," and as I go through the quarters
+I send them in to wash their hands and faces. The praise-house
+reached, one of the children rings the bell out of the door to summon
+all, and they gather quickly, some to be sent off to wash their
+faces--alas, they cannot change their clothes, which are of the
+raggedest. But now enough clothes have come to begin to sell, I hope
+to have a better dressed set before long. I keep them in for about two
+hours--there are about thirty of the little ones who come in the
+morning, ten and under; all older are in the field, and come in the
+afternoon, as they finish work by noon always.
+
+I go back to lunch at half-past twelve, a cold one generally,
+sometimes a few waffles or some hominy for variety, but crackers,
+sardines, and blackberries which we have in abundance now, make a
+refreshing meal, with tea or coffee when we please. Shop[24] has to be
+tended in the afternoon principally, and I sometimes take a turn at it
+till I go off at half-past three to school again. We use for shop the
+little room between Mr. G.'s and the entry, selling out of the window
+over a box for a counter, to the groups on the porch. It is a funny
+sight and funny work for us, albeit interesting, for they have had no
+clothes for a year, and buy eagerly. Mr. Philbrick has not been able
+to let them have any clothing before, as there has only been enough to
+give a garment to one in ten, and they have been so used to being
+treated alike that their jealousy is very easily roused, and it is a
+difficult matter to deal with them. For the same reason the clothes
+have to be sold, the money going back to the Commission, to be used
+again for their benefit. It would be very much better if only the
+goods were sent, for they prefer to make their own clothes and all
+know how to sew.
+
+These people show their subserviency in the way they put Marm or Sir
+into their sentences every other word and emphasize it as the one
+important word, and in always agreeing to everything you say. In
+school it is rather annoying to have them say, "Yes Marm, 'zackly
+Marm," before it is possible for an idea to have reached their brains.
+
+Flora, our housemaid, who is a character, has a great deal of dignity
+and influence among the other negroes, and takes the greatest care of
+us. She is most jealous for what she considers our interests, and
+moreover is quite an interpreter, though it is hard enough to
+understand her sometimes. "Learning" with these people I find means a
+knowledge of medicine, and a person is valued accordingly. Flora
+wanted to know how much "learning" Miss Helen[25] had had, and it was
+a long time before I could make out what she meant.
+
+H. says she never saw me look so well, so you see I thrive in spite of
+fleas, which have almost flayed me alive. I understand what it means
+by eels getting _used_ to being skinned.
+
+_May 1._ Took a ride through the quarters. We stopped to see Doll and
+her week-old baby. H. had quite a talk with Mily, the nurse, who told
+her it did them good to see white ladies about, and hoped we were
+going to stay. She seemed very much disappointed when H. told her we
+should be here [at Pine Grove] only a short time longer. I think it
+does them good just to have me walk through the quarters four times a
+day--they always curtsey and say a word.
+
+In the afternoon, as I came out of school, Cuffy said, "You promise to
+jine praise with we some night dis week, Missus," so I told him I
+would go up in the evening if Mr. G. would go with me. When we went up
+after eight they were just lighting the two candles. I sat down on the
+women's side next a window, and one of the men soon struck up a hymn
+in which the others joined and which seemed to answer the purpose of a
+bell, for the congregation immediately began to assemble, and after
+one or two hymns, Old Peter offered a prayer, using very good
+language, ending every sentence with "For Jesus' sake." He prayed for
+us, Massa and Missus, that we might be "boun' up in de belly-band of
+faith." Then Mr. G. read to them and made a few remarks to which they
+listened very attentively; then some hymn-singing, Cuffy deaconing out
+the lines two at a time. Then some one suddenly started up and
+pronounced a sort of benediction, in which he used the expression
+"when we done chawing all de hard bones and swallow all de bitter
+pills." They then shook hands all round, when one of the young girls
+struck up one of their wild songs, and we waited listening to them for
+twenty minutes more. It was not a regular "shout,"[26] but some of
+them clapped their hands, and they stamped in time. It was very
+difficult to understand the words, though there was so much repetition
+that I generally managed to make out a good deal, but could not
+remember it much, still less the music, which is indescribable, and no
+one person could imitate it at all. As we walked home we asked Cuffy
+if they considered the "shout" as part of their religious worship; he
+said yes, that "it exercise the frame." Mr. G. told him that some of
+the old people had told him they did not like the shouts, or think
+them religious, but he said old Binah did not object to them in the
+praise-house, but she did not like the shout "out in de world," _i.
+e._ before they joined the Church or came to "strive behind the
+Elders." He makes his own hymns, "praying to de Lord Jesus to teach
+him as he in de woods--jine one word 'ginst toder." They were almost
+unintelligible as he deaconed them out, but I daresay they were his
+own, unconsciously caught, perhaps, in part from what he had heard in
+the white people's church. The only song I could remember ran somewhat
+after this fashion:
+
+    Oh, Jacob's ladder.
+    Climb high, climb higher!
+    Oh sodier of de jubilee,
+    When you git dere 'member me,
+    Oh! sodier of de cross!
+
+    In the introduction to "Slave Songs of the United States," a
+    collection made chiefly at Port Royal and published in 1867,
+    this particular song is set down as spurious, that is, as
+    being sung to a well-known "white folks'" tune. But most of
+    the negro music is described as "civilized in its character,
+    partly composed under the influence of association with the
+    whites, partly actually imitated from their music. In the
+    main it appears to be original in the best sense of the word."
+
+    The same writer goes on:
+
+    "On the other hand there are very few which are of an
+    intrinsically barbaric character, and where this character
+    does appear, it is chiefly in short passages, intermingled
+    with others of a different character.... It is very likely
+    that if we had found it possible to get at more of their
+    secular music, we should have come to another conclusion as
+    to the proportion of the barbaric element.... Mr. E. S.
+    Philbrick was struck with the resemblance of some of the
+    rowing tunes at Port Royal to the boatmen's songs he had
+    heard upon the Nile....
+
+    "The words are, of course, in a large measure taken from
+    Scripture, and from the hymns heard at church; and for this
+    reason these religious songs do not by any means illustrate
+    the full extent of the debasement of the dialect." Of words
+    funnily distorted through failure to understand their
+    meaning there are, however, many examples. "Paul and Silas,
+    bound in jail," was often sung "Bounden Cyrus born in jail;"
+    "Ring Jerusalem" appeared as "Ring Rosy Land," etc., etc. "I
+    never fairly heard a secular song among the Port Royal
+    freedmen, and never saw a musical instrument among them. The
+    last violin, owned by a 'worldly man,' disappeared from
+    Coffin's Point 'de year gun shoot at Bay Pint.'"
+
+    The negroes' manner of singing is pretty well suggested by
+    the following:
+
+    "The voices of the colored people have a peculiar quality
+    that nothing can imitate; and the intonations and delicate
+    variations of even one singer cannot be reproduced on paper.
+    And I despair of conveying any notion of the effect of a
+    number singing together, especially in a complicated
+    shout.... There is no singing in _parts_, as we understand
+    it, and yet no two appear to be singing the same thing--the
+    leading singer starts the words of each verse, often
+    improvising, and the others, who 'base' him, as it is
+    called, strike in with the refrain, or even join in the
+    solo, when the words are familiar. When the 'base' begins,
+    the leader often stops, leaving the rest of his words to be
+    guessed at, or it may be they are taken up by one of the
+    other singers. And the 'basers' themselves seem to follow
+    their own whims, beginning when they please and leaving off
+    when they please, striking an octave above or below (in case
+    they have pitched the tune too low or too high), or hitting
+    some other note that chords, so as to produce the effect of
+    a marvellous complication and variety, and yet with the most
+    perfect time, and rarely with any discord. And what makes it
+    all the harder to unravel a thread of melody out of this
+    strange network is that, like birds, they seem not
+    infrequently to strike sounds that cannot be precisely
+    represented by the gamut, and abound in 'slides from one
+    note to another, and turns and cadences not in articulated
+    notes.'"
+
+    How the same songs could be sung equally well at all sorts
+    of work is explained by another writer,[27] as follows: "Of
+    course the _tempo_ is not always alike. On the water, the
+    oars dip 'Poor Rosy' to an even andante, a stout boy and
+    girl at the hominy-mill will make the same 'Poor Rosy' fly,
+    to keep up with the whirling stone; and in the evening,
+    after the day's work is done, 'Heab'n shall-a be my home' [a
+    line from 'Poor Rosy'] peals up slowly and mournfully from
+    the distant quarters. One woman--a respectable
+    house-servant, who had lost all but one of her twenty-two
+    children--said to me: 'Pshaw! don't har to dese yer chil'en,
+    misse. Dey just rattles it off,--dey don't know how for sing
+    it. I likes "Poor Rosy" better dan all de songs, but it
+    can't be sung widout a full heart and a troubled sperrit!'"
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Saturday, May 3._ Directly after breakfast I mounted the pony,
+followed by Tom to open the gates. In this way we proceeded to Fripp
+Point, the plantation which belongs to this one. Just before we
+reached the Point, Tom started my horse, and before I knew it I was on
+the ground from the saddle's having turned under me. The horse behaved
+perfectly well, and I mounted and rode on towards the quarters (there
+is no white people's house here), where I could see St. Helena Village
+across the creek--a Deserted Village of a dozen or more mansions with
+their house-servants' cabins behind them, and two churches in a large
+pine wood, free from underbrush, where there are only one mulatto
+woman and her two children, belonging to this place, the sole
+occupants.[28] The village is directly on the creek on a bluff like
+that on which Beaufort is situated, about eight feet high, and is the
+place where the white people used to spend the summers for health and
+society--those who did not go North to travel, or to Beaufort. This
+Fripp family had a house in each place, besides this one at Pine
+Grove. As he [Tom] walked alongside the horse, I questioned him about
+the old family, and found that it consisted of William Fripp and his
+wife Harriet, their four sons and a daughter. The old man they all
+speak of with respect as a "good marn." Mass' Washington they
+represent as not liking the war,[29] and papers have been found which
+prove this true. Mass' Clan's was a doctor and very kind, and lived at
+the village--"bes' young massa we hab." Mass' Eden lived alone on this
+place, and was from all accounts a very bad man. With only one meal a
+day, he lived on whiskey, and, beyond his own control most of the
+time, he used to "lick wus 'an fire." The tree in the yard to which
+they were tied, their feet a foot or more from the ground, while he
+used the raw cowhide himself, has the nails in it now which prevented
+the rope from slipping--Flora showed it to me from my window. They do
+not talk much unless we question them, when they tell freely. As I
+opened shop this afternoon, old Alick, head-carpenter and a most
+respectable man, opened the cupboard door in the entry, but when he
+saw our dishes shut it with an apology, saving that it was an old
+acquaintance and he wanted to see what it was used for now. "I get
+sixty lash for makin' dat two year Christmas, and hab to work all
+Christmas day beside." Well, Alick, those days are over for you now.
+"Tank de Lord, missus, tank de Lord."
+
+By afternoon my hip was swollen and painful. I did not go downstairs
+again that night; but hearing them laugh at the dinner-table over some
+experience of Mr. G.'s, found it was this. He had been telling them
+[his pupils] that it was necessary that they should be punctual, study
+hard, and behave well in order to have a good school, and talking to
+them Saturday night about the fresh week that was coming, in which
+they must try hard, asked what three things were necessary for a good
+school. A question which was received in profound silence, for it is
+almost impossible to make them put that and that together, till one
+boy about nineteen rose and said very solemnly, "Father, Son and Holy
+Ghost!"
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove, May 3._ Sunday, besides its other virtues, in this place
+brings us bread, and an opportunity to send and receive letters. Mr.
+Eustis takes a large bag of loaves in his carriage, which are shared
+out to hungry superintendents after service. Eustis's house and his
+plantation serve as general caravanserai to our whole establishment.
+His overseer house--a mile from his own--is the dépôt for supplies for
+these outside islands.
+
+Our cotton-agent has at last paid off our plantations and will
+probably say farewell this coming week. We also have made a small
+payment to the hands of $1.00 per acre for all the cotton they had
+planted up to a certain date. The slight sum has had a very good
+effect. Other things have aided it. The cotton-agent paid them partly
+in goods. As soon as they had received the money from him and
+ourselves, we opened store, putting our goods at cheap prices. The
+stock consisted of the clothes I brought with me, those which K. sent
+me, and some pieces Mrs. Philbrick brought with her, with some
+furnished by the Commission; also a barrel of molasses, some tobacco,
+and shoes. The "sweetening" and the clothing were at cheaper prices
+than anything they have been accustomed to, so they were greatly
+pleased and we have sold out rapidly. The good effect is already quite
+noticeable,--but they are by no means all clothed. The men and boys,
+especially, stick to their rags. [The money] obtained from our private
+boxes will be expended in buying other articles for the negroes, to be
+sold again, or distributed to them, as may seem best. A vast deal of
+dissatisfaction among the people has been saved by this method of
+distributing the clothing. The faithful workers have all had money.
+All understand and like the arrangement.
+
+I have made a rather elaborate explanation of all this, because to
+some perhaps it will seem to be a strange and suspicious operation.
+
+    The natural impulse to treat the negroes as objects of
+    charity was thus early found to be a mistaken one; by the
+    end of November the Government, too, had ceased to give
+    them anything, the system of rations having done, as is
+    remarked in one of the letters, "too much harm already." The
+    time never came, however, when there was not heard from the
+    North abundant criticism of the kind which H. W., in her
+    letter of April 29, and W. C. G. here are trying to disarm,
+    and the superintendents had to outgrow their fear of being
+    blamed for "strange and suspicious operations."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sunday, May 4._ They had had a "Shout," which I had heard distinctly
+at three o'clock in the morning when I happened to wake up. They come
+from all the plantations about, when these meetings take place for the
+examination of new members, "prodigals and raw souls," as 'Siah said,
+he being an elder and one of the deacons. They do not begin till about
+ten o'clock Saturday night, when the examinations commence and the
+other services, after which they keep up the shout till near daylight,
+when they can see to go home. They admitted two this time, and, as
+Uncle Sam remarked, "they say there is joy in Heaven over one sinner
+that repenteth, so we rejoice over these souls that have come in."
+
+A good many of the girls came up. They lay round the floor or squatted
+about as I read and sung hymns to them; they were very much surprised
+that I was not afraid to sleep alone in such a big room--said Miss
+Juliana and Miss Lynch, Mass' Sam and Mass' Willie and their Mamma
+used to sleep there. These people do not use any feminine adjective,
+and their "hims" are very confusing sometimes. Harriet walked down to
+the house behind me from school the other day for some sugar for a
+sick baby, and I asked her the name of a bird that flew across our
+path. "Him de Red bird." I thought the Red bird was all red, I said.
+"Him de 'oman bird, marm, de marn bird all red, him de 'oman bird,
+marm." The girls hung round till the faithful Flora appeared to "wash
+me down" with the tide. Everything here depends on the tide; Susan
+will not make butter when the tide is going out--it would take it all
+day to come; and Flora would bathe the swelling when the tide was
+going out, that it might carry it with it.
+
+No letters when they came from church--four weeks from home, and never
+a word.
+
+In the afternoon I walked out in the yard a few steps, and it was
+pleasant and touching to see how eagerly they watched me and passed
+the word, "Miss Hayiot's comin'," with bow and curtsey, asking, "How
+you find yourself to-day, Missus?" "Glad to see you on you feet,
+marm."
+
+_May 5._ I had the school come up to me on the piazza, a plan I shall
+adopt for the future; it is cool and pleasant, saves me a walk which
+will be warm by and by, and also from the fleas of the praise-house.
+Louisa came up to give me two eggs, carefully wrapped in her apron.
+This makes over a dozen I have had brought to me by my grateful
+pupils.
+
+_May 6._ In the afternoon Flora brought me a letter to read to her,
+which proved to be from her husband, who is cook to some officers at
+Bay Point. I am quite curious to see him--she is so fine and the
+children are among the brightest here. Some soldier had written it for
+him, and she was too pleased for anything at her first letter. It was
+signed "York polite," which she told me was his title. I can't make
+out whether they give each other surnames, and this is his, or whether
+it is really a title, as she says, like "Philip the Fair."[30] She
+told me what to say, and I wrote an answer for her.
+
+_May 8._ A Baptist minister, who came out with us and has been
+appointed the pastor of the island, came to lunch, went to the other
+plantations with Mr. Philbrick, and has come back to spend the night.
+He had been up to the praise-meeting by Uncle Peter's invitation. He
+is very much puzzled what to do about the religious feeling of these
+people and their habits and customs. I hope he will let them alone.
+
+_May 9._ Went up to the praise-house for school in the morning; it is
+so hard to get the little things together and then, like as not, they
+have _half_ of them to be sent back to wash their faces and hands.
+Asked the little children questions, such as "What are your eyes for?"
+"For see'long." "Teeth?" "For chaw'long," etc.
+
+_Sunday, May 11._ In the morning a number of the women had come up to
+the house to see us. It seems they have always been in the habit of
+coming into the yard on Sundays. Tira, Sim's wife, brought me three
+little fish fried. The women said that all the people here were born
+on the place, and no new hands had ever been bought, only one sold,
+and his master allowed him that privilege because his wife belonged in
+Charleston and he wanted to belong to the same man.
+
+Flora said at lunch, as she brushed off the flies, that her husband
+York was at work on the "main" (land), she did not know where, on a
+house, with five of their carpenters, when the war broke out, or
+rather, before the Fort here was "taken away," as they say, and that
+then the white people had not food enough to feed the blacks, and she
+is quite sure all her brothers and sisters who were carried off were
+dead before this--starved. York was five weeks getting back here, and
+arrived about Christmas.
+
+Limus came for a reading-lesson, a man about fifty, driver on one of
+Mr. Soule's plantations next this, who comes over almost every day for
+me to teach him. He has a wife here and grown children, and another on
+the other plantation, the rascal. He is very smart and learns
+well.[31]
+
+Mr. Philbrick had business with Mr. Pierce, and did not come home to
+dinner. But he got into more business than he expected before he came
+back, and I never saw a poor man show suffering more than he did when
+he came in after ten o'clock and told us what he had received orders
+to do the next day. While he was at Mr. Pierce's, writing, young
+Hazard Stevens came over with despatches from General Hunter[32]
+ordering all the agents to send him in the morning all the able-bodied
+black men between the ages of 18 and 45, capable of bearing arms, on
+the plantations. There was no explanation whatsoever of the reasons
+for the demand, no hint of what was to be done with them, and nothing
+but our confidence in General Hunter's friendliness to the race gave
+us a shadow of comfort. But that would avail little to the negroes,
+who would lose the confidence they are beginning to feel in white men.
+Yet there was but one thing for us to do, and it was with heavy,
+aching hearts that at midnight we separated. Companies of soldiers
+were to be sent from Beaufort in the night and distributed to the
+different plantations to prevent the negroes from taking to the woods,
+so that we were not surprised at being roused about two hours after by
+thundering knocks at the front door, echoing through all these empty
+rooms with a ghostly sound. This proved to be Captain Stevens again,
+alone, who had stopped to enquire the way to some of the other
+plantations he had to notify, and say that the soldiers would be here
+in about an hour. We had scarcely got to sleep again before we all
+were roused by their arrival, and eight men, a Captain and Sergeant of
+the New York 79th Highlanders, tramped through the house. Mr.
+Philbrick gave them a pail of water and some hardtack, for they had
+had a long walk, and then they stretched themselves on the floor of
+one of our empty parlors as quietly as could be, considering
+themselves in luxury. We slept as best we could the rest of the night,
+and were up early to get the soldiers their breakfast and get ready
+for the heart-sickening work. You never saw a more wretched set of
+people than sat down to our breakfast-table. I _could not_ eat, for
+about the first time in my life. Nothing had been said to any one. Joe
+saw the soldiers on the floor when he opened the house door in the
+morning, and wore a sober face when we came down, but no one asked any
+questions, and we moved about, seeing to the breakfast, trying to
+look as usual (and failing), getting out tobacco and crackers to give
+the men on all these plantations when they went off. It had been
+arranged that Mr. G. should see to these two plantations after Mr.
+Philbrick had taken part of the soldiers to Coffin's Point. When he
+had gone, Mr. G. began on Joe before he went to the field for the
+other hands--telling him that General Hunter had work at Hilton Head
+for a great many black men, that he did not know what for, but had
+received orders in the night, and they must be obeyed and he must
+march; he had to go at once to his house for his cap, say good-bye to
+his wife and come to us to leave his will, for he said he never
+expected to come back. We made as light of the whole thing as we
+could, but did not dare to say anything (as we knew nothing) which
+might make them feel afterwards as if we had deceived them, for the
+thing they dread is being made to fight, and we knew that there had
+been men about trying to recruit for Hunter's pet idea, a regiment of
+blacks. _One_ man had been obtained on this island! We told Joe that
+Mr. Philbrick knew nothing about it and was going with them himself,
+and gave him a letter Mr. Philbrick had written asking for him to be
+returned as a personal favor, as he was a house-servant. He did the
+same thing with each of the drivers, for the good of the plantation
+crops. The men were easily collected, ten here, and went off after all
+with much less emotion than we expected; the soldiers behaved
+admirably, delighted with the treatment they had received, and
+cheering the negroes with tales of money and clothes, treating them
+most kindly. Mr. Philbrick called all the hands together at Coffin's
+and told them the simple fact, all that he himself knew, and named
+the men who were to go, and the whole thing was accomplished with much
+less _apparent_ suffering than we had supposed possible. Many of the
+men were not averse to trying their hands at life in the world, for
+many of their number have been and still are at work for officers,
+etc., at Hilton Head and Bay Point, etc., with most desirable
+pecuniary results, but they are afraid of being made to fight. Flora,
+our heroine, said the women and boys could take care of all the cotton
+and corn if the men did have to go--that they did not trust many white
+people, but they did trust Mr. Philbrick.
+
+The day passed in perfect quiet: the women finished their work in the
+field, I kept school, Mr. G. came back from the Point and after lunch
+took the driver's place, sharing out the week's allowance of corn to
+the people, while H. and I sat under the shade of the trees, watching
+or talking to the women. Wil'by, Joe's wife, was the only one who
+seemed really sad and heart-sick--all the rest were as usual. Dr.
+Wakefield[33] came and recounted his miseries while I set the
+tea-table, when, just as everything was cleared away, Mr. G. came in,
+with his face all aglow, to tell us that the drivers, Joe, and one or
+two others had been sent back, and in a moment Joe appeared, radiant
+with happiness. Mr. G. found he had not seen his wife, so went to her
+cabin and told her the ladies wanted her, and it was pretty enough to
+see her simple delight as she caught sight of Joe in the doorway. They
+both laughed nervously, then shook hands shyly, and she curtseyed,
+then hid her face against the wall, saying, "I so thankful I can't say
+a word," and pretty soon, "Oh Joe, I couldn't eat the hominy for
+dinner;" and Joe, "I couldn't eat the biscuits, either, that Mr.
+Philbrick gave me, had to gi' um away--and then I was so glad, I
+didn't feel hungry till I got home." We sent them off to eat hominy
+and be happy, and sat down to write with lighter hearts ourselves.
+
+Mr. Philbrick soon appeared. He found Mr. Pierce had been down to
+Hilton Head and found what he had in part suspected to be the fact.
+General Hunter found that the negroes misapprehended his wishes and
+ideas, and he could not raise as many as he wanted, so had resorted to
+these measures, meaning to give the men an idea of the life and drill,
+and after a few weeks not retain any who wished to return to their
+homes. All the superintendents were indignant at the way the thing was
+done, but it will not turn out so badly as we feared, I trust. The
+people are used to being made to do things, and are not in the least
+rebellious, as any white man would have been. If we can have blacks to
+garrison the forts and save our soldiers through the hot weather,
+every one will be thankful. But I don't believe you could make
+soldiers of these men at all--they are afraid, and they know it.
+
+The cotton-agent left Coffin's Point to-day, so that we can go there
+now whenever we can get the house ready. Then we shall have horses and
+vehicles more at our disposal; you may hear of our carriage and span
+yet, but I shall hate to leave here. This moon is lovely, and to-night
+the flats are covered with water by the full moon tide, and the sea
+looks as if it came to our doors.
+
+    The opinion just expressed concerning the impossibility of
+    making soldiers from Sea Island negroes was, very
+    naturally, the view that prevailed at this time among the
+    superintendents and teachers; in the extract that follows it
+    is stated with even more decision. As the letters progress,
+    the reader will see the development of a complete change of
+    mind on this point.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_May 27._ Negroes--plantation negroes, at least--will never make
+soldiers in one generation. Five white men could put a regiment to
+flight; but they may be very useful in preventing sickness and death
+among our troops by relieving them of part of their work, and they may
+acquire a certain self-respect and independence which more than
+anything else they need to feel, if they are soon to stand by their
+own strength.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 13._ Old Peggy, the "leader" from Fripp Point, came over, and
+Flora brought her to see the school. She sat on the doorstep, very
+much interested and uttering frequent ejaculations of "Oh Lord!" H.
+had her sewing-school, and then I my regular session, with diminished
+numbers. Hope the men took their books. Saw Wil'by to-day and asked if
+she did not feel pretty well, when Susan answered, "She feel pretty
+well, Missus, but I don't; can't feel right with five boys all gone,
+not so much as that (pointing off the end of her finger) left of one
+of them; two carried off by Secesh, one with a Captain of ours at Fort
+Pulaski,[34] not heard from since Christmas, and now two gone
+yesterday." But she seemed to feel, spite of her regrets, that if they
+could help she was glad they should. Flora said old Peggy and Binah
+were the two whom all that came into the Church had to come through,
+and the Church supports them, and she contributed thirty-five cents to
+get her some flannel for garments, which she had always been used to
+till now. Of course we gave them to her.
+
+_May 14._ Our new equipage with its two horses drew up, and I got in,
+while H., shocked at the rags, cut out the lining of the top of the
+buggy, showering me with sand thereby. The buggy and horses were
+legacies from Mr. S., the cotton-agent, who departed yesterday.
+
+There have been seven babies born on the three plantations since we
+came, and thirteen since Mr. Philbrick came, for which we have been
+able to supply but little and that only on this place. The Master
+always provided for the new babies two of each garment and half a
+dozen diapers.
+
+I found that they had a most heart-rending time [at Mr. Eustis'
+plantation] on Monday. The two companies of soldiers coming over
+Sunday night had frightened them, and they kept watch all along the
+creek through the night of their own accord, for fear of Secesh. The
+thing was not judiciously done the next morning, and seems to have
+made a great deal of suffering which was avoided here.
+
+_May 15._ After lunch I walked down to the quarters and stopped at all
+the cabins. Found two of the men had already come back from Hilton
+Head and had eased the minds of all the mothers and wives by the
+reports which they brought back of comfortable quarters, good food and
+clothing, confirming all our statements. I think here a greater degree
+of confidence than ever will be established by this painful episode.
+Mr. Philbrick says they have not behaved so well at Coffin's Point as
+to-day since he came. We walked down to the field to see them hoeing
+corn in their own "nigger field"--what is raised for the plantation,
+not their own private patches, but that out of which their weekly peck
+comes, and which therefore they will work on out of hours. Their
+task[35] is done, often, by eleven o'clock.
+
+Went to see Binah. She is always very glad to see us, and to-day
+reached to a little shelf at the foot of the bed, off which she took a
+small tin pail and gave us three eggs--her last. I remonstrated, but
+she said, "You gib me ting, I say tank 'ee," so I picked them up and
+thanked her.
+
+Mr. Philbrick sent for the people to make the final payment for
+cotton-planting, which is now finished, and we stood at the window to
+watch them as they came up, and help give out the money. One woman,
+who had not done so much work, was disturbed at not getting as much
+money as the others, and Mr. Philbrick could not make her understand.
+Flora came to H. afterwards and said, "You must excuse we niggers, we
+no sense, and Mr. Philbrick _so_ patient; all Secesh on these islands
+couldn't make so much as he has with we."
+
+_May 16._ Dr. Wakefield arrived with the news of the rebel
+Flag-steamer's having escaped from Charleston through the inside
+passages, passed Beaufort and gone to Hilton Head. It was manned by
+blacks, who came off at two o'clock night before last with their wives
+and children, the officers having all gone ashore. It mounted two
+guns, and had four others on board which were to be taken[36]
+somewhere, passed Sumter with the right signals, and Beaufort with a
+Federal flag, and was sent back there again from Hilton Head. I should
+like to have been in Beaufort. It is magnificent.
+
+The sales have been quite large, as Mr. Philbrick's denims[37] have
+arrived, and the negroes had yesterday their second payment. The cloth
+is sold at the wholesale price, as it was bought. I am afraid they
+will never get it as cheap again. Now we can give away the made
+clothes with more freedom.
+
+Got old Peter to make me a piggin for fresh water in my chamber; as
+they always carry everything on their heads, a pail is no advantage.
+It is of a red color, and very nicely made. When I gave it to Flora to
+fill, she said, "him name Harriet"--whether intended as a compliment
+to me or to the piggin I could not understand. When we told Joe about
+the steamer, he exclaimed, "Gracious! 'zackly, that done beautiful,"
+and kept exploding through the rest of dinner, "my glory," "gracious,"
+"smartest ting done yet."
+
+_May 17._ H. called me out of school this morning to see one of the
+crew of the _Planter_, the steamer that ran off from Charleston. He
+proved to be a man from McKee's plantation who had a wife and children
+at Coffin's Point and had come round in a boat with a crew and pass
+from General Stevens[38] to take them to Beaufort. Almost all the men
+came from about here; David had two brothers with wives at Coffin's
+Point who were afraid to run the risk, and, though they belonged to
+the crew, went ashore. The pilot first proposed the plan, and they
+arranged a day or two beforehand with the wives they had there, took
+them on board in boats I think at two o'clock, passed Fort Sumter with
+the signal, two long whistles and a short, and came round inside the
+islands so that they did not encounter any of our blockading fleet
+till they came off Otter Island, where there is a vessel lying within
+sight of Coffin's Point. Then they raised the Federal flag which was
+on board, were boarded by our men and _cheered_ as they passed on
+their way. Beaufort was amazed at a steamer with the Federal flag
+coming from that direction. The guns were to be mounted between Sumter
+and Charleston at the new Fort Ripley. David said they had made up
+their minds to blow up the vessel rather than be taken--they knew they
+should have no mercy. I hope the men who stayed were not hung for not
+informing. He said Charleston was "very interrupted," not a white
+woman left in the town, as they were expecting an attack from the
+Federals. He reports coffee at $1.50 a pound, sugar 50 cents there,
+but I don't know how much he is to be relied on; he was very quiet and
+modest--the fireman; said he used to work in the field here, but would
+"go furder" before he ever would do it again.
+
+To-day a quantity of bacon, which was sent from Philadelphia, was
+given out to the hands on both the Fripp plantations. There has been
+a good deal of trouble about their working Saturday, and the bacon was
+only given to those who went into the field to-day, I hope with good
+effect. They have not done a third the usual work this year, and it is
+hard to bring anything to bear upon them. I hope Captain Saxton, who
+we hear is coming out as head of the whole concern, will have
+sufficient authority to settle some points which have been left to the
+individual superintendents and with regard to which they have not
+pursued the same course, making it very hard for some.
+
+    Rufus Saxton, Captain in the United States Army, had been a
+    quartermaster at Hilton Head ever since its capture. On
+    April 29, 1862, he was assigned, as Brigadier-General of
+    Volunteers, "to take possession of all the plantations
+    heretofore occupied by the rebels" in the Department of the
+    South, "and take charge of the inhabitants remaining thereon
+    within the department, or which the fortunes of the war may
+    hereafter bring into it, with authority to take such
+    measures, make such rules and regulations for the
+    cultivation of the land and for protection, employment, and
+    government of the inhabitants as circumstances may seem to
+    require." He was to act under the orders of the Secretary of
+    War, and, so far as the persons and purposes specified were
+    concerned, his action was to be "independent of that of
+    other military authorities of the department," and in all
+    other cases "subordinate only to the Major-General
+    commanding." Many of Saxton's orders are signed
+    "Brigadier-General and Military Governor," but of course he
+    was never a military governor in the sense in which that
+    term was used of Lincoln's military governors of states.
+    Doubtless Saxton was recommended for his position by General
+    Hunter, both being ardent anti-slavery men.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sunday, May 18._ Started [for church] directly after breakfast in the
+buggy. It is the first time I have been up, and I am glad to have seen
+the sight. The church[39] is of brick, in a grove of very beautiful
+live-oak trees wreathed with grapevines and hanging moss, under which
+were tied every conceivable description of horse and vehicle, from Mr.
+Pierce's six-seated carriage and pair of fine Northern horses to the
+one-seated sulkies, and mules saddled with cotton-bags. Just as we
+arrived the people were all pouring out of church after Sunday School,
+for a short intermission before the service. I was very sorry to lose
+that part of the performances. Mr. Hooper is superintendent, and they
+say has an admirable faculty at interesting the children, who are
+taught besides by the white people present in classes. We had a
+pleasant chat with Miss W. and Miss Towne and the gentlemen, most of
+whom do not meet at all except once a week at church, and then the
+people were collected again, and when they were seated, Mr. Pierce
+summoned us, the four ladies, to an empty pew with himself. The church
+is painted white inside, very plain, with galleries, and filled full
+of black people,--doors, windows and aisles. Dr. French had come over
+from "Biffert," as they call it, and conducted the services. He read a
+hymn through, "Am I a soldier of the Cross?" etc., and then deaconed
+out two lines at a time, while the negroes sang it in their peculiar,
+nasal manner, one always leading. He preached them an admirable
+sermon, familiar in its style. He told them of his visit to the men
+who had been carried to Hilton Head, which interested them very much
+and comforted them too, I guess. Compared them to the Israelites
+coming out of Egypt, as in a transition state in which everything
+depended upon themselves--they must not behave so ill that God would
+make them wander forty years in the wilderness instead of reaching
+Canaan in eighteen months. It was pleasant to see their interest--the
+"elders" all sat under the pulpit and in the front seats, and many
+would nod their heads from time to time in approbation, equivalent to
+the "'zackly" and "jus' so" of their every-day speech. They were all
+well dressed--a few in gaudy toggery, hoopskirts, and shabby bonnets,
+but mostly in their simple "head hankerchers" [which] I hope they will
+never give up. Many of the men on the road had their shoes in their
+hands to put on when they got to church. Most of them wear none. The
+women, many of them, came up to shake hands with us after church and
+said they must come and see us. There are no white ladies on the
+islands beside us and those at Pope's (Mr. Pierce's).
+
+Mr. Hooper told us of General Hunter's proclamation declaring all
+slaves free in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.[40] We got no
+letters or news from the North of any sort, and are waiting anxiously
+to know how this news is received there and what has happened since we
+heard last. He promises free papers to all who enlist, and gives each
+a chance to come home to his family if he concludes to do so.
+Expresses great regret that the thing should have been done as it was,
+but I don't know what he could expect, and it will be some time before
+the impression will die out, particularly among the women. The men are
+well contented there, and most of them will stay, I daresay; there are
+over five hundred.
+
+_May 19._ This evening Dr. Wakefield arrived with the Doctor of the
+Roundhead Pennsylvania Regiment. Said the pilot of the _Planter_, as
+he passed Fort Sumter at daybreak, broke into the Captain's room, put
+on his regimentals, and walked up and down the deck mimicking the
+Captain's gait, so that if they should use their glasses at Fort
+Sumter no suspicion should be excited!
+
+_May 20._ We are fortunate in being on a plantation so far from town,
+the soldiers, and the influence of the cotton-agents. At Coffin's
+Point the people have shown the effects of having soldiers quartered
+there so long, though they were a less simple and quiet sort than
+these in Secesh times. The quarters here are the cleanest and
+prettiest I have seen, though there is room for improvement.
+
+The day has been a very busy one. A large box of Philadelphia clothing
+I overhauled, made a list of everything in it, and with H.'s help
+rolled up half and packed again to go to Coffin's Point. It is the
+last box of clothing we shall have, I hope. We thought we should enjoy
+the giving more things, now that the goods have come by the piece
+which they prefer to buy, but they are so jealous, and it is so hard
+to keep the run of so many families so as to distribute the garments
+equally, that it is hard work, and proves the wisdom of those who
+decided it was best to sell in the first place. The old people and
+babies of course we give to entirely, _i. e._, as far as we have the
+means. I should like a box full of baby-clothes and flannel for the
+old rheumaticky women, whose garments are all worn out.
+
+Heard Joe tell Flora, "Don't call me 'Joe' again; my name Mr.
+Jenkins." I find they all have surnames, of one sort and another, a
+wife taking her husband's.
+
+_May 22._ When they go into the field to work, the women tie a bit of
+string or some vine round their skirts just below the hips, to shorten
+them, often raising them nearly to the knees; then they walk off with
+their heavy hoes on their shoulders, as free, strong, and graceful as
+possible. The prettiest sight is the corn-shelling on Mondays, when
+the week's allowance, a peck a hand, is given out at the corn-house by
+the driver. They all assemble with their baskets, which are shallow
+and without handles, made by themselves of the palmetto and holding
+from half a peck to a bushel. The corn is given out in the ear, and
+they sit about or kneel on the ground, shelling it with cleared
+corn-cobs. Here there are four enormous logs hollowed at one end,
+which serve as mortars, at which two can stand with their rude
+pestles, which they strike up and down alternately. It is very hard
+work, but quicker than the hand process. After it is all shelled, the
+driver puts a large hide on the ground and measures each one's portion
+into his basket, and men, women, girls, and boys go off with the
+weight on their heads. The corn-house is in a very pretty place, with
+trees about it, and it is always a picturesque sight--especially when
+the sand-flies are about, and the children light corn-cob fires to
+keep them off. The corn is ground by hand by each negro in turn for
+themselves; it is hard work and there are only three hand-mills on the
+place, but it makes very sweet meal and grits. The negroes do not like
+the taste of that which is ground by steam-mill at Beaufort; I suppose
+the heat of the stones hurts it. The blacks at Hilton Head, who have
+had our Indian-meal given them as rations, cannot eat the "red
+flour."[41] They separate the coarse and fine parts after it is ground
+by shaking the grits in their baskets; the finest they call corn-flour
+and make hoe-cake of, but their usual food is the grits, the large
+portion, boiled as hominy and eaten with clabber.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO EDWARD ATKINSON
+
+_Pine Grove, May 25._ We received the Philadelphia bacon and salt
+herring about a week ago and divided it among the cotton-workers. I
+have also distributed a part of the salt you sent. This allowance of
+bacon was given once a fortnight and _weekly_ at this season by the
+different masters, and the quart of salt monthly. Several plantations
+near Beaufort which had been stripped of their corn by the army have
+been referred to me for supplies. I have loaded three flat-boats from
+the corn-barns here and at Coffin's, where there was a surplus,
+sending off 285 bushels shelled corn in all. The removal of this corn
+from my barns gave occasion for some loud and boisterous talking on
+the part of some of the women, and made the driver of this plantation
+feel very sober, but I pacified them by telling them the Government
+showed its determination to provide for them by this very act, for
+here were several plantations on Ladies Island, destitute of corn,
+which might have been fed with much less trouble from the pile of
+bacon and herring recently received, but that the Government did not
+consider _that_ a just division of good things, so they sent me a part
+of the bacon and fish, and took my corn to feed the destitute.
+Thereby, said I, you are all gainers, for you have corn enough left to
+last till potatoes come, and you get the bacon besides, for which you
+ought to be thankful. The noisy ones stopped their clamor and the
+sensible ones thanked me and hoped I would stay and take care of them,
+saying they had about given up hopes of seeing any more meat in their
+lives, and were very thankful for even this bit to grease their hominy
+with.
+
+The people are taking hold of the cotton-fields with much more heart
+than I had feared, after the levy of recruits two weeks ago. The
+cotton has been mostly hoed once and is growing well under the
+favorable weather. Some of the corn is five feet high and it is all
+hoed and ploughed except the latest portion, which was planted this
+month. A small portion of the cornfields has been neglected, being the
+portions assigned to some of the men who are absent. There were ten
+young men belonging at Coffin's Point who escaped notice on the day of
+the levy, but who, on learning that I had called for them, came and
+delivered themselves up next morning. I sent them on towards Beaufort
+and they met Mr. Pierce on the road. He told them that General Hunter
+did not want their service against their will, and as they preferred
+to return home they did so. I had just organized the whole gang anew
+after this, when Mr. S.,[42] who I thought was gone for good, turned
+up with an order to collect cotton on the mainland, and requested me
+to let him have a boat's crew to explore for two days. I told him the
+men were all organized and at work, each on his own acre, but if he
+couldn't get men elsewhere I should not refuse for such a short time.
+The men came back on the third day without Mr. S. and notified me that
+he had hired them (and two more joined them, making twelve in all) to
+collect cotton for a month or two on the neighboring territory beyond
+our previous pickets, under protection of scouting-parties detached
+for the purpose. The men were offered fifty cents per day, and as I
+had no authority to offer _anything_ definitely, except, a house to
+live in and their allowance of corn, I told them they were free to go
+where they pleased, but advised them to stay. Of course they all went
+off, but have been back twice since to spend a night and have gone
+again this morning. They are nearly all active young men and are
+pleased with this roving sort of life, but you may imagine how fatal
+such a state of things is to my efforts at organization, and how
+demoralizing upon the general industry of those remaining at home
+these visits of the rovers are, to say nothing of the breaking up of
+old gangs and abandoning allotments of land. Some of these men who
+were about to go with Mr. S. told me their wives would carry on their
+tasks while they were gone, and I told them that if they would do so I
+would let them avail themselves of the proceeds of their labor, but if
+these patches should be neglected, I should assign them to other men,
+and their planting labor would be forfeited. Thus far I find but one
+neglected patch, and unless this is soon hoed by some of the friends
+of the sick woman to whom it belongs, I shall have to assign it to
+some one else. It is a common practice among them to hire each other
+to hoe their tasks, when sickness or other causes prevent them from
+doing it themselves, so that most of the tasks of the lying-in women
+are taken care of by sisters or other friends in the absence of their
+husbands.
+
+The more I see of these people the more surprised I am that they
+should have done so much as they have this year without any definite
+promise of payment on our part, and with so little acquaintance with
+us. The course we have been obliged to pursue[43] would not have got
+an acre planted by Irish laborers. I do not think it the best course,
+but under the existing confusion it was _only_ one. If we were
+authorized to say that we could pay a definite sum per one hundred
+pounds for cotton raised, or a definite sum per month for certain
+services performed, we might have accomplished much more, but under
+the present arrangement I doubt if we can do the usual work for next
+year's crop, _i. e._, in preparing manure. The only men left upon
+these plantations are the old ones and they are not fit to cut the
+marsh-grass commonly used for cotton manure. The only way I can get
+the cornfields ploughed is by asking the drivers to take the ploughs
+in their own hands, which they do very cheerfully and with good
+effect, each one ploughing three or four acres per day. I do not
+think the hands can be expected to work on all summer without further
+payments of money or some equivalent. I wait rather anxiously for the
+development of Captain or rather _General_ Saxton's instructions. He
+has not arrived yet, but is daily expected.
+
+The two thousand five hundred yards of cloth you sent me is all sold
+with the exception of about three pieces, and paid for in cash; a few
+have said they had no money and ask me to set it down in the book for
+them to pay when they get money from the cotton. I always trust them
+in this way when they desire it, and find them very reluctant to run
+up a long score. My willingness to trust them gives them confidence
+that they will be paid for their cotton labor, and though the "white
+folks" at Hilton Head are telling them that the cotton crop is a mere
+speculation on our part, I don't think they listen much to them. One
+man told me to-day that nobody could cross the sill of my door to harm
+me or my ladies while he could prevent it. This same man was sent by
+his master, the day that Hilton Head was taken, with a fleet of
+flat-boats, to bring the secession soldiers away from their forts.
+
+    W. C. G. says of the situation at this time:
+
+_May 27._ Between the gradual settling of affairs, the people's
+growing confidence in us and in the Government as paymasters, and the
+absence of the unruly men, the plantations are getting on quite
+nicely. The land, both corn and cotton, has been divided and allotted
+to the hands,--so a new system of labor[44] is--on our places--already
+inaugurated.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Monday, May 26._ Had quite a talk with Flora over the bed-making; she
+asked me to hem her a muslin head-hankercher which York had sent her
+from Hilton Head, and re-string some beads which had come too and been
+broken. I promised to do it, telling her she would have things enough
+to remember me by--to which she responded, "Neber forget you, long as
+I hab breath for draw." I find they are all beginning to feel badly at
+our leaving,[45] now they know we shall really go so soon.
+
+This is 'lowance day, and school is always late Monday P. M., but
+to-day, as they were all together, after they got through their corn,
+Ranty distributed some salt and mackerel Mr. Philbrick had for them,
+which kept them till six, our dinner-time, and they lost school
+altogether, greatly to their regret. We went to the porch to watch the
+groups, and as they passed us with their baskets on their heads and
+fish wrapped in green leaves in their hands, they all looked up and
+curtseyed, with a "tank 'ee, Massa."
+
+When Flora came in with the tea just after, she was muttering, "Neber
+see a marn so payshun as Mr. Philbri'," and then, turning to H. as if
+she was afraid she did not appreciate his virtue,--"Miss Helen, not
+two body in de worl' so payshun as him." I don't know what had
+excited her admiration just then, but she probably never saw a white
+man before who did not swear, at least. For even her favorite Mass'
+Clan's she does not consider as immaculate, though he would "nebber
+drive nigger."
+
+_May 28._ To the [Pine Grove] quarters to say good-bye all round,
+stopping at each house. They seemed quite sorry to have us go,
+expressing their regret by presents of eggs. I filled my pockets and
+H. her hands; then Mily held her apron and walked home with us; she
+counted over three dozen in all. My children came in the evening, and
+we went to bed early; and so passed the last day at William Fripp's
+Pine Grove Plantation.
+
+_Coffin's Point, May 29._ Before ten the two carts were ready, and
+Flora and Joe mounted one to help us get to rights. Then H. and Mr.
+Philbrick went off in the buggy with the span. I was to have gone in
+the sulky, but harness fell short, and I had to wait till Tom could
+come back with the mule-cart. So I collected the children and had a
+last school for them, and when Tom came, locked the door, mounted the
+sulky (with the white umbrella) onto which the saddles had been tied,
+and, followed to the gate by the whole tribe singing "A, B, C," took
+my departure, the children shouting as I bid them good-bye, "We come
+for see you!"
+
+As I drove up to the house [at Coffin's] the yard really looked
+attractive, as it has some grass in it, though I had not thought the
+house so. But a day's work has made a vast change, and to-night it
+looks quite habitable. It was built in good style originally, but it
+is very old, and has been so abused by the negroes in the first
+place, and then from having had soldiers living in it for so many
+months, it is very shabby. It must have been handsomely furnished, to
+judge from the relics, for they are nothing more--rosewood tables,
+sideboards and washstands with marble tops, drawers and doors broken
+in and half gone, sofas that must have been of the best, nothing left
+but the frame; no one can conceive of the destruction who has not seen
+it. The rooms are twelve feet high, and the lower story is more than
+that from the ground. The air is delicious, and we shall find the
+blinds which are on the second story a luxury. I have my own little
+bed, bureau, marble-top washstand, _three_ chairs and a large
+wardrobe, to say nothing of a piano, in my chamber, which is I should
+think eighteen feet square.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_May 30._ Schools are getting on pretty well, I suppose,--slowly, of
+course. A few are really bright,--a few really dull; the larger
+part--like the same proportion of white children--could creep, walk,
+or trot, according to the regularity with which they are driven, and
+the time devoted to their books. While we have been living at Pine
+Grove, there have been five schools daily, teaching about one hundred
+and forty scholars.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 30._ We have moved just in time, I guess, for the weather will
+grow warmer now. Between eight and eleven is the warmest part of the
+day; after that the sea-breeze is sure to come up.
+
+_May 31._ There is a line cut through the trees all across the
+islands so that they can see the light-house from Beaufort. I asked
+Tom who cut it, as I rode over the other day, and he said, "Yankee cut
+it." "Since the Fort was taken?" "Long time ago." "The old Masters cut
+it, then?" "No, Secesh neber cut down trees, make nigger do it; poor
+white men cut 'em." I finally came to the conclusion that it must have
+been done by the Coast Survey. I daresay they think we are all "poor
+white." Mary, a mulatto here, told Mr. G. his clothes would be fifty
+cents per dozen for washing; that she used to have seventy-five cents
+in Charleston, "for real gentle folks!"
+
+_Sunday, June 1._ H. called in Betty, Joe, and Uncle Sam while she
+read, and after Mr. Philbrick had repeated the Lord's Prayer, Uncle
+Sam of his own accord offered a very simple, touching prayer. He is an
+Elder, and as honest and true as "Uncle Tom" himself--a genuine
+specimen of that class among the negroes, which exists in reality as
+well as in story. The younger ones do not seem to be quite so
+religious a class, though perhaps they are too young to tell, for
+young married men like Joe and Cuffy seem to have genuine principle,
+and belong to the church. H. told Joe, when he had been sulky for the
+first time, that she hoped he felt better; she did not like to see him
+so. "Yes, Marm, feel better now, Marm; you know de ole marn will rise
+sometimes." And he told Mr. G. once that he should not cry if his baby
+died, "'cause de Lord take him to a better place--not punish him,
+'cause he have no sin;" but he said he should cry hard if Wil'by died,
+because he knew she would be punished. (His wife is not a
+"professor.")
+
+_June 2._ An officer from the gunboat off here came ashore to see if
+he could hire some men, but Mr. Philbrick told him that General Hunter
+had taken off more than he could spare. The officer seemed to think
+that Hunter would be recalled and the regiment disbanded[46]--in which
+case Mr. Philbrick told him he did not want the men and he might take
+what he needed. We hear they are made sick by the change of diet; army
+rations can't be very good for men who have lived on hominy all their
+lives. He told us, moreover, a most interesting piece of news; that
+the firing we heard the other day was from the blockading fleet off
+Charleston, which captured six and sunk three of a fleet of English
+steamers, ten in number, laden with arms and munitions of war, which
+were making an attempt to run in to Charleston--thus letting only one
+escape. I don't know whether it got in or off.
+
+A semiweekly _Advertiser_ and _Tribune_ of May 14th, with full
+accounts of the taking of New Orleans and the battle of Williamsburg,
+which we have not heard about, and the splendid doings have roused me
+all up to full war pitch again. We have been so peaceful I could not
+realize all that was going on.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO EDWARD ATKINSON
+
+_Coffin's Point, June 3._ I suppose we shall lose General Hunter, for
+even if not recalled I don't see how he could stay after Lincoln's
+proclamation. I must say I think his, Hunter's action, premature and
+uncalled for. It seemed to me very like the tadpole resolution in
+"Festina lente." In this case, too, the tadpoles were quite out of our
+reach except the small number in these islands, who had virtually shed
+their tails in course of nature already. I have great faith in Lincoln
+and am ready to leave the question with him. I think the effect of
+Hunter's proclamation upon the slaves of these states would be
+inconsiderable. They don't hear of it, to begin with, and if they did
+they wouldn't care for it. I am surprised to find how little most of
+these people appreciate their present prospects. Once in a while you
+find an intelligent man who does so, but the mass plod along in the
+beaten track with little thought about the future and no sort of
+feeling of responsibility. They feel a sense of relief that no one
+stands to force them to labor, and they fall back with a feeling of
+indifference as to whether they exert themselves beyond what is
+necessary to supply the demands of necessity. No better result can be
+hoped for till the time comes for each to see the reward for his
+labor. At present they are working upon faith, without even a definite
+promise as to what that payment shall be. Hunter's course is of far
+greater importance in its effect upon the political world in the North
+than in its immediate influence upon the status of the negroes in the
+districts to which it applies. The secret of such exploits as the crew
+of the _Planter_ have lately performed lies in the fact that the men
+were forcibly taken from this region last November and wanted to get
+back home again. If their old home had been in Charleston, they would
+not have left it at the risk they incurred. In short, I don't regard
+the blacks as of any account in a military light, for they are not a
+military race, and have not sufficient intelligence to act in concert
+in any way where firmness of purpose is required.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_June 5._ Mr. Philbrick brought one unwelcome letter--an appointment
+from Mr. Pierce to Mr. G. to some plantation at the other end of the
+island. He is too valuable to be here. He is going to a hard place,
+ten or twelve plantations, though with fewer negroes in all than on
+these three.
+
+The mule-cart came up and was loaded with all Mr. G.'s things, and by
+nine o'clock he took his departure on horseback, in his red flannel
+shirt and palm-leaf hat looking quite Southern and picturesque.
+
+[Later.] Here came my morning school, for the first time, under
+Bacchus' conduct. I heard them singing and went to the window to watch
+and see how he was bringing them from the quarters. He is a cripple in
+his hands, which turn backwards, and he has but little control of his
+arms, but is much looked up to by the other children. Of course he
+cannot do any work, and Mr. G. has made him a sort of schoolmaster,
+and he has always kept school when Mr. G. was away. He manages them
+nicely, after his fashion--leaving them in the midst if he happens to
+want to eat some hominy! They never have regular meals, but each one
+eats hominy when he happens to want it. Well, soldiers have been
+stationed on the place, and Bacchus had got some notion of drill, so
+he marched up the thirty-five children, six or seven in a row, holding
+hands to keep them straight, and with two of the oldest boys for
+captains on each side to administer raps with their sticks if they
+did not keep in line, walking backwards himself to oversee the whole
+company, with a soldier's cap on his head, and shouting out his orders
+for them to sing their different tunes all the way,--the funniest
+spectacle himself imaginable.
+
+_Monday, June 9._ Found that Bacchus' brother Lester had been taken
+sick Sunday morning and died at night, so he did not bring up the
+school. Just after dinner we saw the people assembling at their
+burying-place,[47] and H. and I went down to witness the services.
+Uncle Sam followed us, book in hand and spectacles on nose, reading as
+he walked. As we drew near to the grave we heard all the children
+singing their A, B, C, through and through again, as they stood
+waiting round the grave for the rest to assemble and for Uncle Sam to
+begin. Each child had his school-book or picture-book Mr. G. had given
+him in his hand,--another proof that they consider their lessons as in
+some sort religious exercise. We were joined at once by Mr. Philbrick,
+and stood uncovered with the rest about the grave, at the mouth of
+which rested the coffin, a rough board one, but well shaped and
+closed. Uncle Sam took off his hat, tied a red handkerchief round his
+head and, adjusting his glasses, read the hymn through, and then
+deaconed out two lines at a time for the people to sing. He repeated
+the process with a second hymn, when Abel made a prayer; then Uncle
+Sam read from the Burial Service and began his exordium, apologizing
+for his inability to speak much on account of a sore throat, but
+holding forth for about half an hour upon the necessity for all to
+prepare for "dis bed," filling his discourse with Scripture
+illustrations and quotations aptly and with force, using the story of
+"Antoninus and Suffirus" as a proof that God would not have any "half
+religions"--that if anybody had "hid his Lord's money in de eart' he
+must grabble for it before 'twas too late." He read from the service
+again, one of the men throwing on earth at the usual place. When they
+came to cover up the grave, the men constantly changed hoes with those
+who had not handled them before, that each might aid, women and old
+men stooping to throw in a handful. Abel made another prayer, they
+sang again and dispersed.
+
+    It was of this scene that W. C. G. wrote the following
+    lines:
+
+THE NEGRO BURYING-GROUND.
+
+    'Mid the sunny flat of the cotton-field
+      Lies an acre of forest-tangle still;
+    A cloister dim, where the grey moss waves
+      And the live-oaks lock their arms at will.
+
+    Here in the shadows the slaves would hide
+      As they dropped the hoe at death's release,
+    And leave no sign but a sinking mound
+      To show where they passed on their way to peace.
+
+    This was the Gate--there was none but this--
+      To a Happy Land where men were men;
+    And the dusky fugitives, one by one,
+      Stole in from the bruise of the prison-pen.
+
+    When, lo! in the distance boomed the guns,
+      The bruise was over, and "Massa" had fled!
+    But _Death_ is the "Massa" that never flees,
+      And still to the oaks they bore the dead.
+
+    'Twas at set of sun; a tattered troop
+      Of children circled a little grave,
+    Chanting an anthem rich in its peace
+      As ever pealed in cathedral-nave,--
+
+    The A, B, C, that the lips below
+      Had learnt with them in the school to shout.
+    Over and over they sung it slow,
+      Crooning a mystic meaning out.
+
+    A, B, C, D, E, F, G,--
+      Down solemn alphabets they swept:
+    The oaks leaned close, the moss swung low,--
+      What strange new sound among them crept?
+
+    The holiest hymn that the children knew!
+      'Twas dreams come real, and heaven come near;
+    'Twas light, and liberty, and joy,
+      And "white-folks' sense,"--and God right here!
+
+    Over and over; they dimly felt
+      _This_ was the charm could make black white,
+    This was the secret of "Massa's" pride,
+      And this, unknown, made the negro's night.
+
+    What could they sing of braver cheer
+      To speed on his unseen way the friend?
+    The children were facing the mystery Death
+      With the deepest prayer that their hearts could send.
+
+    Children, too, and the mysteries last!
+      We are but comrades with them _there_,--
+    Stammering over a meaning vast,
+      Crooning our guesses of how and where.
+
+    But the children were right with their A, B, C;
+      In our stammering guess so much we say!
+    The singers were happy, and so are we:
+      Deep as our wants are the prayers we pray.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Captain Oliver Fripp's Plantation, June 9._ I came here, in
+consequence of a letter received from Mr. Pierce, asking me to take
+charge over some plantations here. There is a Mr. Sumner here,--lately
+arrived,--who is teaching. The place is quite at the other end of the
+island from Coffin's Point. At present I am by no means settled; it
+seems like jumping from the 19th century into the Middle Ages to
+return from the civilization and refinement which the ladies
+instituted at Coffin's to the ruggedness of bachelor existence.
+
+_June 22._ In regard to danger of sickness, I hear much about it,--but
+I think it is exaggerated. The white overseer stayed on Edgar Fripp's
+Plantation--close by--all summer. The planters generally went to
+Beaufort or the Village, but I think very much as we go out of town in
+summer. The summer was the fashionable and social time here, when the
+rich people lived together, gave parties, etc.
+
+_July 6._ The people do not work very willingly,--things are not so
+steady as they have become at Coffin's. The district is even more
+exposed to the influence of visits to and from the camps.
+
+We had quite a celebration for the people on the Fourth. A stage was
+erected near the old Episcopal church in a cool grove of live-oaks,
+all grey with long trails of Southern moss. A large flag was obtained
+and suspended between trees across the road--it was good to see the
+old flag again. The people had been notified the previous Sunday, and
+I should think about a thousand were present, in gala dress and mood,
+from all parts of the island. When the ladies, the invited
+superintendents from Port Royal, and the General (Saxton)[48] had
+taken their seats, the people marched up in two processions from each
+direction, carrying green branches and singing. Under the flag they
+gave three rousing cheers, then grouped around the stage. The children
+from three or four of the schools marched in separately. After a
+prayer and some native songs, Mr. Philbrick, the General, and the
+_Times_ reporter addressed them, and then one of the old darkies got
+on the stage and in an ecstasy of obedience and gratitude exhorted
+them to share his feelings, I believe.
+
+For an hour and a half there was a general press for the hard
+bread, herring, and molasses and water. When everything was
+devoured, the superintendents rode up to "the Oaks,"--Pierce's
+headquarters[49],--and had a collation. So much for Fourth of July. It
+was strange and moving down here on South Carolina ground, with the
+old flag waving above us, to tell a thousand slaves that they were
+freemen,[50] that that flag was theirs, that our country now meant
+their country, and to tell them how Northerners read the
+Declaration--"All men are born free and equal." The people had a grand
+time, they say, and seem really grateful for it. It was a new thing
+for them, a Fourth of July for the negro. In old times they worked, if
+with any difference, harder than usual, while their masters met and
+feasted and drank.
+
+    The rest of this extract is an expression--which will be
+    followed later by many like it--of the sense that people in
+    the North were getting too complacent a notion of what had
+    been done and what could be done for the Sea Island negroes.
+
+Pierce's report[51] has too much sugar in it. His statements are
+facts, but facts with the silver lining out. The starving, naked
+condition of the blacks was much exaggerated when we started to come
+down here.
+
+_July 25._ On the whole, affairs conduct themselves pretty quietly and
+regularly. The cases of discipline are the most vexing and amusing. It
+is a peculiar experience to be detective, policeman, judge, jury, and
+jailer,--all at once,--sometimes in cases of assault and battery, and
+general, plantation _squows_,--then in a divorce case,--last Sunday in
+a whiskey-selling affair; a calf-murder is still on the docket.
+
+    The next letter is the first from C. P. W., who went to Port
+    Royal early in July, on the same steamer with Charles F.
+    Folsom of Harvard, '62, who is often mentioned in the
+    letters that follow, and with several other young
+    Massachusetts men who had volunteered as superintendents.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Beaufort, July 7._ We got our luggage into the Mayflower and started
+for this place [from Hilton Head] about six o'clock. It was droll
+enough to find a party of Boston men taking a sail in the old Hingham
+boat up Beaufort River under United States passes, to superintend
+South Carolina plantations.
+
+_July 15. Coffin's Point._ The nearest of my five plantations is three
+miles distant, along the shore road, and the four on that road extend
+about two miles; my fifth is on the upper road, to Beaufort, about
+four and a half miles from the Point. The roads are mere tracks worn
+in the fields, sometimes through woods, like our wood roads, only more
+sandy. In front of my plantations there are bushes on the right-hand
+side, for some distance, the field being bounded on the other side by
+woods. Fields usually very long, sometimes three quarters of a mile,
+divided across the road by fences, gates occurring at every passage
+from one to another; the plantation houses and quarters at an average
+of one third of a mile from the road, paths through cotton-fields
+leading to them. Imagine a perfectly flat country, relieved by belts
+of trees, and intersected by rows of brush, single trees standing here
+and there in the bare, hot fields. Very little fresh water either in
+brooks or pools. Salt-water creeks are to be crossed on the shore
+roads; the richest lands in the adjoining meadows. A cotton-field
+looks not unlike a potato-field, the rows higher and more distinct,
+the plants further apart, usually two feet; the rows five feet. Corn
+planted on rows like cotton. You would be surprised to see the soil in
+which these flourish; beach sand, in many places, is the principal
+ingredient. The fields are very much the colour of the sea-beach.
+
+We live on the fat of the land. We are allowed $5.24 per month for
+rations, but I do not use even that. Rice, sugar, and molasses are our
+principal draughts from the Commissary.
+
+    The colonists referred to at the beginning of the next
+    letter were a thousand blacks from the island of Edisto,
+    which the United States Government, after taking, had
+    evacuated, as too troublesome to hold. The place where they
+    were quartered, as described in the first sentence, was St.
+    Helena Village.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_July 20._ The Secesh houses there are insufficient to accommodate
+them all, and they stow themselves in sheds, tents, and even in the
+open air, as best they can. Many of them are to be distributed on
+plantations where there are quarters; they will probably be set to
+planting slip-potatoes and cow-pease.
+
+Everything needs personal supervision here; every barrel or parcel
+must be kept under your eye from the time it leaves the storehouse in
+Beaufort till it is put in your mule-cart, on Ladies Island. Then you
+must be at home when the team arrives and see everything brought into
+the storeroom. There is a good deal of red tape, too, at Beaufort, the
+untying and retying of which is a tedious and vexatious operation.[52]
+They are becoming more strict here in Beaufort in several respects;
+passes are needed by every one. There is a great deal of running to
+Hilton Head and Bay Point, which is to be stopped as far as possible.
+
+_July 30._ I ride right through the morning, from nine till four,
+without suffering from the heat so much as in one trip to town and
+back one of our warm, still days at home. I have my white umbrella,
+there is usually some breeze, often a very cool one; the motion of the
+sulky puts me to sleep, but the heat of the sun has not been
+oppressive more than once or twice on this island. If I had attempted
+to follow all the directions I received before leaving, concerning my
+health, I should have been by this time a lunatic.
+
+Rust is such a common thing here that we get used to it. Mrs.
+Philbrick's needles rust in her work-bag; our guns, even after
+cleaning and oiling, are soon covered with a thin coating. Food moulds
+here very rapidly, crackers soften and dried beef spoils. Hominy, of
+course, is the chief article of food. I think it tastes best hot in
+the negro cabins, without accompaniment of molasses, sugar, or salt.
+
+Our life here is, necessarily, very monotonous: the hired people come
+and go, or we go and come to and from them, and the mosquitoes and
+flies do very much as we do. Mosquitoes are really a great annoyance
+at times. They introduce themselves under the netting at night in a
+very mysterious way, and wake us up early with their singing and
+stinging. My theory is that those that can lick the others get
+themselves boosted through the apertures; the animal is smaller than
+ours at the North. I think that they are unaccustomed to human
+treatment; they will not be brushed away, and slapping, if not fatal,
+only excites their curiosity. There is also a small fly which appears
+on warm days after a rain in great numbers. Driving on my beat the
+other day, and holding my umbrella in one hand and newspaper scrap in
+the other, I was driven nearly wild by their continuous attentions. It
+is very easy to read driving here; the roads are so sandy that the
+horse has to walk a great part of the way and one is glad to be able
+to employ the weary hours with literature.
+
+This is the greatest country for false rumors that I ever was in.
+Communication is very uncertain, nothing but special messengers to
+bring us news from the outside world. An occasional visit to Mr.
+Soule[53] or to Beaufort enlivens the long weeks, and we welcome the
+gathering at church on Sunday, with the gossip and the mail and the
+queer collection of black beings in gay toggery, as the great event of
+our lives. If it were not for the newspapers, I might forget the time
+of year. It is very amusing to be appealed to by a negro to know how
+soon the 1st of August is; to tell them it is the 20th of July gives
+them very little idea.
+
+I should like to look in upon you and bring you some of the delicacies
+of the tropical clime, waterm[=e]lions, as the "inhabitants" call
+them, rich and red; huge, mellow figs, seedy but succulent; plump
+quails, sweet curlew, delicate squirrels, fat rabbits, tender
+chickens. We fare well here. If the wretched country only had more
+rocks and less sand, better horses, more tolerable staff officers,[54]
+and just a little more frequent communication with New England, I
+should perhaps be content to make quite a long stay, if I were wanted.
+
+I will only remark at present that I find the nigs rather more
+agreeable, on the whole, than I expected; that they are much to be
+preferred to the Irish; that their blackness is soon forgotten, and as
+it disappears their expression grows upon one, so that, after a week
+or so of intercourse with a plantation, the people are as easily
+distinguished and as individual as white people; I have even noticed
+resemblances in some of them to white people I have seen. They are
+about as offensively servile as I expected. The continual "sur,"
+"maussa," with which their remarks are besprinkled is trying, but soon
+ceases to be noticed. "Bauss" is the most singular appellation, used
+by a few only.
+
+"M's Hayyet's brudder" passed through the Pine Grove "nigger-house"
+one day and retired, after a distinguished ovation, incubating, like a
+hen, upon a sulky-box full of eggs. Promises to show Miss Harriet's
+picture, not yet fulfilled, were received with the greatest
+satisfaction.
+
+We have been making out our pay-rolls for May and June; the blanks,
+delayed in the printing, have just arrived. Red Tape. The money has
+been ready a long time. We ought to pay for July at the same time.
+This, understand, is only a partial payment, on account; the full
+payment is to be made when the crop comes in.
+
+_Aug. 7._ Last Friday Mr. Philbrick and I got our money. The people
+generally took the payment in excellent spirit. A few seemed
+surprised, not knowing what to do with so much money; a few, of
+course, grumbled at the amount, though a clear explanation was always
+understood and received with reasonable satisfaction. I thought that
+one or two were disposed to take advantage of the fact that I had not
+taken the account of acres,[55] and so tried to make a difficulty by
+telling strange tales. But there was a great deal of manliness and
+fairness shown, with a degree of patience and foresight that was very
+gratifying.
+
+_Aug. 16._ Perhaps the best way to give you a satisfactory notion of
+"what my work is, how I like it," etc., is to give an account of a
+day's work on my plantations.
+
+[Illustration: rude portal]
+
+Thursday, Aug. 14. I allow Mr. Philbrick to have his horse saddled
+first,--this was polite,--and as soon as he is out of the
+gate--"Robert!"--"Surr!" "Put my _smallest_ horse into the sulky." I
+retire within, and collect the necessary equipment for a day "out,"
+viz.: white umbrella, whip (riding, long enough for sulky use),
+plantation-book, spring-balance (some rations to be delivered), much
+stout twine, for mending harness if need be, paper of turnip-seeds,
+two thirds of a pound of powder, and one novel, "An Only Son," for
+occupation during the first weary hour, consumed in a three miles walk
+over a sandy road. The young horse, caught at last,--our stud of four
+graze on the turfy acre fenced in about the house,--is a little
+restive at first in the unwonted restraint of the harness, but soon
+gets broken in to steady work by the heavy roads. Somewhat over an
+hour's slow progress brings me to the rude portal which spans the
+entrance of the McTureous estate. The houses of all the plantations on
+the Sea Side road are to be found on the eastern, or left-hand as one
+rides towards Hilton Head. The character of the fields and quarters
+between the road and the water is very much the same on all the
+places. The "water" is a creek, separating the island proper from
+salt-water marshes and the higher islands outside, against which
+latter the ocean itself beats. The distance from the road to the
+creek averages half a mile. The quarters, universally called
+"nigger-houses," are strung along the bank of the creek, at about 100
+feet from the water, on a ridge between the water and the corn. The
+"big house" is a two-story affair, old, dirty, rickety, poorly put
+together and shabbily kept. Here lived old Mrs. Martha E. McTureous,
+with a large household. The James McTureous place--the other half of
+this one--is all in one and the same field. On both these places the
+houses are terribly out of repair, with wooden chimneys and mud
+floors, the people dirty and suffering from the effects of much
+confusion and discouragement in the spring. Limus,[56] their old
+driver, did much mischief by striving to keep up the old system, and
+at the same time neglected the place to go and earn money for himself.
+Then they suffered severely from the black draft, their four best men
+being taken, from a population furnishing only "eight men working
+cotton," and thirteen full hands in all. Arriving as I did after all
+the mischief was done, I have had rather a discouraging time with
+them.
+
+Entering the plantation, I am aware of old Nat. He is hoeing pease. As
+I approach, he shouts, and comes to the road, and lays before me a
+case of menace, ill usage, and threatened assault. I inspected
+convalescent boy, ascertained what work had been done,--in a general
+way, that is, learning that corn-blades had been, and were being,
+stripped, that all the able-bodied men were cutting marsh-grass for
+manure, that Tirah had planted a task of cow-pease for the Government,
+but had allowed them to go to grass,--whereupon, after personal
+inspection of said task, with an injunction to strip some corn which
+was getting dry, I drove over to the James McTureous place. Having
+received from Mr. Soule two packages of Swedish turnip-seed, I
+enquired concerning the manner of planting, how much seed was required
+for a task, etc. Dismounting from the sulky, and leaving it in charge
+of a returned volunteer (I like the sarcastic phrase), who was unwell
+and therefore lounging under the trees in front of one of the
+nigger-houses, I went forth to the field to count the acres of
+Government corn with the driver. On the way, I counted up the tasks of
+pease, slip, etc., to see if they coincided with the account given me
+by the people. Found one and a half of corn worthless, except for
+fodder. Conversed concerning marsh-grass, found another hook for
+cutting would be acceptable, gladdened their hearts with promise of
+turnip-seed, and drove off.
+
+    Not the least curious part of the curious state of things
+    described in the next paragraph is the matter-of-course view
+    of it taken by the youthful superintendent.
+
+By the way, Jim, driver on the James McTureous place, used to be slave
+of Mr. Pritchard, residing in Hunting Island,[57] which runs along
+just outside of St. Helena. He was a very cruel man,--there are
+stories of his burning negroes,--so when the "guns fired at Bay
+Point," as he couldn't run from his negroes, as the other masters did,
+for lack of transportation, his negroes ran from him, and settled
+among their friends on St. Helena. When matters were established at
+Hilton Head, Pritchard went and took the oath and got a pass, and has
+since lived at home, supporting himself by fishing and raising hogs.
+He often visits Jim and others of his old slaves, getting them to go
+fishing with him. Now one day last year, Jim and Mr. Pritchard found a
+four-oared boat--I give Jim's story--on the beach. Pritchard promised
+Jim half the value of the boat, but has since refused to fulfill his
+promise. Jim referred the matter to me. I told him to send Pritchard
+up to me. I think there will be no trouble, if Jim's story is
+straight.
+
+Cherry Hill, one of T. A. Coffin's[58] places, comes next to
+McTureous'. Cherry Hill is one of the most encouraging places I have.
+The people are of a more sensible caste, old people, almost entirely,
+who see the sense and propriety of right measures, and display a most
+comforting willingness to work and be content, though with less
+energy, of course, than younger men. The place owes much of its
+success this year to Tony, the driver, a person of great discretion,
+energy, and influence. The ingenious method by which he induced the
+people to plant more cotton than they wanted to is entertaining,
+though a little troublesome to us in making out the pay-roll. Mr.
+Palmer, Mr. Soule's assistant, counted sixteen acres of cotton on the
+place. But the several accounts of the people on the place added up
+only fourteen and a half acres. In this perplexity, Tony was appealed
+to, who explained the difficulty thus. The land was laid off in rows,
+twenty-one to the task, each row being one hundred and five feet long.
+Tony staked off the tasks anew, throwing twenty-four instead of
+twenty-one rows into the task, thus adding twelve rows to every acre,
+which the people blindly tilled, never suspecting but that they were
+having their own way about their cotton.
+
+Mulberry Hill, owned by Captain John Fripp, is a little place, with
+not many more hands than Cherry Hill, but they are younger. The driver
+here is an extremely nice person, hardly energetic enough, I should
+think, for the old system, but a very quiet, gentlemanly man,
+perfectly frank and open in his manner, and a little superior in his
+conversation to those by whom he is surrounded. He is much respected
+in the dark community. It is to his bounty that I owe several huge
+watermelons which I have brought home for our table, besides several
+partial favors of the same kind, enjoyed under his own roof.
+
+To these people I was to deliver one month's rations of hard bread. It
+comes in fifty-pound boxes; and as a day's ration is three quarters of
+a pound, and there are thirty-one days in August, it requires but a
+simple calculation to determine that each person entitled to a full
+ration should receive twenty-three and one quarter pounds, and that,
+one child being reckoned one sixth of a grown person (monstrous, you
+will say, when eating is concerned,--but such is law), one box must be
+delivered to every two grown-persons-and-one-child. Having the people
+together, I took the opportunity to enquire of them the number of
+tasks of cow-pease, slip-potatoes, etc., they had planted, likewise
+the amount of cotton they had hoed, "since Mr. Palmer took the last
+account." It will be a great job making up the next pay-roll. I hope
+the people won't lie worse than usual. If they do, if the drivers
+should fail me, especially,--if, as will probably happen, their own
+accounts, added up, do not tally within several tasks with my count of
+the whole, and if at the same time I shall be required to make out the
+whole roll in two days, and both my horses should have sore backs at
+once--you can imagine what a comfortable, easy time I shall have of
+it.
+
+From Mulberry Hill, after looking at some doubtful cotton in the field
+with the driver, Paris, and finally setting it down as not properly
+hoed, I proceeded to the next plantation, Alvirah Fripp's, commonly
+called the Hope Place. It is the largest, the most distant, and, in
+many respects, the toughest plantation I have. There are a great many
+men of twenty-five to forty, "tough-nuts" many of them, and all
+looking so much alike that it is impossible to remember the name that
+belongs to any one face, though all their names and all their faces
+are familiar enough. I can see that it is a great drawback to my
+obtaining their confidence to have to ask one and another, as I ask,
+"how many tasks of slip have you planted for the Government, and how
+many for your own use?" to have to ask also, in variously modified
+phrase, "What's your name?" Recognize a negro, remember anything in
+which he has any interest, and you have his confidence at once. I not
+only surprised but made my fast friend a fellow on one of my places
+by calling him by his name the second time I saw him.
+
+The men on the Hope Place are not all of a poor stamp, of course. The
+driver, Isaac, is my very ideal of a nigger-driver on a large place,
+made alive. Strong of body and up to all the dodges of the plantation
+life, he shows the effect--not apparent, in such a disagreeable manner
+at least, in Tony and Paris--of having a good many rough fellows to
+manage. I do not think he is liked on the place; I doubt his
+frankness; I think he is somewhat disposed to kick against the new
+authorities, disputing, _e. g._, their right to take away "his" horse,
+the little one Mr. Palmer and I foraged from him the first day I came.
+
+Charles, the carpenter, is a man after my own heart. He attracted me
+first by his dignified and respectful demeanor, and by his superior
+culture. He has a little touch of self-consideration. He, more than
+any other negro I know, seems to me like a white person. I forget his
+color entirely while talking with him, and am often surprised, on
+approaching a black man, to recognize Charles' features. I think he is
+a pretty able fellow,--I should like to give him some regular
+employment in his trade. It seems an imposition to expect such a man
+to work cotton and corn.
+
+Beaufort is neither Bofort nor Boofort nor Biufort, but Büft, the ü
+pronounced like the umlauted ü in German. Sometimes one hears Biffut.
+Hooper, extremist in ridicule, says Biffit. A letter of Mrs.
+Philbrick's went, "missent," to Beaufort, N. C., which is, I believe,
+Bofort. Had the pronunciation been written on the envelope, as one
+hears it among the "black inhabitants," it would have gone to the
+Dead Letter Office, unless, by good luck, the S. C. had brought it as
+far as Hilton Head.
+
+We get, first or last, a pretty good notion of one another (you
+understand I am speaking of the white population only), though we see
+very little of each other, except when we are on adjoining
+plantations. The Oaks is a rendezvous where we see each other at
+times; we meet occasionally in Biffut; but church is the principal
+meeting-house on the island, of course, and all the gossip of the week
+is fully aired on Sunday.
+
+There is very little to tell about General Saxton, except that it is a
+great pity that he does not come onto the plantations himself and
+learn something, personally, of their state and their wants. He was
+extremely surprised the other day when Mr. Philbrick represented to
+him the necessity of making the last payment promptly; it was then
+twenty days behind time. A good deal of ignorance is shown in various
+ways in the orders sent from headquarters--_e. g._, the order that has
+been issued concerning marketing, nothing to be sold on the
+plantations except by leave of the superintendents and no boats to go
+to Hilton Head or Beaufort without a "Market Pass" from the
+superintendent. Until I hear that a guard is stationed [at Hilton
+Head],--which I shall the day after it is done,--I shall not order men
+to report to me before going over. I have no idea of making a rule I
+cannot enforce.
+
+On the whole, our work is succeeding as well as the disappointments
+and hindrances[59] of the year allow us to expect. A great deal will
+depend on the manner and promptness of the next payments and the
+treatment of the people at harvest-time.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 2._ There is one frightful contingency,--a much talked of
+evacuation. Where the people will go, I know not; but possibly to
+Hayti. In that case I presume the superintendents will go with
+them,--I certainly shall. General Saxton, I am sorry to say, goes
+to-morrow in a gunboat--for his health. It leaves us without a head
+and worse--renders evacuation all the more likely. It is thought that
+his presence and words prevented it several weeks ago. I doubt if he
+comes back,--he is not satisfied with his work here, does not enjoy
+it. It is properly the duty of a civilian, who should have military
+rank merely to give him a position. Saxton and his staff understand
+little or nothing of the real wants of the plantations, and though
+affairs have of course been improved by his presence and authority,
+very little in proportion to our hopes and our needs has been
+accomplished. We need a civilian, who is a first-rate business
+man,--of force, of forethought, of devoted interest in this
+undertaking. But there is no use in writing this,--rather some harm.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Sept. 6._ Things are in a state of suspension generally; I confess
+that a decidedly azure hue has prevailed during the last week. Talk of
+evacuation, General Saxton's departure, threatened attacks, and even
+successful forays on an island behind Hilton Head by the rebels, the
+increased inconvenience and vexation of red-tape-ism, threatened
+changes in the policy to be pursued towards the people in some minor
+matters, involving, however, infringement of our authority with them,
+it is feared, besides the breaking of promises already made; the
+difficulty of getting them promptly and properly paid, and of getting
+the value of their work fairly estimated; the general inefficiency,
+ignorance, and indecision of the authorities, wanting a defined system
+and hampered by prejudice and ignorance and selfishness,--all these
+things make the aspect of affairs dark enough at times, and one gets
+discouraged and disheartened and disgusted and disappointed, and is
+ready to part and have nothing more to do with the concern. When, in
+addition to actual evils, one feels that there is a strong opposition
+to the enterprise, and that the difficulties are made as vexatious as
+possible, by jealous and hostile army officers, so that, in short, the
+spirit of the stronger party here is against us; and when, added to
+injury, one has to bear
+
+                        "the law's delays,
+    The insolence of office, and the spurns,
+    Which patient merit of th' unworthy takes,
+    One almost swears his homeward voyage to make,
+    In the next steamer."
+
+Ignorance and want of confidence are the two evils which we suffer;
+want of confidence by the powers in us, by us in the negroes. It is
+painful to note how distrust must be the rule; how every one must take
+it for granted that those under him are cheats and liars. Hence the
+necessity of red tape, and its delays and vexatious inconveniences.
+Mr. Philbrick says, "Working for a Corporation is bad enough, but
+working for the Government is very much worse." However, it wouldn't
+be so bad if the Government officers knew enough of the plantation
+work to do the proper thing at the proper time, even though they use
+the red-tape method in doing it. I believe I knew more after being two
+weeks on my places than the Heads do at Beaufort now about the details
+of the work.
+
+_Sept. 9._ General Saxton went North last Friday. It is more than
+hinted that his principal purpose is to obtain greater powers for
+himself. Hunter has gone North too, "in disgust," it is said, and
+General Brannan, who is said to befriend the enemies of the United
+States, and has given Saxton a deal of trouble, is left at the head of
+the Department.
+
+    Brigadier-General John M. Brannan was in command for a
+    fortnight only, pending the arrival of Major-General Ormsby
+    M. Mitchel.
+
+_Sept. 18._ The President having sent word not to evacuate, you need
+not be anxious about us. I was a little afraid that A. L. would give
+in to Hunter, evacuate all but Hilton Head, and colonize the negroes
+from the other islands; glad he has more sense.
+
+    Here follows a detailed account of the kind of magisterial
+    power which the superintendents found themselves called upon
+    to "assume," though they "had it not."
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sept. 23._ Alex sent Finnie here before breakfast to request me to
+come over at once, for Cato was driving his, Alex's daughter Rose, his
+own wife, out of the house. I rode over after breakfast. Found the
+whole plantation excited and on the _qui vive_. Cato had broken up
+Rose's bedstead and thrown it out of doors and bundled up all her
+things. I began to talk with him, but he was very saucy and threatened
+to kill the first man who interfered with him in "his own house." I
+thought it quite time to test him, and taking hold of his arm told him
+he must go home with me. He hung back sulkily at first, but in a
+minute yielded and said he would do so. I stepped out of the house and
+he after. Caroline asked me to read her a letter from John at Hilton
+Head, and while preparing to do so Cato dodged about the house and
+made for the woods across the cornfield. I cried out for him to halt,
+but he ran the faster. I pulled out my revolver and fired two shots
+over his head, but he only ran the harder, and never stopped till he
+reached the woods. I then had a talk with his father, old Toby, who
+"wished I had shot him and stopped the confusion," and with Alex, both
+of whom I enjoined to hold their tongues in future. When halfway home
+Cato stood waiting for me in the road, opening a gate as I approached,
+touched his hat and said he was very sorry for what he had done and
+was willing to go with me. I told him to follow me to the house and I
+would talk with him. I found him very humble. I reasoned with him,
+telling him I was sure Rose's child was his and that he had done her
+great wrong, that he ought not to listen to such scandal after living
+peaceably with her for eight or nine years. Cato said he hoped he
+should never do so again. I told him that if I ever found him making
+any more trouble here I should send him to work on Fort Pulaski.
+
+    Mr. Philbrick's next letter shows him trying to arouse the
+    slothful by "sharing out" a bale of white cotton cloth, in
+    bonus form, to the industrious.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sept. 27._ I gave one yard for every task of cotton hoed in July,
+requiring about 600 yards. The Coffin people all got some, but about
+half the people on the Fripp plantations had to go without, having
+neglected the last hoeing. The people who were too lazy to hoe their
+cotton in July looked rather glum, and those who got their cloth
+laughed and looked exultant. Some people here got twenty-two yards,
+and many got only two or three, but all took it thankfully and seemed
+content that they got any. Those who got so little will have to buy
+more, which they are doing already. I sell it at about half the price
+that is asked by our own quartermaster, so I shall be liberally
+patronized. In dividing up this cotton cloth I deducted from the
+shares of those people to whom clothing was given last spring the
+value of that clothing. The only cases were those of Martha, Amaritta,
+and Rosetta, to each of whom Mr. G. gave a dress. Rosetta's cotton was
+only _one_ acre and her share of cloth was therefore but four yards,
+which was fully paid for last spring. So she got nothing now. She
+didn't take it very kindly, and growled about the dress being too
+small for her, so she couldn't wear it, whereupon I offered to take it
+back, but I haven't heard anything more about it. The more I see of
+these people, the more I am opposed to the practice of _giving_ them
+anything except in payment for services actually performed. The cases
+of destitution are comparatively very few.
+
+    At this time some of the superintendents were trying hard to
+    instruct the negroes in military drill. A young enthusiast
+    on one of the Fripp places was very proud of his little
+    squad of black recruits, but found their attendance on the
+    daily drill amazingly irregular. Apropos of his own efforts
+    in this direction, Mr. Philbrick pursues his letter as
+    follows:
+
+I have tried in vain to get my young men together to drill for
+self-defense; my twenty-five guns are lying useless. One might as well
+think of a combination among the Boston kittens to scratch the eyes
+out of all the Boston dogs as to look for an insurrection in this
+State, if the negroes on these islands are a fair sample of those on
+the main. If there should be any insurrection in the South, it will
+not be in this State. The negroes in the sugar plantation districts
+are different, I suppose, being, a larger portion of them, Kentucky
+and Virginia born, torn from their old homes or sent South for bad
+behavior, and therefore more revengeful. But you know the people here
+are too timid to do any fighting unless driven to it. If General
+Hunter had not _forced_ them into his regiment last May, we might do
+more at drilling now. As it is, my men won't listen to me when I talk
+about it; they only suspect me of wanting to press them into service
+by stealth, and lose what little confidence they have in my sincerity.
+
+    C. P. W. opens the next letter with a melancholy comparison
+    between the autumnal glories of "home" and the absence
+    thereof on the Sea Islands of South Carolina.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 3._ Here there are no stones but grindstones, no elevation that
+can be called a hill except one mound, forty feet long and ten feet
+high, and that is artificial. The roads are sandy, the fields are
+broad and flat and full of weeds, the water stands about in great
+pools, not running off, but absorbing into the sandy soil.
+
+I find myself often using nigger idioms, especially in conversation
+with them. It is often very difficult to make them understand English,
+and one slips into the form of speech which they can most easily
+comprehend. O how deliciously obtuse they are on occasions! A boy came
+to me for a curry-comb for a Government mule this morning, which I was
+to send to the driver on his place. While scratching my name on it, I
+asked him if Jim had sent for some tobacco, as he said he should.
+"Yes, sarr." "Did he send the money?" "Sarr?" Repeated. "No, Sarr."
+"How much does he want?" "Don't know, Sarr." "How can I send the
+tobacco, if I don't know how much he wants?" "He send for him, Sarr."
+"Did he send you for it?" "No, Sarr." "Whom did he send?" "I dunno,
+Sarr." "How will he get his tobacco?" "He come himself, Sarr." "Where
+is he?" "Him at home, Sarr." "He is coming to get it himself, is he?"
+"Sarr?" Repeated, in nigger phrase. "Yes, Sarr." "Did Bruce send you
+for anything beside the curry-comb?" "Yes, Sarr." "What else?" "Sarr?"
+"Did Bruce tell you fetch anything beside this?" "No, Sarr." "Is this
+all Bruce told you to get?" "Yes, Sarr," with intelligence. "Go home,
+then, and give that to Bruce. Good-morning."
+
+This delay in payments is outrageous. It was bad enough to pay for May
+and June work the second week in August; but here is the work of July
+and August unpaid for yet, and with no prospect of its being paid for
+for six weeks to come.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sunday morning, Oct. 5._ The President's proclamation[60] does not
+seem to have made a great deal of stir anywhere. Here the people don't
+take the slightest interest in it. They have been free already for
+nearly a year, as far as they could see, and have so little
+comprehension about the magnitude of our country and are so supremely
+selfish that you can't beat it into their heads that any one else is
+to be provided for beyond St. Helena Island. After telling them of the
+proclamation and its probable effects, they all ask if they would be
+given up to their masters in case South Carolina comes back to the
+Union. I tell them there is little chance of such a thing, but a
+strong probability that there will be a long, bloody war, and that
+they ought to prepare to do their share of the fighting. I can't get
+one man to come up and drill yet. They say they would like to have
+guns to shoot with, but are afraid of being sent off into the "big
+fight," though willing to fight any one who comes onto this island to
+molest them. Of course their defense would amount to nothing unless
+they were organized and drilled. I do not, however, feel any
+uneasiness about the rebels coming here. If they came at all they
+would attack our forces at Beaufort or Hilton Head, where I am
+confident they would be whipped. Refugees continue to come in from the
+mainland every week. They all agree in saying that there are no troops
+left about here but boys, and that it would be an easy matter to take
+Charleston now.
+
+I am anxious to get the winter clothing here before next pay-day, so
+the people may buy it in preference to the trash they see in the shops
+at Beaufort, etc. Nothing is heard of our money yet. Some say that
+General Saxton will probably bring it. I only wish he would come; his
+picket-guard at St. Helena amuses itself hunting cattle on the Fripp
+Point Plantation. As I have no positive proof against them I can't do
+anything but watch the cattle to prevent a repetition of it.
+
+_October 7._ I received on Sunday a copy of President Lincoln's
+proclamation. I now feel more than ever the importance of our mission
+here, not so much for the sake of the few hundreds under my own eyes
+as for the sake of the success of the experiment we are now trying. It
+is, you know, a question even with our good President whether negroes
+can be made available as free laborers on this soil. I, for one,
+believe they can, and I am more than ever in earnest to show it, for
+the importance of this question is greater than ever, now that we are
+so near a general crash of the whole social fabric in the Southern
+States. I don't think the old masters will ever be successful in
+employing the blacks, but I do believe that Yankees can be.
+
+Our people are picking the cotton very industriously, and though they
+have only about one third of last year's crop to gather, they are
+determined to make the most of it, and allow none to waste. It is
+interesting to see how much more economical of food they are this
+year than formerly. Every family now feels the responsibility of
+providing food for itself. The same rule should be followed with all
+tools. I would make the men pay a low price for every tool they want
+to use, and pay wages enough to enable them to do so.[61]
+
+_Oct. 8._ I succeeded day before yesterday in getting thirteen of the
+young men on this plantation to come up and drill, but they did not
+come again yesterday. I don't believe there is sufficient zeal among
+them to enable them to go through the tedious routine of drill with
+any regularity, unless held together by some stronger motive than now
+exists. I find them rather stupid. About half didn't know which their
+right foot was, and kept facing to the left when I told them to face
+to the right. They seemed to enjoy it, however.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 9._ We need people at headquarters who understand the details of
+plantation work. There is no one now who knows anything about the
+plantations except Hooper,[62] and he knows very little. He confesses
+and mourns at it himself; but he has done nothing but go back and
+forth between the Oaks and Beaufort ever since he came down. There is
+a general want of concerted system on all the places. Each
+superintendent has to do as he thinks best in all cases himself.
+General plans are usually determined on just too late.
+
+_Oct. 14._ The steamer which brought your letter brought also the
+General. It is said that he comes with additional powers.[63] This
+question will probably be settled soon, as a difficulty has already
+arisen between him and his old antagonist, Brannan, on a point of
+authority, and our General has gone to Hilton Head, probably to see
+Mitchel about it. This interference of the military authorities with
+our work and our privileges is going to make trouble. One of Mitchel's
+first acts was to send to Judd, as Superintendent of Port Royal
+Island, for 10,000 bushels of corn for army purposes. Poor Judd had
+been rationing his people for some time, owing to a lack of provisions
+occasioned by the depredations of the soldiers. We have none too much
+provision now, and any considerable drain must throw the plantations,
+sooner or later, upon the Government for support.
+
+    In the next letter (October 21) Mr. Philbrick says that the
+    corn harvest, which is so light on St. Helena as a whole
+    that it will hardly feed the people in the interval between
+    old and new potatoes, will nevertheless amount to a surplus
+    at Coffin's, adding:
+
+I attribute the greater comparative success on my plantations to my
+having abandoned the system of working a common field early in the
+season.[64] I now measure the yield of each family's corn-patch
+separately, with a view to pay them for it, if they have enough for
+their support in their private fields, or to regulate their allowance,
+if they need any, by the quantity they raise.
+
+We had a case of imprisonment here last week. I learned that old Nat's
+boy, Antony, who wanted to marry Phillis, had given her up and taken
+Mary Ann, July's daughter, without saying a word to me or any other
+white man. I called him up to me one afternoon when I was there and
+told him he must go to church and be married by the minister according
+to law. He flatly refused, with a good deal of impertinence, using
+some profane language learned in camp. I thereupon told him he must go
+home with me, showing him I had a pistol, which I put in my outside
+pocket. He came along, swearing all the way and muttering his
+determination not to comply. I gave him lodging in the dark hole under
+the stairs, with nothing to eat. Next morning old Nat came and
+expostulated with him, joined by old Ben and Uncle Sam, all of whom
+pitched into him and told him he was very foolish and ought to be
+proud of such a chance. He finally gave up and promised to go. So I
+let him off with an apology. Next Sunday he appeared and was married
+before a whole church full of people. The wedding took place between
+the regular church service and the funeral, allowing an hour of
+interval, however.
+
+Cato never went back to Rose as he promised. 'Siah tells me he is
+afraid of his father, old Toby, who has been in a state of chronic
+feud with Rose's father, old Alex, and does all in his power to make
+trouble. Cato has gone over to Pine Grove and begun to build a house.
+I daresay he will take Rose into it bye and bye, when it is done.
+
+I have been very busy lately weighing pease and cotton and measuring
+corn. The latter is not very pleasant, for I have to stay in the
+corn-house and keep tally from nine to three o'clock, and the weevils
+are more numerous than were the fleas the first week we came here to
+live. Mosquitoes are about gone, but we have sand-flies again. No
+fleas yet that I am aware of.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 23._ General Saxton returned, as you know, with full powers from
+the President to raise one or if possible five negro regiments. I
+think it will be difficult to induce the men to enlist. Their
+treatment in the spring and summer was such as to prejudice them
+against military duty under any circumstances. They were forcibly
+drafted, were ill-treated by at least one officer,--who is a terror to
+the whole black population,--have never been paid a cent; they
+suffered from the change of diet, and quite as much from homesickness.
+I think if their treatment in the spring had been different, it would
+be possible to raise a regiment on these islands; as it is, I think it
+will be surprising if they fill a company from St. Helena. I think,
+too, that it would be very difficult, under any circumstances, to
+train them into fighting condition under six months, and if they had
+at the first the prospect of coming into actual conflict with the
+Secesh, the number who would be willing to enlist would be extremely
+small. They have not, generally speaking, the pluck to look in the
+face the prospect of actual fighting, nor have they the character to
+enlist for their own defense. They can understand the necessity of
+their knowing how to defend themselves, they acknowledge their
+obligations to help the Yankees, and do their part in keeping the
+islands against their old masters; a good many of them express their
+willingness to fight under white officers, and some have intimated a
+desire to know something of drill and how to handle a musket. But they
+are very timid and cautious. They fear that when they have learned
+their drill they will be drafted. They are very reluctant to leave
+their homes to go and live on Hilton Head or Port Royal, in camp, away
+from their families and crops. The mere mention of "Captain Tobey,"
+with a hint that "General Saxton wants the black people to help the
+white soldiers keep the Secesh off the islands," sends them in panic
+into the woods. Mr. Philbrick saw the General this morning, and was
+told that if the regiment were not raised we should have to give up
+the whole enterprise; that the President and the people of the North
+were looking to the raising of this regiment as a test experiment.
+That if it succeeded and it was found that the negroes could and would
+aid the Government, then the Government would be encouraged to hold
+the islands, trusting not only that the negroes could aid in defending
+them, but that as fast as negroes were freed, they could be used
+effectively against the rebels. Moreover, that the success of one
+regiment here would make the President's proclamation a more terribly
+effective weapon against the Southerners. (There is no doubt that in
+many parts of the South, especially on the Mississippi, the negroes
+are much more intelligent than here. Those from the main seem a
+superior class to those who have always lived on the islands. The
+success of armed negroes of this inferior class would indicate the
+danger of the masters of other slaves of a higher class, when they
+learn that "all slaves of rebel masters who enter into the service of
+the United States are forever free," with their families.)
+
+If, on the other hand, no black troops can be raised, the General says
+that the Government will be discouraged from attempting any longer to
+protect at such an expense a people who cannot or will not aid in
+defending themselves. I hope that General Saxton has not held out too
+grand hopes of the success of this undertaking to the President and to
+others at the North, and I hope he is exaggerating the importance of
+the movement. Perhaps the President wants to try his colonization
+scheme on these people. He had better lose a campaign than evacuate
+these islands and give up this experiment. This experiment and the war
+must go on side by side. I hope that before the war is done we shall
+have furnished the Government with sufficient facts to enable them to
+form a policy for the treatment of the millions whom the conclusion of
+the war, if not its continuance, must throw into our hands.
+
+I am very much afraid that the Government will look too much to the
+material results of the year's occupation for determining the success
+of free labor among the slaves. They will neglect to take into account
+the discouragements and drawbacks of the year. The sudden reaction
+consequent upon the change from slavery to what they hardly knew as
+freedom; the confusion incident upon military occupation (and the
+contradictory directions given concerning the year's crops); the
+abundance of money where the cotton-agents and officers were
+stationed, and the high wages promised and often obtained, at Hilton
+Head and Beaufort; the lateness of the cotton crop, the poorness of
+the seed, the uncertainty and doubt and want of system in regard to
+the management of the crops; the drafting of the able-bodied men at a
+critical period, their hardships and subsequent distrust and fear, or
+idleness and insubordination; the changing of superintendents, the
+fewness of both superintendents and teachers; and lastly, the shameful
+delay in the payments, causing distrust, carelessness, neglect of
+plantation work, and in some few cases, suffering for want of the
+means to purchase clothing. It is too bad to treat people so, and it
+is wonderful how much they have done and in what an excellent state
+they are, under these discouraging circumstances. If they were assured
+of a market at the end of the year, and sufficient money advanced them
+to enable them to get "sweetening" and clothes through the year, I
+would trust my plantations to go right ahead, put their crops into the
+ground, and insure to the Government a handsome surplus next November.
+
+The cheerfulness and hopefulness of the people in regard to next
+year's crops, and the interest they take in their success, is
+surprising. "If we live to see," "if God spare life," they say, "we
+will plant early, and begin in time, and then you will see. O--yes,
+sar."
+
+Mr. Philbrick is appointed cotton-agent for this crop. He is going to
+have the cotton ginned here, not at New York. Good seed is scarce. The
+improved seed, the result of many years' cultivation and selection,
+was lost to the island by the policy of ginning last year's crop in
+New York.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Oct. 27._ When in Beaufort last Wednesday, I got leave to pay off my
+people with my own funds, through the paymaster, Mr. Lee. So he came
+here next day, and I advanced the funds, $649. I sent Joe out to tell
+the people to come and get their money, but they didn't come with the
+usual promptness; bye and bye two men came to sound the way, the rest
+held back. I laughed at them and sent them off with the chink in their
+pockets, after which the rest came fast enough. They were evidently
+afraid of some trap to press them into United States service as
+General Hunter did. I didn't have the slightest difficulty in
+collecting what I had advanced last September. Every one paid it
+cheerfully and thanked us for what they got. This payment was all in
+specie. I don't think I shall be refunded in coin, and shall probably
+lose the difference, which is now about $120, but I don't grudge them
+this. I had rather let it go than see them paid in the paper currency
+which they can't read or judge of. It will come to that bye and bye,
+however, for I can't get any more coin here, and half of this money
+may not come back again into my hands.
+
+General Saxton is striving earnestly to fill up his brigade with
+negroes, but finds it very slow work. The people are so well off on
+the plantations they don't see why they should go and expose
+themselves. Moreover, the way they were treated last summer is not
+very attractive to them. Many of their officers abused them, and they
+were very generally insulted by every white man they met. It will now
+require a good deal of time and very judicious, careful treatment to
+get rid of these impressions, particularly as some of the very
+officers who abused and maltreated the men are still in General
+Saxton's confidence and have places in his new organization.
+
+I took this place[65] more because I want to see the work properly
+done and to keep it out of the hands of speculators and sharks than
+because I wanted the position. It is a useful position, however, and I
+mean to make it so.
+
+A meeting of superintendents[66] is to be held at the Episcopal Church
+next Wednesday, which I shall attend, and employ the occasion by
+trying to start some more methodical system of employing the negroes
+than heretofore.
+
+_Nov. 2._ At the meeting we discussed several methods of dealing with
+the corn crop, and several of the superintendents reported that the
+negroes had raised hardly enough corn to feed the plantation horses
+and mules on when at work. The small yield of cotton was also talked
+over and its causes discussed. I do not think it will pay expenses
+even on this island. My own plantations will yield about $5000 worth,
+when I expected $15,000, a good share of my crop having rotted in the
+pods during the rains in the early part of October and another share
+having dropped off the plant before filling, probably from lack of
+drainage after the heavy July rains.
+
+After returning from the meeting I found a large box of woolen goods
+forwarded by Edward Atkinson. I sold $100 worth the next day. Though
+providing for their wants quite freely, the people seem more frugal
+with their money than last summer, and I am glad to see them so.
+
+As far as I can learn now there are very few gins able to work[67] in
+the department. I have some very good seed here and at Pine Grove
+which I think I can gin on the spot. Mr. S.[68] came and spent a night
+here. He came to hire some men to go with him to pick up a lot of
+stray timber on commission for the Government. So my plans for ginning
+cotton here are postponed for a while. I had flattered myself that we
+were fairly rid of him, and the men were beginning to take an interest
+in plantation work in his absence, but he turns up again just as
+disagreeable as ever.
+
+There have been great exertions made the week past to fill the ranks
+of the first negro regiment. A Rev. Mr. Fowler has been appointed
+chaplain and is at work recruiting, appealing to their religious
+feelings. He spent two nights here and talked in the praise-house,
+both evenings. The women came to hear him, but the young men were shy.
+Not one came near him, nor would they come near me when he was
+present.
+
+The last time I saw General Saxton he seemed to think our whole
+destiny depended on the success of this negro recruitment. It _is_
+certainly a very important matter, but I think as before that it is
+doomed to fail here at present, from the imbecile character of the
+people. I thought while at work with Mr. Fowler that if I were to go
+as Captain I might get a company without trouble, but I failed to get
+a single man when seriously proposing it to them. If I had been able
+to raise a company to follow me and the same men would not have gone
+without me, I think I should have accepted General Saxton's offer,[69]
+but although I consider the arming of the negroes the most important
+question of the day, I don't feel bound to take hold unless I can give
+an impetus to the undertaking. I think it would have been attended
+with some degree of success a year ago at this place, directly after
+the masters left, when the negroes had more spite in them and had seen
+less of their facilities for making money which they have enjoyed this
+summer, and if General Hunter had not made his lamentable blunder, the
+men would not have been disgusted with camp-life at least, but it is
+difficult enough to get any one of them to feel any pluck. We
+succeeded in getting Ranty to promise to go, and he seemed quite
+earnest, but when he came to start next morning he suddenly found he
+had a pain in his chest! his heart failed him and he backed square
+out. Next day he came over here and, after begging some time for me to
+give him a shirt, without success, offered me in payment for it a
+counterfeit half-dollar which I had told him a week ago was such, but
+which he had meantime polished up and hoped to pass. So you see when a
+man's heart fails him he will stoop to almost anything.
+
+We had four couples married after church to-day, Andrew and Phoebe of
+Pine Grove among the rest. Mr. Phillips tried to tie all four knots at
+one twitch, but found he had his hands full with two couples at once
+and concluded to take them in detail. They all behaved very well and
+seemed impressed with the ceremony, so it certainly has an excellent
+effect. We also had an address from Prince Rivers,[70] a black
+coachman from Beaufort, who has been in General Hunter's regiment all
+summer, and is of sufficient intelligence to take a lively interest in
+the cause of enlistment. He has been to Philadelphia lately and comes
+back duly impressed with the magnitude of the country and the
+importance of the "negro question," but has not sufficient eloquence
+to get many recruits. Of course the young men kept away from church
+and will keep away, so long as the subject is discussed. They have
+made up their silly minds and don't want to be convinced or persuaded
+to any change.
+
+You can imagine what a comfort it is to see Mr. G. again and looking
+so well.
+
+    W. C. G., he who in June spoke so lightly of the dangers of
+    the Sea Island climate, had been dangerously ill during the
+    summer and had been obliged to go North for some weeks. In a
+    letter written October 30 he refers to the death of one of
+    the superintendents, adding, "It greatly startled me." A
+    month later another of the superintendents died in the same
+    house, which later proved fatal to still a third white man.
+    These three were cases of typhoid, but the malarial fever of
+    the district not infrequently was as deadly; on October 30
+    General Mitchel himself died of it. The fact as to the
+    climate is expressed in one of the letters by the statement
+    that fevers were "common among the negroes" and "universal
+    among the whites." A letter of Mr. Philbrick's, written
+    early in October, speaks of Captain Hooper's "indisposition"
+    as having cut down "the trio of tough ones" to himself and
+    Mr. Soule.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 7._ Everybody has been at work this week digging their winter
+crop of sweet potatoes, planted with slips in July. They bear famously
+on all three of my plantations, yielding in some cases two hundred
+bushels per acre. You know I told every man to plant for his own
+family separately, so that each one takes the potatoes home to his own
+yard and buries them, for winter use. They dig a hole about four or
+five feet in diameter and one foot deep, in which they pack the
+potatoes and pile them up above ground in a conical heap about four
+feet high. So when done they look like a sort of overgrown muskrat's
+nest, or small wigwam.[71] Large families have in some cases seven or
+eight of these conical heaps in their back yards.
+
+The mellowing effect of the potato harvest upon the hearts of the
+people is manifest. Yesterday was a rainy day and the women kept
+straggling up here in squads all day. Each one brought a basket of
+potatoes on her head, from a peck to half a bushel, as a present to
+me. Uncle Sam and Joe are making a cone of them in the yard. Many of
+the children bring ground-nuts, of which I now have half a bushel.
+They have raised a good crop of them this year, and we amuse ourselves
+evenings by roasting them in the ashes of our open fire and munching
+them at leisure. I endeavor to acknowledge all these good-will
+offerings in kind, by making deposits of sugar or coffee in the
+baskets after emptying the nuts.
+
+We live in the dining-room now, that being the only room without
+broken glass, and even there I can't get the thermometer above 60°
+with all the fire I can build.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Nov. 8._ The only interesting event the day that I was in Beaufort I
+was obliged to leave without beholding, viz.: the mustering in of the
+first full company of the new regiment,[72] Captain James! They
+marched through the streets just before I came away, making a fine
+appearance. Many of them were in the first regiment,[73] and the
+regularity and steadiness of their marching was very creditable. They
+are a fine body of men. The regiment is filling fast, its friends are
+much encouraged. A number of men from the regiment (now numbering
+about four hundred) have been allowed to return home for a few days,
+and I think they will carry back quite a number with them.
+
+We have been in occupation just a year. The future, with the prospect
+of sale, or removal, or renewed blunders and mismanagement, is not
+very cheerful.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 15._ Our island work is acquiring a little more system, but I'm
+not sure that the people are as good as they were six months ago.
+Great mistakes have been made, and I'm afraid the experiment so far
+only shows the absolute necessity of avoiding errors which common
+sense pointed out before any experience. Still, my belief isn't
+altered that the slaves would speedily become a self-supporting
+people, either by a system of wise and humane care, or by the opposite
+method of letting them alone to feel the misery consequent on idleness
+and the comfort that with very many would at once result from
+industry.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 16._ I had a talk with General Saxton. He was feeling very blue,
+had just been to Hilton Head to get some tents for his new recruits of
+which he enlisted about a hundred on his recent expedition to St.
+Mary's.[74] There are some 3000 tents in warehouse there, but General
+Brannan[75] refused to open it for him, alleging the advice of the
+Medical Department, which closed it because yellow fever had been near
+it. Now it is notorious that whenever one of General Brannan's men
+wants anything from the same warehouse, he gives a special order and
+it is opened for him, but not for General Saxton, the _Abolitionist_.
+So the new recruits have to sleep in open air these frosty nights,
+dampening their ardor somewhat. General Saxton agreed with me that if
+there is no more earnestness and sincerity among other army officers
+than among the specimens we have had here, we should all go to the
+dogs. His expedition was so successful that he was in good spirits
+till balked by General Brannan. The best item in it was that one of
+the rebel prisoners taken was marched to Beaufort jail guarded by one
+of his former slaves! The conduct of the negro troops was very well
+spoken of by their officers, but is the subject of a good deal of
+ribaldry among the white soldiers at Beaufort, who exhibit a degree of
+hatred really fiendish towards the black regiment, taking their cue
+from their commanding officer, of course.
+
+We had a very interesting discussion on Wednesday about the future
+management of the plantations. I advocated the subdivision of the
+land, allotting to each family what it could cultivate and measuring
+their crops separately. Mr. Bryant, who came from Edisto last
+June,[76] preferred working the people in a gang with a foreman, and
+paying them by the month. His people had worked very well in that way,
+but it would be impossible to work the people on this island in that
+way. They are too independent and too ignorant to see the advantages
+of it, and too deceitful to enable any foreman to discriminate between
+the lazy and industrious. Such a system, with the insufficient force
+of white foremen we could supply, would be only a premium on deceit
+and laziness, and would fail to call out the individual exertions of
+the people.
+
+The cotton crop will be worth, on this and Ladies Island, about
+$40,000. I have stored twenty-five thousand pounds stone cotton[77] on
+my plantations which will be worth at least $4000. The Pine Grove
+people have done picking and commenced ginning this week. All the men
+take hold of it readily. I can't find foot-gins enough here to gin
+more than one fourth the crop, and I don't think it worth while to gin
+by steam or horse-power, so remote as we are from mechanical
+repair-shops. There are several power-gins which might be readily
+fitted up in time of peace, but now it would cost too much. The
+engines have been appropriated to sawmills in some cases, and worn out
+in others, while the belting and other movable parts have all been
+stolen by the negroes.
+
+I have not yet decided whether or not to take care of these
+plantations another year. General Saxton says he don't think our
+relations with the people will be disturbed by the tax-commissioners,
+but, if the estates are offered for sale[78] as they expect to do, I
+don't see how he is to help it. I think I should like to buy this one
+and see what could be done with the people. I should not expect to
+make anything out of it. I don't believe much can be made out of this
+generation by free labor, nor out of the next without teaching them to
+read, and am sorry so little has been done as yet in the teaching
+department. It is difficult to get people to stick to it, especially
+in summer and during the unhealthy season.
+
+I have already started ginning on nine plantations along this seaside
+road and shall succeed in saving on the spot sufficient seed to plant
+this island, I think. General Saxton has given me _carte blanche_ as
+to ginning and general management of the crop. It seems to be his way
+to leave all details to his subordinates, whom he holds responsible
+for a proper result. If I had the same authority in New York I could
+save something as compared with last year's crop, which was nearly all
+eaten up by the brokers and agents and contractors, through whose
+hands it passed, leaving but $200,000 net proceeds from a shipment of
+about a million dollars' worth.
+
+Mr. Lee has paid me the amount I advanced on my plantation pay-rolls
+for July and August. I have finished up my pay-rolls for September and
+October and intend to get him to go and pay off my people for these
+months with my funds when paying the other plantations for June and
+July.
+
+In the prolonged absence of window-glass, I have resorted to other
+expedients known to Irishmen, etc., but can't keep the wind out of my
+chamber these frosty nights by any amount of ingenuity. Shingles might
+do it, but they are as difficult to obtain as the window-glass, and
+the towels won't stay put in a high wind.
+
+We are very sorry to hear of Captain Hooper's serious illness. He had
+kept up his strength so long on quinine during the summer, that a
+break-down must be dangerous now. I imagine that General Saxton misses
+his indefatigable zeal and straightforward gentleness.
+
+I want to see what is to be done at the tax-sale and what sort of a
+title is to be given. For I don't think I shall stay here another year
+unless I can control my men better than I have done, and I don't
+believe a better control can be had with the long-delayed payments
+rendered almost necessary by the lumbering machinery of the
+Quartermaster's department.
+
+    The next letter is from C. P. W., and sets forth the result
+    of his cogitations on plantation methods.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Nov. 16._ The slip-potato crop is the only crop by which to judge of
+the negroes' capacity to take care of themselves. This crop they have,
+as a general rule, raised entirely by themselves, and for their own
+consumption; they found their own manure, and received no help except
+the use (small) of the Government teams on the place. The crop
+exceeds, on the average, one hundred per cent. that raised by their
+masters,--I mean that each man gets twice as much as he used to when
+they worked and shared in common; and in some cases the tasks bear
+twice as much. "They beer uncommon." "If we live to see," all the
+crops next year, under a management that will encourage and
+stimulate, will be proportionally as good as this 'tater crop. One
+thing the people are universally opposed to. They all swear that they
+will not work in gang, _i. e._, all working the whole, and all sharing
+alike. On those places where the root 'taters were thus worked this
+year, the crop did very poorly, and gave out long before its time.
+Where the Government corn was thus worked, the yield averages, I
+suppose, six to ten bushels, the nigger-field, meantime, bearing twice
+as much, where they had manure.
+
+Wherever the people have been able to look forward to the result of
+the crop as beneficial to them, they have shown industry, care, and
+energy in putting it through. There is much laziness to be overcome in
+them, however; even in tending their own crops they sometimes neglect
+well-known precautions because they cost too much trouble. But the
+best of them have carried their own crops well, and their example is
+beneficial in stimulating the lazier ones to exertion. There is a good
+deal of emulation among them; they will not sit quietly and see
+another earning all the money. And it is far better to adapt the
+system to the intelligence of the best than to treat them all, as one
+occasionally has to treat one or two, in special matters, like mere
+children. I am sure a large number of them could get through the year
+without any pecuniary aid from Government, on the simple assurance
+that they should be paid for their crop when they had picked it. I am
+often urged by the best of the people not to trouble myself about the
+means of doing work, but just to tell them to do the work, and expect
+to see it done, and not encourage them to ask for help to do
+everything. "They kin do it, sir; don't you worry yeurself, sir; they
+kin find herself, sir." They have not been working cotton for nothing
+for so many years under their masters. They recollect how their
+masters used to treat the land and crops, and what treatment proved
+most successful. They need supervision and direction constantly, if
+only to prevent fighting when one says "I free," "I as much right to
+ole missus' things as you," etc., and more than all, they need the
+presence and conversation of a white man, not only to elevate them,
+but to encourage and stimulate them.
+
+There is but one opinion expressed. "We won't be driven by nobody;" "I
+don't want no driving, either by black man or white man." "We don't
+want de whole valler of de cotton. De land belongs to de Gover_ment_,
+de mule and ting on de place belong to de Gover_ment_, and we have to
+'spect to pay somef'n for um. But you just pay us our share, accordin'
+as we make crop, and if you live to see, Marsa Charlie, and God spare
+life, you'll _see a crop on dis place next year_." "There will be a
+difference in de land, sir, but we can't help dat; each one work his
+own and do as well as he kin." It is mere fortune that one is on one
+soil, another on another, kept in better order, perhaps, by the Secesh
+master.
+
+The negroes ought not to bear the burden of the loss of their crop
+through any external cause, as the caterpillar, drought, etc. The
+Government ought to stand in the gap and bear the loss. But I should
+not tell the negroes anything about such atonement before it is made,
+else one would be overwhelmed with applications from those who had
+become tired of cotton-hoeing, and a thousand plausible stories would
+be fabricated, to show that this man or that was peculiarly afflicted
+in his crop.
+
+_Nov. 25._ The people have begun ginning cotton on several places. The
+gins are of the rudest construction. Two rollers, about the size of a
+spool of thread, one above the other, horizontal, just touching, are
+turned in opposite directions by two upright fly-wheels, moved by a
+single treadle. The cotton, with the seed in it, is presented to these
+rollers, which catch it and draw it through, leaving the seed behind.
+Ginning is considered "light work." Thirty pounds of the clean cotton
+is considered a good day's work. It is pretty severe for the knees.
+Women gin with the men. The movement of "jump and change feet" when
+one knee gets tired should be introduced into the ballet; it is very
+elegant.
+
+We have been reduced to the old system of rationing.[79] For the last
+two months we have had liberty to draw the value of the soldier's
+ration which is allowed us, in any kind of food. Consequently
+everybody has rushed for sugar, rice, candles, and molasses,
+disdaining hard bread, salt beef, and such low fare. Of course there
+was soon a deficiency of the better articles in the Department, the
+Army Commissary at Hilton Head declaring that we used up more candles
+and sugar than any regiment; so we have got to draw soldier's rations
+again, a few candles, a little dab of sugar, a big hunk of salt food,
+and hard biscuit. They can be swapped for duck and chickens, but what
+a bother to get them.
+
+_Nov. 26._ I hear that Hunter's reappointment[80] causes some
+dissatisfaction among the pro-slavery army officers here, as might be
+expected.
+
+_Dec. 2._ It is now rumored that we are likely to receive but little
+help from Congress this winter, and that the Cotton Fund[81] is
+getting low. It is said that the taking of Charleston would benefit us
+more than anything else could; that any way we must take some place on
+the main to attract attention and inspire confidence. The black
+regiment may do something for our interests. General Saxton is going
+to send a report of the year's work to Headquarters, and it will
+doubtless be laid before Congress. Commissioners, if appointed to
+investigate the matter, would probably have their notions of the
+character, ability, and prospects of the "Universal Nigger" much
+revised, with additions and corrections, before their investigations
+were completed. You at the North know nothing about niggers, nothing
+at all. When more is known of their powers and capacity and character
+more attention will be paid to the cultivation of free black labor.
+
+    The next letter again focuses attention on the white
+    population.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 29._ The wives are multiplying on St. Helena. Since Mrs. Bryant
+came, two other superintendents have made their houses homes,--one our
+Baptist parson, and the other a young fellow who went home shortly
+before me to marry his betrothed on our salary of $50 a month. Brave
+youth--in these times! One man has brought his sister and established
+her as the beauty of the island; one his mother; and one an older
+sister, a perfect New England housekeeper, who makes his home the
+paradise of mince-pies and family bread.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 10._ (At the Oaks.) I like the General[82] ever so much. He is
+so simple--straightforward, and earnest, so evidently pure and
+unselfish and so kind in his manner.
+
+I rode down to Dr. Jenkins' with Mr. G., but found all the "white
+folks" gone to Hilton Head. I visited the cotton-house, where about a
+dozen of the people were ginning cotton. They had just packed two
+bales of it, which I ripped open to inspect, and found, as I had
+feared, that it wasn't half cleaned. I left a note for Mr. Bryant
+telling him I didn't want to send the cotton off so and told his
+driver. Mr. B. was not acquainted with the way the staple is usually
+prepared for market, concerning which I had taken pains to inform
+myself before leaving home, and the negroes had taken the chance to
+shirk. I started off to take the tour of Ladies Island and see their
+cotton. I visited about a dozen cotton-houses during the day along the
+east side of the island, and rode on to Cuthbert's Point to sleep with
+Joe Reed and Mr. Hull. I found them delightfully situated in a small
+house on Beaufort River surrounded by a superb grove of live-oaks,
+clear of brush and nicely kept. It is the finest situation that I have
+found in the State, but the greater part of the plantations on Ladies
+Island are miserably poor, being the property of small proprietors who
+had not sufficient capital to make planting profitable. The soil is
+poor and the negroes for the most part have not sufficient food on
+hand for the coming year. The cotton crop is proportionally small and
+poor. No ginning apparatus being found there, I shall have it all
+taken to Beaufort for the steam-gins.
+
+Leaving Cuthbert's Point this morning, I rode with Mr. Hull to the
+superintendents' meeting at the Episcopal Church, about eighteen
+miles, and back here to sleep. We have matured a plan of operations
+for the employment of the negroes next year, at these meetings, and it
+is to be presented to General Saxton for his approval this week.[83]
+
+I have made some further inquiries of Dr. Brisbane, one of the
+tax-commissioners, about the sale of lands, which is to take place on
+the first of February next. He tells me it is to be a free sale and
+that the Government warrants the title, subject, however, to
+redemption by such proprietors as can prove themselves loyal within
+one year. I think it highly important that the welfare of these
+negroes should not be intrusted to speculators, and have written to
+Dr. Russell[84] to see if Boston people can't be interested,
+individually or collectively, in buying these lands and employing the
+laborers. I am ready to go into it as far as I am able alone, and have
+offered my time in Boston to carry out any plan they think best. If I
+can't get any coöperation, I mean to buy some of the estates alone, if
+they don't go very high, and carry them on by means of such agents as
+I can get. I can find several first-rate men among the superintendents
+here who would work for me and do well, but I don't think I should
+care to stay here next summer, for sanitary reasons if nothing more.
+My experience here will enable me to act to good advantage in carrying
+on any such undertaking, and I hope to be of use in a permanent way to
+these people with whom I have been thrown in contact this year. I have
+given [to Dr. Russell] an exact statement, in dollars and cents, of
+the expenses and products of my three plantations this year, showing a
+profit to the Government of about $2000,[85] besides providing a
+year's supply of food to a population of four hundred and fifty
+blacks, "big and little." This island is very much more favorably
+placed than Ladies, Port Royal, or Hilton Head Islands, which are all
+much exposed to the depredations of the Union soldiers. I find on the
+north end of Ladies Island the pickets are changed every little while,
+and have killed nearly all the negroes' poultry. The people don't dare
+to leave their houses, and take all their hens into their houses every
+night. They shoot their pigs and in one case have shot two working
+mules! All these things are duly reported to General Saxton, but it
+does no good. Two regiments have come to encamp at Land's End on St.
+Helena, and Mr. Hammond says they have burnt up a mile of his fences,
+and burn the new rails just split out in the woods; they burn the
+heaps of pine leaves raked up for manure and take possession of all
+his cotton and corn houses. It is certainly of no use to try to carry
+on any planting near these fellows. They would steal all the crops if
+any grew near them,[86] and if the whole military establishment is to
+be transferred to this side the harbour, it is of little use to try to
+do much on that end of the island. Coffin's Point is, however, remote
+from all these disturbances, and I hope it will remain so. I am
+anxious to continue this free-labor experiment through a term of years
+and under circumstances more favorable than those under which we have
+this year been placed. I do not see how I can do much good in any
+other way.
+
+    The next letter is the first from H. W. on her return to
+    Port Royal after spending the summer at home.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Dec. 14._ As we drew near the Fripp Point place at
+last, the people began to gather on the shore to watch us, and when
+the boat stopped the people were all on the banks, pressing forward,
+and Sammy rushed into the water and took me ashore in his arms. Then
+they got my trunks in the same manner, and such a shaking of hands!
+"So glad for see you! Glad for see you come back." Boys were sent off
+at once to catch the mules to take me over, while I went into 'Siah's
+house to wait, and had some hominy and chicken, as I was very hungry.
+Everything was as neat as a pin here--the children were kept out of
+the house while I was eating, and then the hominy and chicken were
+mixed and passed round among the women when I had finished. Mr.
+Philbrick's sulky happened to be over there to be mended, and as it
+was finished I drove off in it, Sammy, Peter, and Tony on the
+mule-cart with all my traps, and Chester following me. The children
+all asked about school at once, and as I was waiting I drew words for
+them to spell in the sand to see how much they remembered.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Dec. 14._ I am glad H. came, for Mr. Philbrick has decided that he
+cannot attend to his plantations and his cotton-agency at the same
+time, and needs some one to take his place here. He thinks of buying
+the place in the spring, when the lands are sold (Feb. 1), and I have
+agreed to work it for him part of the time. So that, as some one must
+take Mr. Philbrick's place, and as the people had better have me than
+a stranger, and as I had better become acquainted with them at once,
+if I am to have charge of them in the spring, I have decided to take
+the places off his hands, stay here with H., and let my own
+plantations go to as good a person as I can find. H. is most welcome
+and much needed here; I am thankful to have her here, if only for the
+children's sakes. The only difficulty is that she may be devoured on
+her first visit to Pine Grove.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 16._ Had the children sent for to school. They brought eggs, and
+were pleased enough to begin school again.
+
+_Dec. 18._ Told the children yesterday that I wanted them to bring me
+some corn "shucks," as they call them, which are all left on the
+stalks in the fields. Mr. Philbrick thought I could get enough to
+stuff a bed with. I thought so too when the children all appeared with
+sheets and bags full on their heads, some containing two or three
+bushels!
+
+_Dec. 20._ C. managed to get the piano downstairs this morning before
+he went off. I went with him in the double sulky as far as the
+cotton-house and then made an expedition to the quarters, where I
+shook hands with every man and woman to be seen, inspected every new
+baby (there have been a dozen born since I went away), visited Bacchus
+in his school, was kindly greeted, though the people hardly knew me
+and I don't know their names at all, was told that I looked "more
+hearty" than when I went away, and returned with two dozen eggs and
+the morning school at my heels.
+
+    Two dozen eggs at fifty cents a dozen was no mean proof of
+    affection!
+
+_Dec. 21._ We started for church. C. rode his largest horse and
+preceded or followed me in the double sulky, an unpainted box with a
+seat in it, of Mr. Philbrick's manufacture and quite "tasty" for these
+parts, on a single pair of wheels; and though it is on springs the
+exercise is not slight which one gets in driving over these sandy,
+uneven roads.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sunday evg. Dec. 21._ The cotton on this island is nearly all ginned.
+I have not been able to start the steam-gins in Beaufort yet--am
+waiting for authority to use the steam, which comes from the
+condensing boiler under the control of General Brannan's
+quartermaster. I asked General Saxton about it the other day, but he
+said he didn't know as they would let him have it. The General feels
+very blue about his position here, and I don't wonder. He declares he
+will not stay if he is not sustained, and says that General
+Halleck[87] sympathizes with Brannan and don't mean to let him be
+removed.
+
+_Wednesday evg._ I looked over the Coffin people's cotton Monday and
+found it was not yet clean enough to pack, so refused to weigh it, and
+set the women at work picking over the whole of it again. Each woman
+keeps her own pile--the same that she and her husband raised.
+
+I find rumors here that General Saxton and staff are to be relieved.
+General Saxton believes in his being relieved, but no mail has come
+yet to confirm it.
+
+I want to keep R., G., C. P. W. and Bryant on plantations which I may
+buy, and they are all anxious to stay.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 22._ Joe doubled up and went off into convulsions when C.
+mentioned to me at table that he had been to call on Mrs. Jenkins
+(Wil'by) and did not find her at home! I gave Joe a piece of
+gingerbread for her the other day, and he informed me this morning
+that she found it very "palatiable"! He inquired how my "palate was
+satisfy" with some oysters he fried for me the other day.
+
+_Christmas._ C. took me in his double sulky to see the Pine Grove
+people, driving first to the quarters here, where I went into Bacchus'
+school and distributed toys. I had also armed myself with a hundred
+cents and several pounds of candy. At Pine Grove the people crowded
+about to shake hands, and as I went through the street, stopping at
+every house, they were pleased as possible that I remembered their
+names. They were very eager to know if I was not going to teach
+school, the children all rushing home to wash face and hands and dress
+themselves in their best, after the old fashion, when I told them I
+wanted to have them go to the praise-house. Flora followed me about,
+as usual. I saw York for the first time. He is a very fine-looking
+specimen of a thorough black, large, manly, courteous, and
+straightforward.
+
+Once more in the old praise-house, I heard the children spell, and
+then distributed toys among them, with candy to the babies and grown
+people! and gave to each of the girls who have been married since I
+left a Bible with her name in it. All seemed honestly glad to see me
+there--there was no mistaking their shining faces. I was there two
+hours and then went to Fripp Point, where I gave candy to all the
+grown people and children, and a toy to each child. I do not know all
+names and faces anywhere except at Pine Grove.
+
+_Dec. 26._ I was in the midst of school when Joe announced two
+strangers on horseback. They were the Quartermaster and Adjutant of
+the 1st S. C. V., come for a dozen cattle to be roasted on New Year's
+Day at General Saxton's grand celebration. C. and the officers went
+off to select the cattle. They had a very long tramp of it and did not
+get back till some time after dark. They are very pleasant and
+gentlemanly and give a charming impression of their intercourse with
+Colonel Higginson, and of his with the regiment. They had no "taps"
+Christmas Eve or night, and the men kept their "shout" up all night.
+One of the Captains heard a negro praying most fervently, contrasting
+their "lasty Christymas and thisty Christymas," greatly to the
+advantage of that in the "Yankee Camp" with "too much for eat."
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 26._ The preparation of the cotton for ginning goes on very
+slowly. I am out of all patience with some of the superintendents.
+They are slower than the negroes. I don't believe in putting Reverends
+in places where prompt business men are required. Some of them don't
+get through morning prayers and get about their business till nearly
+noon, and then depend entirely upon their black drivers for their
+information in regard to plantation matters. I saw Captain Hooper for
+a few minutes last evening and he relieved my mind about General
+Saxton's removal. It seems it was all a false report got up for a
+sensation by the _Herald_.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 28._ I was in the midst of school when it was announced that Mr.
+G. was coming. The children's eyes glistened and they audibly
+expressed their delight, but kept their seats very well till he was
+fairly in the room and had shaken hands with one or two near him; then
+their impatience could resist no longer and they crowded about him
+with great delight, tumbling over the benches in their eagerness to
+shake hands with him. It was a very pretty sight.
+
+Mr. Philbrick has been entertaining us with an account of his week's
+experience, which ended at church to-day in a funny way. A couple came
+forward to be married after church, as often happens, when Sarah from
+this place got up and remarked that was her husband! Whereupon Mr.
+Philbrick was called in from the yard and promised to investigate and
+report. Jack said he had nothing against Sarah, but he did not live on
+the plantation now, and wanted a wife at Hilton Head.
+
+General Saxton was at church to-day to invite the people to camp
+Thursday, telling them that they need not be afraid to go, as no one
+would be kept there against their will. They are afraid of a trap, as
+they were at the Fourth of July Celebration, but I hope a good many
+will have the sense to go.
+
+Mr. Philbrick and C. are having an amiable comparison of relative
+plantation work and which has raised the most cotton. The cotton
+raised on these places and C.'s and R.'s is more than half of that
+raised on all the islands.
+
+The Pine Grove house has been broken into and the furniture we left
+there carried off. The way in which those people have degenerated and
+these improved since we moved here is a proof of how necessary it is
+that they should have the care and oversight of white people in this
+transition state. When we lived there, that plantation was the best
+behaved and this the worst; now the reverse is the case. The Point
+Plantation has not been affected so much any way, as they never had a
+"white house" and have the same excellent driver.
+
+Finding that Maria, the old nurse, and some babies were sick, I made a
+pilgrimage to the quarters, visited the invalids and also Bacchus'
+school, and told the people I hoped they would go to the Celebration
+at camp. As I went through the long street, women were washing outside
+their doors, sitting on their doorsteps sewing or tending babies,
+while the smaller children were rolling in the dirt. In one of the
+cabins I accidentally encountered Sarah, the deserted wife, and coming
+out found Grace, Jack's mother, holding forth in her dignified way
+upon the subject, condemning her son, quietly but earnestly. She
+turned to Sarah as she came out and, gesticulating with her hands
+respectively, said, "I take Becca in dis han' and carry her to
+punishment, an' Sarah in dis right han' and carry her to Christ." She
+is a "fine figure of a woman"--I wish I could have drawn her as she
+stood. She did more work than any one on the plantation on cotton this
+year. Her husband was coachman and was taken off by the overseer the
+day after the "gun was fire at Hilton Head."
+
+Minda gave me an amusing account of a conversation she heard between
+Mr. Cockloft, the overseer, and his niece, Miss "Arnie," about the
+prospect of the Yankees coming here, she telling him, when he was
+expressing his gratification at the very large crop raised last year,
+that he did not talk sense,--he was just raising it for the Yankees.
+And when they had to run off, in the midst of all the crying and
+dismay, she could not resist telling him she was glad of it, to prove
+her right. Minda said that she knew more than her uncle because she
+had been to school, and had "high edicate." They sent Henry to the
+other end of the island to see if the forts were really taken, and he
+came back and told them that they had better be off, for all the
+Yankee ships were "going in procession up to Beaufort, solemn as a
+funeral."
+
+_Dec. 30._ My occupation was interrupted by the arrival of William
+Hall,[88] bag and baggage. You can think of us as a household of
+three[89] pursuing our several occupations, of which more hereafter.
+
+
+
+
+1863
+
+    _Celebration of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation--The
+    land-sales of 1863, Mr. Philbrick's purchase of
+    plantations--"Shop"--Visit to Camp--Arrest of General
+    Stevenson--Difficulties with army officers--More drafting by
+    Hunter--Encouraging signs among the negroes--"The black
+    draft"--The siege of Charleston--Assault on Fort
+    Wagner--Care of the wounded--Depredations of the soldiers on
+    the plantations--Interest in the former owners of
+    plantations--The "Plantation Commission" an informal civil
+    court--Negro speech and negro ways--Attacks on Mr. Philbrick
+    as a "speculator"--Discouraging signs among the
+    negroes--Plans of the Government for selling land to the
+    negroes--The cotton crop of 1863--The black draft again._
+
+
+    The first letter of 1863 gives an account of the ceremonies
+    with which the Sea Islands celebrated the Emancipation
+    Proclamation. The place was the Smith Plantation, on Port
+    Royal Island, where the First South Carolina had its camp.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 1, 1863._ We started [from R.'s] at ten o'clock with four
+oarsmen, under a cloudless sky, which remained undimmed through the
+day. The men sang and we sang, as we wound our way through the
+marsh-bound creek, reaching the Smith Plantation just as the _Flora_
+was landing her first load from the Ferry. We followed the crowd up to
+the grove of live-oaks with their moss trimmings, which did not look
+so dreary under a winter's sun, but very summer-like and beautiful.
+The regiment, which had been drawn up at the wharf to receive the
+guests from Beaufort, escorted them to the platform in the middle of
+the grove, where we found it--the regiment--in a circle round the
+stand, where they remained quiet and orderly as possible through the
+whole proceedings, which lasted about three hours. Guests, white and
+colored, were admitted within the line, and as ladies we were shown
+seats on the platform. The general arrived in his carriage with the
+Mission House[90] ladies.
+
+It is simply impossible to give you any adequate idea of the next
+three hours. Picture the scene to yourself if you can,--I will tell
+you all the facts,--but if I could transcribe every word that was
+uttered, still nothing could convey to you any conception of the
+solemnity and interest of the occasion. Mr. Judd, General
+Superintendent of the Island, was master of ceremonies, and first
+introduced Mr. Fowler, the Chaplain, who made a prayer,--then he
+announced that the President's Proclamation would be read, and General
+Saxton's also, by a gentleman who would be introduced by Colonel
+Higginson. And he rose amid perfect silence, his clear rich voice
+falling most deliciously on the ear as he began to speak. He said that
+the Proclamation would be read "by a South Carolinian to South
+Carolinians"--a man who many years before had carried the same glad
+tidings to his own slaves now brought them to them, and with a few
+most pertinent words introduced Dr. Brisbane, one of the
+tax-commissioners here now, who read both proclamations extremely
+well. They cheered most heartily at the President's name, and at the
+close gave nine with a will for General "Saxby," as they call him.
+Mr. Zachos then read an ode he had written for the occasion, which was
+sung by the white people (printed copies being distributed, he did not
+line it as is the fashion in these parts)--to "Scots wha hae." I
+forgot to mention that there was a band on the platform which
+discoursed excellent music from time to time. At this stage of the
+proceedings Mr. French rose and, in a short address, presented to
+Colonel Higginson from friends in New York a beautiful silk flag, on
+which was embroidered the name of the regiment and "The Year of
+Jubilee has come!"
+
+Just as Colonel Higginson had taken the flag and was opening his lips
+to answer (his face while Mr. French was speaking was a beautiful
+sight), a single woman's voice below us near the corner of the
+platform began singing "My Country, 'tis of thee." It was very sweet
+and low--gradually other voices about her joined in and it began to
+spread up to the platform, till Colonel Higginson turned and said,
+"Leave it to them," when the negroes sang it to the end. He stood with
+the flag in one hand looking down at them, and when the song ceased,
+his own words flowed as musically, saying that he could give no answer
+so appropriate and touching as had just been made. In all the singing
+he had heard from them, that song he had never heard before--they
+never could have truly sung "my country" till that day. He talked in
+the most charming manner for over half an hour, keeping every one's
+attention, the negroes' upturned faces as interested as any, if not
+quite as comprehending. Then he called Sergeant Rivers and delivered
+the flag to his keeping, with the most solemn words, telling him that
+his life was chained to it and he must die to defend it. Prince Rivers
+looked him in the eye while he spoke, and when he ended with a "Do you
+understand?" which must have thrilled through every one, answered most
+earnestly, "Yas, Sar." The Colonel then, with the same solemnity, gave
+into the charge of Corporal Robert Sutton[91] a bunting flag of the
+same size; then stepping back stood with folded arms and bare head
+while the two men spoke in turn to their countrymen. Rivers is a very
+smart fellow, has been North and is heart and soul in the regiment and
+against the "Seceshky." He spoke well; but Sutton with his plain
+common sense and simpler language spoke better. He made telling
+points; told them there was not one in that crowd but had sister,
+brother, or some relation among the rebels still; that all was not
+done because they were so happily off, that they should not be content
+till all their people were as well off, if they died in helping them;
+and when he ended with an appeal to them to above all follow after
+their Great Captain, Jesus, who never was defeated, there were many
+moist eyes in the crowd.
+
+General Saxton then said a few words, regretting that his flag had not
+arrived as he intended, and introduced Mrs. Gage, who spoke to them of
+her visit to St. Croix and how the negroes on that island had freed
+themselves, and telling them that her own sons were in the army; she
+might any day hear of their death, but that she was willing they
+should die in the cause and she hoped they were ready to die too.
+Quartermaster Bingham led the regiment in singing "Marching Along."
+Mr. Judd had written a hymn which he and a few friends sang. Judge
+Stickney spoke. The whole regiment then sang "John Brown," and was
+dismissed in a few words from the Colonel to the tables for the twelve
+roasted oxen,[92] hard bread, and molasses and water, except one
+company and certain corporals whom he mentioned, who came to the foot
+of the steps to escort the colors.
+
+Lieutenant Duhurst was waiting to escort us to dinner at his
+mess-table. We walked into the old fort, part of the walls of which
+are still standing, made of oyster-shells and cement, very hard still.
+It was built, say the authorities, in 1562, half a century before the
+Pilgrims landed.
+
+Miss Forten[93] had a letter from Whittier enclosing a song he had
+written for the Jubilee and which they have been teaching the children
+to sing at church next Sunday.
+
+After dinner we went up to the camp, and a very nice-looking place it
+was. The tents only hold five, so that there were a great many of
+them, making the camp look very large. The officers' tents are in a
+row opposite the ends of the streets, but with only a narrow street
+between. The Adjutant took us into his, which is a double one with two
+apartments like the Colonel's, as his wife is coming out to live there
+and teach the first sergeants to read, write, and keep their accounts.
+As dress-parade was to come off at once, we stayed to see that. Only
+the commissioned officers are white; the uniform of the privates is
+the same as any others, except that the pantaloons are red,[94] faces
+and hands black! The parade was excellent,--they went through the
+manual, including, "load in nine times." There were eighteen men
+absent without leave, a circumstance not to be wondered at, as they
+had kept no guard all day, and a negro thinks to go and see his family
+the height of happiness. Colonel Higginson said, "Think of a camp
+where there is no swearing, drinking, or card-playing among the
+men,--where the evenings are spent praying and singing psalms, and it
+is the first sound you hear in the morning!" He is a strong
+anti-tobacconist, but he lets the men have all they can get, and helps
+them get it.
+
+We started just after sunset, and at the same time with the band, who
+were rowed up to Beaufort as we went across the river. They played
+"Sweet Home," and the music sounded delightfully, but made Mr.
+Williams exclaim, "Now that's too bad, when a fellow is going to an
+old South Carolina whitewashed house, with a broken table and chair in
+it!" Nevertheless, he was very merry, and we had a fine row. The
+sunset was perfectly clear, the sky retained its brightness for a long
+time, and the moon was so bright that it did not grow dark. Our delay
+made us against tide for the second hour, so the negroes turned out of
+the main creek into the narrow creeks among the grass, which at high
+tide are deep enough, though very narrow. Our oars were often in the
+"mash" on one side, but the men knew their way and brought us safely
+through. They grew very much excited as they rowed and sung, shouting
+with all their might, and singing song after song the whole way home.
+The singing while they row always sounds differently from [that] at
+any other time to me, though they always sing the same, religious
+songs.
+
+    In the following letter Mr. Philbrick begins by defending
+    himself against the charge of rashness in proposing to buy
+    land of which the legal title was so insecure as to make it
+    a most unsafe investment, and the geographical situation
+    such as to make it unfit for habitation by Northerners. The
+    point of view of his critic is amusingly different from that
+    of the good people who subsequently accused him of buying
+    with the expectation of making large profits.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 2._ As to the title, the right of redemption expires at the end
+of two years in all cases, and fifteen per cent. interest must be paid
+by the redeemer before he can take possession. Now I never thought of
+paying more for these lands than the net value of two good crops, and
+don't undertake it for the sake of making money at all, but for the
+sake of carrying out to a more satisfactory issue the present
+short-lived and unfairly judged experiment of free labor, and for the
+sake of keeping the people out of the hands of bad men. You will of
+course admit that such an enterprise is worthy of my assistance and
+worthy of the time of such men as are now engaged in it. The health of
+every white man who has lived on the seaward side of St. Helena, from
+Coffin's Point to Land's End, has been perfectly good, and that is
+where I intend to buy, if at all, including perhaps the places under
+R.'s charge which he wishes to retain, and those of Captain John Fripp
+and Thomas B. Fripp, which could easily be managed by a person living
+on Cherry Hill or Mulberry Hill, directly adjoining them on the south.
+
+We had a flare-up with Ranty about the furniture left in the big
+house [at Pine Grove]. The people broke in on Christmas and took out
+what we left there, appropriating it to their private uses. I found
+Frank had the side-board in his new house (the old carriage-house). I
+told him to give it up and asked where the rest was. Mily had taken
+the desk, for safe-keeping, and offered to deliver it when wanted, but
+the bedsteads are not reported. Ranty had locked up the large
+dining-table in the pease-house. I blew him up for not reporting such
+things instanter, and hired June to sleep in the big house nights and
+be responsible for its safe-keeping. Otherwise the doors and windows
+would soon disappear.
+
+The future of our country looks darker than ever. I can't see much
+prospect of an improvement in the conduct of the war, so long as the
+mass of our people do not see in slavery the great cause of all the
+trouble. Neither do I believe that the war will terminate slavery
+unless the blacks will voluntarily take a part in it. The 1st Regiment
+is at length filled here, by means of a great deal of coaxing and the
+abandonment of St. Simon's Island,[95] taking all the men for
+recruits. They have made two raids upon the Florida coast, where they
+met with little resistance and accomplished but little. If they can
+once gain a footing on the mainland and add to their numbers as they
+advance, they could easily carry all before them. Any other race of
+men under the sun would do it, but I doubt yet whether there is the
+requisite amount of pluck in them to fall into such a scheme even when
+we are ready to lead them. I feel as if this winter were the
+turning-point of the whole question.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Captain Oliver's, Jan. 4._ Mr. Philbrick has very generously offered
+to assist three or four of us poorer superintendents in buying
+plantations. If we do not buy, the occupation of most of us is
+probably gone. Government will probably retain possession of many
+plantations from the lack of purchasers,--but they will be the poorer
+ones and those where the people will be subject to such influences
+that our purposes will meet with little success. For such plantations
+superintendents may be needed, but, besides doing little good, their
+own position I think will be very unpleasant. Nor do I think it
+unmanly to withdraw from such plantations. The irregular wayward life
+which the people on such places would probably lead undoubtedly
+will help to develop their self-reliance, but our style of
+development--that of regular, persistent industry--is so wholly
+different, that I doubt the wisdom of attempting to yoke the two
+styles together. In one point experience confirms what theory would
+suggest,--that their own increasing comfort or _misery_ will be a far
+stronger agent in the development of these people than any amount of
+outside human effort.
+
+I think I shall accept Mr. Philbrick's offer. I wish to stay down
+here, and I see no satisfactory way of so doing, except by this
+arrangement. It may turn out disastrously,--so be it; the Government
+will probably refund the purchase-money in case the lands return to
+the Confederate States either by capture or compromise. But with
+success, I doubt if I should realize the amount of my present salary
+and support. If the lands sell at a nominal price, however, they are
+worth that risk. To stay in the work is my object.
+
+I am having a pretty hard time at present. The people are very
+wayward,--now they work and then they stop,--and some stop before they
+begin. Several men have been acting badly, too; I actually knocked a
+man down the other day,--and think I did right,--for the first time in
+my life. It very much hurts one's popularity to be often severe,--and
+one's reputation with higher authorities also, I fear. My places have
+the disadvantage--to me--of being very near headquarters, and my
+people have learned through a very unwise act--the removal of a
+superintendent on the complaint of the negroes--the benefit of
+appealing from me. I have always been sustained--otherwise I should
+probably have resigned; but it very much weakens my authority, and, as
+I said, probably my reputation. But the worst is that it discourages
+and dulls one for the work.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 7._ I went into Ellen's house to see her sick children. It was
+her children who were so sick last summer, and Nancy died. They had
+swollen throats and I promised red flannel--then went all through the
+quarters talking and giving to all the old women some of our ration
+coffee and sugar. The women went on talking, Louisa winding up with an
+attempt to solve the to them great mystery--"Miss Hayiat, you not
+married? when you going to be married? What, and you so smairt?" C.
+says they are constantly asking him the same question. "Oh, Mass'
+Charlie," said a woman to him the other day, "if I was as pretty a
+woman as you are a man I should be so glad!" I find I shall have to
+give up going to the quarters if they insist upon giving me so many
+eggs--I had two dozen and a half given to-day--I can't use them up so
+fast! I found C. in colloquy with a man who came down to see if he
+could not move here so as to be under him. "But how do you know you
+shall like me?" said C., "and get along with me?" "See it in your
+countenance, sar, first time I eber see you!" Nat talked some time (he
+was a sort of Major Domo here and kept the keys) about the necessity
+of some white people's staying here, and of the people's confidence in
+Mr. Philbrick and C. They are very desirous that Mr. Philbrick should
+buy. "You see, sar; you won't have no trouble 'bout cotton dis
+year--Mr. Philbrick pay more money than any other man--de people know
+now you here to see justice. People all work cotton dis year. I don't
+care if you neber go 'way--like you much."
+
+_Jan. 8._ General Saxton said he was here on the Coast Survey seven
+years ago, cut that gap through the trees for his triangles, which
+caused us so much speculation last spring,[96] and landing at the
+Point one day dined here with Mr. Coffin.
+
+_Jan. 12._ Just as we were going to sit down to lunch, Tim came
+running up with a line from C. for his revolver, which I sent. Tim
+said two of the men were fighting, so Mr. Philbrick[97] took his
+pistol and went to see what was the row, and soon came back to say
+that a former husband of the woman who had been married the day before
+at church had turned up, and C. had ordered him off the place. It is a
+complicated story and I do not know its merits and demerits. I wish C.
+would write it out as a specimen of that part of his business. It is
+equal to Indian Cutchery.
+
+_Jan 16._ Woke to find it very blowy and cold. The changes seem to be
+as great here as in New England, of their kind. It is funny to see how
+the people feel the cold. I got no milk, because they could not milk
+in such weather, and it was so warm the day before that all we had
+soured. The children wore sheets over their shoulders and
+handkerchiefs on their heads to school.
+
+_Jan 17._ Went to the quarters to see the people, who wondered to see
+me out such a cold day! Found those who were out of doors on the sunny
+side of the street against the houses to keep warm.
+
+This afternoon I had to sew up a bad cut in Hester's arm. She sat all
+through school without a word to me, and then I could not close the
+wound with sticking-plaster, so there was no alternative. She behaved
+like a Spartan--her black skin made it easier for me, but not for her,
+I fancy. So much for my first attempt at surgery. It was an ugly job.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_The Oaks, Jan. 21._ I got a letter from Mr. Forbes, who says he can
+raise $12,000 for land, etc., to put in my hands, with the
+understanding that when I get tired of managing the thing I shall
+close up and divide what shall be left.[98] So I shall certainly buy
+that end of the island, provided the lands are sold, which in Boston
+they feel very sure they will _not_ be, and provided nobody else bids
+over one dollar an acre or so.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 21._ C. was gone all day tramping over the Pine Grove plantation
+to see and map out the land so as to allot it for corn and cotton to
+the people for this year's crop,--Flora's York for guide, who was much
+amused at his maps. He brought me home as a present from Susan half a
+dozen delicious sausages and a piece of fresh pork, which is very nice
+here, as the pigs run wild and feed on the potatoes left in the field,
+and other roots. Having had to wait for my washing for over a week, as
+Judy went first to Beaufort to see "him niece," a man grown, who was
+sick and died, and then was too sick herself, I hunted up some one
+else and had our washing done. Housekeeping with such young things to
+look after as Robert and Rose[99] only is not an easy or thoroughly
+satisfactory proceeding, with so much else to see to in this great
+house.
+
+_Jan. 22._ Sam sent word that buckra and white lady were coming. I
+went to the door. There stood Miss R., Mrs. Clark, and Mr. De la
+Croix, and coming up the path were the rest of their party, Mrs.
+Bundy, Mrs. Williams, Mr. R., and, still on the beach, Mr. Williams
+and Dr. Bundy shooting. I flew down to Uncle Sam to give him
+potatoes, white and sweet, and rice and hominy, telling him to have
+the tea-kettle boiling so that I could give them a cup of coffee. We
+had eaten our last loaf of bread that morning, so I mixed some
+griddle-cakes, and Robert, who enjoyed the fun of so many people, set
+the table and did very nicely, Rose running up and down stairs with
+the hot flap-jacks. I don't wonder that country-people eat "griddles"
+so much,--they are so much easier and more quickly prepared than
+anything else. But nothing is done quickly in this region, and all
+this was a work of time, during which I entertained my guests and they
+entertained themselves in the "shop," and they became great
+purchasers. Then the boatmen who had brought them came up for sugar
+and tobacco, and Mr. De la Croix opened the new box for me, and they
+were very much amused to see me diving into the depths of the
+sugar-barrel and handling the tobacco at "eight cents a plug!" They
+were very merry and jolly and seemed to enjoy themselves,--certainly
+Mrs. Bundy did at our piano, and we in hearing her. Robert and Rose
+could not put the things on the table--they were fixed, as soon as
+they entered the room, with delight. It was funny work getting
+together dishes enough, but I made out. My table was full and my
+guests hungry, though they protested they only came for a call and did
+not want any luncheon. We got up from table about three, I got Dr.
+Bundy to take the stitches from Hester's arm and dress it, and then
+they said they must be off,--they had stayed too long already. And so
+it proved, for the tide had gone out and the boat was high and dry on
+an oyster-bank! They did not seem much distressed, and all betook
+themselves to a walk towards the quarters, which they visited in a
+body, to the delight of the people. I was informed, "Miss Hayut,
+buckra-man on hos-bahck," and Mr. Thorpe appeared on business with C.;
+as it never rains but it pours, two officers from our blockading
+vessel now landed, to see the pickets they were told were here. They
+did not stay long, and then I went to find Dr. Bundy and see what time
+they would get off. I found they could not get away till seven, so
+began to make preparations for tea. I knew my table would not be large
+enough, and was quietly taking all the books and papers off the big
+round one in the corner, when the ladies discovered what I was about;
+they rose in a body and protested they would not have any tea. But the
+gentlemen equally protested I should do just as I chose, and set them
+to work if I would, so they wheeled out the table and Mr. De la Croix
+went with me to the milk-closet to take down the shelves, which were
+the leaves. The table is a monstrous great round one, solid mahogany,
+and with its leaves in made my table-cloth look like a towel on the
+grass, so we took to the bare boards. We sat down twelve to a
+repetition of the lunch, with the addition of Susan's pork and
+sausages, as our boys had had no dinner. I could not persuade any of
+them to stay all night, though I showed them that I had bed
+accommodations for four, and sofas for more, to say nothing of a
+floor! There was a little moon and they all got home safely--we had a
+suspicion we might see them about midnight!
+
+_Jan. 23._ In the midst of all the fun and frolic yesterday there came
+a sudden pause, when Mrs. Williams drew down the corners of her mouth
+and remarked, "And this is a band of Missionaries!"
+
+I had the room in the basement cleaned to-day by Samson's Betty. She
+is the woman whose old husband turned up and gave C. so much trouble.
+This thing is happening a good deal now, and must. A man who was sold
+six years ago to Georgia came up from St. Simon's with the troops not
+long ago to find his wife here married again. He gave her leave to do
+so, however, when he was sold off, so had nothing to say. To go back
+to Betty. I gave her as careful directions as I could and left her to
+her own devices. When I went to her once I found her in the middle of
+the room with two great tubs of water, her skirts all tied up to her
+knees, the floor swimming in water which she was flinging about with a
+handful of shucks _i. e._, corn-husks! It would be easier to keep
+house in a small country house at home and do my own work (minus the
+washing) and live better than we do here. However, I am very
+philosophical, and ignore dirt and irregularity.
+
+_Jan. 24._ I had promised to go to the quarters and rode down, C.
+walking by my side to take down the amount of cotton and corn land
+each hand wished to work this year. He stood with his back against a
+fence, the "gang" collected in front of him, book in hand, taking down
+the number of tasks each agreed to work, talking to them about the
+crop, laughing with them and at them. A not less unique picture
+certainly was his sister riding his little horse, whose back her large
+shawl nearly covered behind, in her ordinary dress and hoops, stopping
+at door after door to look at this sick baby, talk to that old woman;
+give a comb out of one pocket and put an egg into another; dismount to
+show Amaritta how to make yeast and raise bread, examine some sore
+throats, go to Louisa's house and repeat the yeast operation there,
+then remount and proceed through the street in the same style, only
+that now the flour and warm water are brought to the door and she
+stirs on horseback! Sunday is the "Quarter meeting-day"--over a
+hundred are to be baptized and they want some bread to carry, as they
+will have to stay all day. I ride back through the overseer's yard,
+stop at her door to speak to Judy, then have a talk with Abel, who
+wants to know how I find Rose, says he knows character is better than
+all the riches of this world, and that he was taught and teaches his
+children not to lay hand on anything that does not belong to them. I
+took her partly because I knew it was a good family. Demus[100]
+attends me, and I ride home followed by half a dozen little boys who
+are coming up to school and run races by my side. The wind has turned
+east, and a thick fog is driving in visible clouds over the dreary
+cotton-fields, raw, chilly, and disagreeable enough. I come out of
+school wondering what I am going to have for dinner and what for
+Sunday, knowing that Uncle Sam, whose daughter Katrine is "going in
+the water," will probably be away all day and that the R.'s are coming
+to spend Sunday. You know there was trouble last summer about the
+superintendents who were not Baptists remaining to the Communion
+Service--there has been more since, and the negro elders have become
+so excited about it that they will not allow them to stay, so the R.'s
+did not wish to go to church, and planned when we were there at New
+Year's to come down here to spend that Sunday. They told me when they
+were here Thursday that they were coming, so I ought to have been
+ready, but except my three loaves of bread I had made no preparation,
+and was expecting them momentarily. The Fates were propitious,
+however, for Minda sent me a piece of fresh pork, and a note from Mr.
+Philbrick said he would send us a piece of fresh beef for our rations
+Sunday. I had just time to wash my hands when my guests arrived. That
+is a process, by the way, which I have to go through with, at the
+least, twice in an hour--sometimes oftener than that in fifteen
+minutes--with sand-soap and brush!
+
+There was a great church-going from this place, as fourteen people
+were to be baptized, and Sam when he was rigged was a sight, with his
+beaver over his head-hankercher. Carts were in requisition to bring
+home the wet clothes--Louisa told C. that she couldn't wear hoops into
+the water and should be so cold she should wear eight coats (they drop
+the petti-) and she couldn't bring them all home. It was foggy and
+chilly, though the sun came out at noon when the proceedings must have
+been at their height, as the tide was high then. There were one
+hundred and forty-nine dipped on this occasion.
+
+    The next two letters are largely occupied with the
+    beginnings of the new working year.
+
+
+C. P. W. TO E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 25._ I went down to this nigger-house yesterday morning, called
+the people up and told them what they were going to get on their
+cotton besides the pay for picking already paid, and then, after
+talking over plantation matters a little, got their acres for next
+year. They seemed "well satisfy" with the additional payment, fully
+appreciated the pay according to crop and according to acre combined,
+and started on this year's work with "good encourage." I suppose Mr.
+Forbes and you are two bricks, serving as the beginning of a good
+foundation for these people's prosperity.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Captain Oliver Fripp's, Jan. 26._ We are very busy now on the
+plantations. A new system of labor to inaugurate,--lands to
+allot,--grumbling to pacify and idleness to check,--my hands--with
+nine plantations--are perfectly overrunning. The worst of it is that
+my people are in pretty bad disposition,--the new system has been
+received with joy and thankfulness in most parts of the island,--here
+with suspicion, grumbling, and aversion. How far it is the fault of
+their past and present superintendents, I cannot tell,--it has been
+known as a hard district ever since we came here,--but it must be our
+failing in some degree. I devoutly hope that by the middle of February
+it will be over as far as I am concerned. It is a little remarkable
+that while the Abolitionists and negroes' friends up North are
+striving so hard to have the sale postponed,[101] we superintendents,
+without exception that I have heard, are very desirous to have it
+effected. This "superintendence" is a most unsatisfactory
+system,--temporary and unprogressive in every element. Of course,
+nothing else could well have been tried this last year, and perhaps
+the time has not yet come to abandon it. But we all think it has. I am
+satisfied that the sooner the people are thrown upon themselves, the
+speedier will be their salvation. Let all the natural laws of labor,
+wages, competition, etc., come into play,--and the sooner will habits
+of responsibility, industry, self-dependence, and manliness be
+developed. Very little, very little, should be given them: now, in the
+first moments of freedom, is the time to influence their notion of it.
+To receive has been their natural condition. They are constantly
+comparing the time when they used to obtain shoes, dresses, coats,
+flannels, food, etc., from their masters, with the present when little
+or nothing is given them. I think it would be _most unwise and
+injurious_ to _give_ them _lands_,--negro allotments; they should be
+made to _buy_ before they can feel themselves possessors of a rod.
+There are some who are now able to buy their houses and two or three
+acres of land,--by the end of the year their number will probably be
+greatly increased. These will be the more intelligent, the more
+industrious and persistent. But _give_ them land, and a house,--and
+the ease of gaining as good a livelihood as they have been accustomed
+to would keep many contented with the smallest exertion. I pity some
+of them very much, for I see that nothing will rouse and maintain
+their energy but suffering.
+
+In regard to the immediate sale,--even should speculators buy some
+plantations, I don't think the people would suffer much oppression
+during the years of their possession. It would be for their interest
+to continue or increase the wages which Government offers,--and
+probably many would let the places almost alone. Should oppression
+occur, the negroes will probably have an opportunity to move,--such
+cases would be closely watched and loudly reported,--and the people
+would be all the more dependent on their own exertions. I should think
+the great injury would come at the end of the war, or whenever the
+speculators sell the lands: then, instead of selling at low prices and
+in small lots or of consulting the people's interest in any way, they
+will simply realize the greatest advantage for themselves. Other
+places, however, will be bought by friends and by the Government,--on
+the whole, great good would result to the people. Moreover, the work
+will then have very much more value as a test of their capacity and
+ambition,--as an experiment in American emancipation.
+
+I feel that outside of directly spiritual labor, this emancipation
+work is the noblest and holiest in the country.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 27._ Both schools were very satisfactory. If any one could have
+looked in, without the children's seeing them, they would have thought
+we presented quite an ordinary school-like appearance. I have a
+blackboard with numerals and figures and the second line of the
+Multiplication Table written on it, all of which the oldest school
+know tolerably, but they make sorry work trying to copy the figures on
+their slates. I let them use them every day now, however, for they
+must learn, by gradually growing familiar with the use of a pencil,
+not to use it like a hoe. There are furrows in the slates made by
+their digging in which you might plant benny-seed, if not cotton!
+
+_Jan. 29._ Am trying to teach the children how to tell time on the
+dial-plate of an old English clock, "Presented by Sir Isaac Coffin,
+Bart.," as its face informs you--one of the many valuable things
+demolished.
+
+_Jan. 31._ Started directly after breakfast to spend the day and night
+with H. We broke down, as usual, had to stop and be tinkered up, so
+that William was late for the ferry, and when we got to the Oaks
+avenue I got out with my bag and basket and let him go on. I trusted
+to fate to find some one to carry my traps for me the mile up to the
+house. The drive was lovely, and I found some people waiting by the
+roadside for Mr. Soule, to get passes to go to Beaufort. A boy readily
+took my things for me without promise of any payment. On the walk I
+found he was one of the Edisto refugees who are quartered at the
+village and supplied with rations by Government, but he had left home
+with only two pieces of hardtack in his pocket and without breakfast.
+"Think we'll go back to Edisto, Missy?" he asked most earnestly,
+hoping that a stranger would give him some hope that he should see his
+home again. He was a nice boy; as a general thing the Edisto people
+are a better class of blacks, more intelligent and cultivated, so to
+speak, but those brought from there were then refugees from many other
+places.
+
+Mr. Philbrick brought word that the North Carolina army[102] had
+arrived at Hilton Head, and we were excited to know who of our friends
+had come.
+
+_Feb. 1._ A message came back from Mr. Philbrick that General "Saxby"
+was coming to dinner. The General was decidedly blue about affairs
+here at present. He wants to stop the sale of lands very much, though,
+as he can control the sale so as to keep it out of the hands of
+speculators, I hope the sale will take place. You cannot understand
+how much we long to have the sale over. If it could only have taken
+place a month sooner it would have been all the better, as then the
+purchasers could have stocked their places by the time work began. As
+it is, the people have gone into the fields without the necessary
+number of cattle or mules, and with only their worn-out hoes; the
+Edisto people who are now being distributed onto the plantations have
+nothing. With the chance of giving up the control so soon, Government
+has not supplied all that is necessary and work bids fair to be as
+behindhand here as it was last year. Where the people have gone to
+work at all--at this end of the island--they have started with "good
+encourage," but at other places it has been impossible to get them to
+start any cotton, though they work corn. This is partly due to the
+fact that this end of the island is removed from the demoralizing
+effects of the camps, and partly, too, to the confidence the people
+have in the superintendents here, who have mostly been with them
+steadily now for nearly a year. It seems to us on the spot as if
+things could not go on another year as they are now, and we long for
+February eleventh and things to be settled. The auctioneer is at
+Washington trying, not to have the sale postponed, but to have lands
+set apart and given the blacks beforehand, and we dread lest any day
+we should hear that it has been delayed. Some of the blacks mean to
+buy--we don't wish them to till the war is over, as our tenure here is
+too uncertain for them to sink their money.
+
+C. on horseback, I in the double sulky started homeward, reaching
+home--and we agreed that it was certainly homelike--by half past six.
+Rose came up from her house acknowledging that though she wanted to
+see me she could have waited till to-morrow, but her mother made her
+come!
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Feb. 2._ The sale is a week from Wednesday. General Saxton (proclaim
+it not from the house-top) says he shall take the liberty to use the
+Cotton Fund to outbid any troublesome speculators. Glory Hallelujah!
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 4._ Cold as ever again--can do nothing but try to keep warm.
+Have a good fire in the school-room, and quite a full school--those
+who stay away for the cold being jeered at as not wishing to learn by
+the others. I think they have done well for a year with the amount of
+teaching they have had.
+
+_Feb. 7._ Found C. was going to Pine Grove, so thought I would go too,
+as I have not been to see them since Christmas. I went round to see
+the people who were at home; many of them had gone into the field,
+where C. went to deal out the land to them. Then I followed him in the
+sulky to bring him home, but when I reached the field, Flora, who came
+running out to see me, crying out, "my ole missus!" informed me that
+"Mass' Charlie have much long jawing, people in confusion." Mr.
+S.,[103] it seemed, had disturbed them about the land-sale, and York
+vowed if anybody but Mr. Philbrick or C. had the place he would pack
+up and go to New York with his family. Went home alone, forced to
+leave C. to walk. Found some of his old people waiting for him--they
+are very much attached to him and he to them--it is hard for him to
+give them up. One man met him at church last Sunday, took off his hat,
+rolled up his eyes, and remarked pathetically, "I goes to sleep and
+dreams of you, Boss!"
+
+_Feb. 8._ Dr. Russell sends me word that after March 1st my salary
+will be $20 instead of $25.
+
+We all went up to church this morning for the chance of finding John
+L.[104] there. We go to church to see our friends, and generally
+manage to get there just as service is over. If it were any good to
+the people we could bear it, but they get stones, not bread, I am
+sorry to say. We did not find any friends from the Twenty-Fourth.
+
+I shall hope to send you Colonel Higginson's report of his
+expedition[105] with the Black Regiment, which was a great success.
+Oh, if the formation of the regiment last spring had only been
+differently managed! we should have had a brigade by this time.
+January, who I wrote you was taken from here one night as a deserter,
+and who was found up his chimney, almost frightened to death at going
+back, he was so badly treated before, came for a day or two since he
+got back from the expedition and told C. he would not take a thousand
+dollars to leave now, he had such a good time.
+
+    On February 10, the very eve of the eagerly awaited day set
+    for the land-sale, H. W. writes: "The cart went up for
+    rations, so I sent some sausages for H. and got some cake at
+    night, with a note saying the sale was stopped." True to his
+    extreme record as friend of the negro, General Hunter had
+    been the means of postponing the sales, in the hope, as has
+    been said, of eventually turning most of the plantations
+    into negro holdings, by gift or the next thing to it. More
+    will be heard of all this shortly.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Feb. 14._ It is supposed that the postponement of the land-sales till
+the allotment of lands is made will be for a year at least. I expect
+to find the people, though they are all members, will become profane
+immediately. They are depending on a chance to buy or hire land.
+
+    W. C. G. writes the next letter after having had a talk with
+    a friend in the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Feb. 17._ He seemed very well, more contented than most of the
+soldiers and talking more rationally and humanely than four fifths of
+those with whom I have conversed. The troops will probably be here a
+month or two at least, before any attempt is made in any direction.
+The commanding generals have quarreled,[106] and one has gone North;
+the troops are insufficient, the enemy on the alert and strongly
+defended. The history of the Department so far might read: the forts
+were taken, one thousand-odd children were taught to read, and one
+negro regiment was formed.[107] Hunter seems to be a narrow,
+self-willed man--to me--who don't know much about his affairs. At
+first the soldiers were allowed to go wherever they pleased;
+consequently they poured over our end of the island, confusion coming
+with them. They cheated, they plundered, they threatened lives, they
+stole boats, poultry, hogs, money, and other property, they paid for
+dinners with worthless Richmond money, taking good bills in exchange.
+They behaved like marauders in an enemy's country, and disgraced the
+name of man, American, or soldier. The houses of one whole plantation
+they burnt to the ground in the night. For three whole days and far
+into the night I did nothing but chase soldiers and ride about to
+protect the people. The consequence of it all is that the soldiers are
+now tied up in camp pretty firmly.
+
+The sales have been postponed to my and many persons' great
+disappointment. And yet it does seem absurd, in view of the increasing
+uncertainties of the moment here, to sell land. But I am so heartily
+sick and weary of this system! What I shall do if the lands are not
+sold within a month or two, I don't know.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 19._ You will see by this copy of the _Free South_[108] the
+outrages that have been committed by the troops who were landed at
+Land's End, but it can give you but little idea of the outrages that
+have been committed or the mischief done. Besides the actual loss to
+the people,--and in many cases it has been their all,--the loss of
+confidence in Yankees is an incalculable injury. The scenes some of
+the superintendents have had to go through with are beyond
+description. Sumner had a pistol put at his breast for trying to stop
+the soldiers and protect the negroes, and Mr. Hammond, when he went
+with General Saxton to tell Hunter of what had been done under his
+very eyes on his own plantations, burst into tears. It is disgusting
+that any Massachusetts regiment should be mixed up with such savage
+treatment, and that the Twenty-Fourth should be is shameful in the
+extreme.
+
+_Feb. 20._ To-day all the people were on the Bay "drawing seine" when
+I came out of morning school, and as that is a process I have wished
+to see I ran down to the beach myself between whiles. Here was a droll
+enough scene indeed. They had made one "drawing" and were just casting
+the seine again as I walked along for half a mile towards the
+drum-hole.[109] The shell-banks, which are exposed at low tide, were
+fringed with small children with baskets and bags which they were
+filling with oysters and conchs. Rose followed me as guide and
+protector, jabbering away in her outlandish fashion to my great
+entertainment, and was very much afraid that the oyster-shells, over
+which she walked with impunity with bare feet, would cut up my heavy
+leather boots. I could go out to the very edge of one of these curious
+shell-banks, and the seine was drawn up almost at my feet. The net was
+laid on a boat which was hauled out into the water by the men, who
+were up to their waists, then dropped along its full length, which is
+very great, and gradually hauled in shore again with two or three
+bushels of fish in it, and any number of crabs, which the children
+pick up very carefully and fling ashore. There were about thirty men,
+and you would have thought from the noise and talking that it was a
+great fire in the country, with no head to the engine companies and
+every man giving orders. They were good-natured as possible, but
+sometimes their gibberish sounds as if they were scolding. The boys,
+with their pantaloons, or what answer for sich, rolled up to their
+knees, were hauling at the rope or picking up the crabs and making
+them catch hold of each other till they had a long string of them.
+Another mode of proceeding with them--for a crab-bite is a pretty
+serious thing--is to hold an oyster-shell out, which they grab, and
+then with a quick shake the claw is broken off, and they are harmless.
+A large bass having been taken in the haul I witnessed, it was laid at
+my feet for my acceptance, and then, the girls following, most of the
+boys staying to see the third drawing, I wended my way back to school.
+
+_Feb. 21._ Such steady shop that C. could not get off very early and
+sold a barrel of flour before he departed. Shop is a great nuisance,
+but I don't know what the people would do without it and don't see how
+it can be given up for a long time. They can't get things as cheap
+anywhere else, but they cannot understand that it is of no advantage
+to us. When I told them yesterday they must not hurry me, for I had to
+put everything down so as to keep a correct account to send to the
+Quartermaster and people who sent the things, they were quite
+surprised, and when in explaining the state of the case to them I
+remarked that I was not even paid for the trouble, Binah said she
+would not take the trouble then; and they can't understand that any
+one should.
+
+    Other comments on this laborious shop-keeping are: [Feb.
+    23]. What with sugar and dry goods upstairs, and flour,
+    pork, and salt down, it's busy, not to say nasty work. [Apr.
+    9.] Mr. P.'s molasses fell short about $5.00 on the barrel!
+    Yet you can't convince the people he is not making heaps of
+    money, and I, too, for the matter of that. [June 6.] A
+    stranger the other day asked me for a looking-glass that he
+    might see how his new hat looked, and then informed me that
+    I ought to keep lemonade for my friends! But such things are
+    rare, and so ludicrous that one doesn't mind.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 22._ I heard Uncle Sam read the first three chapters of Genesis,
+which he translated into his own lingo as he went along, calling the
+subtile serpent the most "amiable" of beasts, and ignoring gender,
+person, and number in an astonishing manner. He says "Lamb books of
+life," and calls the real old Southern aristocracy the gentiles! His
+vocabulary is an extensive one--I wish his knowledge of the art of
+cooking were as great!
+
+_Feb. 25._ I was in full tide with my A B C's when I saw two mounted
+officers pass the window. They presently appeared at the door of the
+school-room, one of them with a General's stars, addressing me and
+asking about the school. But he did not introduce himself, and I was
+in profound ignorance as to who it might be. They came, apparently, to
+see the place, and while they walked on the beach I got up what lunch
+I could. The title had an immense effect upon Robert; when I told Sam
+I must have the water boiled to give the General some coffee, he
+opened his eyes as wide as the gate, and Rose, who came to ask for the
+key of the corn-room for him to feed the horses, was such a comical
+sight, as she stared with mouth and eyes and then dropped a curtsey in
+the middle of the room, that if any one had been here I think I should
+have disgraced myself and snickered! Unfortunately the dignitary did
+not see her.
+
+_Feb. 26._ I had scarcely done breakfast when I was called upon to
+serve in the shop for half a dozen men from the blockading vessel off
+Otter Island, all negroes. They come every once in a while and buy
+large amounts of sugar and other little things. They evidently think
+their patronage of great advantage to us.
+
+Five grown men have come in to swell the evening school. I can't do
+much for them, as they don't all know their letters, but they have
+books and I hope the children will help them on out of school.
+
+Have I told you that the path to the beach has been bordered with
+flowers for several weeks, jonquils and narcissus, so far as I can
+make out, though unlike any I ever saw before? They are in great
+profusion, and there are a few snow-drops, very pretty, but a foot or
+more high, and losing their charm in the height and strength. The
+jasmine and hawthorn are just coming into blossom, and I see what
+looks like a peach-tree in full bloom in Sam's yard.
+
+_Feb. 27._ C. came home before night, with the news that the sales had
+begun[110] and that our fate would be decided by next week probably.
+He brought no other news of importance except that my unknown guest
+was probably a General Potter[111] on Foster's staff. When I came out
+of school this morning I found Rose asleep on the rug in front of the
+parlor fire! She is quite a Topsy in some things, playing all sorts of
+tricks with her voice and actions, but I have never had reason to
+doubt her truth or honesty in the smallest particular, since the
+first, and I have been very watchful.
+
+_Feb. 28._ Before I was up I heard a perfect babel of tongues, a
+magpie chattering, which, on looking out of the window, I found came
+from about twenty women at work in our new garden getting out the
+"jint-grass," swinging their great, heavy hoes above their heads. Dr.
+Dio Lewis should have seen their gymnastics and the physical
+development therefrom. It was a droll sight--red, blue, and bright
+yellow in their costume, and such a gabbling! Hindustanee is as
+intelligible as their talk among themselves. How C. astonished a man
+who was muttering away to himself the other day at the Oaks by
+laughing at him and telling him he understood Nigger as well as he!
+
+Old Deborah walked from Cherry Hill this morning,--she has lately
+moved there from here,--and came into the early school, which greatly
+delighted her. She is Rose's grandmother, and heard her
+great-grandchild reading to me, yet she is a smart old body and
+carries on her own cotton this year. Her delight over Raphael's
+angels--we have Mr. Philbrick's photographs of them here--was really
+touching. "If a body have any consider, 'twould melt their
+hairt,"--and she tried to impress it upon Rose that she was a greatly
+privileged person to be able to see them every day.
+
+    In the next letter is described a visit to the camp of the
+    "North Carolina army" at Land's End.
+
+_Sunday, March 1._ We started off in time to reach church before the
+sermon was over, I in the sulky with my things to stay all night,--if
+it should prove practicable for me to go to camp, by staying at G.'s
+or the Oaks. H. got into my sulky and we drove off, the question to be
+decided after dinner. The road to-day was lined with the jasmine in
+full bloom running over everything. I was too late to see it last
+spring and as I had not been out of the house for a fortnight the
+change was very marked. Some trees are putting out fresh, green
+leaves, the peach and wild plum-trees are all in blossom. Our large
+field, too, had been "listed"[112] since I passed through it last, and
+altogether things had a very spring-like look. After dinner it was
+decided to take the carriage and Northern horses, with Harry, and make
+our expedition to the camp in style, escorted by Mr. Sumner on
+horseback.
+
+Behold us, then, starting about ten in the morning, Monday, March 2,
+driving for fifteen miles through the woods, a perfect spring day,
+till, as we reached our journey's end, we found the woods cut down and
+fields cleared for the camps over an immense space. Tents in every
+direction and masts beyond, looking very busy and thriving. Real war
+camps, not such as we see at Readville, for most of the regiments
+coming on such an expedition, from which they expected to return
+before this time, had only shelter tents, as few things as they could
+possibly get along with, and their worst clothes. There were men
+washing (with a bit of board in a half of a barrel with a
+horse-brush!), cutting wood, mending the road very much cut up with
+the army-wagons, sticking down trees in front of their tents, and in
+almost every camp we saw some men playing ball. Horses and wagons,
+rough stables, and the carpenters at work with plane and saw getting
+up comforts. The Twenty-Fourth was at Land's End indeed, so we passed
+through all the others before we came to it, each additional one
+causing a louder and more wondering exclamation from Harry at the
+sight of so many men, till the oxen, evidently waiting to be
+slaughtered, and of a size so vastly superior to those indigenous to
+these regions, quite dumbfounded him.
+
+The Twenty-Fourth reached at last, we went at once to James's tent,
+where he greeted us very kindly, and inviting us in, went off for
+John. Glad as I was to see them at last, it only made me doubly sorry
+that they should have been so near us and unable to come down to the
+few home comforts we could have offered them; but they have both tried
+to get away in vain. We found the Twenty-Fourth was in a very excited
+state over General Stevenson's arrest;[113] and speaking of his
+release and return to camp the day before, James said--"We gave him
+such a reception as the Twenty-Fourth _can_ give." The whole North
+Carolina division were feeling very sore over the quarrel between
+Hunter and Foster which has so unjustly, as they feel, deprived them
+of going under Foster on this expedition, and over the general
+treatment of them and their officers which they have received ever
+since they came into this Department.[114] This I heard from James
+first, but more at length and in detail from the surgeon afterwards.
+For as we drove home a gentleman passed us on horseback, and we
+presently saw him racing with Mr. Sumner, and then riding by his side.
+They soon turned. Mr. Sumner introduced to me S. A. Green. Mr. Sumner
+had never seen him before, but asked him to join us at lunch at Mr.
+G.'s, where we were to stop on our way.
+
+G. was expecting us, and such a dinner as he spread before us! A
+little roasted pig, over which Mr. Sumner grew pathetic as he
+described its baby-like appearance before it was cooked, when Tamah,
+their invaluable cook, brought it in to show them--potatoes, rice,
+etc., and for dessert, trifle, cake, muffins, waffles of a most
+excellent variety, and I don't know what. But the spice of the dinner
+was a long and animated discussion over the cause of General
+Stevenson's arrest and other matters appertaining thereto. Dr. Green
+was present at the time Stevenson had his discussion with Major
+Barstow and is reported to have said that he would rather be defeated
+than gain a victory with the aid of black soldiers,--and says that he
+said no such thing. The question was asked as a leading one, and
+before General Stevenson replied, Major Barstow exclaimed, "You hear
+that declaration?" and went off and reported. Pretty small business,
+anyway, though the General and most of his officers apparently are not
+at all waked up to the question, and oppose the idea of negro soldiers
+very strongly. They seem to have been living for a year with their old
+prejudices quietly slumbering--without coming in contact with the
+subject and its practical working as we have here, and so are not
+prepared for the change of opinion which has been silently advancing
+here. We did not think a year ago that these people would make
+soldiers, though it might be a wise measure to organize them for
+garrison duty to save the lives of our men in a climate they could not
+bear well and where no fighting would be necessary. Now it is a matter
+of fact, not opinion, as Colonel Higginson's report shows, that they
+will fight in open warfare, and will succeed in a certain sort of
+expedition when white men would fail, thus being too valuable an aid
+in putting down the Rebellion for us to give way to the prejudices of
+the mass of the soldiers. But I do not think it strange those
+prejudices exist, and they can only be removed by degrees.
+
+The sales are to go on--how glad I shall be when the whole thing is
+settled! Dr. Brisbane thinks he has proof that Mr. Coffin is in jail
+in Charleston for Union sentiments,[115] so that he shall reserve his
+plantations for him. Mr. Philbrick may be able to lease them till the
+war is over, but if we take Charleston and if Mr. Coffin claims his
+own again, behold us! I don't know what the negroes would do, at
+first, if they thought Mr. Coffin was coming back to take possession
+of the lands--though they all acknowledge that when he was here there
+was no "confusion"--"that was all along de overseer." I suppose, if
+they were not taken by surprise and could understand matters, they
+would work for him as well as any one else; but a great deal would
+depend upon whom they had over them--they would not work under
+Cockloft again "first." They will be disappointed if Mr. Philbrick
+does not get this place.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_March 1._ The sale of lands, which was arrested by General Hunter's
+order, has recommenced by authority obtained from Washington. The
+generals commanding--Hunter and Saxton--are both interested in terms
+and regulations which will favor the negroes. I hear they are both
+added as, in some way, joint commissioners to those who have been
+acting in that capacity, with full powers to retain all lands in
+Government possession which may be wanted for military or educational
+purposes.[116] What plan they may adopt is not yet known; but we have
+already been called on for a complete census of the population, with a
+view to a land allotment of some kind. I pray it may not be by _gift_.
+I used to dread the effects of immediate emancipation and think it
+was the duty of a Christian nation to ease the passage from slavery to
+freedom with all kinds of assistance; but I am nearly satisfied that
+the best thing our Government can do, for the good of these people
+themselves, is simply to offer and enforce their acceptance of the
+advantages of civil law and education. I should hope that for a time
+the relations of employer and employed might be also watched and
+determined by law,--but more than this, anything in the form of
+_gifts_ and _charity_ will, I'm pretty sure, only relieve momentary
+distress at the expense of their development in manliness and
+independence. Very few will take a responsibility which they can in
+any way avoid, and not one in a thousand will refuse charity if
+offered, even when there is no slightest need of it. At the same time,
+they perfectly understand the rights of property, almost
+superstitiously appreciate the advantages of education, and will
+eagerly seize any opportunity they may have of acquiring the one or
+the other. As to these island people I feel no doubt that at least
+three out of five of the present children will be able to read and
+write when men and women, and that of the present generation of grown
+people, half a plantation at least would own land in their own right
+before four years had past,--if they were permitted to buy. Then how
+much better to throw them on themselves, to leave them to their own
+ambition and intelligence, when they have so much of both. Their
+inveterate suspicion of white kindness, too, joined to their
+ignorance, so clog the wheels of any system of charity like this of
+superintendence that for this reason alone I think it should cease.
+But they only too thoroughly comprehend the idea of _law_,--and are
+therefore well able to understand and be grateful for beneficent law,
+which at once protects and leaves them to themselves. "Let us
+alone"--the cry of their masters--really belongs to them and is their
+wisest demand.
+
+I am anxiously hoping to be freed from this place by the sales and to
+return to my old neighborhood, and there to be able to accomplish
+something. This is but a stand-still experience, compared to our
+wishes. The people advance in spite of it. I believe almost the only
+real good I've done was to partially protect these people for three
+days from the soldiers.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 5._ C. came home at night with the news that the First South
+Carolina Volunteers started on an expedition[117] to-day which Colonel
+Higginson considers of very great importance, which will have very
+great results, or from which they will probably never return. Also
+that drafting has begun in Beaufort by Hunter's orders.
+
+General Saxton has _passed his word_ to the people here that they
+shall not be forced into the army--I don't see what is to be the
+upshot of it--they will lose all confidence in us. Anywhere but here!
+Saxton himself gave Colonel Montgomery[118] leave to draft in Florida
+and Key West, but he had no need to--more recruits offered than he
+could bring away with him. I don't wish to find fault with my
+commanding general, but I have yet to be shown the first thing Hunter
+has done which I consider wise or fine. Saxton has had to go down
+more than once and persuade him not to execute his orders.
+
+    In the following letter the reference to Mrs. Wolcott and
+    McClellan has to do with that visit to Boston of the deposed
+    general which was made such a triumphal progress for him by
+    the conservatives of the town. The reference to Hallowell,
+    who had a commission in the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts, the
+    first colored regiment raised by a state government, is
+    interesting as further evidence of the prejudice against
+    negro troops.
+
+_March 6._ C. brought me last night a long letter from S. descriptive
+of Mrs. Wolcott's party, McClellan, the fashions, and Hallowell's
+feeling at the position in which he places himself in going into a
+negro regiment. I wish he could see Colonel Higginson and his, but a
+Northern black regiment will be a very different thing from a Southern
+one--the men will have the vices of civilization from which these are
+free. Colonel Higginson is an enthusiast, but I do not see that he
+exaggerates or states anything but facts.
+
+    Then follow specimens of the conversation of Robert and
+    Rose, with which may be put here two others, really of later
+    date.
+
+"Miss Hayiut, that your home?" Robert asked me this morning, looking
+at some colored pictures of the Crystal Palace I found in a _London
+News_ and nailed up in the entry yesterday! He's bound to go North
+with Mass' Charlie. If he expects to live in such a mansion I don't
+wonder he wishes to.
+
+_Saturday, March 7._ If you could have seen Rose's astonishment this
+morning when she comprehended that the clock was not alive! I made
+her tell me what time it was, which she did successfully, and then, as
+she stood gazing at the minute-hand "move so fast," I said, "Yes, it
+is going all the time--it never stops." "No rest for eat?" she said
+with the utmost innocence; and when I told her it was not alive and
+did not need to eat, she was quite sure the pendulum must be if the
+hands were not.
+
+[_March 10._[119]] Some instructions about cleaning up led me to ask
+Rose if she liked dirt, to which she replied, like a true Yankee, with
+the question, "Miss Hay't, you like um? You no like um, I no like um."
+A little while after, she got talking about "Maussa" and Cockloft;
+when I asked what she would do if she should see Mr. Coffin come here,
+she said, "I run," "dey bad." Oh, no, not bad, I guess. "Miss Hay't"
+(you have no idea how short it is, almost "Hat"), "you shum? [see 'em]
+Well, you do'no; I shum, I know."
+
+[_Nov. 1._] "I say praise for you, 'cause I mind you," said Rose to me
+in her affectionate way this morning. She tames slowly, as Mr. Soule
+and I thought when we came home from riding this morning and saw her
+waiting for us at the entrance of the path on the beach turning
+somersaults on the sand! Her hands would appear high in the air, when
+suddenly her heels would be in their place! Yesterday morning she
+said: "Miss Hayiut, you gwine let me go home to-day for wash?" Yes,
+Rose, if you are a good girl. "Yes, _Ma'am_, me gwine be good girl, my
+contans [conscience] say, 'Rose, you be good girl, not make Miss
+Hayiut talk.'"
+
+    To return to H. W.'s letter of March 7:
+
+We drove up to church and heard the text read for the first time! H.
+was not there, so we went there to dinner again, probably for the last
+time, as we found the places are really to be sold to-morrow. Mr.
+Philbrick hopes to be through with collecting the cotton in a
+fortnight, and then they will be able to come down here, as he can go
+to Beaufort once a week for a night or two until it is all ginned and
+shipped, and then they will go home.
+
+    The next letters return to the all-absorbing matter of the
+    land-sales. The opening paragraph refers to them and the way
+    they were being managed, as well as to the old question of
+    negro character and negro labor.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_March 8._ I should like to come home and make inquiries among my
+friends concerning Port Royal matters. I should like to take the part
+of an intelligent foreigner desiring to obtain information concerning
+this interesting experiment of free black labor. And when I had heard
+and written down their description of this enterprise, I should return
+to my friends here and read for their entertainment. How we should
+laugh; I must try it some day.
+
+When the lands are finally sold, a great many entertaining questions
+will arise. Only the real estate will be sold; what is to be done with
+the cattle, the mules, the boats, the furniture, the carriages? How is
+the Government to be repaid for what it has spent on this year's crop?
+How are the reserved plantations to be worked by the Government?
+
+    The sale having taken place at last on March 9, the list
+    with which C. P. W. begins his next letter is of plantations
+    reserved from sale by the Government.
+
+_March 10._ The Oaks, Oakland, where Mr. Hunn's Philadelphia
+Commission store is, Eddings Point, T. B. Fripp, my two McTureous
+places, the Hope Place, and a few others on the Sea Side road, about
+four at Land's End, etc., etc. Mr. Eustis and a Mr. Pritchard, living
+on Pritchard's Island, near Land's End, paid taxes before the sale.
+(Most of the places reserved were selected for the purpose of selling
+land to the negroes next year, after this crop is in.)
+
+The General [Saxton] is afraid that some speculators may interfere
+with the plan for this year which has been started.[120] He has made
+certain promises to the people in regard to this year's crop, and he
+feels that he ought to be able to impose some conditions on
+purchasers. Of course he could not impose conditions under which the
+lands should be sold, but he still may, as Military Governor, enforce
+justice toward the people.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 10._ C. and Mr. Philbrick stopped at the nigger-house to see
+and tell the people of the result of the sale. At Fripp Point, which
+he also bought, the people were as usual unmoved and apparently
+apathetic, but here they were somewhat more demonstrative, and
+slightly expressed their pleasure. All the places he most cared for
+Mr. Philbrick was able to bid off, and two of C.'s old places, which
+he wanted but did not expect to get. So much is settled; but there is
+a great deal besides that it will take a long time and a deal of
+trouble to arrange--we don't know yet how much goes with the
+plantations, or when possession will be given.
+
+The confirmation of the report that Hunter is going to draft these
+people causes a great deal of feeling, as Saxton has publicly promised
+them that they shall not be forced to join the army. They seem to
+understand that Hunter is in authority and Saxton can't help himself,
+C. says, and so have no ill feeling towards the latter; but they will
+hide, if possible, and it is hard to feel that they have been so
+treated as to make them as suspicious of a Yankee's word as they have
+always been of a white man's. I think it right they should go if they
+are needed,--the war is of more importance even than the experiment of
+free labor,--but to have them lied to so! Why was Hunter ever sent
+back here?
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_March 14._ Mr. Philbrick has bought in all thirteen plantations,[121]
+at an expense of about $7000: three places for R., two for Wells, two
+for Hull on Ladies Island, six places within five miles of this place.
+I remain here, and shall probably assume Cherry Hill and Mulberry
+Hill, my old places; G. comes to Pine Grove, and takes that, the
+Point, and Captain John Fripp Homestead. The people are all starting
+well, we are in excellent spirits, and are in proper season for the
+crops; and "if God spare life," "if nothing strange happens," "if we
+live to see," we shall "_see_ crop make, sir."
+
+This drafting business is simply folly. Hunter is an ignorant,
+obstinate fool.[122] General Saxton is very much opposed to the
+measure, especially after promising the men again and again that they
+would not be taken unless they were willing to go; but he says he has
+done all he can to dissuade Hunter without any effect, and if he
+should go further in the matter, either he or Hunter would have to go
+home, and he is not willing at this crisis to raise this additional
+difficulty. Hunter's order was published in the _New South_[123] last
+Monday. For a full week before the negroes had been anxiously
+questioning us about this strange news that "they want to take we to
+make soldiers." Up to Monday I was able to tell them that I had heard
+such stories, but did not believe them; but Tuesday night, when I got
+home, I told them how matters stood, and they confessed that for a
+full week before hardly a man on the plantation under sixty years of
+age had slept in his bed. A strange white face drives them from the
+field into the woods like so many quails; they will not go to church,
+they will not go to the Ferry. Two Sundays ago I happened to ask one
+of the elders at church, to make talk merely, how soon the next
+Society meeting took place at Pine Grove. It was last Saturday
+evening. My question to Demus was reported at the meeting, they
+immediately became suspicious of some trap to catch them, they grew
+anxious, a cry arose that there were soldiers out on the plantation,
+the men left the praise-house, and the meeting, instead of continuing
+all night, broke up about midnight with some confusion.[124] They were
+caught last year, they will not be caught again. They cannot
+understand how it is that the Government, for whom they have been
+working, and in whom they have learned to place confidence as a
+protection, should wish to interrupt their work here. It is a terrible
+discouragement to them, just as they are starting their first fair
+trial for themselves, to be forced, I do not say into the military
+service, for very few will be caught, but forced to abandon their
+crops, and skulk and hide and lead the life of hunted beasts during
+all this precious planting season. The women would be physically able
+to carry on for some time the men's share with their own, but they
+would be very much disheartened, and would need constant
+encouragement. Under this terrible uncertainty and fear, the work has
+begun to slacken. Even the head men on the plantations are losing
+courage. I make as light of the evil as I can, but I am always met by
+the remark: "We are a year older than we was last year, sir." Their
+trust in me is a little surprising. They converse in my presence about
+their dodging life, and I could easily take any ten of them I chose
+alone; or, with the aid of one other, I could take the whole
+plantation. "If we didn't trust to you, sir, we should have to leave
+the plantation entirely; you are the only person to protect we now,
+sir." It is hardly necessary to remark that their confidence is not
+misplaced. Help catch them? "I wouldn't do it first."
+
+    In accordance with Hunter's order, referred to above, Saxton
+    issued a general order to superintendents, which bade them
+    send to Captain Hooper a list of all able-bodied freedmen
+    between eighteen and fifty on the plantations, and
+    instructed them to urge the negroes to enlist by appealing
+    to "their reason, sense of right, their love of liberty and
+    their dread of returning to the rule of their late masters,"
+    adding: "The General Commanding expects to form a pretty
+    correct judgment of the comparative efficiency of the
+    different superintendents and the amount of influence for
+    good they are capable of exerting over their people, by the
+    proportion of the whole number subject to draft which they
+    are able to bring in without the aid of physical force."
+    Referring to this last sentence as a "mean insinuation," C.
+    P. W. goes on:
+
+For my people, I know there is about as much use in asking them to
+enlist as in requesting my horse, a very intelligent animal, to drink
+salt water. I hope they will draft, they may possibly enlist, the
+loafers at Hilton Head and Beaufort, and those whose proximity to
+camps, or general worthless character, prevents them from taking much
+interest in their crops. But these men, who have been paid up in full
+for last year's crop, and have seen that their crop, slim as it was,
+brought them a fair compensation, are bound to show _a crop_ this
+year. Crop-raising is their business, their trade, and they intend to
+show what they can do at it this year for the Government, which
+protects them, for me, who "see them justice" (they have a vague idea
+that I reap a certain percentage from their crop--they say, "You will
+have a bigger crop of cotton than Mr. Philbrick, sir"--they also think
+that if I "overlook" four hundred hands, I ought to get more pay than
+a man who only sees to two hundred), and last, and principally, for
+themselves. They have not been learning cotton-raising, perforce, all
+these years for nothing. Now their enforced knowledge comes out in
+tending a crop of which they are to own a share, and the little tricks
+of the trade, which had to be watchfully enforced in the old time, are
+now skillfully produced, especially in the food crops, which are more
+evidently their own. I let them go ahead very much as they choose; I
+make regulations for the good of all, as in the matter of carts, oxen,
+etc., but the minutiæ I do not meddle with, except as a matter of
+curiosity and acquirement of knowledge. They work well, some of them
+harder than in the old time; the lazy ones are stimulated to exertion
+for their own benefit, the energetic ones _race like sixty_.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 13._ I had the sick people to visit, and C. was going over to
+the _Kingfisher_, our blockader, for coal-tar to plant corn with, so
+he went to the field and I was to make my professional calls for the
+Doctor, and meet him at the Creek at the nigger-house to take the row
+with him. Just as I came out of school, however, two officers of an
+Illinois regiment rode up to look about and see what they could see,
+and asked if they could have food for man and beast. So I left orders
+for some lunch, dressed, and started on my tour. I went through the
+quarters--not a man was to be seen. There lay the boat, and the women
+were coming in from their work, but said the men would not come till
+the officers had gone--they were afraid of being taken. C. had to beg
+the officers to go off the plantation, for he could not get his crew.
+Not a man sleeps at night in the houses, except those too old to be
+taken. They have made a camp somewhere and mean never to be caught.
+There is no question that they can hide; a slave here hid himself for
+two years on one of the little islands, though the whole district was
+after him; he finally came out himself.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_March 14._ On March 9th the estates were at last offered for sale. On
+our island two thirds were bidden in by the Government and I presume
+they will remain under the system of superintendence. The other third
+was bought by Mr. Philbrick and two or three sutlers. No agents of
+Southern owners and no dangerous speculators made their appearance, to
+my knowledge. Where any person evinced a desire to buy, the
+commissioners, by their bids, forced an offer of one dollar per acre
+and let the place go for that price. Several plantations, perhaps one
+in five or six, were bidden in for the special purpose of negro
+reservations; but in what way they will be offered to the people is
+undecided. Indeed, nothing is certain except that the sales have been
+made and titles given. I should have bought only two of my places in
+any case,--and that for the benefit of the people,--but it happened
+that both were among the number reserved. So I own none of the sacred
+soil.
+
+In regard to your questions concerning the condition and capabilities
+of the blacks, I hardly feel like writing anything at length, my
+opinion, as far as it is made up, is so short and decided. Every one
+says that these island negroes are more ignorant and degraded than the
+great majority of the slaves, and I feel no doubt that, under
+conditions of peace, three years would find these people, with but
+very few exceptions, a self-respecting, self-supporting population.
+Almost everything about them, even to their distrust and occasional
+turbulence, has that in it which suggests to me the idea of capacity
+and power of development. Their principal vices,--dishonesty,
+indolence, unchastity, their dislike of responsibility, and unmanly
+willingness to be dependent on others for what their own effort might
+bring,--their want of forethought and inability to organize and
+combine operations for mutual benefit,--nearly all their mental and
+moral weaknesses can be traced naturally and directly to
+slavery,--while on the other hand, the fact that at my close view I
+cannot make them out to be characteristic traits confirms that opinion
+as to their origin. Industry is very certainly the _rule_; there is
+much idleness, but apply the spurs of which you think a white man
+worthy, and you are sure to obtain earnest and persistent exertion.
+Manliness and self-respect are sufficiently strong and common to
+excite an expectation of finding them. Instances of plan, contrivance,
+forethought are very numerous; you are constantly meeting "smart"
+fellows. Their eagerness and aptitude in learning to read surprises
+every one. Their memories are usually excellent, their power of
+observation pretty keen, and their general intelligence is in most
+striking contrast to the idea of chattel and wonderfully harmonizes
+with that of man. I am only stating the grounds on which I have hopes
+of their development, not trying to describe their characteristics or
+the course or limit of that development. The discussion whether they
+will ever be equal to the white race in anything seems to me to be
+entirely irrelevant to everything. The only question of importance is
+whether they can become a moral, self-supporting, and useful part of
+our population, and of this I cannot feel the slightest doubt. That
+they ever can leave the country I regard as impossible, that they ever
+ought to leave it, as ill-advised. That the period of transition will
+be one of great difficulty and considerable suffering is certain. The
+best heads and hearts in the country will find work in it. As I think
+now, I would recommend no gradual system of preparation and training.
+Strike the fetters off at a blow and let them jump, or lie down, as
+they please, in the first impulse of freedom, and let them at once see
+the natural effects of jumping and lying down. Then if the Government
+would simply provide or enforce education, and with few laws but very
+many eyes would watch over the new relations of laborer and employer,
+I should trust that in ten years America would again raise her head
+proudly among the nations. But all this supposes that we gain our end
+and have the work to do. Till the common head of the people
+understands and the common heart of the people feels that this _is_
+the work of the war, that Emancipation should be the means, and not
+only the best means but the holy _end_ of the war,--I tremble, and
+fear neither our strength nor God's help will give us the victory.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 20._ C. amused himself and us by making two or three of my
+children who were waiting for school read to him upside down, which
+they did as readily as the right way.
+
+Just a year to-night since Mr. Philbrick spent his first night in this
+house. He has been telling us about it: a file of soldiers were drawn
+up at the gate and refused him admittance till his credentials were
+examined; now he is lord of the manor. I reminded the children
+to-night that a year ago they did not know their letters; now they are
+reading Hillard's Second Reader for the second time.
+
+    The feat of reading upside down might seem to suggest that
+    they were reading Hillard's Second Reader for the second
+    time chiefly by the aid of memory!
+
+    The next letter, written by Mr. Philbrick to a Northern
+    correspondent, was printed at the time on a broadside, for
+    distribution.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Coffin's Point, March 20._ Just a year ago to-night I entered this
+house for the first time. If our Northern croakers could only be made
+to realize as we do here the ease with which we have reduced a
+comparative degree of order out of the chaos we found, and see how
+ready this degraded and half-civilized race are to become an
+industrious and useful laboring class, there would not be so much
+gabble about the danger of immediate emancipation, or of a stampede of
+negro labor to the North.
+
+We found them a herd of suspicious savages who regarded their change
+of condition with fear and trembling, looking at the cotton-field as a
+life-long scene of unrequited toil, and hailing with delight the
+prospect of "no more driver, no more cotton, no more lickin'." They
+had broken up the cotton-gins and hidden the iron-work, and nothing
+was more remote from their shallow pates than the idea of planting
+cotton for "white folks" again.
+
+Now they have, without the least urging, prepared for planting some
+two hundred acres of cotton-land upon this plantation, having spread
+on it sixteen hundred ox-cart-loads of manure, and worked up every
+inch of the ground with their hoes. They have also planted one hundred
+and thirty acres of corn, and have begun ploughing to-day, banking up
+into ridges with the ploughs the cotton-land into which the manure had
+been first hoed. The ploughs run over twenty acres per day on this
+place. They were made at Groton, Mass., and astonish the negroes by
+their efficiency.
+
+As a sample of the change of feeling in regard to working on cotton, I
+will relate how I got the cotton ginned on this and the various other
+plantations in this neighborhood. I walked through the negro quarters
+one day in December and told the people I would pay them three cents
+per pound of clean cotton if they would gin, assort, clean, and pack
+their cotton ready for market. They said in reply their gins were all
+broken up. I told them that was their own fault, and that, if they
+wanted other people to gin their cotton and get their seed away from
+the place, they would do so, and so get all the money and leave them
+no good seed to plant. "Dat' so, Massa," said they, and I passed
+along. The next time I came they had hunted up the broken pieces of
+twenty-five gins, and patched them up, and had ginned and packed all
+their cotton, in two weeks, wanting to know what I would have them do
+next, for they did not want to lie still and do nothing.
+
+So you see there is some satisfaction in being among these people,
+although they are not exactly companions for us.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 23._ C. came home to-night, having resigned his position under
+the Government.
+
+    H. W.'s next letter, after describing a drive towards Land's
+    End, narrates the events of her return trip as follows.
+
+_March 25._ I opened the first gate myself, then met a man coming from
+his work, who took off his hat with rather a surprised look at seeing
+a lady alone, and an "Evening, Missus, how far you come from?" "From
+Coffin's Point, and am going back again--Mr. Charlie's sister."
+Whereupon another bow and a pleased grin as I go on. Soon I met
+another man coming out into the road with a piece of paper, which he
+asked me to read to him. I took the precaution to ask him his name
+before opening it, to be sure he had not another man's pass, and then
+read him an autograph pass from General Hunter for him to go to St.
+Helena and back to Hilton Head, to see his wife. He was a servant of
+Hunter's and _afraid of some trick_. He seemed satisfied, and thanked
+me. When I asked him where his wife lived and if he had seen her, he
+said, "Shum dere?" pointing to a woman hoeing, towards whom he made
+his way again. At the next gate I was cutting cherokee-roses before
+opening it, when a slight sound behind me attracted my attention to a
+boy on a mule who had come noiselessly up, so I got into the sulky
+again, and as he followed me along and I questioned him, found he was
+coming here to see his "aunty." In a few minutes a loud whistle
+attracted my attention and Sharper[125] announced Mass' Charlie, who
+came cantering up behind me. He had sent the boy with a note to me and
+exemption-papers for the old and feeble on his places, as he could not
+go home and had met the black soldiers out taking the men for the
+draft. With Sharper for attendant I drove on to Pine Grove, where I
+gave C.'s note to William and the papers to distribute on both the
+Fripp places while I went on to deliver those here. Heard one man say
+to William that he wished his old master was back,--he was at peace
+then. Poor fellows!
+
+By the time I reached our quarters it was bright moonlight, and in
+that light I drove through the street, read the names on C.'s papers
+and the contents to the men named as they came out at Primus' knock. A
+little group gathered about to hear what I had to say as I explained
+to the men,--a sober, disturbed set, saying nothing, but receiving the
+explanation with a sad silence that went to my heart.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Coffin's Point, March 31._ You see I write from my first home. In
+truth it seems like a home. Mrs. Philbrick and Miss W., Mr.
+Philbrick, and Mr. Hall are here, besides Mr. Folsom--of '62,
+Harvard--who is to be my future house-mate. A week ago, after settling
+up all business at Captain Oliver's, I resigned my place of Government
+Superintendent, and last Friday came down here. To-morrow we shall
+take up our quarters at the "Pine Grove." I am going to take charge of
+the two William Fripp places. The people are old friends. I used to
+teach school for them. I think I shall like the work here much better;
+the people are far better and the locality less exposed to outside
+influences. It is a much better opportunity for trying the experiment
+of free black labor. I manage the places, Mr. Philbrick supplies money
+to carry them on, and at the end of the year, after deducting all
+expenses, we share the profits, if any.
+
+The draft is either taking or frightening off most of the men, but it
+should be made, I think.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_April 3._ Cæsar came home on a furlough, and it was fun to see him in
+the street afterwards, surrounded by a great gang, talking away as
+eagerly as possible. I should like to have heard him, if I could have
+understood him; he had had a "firs' rate time" and he and January have
+been trying to get some of the men to go back with them, but they
+can't succeed any better than C. or Mr. Philbrick.
+
+    The next few letters are entirely occupied with incidents of
+    the draft.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W. (IN BOSTON)
+
+_April 7._ Nothing has been done yet about enforcing the draft on our
+island, but Captain Bryant[126] told me yesterday he should probably
+strike the last of this week, taking every point at once as near as
+may be. Colonel Montgomery's regiment[127] are given him for the
+purpose, with orders not to _shoot_ except in self defense!
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_April 14._ The soldiers had been there [at Fripp Point] in the night,
+but had only caught old Simon and Mike, a boy of about fifteen, though
+one of them had shot at Dan's Peter, about seventeen, and wounded him
+in the head slightly. They went in squads all over this end of the
+island except Pine Grove and here. They got sixty men in all, most of
+them old, a waste of Uncle Sam's money. Of course our people here are
+warned and all off again. The white officer said they took what men
+they could get without reference to the superintendents' lists.
+
+_April 15._ Hamlet's wife, Betsey, came to buy salt, said her husband
+was carried off the other night and she left with ten children and a
+"heart most broke, shan't live long, no way, oh my Jesus!" My new
+cook's husband was shot (and killed) as he ran away when the Secesh
+tried to make him go with them--how are they to understand the
+difference? Captain Dutch[128] says he thinks that six or eight have
+gone onto the Main from this island; they openly say, some of them,
+that they wish the old times were back again.
+
+_April 23._ The men at Fripp Point are said to have fired on the
+soldiers from their houses. They are very bitter that negroes should
+be sent against them. They would not mind white men, they say. R. has
+persuaded all his men to go up to Beaufort,[129] and only a few were
+retained. The rest have come back as happy as kings--no more bush for
+them! I wish all would do the same.
+
+_April 29._ Mr. Philbrick went off to the wharf before breakfast, and
+as he was coming back met Phillis on her way to tell the men who were
+at work on it that the soldiers had come. As we sat down to lunch we
+could see the gleaming of the bayonets as they came through the first
+gate, and Primus sent up to say that he was taken and wanted Mr.
+Philbrick to come down. Mr. G. appeared from Pine Grove, where they
+had taken only two men, who will probably be let off. Soon William
+appeared, saying they had been at the Point, too, but had got no one.
+Mr. Philbrick rowed down to the [Fripp Point] quarters and presently
+returned with Captain Hoyt and Captain Thompson, who were very tired,
+to lunch. They all received him very crustily and coldly at first, but
+they were prejudiced against him and vexed at their want of success,
+and I think it did something towards removing ill feelings to see him.
+When they reached the nigger-house here, where the men [the soldiers],
+about fifty, had been waiting, they found they had tracked two men
+down through the marsh from Fripp Point and caught them just here,
+after shooting one. The people were in a wild state of confusion. The
+soldiers had been telling our people all sorts of stories--that they
+had orders to shoot because Mr. Philbrick had said in Beaufort that he
+had a battery here to defend his people, etc. They came flocking round
+him, all women of course, and all talking at once to try and get at
+the truth of things, and Mr. Philbrick had to quiet them before he
+could make out a word. Then Amaritta naturally stood forward as
+spokeswoman to get "satisfaction," and they were easily made to
+understand that the soldiers had been telling lies, and their
+confidence in Mr. Philbrick quieted them.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Beaufort, May 1._ We are led to admire more than ever the cool
+discrimination of the General commanding the Department. The other day
+some officer conceived the idea that the superintendents of St. Helena
+in general, and W. C. G. in particular, were opposing the draft,
+_employing_ able-bodied men, etc.; also that shots had been fired at
+the black soldiers on his plantation. It was so represented to General
+Hunter, and he ordered on the spot that he should be arrested and sent
+out of the Department. Fortunately Captain Bryant, who was to have
+executed the order, was a man of sense and consulted Captain Hooper,
+who told him that General Saxton didn't want to spare Mr. G., and that
+as he had no written orders he had better hold on. The editor of the
+_Free South_ has been amusing himself by throwing out owlish
+insinuations to the effect that speculators and others on St. Helena
+had better take heed of General Hunter's orders, for the prospective
+profits of a speedy fortune would hardly warrant the risk, etc., etc.
+
+    The next paragraph gives another version of the search for
+    black recruits.
+
+Captain Thompson came to Coffin's on Wednesday with about fifty men.
+They caught no one but Primus, who felt safe and didn't hide. If he
+had behaved himself he wouldn't have been taken, but got into a
+passion and talked so wild that he was taken out of punishment for his
+impudence, and then held on the ground that his influence must be
+against the draft, and as he was foreman, his power must be
+considerable! Captain Thompson pretended to have orders to shoot men
+running, and scoured the Fripp Point place through Lieutenant O. E.
+Bryant and some black soldiers. They met no young men except Sancho
+and Josh, whom they chased down into the marsh opposite Coffin
+nigger-house, and then shot Josh. He was taken with a bullet in his
+leg and a buckshot in his head, carried to the village, and placed
+under Dr. Bundy's care. Of course, Sancho was taken, too, and brought
+up to camp. He had an Enfield rifle with him, and admits that he fired
+it to "scare away the soldiers," after Josh was hit, but not before.
+The black soldiers all say he fired first, and no white man was
+present to see. I came up to lay the matter before the General, but he
+is not well. Captain Hooper has taken it in hand and promises to
+investigate it. The Major of the Second Regiment[130] was down here,
+but I couldn't see him. He may have given such orders to Thompson as
+he pretends. They seem to have got enraged because they couldn't find
+any men on those three plantations after having been quartered at the
+village for two weeks, and imputed their want of success to G. and
+myself. I shouldn't be surprised if I am ordered out of the Department
+at any moment.
+
+    Then comes the sequel.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 17._ Primus has come home. He deserted a week ago and has been
+all that time getting here. He says that he has not drilled but once
+since he was taken to camp, that he has been sick all the time, but
+that he has not been in the hospital. Of course, not being volunteers,
+there is a great deal of shamming, and they have to be very strict; in
+short, they pursue the old masters' system of believing they lie until
+it is proved they have spoken the truth,--a most elevating process!
+and he had a large blister put on the back of his neck and was kept in
+his tent. Finally Captain Hoyt took him to Colonel Montgomery and told
+him that he thought the man was really sick and not fit to be kept,
+but the Colonel was very short with him and said drill was the best
+cure for him. Then Primus ran away, and is now in his bed here. Mr.
+Philbrick has seen him and says it is impossible to tell whether he is
+sick or not, but he understands fully the consequences of desertion,
+and that Mr. Philbrick and C. cannot employ him again. Mr. Philbrick
+told him that he should not inform against him, but that if the
+officers asked him if he had come home he should have to tell them
+that he had. "I know dat, massa, but I won't stay dere." He
+understands that we are helpless. He says, and we have learned in
+other ways, that all who were drafted have been deserting. One day
+they brought in fourteen, and the next day twelve of them had gone,
+and the next the other two. They can't pretend to get them back again,
+and of course the demoralization must be great. It will be very bad
+for Primus now, if they do not take him, to live on here an outlaw,
+working his wife's cotton but not able to resume his plow or his old
+position in any way--yet if he is taken again he will never make a
+good soldier. The whole thing is wrong from the foundation, and should
+be given up, and all those who did not volunteer sent to their
+homes--if any are then left in the regiments. Yet I don't see how that
+could be done unless Hunter went off, and some other Major General
+repealed his orders.
+
+    To return to matters of plantation management.
+
+    C. P. W. had recently been sent home by Mr. Philbrick to buy
+    and send a schooner-load of provisions, merchandise, etc.,
+    for the "store." He found himself "an object of regard and
+    curiosity," "engaged out to dinner and tea to 'talk Port
+    Royal' many days ahead." Apropos of the things he bought for
+    Coffin's Point, he wrote:
+
+
+C. P. W. TO E. S. P.
+
+_Boston_, [_April 27._] I received permission from the Secretary of
+the Treasury to ship the powder, shot, saddle, bridle, tar, pitch, and
+rope, but I had to consign these, with the hats, to General Saxton,
+from whom you will have to obtain an order for them. The tobacco,
+shoes, rice, and buggy are not contraband. They were going to stop the
+hats, on the ground that they were "adapted for military uniforms,"
+and I had to get a "character" from one of my friends, a clerk in the
+Custom House, and then assure the crusty old Collector that the hats
+were not to be used for any illegal purpose, before he would let them
+pass.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove, May 17._ The schooner has but just come round to
+Coffin's, and the rain has prevented our plundering her with energy.
+But Friday I got up my molasses and gave some out yesterday. You ought
+to have seen the little ones dance as the mothers came home with their
+piggins full. We are going to give some molasses and bacon monthly for
+the present,--in lieu of an increase of wages. Most of the proprietors
+are offering rather better terms than the Government,--some in money,
+others in a larger share of the crop. We keep the Government scale of
+prices, but give them the "poke" and "sweet'ning," and I think have
+touched their sensibilities much more certainly thereby.
+
+    This same day Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick left Port Royal and
+    went home. The next extracts are from two of H. W.'s
+    letters, full of details about the home life and the
+    wonderful ways of the "people."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_June 10._ As we drove up under the shade of a buttonwood-tree [at
+Fripp Point] we found a group of children under it, three or four boys
+and girls washing at wash-tubs, others sitting round taking care of
+younger children. They were just like children all over the
+world,[131] playing and teasing each other, but very good-naturedly,
+and as happy as you please. This weather the children wear nothing but
+a shift or shirt, and the other day Lewis and Cicero appeared in the
+yard entirely naked. Aunt Sally, from Eddings Point, amused us with
+her queer, wild talk a long time. The story is that she was made crazy
+by her master's whipping her daughter to death, and very sad it was to
+hear her talk, though it was funny. She knows any number of hymns and
+parts of the Bible, and jumbles scraps and lines from the one with
+Genesis and Revelation in the most extraordinary manner, talking about
+Mr. Adam and Madam Eve, who brought her and her race all their woe,
+whom she knows but will never forgive. She stands and reads everything
+out of her "heart-book," which she says tells her everything, looking
+all the time at her left hand, which she holds out like a book. Her
+epithets against her old master and the rebels were voluble and
+denunciatory in the extreme, and she left us with many warnings to
+remember "Det and de Jugment." I had sent for the "Widow Bedotte," to
+whom I presented some tobacco and who was very funny indeed. She is in
+her right mind and delights in making herself agreeable. I wish I
+could describe to you this extraordinary specimen of humanity--a short
+little old body with an intelligent face--all her wool carefully
+concealed by an enormous turban, from beneath each side of which hung
+four black strings, looking like an imitation frisette of false
+curls, her odd figure enveloped in shawl and cape, rubbing her hands
+nervously and sinking into the floor, as it seemed, as she curtseyed
+to us lower than I ever saw anybody go and get up again straight. And
+then her conversation and manner were as comical as her appearance.
+
+    Another characteristic of the "Widow Bedotte" H. W.
+    describes elsewhere.
+
+She prides herself upon her good manners, which she says she gets
+because she belongs to the church, which every now and then she joins
+again. She has just done so here, so is full of extra flourishes.
+
+    On June 12 Hunter was replaced by Brigadier-General Quincy
+    A. Gillmore.[132] Here follow comments on Hunter's last acts
+    before leaving, as well as on the impression made by his
+    successor.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 28._ Mr. Williams brought word that Hunter has issued an order to
+all civilians to enter the army or leave the Department! Twenty days'
+notice. You need not be afraid of C.'s enlisting here; he wouldn't do
+it "first." I don't think many of the superintendents would now like
+to serve under Hunter. He imprisoned two of them upon the evidence of
+their people without inquiring into the matter, and ignored Saxton in
+the most insulting manner. Mr. Hammond was released by a court-martial
+with honor.
+
+_May 30._ In the evening came a note from R. saying that there was no
+danger from the draft for the superintendents, but they would probably
+have to get exemption-papers.
+
+_June 20._ C. came home after church Sunday with the information that
+General Gillmore had given out that he should carry out Hunter's
+orders, but that he took the liberty of believing a white man as well
+as a negro!
+
+_June 24._ We hear but little about the new General. He is General
+Saxton's junior in rank, but a fine engineer, so it is supposed he was
+sent to conduct the siege of Charleston.
+
+    The siege of Charleston,--another attempt, "prompted more by
+    sentiment than military sagacity," to capture "the city in
+    which the secession had begun,"[133]--is the subject of the
+    next dozen extracts. The expedition failed to justify the
+    high hopes that accompanied it, yet one event in it has
+    attained undying fame.
+
+    When, in the first week of July, all the troops left Hilton
+    Head, Land's End, and Port Royal Island, the regiment
+    followed with the keenest interest by the writers of these
+    letters was the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts (colored),
+    Colonel Robert G. Shaw.
+
+_July 10._ It was strange to be waked this morning by the incessant,
+thundering roar of heavy guns. It was just at sunrise, and as I
+gradually woke to the full realization of what it must be--though as
+it mingled in my dreams, I was conscious that our masked batteries had
+opened at last--it was very exciting to feel my bed shake under me
+from such a cause. I could hear the people talking excitedly in the
+yard. About seven o'clock the heavy firing ceased, and we hoped that
+Morris Island was ours. C. went to the beach and reported a very heavy
+cloud of smoke resting in the direction of "Town."
+
+    The following extract is a good specimen of the groundless
+    rumors, all with copious circumstantial evidence, that
+    infested the islands.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 11._ About ten o'clock came Juno's daughter Fanny from "Pope's"
+to spend Sunday, bringing us the apparently reliable intelligence that
+"Town taken." It seemed too much to believe, but her story was this:
+her aunt, Juno's sister, and one of Dr. Whitredge's servants, is
+washing at Hilton Head and was there yesterday, when a vessel came
+from Charleston with the news and many people (prisoners, we infer),
+and the first who came ashore were Mass' Alonso and Mass' John,
+Whitredge, who said to her, "How d' ye!" She says that five boat-loads
+put off to the Yankees and gave themselves up. "Mass' John know too
+much to fight 'gainst de Yankee--him get college at de Nort'--him say
+him got no nigger--him no gwine fight." It is preposterous to write
+you all this. You will know everything with certainty before this
+reaches you.
+
+_July 12._ The good news was most welcome from Vicksburg and
+Pennsylvania, and our attack on Morris Island was successful, if Town
+was not taken; but Colonel Higginson's attempt to reach the railroad
+was a failure,[134] and he was wounded, thought not, it is said,
+badly.
+
+    The successful attack on Morris Island on July 10 had
+    resulted in the occupation of all the ground south of Fort
+    Wagner. On July 18 was made the famous assault on the fort
+    itself,--an assault hopeless from the start,--in which the
+    attacking column was led by the Massachusetts negro
+    regiment, its colonel at its head.
+
+_July 20._ C. came back with the terrible accounts of the Charleston
+fight and the almost total destruction of the Fifty-Fourth.
+Beaufort[135] is in amaze at the spirit of "that little fellow,
+Colonel Shaw." Certainly it is one of the most splendid things ever
+known in the annals of warfare. I long to be doing, and not living so
+at our ease here. C. offered everything, and Mr. Eustis has been with
+Hallowell and James[136] all day. The greatest want is of
+physicians--there is no proper medical staff for the Department, and
+surgeons are scarce. Drs. Bundy and Wakefield were sent for yesterday.
+The officers are in the Fripp house, where the Forbeses were.
+
+There has been very heavy firing again to-day. You see we hear it all,
+though sometimes very faintly.
+
+_July 24._ William took farewell of his schools and came home, having
+received six dozen eggs as tokens of regret--an ovation at his
+departure.[137] He left them to go up to the sick and wounded
+to-morrow with contributions from the people. All vegetables, etc.,
+are seized by the Provost and paid for, for the use of the sick, and
+there is some one on this side the ferry to receive the gifts. We send
+all we can, but it is unsatisfactory not to be on the spot.
+
+_July 25._ William is just off for Beaufort. He will stay to watch
+to-night, if needed. But "no ladies" is the cry.
+
+[Later.] William went to the hospital for the officers, of which Dr.
+Bundy has charge, where he was set to watch and administer to a very
+badly wounded captain of the Forty-Eighth New York, Paxton by name. He
+cannot live, and knows it, but bears his terrible wounds with the
+utmost fortitude. William was with him Saturday and Sunday, parts of
+the day, and G. and Wells divided the night between them. Everything
+seems to be well conducted, and the hospitals in good order. I suppose
+the _Fulton_, which is expected daily, will bring supplies and
+surgeons. Captain Hooper is invaluable--busy as possible, as he always
+is--I don't know what the Department would be without him. Yet he
+found time to write me a long note to tell me about the wounded, and
+that there was no doubt of Colonel Shaw's death.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Beaufort, July 26._ Last night several of us passed in Beaufort at
+the hospitals. The wounded have been brought down and all the
+hospitals in Beaufort are full. Wednesday we heard at the
+superintendents' meeting that there was a great scarcity of fresh
+fruits and vegetables; so at the Thursday night praise I told the
+people about it, and yesterday came up with nearly two cartloads of
+provisions, most of it contributed by the people. Another gentleman
+had done the same and between us we supplied five hospitals. It is my
+first experience in such work. It's surprising to see how cheerful and
+jolly all the wounded are--all who have any strength. A wound means
+home and a vacation to many of them, and with few exceptions these men
+with holes in them lie on their beds like boys waiting for the word
+which gives them recess. To-night I shall try to go to one of the
+colored hospitals.
+
+A boat is just in from Charleston. A cartel of exchange had been
+agreed upon, by which all the wounded on our side were to be exchanged
+for all the wounded upon the other, so that reference to negro
+soldiers is avoided. The negro soldiers appear to have received the
+same care as the white; on the other hand, some of the rebel officers
+told with much gusto how Colonel Shaw's body had been thrown into a
+common pit and those of two of his men tossed on top of him.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 31._ In at our open door walked Captain Hooper, and with him
+Captain Rand of the First Cavalry, now on General Saxton's staff.
+Captain Rand told us that our wounded who came down from Charleston
+had been miserably cared for--the rebels acknowledged that they could
+not take care of them. The surgeon said but one man had been properly
+operated upon, and his wound had been dressed by one of the navy
+surgeons, a prisoner. No men or officers of the Fifty-Fourth among
+them: they said the officers we should hear of by way of Richmond; the
+men, I suspect, are not. No one knows who are among the dead or
+living--only that Colonel Shaw is dead, and probably Cabot Russel. It
+is said to have been a very imposing sight, when, in the midst of
+heavy firing from every fort, battery, and gunboat on each side, the
+_Cosmopolitan_, with the rebel wounded on board, her hospital flag and
+flag of truce flying, steamed up toward the city. Instantly every gun
+ceased, and white flags appeared from each fort and ship till she had
+passed, met the rebel steamer (a very fine one, which had run the
+blockade in the morning!), exchanged her wounded cargo, and returned.
+
+    To give complete the story of the siege of Charleston as
+    seen from St. Helena Island, some letters have been included
+    in advance of their chronological place in the series.
+    Therefore the next letter goes back to an earlier date.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 3._ We were all standing at the back door when a small crowd
+became visible at the first gate. We watched to discover what it
+meant, as it was an unmistakable "gang" drawing nearer. 'Siah's boy
+had come over from the Point to tell C. that some white soldiers were
+there from the village stealing corn, etc., after the manner of the
+soldiers in this region, but so far our plantations have been very
+free from such depredations C. had just told Tony that he did not feel
+well enough to go over, and that the men would be gone before he could
+get there--and turning to Mr. Soule he said that those Point men were
+just the men to catch white soldiers, if they could do it, and he
+should not be surprised if they did. The words were hardly out of his
+mouth before the "gang" appeared, so you may imagine we watched it
+with great curiosity as it drew near. On they came, a compact body of
+people, among whom we tried to discover some white faces. Presently
+the gleaming of muskets was distinctly visible, and as one of the men
+stepped forward and threw the gate wide open for the company to pass
+through, three white soldiers appeared in the front ranks. They were
+all perfectly quiet, not a word was said; and as C. ran down the steps
+to receive them and they came to a halt, the men brought the muskets
+to the ground and the women emptied their aprons of corn-shucks at his
+feet, waiting quietly for him to do what he thought right. I did not
+hear one loud or angry tone while I stood listening as C. heard their
+story and then questioned the soldiers. They were perfectly quiet,
+too,--young fellows from the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania
+Volunteers, a new regiment,--and they evidently thought that C. was a
+person of authority or the blacks would not have marched them three
+miles to him. He took from them their dirks and pistols, and the
+musket which one of them had, and they made no resistance--nor did
+they say a word when he called to me for "three pair of hand-cuffs"
+(all he brought down), and asked the three men from the Point who had
+guns, if they would stay and guard them all night. It was rather a
+troublesome elephant and he did not quite know what to do with it now
+it was in his possession. It was a good chance to do something if he
+would be sustained, but General Saxton has not conferred any
+magisterial powers[138] on the superintendents yet, and if he
+undertook too much and was not sustained, it would be worse than
+nothing. At any rate, he would have to take them to the village in the
+morning, so he decided to do so that night, and went off with his
+prisoners and their guard, driving his light sulky, and carrying the
+light arms, one of the men taking the musket again. He did not use the
+hand-cuffs.
+
+It was strange to see how very quiet and apparently unexcited the
+people were. After the first few minutes they came up to me to buy,
+and then all went off when C. did, as quickly as possible.
+
+_July 5._ When two buckra were reported as approaching while we were
+at breakfast it turned out to be two men from the village picket with
+a note from the Lieutenant to C. I did not find out the sequel to the
+story the other night, but it seems that C. and William crossed the
+creek with the soldiers, only taking two men to row. The blacks
+certainly behaved extremely well, and Moll told the men they might
+have the corn, which of course they refused to take. And as they went
+into the boat a boy put in the watermelon they had taken, saying,
+"B'longs to you, sah," but the man sent it ashore. The coals were
+rather hot, I guess, and the men were heartily ashamed of themselves
+and thoroughly penitent. C. went with them to the mess-room and saw
+the sergeant, who expressed great regret and said it was the first
+time any of their men had been guilty of such acts. The Lieutenant was
+away, and as C. drew paper towards him to report the case in writing,
+they looked very blank and begged him not to report. After some
+consideration he concluded not to report them, as he could not see the
+Lieutenant and they had behaved so well about it, and told them he
+would not unless some further acts of the kind were perpetrated by
+their men. They were very grateful, but C. did not feel sure that the
+Lieutenant would not hear of it. And so he did, in some way;
+investigated the affair and sent the men to Beaufort to be punished by
+the Commander of the post, who is now not General Saxton but, as it
+happens, is their own Colonel,[139] who is not likely to be lenient
+towards them. The Lieutenant sent a note to this effect to C. this
+morning, and also wished to know what would repay the negroes for the
+damage done. (The soldiers had already promised to make it good to
+them, and were to have been paid off yesterday, but their pay was
+stopped in consequence of this very occurrence.) So the whole affair
+has ended very satisfactorily. I am sorry for the poor fellows, for
+they will probably suffer not so much for what they actually did
+themselves, but to serve as an example to all other offenders.
+
+_July 7._ Mr. Wells was to come at nine o'clock to the wharf to take
+Mr. Soule[140] to Morgan Island, one of his plantations. Mr. Wells
+appeared at the door to say that he had a large sail-boat--it was only
+a half-hour's sail to the island, and would not I go too. So I put up
+a little lunch and C. had his horse saddled and down to the wharf we
+went, and were soon at our destination. The only white-house on the
+island now occupied is on quite a bluff looking directly out to sea,
+pleasantly shaded, with a fresh breeze all the time up the Sound, and
+is a very healthy situation. But the house is of the roughest
+description, without paint inside or out, very much like a New
+Hampshire farmhouse in the back-woods a quarter of a century ago, but
+not so large, clean, or thrifty-looking, by any means. Here we stopped
+to see an old man who was brought from Africa when he was over twenty,
+and remembers his life in his own country, from which he was sold by
+his brother to pay a debt. Mr. Soule said he was bright and talkative
+when he last saw him, but now he is very much broken; and after
+sitting a few minutes we went on to the driver's house, a great
+contrast in neatness, and the gentleman left me in a rocking-chair
+under the shade of the large Asia-berry tree in front of the house,
+while they went off with Bacchus, the foreman, to see the
+cotton-fields. Here I stayed for a couple of hours, I should think,
+talking with Elsie, Bacchus' wife, who was not in the field because
+she had a headache, and very neat and nice she looked in her calico
+gown. She has no children, but made up for the want as far as she
+could by the number of chickens and ducks she had round. By and bye
+she got up, and picking up a piece of brick, pounded it up with an
+axe, and began to clean a large knife, which I knew meant watermelon.
+And when the gentlemen came back, Bacchus brought out a small table
+and put a melon on it which was almost large enough for a tablecloth;
+then he produced plates, and Mr. Wells carved the huge monster, which
+we nearly devoured. The air and grace with which one of the men, who
+came up to clear off the table for Mr. Wells to pay the people,
+touched his hat with a bow and a scrape would not have misbecome a
+Commencement Dinner or Wedding Party.
+
+    The keen interest which these Northern interlopers took in
+    everything that concerned the people into whose shoes they
+    had stepped, and their constant sense of the strangeness and
+    romance of their situation appear in the extracts that
+    follow. Again the chronology of the letters has been
+    somewhat disregarded.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 14._ G. came over here and spent the day. He told us that a man
+who belonged on his place came back with the troops on one of their
+late expeditions, and told him that his master, T. J. Fripp, was
+killed at Darien. He said he (Fripp) had been past here in a boat and
+came back with his hands all blistered from rowing; they had been
+hailed by the _Kingfisher_, but told some story of having come from
+here, and escaped. He said his master swore the Yankees were
+everywhere, and that there was a light in every window of Tom Coffin's
+house.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, Sept. 30._ I heard the other day that Captain Boutelle of the
+Coast Survey, who used to enjoy the hospitality of the planters of St.
+Helena, Edisto, etc., was dining at Cambridge, Mass., with a classmate
+of T. A. C.'s. The host inquired what had become of the Captain's
+former friends, the South Carolina planters. "Oh, they are all
+scattered and their property ruined." "Well, what has become of my
+classmate, Thomas A. Coffin?" "Oh, he is gone with the rest, and his
+fine plantation is in the hands of that confounded Abolitionist,
+Philbrick."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 10._ William has been overhauling the old letters and papers in
+the garret and has come across many very interesting bits of
+information among them. They are mostly very old. Old plantation books
+of Mr. Eben Coffin, the first proprietor of the name of this estate,
+dated 1800, containing lists of the slaves of former generations, in
+which some of the oldest here now, like Uncle Sam, are mentioned as
+two years old; estimates for this house and the building in the yard,
+etc.
+
+_Aug. 5._ C. has found a spike of papers in the old overseer house, on
+which he and Mr. Soule are now expending their eyesight. Letters from
+Mr. Coffin to Cockloft, etc. They have found out how much he was paid
+for the year--also some references to an exciting time on Frogmore
+where the overseer seems to have mismanaged--somebody was shot and
+there was a trial! We shall ask the negroes about it all.
+
+_Aug. 6._ I entertained myself to-day reading over these same letters.
+It made me feel very queerly--they were mostly written during the
+summer of 1860, from Charleston and Newport. It seemed so short a time
+ago, and every thing and person spoken of about the plantation was so
+familiar. It seems that the overseer of Frogmore, Benjarola Chaplin,
+was a bad man, and, suspecting a boy and girl there of poisoning him,
+had them tried and sentenced to be hung without letting Mr. Coffin
+know anything about it. We find that the sentence was not
+executed,--for Peter and Katy are still living,--but don't know why
+they were pardoned, though apparently there was no proof of their
+guilt.
+
+_Sept. 22._ This morning I had a call from Henry, Mr. Coffin's old
+cook, a very intelligent mulatto who wanted me to read some letters to
+him and then talked a little while about Mrs. Coffin, to whom he seems
+very much attached, and says he would serve her to the end of his
+days. He and his wife would like to go North to her, and he was very
+glad to hear from Captain Boutelle that she was safe there; he says
+she suffered so the last part of the time she was here, he could not
+bear to look at her. "The first Mrs. Coffin was a very nice lady, but
+she _succeed_ her." He talks very well. He was much pleased that I
+offered to write to her for him sometime, and said he had not liked to
+ask any one to do so for fear they should not think it right to have
+anything to do with the old people--"but she's a Nort' lady, you
+know, Ma'am, a beautiful lady, I would serve her all my life."
+
+_Sept. 27._ Have I told you of an interesting talk we had from one
+Pompey, who said that it was the poor whites in Beaufort who made the
+negroes "sensible" about the war? That if it had not been for them he
+should have believed his master and gone away with him, but that they
+let him into the secret.[141] He says that [the poor whites] wished to
+stay, but were driven off by the rich men, whom they hate, and are now
+in the ranks fighting the rich men's battles. He has heard several
+times from the Main, through his old fellow servants who have run off,
+and mentioned two or three of the old proprietors here who are now in
+jail for trying to escape, among them Dr. Clarence Fripp, of whom they
+all speak with great affection. He never wanted to go, but was carried
+off by his brothers, one of whom, Eddings, has since died.
+
+_Oct. 15._ As soon after breakfast as Robert had finished his regular
+work we mounted two pair of stairs "to clear up the attic." Do you
+think you know what that means? You have not the least idea. So far as
+we can make out, this house was built in 1809, and I think Robert
+dragged out from under the eaves the original shavings. It was
+melancholy to see the spoiled and demolished furniture which would be
+of so much use to us now, bureaus without drawers, sofas with only the
+frames, and those all broken, pieces of washstands and bedsteads,
+etc.
+
+    It seems that such wonders were afterwards performed in
+    renovating this broken furniture that the parlor became
+    almost a parody of its ancient splendor.
+
+    The letters now return to chronological order.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 18._ The cotton-fields are quite full of yellow and pink
+blossoms. We rode through many cotton-fields, and a pretty sight they
+were, some good, some poor,--those belonging to the Government as a
+general thing showing marked inferiority to those of the "Concern."
+
+C. has been in the field all day, and has come home with a strong
+feeling of how much the people in general have gained and improved in
+the last year. There are poor ones among them, of course,--some he
+says he should like to send off the place, another year; but the
+majority of the people are very much ashamed of them, and for some
+time have been very anxious he should go over the fields to see who
+"work for deir money and who shirk." To-night he has been distributing
+the pork and molasses and has refused the bonus to those who have not
+done their work properly, preferring to make the distinction here
+rather than in the pay, and most of the delinquents have appreciated
+the justice of the proceeding, only one or two making any fuss at all,
+and the others were very much ashamed of them. C. says he thinks that
+school has improved the children, too, their manners are improved, as
+have the grown people's,--less cringing and subservient, but more
+respectful and manly. Tim does not pull his forelock at every word he
+speaks, as he did last year, looking like a whipped dog, but looks you
+full in the face and speaks out as if he were not ashamed of himself,
+and is perfectly respectful withal.
+
+The names of the people have often puzzled me as to what they were
+originally intended for, and in taking down the names of the children
+"Rode" puzzled me completely, until old Maria, in talking of her
+"crop" the other day, told me that one child was born in the _road_ on
+the way from the field the day "gun fire at Bay Point, and I give him
+name o' Road"!
+
+I don't think any of the heirs will find that these people are
+deteriorated when they redeem this property. I only hope young Mass'
+Julian, who is in Europe, will be glad to find them so far in training
+for free laborers and be grateful that they are not ruined, as some of
+the people are!
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Aug. 3._ The people say, all in good earnest, that the best of the
+[cotton] crop (including nine tenths of it) equals and excels the
+"Secesh own." There are a few lazy, who have allowed their crop to
+grow grassy, and some young ones, who need careful instruction or
+severe admonition from the elder ones. But the large majority are
+careful, faithful, honest, enthusiastic, and are doing much better for
+themselves than they would have for their "obershere." The people
+anxiously inquire for cotton sheets to pick in. They are hiring hands
+now to pick for them; some of them will be tight pushed to save all
+their crop.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove, Aug. 22._ We are all very busy, all day and every day.
+And it is well that it is so, for in this climate the only way to keep
+one's faculties from rust is to keep them constantly in use. It is
+encouraging, however, to find the good results of our labor so
+apparent. I think our people are improving very fast, and they are
+very contented and happy. (Next week don't be surprised, however, to
+find the thermometer lower.)
+
+A great step has lately been taken. On the whole the people have been
+growing more lawless this year; to remedy the evil, civil law has just
+been introduced. The first Commission[142] was appointed a few days
+ago, and as I am one of its members, it gives occupation for another
+day or two days of a week. I hope it will be able to do much good; at
+all events it will be abundantly supplied with cases. This life is
+very narrowing,--we talk nothing but negro, we think nothing but
+negro; and yet it develops a man at almost every point. From
+house-carpenter to Chief Justice is a long way. And in one who uses
+the opportunity aright it develops patience and faith marvelously, but
+through many failures.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Aug. 15._ Just as we got up from the dinner-table, a woman came
+running up for C. because the people were fighting. Poor thing! she
+was dreadfully frightened and had run the whole way with her baby in
+her arms and looked as if she had just stepped out of the river. I
+don't know what the trouble was--it was the tongues of the women, and
+they fired shells and tore each other's clothes in a most disgraceful
+way, much to the mortification of the better part of the community.
+Jealousy is the foundation of a great deal of trouble among them, and
+there is often too much foundation for it.
+
+_Aug. 31._ Mr. Soule had planned to go to Beaufort and see the
+General, and C. wished especially to get permission to turn all the
+young men from outlaws into private citizens by employing them and
+paying them regularly, for he could not help their aiding their wives
+and being employed by each other, a species of evasion which was
+eminently calculated to give them high ideas of the power and value of
+the law in the hands of the present authorities--C. helpless, and they
+doing as they pleased! It looked like rain, however, and they gave it
+up for that day.
+
+_Sept. 1._ We had breakfast very early, and Mr. Soule and C. went off,
+to discover as usual that our clock was about an hour fast! I thought
+I would go out and dine and see how Mr. G. was, as he had had a fever
+turn. So I mounted and started alone on my expedition, after carefully
+locking the house. It was cloudy and cool, but I found my beast
+beastly hard, so had to content myself with a walk. It was very
+pleasant, as I rode along, to see how brightly the people looked up to
+bow and speak. First old Richard in the overseer-yard, watching the
+arbors, as they are called--the frames where the cotton is spread out
+to dry; then men and women coming from the field with great sheets of
+cotton on their heads which made them almost unrecognizable, little
+Susie staggering under such a pile that I saw she never could get it
+onto her head again alone as she was, if I asked her to put it down
+and run back to open the gate for me, so after more than one trial I
+succeeded in opening it for myself. Then I took my sack off and rode
+in my white jacket, putting the sack round the pummel and fastening it
+there by the extra stirrup which, as the only saddle we had for a long
+time, was rigged onto it for Mr. Philbrick and still remains, a relic
+of our early, barbarous days. But in a canter I lost it off, and had
+to call a child to pick it up for me. Then Miller came along, going
+out to help his "old woman" pick cotton, and walked by my side talking
+of the fine crop, and that next year there would not be land enough
+for the people--"dey work better nor Secesh time--encouragement so
+good!" He was as bright and jolly as you ever saw any honest farmer
+when his crops were in fine condition, and as we came in sight of
+Phillis and Katy, his wife and daughter, and Amaritta in a task just
+behind them, the latter called out to him, "Hi! Hi! bru' Miller, where
+you go? my back mos' broke!" as if it were the pleasantest news in the
+world. He answered, "Oh, I go walk, I got people pick my cotton," with
+such a hearty ha! ha! as did me good to hear. Many of the men laugh
+just like little children--Abel does. Next came Nancy, Peg, and Doll,
+Demus' mother and sisters, and such a nice family--the bright, smiling
+faces they raised to me and the cheerful "Hahdy, Missus," was worth
+seeing and hearing, and when Nancy sent Peg running after me to open
+the gate I was "fighting" with, she looked so bright, strong, and
+handsome as she strode along so splendidly, her dress caught up at the
+waist and let down from the shoulders, that I wished I could
+daguerreotype her on the spot.
+
+I found Mr. G. in a very decided chill on the sofa in front of the
+parlor fire. I stayed an hour or two, and then, the fever coming on
+quite severely and affecting his head a good deal, I rode home as fast
+as possible to signal for Dr. Westcott.[143] I could not get through
+the cotton-field, however, without being stopped two or three times by
+applications for "suthin" for this child's boils or that one's sore
+eyes, all of which I referred to the house, where I afterwards
+administered to the best of my knowledge--one of my constant
+occupations.
+
+Mr. Soule and C. came back, with no news from Charleston, having found
+the General and his staff just starting on a visit to the scene of
+action, but C. had obtained permission to employ the men and made them
+very happy the next day by telling them so.
+
+_Sept. 5._ I have been endeavoring to instill habits of cleanliness
+into Rose and in many ways have succeeded--she has regular days when
+she goes home to wash, changes her "linen" twice a week, takes a warm
+bath every Saturday, and keeps her head and feet in a condition to
+which they were strangers previously. I can see, too, that it has had
+a decided effect upon her sisters. One of the important items has been
+pocket-handkerchiefs, with which I provided her, and she has to keep
+them in her pocket. For two or three days lately she has forgotten
+this essential article, and I finally told her that if it was
+forgotten the next day I should have to send her home for it. I had
+forgotten all about it, till, the next morning when she came to pour
+the water into my tub for me, a most inordinate snuffling betrayed the
+absent wipe. "Rose, where's your pocket-handkerchief? have you
+forgotten it again?" No answer, but a hiding of the head under her arm
+like a duck, which often takes place when she is in fault. "Then,
+Rose, put the coffee on, sweep the parlor, and go home for it." This
+elicited, "me no gwine home," a pert rejoinder I could not understand,
+till on calling her to me I saw by her face how excessively green I
+had been. I reprimanded her with a sober face as she again repeated
+"me no gwine home," at the same time untwisting the handkerchief from
+about her waist, but when she had left the room I should have shaken
+the bed, if that had been my style of laughter. Robert is a great wag
+in his way, though we do not see so much of his fun, as, having been
+used to the house in "Secesh time," he is utterly undemonstrative
+before white people and is only gradually thawing into a little more
+communicativeness. But we overhear him sometimes talking with the
+others. A most entertaining but not quite so pleasant exhibition of it
+(and C. and I could not help laughing at Rose and Hester's
+good-natured, amusing account) was his riding after the two girls one
+day when he had been out for the horses, extolling himself and
+insisting that they should call him "Maussa" or he would ride them
+down, with his spurs on! Hester gave in, but Rose wouldn't--"him too
+mannish!"
+
+There is a great deal of tyrannizing over each other. "Mind now, min',
+run quick or I knock you,"--or "kill you dead" it is as likely to
+be,--is an ordinary method of getting anything done, while "cursing,"
+as they call calling names, etc., is one of the hardest things I have
+to contend with in school, they are so quick to interpret any look or
+act into an offense and resent it on the spot with word or blow.
+
+_Sept. 9._ I had a long talk with some of my big girls who had been
+very noisy and fighting--they do "knock" each other most unmercifully,
+and I can't instill any better notions into them. "Anybody hurt you,
+you _'bleeged_ to knock 'em," is the universal response, and they have
+no idea of letting any difficulty be peaceably settled.
+
+The definite reply which these people require to the ordinary
+salutation of Hahdy? or Huddy? into which it has degenerated here, is
+very amusing, and a corresponding inquiry is expected in return, to
+which they give the most minute answers. "Good morning, Hacklis
+(Hercules), how are you to-day?" "Stirring, tank you, Ma'am, how
+youself?" and if I had a headache I should no more think of saying
+"pretty well" than if I were being cross-questioned at the bar--the
+inquiry is so sincere and expects such a particular reply. "Dunno,
+Missus--tank de Lord for life," is a common rejoinder, as well as "Not
+so well, tank you, ma'am."
+
+    This is as good a place as any for some more examples of
+    negro speech and negro ways. The sayings of Rose, in
+    particular, were a constant source of interest and
+    amusement. H. W. writes that she "tells me everything, in
+    her simplicity, even to the fact that her father has silver
+    money which he keeps buried, and that her mother sends her
+    to the pen for milk before it comes up here!"
+
+[_May 16._] Rose commented, "You lub Miss Helen," and then in a few
+minutes, "Miss Helen lub you. All two (both). I love Miss Helen, too.
+Miss Helen one _nice_ buckra. You more rough 'long er Miss Helen. Miss
+Helen _so_ softle--when him touch me I no feel 'um--me feel you--you
+so strong." All this with inimitable gesture and expression and a
+"leetle" and "middling-sized-bear" voice that was inexpressibly droll.
+
+[_May 17._] As I sat down to write this morning, Rose came in to dust.
+"Miss Hy't, you gwine write Norf?" Yes, Rose. I told her that little
+Robert sent me the pictures and a letter from little Mary. It pleased
+her very much, and she said she wanted to see them. "Me lub Robert and
+Mary." Thinking I should like to get at some of her notions, I asked
+her, What do you mean by love, Rose? "Me dunno--brothers and sisters."
+Don't you love any one else, Rose? "Me dunno." Why, you said yesterday
+that you loved Miss Helen, and just now that you loved Robert and
+Mary. "Me lub dem." By this time the top of her head was in contact
+with the floor, when she suddenly raised herself to a kneeling posture
+and pointing up, said a moment after, "Me lub God," and in a few
+minutes, as if she were quoting, "An dem dat foller arter Christ."
+What do you mean by that, Rose? "Me dunno," and I found she had not
+the least idea. Presently she enumerated Mass' Charlie, Mass' Willyum,
+and Mister Philbrick in her category, and then went on with her
+dusting. By and by she said--"Miss Hyut, me no say your name." No,
+Rose. "Well, me lub you an' Miss Helen de _morer_."
+
+Mr. Thorpe has a boy, Strappan, who is even more noted than my Rose,
+and who has given some remarkable answers to questions which Mr.
+Thorpe puts to him, and which he takes down verbatim. The only one I
+know is his definition of Love. "Arter you lub, you lub, you know,
+boss. You can't broke lub. Man can't broke lub. Lub stan', he ain't
+goin' broke. Man hab to be berry smart for broke lub. Lub is a ting
+stan' jus' like tar; arter he stick, he stick. He ain't goin' move. He
+can't move less dan you burn um. Hab to kill all two arter he lub, 'fo
+you broke lub."
+
+[_Aug. 15._] This morning Rose was sewing with me in my chamber, and,
+as she is very apt to, got talking about the time when they ran away
+from the "robbers" and the Yankees first came. It is always
+interesting, and I wish I could give you her language, though it would
+be little without her emphasis and expression. The first time she saw
+a Yankee--"Great dairdy!" she said, "So Yankee stan'?" I don't think
+she knew what sort of an animal to expect.
+
+_Sept. 15._ When Rose came into my room this morning, she came up to
+my bed to ask how I was and express her contrition that she did not
+stay all night with me! "Me couldn't sleep, me think all night Miss
+Hayiut sick, me should stay long him--when I go bed, me say, 'Hester,
+Miss Hayiut sick, I oughter stay wid her;' Hester say, 'Come, go 'long
+me, take you shum,' but me wouldn't go den!" She is very trying
+sometimes, but full of character, as you see, and it is hard to know
+just how to deal with her. I am afraid of being too lenient to her and
+so spoiling her, or too stern, for fear I _should_ spoil her, and so
+losing her affection, which ought to be the controlling influence.
+With all their subserviency, which I am happy to say is disappearing,
+they have little idea of obedience.
+
+_Sept. 17._ This morning there was no milk, as in this benighted
+region if it rains they don't "pen cow" at night, and for the same
+reason Abel did not catch one in the field this morning that we might
+have a drop for breakfast!
+
+[_Oct. 19._] The doctor wanted some wormwood, and thinking I had heard
+the people speak of it, I asked Elsie. "Me dunno, me dunno nothing; me
+jis' born yestiddy!" she answered.
+
+[_Nov. 16._] Rose came to tell me this morning that there was no milk.
+Henry had dropped the bucket (from his head) and spilled it all. "See
+Henry here." Why, Henry, where did you spill the milk? I asked in
+dismay; but he looked blank till she interpreted for him--"Which side
+de milk churray?" (throw away). _How_, _when_, and _where_ they do not
+use or know the meaning of. _Which side_, is _where_--_What time_,
+_when_--but they do not understand a sentence with _how_ in it.
+
+    The next four extracts give a good idea of Mr. Philbrick's
+    letters to his superintendents and of the far-sighted,
+    honest thought which he put on his Port Royal undertaking.
+    The first was written in the summer; the others appear in
+    their proper place in order of time.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, July 28._ If you can induce some old man who is a good judge,
+I would let him pick select cotton all through the season for seed,
+going over the whole field, or such parts of it as he finds the best
+cotton, culling the best pods from the best plants. In this way you
+can get seed enough to plant some acres next year, which would yield
+enough for the whole plantation another year and of a superior
+quality. This is the way the most intelligent planters got up their
+famous varieties of seed, and we ought to be able to use as much
+brains as they did. Perhaps you can get some refugee to do this,
+without giving offense to the mass, but he must be a good judge.
+
+I hope you will not feel it your duty to enlist in the army, for I
+consider your position there a very useful one and difficult to
+replace. I don't mean useful merely to the people with whom you come
+in contact, but politically, upon the solution of the great social,
+political problem which we have got to solve, viz., the worthiness and
+capacity of the negro for immediate and unconditional emancipation. I
+intend to publish the results of this year's operations next winter
+and want to be able to show that we have raised cotton at a lower
+price per pound than the former proprietors did, counting the interest
+upon their capital invested in negroes as a part of their expenses,
+which is no more than just.
+
+    This point, as regards the raising of cotton by free labor,
+    Mr. Philbrick did successfully make later, as will be seen
+    (see page 265). Another inducement to Northern capital to
+    come South was offered by him at this time in a letter which
+    appeared in the Boston _Daily Advertiser_ on July 20. It was
+    entitled "A New Market for Manufactures," and tabulated the
+    results of his operations in the "shop" during the fifteen
+    months of its existence so far. Between March, 1862, and
+    March, 1863, for instance, a population of four hundred and
+    twelve had spent there $3047; during the months of May and
+    June, 1863, a population of nine hundred and thirty-three
+    had spent $3800; the articles bought had included a variety
+    of dry goods, provisions, hardware, etc., almost all of
+    which supplied needs entirely new to the blacks. The letter
+    concluded: "It may readily be seen that a considerable
+    demand may arise for the articles above-named and others of
+    kindred nature, when a population of some millions shall be
+    in a position to apply their earnings to the supply of their
+    rapidly increasing wants. Should not the manufacturing
+    interests of the North be awake to this?" This letter,
+    written for the express purpose of bringing means of
+    civilization to the blacks, was taken by many Northern
+    friends of the negro as proof that its writer's motive was
+    to exploit the black race for the benefit of the white. Of
+    course, Mr. Philbrick knew perfectly well to what
+    misconstruction he exposed himself when he told the public
+    that there was profit to be made on the old plantations. The
+    following letter was written in reply to a warning from C.
+    P. W. on this very head.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, Sept. 24._ I don't agree with you about avoiding publicity
+for our enterprise. I hold that the pecuniary success we are likely to
+meet with is the very best reason why the whole thing should be made
+public, for it is the only sort of success which can make our
+enterprise a permanent thing and take it off the hands of
+philanthropic benevolence, which, though well enough for a spurt, can
+never be relied on to civilize the four millions of darkies likely to
+be on our hands. If we succeed financially, it will prove that free
+labor is self-sustaining, and that the blacks are capable of becoming
+a useful laboring class immediately after leaving their masters'
+hands, and this fact is of vast importance. If we attempt to keep
+quiet, we shall incur with much more justice the accusation of being
+mere speculators than if we make the most of our success by bringing
+it before the public as a political experiment, of great influence
+upon our future social system, thus giving the public the full benefit
+of the experiment. The fact is just this. Negro labor has got to be
+employed, if at all, because it is _profitable_, and it has got to
+come into the market like everything else, subject to the supply and
+demand which may arise from all kinds of enterprises in which it
+chances to be employed. It is not likely that it can be protected on a
+large scale by the amount of disinterested philanthropy which happens
+to be present on the Sea Islands, but if it can be open to private
+enterprise, by an occupation of lands free from unnecessary
+restrictions and under a proper sense of the security of property, it
+can afford to _lose_ some of the Methodism now bestowed upon it at
+Beaufort. We want first to prove that it is profitable, and then it
+will take care of itself.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 24._ Limus' seine was shipped in the schooner. I have not yet
+ordered any for 'Siah, for I thought it would be too late for him to
+use it this year, and he had better wait and see if Limus' seine was
+all right. Moreover, entre nous, I don't believe it will do him any
+good to spend his time a-fishing. It has a sort of excitement, like
+gold-digging, which unfits a man for steady, plodding industry,
+witness Limus. Now the present demand for fish will not be permanent.
+After the war the negroes will have to fall back upon field-labor for
+a living, and it will be better for them if in the meanwhile they do
+not acquire a distaste for steady labor and get vagrant habits. I
+would talk this over with 'Siah and ask him in serious mood if he
+really thinks best to spend so much money in fishing-gear, when he
+could buy land with it by and bye.
+
+    Here begins again the rambling narrative of plantation
+    happenings.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sept. 26._ C. was very busy paying for cotton, and we found him on
+the piazza, sitting at a little table with the drawer full of money
+and the gang of women standing and sitting about at the foot of the
+steps, while he called them up one at a time. He paid old Nancy first,
+asking her how much she thought it was. "Me dunno, Massa, you knows."
+As much as ten dollars? "Oh yes! Massa, I tink you gib me more nor
+dat." Fifteen, perhaps? Five for you, Doll, and Peg, each? "Yes,
+Massa, I tink so." And it was pleasant to see the corners of her mouth
+go as he counted out $48--which she took in perfect quietness and with
+a sober face, a curtsey and "Tank'ee, Massa." Sinnet was more
+demonstrative than anybody, lifting up hands and eyes, and ending with
+"Tank de Lord; I mus' go praise." Amaritta drew for her gang $78--they
+have picked over three thousand pounds. C. paid out over $1000.
+
+    H. W. further reports that when C. told old Grace he had
+    weighed altogether a bale for her, "Good God!" she cried,
+    "me lib to raise bale o' cotton! Come along, Tim, less get
+    some vittle."
+
+    The next letter is Mr. Tomlinson's reply to one from W. C.
+    G., in which he had complained of negroes who refused to
+    pay their "corn-tax,"--a rent in kind for their private
+    patches of corn-land,--and had suggested their expulsion
+    from the plantation as the best remedy.
+
+
+REUBEN TOMLINSON[144] TO W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 30._ I have just read yours on the "corn question." I have told
+Government Superintendents, when the people refuse or neglect to bring
+their corn to the corn-house, not to interfere with them until it is
+all broken in;[145] then to tell them how much is expected from them,
+and give them a certain length of time to bring it in. If it is not
+done, get a "guard" from the "Jail," and go to their houses and take
+it. Of course the superintendent is to use a sound discretion in
+making his demand, making due allowance for failure of "crop," etc.
+Your plan is in my opinion open to serious objections as a matter of
+_expediency_. I have no doubt that there are people on your places
+whom you would be well rid of. If you can endure them patiently a
+little while longer, I think it will be to your advantage to do so.
+The Government is commencing at once the erection of a large number of
+houses, and after they are finished those turbulent and unruly people
+may be disposed of without the scandal and excitement which would
+otherwise accompany their removal. After this season is terminated,
+you can refuse any longer to employ such persons, and the Government
+having then provided homes for them, there will be no longer an excuse
+for boring you with them.
+
+    Mr. Philbrick's advice was as follows:
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+I am not surprised at the prospect of some meanness about the
+corn-tax. The negroes would be a marvelous race if it were not so. If
+any difficulty is encountered in collecting the tax, I should take it
+out of their pay at $1.50 per bushel, which is about what it costs me
+to send corn there.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Oct. 13._ Mr. G., who had just come from the Point, told me a very
+nice thing about the men there. It seems that a few weeks ago Mr.
+Tomlinson made an address to them at church about there being five
+church-members in jail for shooting cattle, and after he got through,
+'Siah, the foreman and elder of the Fripp Point Plantation, rose and
+indorsed what he had said, adding that the thing had never happened on
+his place. That very week an ox was shot there, and Mr. G. has been
+unable to find out who did it, all the men protesting that they did
+not know. So to-day he called them all up and talked to them, and then
+spoke of the ox and asked them what they thought they ought to do. One
+man rose and proposed to pay for it--another seconded the motion, and
+they passed the resolution to do so by a vote of sixteen against two!
+Mr. G. was very much pleased, and gave notice that if the perpetrator
+of the deed would come to him and confess within four days he should
+be let off without paying the fine.
+
+_Oct. 20._ Thomas seemed much better, but very weak, and asked me if
+I would not give him some liquor! I asked if he had ever been in the
+habit of drinking it, and he said yes, that he bought it by the pint
+at camp! He belongs to the First South Carolina Volunteers, Colonel
+Higginson's Regiment. It is dreadful to think of such means of
+civilization being introduced among these poor people. It made me
+heartsick.
+
+While I was dressing for dinner C. came up to ask me if I had "any
+prejudice against color," as he had asked the steward of the
+_Wabash_[146] to dine, "a Boston boy who speaks English as well as you
+do." We found him a very bright, intelligent young fellow and very
+modest and unassuming withal--gave his name only as "Joseph" both to
+Mr. Soule and C. He had come foraging for the Admiral, and as C. found
+him waiting for the people to come from the field, he took him about
+with him and brought up at the house. He was on board the _Mohegan_
+when Port Royal was taken and had then just come from the coast of
+Africa where they had taken Gordon, the slave-pirate, on board the
+barque _Ariel_, and he gave us a most interesting account of the whole
+affair, as he went on board with the Captain when he ordered the
+hatches to be opened and the nine hundred blacks were discovered. C.
+says he overheard Amaritta say to him, "You free man? I t'o't so, when
+I see you walk wi' buckra," and old Grace, when he asked her if she
+had any eggs, answered, "No, Maus--my dear," her first impression
+being that as he walked "wid buckra" she must be respectful, and then
+remembering that she must not say "Maussa" to a black man. He is black
+as Robert, but with Saxon features. Speaking of Henry, he asked, "Is
+he short and stout and about my complexion?" Henry is almost white!
+
+_Oct. 22._ Limus is full of amazement at the men of the
+Fifty-Fifth[147] and could not express his surprise at their walking
+up to their post-office kept by a black man, and opening their letters
+to read "just like white men!" They don't know what to make of
+educated blacks,--it upsets all their ideas on the relative position
+of the two races! I expected some remarks from Rose about our sable
+guest--she was not here, but the next day she began: "That stranger
+man eat up here? Which side him eat?" In the dining-room with us. "Him
+free man?" Yes, he was born in Boston. "Him read and write?" Yes, as
+well as I can. This made her open her eyes, and when I told her that
+in Boston there were schools for the black children to go to just like
+those for the white children, where they could learn the same things,
+she departed with a very quiet, "Yes, Ma'am."
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 24._ Nothing happens here now, so that even this delightful
+country, with its charming variety of scenery and its delicious
+climate, its bracing air, its sparkling streams, its richness of
+autumnal tints, the ever-varying play of light and shade upon the
+steep hillsides and through the green valleys often cease to charm.
+For myself, I may say that even the continual excitement incident to
+the task of weighing cotton, selling sugar, or counting rails, not to
+mention the no less important duty of seeing that my hat is not stolen
+from my head, or the shingles off my roof,--even these interesting and
+exciting occupations sometimes grow wearisome, and fail to afford that
+continued gratification and satisfaction to enjoy which is the object
+of a life in this Department. Although the statement seems absurd, I
+must nevertheless affirm, that it is more bother to take care of a
+plantation of one hundred and twenty working hands than it is to
+exercise that number in the "School of the Company;" and that the
+satisfaction derived from the faithfulness and honesty of perhaps
+thirty is hardly sufficient to atone for the anxiety and distrust with
+which one regards the remaining ninety, who lie by habit and steal on
+the least provocation, who take infinite pains to be lazy and shirk,
+who tell tales of others, of which themselves are the true subjects,
+and from whom all the artifices of the lawyer cannot draw a fair
+statement of fact, even when it is obviously for their own interest to
+tell the whole truth. "Wherefore he is called the everlasting Niggah."
+
+I have had my grumble, and I feel better. What I have said "has truth
+in it, only distorted." I am not actually miserable, though one might
+draw that inference from these remarks. The fact is that, the novelty
+of this life having worn off after fifteen months of the "useful
+experience," the life, as was to be, and was expected, loses something
+of its satisfaction, and one is more open to the effect of the
+vexations and annoyances than when the interest was fresh and the work
+new and untried. It is not so much that one is annoyed by the work
+itself, but the imperfections of the system under which we are
+obliged to work grow more clear and are continually presented in
+various forms. The only satisfactory thing would be to reconstruct the
+system on the plantation, first, by turning off all the hands not
+wanted; second, by adopting a new system in regard to the privileges
+and compensation of the people. The privileges are, free houses, free
+land for provision crops, free use of wood, and, with certain
+restrictions, of the animals and implements. I should do away with
+these privileges, making them pay house-rent and land-rent, making
+them pay for their wood, if of certain qualities, and for the use of
+teams and implements--for their own work. Then I should increase their
+wages, with fixed prices for the various kinds of work. I should wish
+to be able to discharge any one whose work did not suit me, and remove
+him from the plantation. These reforms cannot possibly be instituted
+now, and can never be, probably, on this island. In the meantime, if
+the people were only honest and truthful, other matters would be of
+comparatively little account, but they are the most provoking set, in
+this respect, that you can easily conceive. They are almost
+incorrigible.
+
+
+REUBEN TOMLINSON TO C. P. W.
+
+_Oaks, Oct. 30._ I have appointed you one of a "Commission" of three,
+to meet in the "Study" at R.'s place on Wednesday, November 4, at
+10 A. M. The first case that will probably come before you will be
+that of the disputed ownership of a "boat," now in the possession of
+one "Limus," purveyor to General Gillmore, but which is claimed by
+"Barkis," who lives at Hilton Head. Both the parties have been to see
+me, and Barkis is not "willin'" to give up his claim.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 8._ I found C. had two men locked up in separate rooms
+downstairs--there had been some trouble, and one, who was half drunk,
+had used a knife. One man he let go, the other is still shut up, and
+sent to see me this evening. It is dreadful to have such things
+happening, but it will do good for the people to find that there is
+some law over them.
+
+    Early in November Mr. Philbrick went down to Port Royal
+    again to gin and export his cotton crop.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO MRS. PHILBRICK.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Nov. 10._ Arrived here about 6. I found people in the
+field picking cotton at R.'s places, and found on nearly all my fields
+the cotton still green and blossoming, while on most of the Government
+plantations the grass had stopped its growth long ago and the crop was
+about over. I find old Frank (the wily) in confinement in the
+harness-room for some row among the people last Sunday, awaiting
+trial. Oh, the horses, how they do look! A few months among our
+Northern fixings make everything look so wretched down here.
+
+There is a circular just issued by General Saxton, pointing out the
+plantations which are to be sold to the negroes, and advising them to
+stake out their claims and build cabins on them as preëmptors, which
+will not attract many of my people, I think. The McTureous places, T.
+B. Fripp's, Hamilton Fripp's, and others are to be so sold, as soon as
+the necessary surveys are made. I doubt the policy of this sort of
+thing until the time shall have passed for the redemption of the land
+by the old owners, though none may ever appear to redeem. I am afraid
+some rows may arise from the difficulty of fixing and recording
+boundaries among a lot of negro squatters, should there be many such.
+
+    These plantations, about to be sold at auction to negro
+    preëmptors, were those which had been reserved for this
+    purpose from the sale of March 9, 1863 (see p. 171). The
+    order of the President (dated September 16), from which
+    General Saxton got authority for his circular just
+    mentioned, also provided for the sale at auction of about
+    twenty plantations in lots not to exceed three hundred and
+    twenty acres. This latter provision, which might possibly
+    result in preventing many negroes from owning any land at
+    present,--since the plantations reserved for them alone were
+    not large enough for all,--presently brought about infinite
+    trouble, through disagreement among the authorities.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 15._ The people are quite disturbed about General Saxton's new
+order, which Mr. French and Judge Smith have been trying to explain to
+them at church;--in vain, apparently,--for some of the most ignorant
+of our people thought they should be obliged to buy land, and came to
+C. in distress at leaving the plantation. Others we hear are selecting
+their lots, but now comes General Gillmore's order to stop all sales;
+I am afraid these poor people, who hate all change and "confusion,"
+will have their brains hopelessly confused.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 18._ General Saxton has given orders that all work on the
+plantations[148] in preparation for next year's crop shall be stopped,
+for he expects to give them up either to the purchasers or the
+tax-commissioners very soon. The tax men are here, as amicably
+disposed towards each other as cat and dog, and as they are not
+remarkable for their efficiency in matters of business, I do not think
+it very likely that they will accomplish much this winter. They have
+two parties of surveyors at work, but they don't seem to be doing much
+but chop vines and sail about the creeks in boats.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove._ [_Sept. 23._] I think you would be quite astonished at
+the refinement and homelikeness of our parlor. Bright table-cloths, a
+most elegant couch lately developed,--a comfortable old sofa, pictures
+all around, a fancy bookcase almost full of books,--a glass-topped
+secretary with an ample supply of pigeon-holes and writing
+arrangements,--papers lying around loose,--and a wood fire burning in
+the big chimney-place,--won't that do for philanthropists? One door
+opens into a large dining-room,--the windows upon a portico, looking
+out upon the creek winding among the green marsh grass, with broad
+water and islands in the distance. For contrast now and then a pig
+squalls vigorously under the house,--for it is getting cold now and
+the pigs eagerly seek the shelter of the "big house." It is in vain
+to try to keep them out, though I've had a fence built round the
+house.
+
+_Nov. 14._ I shall have to take to contraband pants, I'm afraid, as I
+did last winter. The negroes can hardly hold me to be of gentle kind,
+when they see me doing their own work in their own clothes. I wish you
+would come down to see me, if it is only, by the sight of a white
+cravat and shining beaver, to convince them that I am a "boss" born.
+You shall have your fill of clearing up and improving, too; I need
+just such energy to make respectable my own premises. At present they
+are the pigs' playground, except on Sundays, when a lot of the
+plantation urchins are allowed very quietly to peep in at the windows
+and learn manners from white folks. At present a young fellow, who has
+lately waked up from a slouch into a man, is patiently leaning against
+the sill, waiting, I suppose, for his lesson.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26._ We sat down to dinner--sixteen
+Massachusetts people, six ministers' sons. Mr. Folsom and William
+Allen, Miss R. and Mr. G. went home; all the rest spent the night, and
+no one on a sofa. We wondered what was the last [dinner-party] as
+large that had dined in this old house, but Robert says he never saw
+such a large party here--Mr. Coffin used to give his dinners in
+Charleston.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 26._ We got to R.'s house, where he told us he had been helping
+Mr. Wells all day before in boating his cotton from Morgan Island to
+his home place.[149] There was about $3000 worth on the island, and he
+did not choose to expose the rebels to any further temptation in
+regard to it. It seems that Tuesday morning the cow-minder had gone
+out to the pen with his milk-pail and never returned. Search being
+made, the milk-pail and his jacket were found, and some new tracks of
+shoes on the beach, also traces of a bivouac breakfast and marks of a
+boat's keel on the Coosaw River beach. Nothing more is known than
+this. The presumption is that a scouting party had come over Coosaw
+River and bivouacked on the beach, hauling up their boat, and that,
+seeing this poor man in the morning, they gobbled him up and cleared
+out as they came. He was an Edisto man, of considerable intelligence,
+and it is hoped his information will not be so reliable as the rebels
+might wish. Mr. Wells immediately informed Captain Dutch and got Mr.
+R. to help him boat over his cotton. Captain Dutch sent a guard to
+patrol the island and sent his little schooner up opposite Morgan
+Island in Coosaw River as an outpost.
+
+We had an immense rush at the store yesterday, four hundred and sixty
+odd dollars during the day here. R. and Wells have taken over fifteen
+hundred dollars in the three days after opening their goods. Amaritta
+bought over forty dollars' worth at once, and poor Juliana staggered
+off with a load on her head that she could hardly carry. The trunks go
+like smoke, so do the firkins and other domestic wares.
+
+
+From H. W.
+
+_Dec. 1._ Uncle Nat, who has carried the plantation keys for forty
+years, giving out all the allowance for people and creatures, and has
+done no field work for that length of time, has had an acre and a half
+of cotton this year, and has raised the largest proportion, six
+hundred pounds seed-cotton per acre, of any one on the place. He lives
+at Pine Grove with his wife, but plants here for old association's
+sake, and the other day, when C. made the last cotton payment, he gave
+Nat's money to his sister, Nancy. The next morning Nat was up here
+early and took his hat off to the ground to C. "Came to thank you for
+what you send me yesterday, Sar--much obliged to you, Sar (with
+another flourish and scrape). I well sat-is-_fy_, and jest as long as
+the Lord give me life and dese ole arms can do _so_ (imitating the
+motion of hoeing), I work cotton for you, Sar!"
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 5._ Our cotton crop is about all in, though some people are
+still in the field gleaning. They glean very carefully now, and don't
+allow a single pod to escape them. I have about one hundred gins now
+in running order, and expect to have fifty more, all going in another
+week.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 10._ I rode down to see the work. It was a busy scene--a whipper
+on each arbor with a child atop to fill the machine, which is used to
+lash the dirt out of the cotton before ginning and make it easier to
+gin; then the gins were all at work--the women were sorting--the men
+packing--potato-vines were being brought in to be weighed, carts and
+oxen carrying seed--altogether such a busy piece of work as one does
+not often see here.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 10._ We were surprised by a green carryall coming down the road
+drawn by some army horses, hay-fed and round. The passengers were a
+Mr. Paige, a correspondent of the _Tribune_, and his friend, a Mr.
+Baldwin from Cleveland. I had met them in one of my trips between
+Hilton Head and Beaufort, and after answering several questions asked
+them to come and see me, but I didn't think they would take the pains.
+Mr. Paige asked questions enough to pump me dry while here, but I
+don't believe he will be much the wiser, for he asked some three or
+four times over. I took them down to the praise house in the evening
+and, Uncle Sam being ill of "fever and pain in head," I helped with
+the hymns and read a chapter from the Bible. Old Aaron and George
+prayed, Doll's Will told off a hymn from memory, and George repeated
+one, as I think, from his own brain, putting in all the couplets he
+could remember, and hunting over his brain for each one while they
+were singing the last. My visitors were very much interested, and were
+chiefly pleased with the earnestness and simplicity of their worship,
+remarking that they were fortunate in not being bothered with
+doctrine. I am afraid they didn't get much of an idea of our schools,
+for the only girl they asked to spell happened to be Caroline, whom
+they met in the street. She is only half-witted, you know, and didn't
+do her teachers much credit. I should like to see what Mr. Paige has
+to say about our doings in the _Tribune_. I asked him not to mention
+the name of this plantation, for I didn't want to call the attention
+of the Coffin family upon us any more than I could help. He asked me
+for the names of any superintendents and teachers here, but I told him
+they didn't care to be brought before the public.
+
+I was curious to know how much cotton could be got from a certain
+amount of seed. I ginned just five pounds of cotton and had thirteen
+pounds of seed left, being over a peck, for it weighs forty-four
+pounds to the bushel. The people were very much amused to see me gin
+so long, and wondered that I had the strength for it. You know they
+consider us rather effeminate in regard to strength, but I did not
+find it nearly so hard work as I supposed. It is not half as hard as
+mowing.
+
+_Dec. 13._ Mr. Wells had his cotton about half ginned when there came
+a posse of men from the First South Carolina Regiment, without a white
+officer, to hunt after deserters on his plantation. They met the men
+they wanted and shot them all three in broad daylight; one is badly
+wounded and may not recover, but the others probably will. After
+shooting one man they were going away to leave him, and Mr. Wells went
+and took care of him and sent him to the hospital.
+
+_Dec. 17._ The people were all at work ginning cotton, and the new
+mechanic Nero, whom we found at the White place, was putting the
+engine in order. This engine serves as a moral stimulus to keep the
+people at work at their hand-gins, for they want to gin all the
+cotton by hand, and I tell them if they don't get it done by the
+middle of January I shall gin it by steam. The result will probably be
+that there will be little left for the steam-engine to do. But it will
+do no harm to put it in order and then I can grind corn with it next
+summer. The weight of all my cotton is now 287,790 pounds[150] in
+seed. The samples which I sent to Liverpool were appraised there as
+worth forty-eight to fifty pence, which, if exchange remains as high
+as at present, would make our crop worth $100,000 in Liverpool. This
+is as much as I had ever estimated I should realize from it.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 17._ The cotton packing continues; twelve bales are already
+prepared for the market, stamped with the old Coffin trademark. The
+initiated know what it means, but I doubt if any one else would
+recognize the significance of the headless and footless box!
+
+[Illustration: Old Coffin trademark]
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 27._ The children came up about half-past two o'clock on
+Christmas afternoon [to see the tree], but being told not to come
+until sunset they hung around outside the gate till Mr. Hall was ready
+for them. About dusk they were all marshaled in by classes, and we all
+helped distribute the presents. The children seemed struck aghast with
+the brilliant sight, and when William Hall wished them all a Merry
+Christmas, they threw up their hands and shouted with all their might.
+It wasn't a cheer, but more like a yell, evidently in answer to his
+good wishes. The presents were taken with the usual apathy shown on
+such occasions, and as soon as they had time they began to compare
+them with each other and some to complain how they didn't get enough.
+
+Yesterday morning we made our preparations for Hunting Island. It was
+a fine day, wind east, and rather warm. We had four negro oarsmen.
+Seven white folks made up the load, including Mr. Eustis. We landed on
+the Island just as G.'s boat did. After unloading our grub and firing
+off our guns to dry them and let the deer know that we were coming, we
+scattered about in various directions in search of game. I then went
+to see the ruins of the lighthouse in the middle of the point, a few
+rods from each beach. It was a brick structure and must have been over
+one hundred feet high in order to overlook the pine trees about it.
+There is nothing left now but a mass of brick and rubbish about forty
+feet high, covering an acre of ground. It was blown up by the rebels
+at the beginning of the war, and they did the work thoroughly. Great
+blocks of granite and plates of iron lay bedded in between the masses
+of brick-work, some of which are still coherent in masses, and several
+feet in thickness. It is the first real ruin I ever saw in this
+country. The keeper's house close by has been all torn to pieces by
+the negroes for rebuilding their own cabins and corn-houses.
+
+    The next extracts tell of more raids for soldiers, fresh
+    despair, and renewed hope that they might at last be
+    stopped.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 27._ On getting up this morning the people were found all in a
+hubbub. The soldiers had been there in the night, some fifty strong,
+and had carried off not only Cæsar, a deserter, Abel's son, but also
+old Miller, Tony, and Jonas and David, neither of whom had ever
+belonged to any of the regiments. Of course all the people were
+enraged, and justly, for they have been assured by General Saxton over
+and over again during several months past that they needn't be afraid
+of any more drafting, for it was all over. As soon as we had done
+breakfast I walked down to the quarters to see what facts I could
+gather. It seemed they [the soldiers] had come by rowboats to the
+village creek, thinking they had got to our creek, and landed at Fripp
+Point. There they found no deserters, for there were none, but took
+all the men they could find, viz.: Pompey's boy Isaac, Fortune's boy
+Jimmy, and Alick's boy January. They got old Dan to show them the way
+to Coffin's and came along the road, arriving just after
+praise-meeting; they set a guard all about the houses and shot at
+every man that tried to run away, catching the men named above and
+carrying them off. Tony and Jonas got away at Fripp Point, but they
+carried off the others. C. and I got into our little boat with Jim to
+help, and rowed around to the village in hopes to find the party still
+there, but they had gone, carrying Dr. Hunting's cook. So we rowed
+back and ate our dinner in disgust. This raid will break up my ginning
+on this end of the island and put it back at least two weeks, for the
+men are so scared that they won't dare to go to work, and the women
+can't do much without them.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 27._ Mr. Philbrick has gone up to-night to see General Saxton,
+and Mr. Eustis says that if he can't (or won't) stop it, he shall
+write to Washington. It is the unauthorized work of the officers whose
+commissions perhaps depend upon their keeping full ranks.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 28._ I rode off for Coosaw Fort on Ladies Island, where the
+pickets are. I found Captain Bryant at camp. He was very pleasant and
+told me that the descent upon Coffin's Point Saturday night was not
+made by his orders, but by one of Colonel Higginson's captains. The
+men were brought to him, however, and he discharged all who didn't
+want to enlist. So I came off content.
+
+The holidays and the hunt for deserters have so broken up the labor
+that nothing of any consequence can be done now till after New Year's,
+when I hope the work will move on smoothly again.
+
+[_Jan. 1, 1864._] My errand to Beaufort on Tuesday was not very
+successful. I could find neither Colonel Higginson nor General Saxton.
+So I had to content myself with writing to the latter an account of
+how the soldiers had been behaving here. On getting back, I found the
+people more quiet than I had expected. The return of the men from camp
+had reassured them, and most of them have gone to work again.
+
+    The year closes with W. C. G.'s reflections on the progress
+    of the "Port Royal Experiment."
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Dec. 27._ We are busy ginning and packing. Both men and women are
+hard at work, and till 3 o'clock P. M. the scene is almost one of
+Northern industry. There is more noise, less system and steadiness.
+Now and then two or three break out into a quarrel, in which they
+excel all other people I ever saw with their tongues,--tremendous
+noise, terrible gestures, the fiercest looks,--and perhaps by evening
+they are friends again. Meanwhile the others sit still at their work,
+listening to it as a matter in the common course of things,--and will
+tell how _they_ love peace and quiet; it will be their own turn next!
+In all their faults,--passion, lying, stealing, etc.,--they are
+perfectly conscious of the sin; and the same ones whom it would be
+impossible to stop, except by force, in their tempests of rage, will
+when quiet talk as sensibly of their folly as any one could desire.
+They seem to have a very delicate conscience without the slightest
+principle. That this want of principle is not innate and not their own
+fault, I think is proved by their consciences remaining true. Their
+state of morals I should say is decidedly better than it was under
+slavery,--less of licentiousness, lying, and stealing,--and more
+general manliness and self-respect. But they are very far behind, in
+character as well as intelligence, and I suspect that most
+abolitionist views of their character are exaggerated in their favor.
+It increases the need and it does not decrease the interest of helping
+them, to think so. Many a talking abolitionist would be disgusted into
+indifference, and many a hearty hater of the talk would be surprised
+into interest and favor, if they lived here for six months. It's
+pretty hard sometimes to find your best men lying to you, or your most
+trusty people ungrateful and distrusting you,--and then again a light
+breaks out where you thought there was neither fuel nor fire. The most
+encouraging symptom is the clearly increasing influence which the best
+of the people are acquiring,--so that there certainly is a _general_
+improvement.
+
+
+
+
+1864
+
+    _The land-sales of 1864, contradictory orders--Discontent
+    among the negroes about wages--Small-pox on the
+    plantations--The chattel sale--Labor contracts for the
+    season--Newspaper attacks on Mr. Philbrick--The raid on
+    Morgan Island--Mr. Philbrick's plans for the future--The
+    black draft--Red tape--Approach of Sherman and the battle of
+    Honey Hill._
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 3._ I don't know how low the thermometer would have stood out of
+doors here. R.'s was at 19°. The one in our parlor was at 28° some
+time after lighting the fire.
+
+You will probably in due course of time see the tintypes of Rose and
+Demus. Old Judy and Minda got theirs taken some time since, but there
+has been no opportunity of sending them to you. As they went up all by
+themselves, the arrangement of their toilet was original; hence a
+display of jewelry rather more characteristic than tasteful.
+
+    The subject of the approaching land-sales now becomes the
+    all-important topic.
+
+_Jan. 20._ There was notice given for all the people to meet at St.
+Helena church on Sunday last to hear the President's new instructions
+about land-sales. These new orders were obtained, as nearly as I can
+learn, by Father French, who went to Washington at General Saxton's
+request to urge the matter. The plan defeats that of Dr. Brisbane,
+who meant to sell at auction.[151] Now, as you will see by the papers,
+all the lands that were bid in by the United States are offered at
+private sale, to black or white, in lots of twenty or forty acres at a
+uniform price of $1.25 per acre, like Western public lands, with the
+privilege of preëmption, but to those only who have resided on lands
+belonging to the Government for at least six months since the
+occupation of the island by our forces. So this gives all the
+superintendents and teachers a chance to buy as well as the negroes,
+but excludes all new-comers. I found Dr. Brisbane as much disturbed as
+it is possible to conceive.
+
+Of course I stayed over with Mr. R. another night to attend the
+church. It was a fine morning, and we found a pretty large attendance,
+both black and white. Parson Phillips was there and opened the
+services. Mr. French followed, urging them to go ahead at once and
+locate their lots. General Saxton followed, saying but little, but
+urging them not to sleep till they had staked out their claims.
+
+Father French begged leave to differ, for he wanted them to respect
+the Sabbath. Mr. Hunn followed, saying they had better do it _to-day_,
+for it was no worse to drive stakes Sunday than to keep thinking about
+it. He condoled them on the small pay they had been getting from
+Government and private speculators, saying, "What's thirty cents a day
+in these times for a man who has to maintain himself and his family?"
+(Great sensation among negroes, and a buzz, with mutterings of "that's
+so," etc.). Then a paymaster made a spread-eagle speech. Then Colonel
+Ellwell was called out by Mr. French. Then Judge Smith mounted the
+pulpit and explained to the negroes the meaning of preëmption, how it
+was formed of two Latin words. Colonel Ellwell contrived to mystify
+the people a little as follows. After expatiating on the goodness of
+President Lincoln, he said he was so kind he had even offered pardon
+to the rebels, and perhaps we should see their old masters back here
+some day, with a whole county of scoundrels to swear they had always
+been loyal Union men, etc. The whole fandango lasted till nearly three
+o'clock, and then we had the usual amount of shaking of hands, etc.,
+outside. I lost no time in finding Mr. Hunn and informing him that I
+had paid an average of over fifty cents a day through the whole season
+of working cotton. If he had been a younger man, I should have said,
+as I thought, that it was not a true kindness to these ignorant people
+to say anything tending to make them discontented with the rates of
+pay that had been established with a good deal of care by men who had
+been quite disinterested and well calculated to judge of such things.
+In fact, I might have told him, what I certainly believe, that a much
+higher rate of pay than they have been receiving would tend to
+diminish the amount of industry rather than to stimulate it, by
+rendering it too easy for them to supply their simple wants. I held my
+peace, however, and was content to hear him apologize, disclaiming any
+intention of referring to me in what he had said, etc., and admitting
+that my case was an exception, adding that he didn't suppose I should
+be _allowed_ by Government to pay higher rates than those established
+by General Saxton! We were accompanied home from church by Mr.
+Eustis, and Mr. R. came as far as G.'s. They all met here Monday, in a
+pouring rain, to talk over the subject of wages for the coming year.
+It was concluded to pay in money entirely instead of in molasses and
+bacon, believing that the days of rationing in any form had passed,
+and that the negroes would be better pleased to handle all the money
+and spend it as they pleased. So we raise the pay of cotton hoeing
+from twenty-five cents to thirty-five cents per old task, and add five
+cents more, making it forty cents, besides the premium on the weight
+of crop, which remains as before, making the average wages about sixty
+or sixty-five cents for cotton work, which we think none too high for
+the present prices of dry goods, etc. Of course, the smart hands earn
+more than this in a day, for they do one and one-half times or twice
+as much per day as they used to, and these prices are based upon the
+old master's day's work or task. I have some men who gin fifty pounds
+a day and earn their dollar, while they never ginned more than thirty
+pounds for their master. I spent most of the day with G. on his
+plantations, talking with him and his people about the prospect of
+success with the new system. I haven't yet found a single man on any
+of my places who wants to risk buying land. They all say they had
+rather stay where they are and work for me. The more intelligent
+foresee many difficulties in owning land, such as having no access to
+marsh, or woodland, no capital for live-stock, plows, harness, carts,
+etc., and they don't like the idea of having to wait a whole year to
+get their reward for planting the cotton crop. The people seemed
+highly satisfied to work on and well pleased with the prospect of
+higher nominal wages to talk about, and slightly higher in reality,
+with the privilege of spending them as they wish.
+
+_Jan. 27._ Last Friday I made an expedition to Eddings Point in our
+little boat. Arriving about one o'clock, and leaving the boat in
+charge of the boys, I walked up to Mr. Wells' house on the Mary
+Jenkins place, about one and one-quarter miles. I went down to the
+nigger-house to see the people. I found the people in a state of
+confusion about buying land. They had got the impression at church
+from the earnest way in which they were urged to buy, that they _must_
+buy land _nolens volens_, and wanted to have my consent to stay where
+they were and work for me as long as they pleased! Of course I laughed
+and told them they were welcome to stay as long as they wished and
+behaved well. They seemed "well satisfy" with this, and all in good
+humor.
+
+I stayed at home Monday to see Mr. Hull, who came down with another
+big boat-load of cotton for our people to gin. They had finished
+ginning what he brought last week in two days. As soon as his boat
+came to the landing near Nab's house, the people made a rush for the
+cotton, the men carting it and the women carrying the bags on their
+heads and hiding it, so they might have some of it to gin. It was like
+rats scrambling for nuts.
+
+Mr. B. has a letter from Secretary Chase, urging that a bale of free
+labor cotton be sent to the Sanitary Fair at New York, and I offered
+to present a bale for the purpose. It will be worth about five hundred
+dollars; but is not a very great contribution, considering that we
+have two hundred of them nearly.
+
+I see that my letter to Alpheus Hardy[152] is going the rounds, being
+copied in Providence _Journal_ and New York _Evening Post_, with a few
+blunders as usual. Did you notice the expression "extend the arm of
+charity" was printed "area" instead of "arm," making a very absurd
+appearance? The Providence _Journal_ put in an extra cipher,
+multiplying my figures by ten. In order to correct this blunder, which
+was a serious one, making the cotton cost ten times as much as I
+stated, I wrote to the editor, giving him some more information about
+my crop, for the benefit of the Providence cotton spinners.[153]
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Jan. 29._ Outside of our plantations, the people for once are excited
+with good reason. In the most awkward, incomplete, bungling way the
+negroes are allowed to preëmpt twenty and forty acre tracts; so
+everybody is astir, trying to stake out claims and then to get their
+claims considered by the Commissioners. These gentlemen meanwhile are
+at loggerheads, the land is but half surveyed, and everything is
+delightfully confused and uncertain. Still it is the beginning of a
+great thing,--negroes become land-owners and the door is thrown open
+to Northern immigration. Years hence it will be a satisfaction to look
+back on these beginnings,--now it is very foggy ahead and very
+uncertain under foot.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Feb. 4._ Sunday morning I met the whole female population on the
+road, coming to church. It was baptism day, and the women had all put
+on their best dresses, their summer muslins and turbans, making a fine
+show. On arriving at the Captain John Fripp gate, by the avenue, I
+found a knot of young men seated there, with one of their number
+reading to the rest from the Testament. I asked them why they didn't
+go to church with the women! They said they had heard that "soldiers
+had come to catch we," and "we were scary." Poor fellows, what a
+strange life of suspense they are leading! General Gillmore has
+ordered a complete census of the islands, black and white men
+included, for enrollment on the militia lists, and no white citizen is
+allowed to leave the Department until after it is found whether he is
+wanted for military service, _i. e._, after a draft.
+
+    Having got the cotton all shipped, Mr. Philbrick prepared to
+    go home, but he was not to leave without receiving from his
+    employees more than one expression of their growing
+    consciousness of power.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 9._ The women came up in a body to complain to Mr. Philbrick
+about their pay,--a thing which has never happened before and shows
+the influence of very injudicious outside talk, which has poisoned
+their minds against their truest friends. The best people were among
+them, and even old Grace chief spokeswoman. It is very hard, but not
+to be wondered at in the poor, ignorant creatures, when people who
+ought to know better are so injudicious,--to use the mildest term the
+most charitable interpretation of their conduct will allow. I don't
+see what is to be the end of it all, but at this rate they will soon
+be spoiled for any habits of industry.
+
+_Feb. 14._ As we went to the back steps to see Mr. Philbrick off, we
+found the people collecting with eggs and peanuts for him to carry. He
+told them that he could not carry the eggs to Miss Helen, but would
+tell her. Then Grace begged his pardon for her bad behavior and
+complaining the other day, and, collecting all the eggs which he had
+refused, told C. they were for him, and sent them by Rose into the
+house. She, with the other women, had complained of C. to him, and I
+suppose she meant it as a peace offering.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, Feb. 22._ I regretted that you were not present at the
+pow-wow after church on the 14th. Mr. Tomlinson talked very "straight"
+to Pompey and others about their having no right to live on my land
+without working for me at fair rates. He expressed his opinion very
+freely about the fairness of our prices and told them they must go
+and hunt up another home or work for us at these rates. I promised to
+sign a "pass," which you can do for me, promising to Pompey or any
+other man who works for us that as soon as he gets a piece of land of
+his own, gets a deed of it, and gets it fenced in, we will sell him a
+cow at cost, but I would not agree to allow their cows to run at large
+on the plantation, and Mr. Tomlinson said I was perfectly right.
+During the confab I overheard mutterings among the crowd such as "we
+shan't get anything," "it's no use," etc., serving to convince me that
+the whole subject would be quietly dropped unless stirred up by some
+such men as J. H. and F. J. W. again. Considering the prospect of high
+prices of molasses and bacon, etc., I think we may find it advisable
+to pay fifty cents all summer for what we had promised forty. But
+would do nothing about it till I have made my purchases of molasses,
+etc., and know just how the thing will stand.
+
+    An unexpected danger in the shape of an epidemic of
+    small-pox made its appearance in the middle of the winter
+    and lasted for two or three months.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+[_Jan. 29._] Mr. Philbrick vaccinated all the children here last year,
+and the few cases we have had have been among those grown persons who
+were vaccinated many years ago, and have all been very mild. It may
+run through the place, but it is not likely to be violent, and the
+quarters are too far off to expose us.
+
+_Feb. 26._ Rose came up as usual, but had such hot fever that I sent
+her home to add one more to the sick list there, where all but one
+have "the Pox," taken from Hester. I expected Rose would not escape.
+Moreover, Uncle Sam now has it, so Robert may give out in a few weeks;
+but no one has been very ill, and no one yet has died here. It seems
+to be a milder form than that which appeared at the Oaks and at Mr.
+Eustis', where a number have died, or else they give them more air
+here, which is I believe the fact. I do not go to the quarters now at
+all. I can do no special good in going, and they send to me for what
+they want.
+
+[_March 21._] Monday morning just after breakfast Rose came into the
+parlor with a funny expression on her face and asked me if I had been
+into the kitchen. "Well, Aunt Betty got de Gove_ment_ lump, for true;
+I shum yere and yere," pointing to her chin and cheek. So I went
+downstairs, and there was Betty on the floor, fairly in for the
+small-pox. I find the people call it "Govement lump," and those who
+have it "Union," those who don't "Secesh," while the fever which
+precedes the eruption goes by the very appropriate name of "Horse
+Cavalry!"
+
+_March 9._ In the evening, a little after nine o'clock, the air was
+suddenly filled, as it seemed to me, with a strange wild, screaming
+wail. At first I thought it must be the mules; but it rose and fell
+again and again in such agony, as I thought, that Mr. Soule and
+William went out to investigate, while I opened the window to listen
+more distinctly. It seemed to come from Uncle Sam's house, and though
+now more subdued I thought it the sobbing of strong men, and that I
+could distinguish Titus' and Robert's voices. But the gentlemen soon
+came back, saying that there were evidently a good many people in
+Uncle Sam's house having a merry time. I said that was strange, for
+he was not well, and that it sounded so like distress to me that I
+should think, if I supposed him sick enough, or that they ever
+manifested grief so audibly, that he had suddenly died. Several times
+before I went to bed I thought I heard the same sound, though more
+subdued. As I went upstairs to bed there began, at first quite low,
+then swelling louder with many voices, the strains of one of their
+wild, sad songs. Once before when Uncle Sam was sick they have had
+their praise-meeting up there, for he is the Elder. But it was not
+praise-night, and as the hymn ceased and I could distinguish almost
+the words of a fervent prayer, I was quite sure that, as is their
+custom, they were sitting up and singing with the friends of the
+dead,--all of the plantation who were not watching with the sick in
+their own homes. And so it proved. The night was wild and stormy, but
+above the tempest I could hear, as I woke from time to time, the
+strangely "solemn, wildly sad strains" which were continued all the
+night through. At sunrise they ceased and separated; the air of their
+last hymn has been running in my head all day. Then came the stir in
+the house--Robert making fires--I knew his step--and then Betty at my
+bedside to ask about the breakfast. "And Bu' Sam dead too," was her
+quiet remark when her business was done. "I dunner if you yeardy de
+whoop when he gone."
+
+    This practice of sitting up all night with the dying, H. W.
+    justly enough condemns as "heathenish:" "The houses cannot
+    hold them all, of course, and they sit round out-of-doors in
+    the street, the younger ones often falling asleep on the
+    ground, and then they 'hab fever.'" But of course it was
+    useless to expostulate with them; to their minds the
+    omission of the watch would be a mark of the greatest
+    disrespect.
+
+    The next two extracts furnish further comments on the
+    mismanagement preliminary to the land-sales.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Feb. 22._ Did you know we had long ceased to be philanthropists or
+even Gideonites? We are nothing now but speculators, and the righteous
+rail against us. A great crowd of our brethren have just come down to
+be present at the late sales. Mr. Philbrick and the purchasers of last
+spring paid about $1.00 or $1.25 per acre; now prices run from $5.00
+to $27.00 per acre.[154] There has been the most disgraceful
+squabbling among the tax-commissioners, General Saxton, Rev. Mr.
+French, and other authorities. The people are the victims. At first
+most of the lands were to be sold at auction in large lots; that
+brought in white settlers--and only a little was for negro sales. Then
+one commissioner sends up to Washington, gets orders for a Western
+preëmption system, and with a grand hurrah the negroes were told to go
+and grab the lands. The other commissioners then throw all possible
+obstacles in the way till they can get dispatches up to Washington
+too, and the answer comes back,--Preëmptions don't count, sell by
+auction.--And so!--This is a precious Department of ours.
+
+_March 14._ The past two months have been full of unpleasant
+work,--the people were unsettled, discontented, and grumbling. I hope
+their growling is nearly over, and look for quieter times soon. The
+disputes among the tax-commissioners have been very unintelligible and
+prejudicial to them. On some places I understand that the negroes
+refuse to have anything to do with the new proprietors. On others they
+have agreed to work, and the year as a whole will probably witness
+much more industry than either of the last two.
+
+    At about this time an appraisal was at last made of the
+    "chattel property" which had been found on the plantations,
+    with a view to selling it at auction. Of course Mr.
+    Philbrick and his superintendents, who had been using these
+    things ever since they came into possession, desired, in
+    most cases, to buy them. At the Fripp Point auction the
+    negroes showed their ungracious, not to say ungrateful
+    spirit, by bidding against W. C. G. and actually buying all
+    the mules, oxen, and cows away from him. In looking forward
+    to the auction at Coffin's Point; where the movables alone
+    had been appraised as worth more than Mr. Philbrick had paid
+    for the entire place, H. W. writes:
+
+_March 6._ We were doubtful how far the behavior of the Fripp Point
+people might affect ours, though C. was quite confident there would be
+no trouble--and moreover expected a good many outsiders, as R. said
+Beaufort people had been inquiring all through the week when the sale
+was to take place here, with the significant remark, "Coffin's Point's
+the place!" and we knew if they did come things would be run up very
+high. So that it was impossible not to feel a most uncomfortable
+anxiety all day.
+
+_March 7._ Monday morning the first thing I heard was Mike in excited
+tones calling to C. that the Fripp people were coming over "to buy
+everything out de gate"--that they would leave everything on top
+Massa Charlie, but that he must not let the stranger black people get
+anything.
+
+    Fortunately Mike's fears proved to be exaggerated, and Massa
+    Charlie got practically everything that he wanted.
+
+    The next letter, from Mr. Philbrick to W. C. G., is
+    concerned with several different matters. The last paragraph
+    will serve to introduce a number of extracts all concerned
+    with criticisms directed against Mr. Philbrick by
+    Abolitionists and negroes.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, March 24._ I hope no cases of merchandise will be opened
+without carefully comparing contents with the invoices, and if any
+errors are found they should be reported immediately. I am sorry to
+see that a considerable deficit was found in some of the stores, which
+I can only account for on the supposition of theft. I think sufficient
+care has not been taken to guard against theft from carts on road. The
+value of the property lost is not a matter of so much consequence as
+the demoralization to the thief and to others who are encouraged to
+similar practices by his example. I don't think the negroes one bit
+worse in this respect than the laboring classes of other countries,
+and not nearly so bad as the lower classes in all large cities. But we
+ought to be very careful how we expose them to temptations which they
+are not strong enough to resist, till such time as they acquire more
+self-respect than they are likely to in this generation.
+
+I shall not be able to make any dividend to the shareholders this
+year. After paying my advances and settling with superintendents,
+there will not be any surplus over the needs of the current year.
+
+Mr. F. J. W. has been quite talkative and rides his hobby to
+death,[155] concerning the rights of the negro to have land for
+nothing, etc., etc., expatiating upon the tyranny of the newly forming
+_landed aristocracy_, the gigantic speculators who are grinding the
+negro down, etc., etc., ad libitum. He held forth on these topics at
+length at a meeting of the Educational Commission about two weeks ago,
+and succeeded in making Professor Child and some others believe that
+the whole labor of the Commission for two years past had been wasted
+or overthrown by the recent changing policy, which had ousted them out
+of their promised rights and cast them out upon the merciless open
+jaws to devour them alive, etc., etc.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_April 18._ Just now it would seem as if the Sea Islands were to be
+abandoned to the negroes and wild hogs. I had heard some things of
+General Birney[156] before which led me to regard him as having
+injudicious sympathies, and should not be surprised at any time to
+have him send you home as a "fraudulent coadjutor" of an unrighteous
+speculation, upon the representation of Pompey and John, if they
+should happen to gain an audience after dinner some day. Joking
+aside, however, I think it would be a good plan to get Colonel S. to
+retract some of his nonsense, and I have no doubt he will do it at
+your request, for he is one of the most good-natured and
+well-intentioned men in the world. He is very likely to have said what
+the negroes say he did, indiscreetly, of course, and without dreaming
+what effect it might have. If the people continue to refuse to receive
+their money, as I don't believe they will long, I would consult Mr.
+Tomlinson about it. I think he will sustain us in anything reasonable.
+I think if Mr. Tomlinson were to tell John or Pompey that they would
+not be allowed to take any of their cotton and would be severely
+punished if they attempted it, it would have a good effect. Any way I
+think the matter will blow over soon. It is not strange that the
+negroes should act like fools when they have such examples before them
+as we see nowadays.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_April 18._ At night came Mr. Soule from Beaufort with an account of
+the investigations going on there concerning the tax-commissioners
+before Judge Smith, an agent sent by the President for the purpose.
+Mr. Soule found that he had also been commissioned to look into the
+affairs of our "concern," as the Fripp Point men had sent a petition
+to the President to be relieved from Mr. Philbrick's oppression! Mr.
+Soule and Mr. Tomlinson both saw Judge Smith, and had some talk with
+him at the meeting, which was a public one, and he was invited to come
+down here, see Mr. Soule's books and investigate all the charges
+thoroughly. Whoever drew up the petition (of course it had been done
+by a white man, but who we could not tell, for his name as witness had
+been omitted in the copy given Judge Smith) had so overshot the mark
+that it was palpably absurd to all who knew the facts, and happily Mr.
+Soule had found Judge Smith to be a fair-minded, able, clear-sighted
+person, who could not have dust thrown in his eyes.
+
+_April 21._ Sat waiting the arrival of Judge Smith, when about one
+o'clock Robert called to me that a carriage was coming. To my
+amazement, instead of the Judge alone or with only a friend, a great
+vehicle with four white horses and "sofas inside,"[157] as Rose said,
+dashed up to the front door with four gentlemen, Mr. Tomlinson and Mr.
+G. being on horseback besides. Of course I had to fly round about my
+dinner and get up tables large enough to seat thirteen people. By
+three dinner was ready and my guests at table--a very pleasant
+company: Judge Smith, a round, smooth-faced _gentleman_ between fifty
+and sixty, active and wide-awake; Judge Cooley, the new
+tax-commissioner, a Westerner and also very pleasant. Judge Smith took
+Mr. Soule's statement before dinner, and afterwards Mr. G.'s, all
+simply facts and with no waste of words. C. was not questioned at all.
+Then Mr. G. went over to the Point for the men there, for, though the
+Judge was satisfied that Mr. Philbrick was not a scoundrel and all of
+us aiders and abetters of his iniquities, we knew the men there would
+never be satisfied with the statement from any of us or Mr. Tomlinson,
+who had been talking to them for two hours that morning. Poor things,
+they are much more sinned against than sinning. They came flocking
+over so closely upon Mr. G.'s heels as to get here nearly as soon as
+he did, and the session of the Court began by the examination of John
+Major before tea, the others crowding about the door and filling the
+piazza, quiet and orderly, but eager listeners. Not a single one of
+our people came up. John Major is a discontented, conceited fellow,
+who has never worked for Mr. Philbrick, though his wife and children
+have, and he headed the petition. It was splendid to see how quickly
+the Judge saw through him, when he has been only a week in the
+Department, and could hardly understand what he said; but he showed
+the man pretty plainly what he thought of him, telling him, when he
+said the Government could not find him out [know him] that it _had_
+found him out, that it had his name in Washington, and that if he
+thought Secesh times were so much better, the Government loved him so
+well it would let him go back to his old master! After tea came 'Siah
+and Pompey, two very different men,--intelligent, hard-working, and
+honest, the former particularly truthful and reliable, men whom we all
+respect,--and it was a fine sight to see these men, only two years out
+of slavery, respectfully but decidedly standing up for what they
+thought their rights in a room full of white people. 'Siah only said
+that he thought he ought to have fifty cents for what he is now paid
+forty for[158] (about four hours work), but that he had given his word
+to Mr. Philbrick for this year and he would stand by it. He says he
+never signed the paper, or saw it, but that he answered the question
+the two officers asked him and told his name. Pompey afterwards
+stated that the two officers asked who owned the adjoining plantations
+and that one,--and that on being told that Mr. Philbrick had bought
+them all, said: "Then we need not go any further"--which looks like
+malice aforethought. The paper was, apparently, written at Hilton
+Head and there signed with the men's marks--if so, it is a
+forgery. Pompey's great difficulty seemed to have arisen from a
+misunderstanding of statements made by Mr. Philbrick, in which he
+considered that Mr. Philbrick took back his word, and so he had lost
+confidence in him and was ready to appeal to any one who promised to
+see him righted and relieved from his "confusion." He says, and all
+the men say so too, that Mr. Philbrick promised when he bought the
+land to sell it to them when the war was over for what he gave for it,
+and that when he was here last he told them he should ask them ten
+dollars an acre. This they all stand to, and cannot be convinced they
+have made a mistake, but have lost their faith because he has broken
+his word,--and outsiders have fanned the flame, telling them that if
+they did not work for Mr. Philbrick for what he chose to pay
+them,--and that he was paying them nothing,--he would turn them out of
+their homes, and more to the same effect. It was a most interesting
+occasion, and it was pleasant to feel that there was a man of so much
+sense in the Department. He tried to pacify the men, and then
+privately told Mr. Soule that he should advise Mr. Philbrick to pay
+the fifty cents.
+
+    The next day the gentlemen departed, Mr. Tomlinson going to
+    the smaller Philbrick plantations to make the newly-ordered
+    written contracts with the people. By the terms of a
+    circular issued April 1 by General Saxton, each
+    superintendent was ordered, before April 15, to make to his
+    general superintendent and to sign a statement of the
+    agreement existing between himself and his laborers. The
+    general superintendent was then ordered to visit the
+    plantation, explain the contract to the negroes, and affix
+    to it the names of all who agreed to the terms of it; any
+    laborer who objected to the terms was warned to leave his
+    employer or stay with him at his own risk. H. W. records the
+    reception given to Mr. Tomlinson by the Pine Grove people.
+
+_April 22._ They were silenced, but not convinced, but agreed for this
+year. Mr. Tomlinson had trouble with the people at Mr. Folsom's and
+Mr. Harrison's both. He had meant to do the job here, but could not,
+as C. was away. C. did not expect any difficulty, and I suspect that
+he was right, for just after all had gone, two of our men, "Useless"
+Monday, the stuttering cow-minder, and Hacklis, the sulkiest-looking
+man on the place, came up and, with the brightest smiles and cheeriest
+manner, began to ask me so earnestly how I was, that I felt as if I
+were not honest if I did not mention that I had a slight headache.
+"Mebbe de confusion make you sick, sorry for dat. Not one our people
+come up yere. We bery sorry for dat,"--and much more of regret, and
+assertion that "so long as Mass' Charlie on de place dey satisfy." Old
+Monday wished to know if the milk satisfied me, and was very much
+delighted when I told him that if he had not sent some up the night
+before I should have had none for the gentlemen's breakfast, and kept
+exclaiming, "I glad for dat," as if he had wished to express his
+sympathy by deeds as well as words. Then Hacklis said, "Come, let's
+go," as if they had come up simply to assure me that our people would
+give no trouble. I was touched.
+
+    The end of the story was a month later.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 27._ Mr. Tomlinson came home last night with C. and Mr. Soule to
+spend the night and make the contract with the people, so C. sent word
+to them to assemble in the cotton-house yard before they went to their
+work, and he and Mr. Tomlinson went down before breakfast, so that
+they need not be interrupted in their work. They were gone so long
+that we began to fear some trouble--indeed C. said he expected some
+"jawing," and that it would be strange if this was the only place
+where there was none; but not a word was said--the people apparently
+are so ashamed of the conduct of the women when Mr. Philbrick was here
+and so indignant with the "Fripp People" that they are on their best
+behavior.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Early May._ We have been having a funny time with our people lately.
+One of my plantations is decidedly ahead of all the others in
+intelligence and energy. They were so energetic about March 1 as to
+get a petition sent up to President Lincoln, praying for redress
+against their various oppressions. The matter was referred to some
+gentlemen coming down here to make other investigations, and two or
+three weeks ago they pretty thoroughly examined our affairs. I believe
+the result was pretty satisfactory. The originators of the movement
+were two dissatisfied men who have given me great trouble. There was
+much reason for some of their feeling, but very little for their
+complaints. As a result of the whole affair, however, I believe we all
+think it would be politic to increase our wages still more. At present
+we pay rather less than some, but our cheap stores far more than make
+up the difference. This, however, the people, instead of appreciating,
+only make the subject of more complaint.
+
+When that was nicely settled, I made the discovery that both
+plantations had thought it proper to plant a great deal of corn among
+my cotton. I had given them corn-land for themselves, but they, in
+pursuance of a Secesh custom of planting a little corn between the
+cotton rows, had done so to an outrageous extent. And they in many
+cases refused to take it out. The truth is here,--that we are rather
+more in the power of the negroes than they in ours. I shall insist on
+every grain being out, but actually shall probably have to do it
+myself. Well--such disputes are almost the only excitement I have;
+better some, perhaps, though unpleasant, than none.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, May 3._ As soon as I can get complete information from
+Liverpool about my claim on the insurance company,[159] I shall settle
+with them and be ready to settle with yourself, G., and Folsom. Are
+you not ashamed to put in your own private pocket the proceeds of the
+hard labor of the poor abused negro? I think you cannot have read the
+_Tribune_ and _Independent_ lately, or you would not be so depraved.
+
+    The sarcastic allusion in this last letter to the _Tribune_
+    and the _Independent_ refers to two letters which had lately
+    appeared in those papers respectively, the one signed "J. A.
+    S.," the other anonymous. Both were from Beaufort, and both
+    attacked Mr. Philbrick for a letter which he had recently
+    written (February 24) to the New York _Evening Post_. This
+    letter was the presentation which he had planned to make
+    proving from his own experience that it was possible to
+    raise cotton cheaper by free labor than had been possible by
+    slave labor.[160] In it Mr. Philbrick had also stated his
+    belief that the land-sales would be an injury to the negro
+    if they enabled him to buy at $1.25 an acre land which was
+    already worth much more and would, after the war, rise still
+    higher in value, for such purchases would be made largely as
+    speculations, and would destroy all incentive to labor. The
+    points of attack selected by the writers in the
+    _Independent_ and the _Tribune_ were Mr. Philbrick's rate of
+    wages,--why did he not pay his hands $2.50 a day?--his views
+    on the land-sales, which, they said, showed his desire to
+    make of the negroes an "agricultural peasantry," as
+    dependent upon great landed proprietors as ever they had
+    been in their days of slavery, and the course he had pursued
+    relative to his own purchases in land. "His own statements
+    of his intentions induced the almost universal belief that
+    he desired to buy land for the purpose of testing the
+    industrial capabilities of the negroes, and when they had
+    justified his confidence in this respect, that he would sell
+    them the lands in small allotments at the cost to himself."
+    His actual performance now, on the other hand, was to put
+    the price of his lands "further from their reach than
+    before," fixing it "according to the increased value which
+    their labor and proved capacity have given them." To these
+    three accusations Mr. Philbrick made reply in two letters.
+    First, as to the auction-sales, he agreed "that the good
+    faith of the Government should have been kept in regard to
+    the promised homesteads, however we may differ in opinion as
+    to the expediency of making the promise at this time."
+    Second, as to his scale of wages, he maintained that, on his
+    plantations, "whenever the amount of work done in a day
+    approaches the standard of a day's work in the North, the
+    wages also approach the limit of Northern wages, under
+    similar conditions."[161] Third, as to his alleged promise
+    to sell his land to negroes at cost, he said, "I am not
+    aware that I have ever committed myself to any definite
+    plans for disposing of this land; for I have not been able
+    to digest or mature any plan satisfactory to myself."[162]
+
+    There is nothing vital in these two letters of Mr.
+    Philbrick's which is new to the reader of these pages. They
+    are based on his firm belief that it was no kindness to the
+    negro to make discriminations in his favor.
+
+    Mr. Philbrick's message to his superintendents about the
+    increased pay demanded by 'Siah and Pompey, and his advice
+    to W. C. G. in the matter of corn planted between the rows
+    of cotton were as follows:
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, May 18._ I have already written expressing my assent to the
+rise of wages at any time when you shall all agree, and also write C.
+P. W. to-day that I should at any time assent to any change in the
+management, sustained by the unanimous approval of the corps upon the
+spot, without waiting to hear from me. You can avail yourself of the
+change to get rid of the corn in cotton-fields. I hope you will not
+pull it up yourself. I think such a step would lose more in dignity
+than you would gain in consistency of purpose. We must expect these
+people will take any undue advantage of us they think they can do with
+impunity, but I think such cases can be more readily reached through
+their pocket nerves than their moral sensibilities. Moreover, it is
+always better to do nothing in which we should not be sustained by the
+authorities, whose tender sympathies are not always judicious, as you
+know. I would not allow a hill of corn in the cotton-field, _i. e._, I
+would not pay the extra price till it is pulled up.
+
+    The next letter shows that the freedmen were waking up to
+    their rights in more ways than one.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_May 19._ We had a queer scene here on Tuesday. It is probably the
+first time that the slaves--contrabands--freedmen--have asserted
+themselves our fellow-countrymen by claiming the right of voting. A
+meeting was called in Beaufort to elect delegates to the Baltimore
+convention.[163] It was assumed that we could stand for the sovereign
+state of South Carolina, and so we sent her full complement of sixteen
+representatives, and furnished each with an alternate. There are
+hardly thirty-two decent men in the Department, it is commonly
+believed. A large half of the meeting consisted of blacks, and _four
+black delegates were chosen_, Robert Small[164] among them; the others
+I believe were sergeants in the South Carolina regiment. At one time
+there was considerable excitement, and white paired off against
+black,--but on the whole both colors behaved very well.
+
+The whole affair will be laughed at by the North, and it is hardly
+probable that the delegates will be received. I hope they will.
+
+    In this hope W. C. G. was to be disappointed. Not one of the
+    delegates was received.
+
+    With a group of H. W.'s letters the story goes back to home
+    life.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sunday, May 8._ I have been wanting to see a Baptism performed as it
+is here in the creek, and as there was to be one to-day C. arranged
+yesterday for us all to go up. We had a lovely drive, reaching the
+bridge by the church just as the Baptism began, and, sitting in the
+wagon where we could see and hear everything, we witnessed the whole
+ceremony and saw the vast crowd that had collected for the same
+purpose. As the last came up out of the water the people began to
+sing, and we moved with the crowd towards the church, which was
+presently filled, as many more people outside sitting about. We sat
+for about four hours, through all the services. The minister soon
+changed his clothes and came in, but in the meantime the people sung.
+Mr. Parker took occasion in his sermon to express very liberal views
+towards other denominations of Christians, and then invited "all
+members of sister churches to remain to the Communion service." There
+has been so much talk and trouble about this, and all who were not
+Baptists have been so vigorously excluded,[165] that we were very glad
+to see the new minister take a different ground, and remained gladly.
+While the deacons were arranging the Table, those who chose went out,
+after which the elders went to the doors to call them back. "Member,
+member, what you keep de church waitin' for?" and again the church was
+filled, floor and gallery,--I never saw such a sight,--but the
+minister's earnestness and the general seriousness of the people made
+it unlike a spectacle, and a serious, most interesting occasion. Then
+there was a collection taken up in the elders' hats, the people making
+change while old Robert would attempt to persuade them to leave the
+whole bill! Then two couples were severally married, not both at once
+after Mr. Phillips' heathenish fashion, pronouncing them all husbands
+and wives!
+
+_May 16._ I found that the Court was to meet here at nine o'clock. Mr.
+Soule asked me to be present, and I listened all day to the
+examination of the various witnesses. It was very interesting; but it
+was very sad to see how little dependence could be placed upon their
+word. Men and boys took the oath one after the other and then lied as
+if they had sworn to do so. Their ingenuity was wonderful, and we had
+to come to the conclusion that if those who we supposed spoke the
+truth had been on the other side they would have lied as badly as the
+others. It has now become very important to carry the case through and
+discover if possible who have perjured themselves, as they must learn
+how important it is for them to speak the truth. But little additional
+light was thrown by the labor of to-day, and they adjourned at night
+till Thursday, at Pine Grove.
+
+_May 19._ The court sat at Pine Grove, but though the moral certainty
+was very great, it was almost impossible to convict on the evidence,
+because they lied so.
+
+A man came in great excitement to tell us that the rebels had made a
+raid during the night onto Morgan Island and carried off all the
+people. F. and R. immediately took the sailboat and went over to the
+gunboat to let them know.
+
+_May 22._ F. went to church to find out about the poor Morgan Island
+people, and heard from Mrs. Wells that eleven people, men and women,
+had been carried off by fifteen Secesh--three of Hamilton Fripp's sons
+were among them. They took all the clothes, money, and eatables they
+could find, and told the people that they were living well and earning
+forty cents a day while their old mistress was starving and had no one
+to work for her, and they thought it was time they went to take care
+of her. One man escaped after his hands were tied, and one woman
+refused to get into the boat, and they knocked her down and left her.
+They have frightened poor Mrs. Wells pretty effectually by saying they
+should like to carry Mr. Wells off on the points of their bayonets.
+"That man that pays them forty cents a day." A picket has been
+stationed there and another on Eddings Point.
+
+_May 27._ My "seamster," Maria, has a little girl who she sent me word
+should be my little chambermaid, and she wished me to name her. Her
+youngest child, Noble, I did not know, he is such a great boy, and I
+remarked that he was bigger than Cicero was two years ago. "Too much,
+Missus, him lick Cicero now," and she explained that it was because he
+was a Yankee child, and then she and Rose enlarged upon the general
+superiority of the Yankee children, who could all "lick" all the
+Secesh children of twice their years! It was very funny, but I daresay
+there is some truth in it, as the women only work when they feel able
+to do so, and moreover they all have a greater variety of food.
+
+The boys returned from the gunboats with full accounts from the
+officers of the disgraceful abandonment of the expedition[166] and its
+complete failure, owing in the first place to the drunkenness of an
+officer and then to the failure of common sense. General Foster has
+arrived[167]--I hope he will prove to be somebody; this poor
+Department seems doomed. General Birney seems to have shown as little
+sense in this matter as on the negro question.
+
+_May 31._ To dine at Pine Grove, stopping on the way to see if I could
+find any of Pierce Butler's[168] people among the St. Simonians who
+have settled on the deserted plantation of Hamilton Fripp. Found one
+woman who was nursery-maid at Mr. Hazard's, who she said was a cousin
+of "Butler's;" she remembered him well and his two daughters, also
+Mrs. Butler. "She was a very great lady--a _very_ great lady, and a
+most beautiful lady--slender-like: she tell Mr. Butler if he give up
+the slavery, she would likes to live there, but she couldn't stan'
+that; but he wouldn't 'grees to that, so she goes 'way and she get a
+dewoce. Oh, but she could ride hos'!" She said that Mr. Butler was a
+very kind master to his servants indeed, "but sometimes he have bad
+overseer."
+
+_June 15._ Rode through the quarters to tell the people myself that I
+was going home for a visit. "But you comin' back dough--arter we get
+use' to you you mustn't lef' we--and you sarvice to we when we sick
+too much." "Hi!" said old Betty, "you brudder an' sister been eat you
+like one oyshter!" "Dey tink you like one angel come down," said old
+Judy, "and they no ben see you so long time."
+
+    The long letter that comes next is perhaps the most
+    interesting and convincing of all that Mr. Philbrick wrote.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, July 8._ Your long letter has received due attention, but I
+do not yet feel as if it would be advisable to sell lands any sooner
+than I had always intended, viz., at the end of the war. I agree with
+you that the present system is unsatisfactory and annoying, tending to
+develop the evil as well as the good that is in the negro character. I
+had about concluded to propose next winter something like the
+following plan, but don't think it good policy to promise _anything_
+now for two reasons: first, such promises would be distorted and
+misrepresented by the negroes among themselves in the interim, so
+that when the time comes, nothing but dissatisfaction and growling
+would result; second, because something may turn up in the meantime to
+change my mind as to what is best. My rough plan is to sell to the
+people at cost all live-stock and implements we could spare,--nearly
+the whole,--for which they can doubtless pay cash next winter. Then
+divide the lands among them to be used as they see fit for the
+remainder of the war, they to pay either a certain share of the cotton
+they raise, say one half, or a certain amount of cotton, annually.
+(Don't like this last.) A small farm to be reserved on large
+plantations to be sold to or worked by some white settler, who can
+devote his time there and act as our agent to look after our rights,
+and if possible work a little cotton on his own account, experimenting
+and introducing improved methods of culture. It might be almost
+impossible for such a man to get labor, but there will be some negroes
+too dependent in their habits to want to wait a year for their pay and
+some old people and widows who would prefer wages paid monthly. This
+white man's farm is, however, not a necessary part of the plan, and if
+labor can't be got, of course it wouldn't succeed. Teachers and
+store-keepers to be kept on the ground at our expense, who will look
+after the houses they live in and do whatever else they can to keep
+things straight.
+
+Another plan is to sell life-leases to the negroes, instead of the fee
+simple, disposing of the lands you propose to sell. This occurred to
+me as a means of avoiding the terrible and disastrous confusion which
+it will be next to impossible to avoid after a term of years, if the
+fee should be conveyed, when the purchasers die and sell or change
+land as they will to a certain extent in time. It is bad enough to
+trace a title and find out whether it is good for anything here in
+systematic New England, and difficult enough, too, to fix boundaries
+and maintain them against encroachments; but it makes my orderly bones
+ache to think of a time when, after some men now purchasing land shall
+die, leaving two or three sets of children, some born under wedlock
+and some not, some not their own but their wives' children, some even
+of questionable parentage, and some who were never heard of before,
+all claiming a slice of the deceased man's land, and of course all
+claiming the best. Suppose it was bounded by a "stake and stones" as
+of old here, minus the stones which are absent; suppose some of the
+claimants think best to set up a new stake where one has gone to
+decay, and suppose they are not over exact in placing it; or suppose,
+as is more than likely, their neighbor thinks the new stake encroaches
+on him and pulls it up entirely, stamping on the hole and putting it
+in according to his own ideas, etc., etc., ad infinitum. Now, as you
+must admit that all this is likely to occur, and worse too, would such
+a state of things tend to bring about a healthy and rapid development?
+Any one who has watched the minute subdivision of lands among the
+French peasantry knows that after a few generations a man has not land
+enough to live on or work economically, and hence a vast amount of
+time and energy is wasted in France for lack of organization;--that,
+too, where they have an administration of justice the most minute and
+exact to be found in the whole world, an organization of the judiciary
+which reaches to every man's case, however minute or inconspicuous.
+The life-lease system would avoid these troubles, but would be open
+to this objection, a serious one, too, viz., the negro ought to feel
+that in building up a home for himself, it shall be a home for his
+children, for he has too little of the feeling of responsibility for
+his offspring, which is one of the best stimulants to good order and
+civilization.
+
+The future value of the lands is a question I don't think of much
+consequence, neither is the question of profit to the present holders
+to be considered, when conflicting with the future welfare of the
+community. If we only had clearness of vision, the wisdom to see what
+would really be best for the masses, I sincerely believe that it could
+readily be adopted without in any way prejudicing the present profits
+of the holders. You speak of the probability of having less cotton
+planted for us in case your plan is followed. I shouldn't consider
+that of _any consequence whatever_, except that, as a general thing,
+the amount of cotton planted will always be a pretty sure index of the
+state of industry of the people, and their industry will always be the
+best measure of their improvement. It might take them some time to
+find out that cotton was the best thing for them to work on, but
+present prices are fast teaching them this fact.
+
+The objection noted above against a life-lease is a serious one, and
+perhaps sufficient to balance those future annoyances likely to grow
+out of selling the fee.
+
+I do not agree with you in what you say of the _unnatural_ dependence
+of these people. I don't see any people on the face of the earth of
+their rank in civilization who are so independent as they are.
+
+I don't see the justice of the claim to the soil now made in their
+behalf by Mr. J. A. Saxton[169] and others, and with which you seem to
+sympathize somewhat. The fact is that no race of men on God's earth
+ever acquired the right to the soil on which they stand without more
+vigorous exertions than these people have made. This is apparently the
+wise order of Providence as a means of discipline, or the misfortune
+of man, as a consequence of his failings, perhaps both; but I cannot
+see why these people should be excepted from the general rule. If they
+_have_ acquired the necessary qualifications to be benefited by
+becoming landholders, then there is no reason for delay; but here is
+the very point of difference between us, whether they would be in the
+long run so benefited.
+
+As to price, I never considered the question of profit to myself or
+those I represent as of consequence in fixing the price. It is no
+doubt an expression of this kind which gave rise to the general
+belief, claimed by some whites as well as blacks, that I would sell at
+cost, "was bound" to do so, etc. It did not occur to those who so
+believed that I could have any good or disinterested reasons for
+selling for more than cost. It may be difficult to fathom one's own
+motives in such cases, but I can say honestly that I do not believe in
+the success of a system of selling to any people any property whatever
+for less than its market value, with a view to confer a lasting
+benefit upon them. That is, I think the immediate ease which such a
+course would confer would beget idleness and unthrifty habits when
+compared with a system by which every man should be required to pay
+full price. No man or race of men ever truly appreciate freedom who do
+not fight for it, and no man appreciates property who does not work
+for it, on the same terms with those around him. I think they would be
+better off for paying ten dollars an acre for land, if the land is
+worth it, rather than one dollar, because they would use the land for
+which they had paid full price more economically, would be likely to
+get more out of it, and would be taught a feeling of independence more
+readily than by being made the recipients of charity.
+
+In this case, however, we have a complication of circumstances
+entirely unique. We have a number of people who have bought land at a
+rate fixed by Government, and a certain amount of "discouragement"
+would ensue if our people were charged more per acre than their
+neighbors for similar land. They couldn't be expected to see the
+justice of such an arrangement, and it is difficult for us to explain
+why it should be so. This is a very strong argument for selling cheap,
+for we should avoid any course which we should not be able to easily
+prove just, when dealing with such a defenceless people. Of course
+there would be a grand howl among the so-called philanthropists at the
+mention of any plan on my part of selling at any rate above cost,
+witness the sensation produced by my letter to the _Evening Post_; but
+I don't care much for that, and ought not to care at all. We couldn't
+sell the land as you propose[170] without calling forth a similar
+howl from this sickly sympathy, which would have me sell all the land
+and would accuse me of a tendency to aristocracy if I retained any
+lands to be disposed of otherwise. Of course the negroes wouldn't be
+satisfied either. I don't expect to satisfy them by any course which
+would be consistent with common sense. I think it possible that I may
+fall into such a plan as you suggest after I get down there next
+winter. In the meantime I don't want to make any promises.
+
+    The next three letters are full of the irritation engendered
+    by unintelligent orders from official superiors.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_July 17._ Do people look with any interest toward this Department,
+either for military achievement or civil improvement? The former
+require better men--generals--than we are blessed with; the latter may
+come,--after the war.
+
+Do people expect much of the negro of Port Royal? Let them expect. It
+is amusing to hear M. W.[171] She understands all the peculiarities of
+affairs down here with wonderful quickness and penetration; I have
+learned to respect her judgment and opinion. To hear her rail at these
+people, and slip out sly hints about the conduct of the "friends of
+the freedman" is a treat.
+
+Rose was sitting disconsolately on the wood-box the other evening; I
+began chaffing her about her melancholy looks. She did not say much,
+but presently she asked if I had heard from Miss Harriet again; I told
+her no, and she heaved a big sigh, and asked when she would come
+back. "Mass' Charlie, no one _know_ how I miss Miss Hayyut. If my own
+_mudder_ go Nort', I no miss her mo'." I asked her if she missed Miss
+Harriet more than I missed my "farmly," whom I hadn't seen for so many
+months. She couldn't tell. "Ebry man hab e own feelin'."
+
+_Aug. 17._ The unexpected opportunity to send off my letter was the
+visit of one Lewis Keller, from the provost marshal's office at Hilton
+Head; he came down to make inquiries concerning deserters, able-bodied
+men, etc., etc. He also obtained a map of the island, with plantations
+marked thereon. The provost marshal, I am sorry to say, is conceited,
+opinionated, and wanting in common sense and discretion. He has ideas
+which, if founded on anything, rest on reports only, and very vague
+reports too. He thinks, or rather (as the notion, once in his head,
+must stick there) he is certain, that there is communication between
+the negroes who buy at our stores and the rebels; that there is a camp
+of deserters (black and white) on Hunting Island, and that these
+deserters are employed in carrying supplies to the main; that the
+proximity of our stores to the rebel country is a dangerous state of
+things, not only inciting the rebels to come over, but likely to
+supply them with all they want if they do come. Also he thinks that
+the negroes have no business to have guns. Also he does not see what
+they can want with all the stuff sent on the _Kelley_. Now the
+_Kelley_ arrived just before the regulations which allowed plantation
+supplies to enter insurrectionary districts. The treasury agent at
+once offered to permit the _Kelley's_ cargo to come on shore. The
+provost marshal, who by this time appeared to be very willing to
+"help us all he could," took the invoice to General Foster, and came
+back with permission to land all of some things, one half the dry
+goods, one third only of the grocery supplies, flour, bacon, etc. We
+shall probably have to sell the rest at Hilton Head. Very provoking.
+Some of the supplies were small enough as they were; what is left will
+be about a mouthful apiece all around; _e. g._, one hundred and eighty
+barrels of flour came; my share would be about thirty-five. I could
+have sold twenty-five whole barrels, and peddled out the rest in six
+weeks. My share of sixty barrels will be about twelve! The provost
+marshal could not see what the people wanted of so much provision. Yet
+he has at his office the census of all these plantations, besides a
+written statement prepared by Mr. Soule of the amount bought at these
+stores within the last six months and the lists of purchases over five
+dollars at a time (we have to keep these lists, as one condition of
+keeping store).
+
+Besides restricting the quantity of goods, all the stores are to be
+closed except those at R.'s and Folsom's. I may sell what I have on
+hand, but not take in anything more. Ignorance, stupidity, and
+conceit.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, Aug. 24._ The recent assumption of authority by the military
+officials seems to have extinguished the Treasury Department in Port
+Royal. It is a difficult case to reach, for this officious
+intermeddling bears the semblance of earnest and zealous watchfulness
+of the public interests. Any representations at Washington will avail
+nothing, so long as Colonel H. cherishes the idea, or pretends to,
+that it is not for the public welfare to have us sell bacon and
+'lasses at Coffin's Point. Any permission from the Treasury Department
+which would appear to him as too lenient would only give him another
+chance to exercise his authority, which tickles his vanity and makes
+him appear a big man. A difference of opinion between him and myself
+would hardly be listened to at Washington, so long as it is upon a
+subject on which his superiors think him qualified to judge better
+than myself. Suppose the Secretary of the Treasury were to allow goods
+to be taken from Hilton Head without restriction, General Foster and
+Colonel H. would still think the rebels would get them, and, having
+the power in their own hands, would not be likely to allow us to avail
+ourselves of any such privileges. I should like to have the question
+asked him, "How the Coffin's Point people are to get supplies?" If we
+are forbidden to keep a store there, it certainly cannot be forbidden
+us to send a wagon-load of goods there for the supply of that
+plantation whenever needed, which will answer our purposes well
+enough. In order to avoid any trap-springing by parties who might
+think it a smart thing to tell Colonel H. we had not discontinued the
+store, it would be best to have a plain talk with him on the subject.
+We don't want to _keep store_, but supply the plantations, and need
+not keep any considerable stock on hand at these "exposed" points.
+
+    The next group of letters returns to the subject of negro
+    recruitment. By this time various Northern States, in
+    despair of finding enough men at home to make out the number
+    of recruits required of them by the general Government,
+    were getting hold of Southern negroes for the purpose, and
+    their agents had appeared in the Department of the South,
+    competing for freedmen with offers of large bounties. At the
+    same time General Foster made up his mind that all
+    able-bodied negroes who refused to volunteer, even under
+    these conditions, should be forced into the service. If the
+    conscription methods of the Government up to this time had
+    not been brutal, certainly no one can deny that adjective to
+    the present operations. Yet it will be seen that experience
+    has tempered the indignation of the superintendents, though
+    not their distress.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Aug. 9._ Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, agent for Massachusetts, has come.
+After looking about a little, he does not think the prospect of
+getting recruits _very_ brilliant, but his agents are at work in
+Beaufort streets, and may pick up a few men. He intends to send native
+scouts on to the main to beat up recruits; $35 a man is offered for
+all they will bring in. Colonel Rice intended to come down here
+to-day, but had to go and see General Foster and Colonel
+Littlefield,[172] Superintendent of Recruiting. (He--Colonel L.--calls
+it recruiting to conscript all he can lay hands on.) There is to be,
+not a draft, but a wholesale conscription,[173] enforced here.
+Lieutenant-Colonel Strong of the First South (Thirty-Third United
+States Colored Troops)[174] enrolled all colored men last month. It is
+possible, if the men can be made to understand this, that a few can
+be induced to volunteer, but I hardly think that many will be secured,
+either by enlistment or draft. Colonel Rice comes down here this week.
+Mr. Soule (just returned from Beaufort) describes him as a pleasant
+man, simple in manner, with great good sense, shrewd enough, and of an
+inquiring turn. He has gone right to work, not bidding for men, but
+offering the whole bounty, etc., at once, and at the same time he is
+trying to find out all he can about things and people here. I long to
+"shum" and keep him over night.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 23._ I'm glad to say that my plantations have at last
+contributed their share to the regiment. With two or three exceptions
+all my young men have gone,--twenty, more or less,--which has deprived
+me of at least half my stock of labor. They are carrying out the draft
+with excessive severity, not to say horrible cruelty. Last night three
+men were shot,--one killed, one wounded fatally, it is thought, and
+the other disappeared over the boat's side and has not been seen
+since,--shot as they were trying to escape the guard sent to capture
+all men who have not been exempted by the military surgeons. The draft
+here is a mere conscription,--_every_ able-bodied man is compelled to
+serve,--and many not fit for military service are forced to work in
+the quartermaster's department.
+
+_Oct. 12._ You ask more about the draft. The severity of the means
+employed to enforce it is certainly not to be justified, nor do the
+authorities attempt to do so,--_after_ the act is done. The draft here
+is carried on by military, not civil, powers. We have no civil laws,
+courts, officers, etc. Consequently the only way in which public
+operations can be accomplished is by issuing a general order and
+instructing the provost marshals to see it carried into execution. The
+only agents to be employed are necessarily soldiers, and the only
+coercion is necessarily that of guns and arbitrary arrests. The state
+of society--as far as regards the draft and also many other things--is
+one in which most men conspire to escape the voice of the law; so
+that, when such unfortunate occurrences happen as the late shooting
+affair, there seems to be nothing for it but indignation and sorrow,
+and perhaps an examination into the circumstances to discover if they
+justified recourse to such extreme action: _e. g._, the shooting seems
+to have stopped further proceeding in the draft. If there were any
+civil power here, such things would be as unjust and horrible as they
+seem. As it is, each case has to be weighed by itself and may prove
+better than it seems. The Massachusetts recruiting agents, of course,
+have nothing to do with enforcing the draft. But their presence seems
+to have increased its activity and their bounty contributes to its
+success. Nearly all my men have gone voluntarily (_i. e._, felt they
+must go, and, for the bounty offered, concluded to go without
+violence), and all are constantly writing home letters expressive of
+great satisfaction.
+
+    The letter following from T. E. R. (one of Mr. Philbrick's
+    superintendents, frequently referred to in these letters as
+    "R."), gives a capital idea of the pleasures of living under
+    military rule.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W. (AT HOME ON A VISIT)
+
+_St. Helena Island, Oct. 17._ An order was issued just before or about
+the time you left to take away all the boats, to prevent intercourse
+with the rebels; so they attempted to enforce it, but, after the first
+day, boats all went out into the _mash_ or up on dry land in the bush,
+and then alas for _General Order_ or any other man. Several
+applications were sent to General Saxton in reference to the matter,
+and these he forwarded to Foster, and he let his dignity down easily
+by permitting all the boats taken to be returned and all not taken to
+be retained, on the presentation to the provost marshal of
+_triplicate_ certificates describing the owner (age, height, color of
+eyes, hair, complexion, and occupation), describing boat (a pine
+dugout), certifying to the strict loyalty and _good citizenship_ of
+the owner, signed by general superintendent, and approved by general
+commanding. Isn't that red tape to perfection? They never went to
+Coffin's to take the boats, nor did they ever go there to get
+soldiers--strange, when it is thought by many that there is nearly a
+regiment on that plantation. Perhaps they feared _Coffin's
+Battery_.[175]
+
+    The next letter is from H. W., at the time of her return
+    with C. P. W. to Port Royal.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Nov. 12._ There had been so much delay and
+uncertainty over our arrival that Rose had gone home, but Rodwell
+stopped to tell her we had come as he went down with the cart, and she
+exclaimed, "Pray day come for me go see Miss Hayiut." In the morning
+she came early into my chamber, bright and eager. I knew Robert was
+black as the ace of spades, but they both of them did look blacker
+than anything I ever saw before, but it was good to see them.
+
+The next group of extracts is again occupied with the everyday events
+of plantation life.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 12._ As usual I managed to miss the last mail. Now that the W.'s
+and their party have returned, perhaps we may be assisted into greater
+punctuality. Fortunately for us they live farther from the human race
+by two and a half miles than ourselves, and can't reach it without
+passing within half a mile of our house. Politeness usually obliges
+them to come up and take our budget. We live on our friends in a great
+many ways here. Without attempting any system or intending to set a
+wrong world right, we realize all the best fruits of socialistic
+communities. If any one has anything good, he is expected to enjoy
+only a small piece himself; and most things that are done have a
+reference to our united, not to any individual interest. Our own
+geographical location is such that we are peculiarly fitted to receive
+the benefit of this interchange of good offices,--while we can hardly
+reciprocate as we ought to.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Nov. 19._ Alden and I were put on Plantation Commission work as soon
+as we got here, had a session Wednesday and tried several cases. The
+untrustworthiness of these people is more apparent and troublesome
+than ever. I feel as if it would not be safe to allow them to gin the
+cotton--it seems certain that a great deal of it would be stolen.
+Their skill in lying, their great reticence, their habit of shielding
+one another (generally by silence), their invariable habit of taking a
+rod when you, after much persuasion, have been induced to grant an
+inch, their assumed innocence and ignorance of the simplest rules of
+_meum_ and _tuum_, joined with amazing impudence in making
+claims,--these are the traits which try us continually in our dealings
+with them, and sometimes almost make us despair of their
+improvement--at least, in the present generation. It is certain that
+their freedom has been too easy for them,--they have not had a hard
+enough time of it. In many cases they have been "fair spoiled."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 27._ Rose is a trump. She does all my cooking neater and better
+than I have ever had it done--makes bread and biscuit and puddings as
+well as I could myself, and until this morning, with our help, of
+course, has done the chamber-work too. With those three children I
+have got along as well as I could ask. I begin to appreciate what and
+how much they have learned the last two years.
+
+[_Dec. 11._] Over seventy children at Sunday School. I had a very nice
+time with them indeed, and was much struck with their progress in
+general intelligence. Their eager, intelligent faces and earnest
+attention and interest in all I said to them were a great contrast to
+anything they would have manifested two years ago. Indeed, I could not
+have talked to them, and they would not have understood me if I had,
+in anything like the same way that I did to-day.
+
+_Nov. 23._ We saw Mrs. Vaughn, who seems to find life here very hard,
+and repeats the inevitable experience of all those who have ever had
+anything to do with the blacks previously, that these are the most
+degraded and barbarous of their race in the country.
+
+We met C. Soule and Captain Crane,[176] with their two servants,
+coming down to spend Thanksgiving. We had a right pleasant evening.
+Captain Crane played and sung, and we were very glad to hear the
+piano, and he to touch one.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 27._ On Thanksgiving Day we gathered together all our
+friends,--all our "set," at least,--and sat down, twenty-six of us,
+together, to eat turkeys and pies. It was a rather formidable thing to
+attempt, with negro servants and St. Helena supplies, but we had quite
+a good time, and have done our duty in giving the party. It is
+probably the last time that we'll all meet together. Those who are to
+stay next year are all bemoaning their fate; together we have had a
+very courteous and friendly circle,--rather peculiarly so for such a
+rough kind of life and surroundings,--and the loss of so many as will
+go will probably rob the work here of much of its pleasantness.
+
+    War, in the person of the triumphant Sherman, was again
+    drawing near, and the two young officers of the Fifty-Fifth
+    had barely celebrated Thanksgiving with the people from home
+    when they were summoned to take their part.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 28._ C. brought word that all the troops had been sent to
+Savannah to meet Sherman, and that citizens were on guard at Beaufort.
+
+_Dec. 1._ To-night comes C. from Beaufort with news of the Grahamville
+fight.[177] It is said we have been twice repulsed, and the fight is
+not over.
+
+_Dec. 2._ A cart came down from R.'s and brought a note from him to
+the effect that Captain Crane, who was with us such a short time ago,
+has been killed in the fight at Grahamville, but that C. Soule was
+unhurt.
+
+_Dec. 3._ The rumors with regard to the expedition are various and
+contradictory, but the impression seems to be that we have been
+whipped, but hold on and have intrenched at Grahamville. Mr. and Mrs.
+Soule are cheerful and brave, but very anxious, and it makes our
+hearts sink to hear the guns as we do. Pray God we may succeed this
+time and Sherman may come through. It will be such a day as has not
+been seen in this Department since Dupont took the place.
+
+_Dec. 4._ We have repulsed the enemy since we intrenched, and
+deserters say Sherman is coming.
+
+_Dec. 6._ Captain Crane found that his company was left behind at
+Morris Island, but begged so to go, that Colonel Hartwell[178] took
+him on his staff, sending a Captain Gordon, who had just come from the
+North, to take charge of his company. Colonel Hartwell was wounded and
+Captain Crane killed in one of the first charges, in which our troops
+were repulsed, so that Captain Crane's body was left in the hands of
+the enemy. To-night we hear that ten thousand troops have come from
+Fortress Monroe to reinforce us, and deserters tell of Sherman's
+advance and successes. You may imagine we are all on the _qui vive_,
+and anxious, for we hear all the firing.
+
+_Dec. 11._ Savannah is in Sherman's hands and Pocotaligo in Foster's.
+We hope and trust this is no South Carolina rumor.
+
+_Dec. 15._ To-night Mr. Soule brings word that Sherman breakfasted
+with Foster yesterday morning, on a boat that came to Beaufort to-day.
+
+    Just after Christmas Mr. Philbrick went back to Port Royal
+    to see to shipping his cotton.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 28._ Arrived this evening. No fellow passengers that I knew.
+Most of them were Sherman's officers who had left him at Atlanta for
+various reasons and now come to join him. Very pleasant men, with a
+degree of hearty good sense and whole-souled patriotism that was truly
+refreshing.
+
+
+
+
+1865
+
+    _The Georgia refugees--Sherman's army at
+    Beaufort--Discontent of the negroes about wages--W. C. G.'s
+    work at Savannah for the refugees--Return home of most of
+    the letter-writers--The death of Lincoln, its effect on the
+    negroes--End of the war and return of the planters--Stealing
+    of cotton by the negroes--Superintendents "demoralized on
+    the negro question."_
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 1._ Yesterday morning I had a talk with Mr. H.[179] in the yard,
+where he is at work framing the school-house. I like him very much. He
+is a somewhat rare combination of a refined gentleman, without much
+education, but very well informed and wide awake, and a modest and
+quiet industry with the most practical common sense. He is truly
+interested in the negroes, without the least bit of sentimental or
+ill-advised sympathy. He is very glad to come here and take charge,
+and I think he is the best superintendent I have had here at all.
+
+I saw some of the people who came about the house by chance during the
+day, and who seemed truly glad to see me. They have got quite over
+the land-fever, and say they prefer to work along as they have,
+wherein they begin to show sense. Rose is still the only cook and does
+very well, except that she sometimes bakes potatoes longer than she
+boils hams, etc., etc. I suspect H. helps her put things together
+somewhat. The Christmas tree was to have been last evening, but the
+rain prevented. C. P. W. has gone up to bring down Mr. Eustis and his
+two ladies to dine. The house being an elastic one, I suppose it can
+be made to hold several more people than at present, if they will only
+bring their own blankets. The old diet of sweet potatoes and hominy,
+ham, fresh pork, and waffles, holds its sway yet, with grunnuts in the
+evening, of course.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 2._ At sunset we all adjourned to the cotton-house, where the
+tree was all ready to be lighted. It was a very pretty sight, and
+after we had let the children in I sent word that the grown people
+might come and see, if they liked. Then, before anything was cut down,
+the children sang a number of the songs I have taught them, standing
+in classes, the smallest in front, their little eager faces
+irresistibly comic. The older people soon filled up the building,
+making rather a crowd, and a less manageable one than the children
+alone; but they were pleased at the sight, and when the noise became
+overpowering, I could stop it for the time being by starting a song,
+which the children would instantly catch up. Then I let the children
+sing some of their own songs in genuine, shouting style, a sight too
+funny in the little things, but sad and disagreeable to me in the
+grown people, who make it a religious act. It is impossible to
+describe it--the children move round in a circle, backwards, or
+sideways, with their feet and arms keeping energetic time, and their
+whole bodies undergoing most extraordinary contortions, while they
+sing at the top of their voices the refrain to some song sung by an
+outsider. We laughed till we almost cried over the little bits of
+ones, but when the grown people wanted to "shout," I would not let
+them, and the occasion closed by their "drawing" candy from C. as they
+passed out. I daresay this sounds pleasant, and I know they all had a
+good time; but if you could have looked in, you would have thought it
+Bedlam let loose!
+
+    The "Georgia refugees" referred to in several of the
+    subsequent letters were hundreds of negroes who had followed
+    Sherman's army northward. "They are said," says C. P. W.,
+    "to be an excellent set of people, more intelligent than
+    most here, and eager for work. They will get distributed
+    onto the plantations before a great while."
+
+_Jan. 6._ Miss Towne gave us quite an interesting account of the
+Georgia refugees that have been sent to the Village. The hardships
+they underwent to march with the army are fearful, and the children
+often gave out and were left by their mothers exhausted and dying by
+the roadside and in the fields. Some even put their children to death,
+they were such a drag upon them, till our soldiers, becoming furious
+at their barbarous cruelty, hung two women on the spot. In contrast to
+such selfishness, she told us of one woman who had twelve small
+children--she carried one and her husband another, and for fear she
+should lose the others she tied them all together by the hands and
+brought them all off safely, a march of hundreds of miles. The men
+have all been put to work in the quartermaster's department or have
+gone into the army, and the families are being distributed where they
+can find places for them.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 8._ Miss Towne told some amusing stories of the Georgia
+refugees. Some of them, being very destitute, were bemoaning their
+condition, and wishing they had never left their old plantations,
+feeling rather abashed at the responsibility of taking care of
+themselves. The old Edisto people, who have been there a year or two,
+encourage them, saying, "Look 'o we," "We come here wi' noffin at
+all," "Now we have money for cotton and all the tater and hominy we
+can eat," etc. One woman said, "Bress the Lord, I have striven and got
+enough to give _seven_ gowns to these poor folk." So it seems they do
+what they can for the new-comers. I guess these Edisto people, who
+have their own recent destitution fresh in mind, are more kind than
+the natives of St. Helena, who are rather inclined to be jealous of
+the new-comers, who make the labor market rather easier than before.
+
+_Jan. 6. Monday._ I had a talk with the people, who came up to see me
+in a crowd in the forenoon. They seemed jolly, and had no complaints
+to make about the past, but wanted higher wages for the future. I
+talked with them very quietly for an hour, told them I would give
+higher wages if I felt sure the price of cotton a year hence would
+pay me as well as the past crop,[180] and told them if they wanted to
+share this risk with me, I would give them a share of the cotton for
+their wages. They all objected to this except one or two of the men,
+who said they would like such an arrangement, but their _families_
+couldn't wait so long for their money. On the whole they preferred
+wages, and therein showed their sense, I think. I find that when my
+last cargo arrived in the _Redwing_, the people who had worked for me
+had their pockets full of money and bought what they wanted, but the
+men who had been cultivating cotton on their own hook looked on with
+envious eyes and empty pockets, creating a very general impression in
+favor of the _wages system_. Under this impression, I think they will
+fall to work gradually at similar wages to what I have been paying,
+but will probably lie idle a few weeks to think about it, in hopes I
+will offer more.
+
+_Tuesday morning._ I heard that the schooner was at Fuller Place to
+take our cotton. We have been at it ever since till yesterday noon,
+when we put in the last we had, nearly filling her up. There was about
+half of it negro cotton, brought from one hundred and seventy-six
+different proprietors, for whom I act as agent in forwarding and
+selling it. I drove over to spend the night at Mr. Wells' house on
+Wednesday. He had gone to Morgan Island to receive and stow away some
+one hundred and fifty Georgia refugees, which were expected by a
+steamer from Beaufort. After he had waited for them all day, they
+arrived about sunset, and he spent half the night there in the rain,
+stowing them in houses and getting their baggage up from the steamer,
+which lay at anchor in the river discharging into small boats. They
+came from the shore counties near to Savannah, and brought a good deal
+of truck, beds, and blankets, and some rice and peas. Mr. Wells gave
+them rations for a week, and I suppose will continue to do so, for
+they can't get anything to eat till next harvest in any other way. The
+able-bodied have all been taken either by the rebels or our Government
+for fatigue duty and quartermaster service, so those who come here are
+all women, children, or cripples, such as we had before. They will
+doubtless be so glad of a home, however, that they will do a good deal
+of work. Of course it is not an economical class of labor, for it
+takes too much land to feed the non-workers to allow a great deal to
+be planted in cotton. In the morning I walked out with Mr. Wells and
+sold him both the plantations of which he has had charge for me, viz.,
+the Jenkins place, where he lives, for $1600 or $10 per acre, and
+Morgan Island for $1200, or about $5 per acre, which is more than any
+one would have given a few weeks ago, when we couldn't get a negro to
+stay there for fear of the rebels. I daresay he may do very well with
+it now, but it is a vexatious thing to get rations to them in such an
+out-of-the-way place, and, after all, young Mr. Fripp may make them
+another visit some night and carry off some more negroes.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Jan. 8._ Howard's[181] corps came to Beaufort early last week, and
+carpenters and engineers have been busy putting the Shell Road[182] to
+the Ferry in order and building a bridge across the Ferry. It looks as
+if a move were to be made towards Charleston or the interior soon.
+Beaufort presents a lively spectacle; the Western soldiers are rough,
+unkempt customers, whose hair, falling over their shoulders, suggests
+vows of abstinence from the shears till they shall have accomplished a
+great work. The first few days of their stay in Beaufort were marked
+by acts more amusing to the soldiers than to the owners of property
+"lying round loose." The first night was chilly, and three thousand
+feet of lumber furnished bonfires at which the soldiers of the
+"movable army" warmed themselves. Shopkeepers do a tremendous
+business, and their shops look "fair dry;" but they do not always get
+pay for their goods, but are requested to look on the battlefield for
+their money. The troops were paid off just before leaving Atlanta, and
+are "flush." Bread is very scarce. The troops fared very well on the
+march,--one continued Thanksgiving through the richest part of
+Georgia.
+
+The schooner _Horace_ for New York, with the rest of our cotton and
+the first of the negroes', is loaded. The negroes' crops did not turn
+out very well, as a general rule; want of manure and careless working
+being the principal causes; the caterpillar did a great deal of
+damage. They seem somewhat discouraged at the prospect of having to
+wait so long for their money; but the advance paid them on shipping
+the cotton (a dollar a pound of ginned cotton) will be a great help to
+those who have done well.
+
+It is an excellent thing for the property here that Mr. H.[183] is
+here to keep it in repair. He is a regular trump, the best man down
+here. I feel more contented at leaving the place with him than with
+any one here.
+
+If I could have a place down here all to myself, and have what help I
+wanted, I think I should stay another year and try the experiment on a
+little different plan. But, as Mr. Folsom said one day, when we agreed
+that it would be pleasant to stay and hard to leave, "But, after all,
+one must remember that one has an immortal soul."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 11._ Mr. Soule, coming from R.'s, tells us that a salute fired
+the day before was for Stanton's arrival, come to confer with Sherman.
+
+    The next paragraph suggests that the Secretary of War had
+    come for something besides a conference with Sherman; at any
+    rate, he took speedy action in one important direction.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 18._ We stopped at Miss Towne's new school-house to see them all
+in it, and found to our pleasure that General Howard was addressing
+the children. General Saxton, too, was there, in his new
+major-general's straps. I was very glad to see General Howard, who
+has superseded General Foster here. He has a very nice face indeed,
+and his one arm seemed to make quite an impression on the children.
+Stanton has been investigating the conscription business, and Foster's
+removal is the result, apparently, while Saxton has been promoted.
+
+    The next letters, Mr. Philbrick's last from Port Royal,
+    contain various pieces of Sea Island news, chiefly in
+    connection with his plans for the next year and his
+    difficulties with his laborers.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 9._ I started for Coffin's Point, meeting a long procession of
+the people on the way to church. More than half the number were in
+sulkies or some sort of go-carts, with all sorts of animals pulling
+them, mostly quadrupeds that had once been horses,--and some might
+still bear that name. I had to stop and shake hands every few rods, of
+course. I have spent most of the day at Fripp Point, with Mr. York.
+Mr. G. had not been able to collect the rent of corn-land there, to be
+paid in corn, most of the men refusing to pay. He had withheld enough
+from their pay to cover the amount of corn due. I took over the money
+due, with the pay-roll and corn-list. After a long talk on the part of
+Pompey and John Major and others, which I listened to patiently, most
+of them still refused to bring their corn. But I felt pretty sure that
+when some began they would all do it, and so opened the door of the
+corn-house and told the willing ones to bring in their corn. Jack came
+first, then Katy, Louisa, and Moll. Pretty soon John Major came along
+with a cart-load, and all the rest followed but Pompey. Then I began
+to pay off the women for ginning and preparing their cotton. All went
+smoothly except that Celia wanted her "yellow-cotton-money"[184]
+"by himself," and as I couldn't tell exactly how much the
+"yellow-cotton-money" was, I had to take her money all back and tell
+her to go over and see Mr. G. After paying the others, however, Celia
+came up and concluded to take her dues. They all took their money
+excepting Pompey, who stoutly refused, and I came off without paying
+him. Then came the talk about next year. I introduced Mr. York as
+having leased the plantation for the year, which fact was received
+with less dissatisfaction than I expected; but when it came to talk
+about prices, which I left for Mr. York to settle, they all demanded
+_a dollar a task_, evidently having been preparing their minds for
+this for some time back. Then followed the usual amount of reasoning
+on my part, enlarging upon the future uncertainty of prices of cotton,
+etc., but we made little or no impression on them. They had evidently
+been listening to an amount of talk about the wealth I had acquired at
+their expense, and felt aggrieved that they were not making money as
+fast as those who planted their own cotton, on Frogmore and other
+places. I told them that the proceeds of last year's crop had all been
+expended by me in carrying on this year's work, but they wouldn't
+believe it. John Major said he knew very well they had been jamming
+the bills into that big iron cage (meaning my safe at R.'s) for six
+months, and there must be enough in it now to bust it! It had been
+raining for the last half-hour pretty steadily, and we finally
+withdrew, the choir of hands hanging about me, singing out "A dollar a
+task!" "A dollar a task!" as we went off.
+
+_Jan. 15._ I went out and introduced Mr. Jackson on Tuesday morning to
+the Pine Grove people, who expressed very little surprise or feeling
+of any kind, but met him with the same cry which had greeted me and
+Mr. York at the Point about _a dollar a task_. I left him with them
+and rode over to Cherry Hill with old Mr. Waters. The Cherry Hill
+people received us very well. Tony had a long list of grievances to
+relate, for Mr. Folsom had had him in jail for a fortnight for
+refusing to bring out his cotton, raised for me, which he kept in his
+own house. I listened quietly, and then told Tony I couldn't go behind
+the decision of the court, but if he had any other matters in dispute
+with Mr. Folsom he had better come up to the house in the evening and
+we would talk them over together; but he never came, probably from a
+sense of guilty conscience.
+
+Primus and Mike and several other negroes were there [in Beaufort],
+buying horses from officers and men in Sherman's army, titles very
+uncertain, for they mostly belong to the quartermaster. I advised them
+not to buy a horse till the ownership was certified by an officer, but
+they were too much in a hurry for that and hooked on to the first
+quadruped they could find offered for sale. The fact is that thousands
+of horses are attached to this army which are picked up by the
+privates in their march through Georgia, and which these privates
+pretend to own, and sell without authority, pocketing their money as
+fast as they please. Some of them are very good horses, and some are
+not. The town was crowded with the army, on a general leave to ramble
+about, and new troops continually arrive. One entire corps marched
+over Port Royal Ferry yesterday, and two more army corps are said to
+be following. Some twenty steamers arrive daily at Beaufort direct
+from Savannah, bringing the troops and wagons, artillery and animals.
+So you can imagine what a confusion appears in the streets as they
+disembark and march out to camp. The greater part of the whole army
+seems to be coming around this way and marching over the Ferry towards
+Pocotaligo. Secretary Stanton is said to have arrived from Savannah at
+Beaufort last evening. It seems that Primus and the other negroes were
+about to get their new horses over the Ferry, when the provost marshal
+sent down a guard to seize men and animals, and marched them all off
+to the guard-house for the night. The horses will probably be taken
+away from them and the men allowed to pursue their way this morning,
+with more sense and less money than they came with. I don't pity them
+much, for they were fairly warned, and their eagerness to own horses,
+for which they pay from $200 to $300 each, is perfectly absurd.[185]
+
+_Later._ An interesting scene has just taken place. May's Comba
+knocked at the door and asked me to come out in the entry a minute.
+Thinking there might be some domestic trouble, though she looked
+smiling, I went out and found about twenty women (representative
+women) about the door. Comba disappeared in the mass with a giggle,
+and old Grace spoke up, about as follows: "I'se come to you,
+sir"--pause--"I'se been working fer owner three years, and made with
+my chillun two bales cotton last year, two more this year. I'se a
+flat-footed pusson and don't know much, but I knows those two bales
+cotton fetch 'nough money, and I don't see what I'se got for 'em. When
+I take my leetle bit money and go to store, buy cloth, find it so
+dear, dear Jesus!--the money all gone and leave chillun naked. Some
+people go out yonder and plant cotton for theyself. Now they get big
+pile of money for they cotton, and leave we people 'way back. That's
+what I'se lookin' on, Marsa. Then when I come here for buy 'lasses,
+when Massa Charlie sell he sell good 'lasses, then when Mister W. sell
+he stick _water_ in 'em, _water enough_. Molasses turn thin, but he
+charge big price for 'em. Now I'se done working for such 'greement.
+I'se done, sir." Whereupon chorus of women join in like a flock of
+blackbirds all talking at once. After a while I got a chance to say
+about as follows: "If any one wants to work on this plantation I will
+give them so and so (naming terms), but if any one don't like my
+wages, they may go and find better, but they can't use my land to
+plant their corn and 'tater on. That's my rule." Chorus interrupts
+with discordant shouts: "I stay right here, sir--I will work this
+land for myself, sir--I will sell the cotton," etc., etc. Amaritta
+and Petra stood silent all this time, and finally Amaritta quietly
+asked me to repeat my terms, which I did. She repeated them after me
+word for word, but said nothing more, only nodded and grunted a sort
+of assent. The chorus became wilder and more noisy, and I walked off
+into the house. Presently Demus came to the door and said Amaritta
+wanted to see me by heself. So I went to the door, and Amaritta called
+Tilly, Petra, and one or two others. Thus said Amaritta: "I'se work
+for you dis lass year, sir, what I was able. I been sick, you know,
+wi' small-pox and didn't get much strength all summer, but I don't
+mind much what them people say, sir, they'se got no manners. Now you
+say you'll give so and so (carefully repeating my terms). Well, sir,
+I'se come to say I'se 'gree for work. I 'speck to work, sir. I want to
+lay my bones in dat air bush (pointing to cemetery), and don't want to
+go nowhar else; that's what I wanted to say, sir." Then the other two
+or three women chimed in with smiling faces and said the same in fewer
+words, and so I bid them good-morning. I told them, too, that if some
+of those people who made so much noise didn't look out, they would get
+turned off the place, just as Venus and her gang got turned off last
+year. The fact is, they are trying to play brag, as such people often
+will; but they will all go to work in a few days, I feel sure.
+
+_Jan. 17._ Mr. Folsom went over to Port Royal Island with Mr. G. on
+Sunday, taking their own horses, and rode over Sherman's pontoons at
+Port Royal Ferry, without a challenge, and then up the mainland as
+far as Pocotaligo Bridge, around which the 17th Army Corps is
+encamped, in full possession of the railroad. Mr. G. called here an
+hour ago on his way back, and told some of his experiences. He says
+they were taken for "Secesh" by our own troops, all the way, just as
+we all are in Beaufort, for the officers themselves seem to be hardly
+aware that we are all Yankees, taking us for the old residents of the
+island, made loyal by our experiences.
+
+Every one wonders what brought Secretary Stanton here. He seems to
+have done something, at any rate, viz., hauled General Foster over the
+coals severely for his negro conscription last summer, promoted
+General Saxton to a brevet major-general, with enlarged powers; and,
+report says, put General Howard in place of General Foster. The
+newspapers will tell you all I know, and more, too, without doubt. Mr.
+Tomlinson, who was about disgusted with things here as he found them
+when he came back from the North, and had concluded to go to
+Philadelphia to take some position offered him there by the
+Philadelphia committee, now thinks he will remain here,--for which I
+am very glad. Very few men could be so useful as he in this place; for
+though he has a weak spot on the question of negro character, he has a
+vast deal of good sense in detail, and is perfectly unimpeachable in
+his stern regard for justice, never allowing himself to be _used_ in
+any way for the furthering of the designs of interested parties. No
+one who has not spent some time under martial law knows how hard it is
+and how _rare_ for men in office to follow such a course, unswerved by
+either flattery or ambition.
+
+_Jan. 22._ General Saxton came over to the St. Helena church last
+Sunday, and set all the Edisto people into a stew by telling how he
+was going to send the black troops there to defend the islands, and
+how they might all go back to their "old homes," etc., forgetting that
+they were not natives of Edisto, but only refugees when there, and
+that they were now more comfortably settled here than they were there
+in 1862. The Georgia refugees are coming along by hundreds and
+thousands, and he "wanted to make room for them," etc. Of course the
+Edisto people all say the General has ordered them to pack up and he
+will carry them back, etc. So, many refuse to work, but pack up and
+sit still, waiting for the General to come along and tote them across
+the sound! The Georgia negroes are a superior-looking set to those of
+these islands. Many are taken in outbuildings, etc., and have given a
+good start to labor by giving the impression that if the old residents
+don't work, _somebody else will_. They have gone to work for Mr. York
+at Fripp Point, and here for Mr. H., and all along the road generally.
+George Wells has got over a hundred Georgians on Morgan Island doing
+well, and I guess the rebs won't trouble him, they are too busy.
+
+Mr. Tomlinson is to take the place on General Saxton's staff formerly
+held by Captain Hooper, but without military rank. C. F. Williams is
+to take Mr. Tomlinson's place here.
+
+We hear by your letter the list of the passengers lost on the
+_Melville_. All our worst fears are confirmed, and you were right in
+supposing that it was our acquaintances who were lost. This miserable
+steamer I once talked of coming on, by her previous trip, but gave it
+up when I found her character.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Jan. 23._ I think I suggested in a previous letter the possibility of
+my staying here. Sherman's operations have opened a wider sphere for
+negro work and thrown a great number of refugees into our hands. And
+his approaching campaign will have a similar effect. General Saxton
+has been appointed "Inspector General," with control of all negro
+affairs from Key West to Charleston and thirty miles inland. The first
+thing proposed is to recolonize Edisto and the other deserted Sea
+Islands with the refugees, and men are wanted to assist in their
+settlement. I have been offered a situation of this kind, or rather
+the General has simply asked a few of us to stay, and Mr. Tomlinson,
+Folsom, and myself will all remain for the present at least. I know
+nothing more than this, but I look forward to a rough life, something
+like our first year here. I shall probably go to Edisto in a day or
+two. There will be no danger from attack, etc., as a regiment is to be
+stationed there. The island is described by all as the finest and
+healthiest of all the Sea Islands.
+
+If there is any movement afoot in Boston for the assistance of the
+negro refugees that Sherman's operations throw into our hands, it can
+be of the greatest benefit. The efforts three years ago were made
+chiefly for persons left in their own homes, and with their own
+clothing and property, besides their share of the plunder from their
+masters' houses. And in many cases too much was given. But now
+hundreds and thousands are coming in, shivering, hungry, so lean and
+bony and sickly that one wonders to what race they belong. Old men of
+seventy and children of seven years have kept pace with Sherman's
+advance, some of them for two months and over, from the interior of
+Georgia; of course little or nothing could be brought but the clothing
+on their backs and the young children in arms. Since their arrival in
+comparatively comfortable quarters, great sickness has prevailed, and
+numbers and numbers have died. The Government gives them rations, and
+has tried to give out clothing. But if clothes, cooking utensils,
+etc., can be sent by Northern friends, nowhere can generosity be
+better extended.
+
+_Savannah, Feb. 16._ As you see, my destination has been changed.
+General Saxton needed a kind of colonization office here, and I am
+sent as an assistant. How long this will continue my headquarters I
+don't know. I am writing in a very large and fine house formerly
+occupied by Habersham, rebel. It is full of fine furniture. Our
+office, too, is one of the City Bank buildings. The prices are regal,
+too--$15 per week for board, _e. g._
+
+_Mar. 7._ The work at the office continues the same in kind, and the
+stream of waiters increases. We hope to send quite a company off to
+some of the more distant islands before long, but are terribly
+embarrassed for want of transportation. First, no steamer! then no
+coal! And when one can be had, the other can't. General Saxton is
+still, as ever previously, left to get round on one leg. His work is
+of course always inferior in importance to the needs of the military
+service, so there is never an absence of reason for refusing him what
+he wants. "Bricks!--without straw," has so far been the usual
+fortune. Soon a gentleman is going out towards the Ogeechee to report
+numbers and condition there. It seems to be a Central Asia, from the
+population that swarms in for rations. Compared with those who apply,
+few are allowed them. No one who can show a finger to pick with and
+reports an oyster to pick, is allowed to come on the Government for
+support.
+
+    Here follows the last letter from G., written three months
+    later, not long before he came away.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Savannah, June 9._ Our business has slacked greatly, and is now
+mainly kept up by recent refugees from the up-country. We have stopped
+more than half the rations, and almost every family within a dozen
+miles has been represented at the office and been furnished with the
+proper papers. But slavery still exists in the interior and is
+spending its last moments in the old abominations of whipping and
+punishing. Of course it is nearly dead,--the people know they are free
+and the masters have to own it,--but the ruling passion is strong in
+death.
+
+    W. C. G. left the South in June; H. W. and C. P. W. had gone
+    several months before him. The letters written at intervals
+    during the next two years are mostly addressed to the latter
+    by F. H. and T. E. R. They report the gradually changing
+    conditions and increasing difficulties of plantation
+    superintendence.
+
+
+R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, April 29._ Mr. H. is getting on pretty smoothly,
+though he has occasionally to take a dose of what Mr. York calls
+"Plantation Bitters," in the shape of complaints, faithlessness, and
+general rascality on the part of the "poor negroes."
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G. (IN SAVANNAH)
+
+_Boston, May 1._ You will see by the papers all about the fall in
+prices. The Liverpool cotton men had lost twelve millions sterling
+upon the depreciation of their cotton in store before they heard of
+the fall of Richmond and Lee's surrender. There is a terrible panic
+there, and some of the best firms are failing. After things have come
+to an equilibrium, and the manufacturers begin to buy cotton for
+spinning, there will be a demand for ours, but it may take several
+months, for they haven't got to the bottom of the trouble yet.
+
+The affairs at St. Helena seem to be progressing quietly. The chances
+are that all the cotton we raise this year will cost nearly if not
+quite as much as we shall get for it. I advanced a dollar a pound on
+the negroes' cotton, you know, and it has cost me about twenty-five
+cents a pound more to gin it, etc., etc., while I am offered less than
+a dollar. Query: how much commission shall I get for doing the
+business?
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_St. Helena, May 6._ The Coffin's Pointites had a gay old blow-out
+over at church, owing to Mr. Williams' telling them that they must pay
+Mr. Philbrick for pasturing their horses. They called Mr. P. a thief,
+robber, liar, and everything else that was bad.
+
+The death of Lincoln was an awful blow to the negroes here. One would
+say, "Uncle Sam is dead, isn't he?" Another, "The Government is dead,
+isn't it? You have got to go North and Secesh come back, haven't you?
+We going to be slaves again?" They could not comprehend the matter at
+all--how Lincoln could die and the Government still live. It made them
+very quiet for a few days.
+
+Secesh are coming back quite freely nowadays and looking about as much
+as they please: Old Ben and young Ben Chaplin, several of the
+Pritchards, and Captain Williams, that owned a plantation on Ladies
+Island.
+
+The negroes begin to clamor about the final payment for their cotton,
+and we have to tell them that the probabilities are that there will
+not be any more. Then they think we have cheated them, and so the
+world goes in South Carolina. Rather a thankless task.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's, May 21._ The honesty of this people and their disinterested
+benevolence are as apparent as ever. Please don't exaggerate these
+valuable qualities, either in the papers, to the Educational
+Commission, or in your private conversation; because it is better that
+those who are interested in the welfare of these people should not be
+deceived into the notion that they are so nearly perfect as to need no
+further expenditure of benevolent effort. Of course, we know the great
+danger of your wreathing your account of them in roses and laurel.
+One's enthusiasm is so excited in their behalf by a few years'
+residence here, that his veracity is in great danger of being swamped
+in his ideality, and his judgment lost in his admiration. So pardon my
+warning to you.
+
+The McTureous lands have recently been sold, and about every family
+upon this place has got its five or ten acres. I tell them they had
+better move or build houses upon their lots and be independent of "we,
+us, and co." But the idea seems to meet with little favor. A good many
+of them are expecting these lands to be offered to them the coming
+year, now that the war is about over, Dr. Brisbane, General Saxton,
+and others assuring them that such was Mr. Philbrick's promise when he
+bought them. I think there would be some important advantages to white
+proprietors as well as black laborers, if they had some ten acres of
+land of their own,--at least enough to raise their own provisions
+upon, and to keep their own hogs and horses upon. Such an arrangement
+would rid us of many annoyances, and help define the rights of each
+party.
+
+    "G.'s article," referred to in the next letter, was entitled
+    "The Freedmen at Port Royal," and appeared in the _North
+    American Review_ for July, 1865.
+
+
+R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Sept. 10._ G.'s article is well written and
+interesting. He was evidently disposed to report as favorably as
+possible for the negroes, while at the same time he seems to have
+suspected that the reader would be a good deal impressed by the darker
+shades of his sketch, and the conclusion of the whole is: There is
+ground for hope, but the case is a pretty desperate one. A conclusion
+to which, I confess, my own observation and studies lead me, whichever
+way I turn.
+
+The furor among the negroes here just now is to have a Union Store,
+and they are contributing their funds for this purpose. They propose
+to put up a building for the store near Smallwood's Bakery (at the
+corner where village road branches from main road), and to make Mr.
+Smallwood President of their Corporation! This project will probably
+have one good effect in the end, namely, to open their eyes to see
+some things which nobody can make them see now.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Sept. 18._ Cotton is opening well now, but we have
+rather unfavorable weather for picking and drying. The caterpillars
+have finally run over a good deal of ground, doing some damage, hard
+to tell how much.
+
+R. thinks he don't care to try the experiment of cotton-raising
+again--the risks and vexations are so great. I find that feeling quite
+general here this year among planters. William Alden says it is his
+last year. I doubt whether he pays expenses this season. His cotton is
+late, and now the caterpillars are destroying it.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Sept. 24._ Much of my time has been occupied of late in service on
+Plantation Commission. The most important case is still on
+trial,--that of the stealing of twelve hundred pounds of seed cotton
+from Mr. De Golyer. There is a "cloud of witnesses"--a very dark
+one--and it is hard, as yet, to discern in it any glimmering of
+truth.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_St. Helena Island, Sept. 25._ With the dry weather of July and the
+wet weather now, with the worm, we shall lose a third sure of our
+crop, if not more.
+
+The negroes on the island are very quiet--all absorbed in a scheme of
+establishing a "St. Helena Protective Union Store," J. Smallwood,
+President. They have got the frame out and on the ground. I have a
+great deal of curiosity to see the working of the thing, for they
+never did succeed in the North among intelligent white people. If they
+can read and write, or _keep a Union Store, I think they ought to have
+the right of suffrage_.
+
+Nearly all the Secesh are back in Beaufort, confidently expecting that
+they will get their land back in season to plant next year.
+
+All the Georgians will go back this fall, but all the people
+Fuller[186] _took_ with him (excuse me, I should say _went_ with him)
+will return here in a few weeks. Fuller hasn't any cotton this year,
+only corn and potatoes. When he returned from here he told them the
+people down here were very poor and in miserable condition;
+nevertheless, they seem willing to come down and share the misery of
+freedom to staying up there with Fuller in comfort. At the time he was
+here, 17th of June, he never had said a word to the people with him
+that they were free, and did not until they made a plan among
+themselves to go up to him in a body and make him tell them. Then
+Fuller took the old driver one side and told him he wanted him and all
+the people to stay with him and plant another year, and wanted him to
+use his influence to persuade the people to stay. So next morning he
+called them all up and had them stand on his right hand, and as he
+called their names he wanted those who were willing to stay with him
+another year to step over to his left hand. So he commenced with Old
+Gib, the driver (January's father). He turned right round and walked
+towards the negro quarters. Fuller says, "Why, Gib, you will stay,
+won't you?" "No, Sir." Then he went through the whole list, and every
+one marched straight home and none to his left hand, much to his
+disgust.
+
+    The next extract reports E. S. P.'s final decision as to the
+    price for which he should offer land to the negroes.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.[187]
+
+_Boston, Oct. 5._ C. F. Williams has gone down to finish surveying my
+land, and will cut up and sell for me to the negroes about as much
+land as they have been in the habit of using,--good, arable land, at
+$5 per acre, where they are not already provided.
+
+
+R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Oct. 9._ I have no reason to complain of my people
+for any extraordinary delinquencies, for they have worked as well as
+we shall probably ever be able to get these negroes to work; but I
+have frequently had occasion to be vexed at their slow, shiftless
+habits and at their general stupidity. It is a very great trial to
+any Northern man to have to deal with such a set of people, and I am
+satisfied that if Northerners emigrate to the South and undertake
+agriculture or anything else here, they will be compelled to import
+white laborers. In the first place, they will not have the patience to
+get along with the negroes, even if there were enough of these
+freedmen to do all the work. But, in the second place, there will not
+be one quarter enough of them to supply the demand there will be for
+laborers when the uncleared land at the South is brought under
+cultivation. The old slaveholders could never get hands enough, and
+yet they cultivated only about one tenth of the land that is fit for
+cotton.
+
+    It need hardly be said that this prophecy has not yet been
+    fulfilled.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, Oct. 15._ I have had a letter from Charleston written by a
+lawyer on behalf of Captain John Fripp and his three daughters! The
+writer says but little about his legal rights, but appeals to my
+"sense of justice and generosity," to see if some compromise can't be
+made. He doesn't say exactly what he wants, but intimates that both
+parties could profit by such an arrangement and save the vexations of
+a law suit. I don't see exactly what he has got to give, except his
+old title, which he probably values a good deal higher than I do. I
+wrote him telling him I was hampered in acts of "generosity" by the
+fact that the present title was not in me alone, but that about a
+dozen other gentlemen were interested, and asked him to make us a
+definite proposition. You may see by the papers that General Howard
+is sent by the President to see if he can reconcile the claims of the
+negroes on Edisto and other islands with those of the former owners
+who clamor to be reinstated in their position. I guess General Howard
+will have a tough job. I don't envy him.
+
+_Nov. 21._ There is a large number of old planters who are offering
+their lands at very low rates, and so many tempting chances are
+offered to Northern men. The tide of emigration southward doesn't yet
+set very strong, however. I think the great drawback is the feeling
+that the South is still intolerant of Yankees. The rabble and the
+young men are still clinging to the hope that they are going to have
+their own way about managing the nigger, somehow or other, as soon as
+they get rid of the United States forces, and they know very well that
+Yankees who come among them will not agree with them about the best
+way of "making him work," for they won't believe that he will ever
+work till he is _made_ to. Now, to tell the truth, I don't believe
+myself that the present generation of negroes will work as they were
+formerly obliged to, and therefore the race will not produce so much
+cotton in this generation as they did five years ago. The change is
+too great a one to be made in a day. It will take many years to make
+an economical and thrifty man out of a freedman, and about as long to
+make a sensible and just employer out of a former slaveholder. It is
+not at all likely that the Southern community will tax itself to
+educate the negro yet for a good while, and I have my doubts whether
+the system of education thus far carried on through the benevolence of
+Northern and English communities can be kept up much longer. It is a
+laudable and a noble work, but I fear it can't be sustained after the
+novelty is over. There seems to be a lethargy creeping over our
+community on this subject, which is very hard to shake off. The
+feeling is somewhat general that the negro must make the most of his
+chances and pick up his a, b, c's as he can. Moreover, there is a mass
+of ignorance in the South under _white_ skins, which is likely to give
+us more immediate trouble, politically, than the ignorance of the
+negro, for that latter is not as yet armed with the suffrage. Of
+course there is not much enthusiasm about sending teachers South to
+teach the poor whites, so the negro suffers from the magnitude of the
+undertaking, from his remoteness from view, and the general
+disposition among mankind to let everybody hoe their own weeds so long
+as they don't shade one's own garden.
+
+I hear that General Howard went to Edisto with the view of reconciling
+the squatter negroes with the claims of the former owners, as
+requested by the President, but that the task was rather difficult, as
+you may imagine; and though the former owners had promised to "absorb"
+the labor, and provide for the negroes' wants, etc., they found the
+negroes had ideas which they were not quite prepared for, and, in
+short, got so disgusted with the prospect of getting the said negroes
+to work for them under the new order of things that they did not seem
+so anxious to "absorb" them as before, and as General Howard did not
+feel like driving off the negroes to put the old owners in possession,
+he left things pretty much as he found them,[188] except that the old
+owners, who went there confidently expecting to have all their own
+way, went off with a flea in the ear. I have nothing more from the
+Charleston lawyer, but Mr. Tomlinson reports that Charleston lawyers
+told him they didn't see how to get around our tax-titles, though they
+would doubtless carry them into court as soon as they have courts, and
+give the lawyers plenty of work.[189]
+
+Dr. Clarence Fripp began to practice medicine on St. Helena, living
+with John Major, but afterwards got a contract surgeon's berth from
+General Saxton, and is now in the Village, next door to his old house,
+now occupied by Miss Towne! He made a professional visit at Coffin's
+Point and dined with them!
+
+    A picture of Clarence Fripp on his return to St. Helena, and
+    a glimpse of his situation from his own point of view, are
+    given in a letter to the New York _Nation_ from Dennett, a
+    special correspondent (see page 320). Dennett writes that,
+    among the Northern soldiers and traders in the hotel at
+    Hilton Head, there was also "a person who had the easily
+    distinguishable appearance and manners of a South
+    Carolinian. This gentleman, a person of some fifty odd years
+    old, dressed tolerably well in a suit of grey clothes, with
+    a large display of crumpled linen at the collar and cuffs of
+    his coat, sat before the stove smoking, and talking very
+    freely about his present poverty and his plans for the
+    future." After explaining that he had left St. Helena when
+    Dupont forced an entrance, leaving his plate and furniture
+    behind, and that his plantation had been sold, Dr. Fripp set
+    forth the situation in which he now found himself. "Some
+    Massachusetts man had bought it, and he didn't know when
+    he'd get it back.... Up in Greenville he soon spent all his
+    money to support his family, but if he'd had money he
+    couldn't have saved his property. How was he to come back
+    inside the Yankee lines and pay the tax? The Commissioners
+    knew very well it couldn't be done; the sale was a perfectly
+    unfair thing." In coming back now to Beaufort, he said "he
+    hoped to be able to pick up a little medical practice; but
+    if his profession failed him, he supposed his son and
+    himself could put up a cabin somewhere in the vicinity, and
+    get fish and oysters enough to live on." He even talked of
+    circulating a handbill at Greenville asking for money for
+    his needs, and Dennett adds: "This gentleman, it is
+    currently reported, has made several visits to the
+    plantation which he formerly owned, and the negroes living
+    there have collected for his use nearly a hundred
+    dollars."[190]
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_St. Helena, Dec. 10._ Your letter has been a reminder of my duty, but
+cotton ginning is my only excuse. It has proved much more of a bore
+this year than usual, for it is nothing but _tief, tief_, all the
+time. We do not get more than one fifth[191] of the weight of seed
+cotton after it is ginned, and the probabilities are that they steal
+the balance; but we are perfectly helpless, for we cannot prove it
+against any of them. I have had about a bale of cotton stolen at the
+"Oaks" since I put it in the cotton-house. I can assure you there is
+nothing to be made this year.
+
+We had a call from Dennett (correspondent of _Nation_) on his
+Southern tour, a few weeks ago. He said he was disappointed in not
+getting better reports of the negroes here on these islands, for he
+had been looking forward to this place, feeling sure he should find
+something good to offset the many evil reports he had heard of them
+all the way down through the country. He thinks Mr. Soule and Mr. H.
+very much demoralized on the negro question.[192]
+
+General Gillmore was removed for being unfriendly to Freedmen's
+Bureau, and General Sickles is now in command. He told Saxton[193] to
+let him know what was wanted and he should have it, so things are
+moving on very smoothly now. Tomlinson[194] has been on a trip through
+South Carolina to see what the condition of the people was and at what
+points he could establish schools. They have them started in nearly
+all the principal points. He says the whites do not know that they
+have been whipped yet, and many of the negroes don't know they are
+free.
+
+Mrs. Bryant has opened a pay school [at T. B. Fripp's], older scholars
+paying one dollar per month and young ones fifty cents. She has about
+sixty scholars. Alden has opened a store on the place.
+
+The negroes' Union Store is raised and covered, but I guess will never
+be stocked.[195]
+
+
+R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Dec. 17._ I suppose you have heard that our
+plantation operations here this year have been a failure. Nobody has
+raised more than half a crop. The drought in the early part of the
+summer and the caterpillar in August and September contrived to
+diminish the yield. Most of the planters, however, thinking that two
+bad seasons will not come in succession, are making vigorous
+preparations for next year in the way of gathering marsh-grass and
+mud. I have about concluded to sell or to lease Mulberry Hill, and if
+I succeed in doing either I shall probably go home about the first of
+February.
+
+There is a universal feeling of dissatisfaction, not to say disgust,
+with our colored brethren here at the present time, on account of the
+extraordinary development of some of their well-known characteristics.
+They are stealing cotton at a fearful rate. Captain Kellum of Dathaw
+lost a whole bale a few nights since, and to-day Mr. Williams, who has
+just come down from R.'s, tells us that the cotton-house has been
+broken into and one packed bale cut open and about one hundred pounds
+taken out of it and carried off! This bale belonged to Mr. York. We
+none of us feel secure against these depredations.
+
+Two of the thieves at Coffin's Point were caught with ginned cotton in
+their houses, Peter Brown and William White. Before Mr. Towne could
+apprehend them they escaped to the main. Another, Jonas Green, had
+cotton-seed hid away in his corn-house. He was caught, and a
+Plantation Commission sentenced him to two months' imprisonment. This
+is the first fruit of making land-owners of the negroes. While they
+raise cotton of their own and no restraint is put upon them in making
+sale of what they bring to market, it is impossible to ferret out
+their robberies in most cases. Such rascality on the part of the
+negroes is more discouraging than caterpillars and drought.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's, Dec. 26._ I expect my sojourn at Coffin's Point is nearly
+closed. The attractions of the place or the people are not sufficient
+to keep me here another year. The climate is bad enough, the general
+"shiftlessness" of the people is disgusting enough; but when I see
+that the disposition to steal the crop is very general, that the
+people have done and can do it with impunity, I am discouraged about
+cotton-raising here. I believe they have not taken any of ours since
+it has been packed, but large quantities of it before. And as they all
+raised cotton on McTureous[196] for themselves, they could mix and
+secrete it very successfully.
+
+Mr. Soule has this moment learned that his cotton-house has been
+entered and cotton stolen, but to what extent has not been determined.
+
+I think Mr. Soule will be glad to get away from this "Sodom." He is
+too good a man to be worn out by the barbarians of this latitude.
+
+
+R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Dec. 31._ How well Grant appears in everything he
+writes as well as in everything he does! In the _Weekly Advertiser_
+just received by me, I find his report of his recent Southern
+tour,[197] and, if I mistake not, he intimates pretty clearly that
+General Saxton has not managed his Department judiciously.
+
+Mr. Philbrick has made an effort to sell the most of the plantations.
+As yet, however, no purchaser has appeared, and he has now about
+concluded to dispose of them as follows: to lease Fuller Place to N.,
+R., and W. (the new firm who have purchased the stock on hand in
+store), and Cherry Hill[198] to Mr. Waters, to intrust the management
+of Homestead to the latter gentleman, and that of Coffin's Point to
+Mr. H. for account of E. S. P., and to let Mr. Williams sell the whole
+of Corner[199] and Fripp Point to negroes. I have leased Mulberry Hill
+to Mr. Waters.
+
+Negroes continue to steal cotton, and we continue to be helpless
+against their depredations.
+
+
+
+
+1866--1867--1868
+
+    _Mr. Philbrick's sales to the negroes--Persistent
+    discouragement with the negroes--H. W.'s visit to Coffin's
+    Point in 1868--Tribute of the negroes to Mr. Philbrick._
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G. [IN EUROPE]
+
+_Boston, Jan. 12, 1866._ The Freedmen's Aid Societies have all
+consolidated, and lately have united with the big Orthodox society for
+helping refugees, the latter class being no longer so needy except
+that the poor whites need education as much as the blacks, and I have
+made up my mind that we can't help the blacks much except by helping
+poor whites at the same time. The combination enlarges the begging
+field immensely, and by putting white and black schools under the same
+control will give negro schools a sort of footing which they wouldn't
+otherwise have, after our troops get scarce. The old feeling has
+already blossomed out and borne fruit in Louisiana, where all the
+freedmen's schools have just been extinguished or snuffed out at a
+single pinch, except in New Orleans city, one lady teacher being shot
+through the head.
+
+A sweeping order has mustered out over a hundred generals of the
+Volunteer Army, General Saxton among the rest. I don't know who takes
+his place in the Freedmen's Bureau. This institution will probably be
+continued by Congress with enlarged powers, but it is but a drop in
+the bucket, after all.
+
+C. F. Williams is busy sharing out land. He sells the whole of Fripp
+Point in small lots to the negroes of both places, and some others
+from outside. The whole place measures only four hundred and sixty
+acres, bought for seven hundred and fifty, and the Captain John Fripp
+place is only four hundred and sixty instead of one thousand for which
+I bought it! By the way, the old man is dead, leaving his three
+daughters in poverty, to earn their living as they best may. Julian
+Coffin has visited Mr. Soule, etc., asking leave to go into his old
+room, to take some of his father's old books, and left after a few
+hours, since which none of us have heard anything further of them.
+
+There seems to be less law than ever there. I am about making
+representations at Washington to see if I can't get some improvement.
+
+I lost about $2800 on the negro cotton ginned in New York, and paid
+over about $2500 on account of the cotton which they ginned there! I
+also lost some $2000 on cotton taken from Mr. ---- in Beaufort, he
+turning out a knave. Our crop of 1864 paid our Company a profit of
+about $19,000. I shall just about pay expenses on the crop of 1865,
+not much more, I think. The caterpillar and the drought didn't leave
+much cotton.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Feb. 3, 1866._ I am a _gentleman of leisure_ and, like most every one
+else here, am living on the interest of what I have lost. I am no
+longer a member of the noted firm of N., R., and W. We dissolved
+January 1, and N. and W. continue the business at the old stand. I
+decided that there was not salt enough for three certainly. There is
+no money here to speak of, and what there is will go to Beaufort where
+there is liquor sold or given away. I have also given up
+cotton-planting; it is not a very lucrative business when it brings
+only sixty-six cents.
+
+I made arrangements with Mr. Pope to still occupy this half of the
+house free of rent until August, if I wished, and was calculating on
+having a rich time seeing a native plant cotton with these island
+negroes, but alas, my hopes are all blighted, for every blessed soul
+but one man and his wife has moved away and will not work for him; so
+he has decided not to move here until after we are gone. He has sent
+one man here who was an old servant and has been with him all the
+time, and he is very industrious, works from morn until night; it is
+quite refreshing to see him. Pope was the only one of the natives who
+bid off places at auction[200] that came to time in paying up; so the
+places were put up again and bought by Northern men.
+
+The present planters are in a dubious frame of mind these days over
+the prospect for another year, for it is very hard to bring wages
+down, and one cannot get his money back at the present price of
+cotton, so most of them will work on shares;[201] but that is a sure
+way of running a place all out, for the people will not manure it
+sufficiently to keep it up. Mr. Eustis is always good-natured, and is
+about the only man here who is not utterly demoralized on the negro
+question.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Feb. 16, 1866._ Really the people have met with a
+great change of late, since I have sent away Anthony Bail. They love
+and respect me _hugely_, which I hope will last another whole week.
+
+Dr. Oliver and Captain Ward, who have bought "Pine Grove," have taken
+the usual disgust for the people. They have got it bad; say they would
+not have bought here had they imagined half of the reality. They have
+some friends who would have bought Coffin's Point if they could have
+made a favorable report of the people. But they tell them not to think
+of buying to use the labor that is now here. I say the same when I say
+anything about it, though I have no friends who think of buying here.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_May 21, 1867._ I don't suppose we shall be able to make any new
+additions to your collection of negro songs.[202] They sing but very
+little nowadays to what they used to. Do you remember those good old
+days when the Methodists used to sing up in that cotton-house at
+Fuller's? Wasn't it good? They never sing any of them at the church,
+and very few in their praise-meeting.
+
+Crops on the island are looking worse than I ever saw them at this
+season before.
+
+_We are all American citizens_ now, and there has been an effort to
+form a Republican party, but it has not succeeded very well yet. They
+are too suspicious to be led by the whites, and there is not sense
+enough in themselves to go ahead.
+
+    The last extract in the series is from a letter written by
+    H. W. exactly one year later, when she made a trip to Port
+    Royal, staying with Miss Towne and Miss Murray at St. Helena
+    Village. The tardy tribute of the negroes to Mr. Philbrick
+    makes the story complete.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Thursday, May 21, 1868._ When I inquired at breakfast if I could have
+Jacob's horse for the day, I found that, as he was in use for the
+crop, Miss Towne had already had her horse put singly into their
+rockaway for school, and Miss Murray's into the chaise for my use. So
+when they started for school, I followed along in company as far as
+the end of the Village road, where Mr. N. now has a store, and,
+turning on to the more familiar road, soon found myself crossing the
+creek over Mr. Philbrick's bridge,--one of the very few in decent
+repair,--and on my way to Captain John Fripp Homestead. The entire
+absence of gates, and as a consequence of pigs, or _vice versa_, made
+my drive an easy one, and I did not have to get out once. It had
+seemed hot early, but light clouds and a fresh breeze kept it cool all
+day. I turned up the familiar avenue to Folsom's, after passing
+through one field in which the houses are still, though more
+scattered. The avenue was clean and trim, and the house
+corresponded,--a new piazza and steps all freshly painted, fresh paint
+inside, and paper on the walls made everything look uncommonly
+spruce. The schoolroom is now the parlor, and my sofa and cushion
+grace it still!
+
+Mr. Alden met me very cordially at the foot of the steps, and I went
+in to see the other occupants, Mr. and Mrs. Waters and their son. I
+had a pleasant call and talk, and then, refusing their earnest
+invitation to spend the day, as Coffin's Point was my one object, I
+pursued my lonely way. Trees cut down, and houses moved and built in
+the middle of the field, with the absence of fences, gates, and pigs,
+were the most noticeable changes, and I drove along, meeting no one,
+until I came to the pine woods on the right opposite old Frank's
+ground, just before you turn into the Pine Grove field. The woods were
+all thinned out, logs lying in every direction. Hoeing the corn
+planted there were two women I thought I recognized, and, walking the
+horse, I leaned forward to see who was the man further on. Then I
+stopped and asked him whose the land was he was working, when he began
+an account of how "it used to be McTureous and Mr. Thomas Coffin buy
+'em,"[203] which I cut short with--"Yes, I know that, but is it your
+own now? What is your name?" "My name Able, ma'am; dis lan' mine, yes,
+ma'am"--and then--"Oh! my Lord! Der Miss Hayiut, an' me no know um!"
+and he dropped his hoe and came scrambling and running to the road.
+Sarah and Elsie, whom I had just passed, and Martha further on, came
+out at his call, grinning and pleased, and then he and Martha began
+directly upon what I had done for Rose,[204] their gratitude, and
+willingness that I should keep her forever. Then they talked of how
+hard the last year or two had been, and there were many reiterations
+of "Ebery word Mass' Charlie and Mr. Philbrick tell we come true."
+"Tell 'em tousan howdy over for we--long too much for shum. We fin'
+'em out now."
+
+A few steps more brought me into the Pine Grove field, and I turned
+towards the house, followed by half a dozen small children, only one
+of whom I knew or knew me,--little Abigail. Towards the house whom
+should I come upon but Flora and her Sarah, a great girl. She was
+pleased as could be, but told me I should find no one at the Grove.
+Old Monah was dead, and all the old people had bought land and lived
+at the Point. They were working for Mr. Ward, glad enough to earn a
+little ready money for food. I went on to see Mrs. Vaughn, and as she
+had not come up from school, walked down to the praise-house, seeing
+no one I knew but old Binah.
+
+School had dispersed, so I walked back to the house, and dined there,
+and then for Coffin's Point. Once inside the line--for the gate is
+not--I met the familiar breeze of the Big Pasture, but its altered
+face. The houses are back as far as the creek on one side and the
+woods on the other,--two or three quite large and with piazzas,--the
+praise-house near the corner of the wood. I was a long time passing
+through it, for they all dropped their hoes and came down to shake
+hands. I got Uncle George to follow along with hammer and nails to
+mend the chaise, as the floor was so broken I could not put my feet on
+it, and the bag of oats had dropped through on the way. I had tied the
+halter to the dasher and wound it round the bag, so there was no loss.
+The dilapidation was a pleasing reminiscence of old times, and George
+was pleased enough to earn a quarter by patching it up. Then I drove
+on to the house, where are only a Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair left in
+charge. Mrs. S. was very polite, and asked me up into our old parlor,
+which did not look as pleasant as in the old time. Garibaldi was out
+at pasture, so I could not have the ride I coveted while my horse was
+eating his dinner. As I had never been into the schoolhouse since it
+was finished, I borrowed the key and walked down to it. As I pulled
+the rope to hear the sound of the unused bell, Robert came in, quiet
+as ever, but greatly pleased, and asking many questions about Mass'
+Charlie and Mr. and Mrs. Soule. I found the people were coming up to
+be paid, so I went back to the yard and stood there as they came up to
+the schoolroom door, across which was the old school table, with
+Primus behind it, and Mr. Sinclair, looking over his list. Then I
+walked on the beach, and Robert put my horse in and I drove off.
+
+Mike had followed me up the road, loud in his regrets for the "good
+ole times when Mass' Charlie and de fust gang white people been here."
+"Mr. Philbrick de fustest man in de worl'. General Bennett[205]
+couldn't--couldn't--fetch de fust feathers round his heart!" whatever
+that may be.
+
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+When the end of this record is reached, undoubtedly the feeling
+uppermost in the mind of the reader is one of disappointment. At first
+blush one is ready to believe that the members of the little colony,
+in proving the free negro capable of raising cotton to good advantage,
+had still more completely proved him unfit for freedom. Yet the more
+one reflects on the story, the more plainly one sees that the
+discouraging state of things described in the later letters was merely
+the inevitable result of Emancipation, and would have been the same
+had any other race been concerned, whatever its characteristics. The
+ferment of Freedom worked slowly in the negroes, but it worked
+mightily, and the very sign of its working was, as a matter of course,
+unreasonableness, insubordination, untrustworthiness. This result
+might have been foreseen, and probably was foreseen. It was not a
+pleasant thing to contemplate, nor is it pleasant to read of, but it
+proved nothing as to the powers and possibilities of the negro people.
+It is not probable that any of the "missionaries," however
+discouraged, came to think that the black man was too stupid or too
+dishonest to become a self-respecting member of society. Nor does it
+appear that W. C. G. was justified in fearing that their efforts were
+worse than wasted, inasmuch as the negro might have acquired manhood
+more rapidly if left to himself from the start. They had established
+two facts, the very foundation-stones of the new order in the South;
+that the freedman would work, and that, as an employee, he was less
+expensive than the slave. Their reward was not in any one's gratitude,
+but in their own knowledge that they had served their unfortunate
+fellow-beings as far as, at the moment, was possible. And it must not
+be forgotten that some stayed on, putting their energies where there
+was no question, even, of waste or of ingratitude. There is no telling
+the service done for the Sea Islands by the education that has been
+given to it these forty years, or indeed by the mere presence of the
+women who have devoted their lives to this service.
+
+Looking at the letters as a whole, perhaps the reader finds that the
+chief impression they have made upon him is that of profound respect
+for the negro wisdom shown by the writers. Keenly as they felt the
+past suffering and the present helplessness of the freedmen, they had
+the supreme common-sense to see that these wrongs could not be righted
+by any method so simple as that of giving. They saw that what was
+needed was, not special favor, but even-handed justice. Education,
+indeed, they would give outright; otherwise they would make the negro
+as rapidly as possible a part of the economic world, a laborer among
+other laborers. All that has happened since has only gone to prove how
+right they were.
+
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Later "The New England Freedmen's Aid Society."]
+
+[Footnote 2: The name Port Royal, in ante-bellum days used only of the
+island on which Beaufort is situated and of the entrance to the
+Beaufort River, was given by the United States Government to the
+military post and the harbor at Hilton Head, and to the post-office
+there. Hence the Sea Island district came to be referred to in the
+North as "Port Royal."]
+
+[Footnote 3: Collector Barney of the Port of New York.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Edward L. Pierce (see Introduction).]
+
+[Footnote 5: Richard Soule, Jr.]
+
+[Footnote 6: Edward W. Hooper, afterwards for many years Treasurer of
+Harvard College.]
+
+[Footnote 7: G. is W. C. G. of these letters.]
+
+[Footnote 8: John M. Forbes, who had hired a house at Beaufort for a
+few months.]
+
+[Footnote 9: Rev. Mansfield French had already spent some weeks at
+Port Royal.]
+
+[Footnote 10: Thrown up by the island planters after the outbreak of
+the war.]
+
+[Footnote 11: Thomas A. Coffin's large plantation at the eastern end
+of St. Helena Island.]
+
+[Footnote 12: F. A. Eustis of Milton, who was part owner of the
+plantation in question.]
+
+[Footnote 13: Mr. Philbrick had gone down to Hilton Head again to see
+about his luggage.]
+
+[Footnote 14: See page v.]
+
+[Footnote 15: Pine Grove and Fripp Point.]
+
+[Footnote 16: The drivers, negroes holding a position next below the
+white overseers, were found by the Northerners still keeping the keys
+and trying to exert their authority.]
+
+[Footnote 17: For clothing their masters had been in the habit of
+giving them material for two suits a year; a pair of blankets every
+few years made up the sum of gratuities.]
+
+[Footnote 18: Mrs. Philbrick.]
+
+[Footnote 19: Miss Laura E. Towne of Philadelphia. She never returned
+to live in the North. The school she started in 1862 is still in
+existence, under the name of the Penn Normal, Industrial, and
+Agricultural School.]
+
+[Footnote 20: Known as the Smith Plantation.]
+
+[Footnote 21: The ferry to Ladies Island, across which ran the road to
+St. Helena Island and Mr. Philbrick's plantations.]
+
+[Footnote 22: The plantation "praise-house," as the negroes' church
+was called, was often merely "a rather larger and nicer negro hut than
+the others. Here the master was an exemplary old Baptist Christian,
+who has left his house full of religious magazines and papers, and
+built his people quite a nice little house,--the best on this part of
+the Island."
+
+(Letter of W. C. G., April 22, 1862.)]
+
+[Footnote 23: Pine Grove was in this respect an exception among the
+Sea Island plantations.]
+
+[Footnote 24: See p. 33.]
+
+[Footnote 25: Mrs. Philbrick.]
+
+[Footnote 26: "The true 'shout' takes place on Sundays or on
+'praise'-nights through the week, and either in the praise-house or
+some cabin in which a regular religious meeting has been held. Very
+likely more than half the population of the plantation is gathered
+together. Let it be the evening, and a light-wood fire burns red
+before the door to the house and on the hearth.... The benches are
+pushed back to the wall when the formal meeting is over, and old and
+young, men and women, sprucely-dressed young men, grotesquely
+half-clad field-hands--the women generally with gay handkerchiefs
+twisted about their heads and with short skirts--boys with tattered
+shirts and men's trousers, young girls barefooted, all stand up in the
+middle of the floor, and when the 'sperichil' is struck up, begin
+first walking and by-and-by shuffling round, one after the other, in a
+ring. The foot is hardly taken from the floor, and the progression is
+mainly due to a jerking, hitching motion, which agitates the entire
+shouter, and soon brings out streams of perspiration. Sometimes they
+dance silently, sometimes as they shuffle they sing the chorus of the
+spiritual, and sometimes the song itself is also sung by the dancers.
+But more frequently a band, composed of some of the best singers and
+of tired shouters, stand at the side of the room to 'base' the others,
+singing the body of the song and clapping their hands together or on
+the knees. Song and dance are alike extremely energetic, and often,
+when the shout lasts into the middle of the night, the monotonous
+thud, thud of the feet prevents sleep within half a mile of the
+praise-house." (New York _Nation_, May 30, 1867.)]
+
+[Footnote 27: Miss Lucy McKim, in a letter to the Boston _Journal of
+Music_, November 8, 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 28: This old woman Mr. Philbrick had found "keeping guard
+over her late master's household goods--_i. e._, selling them."]
+
+[Footnote 29: A few weeks earlier than this, one of the drivers told
+Mr. Philbrick that Washington Fripp had just been shot near Charleston
+for refusing to enlist.]
+
+[Footnote 30: A "title" was a negro surname of whatever derivation.]
+
+[Footnote 31: The following description of Limus and his subsequent
+doings is copied from a letter of W. C. G.'s (June 12, 1863), which
+was printed by the Educational Commission in one of a series of
+leaflets containing extracts from Port Royal letters:
+
+"He is a black Yankee. Without a drop of white blood in him, he has
+the energy and _'cuteness_ and big eye for his own advantage of a born
+New Englander. He is not very moral or scrupulous, and the
+church-members will tell you 'not yet,' with a smile, if you ask
+whether he belongs to them. But he leads them all in enterprise, and
+his ambition and consequent prosperity make his example a very useful
+one on the plantation. Half the men on the island fenced in gardens
+last autumn, behind their houses, in which they now raise vegetables
+for themselves and the Hilton Head markets. Limus in his half-acre has
+quite a little farmyard besides. With poultry-houses, pig-pens, and
+corn-houses, the array is very imposing. He has even a stable, for he
+made out some title to a horse, which was allowed; and then he begged
+a pair of wheels and makes a cart for his work; and not to leave the
+luxuries behind, he next rigs up a kind of sulky and bows to the white
+men from his carriage. As he keeps his table in corresponding
+style,--for he buys more sugar ... than any other two families,--of
+course the establishment is rather expensive. So, to provide the
+means, he has three permanent irons in the fire--his cotton, his
+Hilton Head express, and his seine. Before the fishing season
+commenced, a pack of dogs for deer-hunting took the place of the net.
+While other families 'carry' from three to six or seven acres of
+cotton, Limus says he must have _fourteen_. To help his wife and
+daughters keep this in good order, he went over to the rendezvous for
+refugees, and imported a family to the plantation, the men of which he
+hired at $8 a month.... With a large boat which he owns, he usually
+makes weekly trips to Hilton Head, twenty miles distant, carrying
+passengers, produce and fish. These last he takes in an immense
+seine,--an abandoned chattel,--for the use of which he pays Government
+by furnishing General Hunter and staff with the finer specimens, and
+then has ten to twenty bushels for sale. Apparently he is either
+dissatisfied with this arrangement or means to extend his operations,
+for he asks me to bring him another seine for which I am to pay $70. I
+presume his savings since 'the guns fired at Bay Point'--which is the
+native record of the capture of the island--amount to four or five
+hundred dollars. He is all ready to buy land, and I expect to see him
+in ten years a tolerably rich man. Limus has, it is true, but few
+equals on the islands, and yet there are many who follow not far
+behind him."]
+
+[Footnote 32: Major-General David Hunter, who on March 31 had taken
+command of the newly created Department of the South, consisting of
+the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.]
+
+[Footnote 33: Dr. Wakefield was physician for that end of St. Helena
+Island.]
+
+[Footnote 34: On Cockspur Island, Georgia.]
+
+[Footnote 35: As the quarter-acre "task," which was all that the
+planters had required of their slaves each day, had occupied about
+four or five hours only, it will be seen that the slaves on the Sea
+Islands had not been overworked, though they had been underfed. Like
+the "task," the "private patches" were also an institution retained,
+at E. L. Pierce's suggestion, from slavery times, with the difference
+that their size was very much increased--often from a fraction of an
+acre to ten times that amount.]
+
+[Footnote 36: By the rebels.]
+
+[Footnote 37: He had already had sent down from the North a quantity
+of articles to sell to the negroes.]
+
+[Footnote 38: Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens, then at Beaufort,
+commanding the Second Division.]
+
+[Footnote 39: The "Brick Church" was a Baptist Church which had always
+been used by both blacks and whites. Less than a mile away stood the
+"White Church," Episcopalian,--closed since the flight of the
+planters.]
+
+[Footnote 40: Issued May 9, and on May 19, nullified by President
+Lincoln.]
+
+[Footnote 41: South Carolina corn is white flint corn.]
+
+[Footnote 42: The cotton-agent who had been at Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 43: The Government not only had made no definite promise of
+payment, but it was of course unable to bring to bear on the negroes
+any compulsion of any sort. They worked or not, as they liked, and
+when they liked.]
+
+[Footnote 44: The old system of labor--the system in force in slavery
+times--had been the "gang system," the laborers working all together,
+so that no one had continuous responsibility for any one piece of
+land.]
+
+[Footnote 45: For Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 46: As a result of Lincoln's proclamation of May 19 (see p.
+50 n.), the regiment, all but one company, was disbanded in August.]
+
+[Footnote 47: This burying-place was "an unfenced quarter of an acre
+of perfectly wild, tangled woodland in the midst of the cotton-field,
+halfway between here [the 'white house'] and the quarters. Nothing
+ever marks the graves, but the place is entirely devoted to them."
+
+(From a letter of H. W.'s, June 5, '62.)]
+
+[Footnote 48: Saxton's first general order, announcing his arrival, is
+dated June 28.]
+
+[Footnote 49: E. L. Pierce had changed his headquarters from
+"Pope's."]
+
+[Footnote 50: From the first the anti-slavery Northerners at Port
+Royal had had no hesitation in telling their employees that they were
+freemen. Indeed, they had no choice but to do so, the tadpoles on
+these islands, as Mr. Philbrick said, having "virtually shed their
+tails in course of nature already."]
+
+[Footnote 51: Pierce's second report to Secretary Chase on the Sea
+Islands, dated June 2, 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 52: "We have to spend more than half our time," writes Mr.
+Philbrick in September, "getting our limited supplies."]
+
+[Footnote 53: Richard Soule, Jr., was General Superintendent of St.
+Helena and Ladies Islands, and was living at Edgar Fripp's
+plantation.]
+
+[Footnote 54: The first of many references to the frequent lack of
+sympathy shown by army officers.]
+
+[Footnote 55: That is, the account had been taken before he came
+South.]
+
+[Footnote 56: See page 37.]
+
+[Footnote 57: The term "Hunting Island" was applied to several of the
+outside islands collectively.]
+
+[Footnote 58: Thomas Astor Coffin, of Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 59: The chief "hindrance" was, of course, the late date at
+which work on the cotton crop had been started; the land should have
+been prepared in February, and the planting begun at the end of
+March.]
+
+[Footnote 60: The preliminary proclamation of emancipation, dated
+September 22, 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 61: It will be seen that this excellent idea was not adopted
+by the authorities.]
+
+[Footnote 62: Edward W. Hooper served on Saxton's staff, with the rank
+of Captain.]
+
+[Footnote 63: He came with authority to raise negro troops.]
+
+[Footnote 64: See p. 58.]
+
+[Footnote 65: As Saxton's agent to collect and ship the cotton crop.
+See p. 99.]
+
+[Footnote 66: The superintendents of the Second Division of the Sea
+Islands.]
+
+[Footnote 67: The negroes had broken the cotton-gins by way of putting
+their slavery more completely behind them.]
+
+[Footnote 68: Again the cotton-agent.]
+
+[Footnote 69: Evidently the offer of a captaincy.]
+
+[Footnote 70: Of Prince Rivers, who became color-sergeant and
+provost-sergeant in the First South Carolina Volunteers, Thomas
+Wentworth Higginson, its colonel, writes: "There is not a white
+officer in this regiment who has more administrative ability, or more
+absolute authority over the men; they do not love him, but his mere
+presence has controlling power over them. He writes well enough to
+prepare for me a daily report of his duties in the camp; if his
+education reached a higher point, I see no reason why he should not
+command the Army of the Potomac. He is jet-black, or rather, I should
+say, _wine-black_; his complexion, like that of others of my darkest
+men, having a sort of rich, clear depth, without a trace of sootiness,
+and to my eye very handsome. His features are tolerably regular, and
+full of command, and his figure superior to that of any of our white
+officers, being six feet high, perfectly proportioned, and of
+apparently inexhaustible strength and activity. His gait is like a
+panther's; I never saw such a tread. No anti-slavery novel has
+described a man of such marked ability. He makes Toussaint perfectly
+intelligible; and if there should ever be a black monarchy in South
+Carolina, he will be its king." (_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, pp.
+57, 58.)]
+
+[Footnote 71: "These heaps are, _lucus a non_, called holes." C. P.
+W.]
+
+[Footnote 72: The First South Carolina Volunteers (colored), Thomas
+Wentworth Higginson, colonel.]
+
+[Footnote 73: Usually referred to as the "Hunter Regiment."]
+
+[Footnote 74: A town very near the extreme southern point of the
+Georgia coast.]
+
+[Footnote 75: After Mitchel's death, Brannan again acted as head of
+the Department, till General Hunter's return in January, 1863.]
+
+[Footnote 76: To the Dr. Jenkins plantation.]
+
+[Footnote 77: Stone or seed-cotton is unginned cotton.]
+
+[Footnote 78: Of course on almost all the plantations no taxes had
+been paid, so that the Government was at liberty to sell them at
+auction.]
+
+[Footnote 79: That is, of drawing their own rations.]
+
+[Footnote 80: General Hunter did not actually arrive until January.
+See note 1, [now Footnote 75] p. 108.]
+
+[Footnote 81: The $200,000 (mentioned on page 110) received by the
+Government for the crop of 1861.]
+
+[Footnote 82: Saxton.]
+
+[Footnote 83: This plan of operations was adopted by General Saxton.]
+
+[Footnote 84: Dr. LeBaron Russell, of the Committee on Teachers of the
+Educational Commission.]
+
+[Footnote 85: Taking the plantations as a whole, the Government lost
+in 1862 the whole $200,000 which it had cleared from the planters' big
+cotton crop of 1861.]
+
+[Footnote 86: On Port Royal Island "whole fields of corn, fifty acres
+in extent, have been stripped of every ear before hard enough to be
+stored."]
+
+[Footnote 87: Henry W. Halleck, since July 11 General-in-Chief of the
+Army, with headquarters at Washington.]
+
+[Footnote 88: Another young Harvard graduate, cousin of H. W., come to
+teach the two Fripp schools.]
+
+[Footnote 89: Mr. Philbrick had changed his residence to the Oaks.]
+
+[Footnote 90: An institution situated in Beaufort, managed by the New
+York Commission.]
+
+[Footnote 91: Of Corporal Sutton Colonel Higginson says: "If not in
+all respects the ablest, he was the wisest man in our ranks. As large,
+as powerful, and as black as our good-looking Color-sergeant, but more
+heavily built and with less personal beauty, he had a more massive
+brain and a far more meditative and systematic intellect. Not yet
+grounded even in the spelling-book, his modes of thought were
+nevertheless strong, lucid, and accurate; and he yearned and pined for
+intellectual companionship beyond all ignorant men whom I have ever
+met. I believe that he would have talked all day and all night, for
+days together, to any officer who could instruct him, until his
+companion, at least, fell asleep exhausted. His comprehension of the
+whole problem of slavery was more thorough and far-reaching than that
+of any Abolitionist, so far as its social and military aspects went;
+in that direction I could teach him nothing, and he taught me much.
+But it was his methods of thought which always impressed me chiefly;
+superficial brilliancy he left to others, and grasped at the solid
+truth." (_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, p. 62.)]
+
+[Footnote 92: Mr. Philbrick describes the feast: "I walked about for a
+half hour watching the carving, which was done mostly with _axes_, and
+the eager pressing of the hungry crowds about the rough board tables,
+by which each ox was surrounded. The meat didn't look very inviting."]
+
+[Footnote 93: Miss Forten was of partly negro blood. H. W. says of her
+elsewhere: "She has one of the sweetest voices I ever heard. The
+negroes all knew the instant they saw her what she was, but she has
+been treated by them with universal respect. She is an educated
+lady."]
+
+[Footnote 94: When General Hunter, bent on raising his negro troops,
+asked the Secretary of War for 50,000 muskets, "with authority to arm
+such loyal men as I find in the country, whenever, in my opinion, they
+can be used advantageously against the enemy," he added: "It is
+important that I should be able to know and distinguish these men at
+once, and for this purpose I respectfully request that 50,000 pairs of
+scarlet pantaloons may be sent me; and this is all the clothing I
+shall require for these people." (Hunter to Stanton, April 3, 1862.)
+Of the privates of the First S. C. V., when clothed in these trousers,
+Colonel Higginson writes: "Their coloring suited me, all but the legs,
+which were clad in a lively scarlet, as intolerable to my eyes as if I
+had been a turkey." (_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, p. 7.)]
+
+[Footnote 95: On the Georgia coast.]
+
+[Footnote 96: See p. 60.]
+
+[Footnote 97: Mr. Philbrick was staying at Coffin's for a few days.]
+
+[Footnote 98: The agreement made on April 8, between Mr. Philbrick and
+fourteen gentlemen, all but one of Boston, provided that Mr.
+Philbrick, in whose name the land should be bought and who should have
+complete responsibility for managing it, should, after paying the
+subscribers six per cent. interest, receive one fourth of the net
+profits. Mr. Philbrick was to be liable for losses and without the
+right to call for further contribution; on the other hand, no
+subscription was to be withdrawn unless he ceased to superintend the
+enterprise. On his closing the business, the net proceeds were to be
+divided _pro rata_.]
+
+[Footnote 99: Joe having gone back to his trade of carpenter, the
+domestic force now included a boy and a girl (daughter of Abel and
+sister of Hester), marvelously ignorant, even for a Sea Island
+field-hand. Uncle Sam, Robert's father, was acting as cook.]
+
+[Footnote 100: A boy lately added to the corps of house-servants at
+Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 101: From unwillingness to see the land owned by any one but
+negroes.]
+
+[Footnote 102: A detachment from the Eighteenth Army Corps, under
+Major-General John G. Foster, had come to help in the operations
+against Charleston.]
+
+[Footnote 103: The new postmaster for Beaufort.]
+
+[Footnote 104: A cousin in the 24th Massachusetts, which had come to
+Land's End as part of the "North Carolina army."]
+
+[Footnote 105: For lumber up the St. Mary's River, which separates
+Georgia from Florida.]
+
+[Footnote 106: See p. 162.]
+
+[Footnote 107: The history of the Department had been defined as "a
+military picnic."]
+
+[Footnote 108: A paper published at Beaufort.]
+
+[Footnote 109: Haunt of the drum-fish.]
+
+[Footnote 110: The War Department ordered the sales to go forward,
+leaving the restrictions to be arranged by Hunter, Saxton, and the
+Commissioners in charge. See p. 165.]
+
+[Footnote 111: Brigadier-General Edward E. Potter, Foster's Chief of
+Staff.]
+
+[Footnote 112: That is, hoed over again and new furrows made for the
+next crop.]
+
+[Footnote 113: Brigadier-General Thomas G. Stevenson, originally
+colonel of the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts, was arrested by General
+Hunter and soon after released.]
+
+[Footnote 114: The immediate cause of this trouble was a disagreement
+about the extent of Hunter's authority over Foster and his command
+while they were in the Department of the South, but the underlying
+difficulty was that Foster and his officers distrusted Hunter as an
+anti-slavery zealot.
+
+Finding that the operations against Charleston could not go forward
+immediately, Foster returned to North Carolina within a few days after
+his arrival in the Department of the South. His troops remained, so
+restive under Hunter's command that Foster's whole staff was presently
+sent back to North Carolina for alleged insubordination.]
+
+[Footnote 115: This report turned out to be a mistake.]
+
+[Footnote 116: That is, the revenue from the cotton on certain
+plantations was used for these purposes. A plantation thus devoted to
+the educational needs of the people was called a School Farm.]
+
+[Footnote 117: To capture Jacksonville, on the St. John's River,
+Florida.]
+
+[Footnote 118: Of the Second South Carolina Volunteers (colored).]
+
+[Footnote 119: The bracket is used for unimportant dates which are out
+of their chronological place.]
+
+[Footnote 120: See p. 147.]
+
+[Footnote 121: Two of the thirteen were merely leased.]
+
+[Footnote 122: H. W., commenting more mildly, says (Mar. 18): "He
+certainly has not a clear idea of what the superintendents and
+teachers are doing, and unfortunately classes them as in opposition to
+himself,--as preferring the agricultural to the military department.
+This I do not think is the case, but they most of them feel his want
+of wisdom in dealing with the subject, which has made his own especial
+object as well as theirs harder to accomplish."]
+
+[Footnote 123: A short-lived newspaper published in the Department.]
+
+[Footnote 124: H. W. describes another service that was broken up by
+this fear of the draft: "[May 2.] At church yesterday a squad of
+soldiers with their officer came from Land's End to the service, when
+a general stampede took place among the men, and women too, jumping
+from the windows and one man even from the gallery into the midst of
+the congregation."]
+
+[Footnote 125: The boy.]
+
+[Footnote 126: Captain J. E. Bryant, of the Eighth Maine.]
+
+[Footnote 127: The Second South Carolina Volunteers (colored).]
+
+[Footnote 128: Of the _Kingfisher_, the blockader.]
+
+[Footnote 129: To be examined, adjudged not "able-bodied," and given
+exemption-papers.]
+
+[Footnote 130: Second South Carolina Volunteers.]
+
+[Footnote 131: A noticeable thing about the children of slaves was
+that they had no games.]
+
+[Footnote 132: In the words of the order the command of the Department
+was taken from Hunter and given to Gillmore "temporarily."]
+
+[Footnote 133: Rhodes' _History of the United States from the
+Compromise of 1850_, vol. iv, p. 332.]
+
+[Footnote 134: Colonel Higginson had been sent up the South Edisto
+River, to cut the railroad at Jacksonboro.]
+
+[Footnote 135: Whither the wounded had been brought.]
+
+[Footnote 136: Edward N. Hallowell and Garth Wilkinson James, Major
+and Adjutant of the Fifty-Fourth.]
+
+[Footnote 137: For the North.]
+
+[Footnote 138: A few weeks later (July 15) General Saxton authorized
+the general superintendents to appoint plantation commissions, or
+courts for the administration of justice. The people eligible for
+these commissions were Government plantation superintendents and Mr.
+Philbrick's six plantation superintendents, and they were instructed
+"that in cases where immediate arrest is in their opinion necessary,
+the plantation superintendents, and the persons above named, are
+hereby authorized themselves to make arrests of civilians upon the
+plantations. But they must exercise this power with great discretion,
+and will be held responsible for any abuse of it."]
+
+[Footnote 139: Colonel W. W. H. Davis was in command of the post at
+Beaufort during Saxton's temporary absence.]
+
+[Footnote 140: R. Soule, Jr., now one of Mr. Philbrick's
+superintendents, who, upon the departure of the Philbricks, had come
+to live at Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 141: The rebel masters had told their slaves that the
+Yankees intended to sell them "South,"--that is, to Cuba or the Gulf.]
+
+[Footnote 142: See note, p. 201.]
+
+[Footnote 143: On board the _Kingfisher_.]
+
+[Footnote 144: A Pennsylvanian, General Superintendent for St. Helena
+and Ladies Islands, since Richard Soule had resigned that position.]
+
+[Footnote 145: That is, gathered.]
+
+[Footnote 146: Admiral Dupont's flag-ship.]
+
+[Footnote 147: The Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers (colored),
+which was in camp at Port Royal.]
+
+[Footnote 148: Meaning, of course, plantations belonging to the
+Government.]
+
+[Footnote 149: The "Mary Jenkins" place.]
+
+[Footnote 150: Two hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds was "about
+as much as there was raised in the whole Department" in 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 151: See p. 230.]
+
+[Footnote 152: A letter dated December 28, 1863, inclosing $100 for
+the relief of families of freedmen. The letter gives figures that
+prove the success of the free labor experiment on Mr. Philbrick's
+plantations, and concludes as follows: "I mention these things to show
+how easy it is to render the negroes a self-supporting and
+wealth-producing class with proper management; and I, at the same
+time, fully appreciate the duty imposed upon us as a nation to extend
+the arm of charity where the unsettled state of the country renders
+industry impossible until time is given to recognize and force to
+protect it. We are more fortunately situated than the people of the
+Mississippi valley, and have got the start of them."]
+
+[Footnote 153: A letter dated January 25, 1864, and printed in the
+Providence _Journal_ on February 6.]
+
+[Footnote 154: Land on the Sea Islands is now worth $15 an acre,--$20
+if it is near a road.]
+
+[Footnote 155: F. J. W. was in Boston at the time.]
+
+[Footnote 156: William Birney, Brigadier-General and Commander of the
+Post at Beaufort during one of Saxton's absences, had, on March 30,
+issued an order to the effect that in all cases the negroes were to be
+left in possession of the land they claimed as theirs.]
+
+[Footnote 157: An ambulance.]
+
+[Footnote 158: Cf. E. S. P.'s letter of February 22, p. 251.]
+
+[Footnote 159: Early in April the steamer _City of New York_, carrying
+sixty-one bales of Mr. Philbrick's cotton, was wrecked in Queenstown
+harbor. The cotton was insured for $1.50 a pound, but would have
+brought more in the market.]
+
+[Footnote 160: See p. 219. The idea was by no means new. Frederick Law
+Olmstead had devoted a great deal of space to proving the truth of it,
+and indeed had quoted many planters who admitted that, as a system of
+labor, slavery was expensive.]
+
+[Footnote 161: (Dated April 26, in the _Independent_.) On St. Helena
+to-day it is always possible to hire men for common work at fifty
+cents per day.]
+
+[Footnote 162: Dated May 2.]
+
+[Footnote 163: The National Union Convention which met on June 7.]
+
+[Footnote 164: The hero of the _Planter_ episode; see p. 46.]
+
+[Footnote 165: See p. 145.]
+
+[Footnote 166: One of many minor raids, very likely up the Combahee
+River.]
+
+[Footnote 167: As General commanding the Department of the South.]
+
+[Footnote 168: Husband of Fanny Kemble.]
+
+[Footnote 169: Compare J. A. S. on p. 265.]
+
+[Footnote 170: Evidently G.'s suggestion was practically for the plan
+Mr. Philbrick did in fact adopt finally, that of selling some of his
+land to negroes and some to white men. The price at which he sold to
+the negroes was determined by the ideas here expressed.]
+
+[Footnote 171: A mulatto, educated in the North, who had gone to help
+at Port Royal.]
+
+[Footnote 172: Colonel Milton S. Littlefield, Twenty-First United
+States Colored Troops.]
+
+[Footnote 173: Foster's order was dated August 16.]
+
+[Footnote 174: "The First South," as the First South Carolina
+Volunteers was always called by the negroes, had in the spring been
+enrolled among the United States Colored Troops as the Thirty-Third
+Regiment.]
+
+[Footnote 175: See p. 187.]
+
+[Footnote 176: Both in the Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers
+(colored).]
+
+[Footnote 177: The battle of Honey Hill (near Grahamville), fought
+November 30.]
+
+[Footnote 178: Of the Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts.]
+
+[Footnote 179: F. H. was to take charge of Coffin's Point on C. P.
+W.'s leaving permanently for home a few weeks later. In connection
+with Mr. Philbrick's words about him and in preparation for his own
+letters, it is worth while to record something he had written in the
+autumn:
+
+Oct. 7. St. Helena. I am slowly recovering from my three weeks'
+sickness,--more buoyant and hopeful than ever before. I seem to have a
+new birth, with new aspirations, and new views--particularly in regard
+to life and its duties and prospects among the freed people of South
+Carolina.
+
+If _God_ is not in it, then I am laboring under hallucination.]
+
+[Footnote 180: The crop of 1864 had cost Mr. Philbrick about $1.00 a
+pound, and he thought it quite possible that the crop of 1865 might
+not fetch more than that in the market. It will be seen that his fears
+were more than justified.]
+
+[Footnote 181: General Oliver O. Howard.]
+
+[Footnote 182: The only thoroughfare by land from Beaufort to
+Charleston. At Port Royal Ferry it crosses the Coosaw.]
+
+[Footnote 183: F. H.]
+
+[Footnote 184: "Yellow cotton" was cotton which for any reason had
+been stained in the pod.]
+
+[Footnote 185: Concerning this horse-buying fever Mr. Philbrick has
+elsewhere an amusing anecdote:
+
+[Jan. 8.] The latest case of destitution I have heard of was the case
+of old Robert at the Oaks, cow-minder,--you remember him. He and old
+Scylla applied to Mr. Tomlinson for rations, pleading utter poverty.
+It turned out next day that Robert and Scylla's husband were in treaty
+for Mr. Fairfield's horse, at the rate of $350! They didn't allege
+_inability_ to pay the price, but thought they would look around and
+see if they couldn't get one cheaper. I daresay it will end by their
+buying it.]
+
+[Footnote 186: Fuller, of Fuller Place, who had succeeded in keeping
+with him on a plantation elsewhere the negroes he had induced to
+accompany him when the war broke out.]
+
+[Footnote 187: In Europe.]
+
+[Footnote 188: By President Johnson's instructions.]
+
+[Footnote 189: The original owners of the Sea Island plantations were
+subsequently reimbursed by Congress for their loss (minors receiving
+again their actual land); but inasmuch as the sums paid them did not
+include the value of their slaves, they considered the payment
+inadequate.]
+
+[Footnote 190: New York _Nation_, November 30, 1865.]
+
+[Footnote 191: The cotton when ginned should have weighed between one
+third and one quarter as much as it weighed before ginning. See p.
+236.]
+
+[Footnote 192: In one of his letters to the _Nation_ (December 14),
+Dennett quotes Richard Soule as saying that he thought the past four
+years had encouraged and confirmed the faults of the negro.
+"Demoralized on the negro question," therefore, seems to mean, not
+that Richard Soule and F. H. were finding the negro worse than they
+had thought him, but that they considered that present conditions were
+rapidly making him worse.]
+
+[Footnote 193: General Saxton was Assistant Commissioner for South
+Carolina under the Freedmen's Bureau.]
+
+[Footnote 194: Reuben Tomlinson had been made State Superintendent of
+Education.]
+
+[Footnote 195: The Union Store was finished, stocked, and operated,
+but its life was brief. From the first, its vitality was sapped by the
+claim of the stockholders to unlimited credit; then a dishonest
+treasurer struck the death-blow.]
+
+[Footnote 196: See p. 312.]
+
+[Footnote 197: This was Grant's famous "car-window" report, in which
+he stated his belief that "the mass of thieving men at the South
+accept the situation in good faith."]
+
+[Footnote 198: Mr. Waters bought Cherry Hill and lived there for a
+short time.]
+
+[Footnote 199: "Corner" was the Captain John Fripp place.]
+
+[Footnote 200: At the auction referred to, the Government offered for
+sale the plantations which had been reserved for the support of
+schools.]
+
+[Footnote 201: A negro who worked a plantation "on shares" was
+independent of the owner, merely paying a rent in cotton.]
+
+[Footnote 202: Afterwards used as the nucleus of _Slave Songs of the
+United States_.]
+
+[Footnote 203: Before the war.]
+
+[Footnote 204: Rose had been living with H. W. in the North, and was
+now at Port Royal with her, also on a visit.]
+
+[Footnote 205: General Bennett was managing Coffin's for the owner,
+who had bought it of Mr. Philbrick.]
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Aaron, 235.
+
+Abel, 65, 66, 141 n., 145, 212, 218, 239, 330.
+
+Abigail, 331.
+
+Abolitionists, hostility to.
+  See Army Officers; Hunter; Saxton.
+
+_Advertiser, Boston_, 62, 219, 324.
+
+Africa, 203, 225.
+
+Alden, William, 286, 313, 321, 330.
+
+Alex, 86, 87, 95.
+
+Alick, 31, 239.
+
+Allen, William, 232.
+
+Amaritta, 88, 144, 187, 212, 222, 225, 233, 304.
+
+Andrew, 103.
+
+Anti-slavery people, hostility to.
+  See Army Officers; Hunter; Saxton.
+
+Antony, 95.
+
+_Ariel_, The, 225.
+
+Army Corps,
+  17th, 305;
+  18th, 150 n.
+
+Army officers, hostility of, to anti-slavery people, 108, 115, 122, 308.
+  See also Negroes, hostility of army officers to; Hunter; Saxton.
+
+_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, 104 n., 131 n., 133 n.
+
+"Arnie," Miss, 127.
+
+Atkinson, Edward, 53, 62, 101.
+
+Atlanta, Georgia, 290, 297.
+
+_Atlantic_, The, 2, 9.
+
+
+B----, Mr., 247.
+
+Bacchus, 64, 65, 121, 123, 126.
+
+Bacchus, foreman of Morgan Island, 203, 204.
+
+Bail, Anthony, 328.
+
+Baldwin, Mr., 235.
+
+Baltimore Convention, 1864, 267.
+
+Baptisms, 145, 146, 249, 268.
+
+Barkis, 228, 229.
+
+Barnard, James M., 162, 163.
+
+Barney, Hiram, 2.
+
+Barstow, Major, 163, 164.
+
+Bay Point, 13, 29, 35, 37 n., 41, 73, 79.
+
+Beaufort, N. C., 82.
+
+Beaufort, S. C., vi n., 6, 9, 16, 31, 39, 45, 46, 47, 53, 54, 61, 71,
+  72, 82, 83, 92, 93, 98, 100, 104, 106, 108, 117, 122, 127, 128,
+  129 n., 134, 141, 150, 155 n., 167, 170, 175, 186, 187, 196, 197,
+  202, 207, 211, 221, 235, 240, 255, 257 n., 258, 265, 267, 282, 283,
+  289, 290, 295, 297, 301, 302, 305, 314, 320, 326, 327.
+
+Beaufort River, vi n., 6, 71, 116, 117.
+
+Beaufort Sound, 203.
+
+Beauregard, Fort, 5, 37, 61.
+
+Becca, 126.
+
+Ben, 95.
+
+Bennett, General, 332.
+
+Betsey, 185.
+
+Betty, 61, 252, 253, 272.
+
+Betty, 144.
+
+"Biffert," 49, 82.
+
+Binah, 27, 44, 45, 157.
+
+Bingham, Quartermaster-General, 132.
+
+Birney, William, Brig.-Gen., 257, 271.
+
+Black Draft. See Draft, Black.
+
+Boston, 117, 118, 141, 168, 190, 205, 220, 225, 226, 250, 256, 257 n.,
+  264, 266, 272, 307, 310, 315, 316, 325.
+
+Boston syndicate, 140, 172, 208, 258, 275, 316.
+
+Boutelle, Captain, 205, 206.
+
+Brannan, John M., Brig.-Gen., 86, 94, 108, 122.
+
+Brisbane, Dr., 129, 164, 244, 312.
+
+Brown, Peter, 323.
+
+Bryant, Captain J. E., 185, 187, 240.
+
+Bryant, Lieutenant O. E., 188.
+
+Bryant, Mr., plantation superintendent, 108, 116, 122.
+
+Bryant, Mrs., 115, 321.
+
+Bundy, Dr. Francis, 142, 143, 188, 196, 197.
+
+Bundy, Mrs. Francis, 141, 142.
+
+Burying-place, 65 n., 66.
+
+Butler, Pierce, 271, 272.
+
+Butler, Mrs. Pierce. See Kemble, Fanny.
+
+
+Cæsar, 184, 239.
+
+Caroline (1), 16, 17.
+
+Caroline (2), 87.
+
+Caroline (3), 235.
+
+Cat Island, 6.
+
+Cato, 86, 87, 95.
+
+Celia, 300.
+
+Chaplin, Benjarola, 206, 311.
+
+Charleston, S. C., 31 n., 36, 45, 46, 61, 62, 63, 92, 115, 164, 165,
+  195, 198, 206, 213, 232, 297, 307, 316, 319;
+  siege of, 150 n., 163 n., 194-199.
+
+Chase, Salmon P., 70 n., 247.
+
+Chattel sales, 255, 256.
+
+Cherry Hill, 79, 80, 135, 160, 172, 301, 324.
+
+Chester, 120.
+
+Child, Professor F. J., 257.
+
+Christmas,
+  1863, 237;
+  1864, 292, 293.
+
+Church, Brick (Baptist), 49, 243, 306.
+
+Church, White (Episcopal), 49 n., 68, 101, 117.
+
+Cicero, 192, 271.
+
+_City of New York_, The, 264 n.
+
+Clarke, Mrs., 141.
+
+Climate of Sea Islands, 10, 68, 73, 105, 106, 110, 118, 140, 145, 152,
+  243, 323.
+
+Coast Survey, 60, 139.
+
+Cockloft, overseer, 127, 165, 169.
+
+Cockspur Island, 43 n.
+
+Coffin, Eben, 205.
+
+Coffin family, 236.
+
+Coffin, Sir Isaac, Bart., 150.
+
+Coffin, Julian, 209, 326.
+
+Coffin, Thomas Astor, 79, 139, 164, 165, 204, 206, 232, 330.
+
+Coffin, Mrs. T. A., 206.
+
+Coffin trademark, 237.
+
+"Coffin's Battery," 187, 285.
+
+Coffin's Point, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 22, 29, 40, 42, 45, 46, 51, 53, 54,
+  58 n., 62, 68, 71, 79, 88, 94, 119, 122, 135, 139 n., 145, 180, 182,
+  183, 188, 190, 191, 203, 229, 239, 240, 255, 281, 285, 291 n., 299,
+  309, 310, 311, 312, 322, 323, 324, 328, 330, 331, 332 n.
+
+Comba, 303.
+
+Combahee River, 271 n.
+
+"Concern."
+  See Boston Syndicate.
+
+Contracts with negroes, 262, 263.
+
+Cooley, Judge, 259.
+
+Coosaw, Fort, 240.
+
+Coosaw River, 233, 297 n.
+
+Corn Crop of 1862, 12, 13, 54, 94, 101.
+
+"Corner," 324 n.
+
+_Cosmopolitan_, The, 6, 199.
+
+Cotton-agents, 12, 14, 18, 22, 98.
+  See also Mr. S.
+
+Cotton crop,
+  1861, 11, 110, 118 n., 127;
+  1862, 13, 54, 57, 83 n., 92, 99, 101, 109, 117, 125, 237 n., 264 n.;
+  1863, 151, 171, 208, 209, 211, 212, 234, 235, 236, 237;
+  1864, 295 n., 297, 310, 326;
+  1865, 313, 314, 320, 322, 326.
+
+Cotton Fund, 115, 152.
+
+Cotton-gins broken by the negroes, 102 n., 109, 181.
+
+"Court."
+  See Plantation Commission.
+
+Crane, Captain W. D., 288, 289, 290.
+
+Crystal Palace, 168.
+
+Cuffy, 20, 26, 27, 61.
+
+Cutchery, Indian, 140.
+
+Cuthbert's Point, 116, 117.
+
+
+Dan, 185, 239.
+
+Darien, 204.
+
+Dathaw, 322.
+
+David, 46, 47, 239.
+
+Davis, Col. W. W. H., 202 n.
+
+De Golyer, Mr., 313.
+
+De la Croix, Mr., 141, 142, 143.
+
+Deborah, 160.
+
+Demus, 145, 212, 243, 304.
+
+Demus, elder, 173.
+
+Dennett, Mr., 319, 320.
+
+Department of the South, 86, 114, 154, 163, 173 n., 193, 196, 197,
+  227, 237, 249, 254, 260, 261, 268, 271, 278, 289.
+
+Doll, 25, 212, 235.
+
+Draft, Black, 37-42, 43, 44, 50, 51, 54, 77, 96, 99, 167, 172-175, 176,
+  177, 182, 183, 184, 185-190, 211, 213, 236, 239, 240, 249, 281-284.
+
+Drivers, 8, 12, 31 n., 40, 41, 78, 80, 124.
+
+Duhurst, Lieut., 132.
+
+Dupont, Commodore S. F., 5, 225, 289, 319.
+
+Dutch, Captain, 185, 233.
+
+
+Eddings Point, 171, 192, 247, 270.
+
+Edisto, 318.
+
+Edisto refugees, 72, 150, 151, 294, 306, 307.
+
+Educational Commission for Freedmen
+  (Boston), 1, 4, 12, 33, 37 n., 117 n., 257, 311;
+  (New York), 4, 12, 129 n.;
+  (Philadelphia), 171, 305.
+
+Eggs, donations of, 21, 22, 35, 44, 59, 75, 121, 139, 196, 250.
+
+Egypt, 5, 11, 15, 28.
+
+Ellen, 138.
+
+Ellwell, Col., 245.
+
+Elsie, 203, 204.
+
+Elsie, at Coffin's Point, 218, 330.
+
+Emancipation celebration, 124, 125, 126, 127-134.
+
+Emancipation, Preliminary Proclamation of, 97.
+
+Emancipation, Proclamation of, 92.
+
+Eustis, F. A., 8, 19, 32, 44, 171, 196, 238, 240, 246, 292, 327.
+
+Eustis Place, 252.
+
+Evacuation of Sea Islands, 84, 86, 98.
+
+
+Fanny, 195.
+
+Fairfield, Mr., 302 n.
+
+Ferry, from Port Royal Island to Ladies Island, 19 n., 128, 173;
+  to mainland, 297, 302.
+
+_Festina Lente_, 63.
+
+Finnie, 86.
+
+First South, see S. C. Vols., 1st Regt.
+
+Flora, 21, 23, 25, 31, 35, 36, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 52, 58, 59, 123,
+  141, 152, 331.
+
+_Flora_, The, 182.
+
+Florida, 50, 136, 153 n., 167.
+
+Folsom, Dr. Charles F., 70, 184, 232, 262, 265, 298, 301, 304, 307.
+
+Folsom's Place, 280, 329.
+
+Forbes, John M., 3, 16, 17, 18, 140, 147, 196.
+
+Fort Coosaw, 240.
+
+Fort on Smith Plantation, 132.
+
+Forts Walker and Beauregard, 5, 37, 61.
+
+Forten, Charlotte, 133.
+
+Fortress Monroe, 290.
+
+Fortune, 239.
+
+Foster, John G., Maj.-Gen., 150 n., 154, 160, 162, 163, 271, 280, 281,
+  282, 285, 290, 299, 305.
+
+Fourth of July, 68-70.
+
+Fowler, Rev. Mr., 102, 129.
+
+Frank, 136, 229, 330.
+
+_Free South, The_, 155, 187.
+
+_Freedmen at Port Royal, The_, 312.
+
+Freedmen's Aid Societies, 325.
+
+Freedmen's Bureau, 321, 325.
+
+French, Rev. Mansfield, 4, 49, 50, 130, 230, 243, 254.
+
+Fripp, Alvirah, plantation of, 81.
+
+Fripp, Dr. Clarence, 31, 59, 207, 319, 320.
+
+Fripp, Eddings, 207.
+
+Fripp, Eden, 31.
+
+Fripp, Edgar, plantation of, 68, 74 n.
+
+Fripp, Hamilton, 270;
+  plantation of, 230, 271;
+  sons of, 296.
+
+Fripp, Harriet, 22, 31.
+
+Fripp house in Beaufort, 196.
+
+Fripp, Captain John, 316, 326;
+  daughters of, 316, 326;
+  plantation of, 135, 172, 249, 324 n., 326, 329.
+
+Fripp, Juliana, 34.
+
+Fripp, Lynch, 34.
+
+Fripp, Captain Oliver, plantation of, 68, 137, 184.
+
+Fripp Point, 12, 30, 41, 43, 88, 92, 119, 123, 126, 127 n., 139, 172,
+  183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 191, 199, 200, 224, 239, 255, 258, 259,
+  263, 299, 301, 306, 324, 326, 331.
+
+Fripp, Sam, 34.
+
+Fripp, T. B., plantation of, 135, 171, 230, 321.
+
+Fripp, T. J., 204.
+
+Fripp, Washington, 31.
+
+Fripp, William, 12, 31, 59;
+  sons of, 12, 31.
+
+Fripp, Willie, 34.
+
+Frogmore, 205, 206, 300.
+
+Fuller, Rev. Robert, 314, 315.
+
+Fuller Place, 295, 324, 328.
+
+_Fulton_, The, 197.
+
+Funeral, negro child's, 65, 66, 67.
+
+
+K. G., 33.
+
+W. C. G., 3, 8, 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 32, 34, 40, 41, 61, 64, 65, 66, 88,
+  105, 116, 122, 125, 147, 161, 172, 186, 187, 189, 197, 204, 211-213,
+  224, 232, 238, 240, 246, 255, 259, 260, 265, 266, 268, 299, 300, 304,
+  305, 312, 333;
+  letters from, 11, 14, 20 n., 22, 32, 37 n., 43, 57, 84, 107, 115,
+  137, 154, 165, 167, 177, 183, 191, 197, 210, 222, 231, 241, 248, 254,
+  263, 267, 277 n., 283, 286, 288, 307, 308, 309.
+
+W. C. G., article by, in _North American Review_, 312.
+
+W. C. G., poem by, 66.
+
+
+Gage, Mrs., 132.
+
+Gang system, 58 n., 94, 108, 109, 112.
+
+George, 235, 331, 332.
+
+Georgia, 50, 136 n., 144, 153, 297, 301, 308.
+
+Georgia refugees, 293, 294, 295, 306, 307, 314.
+
+Gettysburg, battle of, 195.
+
+Gib, 315.
+
+Gillmore, Q. A., Brig.-Gen., 193, 194, 228, 233, 249, 321.
+
+Gordon, Captain, 290.
+
+Gordon, slave pirate, 225.
+
+Government, U. S., 1, 9, 10, 14, 17, 37 n., 53, 56 n., 57, 72, 78, 81,
+  86, 97, 98, 99, 102, 112, 113, 115, 117, 118, 137, 148, 149, 150,
+  151, 171, 174, 175, 177, 182, 185, 191, 208, 229, 231 n., 244, 245,
+  260, 266, 277, 282, 296, 308, 309, 311, 327 n.
+
+Grace, 126, 222, 225, 250, 303.
+
+Grahamville, S. C., 289.
+
+Grant, U. S., Lieut.-Gen., 324.
+
+Green, Jonas, 322.
+
+Green, Dr. S. A., 163.
+
+"Gun fire at Bay Point," 37 n., 79, 126, 209.
+
+
+H----, Col., 280, 281.
+
+F. H., 291, 298, 306, 309, 321, 324;
+  letters from, 291 n., 311, 313, 323, 328.
+
+Habersham, Mr., 308.
+
+Hacklis, 262, 263.
+
+Halleck, Henry W., Maj.-Gen., 122.
+
+Hall, Wm., 127, 150, 183, 184, 186, 196, 197, 201, 205, 216, 237, 252.
+
+Hallowell, Col. E. N., 196.
+
+Hallowell, Col. N. P., 168.
+
+Hamlet, 185.
+
+Hammond, Mr., 119, 156, 193.
+
+Hardy, Alpheus, 248.
+
+Harriet, 34.
+
+Harrison, Mr., 262.
+
+Harry, 16, 162.
+
+Hartwell, Col. A. S., 290.
+
+Hayti, 84.
+
+Hazard, Mr., 271.
+
+Henry, 127, 206, 207, 226.
+
+_Herald_, Boston, 124.
+
+Hester, 140, 141, 142, 214, 217, 251.
+
+Higginson, Col. T. W., 104 n., 106 n., 124, 129, 130, 131, 133 n., 134,
+  153, 164, 167, 168, 195, 225, 240.
+
+Hilton Head, 5, 6, 9, 13, 37 n., 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 53, 57,
+  71, 73, 77, 79, 83, 84, 86, 87, 92, 94, 97, 98, 107, 114, 118, 125,
+  126, 150, 175, 182, 194, 195, 229, 235, 261, 279, 280, 281, 319.
+
+Honey Hill, S. C., 289 n.
+
+Hooper, Captain E. W., 3, 9, 16, 19, 49, 50, 93, 105, 111, 124, 175,
+  187, 188, 197, 198, 306.
+
+Hope Place, 81, 82, 171.
+
+_Horace_, The, 297.
+
+Horse-buying, 301, 302.
+
+Howard, O. O., Maj.-Gen., 297, 298, 299, 305, 317, 318.
+
+Hoyt, Capt., 186, 189.
+
+Hull, Mr., 116, 117, 172.
+
+Hunn, Mr. J., 171, 244, 251.
+
+Hunter, David, Maj.-Gen., 37 n., 38, 39, 40, 42, 48, 50, 62, 63, 86,
+  89, 100, 103, 104, 108 n., 115, 133 n., 154, 155, 156, 159 n., 162,
+  163 n., 165, 167, 172, 173, 175, 182, 187, 188, 190.
+
+Hunter Regiment, 62, 96, 104, 106.
+
+Hunting Island, 78, 238, 279.
+
+Hunting, Dr., 239.
+
+Hurd, Augustus, 3.
+
+
+Indemnity, for slave-owners, 319 n.
+
+_Independent_, The, 265.
+
+Irish, compared with negroes, 11, 15, 18, 22, 56, 75.
+
+Isaac, 82, 239.
+
+
+Jack, 125, 126, 299.
+
+Jackson, Mr., 301.
+
+Jacksonboro', 196.
+
+Jacksonville, Fla., 167.
+
+James, Capt., 106.
+
+James, G. W., Adjt., 196.
+
+January, 153, 181, 239, 315.
+
+Jenkins, Dr., plantation of, 108 n., 116.
+
+Jenkins, Mary, plantation of, 233, 247, 296.
+
+Jim, 78, 79, 90, 239.
+
+Jimmy, 239.
+
+Joe, 20, 23, 39, 40, 41, 46, 52, 60, 61, 100, 106, 122, 123, 141 n.
+
+John, 87, 257, 258.
+
+John, Major, 260, 299, 300, 319.
+
+Johnson, Andrew, 317, 318.
+
+Jonas, 239.
+
+Joseph, 255.
+
+Josh, 188.
+
+_Journal of Music_, The Boston, 30.
+
+_Journal_, Providence, 248 n.
+
+Judd, Mr., Gen. Supt. of Port Royal Island, 94, 129, 132.
+
+Judy, 141, 154, 243, 272.
+
+Juliana, 233.
+
+July, 95.
+
+June, 136, 195.
+
+
+Katrine, 145.
+
+Katy, 212, 299.
+
+Katy, at Frogmore, 206.
+
+Keller, Lewis, 279.
+
+_Kelley_, The, 279.
+
+Kellum, Capt, 322.
+
+Kemble, Fanny, 271, 272.
+
+_Kingfisher_, The, 176, 185 n., 204, 212 n.
+
+
+L----, John, 152, 162.
+
+Ladies Island, 8, 9, 19 n., 54, 72, 109, 116, 117, 118, 172, 223 n.,
+  240, 311.
+
+Land-sales, 109 n., 111, 117, 120, 135, 137, 140, 141, 147, 148, 151,
+  152, 154, 155, 159, 165, 170, 171, 172, 177, 229, 230, 231, 243, 244,
+  245, 246, 247, 248, 254, 265, 266, 277, 312, 315, 320, 327.
+
+Land's End, 119, 135, 153 n., 155, 161, 162, 174 n., 182, 194.
+
+Lee, Mr., paymaster, U. S., 100, 110.
+
+Lee, R. E., Gen., 310.
+
+Lester, 65.
+
+Lewis, 192.
+
+Lewis, Dio, 160.
+
+Lieutenant, of 104th Pa. Vols., 200, 201, 202.
+
+Limus, 37, 77, 221, 226, 228.
+
+Lincoln, Abraham, 48, 50 n., 62, 63, 86, 91, 92, 96, 97, 98, 129, 230,
+  243, 245, 258, 263, 310.
+
+Littlefield, Milton S., Col., 282.
+
+_London News_, The, 168.
+
+Louisa, 35, 138, 144, 146, 299.
+
+L'Ouverture, Toussaint, 104 n.
+
+
+McClellan, George B., Maj.-Gen., 168.
+
+McKee's plantation, 46.
+
+McKim, Lucy, 30 n.
+
+McTureous Plantation, 76, 77, 78, 79, 171, 229, 230, 312, 323, 330.
+
+Mack, David, 3.
+
+Maria, nurse, 126, 209.
+
+Maria, seamster, 271.
+
+_Market for manufactures, A new_, 219.
+
+Marriage of negroes, 95, 103, 104, 125, 126, 144.
+
+Martha, 88, 330.
+
+Mary, 61, 216.
+
+Mary Ann, 95.
+
+Massachusetts Vols.,
+  24th Regt., 153, 154, 156, 162;
+  54th Regt., 168, 194, 196, 198;
+  55th Regt., 226, 288, 289, 290 n.
+
+May, 303.
+
+_Mayflower_, The, 71.
+
+_Melville_, The, 306, 307.
+
+Methodism, 124, 163, 221.
+
+Mike, 185, 255, 256, 311, 332.
+
+Miller, 212, 239.
+
+Mily, nurse, 26, 59, 136.
+
+Minda, 127, 146, 243.
+
+Mission House, 129.
+
+Mitchel, Ormsby M., Maj.-Gen., 86, 94, 105, 108 n.
+
+_Mohegan_, The, 225.
+
+Moll, 201, 299.
+
+Monah, 331.
+
+Monday, "Useless," 262.
+
+Monroe, Fortress, 290.
+
+Montgomery, Col., 167, 185, 189.
+
+Morgan Island, 203, 233, 270, 295, 296, 306.
+
+Morris Island, 195, 196, 289.
+
+Mulberry Hill, 80, 81, 135, 172, 322, 324.
+
+Murray, Ellen, 329.
+
+
+N. R. & W., Firm of, 324, 326, 329.
+
+Nancy, 138, 212.
+
+Nancy, old, 222, 234.
+
+Nat, 77, 95, 139.
+
+_Nation_, The New York, 26 n., 319-321.
+
+National Union Convention, 261 n.
+
+_Negro Burying Ground, The_, 66.
+
+Negroes of Sea Islands,
+  characteristics of, 11, 15, 21, 22, 23, 25, 75, 76, 81, 99, 109, 116,
+    122, 138, 144, 171, 177, 214, 215, 241, 315, 328;
+  compared with Irish, 11, 15, 18, 22, 56, 75;
+  compared with negroes elsewhere, 11, 15, 89, 97, 288;
+  condition of, in 1862, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 51, 70, 181, 307;
+  contracts with, 262, 263;
+  cotton-gins destroyed by, 102 n., 109, 181;
+  dishonesty of, 126, 136, 227, 241, 242, 256, 269, 287, 310, 311, 313,
+    320, 322, 323, 324, 328;
+  food of, 53, 62, 73, 93, 120;
+  future of, 317, 318, 334;
+  gratuities to, 14, 33, 34, 44, 47, 51, 52, 53, 58, 80, 88, 94, 148,
+    150, 165, 166, 179, 191, 208, 246, 276, 277, 302 n., 309, 334;
+  health of, 15, 105, 213;
+  hostility of army officers to, 74, 85, 101, 164;
+  industry of, 11, 37 n., 48, 55, 111, 156, 175, 181, 182, 208, 209,
+    212, 222;
+  independence of, 208, 260, 275;
+  intelligence of, 21, 60, 63, 74, 76, 90, 93, 97, 112, 166, 168, 169,
+    174, 241;
+  intemperance of, 15, 225, 229, 327;
+  as land-owners (see also Land-sales), 272, 276, 312, 315, 323, 326;
+  language of, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35, 36, 90, 123, 157, 160, 218;
+  marriage of, 95, 103, 104, 125, 126, 144;
+  names of, 36, 52, 209;
+  petition of, 258-261, 263, 264;
+  religion of, 15, 20, 21, 26, 27, 36, 44, 61, 65, 66, 67, 145, 146,
+    193, 235, 268;
+  singing of, 19, 28, 29, 30, 134, 253, 292, 293, 328;
+  as soldiers, 42, 43, 63, 89, 91, 93, 96, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 108,
+    136, 153, 164, 168, 184;
+  treatment of, by masters, 31, 32, 36, 206, 207;
+  wages of, 45, 56, 57, 75, 85, 91, 92, 99, 100, 110, 111, 112, 139,
+    147, 148, 222, 234, 244, 245, 246, 250, 251, 258, 260, 264, 265,
+    266 n., 267, 294, 295, 300, 301, 303, 304.
+
+Nero, 236.
+
+New Orleans, 62, 325.
+
+_New South, The_, 173.
+
+New York Vols.,
+  19th Regt., 13;
+  48th, 197;
+  79th, 39.
+
+Nile, songs on the, 28.
+
+Noble, 271.
+
+_North American Review_, The, 312.
+
+North Carolina Army, 150, 153 n., 161.
+
+Nubia, 11, 15.
+
+
+Oakland, 171.
+
+Oaks, The, 69, 83, 93, 127 n., 150, 171, 320.
+
+Ogeechee River, 309.
+
+Oliver, Dr., 328.
+
+Olmstead, Frederick Law, 265 n.
+
+Otter Island, 47, 159.
+
+
+Paige, Mr., 235, 236.
+
+Palmer, Mr., 79, 81, 82.
+
+Paris, 81, 82.
+
+Parker, Rev. Mr., 268, 269.
+
+Paxton, Capt., 197.
+
+Peg, 212.
+
+Peggy, Old, 43, 44.
+
+Penn Normal, Industrial, and Agricultural School, 16 n., 298, 329, 334.
+
+Pennsylvania Volunteers,
+  Roundhead Regt., 51;
+  104th Regt., 200.
+
+Peter, Uncle, 26, 36, 46, 120, 185.
+
+Peter, on Frogmore, 206.
+
+Petition of negroes, 258-261, 263, 264.
+
+Petra, 304.
+
+Philadelphia, 47, 51, 53, 104.
+
+Philbrick, Edward S., 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 28, 31 n., 36, 37, 39, 40,
+  41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 69, 75, 76, 83, 85, 97,
+  99, 105, 120, 121, 125, 127 n., 135, 137, 139, 146, 150, 152, 158,
+  160, 165, 170, 171, 172, 176, 177, 180, 184, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191,
+  201 n., 203 n., 205, 212, 216, 218, 219, 220, 229, 240, 249, 250,
+  251, 254, 255, 256, 258, 259, 260, 261, 264 n., 265, 284, 291 n.,
+  312, 324, 329, 331, 332.
+  Letters from, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 53, 62, 86, 88, 91, 92,
+    93, 94, 100, 101, 105, 107, 116, 122, 124, 132 n., 135, 140, 180,
+    185, 187, 205, 218, 219, 220, 221, 224, 229, 231, 232, 234, 235,
+    236, 237, 239, 240, 243, 247, 248 n., 249, 250, 256, 257, 264, 265,
+    266, 272, 280, 290, 291, 294, 299, 301, 302 n., 304, 306, 310, 315,
+    316, 317, 325.
+
+Philbrick, Mrs. E. S., 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 19, 20, 23, 25, 33, 41, 44,
+  46, 51, 58, 59, 61, 65, 73, 82, 150, 154, 161, 170, 183, 191, 216.
+
+Phillips, Rev. Mr., 103, 115, 244, 269.
+
+Phillis, 95, 186, 212.
+
+Phoebe, 103.
+
+Pierce, E. L., 3, 4, 7, 8, 16, 19, 37, 38, 42, 45 n., 49, 50, 54, 64,
+  68, 69, 70.
+
+Pine Grove Plantation, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 26, 31, 51, 59, 60, 75,
+  88, 95, 102, 103, 109, 120, 123, 126, 127 n., 136, 141, 152, 172,
+  173, 183, 184, 185, 186, 191, 210, 231, 234, 262, 270, 271, 301, 328,
+  330, 331.
+
+Plantation Commission, 201 n., 210, 228, 269, 270, 286, 313, 323.
+
+"Plantation Bitters," 310.
+
+_Planter_, The, 45, 46, 47, 51, 63, 268 n.
+
+Pocotaligo, 290, 302, 305.
+
+Pompey, 207, 239, 250, 251, 257, 258, 260, 261, 266, 299, 300.
+
+"Poor Rosy," 30.
+
+Pope, Mr., 327.
+
+Pope's plantation, 19, 50, 195.
+
+Port Royal, 1, 4 n., 28, 70, 119, 190, 191, 225, 226 n., 229, 278, 280,
+  285, 290, 299, 329, 331 n.
+
+Port Royal Bar, 5.
+
+Port Royal Experiment, 92, 98, 118, 119, 170, 172, 180, 218, 219, 240,
+  241.
+
+Port Royal Ferry, 297, 302, 304.
+
+Port Royal Island, 6, 69, 97, 118, 119 n., 128, 194, 304.
+
+_Post_, The N. Y. Evening, 248, 265, 277.
+
+Potter, Edward E., Brig.-Gen., 158, 159, 160.
+
+Preëmption system, 229, 230, 244, 245, 248, 254, 266, 318.
+
+Prices, war-time, 47.
+
+Primus, 183, 186, 188, 189, 190, 301, 302, 332.
+
+Prisoners, exchange of, 198, 199.
+
+Pritchard, 78, 79, 171, 311.
+
+Pritchard's Island, 171.
+
+Pulaski, Fort, 43, 87.
+
+
+T. E. R., 122, 125, 135, 141, 145, 172, 186, 193, 229, 233, 243, 244,
+  246, 284, 313;
+  letters from, 285, 310, 314, 320, 326, 328.
+
+"R.'s," 128, 228, 232, 280, 289, 298, 300, 322.
+
+R., Miss, 141, 145, 232.
+
+Rand, Capt., 198.
+
+Ranty, 58, 103, 135, 136.
+
+Raphael, 160.
+
+Rations to negroes, 34, 80, 94, 150, 246, 302 n., 309;
+  to whites, 10, 20, 23, 32, 72, 114, 146.
+
+Readville, 161.
+
+Rebel raids, 233, 270, 279, 296, 306.
+
+Red tape, 72, 75, 85, 86, 190, 191, 285.
+
+Reed, Joe, superintendent, 116.
+
+Refugees.
+  See Edisto Refugees and Georgia Refugees.
+
+Republican party, 328.
+
+Rhodes, J. F., _History of the United States_, 194.
+
+Rice, Lt.-Col., 282, 283.
+
+Richard, 211.
+
+Richmond, 199, 310.
+
+Ripley, Fort, 47.
+
+Rivers, Sergeant Prince, 104, 130, 131.
+
+Road, 209.
+
+Robert, 76, 141, 142, 158, 168, 207, 214, 225, 232, 252, 253, 259,
+  286, 332.
+
+Robert, old, 269, 302 n.
+
+Rodwell, 286.
+
+Rose, Alex's daughter, 86, 87, 95.
+
+Rose, 141, 142, 145, 152, 156, 159, 160, 161, 168, 213, 214, 215, 216,
+  217, 218, 226, 243, 250, 251, 252, 259, 271, 278, 285, 287, 292, 331.
+
+Rosetta, 88.
+
+Russel, Cabot, 199.
+
+Russell, Dr. LeBaron, 117, 118, 153.
+
+
+S----, Col., 258.
+
+S----, Mr., cotton-agent, 12, 14, 33, 42, 44, 55, 102.
+
+S----, postmaster at Beaufort, 152.
+
+St. Croix, 132.
+
+St. Helena Island, 6, 10, 16, 19 n., 36, 74 n., 78, 79, 91, 94, 96,
+  109, 115, 118, 119, 127, 135, 182, 187, 188, 199, 205, 223 n.,
+  266 n., 279, 285, 288, 294, 310, 314, 319, 320.
+
+St. Helena Sound, 10.
+
+St. Helena Village, 30, 68, 72, 201, 329.
+
+St. John's River, 167.
+
+St. Mary's, 107.
+
+St. Mary's River, 153.
+
+St. Simon's Island, 136, 144, 271.
+
+Sally, Aunt, 192.
+
+Sam (Uncle), 34, 61, 65, 66, 95, 106, 141, 145, 146, 158, 159, 205,
+  235, 252, 253.
+
+Sammy, 119, 120.
+
+Samson, 144.
+
+Sancho, 188.
+
+Sanitary Fair, N. Y., 247.
+
+Sarah, of C. Pt., 125, 126.
+
+Sarah, 330.
+
+Sarah, Flora's, 331.
+
+Savannah, 289, 290, 296, 302, 308, 309, 310.
+
+"Saxby," Gen., 130, 150.
+
+Saxton, J. A., 265, 276.
+
+Saxton, Maj.-Gen. Rufus, 48, 57, 69, 83, 84, 86, 92, 93 n., 94, 96,
+  97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 115, 116, 117,
+  118, 122, 124, 125, 129, 130, 132, 139, 150, 151, 152, 156, 159 n.,
+  165, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 175, 187, 188, 190, 193, 194, 198, 201,
+  202, 211, 213, 229, 230, 231, 239, 240, 243, 244, 245, 254, 257 n.,
+  262, 285, 298, 299, 305, 306, 307, 308, 312, 319, 321, 324, 325.
+
+Schools, 16 n., 20, 21, 24, 32, 43, 59, 60, 149, 152, 159, 180, 208,
+  273, 298, 321, 334.
+
+School Farm, 165 n.
+
+Scylla, 302 n.
+
+Sea Islands, 42, 45 n., 70 n., 71, 89, 90, 128, 221, 254 n., 257, 299,
+  307, 319, 321, 334.
+
+Sea Side Road, 76, 171.
+
+"Secesh," 43, 44, 51, 61, 72, 97, 113, 185, 252, 260, 264, 270, 305,
+  311, 314.
+
+"Secesh children," 271.
+
+Seed-cotton, 109 n., 236, 320.
+
+"Shares," 327.
+
+Sharper, 183.
+
+Shaw, Col. R. G., 194, 196, 197, 199.
+
+Shell Road, 297.
+
+Sherman, W. T., Maj.-Gen., 289, 290, 293, 298, 301, 304, 307, 308.
+
+Shop, 24, 33, 46, 57, 92, 142, 157, 158, 159, 185, 190, 219, 220, 233,
+  264, 273, 279, 280, 281, 321.
+
+Shout, 26, 27, 34, 292, 293.
+
+Siah, 34, 119, 199, 221, 222, 224, 260, 266.
+
+Sickles, D. E., Maj.-Gen., 321.
+
+Sim, 36.
+
+Simon, 185.
+
+Sinclair, Mr., 332.
+
+Sinclair, Mrs., 332.
+
+Sinnet, 222.
+
+_Slave Songs of the United States_, 28, 328 n.
+
+Slip-potato crop. See Sweet potato crop.
+
+Small, Robert, 268.
+
+Small-pox, 251-253.
+
+Smallwood, Mr., 313, 314.
+
+Smith, Judge, tax-commissioner, 230, 245.
+
+Smith, Judge, Special Agent, 258, 259, 260.
+
+Smith Plantation, 17, 128.
+
+Soldiers, 38, 39, 92, 94, 118, 119, 155, 199-202.
+
+Soule, Capt. C. C., 89, 289.
+
+Soule, Richard, Jr., 3, 37, 74, 78, 79, 105, 150, 169, 200, 203, 205,
+  211, 213, 223, 225, 258, 259, 261, 263, 269, 280, 283, 289, 290, 321,
+  323, 326, 332;
+  letters from, 309, 312, 315, 322, 324.
+
+Soule, Mrs. R., 289, 332.
+
+South Carolina, 50, 53 n., 91, 267, 290, 291, 311, 321.
+
+South Carolina Vols.,
+  1st, 102, 104 n., 106, 107, 115, 124, 128, 129, 130, 133, 134, 136,
+    153, 154, 167, 225, 236, 268, 282;
+    officers of, 106, 124, 129, 132, 133, 240, 268;
+  2d, 167, 185;
+    officers of, 188, 189.
+
+Stanton, E. M., Secretary of War, 48, 133 n., 298, 299, 305.
+
+Stevens, Hazard, 38, 39.
+
+Stevens, Brig.-Gen. Isaac I., 47.
+
+Stevenson, Thomas G., Brig.-Gen., 162, 163, 164.
+
+Stickney, Judge, 132.
+
+Stone-cotton, 109, 236.
+
+Store.
+  See Shop.
+
+Strappan, 217.
+
+Strong, Lt.-Col., 282.
+
+Sumner, Arthur, 68, 156, 161, 163.
+
+Sumter, Fort, 46, 47, 51.
+
+Superintendence, system of, 101, 117, 137, 147, 167, 228, 272.
+
+Superintendent, typical day of, 76-82.
+
+Superintendents, duties of, 86;
+  meetings of, 101, 108, 117, 197.
+
+Susan, 23, 43, 141.
+
+Sutton, Corp. Robert, 131.
+
+Sweet potato crop, 105, 106, 111.
+
+
+Tamah, 163.
+
+Task, 45 n.
+
+Tax-commissioners, 109, 117, 129 n., 165, 231, 248, 254, 255, 258,
+  259, 320.
+
+Thanksgiving Day,
+  1863, 232;
+  1864, 288, 289
+
+Thomas, 224.
+
+Thompson, Capt. Thomas, 186, 188, 189.
+
+Thorpe, Mr., 143, 217.
+
+Tilly, 304.
+
+Tim, 139, 208, 222.
+
+_Times_, The New York, 69.
+
+Tira, 36.
+
+"Titles," 36, 52.
+
+Titus, 252.
+
+"Tobey," Captain, 97.
+
+Toby, 87, 95.
+
+Tom, 30, 31, 59, 61.
+
+"Tom, Uncle," 61.
+
+Tomlinson, Reuben, 222, 224, 251, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 302 n.,
+  305, 306, 307, 319, 321;
+  letters from, 223, 228, 250.
+
+Tony, driver, 79, 80, 82, 120, 199, 239, 301.
+
+Towne, Laura E., founder of Penn School, 16, 49, 293, 294, 298, 319,
+  329.
+
+Towne, Mr., 323.
+
+Treasury Department, 1, 280, 281.
+
+Treasury, Secretary of, 70 n., 247, 281.
+
+_Tribune_, The New York, 62, 235, 236, 265.
+
+
+Union Store, 312, 314, 322.
+
+United States Colored Troops,
+  21st Reg't., 282 n.;
+  33d Reg't. See S. C. Vols., 1st Reg't.
+
+
+Vaughn, Mrs., 288.
+
+Venus, 304.
+
+Vicksburg, 195.
+
+
+C. P. W., 70, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 138, 139, 141, 143, 144, 146,
+  152, 153, 157, 159, 160, 167, 168, 171, 172, 176, 177, 180, 182, 183,
+  184, 189, 190, 193, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 208,
+  210, 211, 213, 214, 216, 220, 222, 225, 228, 230, 234, 239, 250, 255,
+  256, 259, 262, 263, 267, 268, 279, 285, 286, 289, 291 n., 292, 293,
+  303, 309, 331, 332;
+  letters from, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 84, 86, 90, 93, 94, 96, 105 n.,
+    106, 111, 114, 115, 120, 146, 152, 154, 170, 171, 172, 190, 209,
+    226, 279, 282, 286, 293, 297.
+
+H. W., 10, 16, 22, 34, 75, 120, 184, 278, 279, 286, 309, 331 n.;
+  letters from, 16, 21, 22, 25, 30, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49,
+    51, 52, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 119, 121, 122, 124, 125, 127,
+    128, 133 n., 138, 139, 140, 141, 144, 149, 150, 152, 153, 154, 155,
+    157, 158, 160, 161, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 173 n., 174 n., 176,
+    180, 182, 184, 185, 186, 189, 191, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 199,
+    204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210, 211, 213, 215, 216, 217, 218, 222,
+    224, 226, 229, 230, 232, 234, 237, 240, 250, 251, 252, 253, 258,
+    259, 262, 263, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 285, 287, 288, 289, 292,
+    293, 298, 329.
+
+W----, Miss, 49.
+
+_Wabash_, 225.
+
+Wagner, Fort, assault on, 196.
+
+Wakefield, Dr., 41, 45, 51, 196.
+
+War Department, 159 n.
+
+War, Secretary of, 48, 133 n., 298, 299, 305.
+
+Ward, Captain, 328, 331.
+
+Walker, Fort, 5, 37, 61.
+
+Washington, 122 n., 151, 165, 240, 243, 254, 260, 280, 281, 326.
+
+Waters, Mr., 301, 324, 330.
+
+Waters, Mrs., 330.
+
+Wells, George, 172, 197, 203, 204, 232, 233, 236, 247, 270, 295, 296,
+  306.
+
+Wells, Mrs. Geo., 270.
+
+Westcott, Dr., 213.
+
+White, William, 323.
+
+White Place, 236.
+
+Whitredge, Alonso, 195.
+
+Whitredge, John, 195.
+
+Whittier, J. G., 133.
+
+"Widow Bedotte," 192.
+
+Will, 235.
+
+Wil'by, 41, 43, 61, 123.
+
+Williams, C. F., 134, 141, 193, 306, 310, 315, 322, 324, 325.
+
+Williams, Mrs., 141, 143.
+
+Williams, F. J., 251, 257.
+
+Williams, Capt., 311.
+
+Williamsburg, battle of, 62.
+
+Wolcott, Mrs. J. Huntington, 168.
+
+
+York, Mr., 299, 300, 306, 310, 322.
+
+York, Polite, 13, 36, 37, 58, 123, 141, 152.
+
+
+Zachos, Mr., 130.
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+Inconsistencies in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, and grammar
+are due to the dialects and preferences of the various letter writers.
+
+The following corrections have been made from the original:
+
+Page 61: Charleson changed to Charleston (cents in Charleston).
+
+Page 64: sufficent changed to sufficient (sufficient intelligence).
+
+Page 76: The illustrated symbol was originally on the line of text
+following the words: rude portal.
+
+Page 79: assisttant changed to assistant (Mr. Soule's assistant).
+
+Pages 103, 342: Phoebe had an oe ligature in the original book.
+
+Page 158: itle changed to title (The title had an immense effect).
+
+Page 237: The illustrated symbol was originally on the line of text
+following the words: Coffin trademark.
+
+
+
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Letters from Port Royal, by Various, Edited
+by Elizabeth Ware Pearson</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Letters from Port Royal</p>
+<p>       Written at the Time of the Civil War (1862-1868)</p>
+<p>Author: Various</p>
+<p>Editor: Elizabeth Ware Pearson</p>
+<p>Release Date: March 1, 2008  [eBook #24722]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Diane Monico,<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<h1>LETTERS</h1>
+
+<h2>FROM</h2>
+
+<h1>PORT ROYAL</h1>
+
+<h2>WRITTEN AT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR</h2>
+
+<h3>[1862-1868]</h3>
+
+
+<h2>Edited by Elizabeth Ware Pearson</h2>
+
+
+<h3>1906</h3>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<p class="center">COPYRIGHT 1906 BY ELIZABETH WARE PEARSON</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="40%" summary="toc">
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#INTRODUCTION">xi</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>1862</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>1863</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>1864</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>1865</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'>1866, 1867, 1868</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_325">325</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Footnotes</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Index</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2>
+
+
+<p>With Commodore Dupont's capture, on November 7,
+1861, of two earth forts which the rebels had recently
+thrown up at Hilton Head and Bay Point, South Carolina,
+the Sea Island region became Union territory.
+The planters and their families having fled precipitately,
+the United States Government found itself in
+possession of almost everything that had been theirs,
+the two chief items being the largest cotton crop ever
+yet raised there, nearly ready for exporting, and several
+hundred demoralized, destitute slaves, the number of
+whom was daily being increased by refugees and
+returned fugitives. The negroes were plainly a burdensome
+problem, the cotton a valuable piece of property.
+The first thing to do was obvious, and fortunately
+the same "cotton-agents" who were despatched by the
+authorities at Washington to collect and ship the property
+were able, by employing negroes for the purpose,
+to make a beginning towards solving the problem.</p>
+
+<p>In another month the next step was taken; the
+Secretary of the Treasury sent down Edward L. Pierce,
+of Milton, Massachusetts, as a special agent charged
+with the duty of getting under way some method of
+managing the negroes and starting a cotton crop for
+1862. Mr. Pierce, who the summer before had had
+charge of the contrabands at Fortress Monroe, did his
+work quickly and well, and his suggestions for organization
+were promptly adopted and put into practice by
+the Government. Meanwhile he had written to "benevolent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span>
+persons in Boston," setting forth the instant
+need of the negroes for clothing and for teachers,
+meaning by the term "teachers" quite as much superintendents
+of labor as instructors in the rudiments of
+learning. The response to this appeal was immediate.
+An "Educational Commission for Freedmen"<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> was
+organized in Boston, New York and Philadelphia were
+quick to follow, and on March 3, 1862, there set sail
+from New York for Port Royal<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> a party of men and
+women who were almost without exception inspired
+purely by the desire to help those who had been slaves.
+Government made them an allowance of transportation,
+subsistence, and quarters; and, since few could
+afford to give their services, the Commissions paid
+them salaries of from $25 to $50 a month.</p>
+
+<p>There was a good deal of courage in what these
+people did. The climate of the Sea Islands is unwholesome;
+the rebels were more than likely, from across the
+narrow Coosaw River, to invade the territory held by
+Northern troops; it was not improbable that the negroes
+might refuse utterly to work; it was not impossible
+that they might wreak vengeance for their wrongs on
+every white man who should try to control them. Furthermore,
+as a rule these men and women knew little
+of any kind of agriculture, and still less of the local
+conditions under which they were to do their work,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[Pg xiii]</a></span>
+or of the people with whom they were to deal. They
+had, in fact, no other guides to action than enthusiasm
+and good sense, and of the latter, in particular, they
+carried widely differing amounts. Some, who went
+supplied with too little of either, were back in their
+Northern homes before summer was under way; the
+majority, making what they could of the means, or
+lack of means, at their disposal, had within the same
+period of time got about thirty-eight hundred laborers
+at steady work on fifteen thousand acres of corn, potatoes,
+and cotton. For the first time in our history educated
+Northern men had taken charge of the Southern
+negro, had learned to know his nature, his status, his
+history, first-hand, in the cabin and the field. And
+though subsequently other Southern territory was put
+into the hands of Northern men and women to manage
+in much the same fashion, it was not in the nature of
+things that these conditions should ever be exactly
+reproduced. The question whether or not the freedman
+would work without the incentive of the lash was settled
+once for all by the "Port Royal Experiment."</p>
+
+<p>Of the many thousand letters that must have been
+written by these people to their Northern homes, those
+of one small group only are represented by the extracts
+here printed. The writers were New Englanders and
+ardent anti-slavery people; W. C. G. and C. P. W. were
+Harvard men just out of college, H. W. was a sister
+of the latter. A few of the later letters were written by
+two other Massachusetts men, T. E. R., a Yale graduate
+of 1859, and F. H., who remained on the islands
+longer than the three just mentioned. All five are still
+living. Richard Soule, Jr., now dead for many years<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[Pg xiv]</a></span>
+was an older man, a teacher, a person of great loveliness
+of character and justice of mind. The principal figure
+in the letters, Edward S. Philbrick of Brookline, who
+died in 1889, was in one sense the principal figure in
+the Sea Island situation. He began by contributing a
+thousand dollars to the work and volunteering his services
+on the ground, where he was given charge by Mr.
+Pierce of three plantations, including the largest on the
+islands; being a person of some means, with an established
+reputation as an engineer and a very considerable
+business experience, he was from the first prominent
+among the volunteers. When, in the following year, he
+became personally and financially responsible for a
+dozen plantations, this prominence was increased a
+hundredfold. Thus he found himself the victim of the
+vituperation hurled by many Northern friends of the
+blacks at the "professed philanthropists" who went to
+Port Royal to "make their fortunes" out of the labor
+of the "poor negro." The integrity of Mr. Philbrick's
+motives stands out in his letters beyond the possibility
+of misinterpretation. This record is a witness of what
+sort of thing he and his kind were ready to do to redress
+the wrongs of slavery.</p>
+
+<p>The extracts have been arranged in chronological
+order, except in a few cases where chronology has
+seemed less important than subject-matter. They tell
+a complete story, the greater part of which falls within
+the period of the Civil War. They give a vivid notion of
+the life from the midst of which they were written;
+of the flat, marsh-riddled country, in which few Northerners
+saw any lasting charm; of the untidy, down-at-the-heels
+plantations; of the "people," wards of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[Pg xv]</a></span>
+nation, childish, irritating, endlessly amusing; of the
+daily toil of Northern men in managing farms and of
+Northern women in managing households under
+Southern and war-time conditions; of the universal
+preoccupation with negro needs; of the friendly interchange
+of primitive hospitality; of the underlying sense
+in the writers' minds of romantic contrast between their
+own to-day and the yesterday of the planters,&mdash;or a
+possible to-morrow of the planters. It is not with matters
+military or political that these letters deal. They
+record the day to day experiences of the housekeeper,
+the teacher, the superintendent of labor, and the landowner.
+For this reason they form a new contribution to
+the history of the Port Royal Experiment.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><a name="THE_SEA_ISLANDS_OF_SOUTH_CAROLINA" id="THE_SEA_ISLANDS_OF_SOUTH_CAROLINA"></a><a href="images/image010.png">
+<img src="images/image009.png" width="600" height="458" alt="THE SEA ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA." title="THE SEA ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA." /></a>
+<span class="caption">THE SEA ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.</span>
+</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h3>KEY TO MAP OF THE SEA ISLANDS OF<br />
+SOUTH CAROLINA</h3>
+
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="40%" summary="key">
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Plantations</span>.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cherry Hill (T. A. Coffin)</span></td><td align='right'>16</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Coffin's Point (T. A. Coffin)</span></td><td align='right'> 12</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Corner (J. B. Fripp)</span></td><td align='right'>  5</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eustis</span></td><td align='right'>     2</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Alvirah Fripp (Hope Place)</span></td><td align='right'>18</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Edgar Fripp</span></td><td align='right'>    20</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hamilton Fripp</span></td><td align='right'>10</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">J. B. Fripp (Corner)</span></td><td align='right'>  5</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Capt. John Fripp (Homestead)</span></td><td align='right'> 8</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Capt. Oliver Fripp</span></td><td align='right'>22</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thomas B. Fripp</span></td><td align='right'>9</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fripp Point</span></td><td align='right'>    11</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Frogmore (T. A. Coffin)</span></td><td align='right'>  19</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rev. Robert Fuller ("R.'s")</span></td><td align='right'>4</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hope Place (Alvirah Fripp)</span></td><td align='right'>18</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. Jenkins</span></td><td align='right'>    21</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mary Jenkin</span></td><td align='right'>28</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Martha E. McTureous</span></td><td align='right'>   14</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">James McTureous</span></td><td align='right'>    15</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mulberry Hill (John Fripp)</span></td><td align='right'>17</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Oaks (Pope)</span></td><td align='right'>3</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oakland</span></td><td align='right'>6</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pine Grove (Fripp)</span></td><td align='right'>13</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pope (The Oaks)</span></td><td align='right'>3</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">"R.'s" (Fuller)</span></td><td align='right'>4</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Smith</span></td><td align='right'>1</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dr. White</span></td><td align='right'>    27</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Brick Church</span> (Baptist)</td><td align='right'>24</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">White Church</span> (Episcopal)</td><td align='right'>23</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">St. Helena Village</span></td><td align='right'>7</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Fort Walker</span></td><td align='right'>26</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Fort Beauregard</span></td><td align='right'>25</td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Camp of the First South Carolina Volunteers (Colonel Higginson)</span></td><td align='right'>1</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="LETTERS_FROM_PORT_ROYAL" id="LETTERS_FROM_PORT_ROYAL"></a>LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL</h2>
+
+<h2>1862</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Arrival of the "missionaries" at Port Royal.&mdash;The household at Pine
+Grove.&mdash;First impressions of the blacks.&mdash;General Hunter's attempt
+to recruit a negro regiment.&mdash;The Planter episode.&mdash;The labor
+situation.&mdash;Establishment at Coffin's Point.&mdash;Hunter's proclamation
+of freedom.&mdash;Details of plantation work.&mdash;Lincoln's preliminary
+proclamation of emancipation.&mdash;Unwillingness of the negroes
+even to drill.&mdash;General Saxton's efforts to raise a negro regiment.&mdash;The
+cotton crop of 1862.&mdash;Mr. Philbrick's plans for buying plantations.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. PHILBRICK</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, February 19, 1862.</i> Dear &mdash;&mdash;: I think you
+will not be greatly astonished when I tell you that I
+am off for Port Royal next week. I go under the auspices
+of the Educational Commission to make myself
+generally useful in whatever way I can, in reducing
+some amount of order and industry from the mass of
+eight or ten thousand contrabands now within our lines
+there. Boston is wide awake on the subject, and I am
+determined to see if something can't be done to prove
+that the blacks will work for other motives than the
+lash.</p>
+
+<p>The Treasury Department offer subsistence, protection,
+transportation, and the War Department offer
+their hearty co&ouml;peration to the work undertaken here by
+private citizens, but can't take any more active part
+at present for reasons obvious. They ridicule the idea<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span>
+that these blacks can ever again be claimed by their
+runaway masters, which is a satisfactory foundation for
+our exertions in overseeing their labor and general
+deportment.</p>
+
+<p>You don't know what a satisfaction it is to feel at
+last that there is a chance for me to <i>do something</i> in this
+great work that is going on.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter describes the sailing of the first party
+of superintendents and teachers.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO MRS. PHILBRICK</h3>
+
+<p><i>New York City, Sunday, March 2.</i> We have a rather
+motley-looking set. A good many look like broken-down
+schoolmasters or ministers who have excellent
+dispositions but not much talent. As the kind of talent
+required where we are going is rather peculiar, the
+men may be useful, but I don't believe there will be
+a great deal of cotton raised under their superintendence.</p>
+
+<p><i>Str. Atlantic, March 5.</i> We all repaired to the
+Collector's<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> house Sunday evening, and were sworn in
+squads of half a dozen with our hands on the Bible,
+after which our passports were made out and signed
+by Mr. Barney in his library with the whole thirty-three
+of us standing about.</p>
+
+<p>[The next morning] I found Collector Barney on the
+pier with his Bible and papers, swearing in the rest of
+the New York delegation. The last of the cargo was
+slung aboard about eleven, and we started off at quarter
+past, in a drizzling rain, freezing fast to everything it
+touched. Our Boston party consisted of twenty-nine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span>
+men and four women; the New York one of twenty-three
+men and eight women, including those from
+Washington, making sixty-four in all. At dinner (2
+<span class="smcap">p. m.</span>) we found some one hundred and twenty cabin
+passengers, besides a lot of recruits, perhaps one hundred
+in all, who live forward. The larger part of the
+<i>Atlantic's</i> staterooms have been taken out to make
+room for stowing troops or cargo, leaving enough for
+only about half our number. These rooms were assigned
+by the Steward and Mr. Pierce<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> to the ladies and the oldest
+of us gentlemen; so I got one with Uncle Richard,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a>
+for most of our party are quite youthful. Half a dozen
+ladies sat on the bare deck (no other seats provided),
+during most of the evening, singing Methodist hymns
+and glory hallelujah till after nine o'clock. I have talked
+with several of our party, and got slightly acquainted,
+chiefly with Messrs. Hooper,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> G&mdash;&mdash;,<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> and Mack; also with
+Mr. Forbes.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> There is a general medley of cabin passengers,
+recruits, sutlers' and quartermasters' agents, and
+crew, the latter not being dressed in uniform, but in
+nondescript old garments such as can be found at any
+old Isaac's shop. Those passengers who are outside
+our party are coarse-looking and disagreeable,&mdash;Mr.
+Forbes and Mr. Augustus Hurd of Boston being almost
+the only exceptions. I had some talk with Mr. Pierce
+yesterday about your coming on, and he said as soon as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>
+I found it advisable he would send you a pass, but I am
+very glad you are not here now, for I don't believe these
+ladies will find anything but bare boards to sleep on.</p>
+
+<p><i>Thursday evening, March 6.</i> We had a sort of lecture
+from Mr. Pierce before dinner, consisting of some
+very appropriate and sensible advice and suggestions,
+expressed simply and with a good deal of feeling. Mr.
+French<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> followed in his vein of honest, earnest Methodism.
+He is the head of the New York delegation, and
+a worthy man, though not so practical as Mr. Pierce.</p>
+
+<p>Our Boston party improves upon acquaintance,
+and the longer I think of the matter the more wonderful
+does it seem that such a number of disinterested,
+earnest men should be got together at so short a notice
+to exile themselves from all social ties and devote
+themselves, as they certainly do, with a will, to this
+holy work. It must and with God's help it <i>shall</i> succeed!
+The more I see of our fellow-passengers and co-workers,
+the more do the party from Boston stand eminent
+in talent and earnestness, as compared with those
+from New York, and I can't help thinking that the former
+were more carefully selected. The Boston Commission
+acted with more deliberation than that of New
+York, and I think the result will be shown in the end.
+But it's early to form any such opinions, and out of
+place to draw any comparisons in disparagement of any
+of our colleagues. We are all yoked together and must
+pull together. The work is no trifle. It is Herculean
+in all its aspects&mdash;in its reactive effects upon our country
+and its future destiny, as well as in its difficulties.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span>
+Yet never did men stand in a position to do more lasting
+good than we, if we act with a single eye to the
+object in view and pray God to guide us aright.</p>
+
+<p><i>Friday, March 7.</i> We waked this morning still adrift
+off Port Royal Bar, where we had been tossing all night,
+near the lightship. The wind was blowing cold and clear
+from the northwest just as it does at home in March,
+almost cold enough for a frost. We continued to drift
+till the tide was near the flood, about noon, when a
+pilot came out and took us in to Hilton Head. Here
+in this magnificent harbour, larger than any other on our
+coast, lay some fifty transports and steamers at anchor,
+and here we dropped our anchor, almost directly between
+the two forts<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> taken by Dupont last November.
+These forts, by the way, are so inconspicuous as to be
+hardly perceptible to a passer-by, and would certainly fail
+to attract the attention of a person not on the lookout
+for them. The shore is as flat as flat can be, sand-banks
+and beaches being the only variety, backed by long dark
+green masses of foliage of the pitch-pine, reminding
+me forcibly of the coast of Egypt, with its sand and
+palm forests. Yet even Egypt was sufficiently enterprising
+to line its coast with windmills, while this state
+has not yet arrived at a stage of civilization sufficiently
+advanced to provide them. So, there being no water-power
+and no steam, every negro grinds his peck of
+corn in a handmill as in the year one. We came to
+anchor about one <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> and have been waiting for the
+necessary passes from the quartermaster to enable us to
+proceed up to Beaufort, the only town in possession of
+our forces. Here we lie in the still harbour under the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>
+splendid moon, surrounded by the regiments encamped
+on the neighboring islands, with the prospect of another
+day afloat, before we can begin to be distributed over
+our field of labor.</p>
+
+<p>8 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> The acting Provost Marshal has just come
+aboard with our passports vis&eacute;ed, enabling us to land
+here, but I don't care to do that to-night, there being
+nothing but sand-banks to sleep on, while we have
+tolerable berths aboard. To-morrow I may go, if there
+is time before going upstream to Beaufort, though I
+imagine there is little to see but sand and tents, which
+look quite as well at a distance.</p>
+
+<p><i>March 8.</i> We spent the greater part of the day
+transferring freight and baggage to the <i>Cosmopolitan</i>,
+a white river-steamer. We got started at last about
+three <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> The distance to Beaufort can't be more
+than fifteen miles, and we had already made half of it
+at a tolerable rate of speed when we ran aground in the
+mud, about two hours before ebb tide. We were in the
+middle of a creek called Beaufort River, between Cat
+Island and Port Royal Island, whose flat shores did not
+look very inviting. I fell to reading about cotton-culture
+in my book, but some of our companions got a boat and
+went ashore on St. Helena Island, bringing back their
+hands full of beautiful flowers from some private garden,
+peach-blossoms, orange-blossoms, hyacinths, fleur-de-lis,
+etc. We succeeded in getting afloat about 9.30 <span class="smcap">p. m.</span>
+and arrived at Beaufort about midnight, after poking
+slowly along the crooked channel under the glorious
+moonlight. On getting up in the morning, which we
+did betimes, we found the deck slippery with hoarfrost,
+and are told that it is the coldest night of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>
+winter. Somebody has told me that Beaufort was on
+a bluff, and that its environments were not so flat as
+the rest of the islands.</p>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, Sunday, March 9.</i> But I can't find any
+place over ten feet above tide-water, and no hill over
+six feet high. So things are judged of by comparison.
+We all went ashore soon after sunrise and walked about
+the town, which is laid out in rectangular streets, lined
+with pleasant but weedy orange-gardens and often
+shaded by live-oak and sycamore trees, <i>i. e.</i>, when the
+latter leave out, as they will soon. The soil is a fine
+sand, very like ashes, and the streets are ankle-deep
+with it already, wherever the grass doesn't grow.
+Dilapidated fences, tumble-down outbuildings, untrimmed
+trees with lots of dead branches, weedy walks
+and gardens and a general appearance of <i>un</i>thrift attendant
+upon the best of slaveholding towns, was aggravated
+here by the desolated houses, surrounded by
+heaps of broken furniture and broken wine and beer
+bottles which the army had left about after their pillage.
+Quantities of negro children lay basking in the
+morning sun, grinning at us as we passed. We saw a
+chain-pump in a yard and walked in to wash our faces,
+there having been no chance on the steamer, and were
+waited upon by an old negro, who brought us bowls,
+soap, and towels. Mr. Pierce succeeded in getting us
+some bread and coffee from one of the regiments, having
+no time to go to headquarters. They were carried
+to an old negro cabin in the remotest corner of the
+town, where the coffee was made and served up in the
+poultry-yard in our tin mugs.</p>
+
+<p>Our quarters are in a very fine house in the east end<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span>
+of the town, bordering on the river, against which is
+a garden wall, built of oyster-shells and mortar, there
+being no stone to be had here.</p>
+
+<p>We are to wait here till our positions are assigned
+to us by Mr. Pierce, which will be done in a few days.
+He told me he wanted me to take the most important
+one, which I suppose means Coffin's.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> I am to have
+W&mdash;&mdash; G&mdash;&mdash; for my clerk and assistant. He is a very
+agreeable, quiet fellow, and works like a beaver, but
+like several others, is too young to take charge of the
+organization of the labor to good advantage.</p>
+
+<p>There is something very sad about these fine deserted
+houses. Ours has Egyptian marble mantels, gilt cornice
+and centre-piece in parlor, and bath-room, with
+several wash-bowls set in different rooms. The force-pump
+is broken and all the bowls and their marble
+slabs smashed to get out the plated cocks, which the
+negroes thought pure silver. Bureaus, commodes, and
+wardrobes are smashed in, as well as door-panels, to
+get out the contents of the drawers and lockers, which
+I suppose contained some wine and ale, judging by
+the broken bottles lying about. The officers saved a
+good many pianos and other furniture and stored it in
+the jail, for safe-keeping. But we kindle our fires with
+chips of polished mahogany, and I am writing on my
+knees with a piece of a flower-stand across them for
+a table, sitting on my camp bedstead.</p>
+
+<p>I am anxious to get to work, as I hope to in a few
+days. Mr. Eustis<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> has gone to his plantation, a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>
+miles distant on Ladies Island, and Mr. Hooper is
+spending a few days with him. The latter is to be
+Mr. Pierce's private secretary at present.</p>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, March 10.</i> I can't tell until I get settled at
+my post what to say about your coming on here. If
+my post should be exposed to any of the rebels' scouting-parties
+you had better stay at home. I must say
+it seems rather <i>near</i> to live within rifle-shot of their outposts,
+as some of the plantations are.</p>
+
+<p><i>March 11.</i> We had a visit from the Provost Marshal
+last evening. He has had a good deal to do with the
+contrabands and came to give us some advice about
+them. He thinks that rebel spies may come among us,
+but don't apprehend any trouble, says we can govern
+the negroes easily enough by firm and judicious treatment,
+and says the officers in charge are very glad to
+have them taken off their hands.</p>
+
+<p><i>Hilton Head</i>,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> <i>March 13.</i> This is a most desolate-looking
+place, flat and sandy, and covered with camps
+and storehouses for a mile along the river. A line of
+intrenchments encloses the whole, some seven miles
+long, resting on the river at each end. There is a long
+wharf just built out to deep water, at the end of which
+the <i>Atlantic</i> is discharging. This is the general d&eacute;p&ocirc;t
+for stores for the whole army on the Atlantic coast and
+the blockading fleet.</p>
+
+<p><i>March 14.</i> A fortnight has passed since I left Brookline,
+without my being able to get at my work. This
+loafing about and waiting upon the movements of Government
+officials is the hardest work I ever tried to do.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>If you can't come early in April you had better not
+come at all, for it will be too hot for even me to live
+on the plantations later than June 1. They say the
+planters never lived on the plantations in summer
+months, though they were acclimated, for fear of fevers.
+Beaufort is the healthiest place on these islands and their
+resort when leaving their plantations. Yet, if H&mdash;&mdash; W&mdash;&mdash; will
+come with you, <i>and not without</i>, and you
+think it will pay, come as soon as you can. I shall
+probably be on Coffin's plantation then, about fifteen
+miles east of Beaufort, on St. Helena Island, coast of
+St. Helena Sound. This plantation is one of the most
+secure from any interference from the rebels, so I don't
+feel the slightest uneasiness on that score, for the whole
+circumference of the island is picketed, and our forces
+also occupy the opposite or northeasterly coast of the
+sound.</p>
+
+<p>Now as to outfit. Not over $5 each in money, <i>silver</i>,
+for you are supplied with transportation and food by
+Government and there's nothing here to buy. Bed-sacks
+and pillow ditto. Three umbrellas with light covers,
+fly-paper, tin cups, bowls, and tea-pot, set of wooden
+boxes for rice, sugar, and other stores furnished by army
+rations. Spring-balance that will weigh about twenty
+pounds, knife, fork, and spoons for each of you, <i>plated</i>,
+thermometer, three pounds of tea in one of the boxes.
+We now have plenty of rice, sugar, molasses, vinegar,
+hominy, potatoes, coffee, and beans, from army stores,
+and on plantations can get fresh lamb, mutton, chickens,
+eggs, milk; so we shall fare better than I thought.</p>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, March 17.</i> I don't think they would let
+you take a servant; it's difficult enough to get you here<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>
+alone, and there are plenty of servants here which you
+are supposed to teach not only to read but&mdash;what is
+more immediately important&mdash;to be <i>clean</i> and industrious.
+If you feel any hesitation about coming in
+contact with them you shouldn't come, for they are
+sharp enough to detect apathy or lurking repugnance,
+which would render any amount of theoretical sympathy
+about worthless. Tell your father their nature
+and disposition is nothing new to me. I was with them
+in Egypt long enough to get pretty well acquainted,
+and though these sons of Western Africa are not exactly
+of the same stock as the Nubians, they are certainly
+no more degraded or lazy. In fact, from what I have
+already seen here I am agreeably disappointed. Think of
+their having reorganized and gone deliberately to work
+here some weeks ago, without a white man near them,
+preparing hundreds of acres for the new crop! The
+Irish wouldn't have done as much in the same position.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>This comparison of the negroes with the Irish is made
+by the letter-writers, as will be seen, more than once,&mdash;almost
+always to the disadvantage of the Irish.
+Forty years ago the Irish were still merely immigrants,
+and, further, they were practically the only people in
+this country who suggested comparison with negroes.</p>
+
+<p>The next letter is the first from W. C. G., whom Mr.
+Philbrick has already mentioned as destined to be his
+assistant.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>March 24. Coffin's Point.</i> It is the largest plantation
+on the Islands, numbering in its full days over 250
+hands, or head, as the negroes call themselves.</p>
+
+<p>A large amount of cotton is still in store here, for
+which the boat I hope will call this week; meanwhile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>
+the cotton-agent<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> and a guard occupy the house with
+us. The former has been on the place three or four
+months in charge of a large district with several plantations;
+he is a smart young fellow, very dashing and
+jockey-like. We were received by the guard with
+shouldered arms and by this agent, who did their best
+to induce or rather bluff us into leaving the premises
+and taking possession of another house; for we have
+two plantations besides this,&mdash;estates belonging to
+William Fripp's sons.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> We stayed, however, and are
+now occupying two rooms, with plenty of furniture of
+different kinds stored by the agent, probably for removal.
+The whole business of our Commission and all
+its agents are much disliked by the cotton-agents, partly
+because they don't sympathize with our purposes,&mdash;partly
+because we seem about to usurp their authority, to
+which of course we do succeed.</p>
+
+<p>The cotton-agents have started the corn-planting
+on most of the estates,&mdash;and almost everywhere the
+whole condition of people and land is much better than
+I expected to find it. The present state of a plantation
+depends on the previous character and age of the people,
+the influence of the drivers,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> and the circumstances
+to which they have been exposed since the soldiers
+came. If the people are on the whole old and steady,
+if the drivers are intelligent and strong-minded, if their
+masters have been humane and fatherly, and if they
+have seen few soldiers,&mdash;then the work has usually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>
+been kept up pretty well and the negroes are still at
+home and willing to go a-field,&mdash;and their condition
+varies as those items vary. On the larger number, as
+I have said, things are much better than I expected to
+see them. As is proper, more attention has as yet been
+paid to the <i>corn</i> lands, and very little to the cotton.
+Two precious months have been lost for that crop. On
+most of the plantations corn enough remains to last
+through the next crop,&mdash;so there is little danger of
+much suffering for want of food. But everything except
+corn, and their own eggs and poultry, is wanting,&mdash;no
+molasses, no sugar, no salt, no tobacco,&mdash;and
+no clothing.</p>
+
+<p>On two of our three plantations things are doing
+well, but this big Coffin place is in a very miserable,
+demoralized condition. It used to be very successful
+in cotton&mdash;and of late, especially, the hands have
+been worked very hard. There are many <i>young</i> people&mdash;so
+all the more likely to leave. They are within
+a few miles of Bay Point opposite Hilton Head, so the
+temptation to leave is very pressing, for smart fellows
+can get money there,&mdash;one York with whom I was
+talking yesterday got over $30 a month by cooking
+for two or three messes; he is sick now and thinks he
+had better come home for the good of his <i>soul</i>. And
+perhaps as evil an influence as any was the early presence
+of the guards from the 19th N. Y. V., a regiment
+rather notorious for wild ways, I believe,&mdash;certainly
+one which greatly injured these people by their talk
+about <i>freedom</i> and no need of work, etc., and their
+rampant deeds. We are therefore in a hard place here,&mdash;and
+shall take pretty energetic measures and do the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>
+best we can. Mr. Philbrick has charge of the farming,
+etc.,&mdash;I of the teaching. We were not all sent out
+two by two; small plantations had single men. Some
+men are expected to overlook several estates lying near
+each other.</p>
+
+<p><i>March 29.</i> The women work much better than the
+men, but very few are faithful. Nor can we hope for
+any regularity and real improvement till we are delivered
+from our cotton-agent and the influences which
+emanate from him and his interests.</p>
+
+<p>The people are very discontented here, and as they
+have logic and need on their side, it is hard to meet
+their complaints. In fact, they can't be met,&mdash;very
+few do full work, many half or none. They need <i>clothing</i>
+very badly. They need salt and tobacco,&mdash;this
+summer they need a little molasses and some bacon.
+These things<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> they have been accustomed to receive
+in stated quantities at stated times,&mdash;at Christmas,
+and in April or May. If we could supply them simply
+as they have been supplied by their masters, the
+majority I think would be contented and would work
+well. The <i>promises</i> to pay to which they have been
+treated by the agents of the Government for the last
+three months haven't kept them warm. The agent
+here will probably soon give them some cloth in part
+payment. Money they don't know the value of&mdash;and
+especially now can't spend it to advantage; besides,
+as I said, I think few desire it.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span></p><div class="blockquot"><p>The following fragment of a letter, from which the
+date and the beginning are missing, was written from
+Pine Grove at about this time; its subject is, of course,
+the negroes.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p>They have not yet got any diseased appetite for alcoholic
+stimulants, and are happy in their comparative
+ignorance of such things.</p>
+
+<p>They are a simple, childlike people, almost ignorant
+of malice, patient and easily influenced by an appeal
+to their feelings. There is far less family feeling and
+attachment to each other than among the ignorant
+Irish, apparently, though I don't know how much allowance
+to make for their being so much less demonstrative
+in their emotions, and more inured to suffering.
+They are most eminently a religious people, according
+to their light, and always refer their sufferings to
+Divine Providence, though without the stoical or fatalist
+ideas of their Mohammedan brethren, whom I got
+to know pretty well in Nubia and Egypt.</p>
+
+<p>We find it very difficult to reach any motive that
+will promote cleanliness as a habit. It requires more
+authority than our position gives us as employers to
+make any police regulations very effectual in their
+quarters. This plantation is the neatest one I have
+seen anywhere in respect to their houses and yards,
+but there is room for great improvement here. They
+have the same dread of fresh air in sickness which is
+common to poor people at home, but there is very little
+sickness among them. Only one death has occurred
+since we came here, among a population of 420, and
+that was an infant. They place great trust in our doctors
+and keep them pretty busy jogging about.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter, the first from H. W., records her
+arrival with Mrs. Philbrick.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, April 15.</i> The sail up was very beautiful,
+the green beyond description brilliant, and now and
+then the deeper shade of palmetto or live-oak. Some
+of the plantations were very picturesque. Roses and
+azaleas were plainly visible. An hour and a half, very
+quickly passed, brought us to the wharf, where Mr.
+Pierce and Mr. Hooper met us with the information
+that we were to go to Mr. Forbes's, whither we walked
+a long half-mile, a sentry at the street-corners, darkies
+bowing in every direction, birds and the scent of
+flowers filling the air, everything like a June day after
+a shower. Mr. Philbrick hopes to be ready for us on
+Saturday. A cotton-agent in his house prevents us from
+going just yet to the Coffin house, but we shall be established
+for the present on one of the smaller plantations
+adjoining.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The letter that follows, written at Pine Grove several
+days later, narrates the events of these days, beginning
+with April 16, in Beaufort.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove, St. Helena, April 21.</i> H.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> and Miss
+Towne<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> carried the letters to the post-office, Caroline,
+Mr. Forbes's chamber-girl, following to show them
+the way there, take them to the schools and into some
+negro quarters. They were derided by the soldiers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>
+they said, who called after them, "See the Southern
+Aristocracy with their nigger behind them!" which
+amused Caroline very much.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Forbes took me in his open wagon, a tumble-down
+affair he has from a negro to avoid the annoyance
+of always having to make a requisition upon Government,
+the only owner in these regions of anything, and
+drove me down the river to a plantation<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> we had noticed
+as we came up on the boat, and where there was a
+cotton-gin Mr. Forbes wanted me to see. The greater
+part of the way our road was shaded by woods on the
+water-side, live-oaks with their ornamental moss, gum-trees
+and pines with quantities of cat-brier and trumpet
+honeysuckle in full bloom. The cotton-fields were unshaded,
+of course, and very large, containing from one
+to three hundred acres. We passed some freshly planted,
+but most of them were covered with the old bushes,
+dry and dead, at which I was much surprised until I
+found that it was the habit to leave the fields as they
+are after the cotton is picked, for a year, planting on
+the same land only every other year. It makes dreary,
+desolate-looking fields, for though a few weeds spring
+up, no grass grows in this region, and they are brown
+instead of green all summer. The Smith Plantation
+is about five miles from town, the house in the centre
+of a live-oak grove, beautiful and beyond description,
+open underneath, and so hanging with moss that you
+can scarcely see any leaves as you look up. A little
+chapel on the place I got out to look at, made very
+roughly of boards whitewashed, inside an earth floor
+covered with straw, rough wooden benches, the pulpit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>
+and altar made in the same way, but covered entirely
+with the grey moss, as we trim for Christmas. The
+house looked rough and ordinary to us, as they all do,
+except a few in the town; we did not go in. I believe
+there are cotton-agents there attending to the ginning,
+which process we saw in a little house by itself, where
+a steam gin worked four stands tended by one hand
+each. The funny thing was to see them pack the bales.
+There was a round hole in the second-story floor and
+a bag was fastened to the edges, into which a man
+gets and stamps the cotton down. I saw it swinging
+downstairs, but did not know what it was till, on going
+up, I found a black head just above the floor, which
+grinned from ear to ear with pleasure at the sight of
+a white lady, and ducked and bobbed in most convulsive
+fashion.</p>
+
+<p>We drove through the negro quarters, or "nigger-house,"
+as they themselves call the whole settlement,
+and they flocked to the doors to look at us, bowing
+and smiling as we went by. There were eight or ten
+separate houses just raised from the ground so that the
+air could pass underneath, and, as we looked in at the
+doors, apparently with very little furniture, though in
+some we saw chairs which were evidently Massa's.
+Dirty and ragged they all were, but certainly no more
+so than poor Irish, and it seemed to me not so
+dirty.</p>
+
+<p>I saw palmetto-trees for the first time on this drive
+near enough to know what they really looked like.
+They stand alone in the cotton-fields like our elms in
+a meadow, though there are fewer of them, and they
+are stiff and straight. The Spanish dagger, looking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>
+like a miniature palmetto, was planted for hedges
+round the garden and fish-pond. Mistletoe I saw for
+the first time.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hooper came over in the morning [of the next
+day] and told us he should come for us at 12.30, but it
+was five before we got into the boat.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> The negroes
+sang to us in their wild way as they rowed us across&mdash;I
+cannot give you the least idea of it. Indeed, I can't
+give you the least idea of anything, and you must not
+expect it. The town looked very pretty from the boat,
+some of the houses are large and quite imposing in
+appearance. We found Mr. Pierce and his carriage
+waiting for us, having been there without any dinner
+since one o'clock. (This is the land of waiting, we have
+discovered&mdash;patience is a virtue our Northern people
+will have to learn here.) We drove at once to Pope's
+plantation, passing Mr. Eustis on the way at his overseer's
+house, bedaubed from head to foot with molasses,
+which he had been selling all day to the negroes,
+a pint to a hand. Here Mr. Philbrick was waiting with
+his sulky (a two-wheeled jockey-cart), an ox-team for
+the baggage, and a dump-cart in which he and H.
+were to drive, while I drove the sulky alone in my glory.
+But it was too late for us to think of driving ten miles
+farther, so we laid our beds down and prepared for
+another halt. The next morning Mr. Pierce sent us
+home in his carriage.</p>
+
+<p>We reached here not long before two, and went to
+work to try and muster up some dinner. I had a cup
+and saucer, tumbler and three knives and forks, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>
+the rennet, which soon supplied one dish; the negroes
+brought china in limited quantities; we opened a box
+of sardines, and coffee, and, with the army bread we
+brought from Beaufort, fried eggs, and hominy, made a
+most excellent meal; a tablecloth, napkins, and silver
+spoons forming some of the appointments. Joe, the carpenter,
+young and handy, made a very good waiter, but
+when he went out and cut a bough of sycamore and
+began to brush the flies as we ate, it was almost more
+than I could stand. Then we went to work to put
+what things we had to rights, H. got her servant, and
+moreover we had to receive and shake hands with any
+number of negroes, who came flocking round us at
+once, following the carriage as we drove up in true
+Southern style, and coming into the house to satisfy
+their curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>W. G&mdash;&mdash; was here and aided us with a will, and
+about five o'clock I went with him to the praise-house,<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a>
+where he has his school. The children were all assembled
+by Cuffy, and he was teaching them when we
+went in. Mr. G&mdash;&mdash; read in the Bible, substituting
+words that they could understand, made a very simple
+prayer, all kneeling, and then heard them their
+letters and words for an hour, with a great deal of tact
+and ability&mdash;strange words, you may think, to use
+in such a connection, but you have little idea how<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>
+much it needs of both. We are not used to these people&mdash;it
+is even very difficult to understand what they
+say. They have been born and brought up just
+here, in the most isolated way, for generations, with
+no chance of improvement, and there is not a single
+mulatto<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> on the place&mdash;they are black as the blackest,
+and perfect children&mdash;docile, and with "faith enough
+to live by," W&mdash;&mdash; G&mdash;&mdash; says. I find I have no
+shrinking from them, and hope I shall be able to do
+my part. I take this school off his hands&mdash;he has two
+other plantations to teach on and has been working
+like a beaver. I made my first attempt this afternoon
+and got along comfortably. Flora, the house-servant
+(that is, ours,&mdash;she is a field hand), took me on my
+way to see the old mammas, and I went into several
+of the cabins and came home with a present of nine
+eggs!</p>
+
+<p>These houses are all built of hard pine, which is handsome
+on the floors, but the rest of the woodwork is
+painted, in this house an ugly green, which is not pretty
+or cheerful. The walls are always left white. Clapboards
+are unknown, but hard-pine boards, a foot or
+more broad, are put on in the same way, and everything
+outside is whitewashed. The place is very attractive-looking,
+grapevines and honeysuckles and pine
+woods near.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 25.</i> The house is raised high from the ground,
+as all are here, and boarded in loosely underneath.
+There is a circle of orange-trees round the house, and
+roses in abundance, but no grass, which is dreary.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>
+The quarters are a quarter of a mile off, and the praise-house
+is near them, where I have school twice a day.
+It is very interesting, and I enjoy it much, though of
+course there is nothing to teach but the alphabet and
+little words. They sing their letters very nicely now.
+They are much better-mannered than the Irish, and
+I have had no trouble as yet.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps when I get to understanding things better
+I shall be able to tell you some things they say. They
+were uneasy till they discovered our first names, and
+were pleased that mine was that of the "old Missus."
+They have brought me presents of eggs two or three
+times.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove Plantation, April 22.</i> You see that we
+have changed our home. The ladies have arrived.
+The house is in better condition than that at Coffin's,
+the people better disposed, and the locality is more
+retired and does not boast of a cotton-agent. In a month
+or two we shall probably move to our old quarters, if
+it doesn't take longer to clean it. Miss W&mdash;&mdash; will
+be a grand helper. It will be a pretty rough life for them,
+and New England comforts and neatness and intelligence
+will be sadly missed, but we certainly have
+been well,&mdash;our table is the most refined thing on the
+Island, I fancy.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove, April 29.</i> Our days pass pretty much
+after this fashion. Mr. Philbrick gets up about six, calls
+me, and I obey, having stipulated for a full hour in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>
+which to dress. After we get downstairs it takes the
+united efforts of most of the family to get the breakfast
+on the table, and we are fortunate if we get up from
+that meal by half-past eight. It generally consists of
+hominy, very delicious eaten with either milk, butter, or
+molasses, corn-cake, or waffles of corn-flour&mdash;the best
+of their kind&mdash;concentrated coffee, chocolate, or tea,
+army bread&mdash;when we can get it&mdash;crackers, when
+we can't, and boiled eggs or fried fish, as the case may
+be. The important operations of dish-washing and
+arranging the rooms upstairs take longer than you can
+imagine, and things are not always done when I go
+to school at ten, which with our simple style of living
+is rather a nuisance. H. begins to pity the Southern
+housekeepers. This morning, after making the starch
+in our little kitchen in the house, she waited about for
+two hours, before she could get hold of one of the three
+servants. They were all off at the kitchen, smoking and
+talking and taking things easy. Joe was nominally
+cleaning knives, Flora had gone to empty a pail of water,
+and Sukey had no thought about her starched clothes!</p>
+
+<p>Well, I walk off to school, under the white umbrella
+if the sun shines, dressed as warmly as I can if it does
+not. My way lies between a row of large "Heshaberry"
+trees, as the negroes call them; a corruption,
+I suppose, of Asia Berry, as it is the "Pride of Asia,"
+in full blossom now, with scent something like our
+lilac, but more delicate. On each side of these trees
+are the corn-houses, stables, cotton-houses, and near
+the house a few cabins for house-servants, and the
+well. They stretch an eighth of a mile, when a gate
+(left open) shuts off the nigger-house and field. Another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>
+eighth brings me to the cabins, which have trees
+scattered among them, figs and others. The children
+begin to gather round me before I get there, with
+their bow and curtsey and "goo' mornin, Marm," and
+as I go through the quarters I send them in to wash
+their hands and faces. The praise-house reached, one
+of the children rings the bell out of the door to summon
+all, and they gather quickly, some to be sent off to
+wash their faces&mdash;alas, they cannot change their
+clothes, which are of the raggedest. But now enough
+clothes have come to begin to sell, I hope to have a
+better dressed set before long. I keep them in for about
+two hours&mdash;there are about thirty of the little ones
+who come in the morning, ten and under; all older
+are in the field, and come in the afternoon, as they finish
+work by noon always.</p>
+
+<p>I go back to lunch at half-past twelve, a cold one
+generally, sometimes a few waffles or some hominy
+for variety, but crackers, sardines, and blackberries
+which we have in abundance now, make a refreshing
+meal, with tea or coffee when we please. Shop<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> has
+to be tended in the afternoon principally, and I sometimes
+take a turn at it till I go off at half-past three to
+school again. We use for shop the little room between
+Mr. G.'s and the entry, selling out of the window over
+a box for a counter, to the groups on the porch. It is
+a funny sight and funny work for us, albeit interesting,
+for they have had no clothes for a year, and buy eagerly.
+Mr. Philbrick has not been able to let them have any
+clothing before, as there has only been enough to give
+a garment to one in ten, and they have been so used to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>
+being treated alike that their jealousy is very easily
+roused, and it is a difficult matter to deal with them.
+For the same reason the clothes have to be sold, the
+money going back to the Commission, to be used again
+for their benefit. It would be very much better if only
+the goods were sent, for they prefer to make their own
+clothes and all know how to sew.</p>
+
+<p>These people show their subserviency in the way
+they put Marm or Sir into their sentences every other
+word and emphasize it as the one important word, and
+in always agreeing to everything you say. In school it
+is rather annoying to have them say, "Yes Marm,
+'zackly Marm," before it is possible for an idea to have
+reached their brains.</p>
+
+<p>Flora, our housemaid, who is a character, has a
+great deal of dignity and influence among the other
+negroes, and takes the greatest care of us. She is most
+jealous for what she considers our interests, and moreover
+is quite an interpreter, though it is hard enough
+to understand her sometimes. "Learning" with these
+people I find means a knowledge of medicine, and a
+person is valued accordingly. Flora wanted to know
+how much "learning" Miss Helen<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> had had, and it was
+a long time before I could make out what she meant.</p>
+
+<p>H. says she never saw me look so well, so you see
+I thrive in spite of fleas, which have almost flayed me
+alive. I understand what it means by eels getting <i>used</i>
+to being skinned.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 1.</i> Took a ride through the quarters. We stopped
+to see Doll and her week-old baby. H. had quite
+a talk with Mily, the nurse, who told her it did them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>
+good to see white ladies about, and hoped we were going
+to stay. She seemed very much disappointed when
+H. told her we should be here [at Pine Grove] only
+a short time longer. I think it does them good just to
+have me walk through the quarters four times a day&mdash;they
+always curtsey and say a word.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon, as I came out of school, Cuffy said,
+"You promise to jine praise with we some night dis
+week, Missus," so I told him I would go up in the evening
+if Mr. G. would go with me. When we went up
+after eight they were just lighting the two candles. I
+sat down on the women's side next a window, and one
+of the men soon struck up a hymn in which the others
+joined and which seemed to answer the purpose of
+a bell, for the congregation immediately began to assemble,
+and after one or two hymns, Old Peter offered
+a prayer, using very good language, ending every sentence
+with "For Jesus' sake." He prayed for us, Massa
+and Missus, that we might be "boun' up in de belly-band
+of faith." Then Mr. G. read to them and made
+a few remarks to which they listened very attentively;
+then some hymn-singing, Cuffy deaconing out the lines
+two at a time. Then some one suddenly started up and
+pronounced a sort of benediction, in which he used the
+expression "when we done chawing all de hard bones
+and swallow all de bitter pills." They then shook hands
+all round, when one of the young girls struck up one
+of their wild songs, and we waited listening to them
+for twenty minutes more. It was not a regular "shout,"<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>
+but some of them clapped their hands, and they stamped
+in time. It was very difficult to understand the words,
+though there was so much repetition that I generally
+managed to make out a good deal, but could not remember
+it much, still less the music, which is indescribable,
+and no one person could imitate it at all. As
+we walked home we asked Cuffy if they considered
+the "shout" as part of their religious worship; he
+said yes, that "it exercise the frame." Mr. G. told
+him that some of the old people had told him they did
+not like the shouts, or think them religious, but he said
+old Binah did not object to them in the praise-house,
+but she did not like the shout "out in de world," <i>i. e.</i> before
+they joined the Church or came to "strive behind<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>
+the Elders." He makes his own hymns, "praying to
+de Lord Jesus to teach him as he in de woods&mdash;jine one
+word 'ginst toder." They were almost unintelligible
+as he deaconed them out, but I daresay they were his
+own, unconsciously caught, perhaps, in part from what
+he had heard in the white people's church. The only
+song I could remember ran somewhat after this fashion:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Oh, Jacob's ladder.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Climb high, climb higher!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Oh sodier of de jubilee,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">When you git dere 'member me,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Oh! sodier of de cross!<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In the introduction to "Slave Songs of the United
+States," a collection made chiefly at Port Royal and
+published in 1867, this particular song is set down as
+spurious, that is, as being sung to a well-known "white
+folks'" tune. But most of the negro music is described
+as "civilized in its character, partly composed under
+the influence of association with the whites, partly
+actually imitated from their music. In the main it
+appears to be original in the best sense of the word."</p>
+
+<p>The same writer goes on:</p>
+
+<p>"On the other hand there are very few which are of
+an intrinsically barbaric character, and where this
+character does appear, it is chiefly in short passages,
+intermingled with others of a different character....
+It is very likely that if we had found it possible to get
+at more of their secular music, we should have come
+to another conclusion as to the proportion of the barbaric
+element.... Mr. E. S. Philbrick was struck
+with the resemblance of some of the rowing tunes at
+Port Royal to the boatmen's songs he had heard upon
+the Nile....</p>
+
+<p>"The words are, of course, in a large measure taken
+from Scripture, and from the hymns heard at church;
+and for this reason these religious songs do not by any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>
+means illustrate the full extent of the debasement of
+the dialect." Of words funnily distorted through failure
+to understand their meaning there are, however, many
+examples. "Paul and Silas, bound in jail," was often
+sung "Bounden Cyrus born in jail;" "Ring Jerusalem"
+appeared as "Ring Rosy Land," etc., etc. "I never
+fairly heard a secular song among the Port Royal freedmen,
+and never saw a musical instrument among them.
+The last violin, owned by a 'worldly man,' disappeared
+from Coffin's Point 'de year gun shoot at Bay Pint.'"</p>
+
+<p>The negroes' manner of singing is pretty well suggested
+by the following:</p>
+
+<p>"The voices of the colored people have a peculiar
+quality that nothing can imitate; and the intonations
+and delicate variations of even one singer cannot be
+reproduced on paper. And I despair of conveying any
+notion of the effect of a number singing together,
+especially in a complicated shout.... There is no
+singing in <i>parts</i>, as we understand it, and yet no two
+appear to be singing the same thing&mdash;the leading
+singer starts the words of each verse, often improvising,
+and the others, who 'base' him, as it is called, strike
+in with the refrain, or even join in the solo, when the
+words are familiar. When the 'base' begins, the leader
+often stops, leaving the rest of his words to be guessed
+at, or it may be they are taken up by one of the other
+singers. And the 'basers' themselves seem to follow
+their own whims, beginning when they please and
+leaving off when they please, striking an octave above
+or below (in case they have pitched the tune too low or
+too high), or hitting some other note that chords, so as
+to produce the effect of a marvellous complication and
+variety, and yet with the most perfect time, and rarely
+with any discord. And what makes it all the harder to
+unravel a thread of melody out of this strange network
+is that, like birds, they seem not infrequently to strike
+sounds that cannot be precisely represented by the
+gamut, and abound in 'slides from one note to another,
+and turns and cadences not in articulated notes.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>How the same songs could be sung equally well at all
+sorts of work is explained by another writer,<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> as follows:
+"Of course the <i>tempo</i> is not always alike. On
+the water, the oars dip 'Poor Rosy' to an even andante,
+a stout boy and girl at the hominy-mill will make the
+same 'Poor Rosy' fly, to keep up with the whirling
+stone; and in the evening, after the day's work is done,
+'Heab'n shall-a be my home' [a line from 'Poor Rosy']
+peals up slowly and mournfully from the distant quarters.
+One woman&mdash;a respectable house-servant, who
+had lost all but one of her twenty-two children&mdash;said
+to me: 'Pshaw! don't har to dese yer chil'en, misse.
+Dey just rattles it off,&mdash;dey don't know how for sing
+it. I likes "Poor Rosy" better dan all de songs, but it
+can't be sung widout a full heart and a troubled sperrit!'"</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Saturday, May 3.</i> Directly after breakfast I mounted
+the pony, followed by Tom to open the gates. In this
+way we proceeded to Fripp Point, the plantation which
+belongs to this one. Just before we reached the Point,
+Tom started my horse, and before I knew it I was on
+the ground from the saddle's having turned under me.
+The horse behaved perfectly well, and I mounted and
+rode on towards the quarters (there is no white people's
+house here), where I could see St. Helena Village
+across the creek&mdash;a Deserted Village of a dozen or
+more mansions with their house-servants' cabins behind
+them, and two churches in a large pine wood, free
+from underbrush, where there are only one mulatto
+woman and her two children, belonging to this place,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>
+the sole occupants.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> The village is directly on the creek
+on a bluff like that on which Beaufort is situated, about
+eight feet high, and is the place where the white people
+used to spend the summers for health and society&mdash;those
+who did not go North to travel, or to Beaufort.
+This Fripp family had a house in each place, besides
+this one at Pine Grove. As he [Tom] walked alongside
+the horse, I questioned him about the old family,
+and found that it consisted of William Fripp and his
+wife Harriet, their four sons and a daughter. The old
+man they all speak of with respect as a "good marn."
+Mass' Washington they represent as not liking the
+war,<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> and papers have been found which prove this
+true. Mass' Clan's was a doctor and very kind, and
+lived at the village&mdash;"bes' young massa we hab."
+Mass' Eden lived alone on this place, and was from all
+accounts a very bad man. With only one meal a day,
+he lived on whiskey, and, beyond his own control most
+of the time, he used to "lick wus 'an fire." The tree
+in the yard to which they were tied, their feet a foot
+or more from the ground, while he used the raw cowhide
+himself, has the nails in it now which prevented
+the rope from slipping&mdash;Flora showed it to me from
+my window. They do not talk much unless we question
+them, when they tell freely. As I opened shop this
+afternoon, old Alick, head-carpenter and a most respectable
+man, opened the cupboard door in the entry,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>
+but when he saw our dishes shut it with an apology,
+saving that it was an old acquaintance and he wanted
+to see what it was used for now. "I get sixty lash
+for makin' dat two year Christmas, and hab to work
+all Christmas day beside." Well, Alick, those days
+are over for you now. "Tank de Lord, missus, tank
+de Lord."</p>
+
+<p>By afternoon my hip was swollen and painful. I did
+not go downstairs again that night; but hearing them
+laugh at the dinner-table over some experience of Mr.
+G.'s, found it was this. He had been telling them [his
+pupils] that it was necessary that they should be punctual,
+study hard, and behave well in order to have a
+good school, and talking to them Saturday night about
+the fresh week that was coming, in which they must
+try hard, asked what three things were necessary for
+a good school. A question which was received in profound
+silence, for it is almost impossible to make them
+put that and that together, till one boy about nineteen
+rose and said very solemnly, "Father, Son and Holy
+Ghost!"</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove, May 3.</i> Sunday, besides its other virtues,
+in this place brings us bread, and an opportunity
+to send and receive letters. Mr. Eustis takes a large
+bag of loaves in his carriage, which are shared out to
+hungry superintendents after service. Eustis's house
+and his plantation serve as general caravanserai to our
+whole establishment. His overseer house&mdash;a mile
+from his own&mdash;is the d&eacute;p&ocirc;t for supplies for these outside
+islands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Our cotton-agent has at last paid off our plantations
+and will probably say farewell this coming week. We
+also have made a small payment to the hands of
+$1.00 per acre for all the cotton they had planted up
+to a certain date. The slight sum has had a very good
+effect. Other things have aided it. The cotton-agent
+paid them partly in goods. As soon as they had received
+the money from him and ourselves, we opened
+store, putting our goods at cheap prices. The stock
+consisted of the clothes I brought with me, those which
+K. sent me, and some pieces Mrs. Philbrick brought
+with her, with some furnished by the Commission;
+also a barrel of molasses, some tobacco, and shoes.
+The "sweetening" and the clothing were at cheaper
+prices than anything they have been accustomed to,
+so they were greatly pleased and we have sold out
+rapidly. The good effect is already quite noticeable,&mdash;but
+they are by no means all clothed. The men and
+boys, especially, stick to their rags. [The money] obtained
+from our private boxes will be expended in buying
+other articles for the negroes, to be sold again, or
+distributed to them, as may seem best. A vast deal of
+dissatisfaction among the people has been saved by
+this method of distributing the clothing. The faithful
+workers have all had money. All understand and like
+the arrangement.</p>
+
+<p>I have made a rather elaborate explanation of all
+this, because to some perhaps it will seem to be a strange
+and suspicious operation.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The natural impulse to treat the negroes as objects
+of charity was thus early found to be a mistaken one;
+by the end of November the Government, too, had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>
+ceased to give them anything, the system of rations
+having done, as is remarked in one of the letters, "too
+much harm already." The time never came, however,
+when there was not heard from the North abundant
+criticism of the kind which H. W., in her letter of April
+29, and W. C. G. here are trying to disarm, and the
+superintendents had to outgrow their fear of being
+blamed for "strange and suspicious operations."</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sunday, May 4.</i> They had had a "Shout," which
+I had heard distinctly at three o'clock in the morning
+when I happened to wake up. They come from all the
+plantations about, when these meetings take place for
+the examination of new members, "prodigals and raw
+souls," as 'Siah said, he being an elder and one of the
+deacons. They do not begin till about ten o'clock
+Saturday night, when the examinations commence
+and the other services, after which they keep up the
+shout till near daylight, when they can see to go home.
+They admitted two this time, and, as Uncle Sam remarked,
+"they say there is joy in Heaven over one sinner
+that repenteth, so we rejoice over these souls that
+have come in."</p>
+
+<p>A good many of the girls came up. They lay round
+the floor or squatted about as I read and sung hymns
+to them; they were very much surprised that I was not
+afraid to sleep alone in such a big room&mdash;said Miss
+Juliana and Miss Lynch, Mass' Sam and Mass' Willie and
+their Mamma used to sleep there. These people do not
+use any feminine adjective, and their "hims" are very
+confusing sometimes. Harriet walked down to the house
+behind me from school the other day for some sugar<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>
+for a sick baby, and I asked her the name of a bird
+that flew across our path. "Him de Red bird." I
+thought the Red bird was all red, I said. "Him de
+'oman bird, marm, de marn bird all red, him de 'oman
+bird, marm." The girls hung round till the faithful
+Flora appeared to "wash me down" with the tide.
+Everything here depends on the tide; Susan will not
+make butter when the tide is going out&mdash;it would take
+it all day to come; and Flora would bathe the swelling
+when the tide was going out, that it might carry it
+with it.</p>
+
+<p>No letters when they came from church&mdash;four
+weeks from home, and never a word.</p>
+
+<p>In the afternoon I walked out in the yard a few steps,
+and it was pleasant and touching to see how eagerly
+they watched me and passed the word, "Miss Hayiot's
+comin'," with bow and curtsey, asking, "How you find
+yourself to-day, Missus?" "Glad to see you on you
+feet, marm."</p>
+
+<p><i>May 5.</i> I had the school come up to me on the piazza,
+a plan I shall adopt for the future; it is cool and pleasant,
+saves me a walk which will be warm by and by,
+and also from the fleas of the praise-house. Louisa
+came up to give me two eggs, carefully wrapped in
+her apron. This makes over a dozen I have had brought
+to me by my grateful pupils.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 6.</i> In the afternoon Flora brought me a letter
+to read to her, which proved to be from her husband,
+who is cook to some officers at Bay Point. I am quite
+curious to see him&mdash;she is so fine and the children
+are among the brightest here. Some soldier had written
+it for him, and she was too pleased for anything at her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>
+first letter. It was signed "York polite," which she
+told me was his title. I can't make out whether they
+give each other surnames, and this is his, or whether
+it is really a title, as she says, like "Philip the Fair."<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a>
+She told me what to say, and I wrote an answer for
+her.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 8.</i> A Baptist minister, who came out with us
+and has been appointed the pastor of the island, came
+to lunch, went to the other plantations with Mr. Philbrick,
+and has come back to spend the night. He had
+been up to the praise-meeting by Uncle Peter's invitation.
+He is very much puzzled what to do about the
+religious feeling of these people and their habits and
+customs. I hope he will let them alone.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 9.</i> Went up to the praise-house for school in
+the morning; it is so hard to get the little things together
+and then, like as not, they have <i>half</i> of them to be sent
+back to wash their faces and hands. Asked the little
+children questions, such as "What are your eyes
+for?" "For see'long." "Teeth?" "For chaw'long," etc.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sunday, May 11.</i> In the morning a number of the
+women had come up to the house to see us. It seems
+they have always been in the habit of coming into the
+yard on Sundays. Tira, Sim's wife, brought me three
+little fish fried. The women said that all the people
+here were born on the place, and no new hands had
+ever been bought, only one sold, and his master allowed
+him that privilege because his wife belonged in Charleston
+and he wanted to belong to the same man.</p>
+
+<p>Flora said at lunch, as she brushed off the flies, that
+her husband York was at work on the "main" (land),<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>
+she did not know where, on a house, with five of their
+carpenters, when the war broke out, or rather, before
+the Fort here was "taken away," as they say, and that
+then the white people had not food enough to feed the
+blacks, and she is quite sure all her brothers and sisters
+who were carried off were dead before this&mdash;starved.
+York was five weeks getting back here, and arrived
+about Christmas.</p>
+
+<p>Limus came for a reading-lesson, a man about fifty,
+driver on one of Mr. Soule's plantations next this, who
+comes over almost every day for me to teach him. He
+has a wife here and grown children, and another on
+the other plantation, the rascal. He is very smart and
+learns well.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a></p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick had business with Mr. Pierce, and
+did not come home to dinner. But he got into more
+business than he expected before he came back, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>
+I never saw a poor man show suffering more than he
+did when he came in after ten o'clock and told us what
+he had received orders to do the next day. While he
+was at Mr. Pierce's, writing, young Hazard Stevens
+came over with despatches from General Hunter<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> ordering
+all the agents to send him in the morning all
+the able-bodied black men between the ages of 18 and
+45, capable of bearing arms, on the plantations. There
+was no explanation whatsoever of the reasons for the
+demand, no hint of what was to be done with them, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>
+nothing but our confidence in General Hunter's friendliness
+to the race gave us a shadow of comfort. But
+that would avail little to the negroes, who would lose
+the confidence they are beginning to feel in white
+men. Yet there was but one thing for us to do, and it
+was with heavy, aching hearts that at midnight we
+separated. Companies of soldiers were to be sent from
+Beaufort in the night and distributed to the different
+plantations to prevent the negroes from taking to the
+woods, so that we were not surprised at being roused
+about two hours after by thundering knocks at the
+front door, echoing through all these empty rooms with
+a ghostly sound. This proved to be Captain Stevens again,
+alone, who had stopped to enquire the way to some
+of the other plantations he had to notify, and say that
+the soldiers would be here in about an hour. We had
+scarcely got to sleep again before we all were roused
+by their arrival, and eight men, a Captain and Sergeant
+of the New York 79th Highlanders, tramped through the
+house. Mr. Philbrick gave them a pail of water and
+some hardtack, for they had had a long walk, and then
+they stretched themselves on the floor of one of our
+empty parlors as quietly as could be, considering themselves
+in luxury. We slept as best we could the rest of
+the night, and were up early to get the soldiers their
+breakfast and get ready for the heart-sickening work.
+You never saw a more wretched set of people than sat
+down to our breakfast-table. I <i>could not</i> eat, for about
+the first time in my life. Nothing had been said to any
+one. Joe saw the soldiers on the floor when he opened
+the house door in the morning, and wore a sober face
+when we came down, but no one asked any questions,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>
+and we moved about, seeing to the breakfast, trying to
+look as usual (and failing), getting out tobacco and
+crackers to give the men on all these plantations when
+they went off. It had been arranged that Mr. G. should
+see to these two plantations after Mr. Philbrick had
+taken part of the soldiers to Coffin's Point. When he had
+gone, Mr. G. began on Joe before he went to the field
+for the other hands&mdash;telling him that General Hunter
+had work at Hilton Head for a great many black men,
+that he did not know what for, but had received orders
+in the night, and they must be obeyed and he must
+march; he had to go at once to his house for his cap,
+say good-bye to his wife and come to us to leave his will,
+for he said he never expected to come back. We made
+as light of the whole thing as we could, but did not dare
+to say anything (as we knew nothing) which might make
+them feel afterwards as if we had deceived them, for the
+thing they dread is being made to fight, and we knew
+that there had been men about trying to recruit for Hunter's
+pet idea, a regiment of blacks. <i>One</i> man had been
+obtained on this island! We told Joe that Mr. Philbrick
+knew nothing about it and was going with them himself,
+and gave him a letter Mr. Philbrick had written asking
+for him to be returned as a personal favor, as he was a
+house-servant. He did the same thing with each of the
+drivers, for the good of the plantation crops. The men
+were easily collected, ten here, and went off after all with
+much less emotion than we expected; the soldiers behaved
+admirably, delighted with the treatment they had
+received, and cheering the negroes with tales of money
+and clothes, treating them most kindly. Mr. Philbrick
+called all the hands together at Coffin's and told them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>
+the simple fact, all that he himself knew, and named
+the men who were to go, and the whole thing was accomplished
+with much less <i>apparent</i> suffering than we
+had supposed possible. Many of the men were not averse
+to trying their hands at life in the world, for many of
+their number have been and still are at work for officers,
+etc., at Hilton Head and Bay Point, etc., with most
+desirable pecuniary results, but they are afraid of being
+made to fight. Flora, our heroine, said the women and
+boys could take care of all the cotton and corn if the
+men did have to go&mdash;that they did not trust many
+white people, but they did trust Mr. Philbrick.</p>
+
+<p>The day passed in perfect quiet: the women finished
+their work in the field, I kept school, Mr. G. came back
+from the Point and after lunch took the driver's place,
+sharing out the week's allowance of corn to the people,
+while H. and I sat under the shade of the trees, watching
+or talking to the women. Wil'by, Joe's wife, was the only
+one who seemed really sad and heart-sick&mdash;all the rest
+were as usual. Dr. Wakefield<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> came and recounted
+his miseries while I set the tea-table, when, just as everything
+was cleared away, Mr. G. came in, with his face
+all aglow, to tell us that the drivers, Joe, and one or two
+others had been sent back, and in a moment Joe appeared,
+radiant with happiness. Mr. G. found he had
+not seen his wife, so went to her cabin and told her the
+ladies wanted her, and it was pretty enough to see her
+simple delight as she caught sight of Joe in the doorway.
+They both laughed nervously, then shook hands
+shyly, and she curtseyed, then hid her face against the
+wall, saying, "I so thankful I can't say a word," and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>
+pretty soon, "Oh Joe, I couldn't eat the hominy for
+dinner;" and Joe, "I couldn't eat the biscuits, either,
+that Mr. Philbrick gave me, had to gi' um away&mdash;and
+then I was so glad, I didn't feel hungry till I got home."
+We sent them off to eat hominy and be happy, and sat
+down to write with lighter hearts ourselves.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick soon appeared. He found Mr. Pierce
+had been down to Hilton Head and found what he had
+in part suspected to be the fact. General Hunter found
+that the negroes misapprehended his wishes and ideas,
+and he could not raise as many as he wanted, so had
+resorted to these measures, meaning to give the men
+an idea of the life and drill, and after a few weeks not
+retain any who wished to return to their homes. All
+the superintendents were indignant at the way the thing
+was done, but it will not turn out so badly as we feared,
+I trust. The people are used to being made to do things,
+and are not in the least rebellious, as any white man
+would have been. If we can have blacks to garrison the
+forts and save our soldiers through the hot weather,
+every one will be thankful. But I don't believe you could
+make soldiers of these men at all&mdash;they are afraid, and
+they know it.</p>
+
+<p>The cotton-agent left Coffin's Point to-day, so that
+we can go there now whenever we can get the house
+ready. Then we shall have horses and vehicles more at
+our disposal; you may hear of our carriage and span
+yet, but I shall hate to leave here. This moon is lovely,
+and to-night the flats are covered with water by the full
+moon tide, and the sea looks as if it came to our doors.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The opinion just expressed concerning the impossibility
+of making soldiers from Sea Island negroes was,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>
+very naturally, the view that prevailed at this time among
+the superintendents and teachers; in the extract that
+follows it is stated with even more decision. As the
+letters progress, the reader will see the development of
+a complete change of mind on this point.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 27.</i> Negroes&mdash;plantation negroes, at least&mdash;will
+never make soldiers in one generation. Five white men
+could put a regiment to flight; but they may be very
+useful in preventing sickness and death among our
+troops by relieving them of part of their work, and they
+may acquire a certain self-respect and independence
+which more than anything else they need to feel, if they
+are soon to stand by their own strength.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 13.</i> Old Peggy, the "leader" from Fripp Point,
+came over, and Flora brought her to see the school. She
+sat on the doorstep, very much interested and uttering
+frequent ejaculations of "Oh Lord!" H. had her sewing-school,
+and then I my regular session, with diminished
+numbers. Hope the men took their books. Saw
+Wil'by to-day and asked if she did not feel pretty well,
+when Susan answered, "She feel pretty well, Missus,
+but I don't; can't feel right with five boys all gone, not
+so much as that (pointing off the end of her finger) left
+of one of them; two carried off by Secesh, one with a
+Captain of ours at Fort Pulaski,<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> not heard from since
+Christmas, and now two gone yesterday." But she
+seemed to feel, spite of her regrets, that if they could
+help she was glad they should. Flora said old Peggy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>
+and Binah were the two whom all that came into the
+Church had to come through, and the Church supports
+them, and she contributed thirty-five cents to get her
+some flannel for garments, which she had always been
+used to till now. Of course we gave them to her.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 14.</i> Our new equipage with its two horses drew
+up, and I got in, while H., shocked at the rags, cut out
+the lining of the top of the buggy, showering me with
+sand thereby. The buggy and horses were legacies from
+Mr. S., the cotton-agent, who departed yesterday.</p>
+
+<p>There have been seven babies born on the three plantations
+since we came, and thirteen since Mr. Philbrick
+came, for which we have been able to supply but little
+and that only on this place. The Master always provided
+for the new babies two of each garment and half
+a dozen diapers.</p>
+
+<p>I found that they had a most heart-rending time [at
+Mr. Eustis' plantation] on Monday. The two companies
+of soldiers coming over Sunday night had frightened
+them, and they kept watch all along the creek through
+the night of their own accord, for fear of Secesh. The
+thing was not judiciously done the next morning, and
+seems to have made a great deal of suffering which was
+avoided here.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 15.</i> After lunch I walked down to the quarters
+and stopped at all the cabins. Found two of the men
+had already come back from Hilton Head and had eased
+the minds of all the mothers and wives by the reports
+which they brought back of comfortable quarters, good
+food and clothing, confirming all our statements. I think
+here a greater degree of confidence than ever will be
+established by this painful episode. Mr. Philbrick says<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>
+they have not behaved so well at Coffin's Point as to-day
+since he came. We walked down to the field to see them
+hoeing corn in their own "nigger field"&mdash;what is
+raised for the plantation, not their own private patches,
+but that out of which their weekly peck comes, and
+which therefore they will work on out of hours. Their
+task<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> is done, often, by eleven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>Went to see Binah. She is always very glad to see us,
+and to-day reached to a little shelf at the foot of the bed,
+off which she took a small tin pail and gave us three eggs&mdash;her
+last. I remonstrated, but she said, "You gib me
+ting, I say tank 'ee," so I picked them up and thanked her.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick sent for the people to make the final
+payment for cotton-planting, which is now finished, and
+we stood at the window to watch them as they came up,
+and help give out the money. One woman, who had
+not done so much work, was disturbed at not getting as
+much money as the others, and Mr. Philbrick could
+not make her understand. Flora came to H. afterwards
+and said, "You must excuse we niggers, we no sense,
+and Mr. Philbrick <i>so</i> patient; all Secesh on these islands
+couldn't make so much as he has with we."</p>
+
+<p><i>May 16.</i> Dr. Wakefield arrived with the news of the
+rebel Flag-steamer's having escaped from Charleston
+through the inside passages, passed Beaufort and gone<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>
+to Hilton Head. It was manned by blacks, who came
+off at two o'clock night before last with their wives and
+children, the officers having all gone ashore. It mounted
+two guns, and had four others on board which were to
+be taken<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> somewhere, passed Sumter with the right
+signals, and Beaufort with a Federal flag, and was sent
+back there again from Hilton Head. I should like to
+have been in Beaufort. It is magnificent.</p>
+
+<p>The sales have been quite large, as Mr. Philbrick's
+denims<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> have arrived, and the negroes had yesterday
+their second payment. The cloth is sold at the wholesale
+price, as it was bought. I am afraid they will never
+get it as cheap again. Now we can give away the made
+clothes with more freedom.</p>
+
+<p>Got old Peter to make me a piggin for fresh water in
+my chamber; as they always carry everything on their
+heads, a pail is no advantage. It is of a red color, and
+very nicely made. When I gave it to Flora to fill, she
+said, "him name Harriet"&mdash;whether intended as a
+compliment to me or to the piggin I could not understand.
+When we told Joe about the steamer, he exclaimed,
+"Gracious! 'zackly, that done beautiful," and
+kept exploding through the rest of dinner, "my glory,"
+"gracious," "smartest ting done yet."</p>
+
+<p><i>May 17.</i> H. called me out of school this morning to
+see one of the crew of the <i>Planter</i>, the steamer that
+ran off from Charleston. He proved to be a man from
+McKee's plantation who had a wife and children at
+Coffin's Point and had come round in a boat with a crew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>
+and pass from General Stevens<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> to take them to Beaufort.
+Almost all the men came from about here; David
+had two brothers with wives at Coffin's Point who were
+afraid to run the risk, and, though they belonged to the
+crew, went ashore. The pilot first proposed the plan,
+and they arranged a day or two beforehand with the
+wives they had there, took them on board in boats I
+think at two o'clock, passed Fort Sumter with the signal,
+two long whistles and a short, and came round inside
+the islands so that they did not encounter any of our
+blockading fleet till they came off Otter Island, where
+there is a vessel lying within sight of Coffin's Point.
+Then they raised the Federal flag which was on board,
+were boarded by our men and <i>cheered</i> as they passed
+on their way. Beaufort was amazed at a steamer with
+the Federal flag coming from that direction. The guns
+were to be mounted between Sumter and Charleston
+at the new Fort Ripley. David said they had made up
+their minds to blow up the vessel rather than be taken&mdash;they
+knew they should have no mercy. I hope the
+men who stayed were not hung for not informing. He
+said Charleston was "very interrupted," not a white
+woman left in the town, as they were expecting an
+attack from the Federals. He reports coffee at $1.50 a
+pound, sugar 50 cents there, but I don't know how much
+he is to be relied on; he was very quiet and modest&mdash;the
+fireman; said he used to work in the field here, but would
+"go furder" before he ever would do it again.</p>
+
+<p>To-day a quantity of bacon, which was sent from Philadelphia,
+was given out to the hands on both the Fripp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>
+plantations. There has been a good deal of trouble about
+their working Saturday, and the bacon was only given
+to those who went into the field to-day, I hope with good
+effect. They have not done a third the usual work this
+year, and it is hard to bring anything to bear upon them.
+I hope Captain Saxton, who we hear is coming out as
+head of the whole concern, will have sufficient authority
+to settle some points which have been left to the individual
+superintendents and with regard to which they
+have not pursued the same course, making it very hard
+for some.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Rufus Saxton, Captain in the United States Army,
+had been a quartermaster at Hilton Head ever since
+its capture. On April 29, 1862, he was assigned, as
+Brigadier-General of Volunteers, "to take possession of
+all the plantations heretofore occupied by the rebels"
+in the Department of the South, "and take charge of
+the inhabitants remaining thereon within the department,
+or which the fortunes of the war may hereafter
+bring into it, with authority to take such measures, make
+such rules and regulations for the cultivation of the land
+and for protection, employment, and government of the
+inhabitants as circumstances may seem to require."
+He was to act under the orders of the Secretary of War,
+and, so far as the persons and purposes specified were
+concerned, his action was to be "independent of that
+of other military authorities of the department," and
+in all other cases "subordinate only to the Major-General
+commanding." Many of Saxton's orders are signed
+"Brigadier-General and Military Governor," but of
+course he was never a military governor in the sense in
+which that term was used of Lincoln's military governors
+of states. Doubtless Saxton was recommended for his
+position by General Hunter, both being ardent anti-slavery
+men.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p>
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sunday, May 18.</i> Started [for church] directly after
+breakfast in the buggy. It is the first time I have been
+up, and I am glad to have seen the sight. The church<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a>
+is of brick, in a grove of very beautiful live-oak trees
+wreathed with grapevines and hanging moss, under
+which were tied every conceivable description of horse
+and vehicle, from Mr. Pierce's six-seated carriage and
+pair of fine Northern horses to the one-seated sulkies,
+and mules saddled with cotton-bags. Just as we arrived
+the people were all pouring out of church after Sunday
+School, for a short intermission before the service. I
+was very sorry to lose that part of the performances.
+Mr. Hooper is superintendent, and they say has an
+admirable faculty at interesting the children, who are
+taught besides by the white people present in classes.
+We had a pleasant chat with Miss W. and Miss Towne
+and the gentlemen, most of whom do not meet at all
+except once a week at church, and then the people were
+collected again, and when they were seated, Mr. Pierce
+summoned us, the four ladies, to an empty pew with
+himself. The church is painted white inside, very plain,
+with galleries, and filled full of black people,&mdash;doors,
+windows and aisles. Dr. French had come over from
+"Biffert," as they call it, and conducted the services.
+He read a hymn through, "Am I a soldier of the Cross?"
+etc., and then deaconed out two lines at a time, while<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>
+the negroes sang it in their peculiar, nasal manner,
+one always leading. He preached them an admirable
+sermon, familiar in its style. He told them of his visit
+to the men who had been carried to Hilton Head, which
+interested them very much and comforted them too,
+I guess. Compared them to the Israelites coming out
+of Egypt, as in a transition state in which everything
+depended upon themselves&mdash;they must not behave so
+ill that God would make them wander forty years in
+the wilderness instead of reaching Canaan in eighteen
+months. It was pleasant to see their interest&mdash;the
+"elders" all sat under the pulpit and in the front seats,
+and many would nod their heads from time to time in approbation,
+equivalent to the "'zackly" and "jus' so" of
+their every-day speech. They were all well dressed&mdash;a
+few in gaudy toggery, hoopskirts, and shabby bonnets,
+but mostly in their simple "head hankerchers" [which]
+I hope they will never give up. Many of the men on the
+road had their shoes in their hands to put on when they
+got to church. Most of them wear none. The women,
+many of them, came up to shake hands with us after
+church and said they must come and see us. There
+are no white ladies on the islands beside us and those
+at Pope's (Mr. Pierce's).</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Hooper told us of General Hunter's proclamation
+declaring all slaves free in South Carolina, Georgia,
+and Florida.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> We got no letters or news from the North
+of any sort, and are waiting anxiously to know how this
+news is received there and what has happened since we
+heard last. He promises free papers to all who enlist,
+and gives each a chance to come home to his family if<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>
+he concludes to do so. Expresses great regret that the
+thing should have been done as it was, but I don't know
+what he could expect, and it will be some time before
+the impression will die out, particularly among the women.
+The men are well contented there, and most of
+them will stay, I daresay; there are over five hundred.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 19.</i> This evening Dr. Wakefield arrived with the
+Doctor of the Roundhead Pennsylvania Regiment. Said
+the pilot of the <i>Planter</i>, as he passed Fort Sumter
+at daybreak, broke into the Captain's room, put on his
+regimentals, and walked up and down the deck mimicking
+the Captain's gait, so that if they should use
+their glasses at Fort Sumter no suspicion should be
+excited!</p>
+
+<p><i>May 20.</i> We are fortunate in being on a plantation
+so far from town, the soldiers, and the influence of the
+cotton-agents. At Coffin's Point the people have shown
+the effects of having soldiers quartered there so long,
+though they were a less simple and quiet sort than these
+in Secesh times. The quarters here are the cleanest and
+prettiest I have seen, though there is room for improvement.</p>
+
+<p>The day has been a very busy one. A large box of
+Philadelphia clothing I overhauled, made a list of everything
+in it, and with H.'s help rolled up half and packed
+again to go to Coffin's Point. It is the last box of clothing
+we shall have, I hope. We thought we should enjoy
+the giving more things, now that the goods have come
+by the piece which they prefer to buy, but they are so
+jealous, and it is so hard to keep the run of so many
+families so as to distribute the garments equally, that
+it is hard work, and proves the wisdom of those who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>
+decided it was best to sell in the first place. The old
+people and babies of course we give to entirely, <i>i. e.</i>, as
+far as we have the means. I should like a box full of
+baby-clothes and flannel for the old rheumaticky women,
+whose garments are all worn out.</p>
+
+<p>Heard Joe tell Flora, "Don't call me 'Joe' again;
+my name Mr. Jenkins." I find they all have surnames,
+of one sort and another, a wife taking her husband's.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 22.</i> When they go into the field to work, the
+women tie a bit of string or some vine round their skirts
+just below the hips, to shorten them, often raising them
+nearly to the knees; then they walk off with their heavy
+hoes on their shoulders, as free, strong, and graceful as
+possible. The prettiest sight is the corn-shelling on Mondays,
+when the week's allowance, a peck a hand, is
+given out at the corn-house by the driver. They all assemble
+with their baskets, which are shallow and without
+handles, made by themselves of the palmetto and
+holding from half a peck to a bushel. The corn is given
+out in the ear, and they sit about or kneel on the ground,
+shelling it with cleared corn-cobs. Here there are four
+enormous logs hollowed at one end, which serve as mortars,
+at which two can stand with their rude pestles,
+which they strike up and down alternately. It is very
+hard work, but quicker than the hand process. After it
+is all shelled, the driver puts a large hide on the ground
+and measures each one's portion into his basket, and
+men, women, girls, and boys go off with the weight on
+their heads. The corn-house is in a very pretty place,
+with trees about it, and it is always a picturesque sight&mdash;especially
+when the sand-flies are about, and the children
+light corn-cob fires to keep them off. The corn is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>
+ground by hand by each negro in turn for themselves;
+it is hard work and there are only three hand-mills on
+the place, but it makes very sweet meal and grits. The
+negroes do not like the taste of that which is ground by
+steam-mill at Beaufort; I suppose the heat of the stones
+hurts it. The blacks at Hilton Head, who have had our
+Indian-meal given them as rations, cannot eat the "red
+flour."<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> They separate the coarse and fine parts after
+it is ground by shaking the grits in their baskets; the
+finest they call corn-flour and make hoe-cake of, but
+their usual food is the grits, the large portion, boiled as
+hominy and eaten with clabber.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO EDWARD ATKINSON</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove, May 25.</i> We received the Philadelphia
+bacon and salt herring about a week ago and divided
+it among the cotton-workers. I have also distributed
+a part of the salt you sent. This allowance of bacon
+was given once a fortnight and <i>weekly</i> at this season
+by the different masters, and the quart of salt monthly.
+Several plantations near Beaufort which had been
+stripped of their corn by the army have been referred
+to me for supplies. I have loaded three flat-boats from
+the corn-barns here and at Coffin's, where there was
+a surplus, sending off 285 bushels shelled corn in all.
+The removal of this corn from my barns gave occasion
+for some loud and boisterous talking on the part
+of some of the women, and made the driver of this
+plantation feel very sober, but I pacified them by telling
+them the Government showed its determination
+to provide for them by this very act, for here were several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>
+plantations on Ladies Island, destitute of corn,
+which might have been fed with much less trouble
+from the pile of bacon and herring recently received,
+but that the Government did not consider <i>that</i> a just
+division of good things, so they sent me a part of the
+bacon and fish, and took my corn to feed the destitute.
+Thereby, said I, you are all gainers, for you have corn
+enough left to last till potatoes come, and you get the
+bacon besides, for which you ought to be thankful.
+The noisy ones stopped their clamor and the sensible
+ones thanked me and hoped I would stay and
+take care of them, saying they had about given up
+hopes of seeing any more meat in their lives, and were
+very thankful for even this bit to grease their hominy
+with.</p>
+
+<p>The people are taking hold of the cotton-fields with
+much more heart than I had feared, after the levy of
+recruits two weeks ago. The cotton has been mostly
+hoed once and is growing well under the favorable
+weather. Some of the corn is five feet high and it is all
+hoed and ploughed except the latest portion, which
+was planted this month. A small portion of the cornfields
+has been neglected, being the portions assigned to
+some of the men who are absent. There were ten young
+men belonging at Coffin's Point who escaped notice
+on the day of the levy, but who, on learning that I had
+called for them, came and delivered themselves up next
+morning. I sent them on towards Beaufort and they
+met Mr. Pierce on the road. He told them that General
+Hunter did not want their service against their will,
+and as they preferred to return home they did so. I
+had just organized the whole gang anew after this,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>
+when Mr. S.,<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> who I thought was gone for good, turned
+up with an order to collect cotton on the mainland,
+and requested me to let him have a boat's crew to explore
+for two days. I told him the men were all organized
+and at work, each on his own acre, but if he couldn't
+get men elsewhere I should not refuse for such a short
+time. The men came back on the third day without
+Mr. S. and notified me that he had hired them (and
+two more joined them, making twelve in all) to collect
+cotton for a month or two on the neighboring territory
+beyond our previous pickets, under protection of scouting-parties
+detached for the purpose. The men were
+offered fifty cents per day, and as I had no authority to offer
+<i>anything</i> definitely, except, a house to live in and their
+allowance of corn, I told them they were free to go
+where they pleased, but advised them to stay. Of course
+they all went off, but have been back twice since to
+spend a night and have gone again this morning. They
+are nearly all active young men and are pleased with
+this roving sort of life, but you may imagine how fatal
+such a state of things is to my efforts at organization,
+and how demoralizing upon the general industry of
+those remaining at home these visits of the rovers are,
+to say nothing of the breaking up of old gangs and
+abandoning allotments of land. Some of these men
+who were about to go with Mr. S. told me their wives
+would carry on their tasks while they were gone, and
+I told them that if they would do so I would let them
+avail themselves of the proceeds of their labor, but if
+these patches should be neglected, I should assign them
+to other men, and their planting labor would be forfeited.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>
+Thus far I find but one neglected patch, and
+unless this is soon hoed by some of the friends of the
+sick woman to whom it belongs, I shall have to assign
+it to some one else. It is a common practice among
+them to hire each other to hoe their tasks, when sickness
+or other causes prevent them from doing it themselves,
+so that most of the tasks of the lying-in women
+are taken care of by sisters or other friends in the
+absence of their husbands.</p>
+
+<p>The more I see of these people the more surprised
+I am that they should have done so much as they have
+this year without any definite promise of payment on
+our part, and with so little acquaintance with us. The
+course we have been obliged to pursue<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> would not have
+got an acre planted by Irish laborers. I do not think it
+the best course, but under the existing confusion it was
+<i>only</i> one. If we were authorized to say that we could
+pay a definite sum per one hundred pounds for cotton
+raised, or a definite sum per month for certain services
+performed, we might have accomplished much more, but
+under the present arrangement I doubt if we can do the
+usual work for next year's crop, <i>i. e.</i>, in preparing manure.
+The only men left upon these plantations are the old
+ones and they are not fit to cut the marsh-grass commonly
+used for cotton manure. The only way I can
+get the cornfields ploughed is by asking the drivers to
+take the ploughs in their own hands, which they do
+very cheerfully and with good effect, each one ploughing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>
+three or four acres per day. I do not think the
+hands can be expected to work on all summer without
+further payments of money or some equivalent. I wait
+rather anxiously for the development of Captain or
+rather <i>General</i> Saxton's instructions. He has not arrived
+yet, but is daily expected.</p>
+
+<p>The two thousand five hundred yards of cloth you
+sent me is all sold with the exception of about three
+pieces, and paid for in cash; a few have said they
+had no money and ask me to set it down in the book
+for them to pay when they get money from the cotton.
+I always trust them in this way when they desire it,
+and find them very reluctant to run up a long score.
+My willingness to trust them gives them confidence
+that they will be paid for their cotton labor, and though
+the "white folks" at Hilton Head are telling them
+that the cotton crop is a mere speculation on our part,
+I don't think they listen much to them. One man told
+me to-day that nobody could cross the sill of my door
+to harm me or my ladies while he could prevent it.
+This same man was sent by his master, the day that
+Hilton Head was taken, with a fleet of flat-boats, to
+bring the secession soldiers away from their forts.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>W. C. G. says of the situation at this time:</p></div>
+
+<p><i>May 27.</i> Between the gradual settling of affairs, the
+people's growing confidence in us and in the Government
+as paymasters, and the absence of the unruly
+men, the plantations are getting on quite nicely. The
+land, both corn and cotton, has been divided and allotted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>
+to the hands,&mdash;so a new system of labor<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> is&mdash;on
+our places&mdash;already inaugurated.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Monday, May 26.</i> Had quite a talk with Flora over
+the bed-making; she asked me to hem her a muslin
+head-hankercher which York had sent her from Hilton
+Head, and re-string some beads which had come
+too and been broken. I promised to do it, telling her
+she would have things enough to remember me by&mdash;to
+which she responded, "Neber forget you, long as I
+hab breath for draw." I find they are all beginning
+to feel badly at our leaving,<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> now they know we shall
+really go so soon.</p>
+
+<p>This is 'lowance day, and school is always late Monday
+<span class="smcap">p. m.</span>, but to-day, as they were all together, after
+they got through their corn, Ranty distributed some
+salt and mackerel Mr. Philbrick had for them, which
+kept them till six, our dinner-time, and they lost school
+altogether, greatly to their regret. We went to the porch
+to watch the groups, and as they passed us with their
+baskets on their heads and fish wrapped in green leaves
+in their hands, they all looked up and curtseyed, with
+a "tank 'ee, Massa."</p>
+
+<p>When Flora came in with the tea just after, she was
+muttering, "Neber see a marn so payshun as Mr. Philbri',"
+and then, turning to H. as if she was afraid she
+did not appreciate his virtue,&mdash;"Miss Helen, not two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>
+body in de worl' so payshun as him." I don't know
+what had excited her admiration just then, but she
+probably never saw a white man before who did not
+swear, at least. For even her favorite Mass' Clan's she
+does not consider as immaculate, though he would
+"nebber drive nigger."</p>
+
+<p><i>May 28.</i> To the [Pine Grove] quarters to say good-bye
+all round, stopping at each house. They seemed
+quite sorry to have us go, expressing their regret by
+presents of eggs. I filled my pockets and H. her hands;
+then Mily held her apron and walked home with us; she
+counted over three dozen in all. My children came in
+the evening, and we went to bed early; and so passed
+the last day at William Fripp's Pine Grove Plantation.</p>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, May 29.</i> Before ten the two carts
+were ready, and Flora and Joe mounted one to help
+us get to rights. Then H. and Mr. Philbrick went off
+in the buggy with the span. I was to have gone in the
+sulky, but harness fell short, and I had to wait till Tom
+could come back with the mule-cart. So I collected
+the children and had a last school for them, and when
+Tom came, locked the door, mounted the sulky (with
+the white umbrella) onto which the saddles had been
+tied, and, followed to the gate by the whole tribe singing
+"A, B, C," took my departure, the children shouting
+as I bid them good-bye, "We come for see you!"</p>
+
+<p>As I drove up to the house [at Coffin's] the yard
+really looked attractive, as it has some grass in it, though
+I had not thought the house so. But a day's work has
+made a vast change, and to-night it looks quite habitable.
+It was built in good style originally, but it is very
+old, and has been so abused by the negroes in the first<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>
+place, and then from having had soldiers living in it
+for so many months, it is very shabby. It must have
+been handsomely furnished, to judge from the relics,
+for they are nothing more&mdash;rosewood tables, sideboards
+and washstands with marble tops, drawers and
+doors broken in and half gone, sofas that must have
+been of the best, nothing left but the frame; no one can
+conceive of the destruction who has not seen it. The
+rooms are twelve feet high, and the lower story is more
+than that from the ground. The air is delicious, and
+we shall find the blinds which are on the second story
+a luxury. I have my own little bed, bureau, marble-top
+washstand, <i>three</i> chairs and a large wardrobe, to
+say nothing of a piano, in my chamber, which is I
+should think eighteen feet square.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 30.</i> Schools are getting on pretty well, I suppose,&mdash;slowly,
+of course. A few are really bright,&mdash;a
+few really dull; the larger part&mdash;like the same proportion
+of white children&mdash;could creep, walk, or trot,
+according to the regularity with which they are driven,
+and the time devoted to their books. While we have
+been living at Pine Grove, there have been five schools
+daily, teaching about one hundred and forty scholars.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 30.</i> We have moved just in time, I guess, for
+the weather will grow warmer now. Between eight and
+eleven is the warmest part of the day; after that the sea-breeze
+is sure to come up.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 31.</i> There is a line cut through the trees all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>
+across the islands so that they can see the light-house
+from Beaufort. I asked Tom who cut it, as I rode over
+the other day, and he said, "Yankee cut it." "Since
+the Fort was taken?" "Long time ago." "The old
+Masters cut it, then?" "No, Secesh neber cut down
+trees, make nigger do it; poor white men cut 'em."
+I finally came to the conclusion that it must have been
+done by the Coast Survey. I daresay they think we
+are all "poor white." Mary, a mulatto here, told Mr.
+G. his clothes would be fifty cents per dozen for washing;
+that she used to have seventy-five cents in Charleston,
+"for real gentle folks!"</p>
+
+<p><i>Sunday, June 1.</i> H. called in Betty, Joe, and Uncle
+Sam while she read, and after Mr. Philbrick had repeated
+the Lord's Prayer, Uncle Sam of his own accord
+offered a very simple, touching prayer. He is an Elder,
+and as honest and true as "Uncle Tom" himself&mdash;a
+genuine specimen of that class among the negroes,
+which exists in reality as well as in story. The younger
+ones do not seem to be quite so religious a class, though
+perhaps they are too young to tell, for young married
+men like Joe and Cuffy seem to have genuine principle,
+and belong to the church. H. told Joe, when he
+had been sulky for the first time, that she hoped he felt
+better; she did not like to see him so. "Yes, Marm,
+feel better now, Marm; you know de ole marn will rise
+sometimes." And he told Mr. G. once that he should
+not cry if his baby died, "'cause de Lord take him to
+a better place&mdash;not punish him, 'cause he have no
+sin;" but he said he should cry hard if Wil'by died,
+because he knew she would be punished. (His wife is
+not a "professor.")<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>June 2.</i> An officer from the gunboat off here came
+ashore to see if he could hire some men, but Mr. Philbrick
+told him that General Hunter had taken off more
+than he could spare. The officer seemed to think that
+Hunter would be recalled and the regiment disbanded<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a>&mdash;in
+which case Mr. Philbrick told him he did not
+want the men and he might take what he needed. We
+hear they are made sick by the change of diet; army
+rations can't be very good for men who have lived on
+hominy all their lives. He told us, moreover, a most
+interesting piece of news; that the firing we heard the
+other day was from the blockading fleet off Charleston,
+which captured six and sunk three of a fleet of
+English steamers, ten in number, laden with arms and
+munitions of war, which were making an attempt to
+run in to Charleston&mdash;thus letting only one escape.
+I don't know whether it got in or off.</p>
+
+<p>A semiweekly <i>Advertiser</i> and <i>Tribune</i> of May 14th,
+with full accounts of the taking of New Orleans and
+the battle of Williamsburg, which we have not heard
+about, and the splendid doings have roused me all up
+to full war pitch again. We have been so peaceful I
+could not realize all that was going on.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO EDWARD ATKINSON</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, June 3.</i> I suppose we shall lose General
+Hunter, for even if not recalled I don't see how he
+could stay after Lincoln's proclamation. I must say
+I think his, Hunter's action, premature and uncalled
+for. It seemed to me very like the tadpole resolution<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>
+in "Festina lente." In this case, too, the tadpoles were
+quite out of our reach except the small number in these
+islands, who had virtually shed their tails in course of
+nature already. I have great faith in Lincoln and am
+ready to leave the question with him. I think the effect
+of Hunter's proclamation upon the slaves of these
+states would be inconsiderable. They don't hear of
+it, to begin with, and if they did they wouldn't care
+for it. I am surprised to find how little most of these
+people appreciate their present prospects. Once in a
+while you find an intelligent man who does so, but the
+mass plod along in the beaten track with little thought
+about the future and no sort of feeling of responsibility.
+They feel a sense of relief that no one stands to force
+them to labor, and they fall back with a feeling of indifference
+as to whether they exert themselves beyond
+what is necessary to supply the demands of necessity.
+No better result can be hoped for till the time comes
+for each to see the reward for his labor. At present they
+are working upon faith, without even a definite promise
+as to what that payment shall be. Hunter's course
+is of far greater importance in its effect upon the political
+world in the North than in its immediate influence
+upon the status of the negroes in the districts to
+which it applies. The secret of such exploits as the
+crew of the <i>Planter</i> have lately performed lies in the
+fact that the men were forcibly taken from this region
+last November and wanted to get back home again.
+If their old home had been in Charleston, they would
+not have left it at the risk they incurred. In short, I
+don't regard the blacks as of any account in a military
+light, for they are not a military race, and have not sufficient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>
+intelligence to act in concert in any way where
+firmness of purpose is required.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>June 5.</i> Mr. Philbrick brought one unwelcome letter&mdash;an
+appointment from Mr. Pierce to Mr. G. to
+some plantation at the other end of the island. He is
+too valuable to be here. He is going to a hard place,
+ten or twelve plantations, though with fewer negroes in
+all than on these three.</p>
+
+<p>The mule-cart came up and was loaded with all Mr.
+G.'s things, and by nine o'clock he took his departure
+on horseback, in his red flannel shirt and palm-leaf
+hat looking quite Southern and picturesque.</p>
+
+<p>[Later.] Here came my morning school, for the
+first time, under Bacchus' conduct. I heard them singing
+and went to the window to watch and see how he
+was bringing them from the quarters. He is a cripple
+in his hands, which turn backwards, and he has but
+little control of his arms, but is much looked up to by
+the other children. Of course he cannot do any work,
+and Mr. G. has made him a sort of schoolmaster, and
+he has always kept school when Mr. G. was away. He
+manages them nicely, after his fashion&mdash;leaving them
+in the midst if he happens to want to eat some hominy!
+They never have regular meals, but each one eats hominy
+when he happens to want it. Well, soldiers have been
+stationed on the place, and Bacchus had got some notion
+of drill, so he marched up the thirty-five children,
+six or seven in a row, holding hands to keep them
+straight, and with two of the oldest boys for captains
+on each side to administer raps with their sticks if they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>
+did not keep in line, walking backwards himself to
+oversee the whole company, with a soldier's cap on his
+head, and shouting out his orders for them to sing
+their different tunes all the way,&mdash;the funniest spectacle
+himself imaginable.</p>
+
+<p><i>Monday, June 9.</i> Found that Bacchus' brother Lester
+had been taken sick Sunday morning and died at night,
+so he did not bring up the school. Just after dinner we
+saw the people assembling at their burying-place,<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> and
+H. and I went down to witness the services. Uncle Sam
+followed us, book in hand and spectacles on nose, reading
+as he walked. As we drew near to the grave we
+heard all the children singing their A, B, C, through
+and through again, as they stood waiting round the
+grave for the rest to assemble and for Uncle Sam to
+begin. Each child had his school-book or picture-book
+Mr. G. had given him in his hand,&mdash;another proof
+that they consider their lessons as in some sort religious
+exercise. We were joined at once by Mr. Philbrick,
+and stood uncovered with the rest about the
+grave, at the mouth of which rested the coffin, a rough
+board one, but well shaped and closed. Uncle Sam
+took off his hat, tied a red handkerchief round his head
+and, adjusting his glasses, read the hymn through, and
+then deaconed out two lines at a time for the people
+to sing. He repeated the process with a second hymn,
+when Abel made a prayer; then Uncle Sam read from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>
+the Burial Service and began his exordium, apologizing
+for his inability to speak much on account of a sore
+throat, but holding forth for about half an hour upon
+the necessity for all to prepare for "dis bed," filling
+his discourse with Scripture illustrations and quotations
+aptly and with force, using the story of "Antoninus
+and Suffirus" as a proof that God would not have
+any "half religions"&mdash;that if anybody had "hid his
+Lord's money in de eart' he must grabble for it before
+'twas too late." He read from the service again, one
+of the men throwing on earth at the usual place. When
+they came to cover up the grave, the men constantly
+changed hoes with those who had not handled them
+before, that each might aid, women and old men stooping
+to throw in a handful. Abel made another prayer,
+they sang again and dispersed.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>It was of this scene that W. C. G. wrote the following
+lines:</p></div>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><b>THE NEGRO BURYING-GROUND.</b><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Mid the sunny flat of the cotton-field<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Lies an acre of forest-tangle still;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">A cloister dim, where the grey moss waves<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And the live-oaks lock their arms at will.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Here in the shadows the slaves would hide<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">As they dropped the hoe at death's release,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And leave no sign but a sinking mound<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To show where they passed on their way to peace.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">This was the Gate&mdash;there was none but this&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To a Happy Land where men were men;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And the dusky fugitives, one by one,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Stole in from the bruise of the prison-pen.</span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">When, lo! in the distance boomed the guns,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">The bruise was over, and "Massa" had fled!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">But <i>Death</i> is the "Massa" that never flees,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And still to the oaks they bore the dead.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Twas at set of sun; a tattered troop<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Of children circled a little grave,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Chanting an anthem rich in its peace<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">As ever pealed in cathedral-nave,&mdash;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">The A, B, C, that the lips below<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Had learnt with them in the school to shout.<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Over and over they sung it slow,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Crooning a mystic meaning out.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">A, B, C, D, E, F, G,&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Down solemn alphabets they swept:<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The oaks leaned close, the moss swung low,&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">What strange new sound among them crept?<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">The holiest hymn that the children knew!<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">'Twas dreams come real, and heaven come near;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">'Twas light, and liberty, and joy,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And "white-folks' sense,"&mdash;and God right here!<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Over and over; they dimly felt<br /></span>
+<span class="i2"><i>This</i> was the charm could make black white,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">This was the secret of "Massa's" pride,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And this, unknown, made the negro's night.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">What could they sing of braver cheer<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">To speed on his unseen way the friend?<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The children were facing the mystery Death<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">With the deepest prayer that their hearts could send.<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Children, too, and the mysteries last!<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We are but comrades with them <i>there</i>,&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Stammering over a meaning vast,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Crooning our guesses of how and where.</span><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">But the children were right with their A, B, C;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">In our stammering guess so much we say!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The singers were happy, and so are we:<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Deep as our wants are the prayers we pray.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Captain Oliver Fripp's Plantation, June 9.</i> I came
+here, in consequence of a letter received from Mr.
+Pierce, asking me to take charge over some plantations
+here. There is a Mr. Sumner here,&mdash;lately arrived,&mdash;who
+is teaching. The place is quite at the other
+end of the island from Coffin's Point. At present I am
+by no means settled; it seems like jumping from the
+19th century into the Middle Ages to return from the
+civilization and refinement which the ladies instituted
+at Coffin's to the ruggedness of bachelor existence.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 22.</i> In regard to danger of sickness, I hear
+much about it,&mdash;but I think it is exaggerated. The
+white overseer stayed on Edgar Fripp's Plantation&mdash;close
+by&mdash;all summer. The planters generally went
+to Beaufort or the Village, but I think very much as
+we go out of town in summer. The summer was the
+fashionable and social time here, when the rich people
+lived together, gave parties, etc.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 6.</i> The people do not work very willingly,&mdash;things
+are not so steady as they have become at Coffin's.
+The district is even more exposed to the influence of
+visits to and from the camps.</p>
+
+<p>We had quite a celebration for the people on the
+Fourth. A stage was erected near the old Episcopal
+church in a cool grove of live-oaks, all grey with long
+trails of Southern moss. A large flag was obtained and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>
+suspended between trees across the road&mdash;it was good
+to see the old flag again. The people had been notified
+the previous Sunday, and I should think about a
+thousand were present, in gala dress and mood, from
+all parts of the island. When the ladies, the invited
+superintendents from Port Royal, and the General
+(Saxton)<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> had taken their seats, the people marched
+up in two processions from each direction, carrying
+green branches and singing. Under the flag they gave
+three rousing cheers, then grouped around the stage.
+The children from three or four of the schools marched
+in separately. After a prayer and some native songs,
+Mr. Philbrick, the General, and the <i>Times</i> reporter
+addressed them, and then one of the old darkies got
+on the stage and in an ecstasy of obedience and gratitude
+exhorted them to share his feelings, I believe.</p>
+
+<p>For an hour and a half there was a general press for
+the hard bread, herring, and molasses and water. When
+everything was devoured, the superintendents rode up
+to "the Oaks,"&mdash;Pierce's headquarters<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a>,&mdash;and had a
+collation. So much for Fourth of July. It was strange
+and moving down here on South Carolina ground,
+with the old flag waving above us, to tell a thousand
+slaves that they were freemen,<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> that that flag was
+theirs, that our country now meant their country, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>
+to tell them how Northerners read the Declaration&mdash;"All
+men are born free and equal." The people had
+a grand time, they say, and seem really grateful for it.
+It was a new thing for them, a Fourth of July for the
+negro. In old times they worked, if with any difference,
+harder than usual, while their masters met and feasted
+and drank.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The rest of this extract is an expression&mdash;which
+will be followed later by many like it&mdash;of the sense
+that people in the North were getting too complacent
+a notion of what had been done and what could be
+done for the Sea Island negroes.</p></div>
+
+<p>Pierce's report<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> has too much sugar in it. His statements
+are facts, but facts with the silver lining out.
+The starving, naked condition of the blacks was much
+exaggerated when we started to come down here.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 25.</i> On the whole, affairs conduct themselves
+pretty quietly and regularly. The cases of discipline
+are the most vexing and amusing. It is a peculiar
+experience to be detective, policeman, judge, jury, and
+jailer,&mdash;all at once,&mdash;sometimes in cases of assault
+and battery, and general, plantation <i>squows</i>,&mdash;then
+in a divorce case,&mdash;last Sunday in a whiskey-selling
+affair; a calf-murder is still on the docket.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter is the first from C. P. W., who went
+to Port Royal early in July, on the same steamer with
+Charles F. Folsom of Harvard, '62, who is often mentioned
+in the letters that follow, and with several other
+young Massachusetts men who had volunteered as
+superintendents.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p>
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, July 7.</i> We got our luggage into the Mayflower
+and started for this place [from Hilton Head]
+about six o'clock. It was droll enough to find a party of
+Boston men taking a sail in the old Hingham boat up
+Beaufort River under United States passes, to superintend
+South Carolina plantations.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 15. Coffin's Point.</i> The nearest of my five plantations
+is three miles distant, along the shore road, and
+the four on that road extend about two miles; my fifth
+is on the upper road, to Beaufort, about four and a half
+miles from the Point. The roads are mere tracks worn
+in the fields, sometimes through woods, like our wood
+roads, only more sandy. In front of my plantations
+there are bushes on the right-hand side, for some distance,
+the field being bounded on the other side by woods.
+Fields usually very long, sometimes three quarters of
+a mile, divided across the road by fences, gates occurring
+at every passage from one to another; the plantation
+houses and quarters at an average of one third
+of a mile from the road, paths through cotton-fields
+leading to them. Imagine a perfectly flat country, relieved
+by belts of trees, and intersected by rows of brush,
+single trees standing here and there in the bare, hot
+fields. Very little fresh water either in brooks or pools.
+Salt-water creeks are to be crossed on the shore roads;
+the richest lands in the adjoining meadows. A cotton-field
+looks not unlike a potato-field, the rows higher and
+more distinct, the plants further apart, usually two feet;
+the rows five feet. Corn planted on rows like cotton. You
+would be surprised to see the soil in which these flourish;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>
+beach sand, in many places, is the principal ingredient.
+The fields are very much the colour of the sea-beach.</p>
+
+<p>We live on the fat of the land. We are allowed $5.24
+per month for rations, but I do not use even that. Rice,
+sugar, and molasses are our principal draughts from
+the Commissary.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The colonists referred to at the beginning of the next
+letter were a thousand blacks from the island of Edisto,
+which the United States Government, after taking,
+had evacuated, as too troublesome to hold. The place
+where they were quartered, as described in the first
+sentence, was St. Helena Village.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 20.</i> The Secesh houses there are insufficient
+to accommodate them all, and they stow themselves
+in sheds, tents, and even in the open air, as best they
+can. Many of them are to be distributed on plantations
+where there are quarters; they will probably be
+set to planting slip-potatoes and cow-pease.</p>
+
+<p>Everything needs personal supervision here; every
+barrel or parcel must be kept under your eye from the
+time it leaves the storehouse in Beaufort till it is put
+in your mule-cart, on Ladies Island. Then you must
+be at home when the team arrives and see everything
+brought into the storeroom. There is a good deal of
+red tape, too, at Beaufort, the untying and retying
+of which is a tedious and vexatious operation.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> They
+are becoming more strict here in Beaufort in several
+respects; passes are needed by every one. There is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>
+a great deal of running to Hilton Head and Bay Point,
+which is to be stopped as far as possible.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 30.</i> I ride right through the morning, from
+nine till four, without suffering from the heat so much
+as in one trip to town and back one of our warm, still
+days at home. I have my white umbrella, there is usually
+some breeze, often a very cool one; the motion of
+the sulky puts me to sleep, but the heat of the sun has
+not been oppressive more than once or twice on this
+island. If I had attempted to follow all the directions
+I received before leaving, concerning my health, I
+should have been by this time a lunatic.</p>
+
+<p>Rust is such a common thing here that we get used
+to it. Mrs. Philbrick's needles rust in her work-bag;
+our guns, even after cleaning and oiling, are soon covered
+with a thin coating. Food moulds here very rapidly,
+crackers soften and dried beef spoils. Hominy, of
+course, is the chief article of food. I think it tastes best
+hot in the negro cabins, without accompaniment of
+molasses, sugar, or salt.</p>
+
+<p>Our life here is, necessarily, very monotonous: the
+hired people come and go, or we go and come to and
+from them, and the mosquitoes and flies do very much
+as we do. Mosquitoes are really a great annoyance at
+times. They introduce themselves under the netting
+at night in a very mysterious way, and wake us up early
+with their singing and stinging. My theory is that those
+that can lick the others get themselves boosted through
+the apertures; the animal is smaller than ours at the
+North. I think that they are unaccustomed to human
+treatment; they will not be brushed away, and slapping,
+if not fatal, only excites their curiosity. There is also<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>
+a small fly which appears on warm days after a rain
+in great numbers. Driving on my beat the other day,
+and holding my umbrella in one hand and newspaper
+scrap in the other, I was driven nearly wild by their continuous
+attentions. It is very easy to read driving here;
+the roads are so sandy that the horse has to walk a great
+part of the way and one is glad to be able to employ
+the weary hours with literature.</p>
+
+<p>This is the greatest country for false rumors that I
+ever was in. Communication is very uncertain, nothing
+but special messengers to bring us news from the outside
+world. An occasional visit to Mr. Soule<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> or to
+Beaufort enlivens the long weeks, and we welcome the
+gathering at church on Sunday, with the gossip and
+the mail and the queer collection of black beings in
+gay toggery, as the great event of our lives. If it were
+not for the newspapers, I might forget the time of year.
+It is very amusing to be appealed to by a negro to know
+how soon the 1st of August is; to tell them it is the 20th
+of July gives them very little idea.</p>
+
+<p>I should like to look in upon you and bring you some
+of the delicacies of the tropical clime, waterm&#275;lions,
+as the "inhabitants" call them, rich and red; huge,
+mellow figs, seedy but succulent; plump quails, sweet
+curlew, delicate squirrels, fat rabbits, tender chickens.
+We fare well here. If the wretched country only had
+more rocks and less sand, better horses, more tolerable
+staff officers,<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> and just a little more frequent communication<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>
+with New England, I should perhaps be content
+to make quite a long stay, if I were wanted.</p>
+
+<p>I will only remark at present that I find the nigs
+rather more agreeable, on the whole, than I expected;
+that they are much to be preferred to the Irish; that
+their blackness is soon forgotten, and as it disappears
+their expression grows upon one, so that, after a week
+or so of intercourse with a plantation, the people are
+as easily distinguished and as individual as white people;
+I have even noticed resemblances in some of them
+to white people I have seen. They are about as offensively
+servile as I expected. The continual "sur,"
+"maussa," with which their remarks are besprinkled
+is trying, but soon ceases to be noticed. "Bauss" is
+the most singular appellation, used by a few only.</p>
+
+<p>"M's Hayyet's brudder" passed through the Pine
+Grove "nigger-house" one day and retired, after a distinguished
+ovation, incubating, like a hen, upon a sulky-box
+full of eggs. Promises to show Miss Harriet's picture,
+not yet fulfilled, were received with the greatest
+satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>We have been making out our pay-rolls for May
+and June; the blanks, delayed in the printing, have
+just arrived. Red Tape. The money has been ready
+a long time. We ought to pay for July at the same time.
+This, understand, is only a partial payment, on account;
+the full payment is to be made when the crop comes in.</p>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 7.</i> Last Friday Mr. Philbrick and I got our
+money. The people generally took the payment in excellent
+spirit. A few seemed surprised, not knowing
+what to do with so much money; a few, of course,
+grumbled at the amount, though a clear explanation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>
+was always understood and received with reasonable
+satisfaction. I thought that one or two were disposed
+to take advantage of the fact that I had not taken the
+account of acres,<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> and so tried to make a difficulty by
+telling strange tales. But there was a great deal of
+manliness and fairness shown, with a degree of patience
+and foresight that was very gratifying.</p>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 16.</i> Perhaps the best way to give you a satisfactory
+notion of "what my work is, how I like it,"
+etc., is to give an account of a day's work on my plantations.</p>
+
+<div class="figleft" style="width: 352px;">
+<img src="images/image076.png" width="352" height="66" alt="rude portal" title="rude portal" />
+<span class="caption">rude portal</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Thursday, Aug. 14. I allow Mr. Philbrick to have
+his horse saddled first,&mdash;this was polite,&mdash;and as
+soon as he is out of the gate&mdash;"Robert!"&mdash;"Surr!"
+"Put my <i>smallest</i> horse into the sulky." I retire within,
+and collect the necessary equipment for a day "out,"
+viz.: white umbrella, whip (riding, long enough for
+sulky use), plantation-book, spring-balance (some rations
+to be delivered), much stout twine, for mending
+harness if need be, paper of turnip-seeds, two thirds of
+a pound of powder, and one novel, "An Only Son," for
+occupation during the first weary hour, consumed in a
+three miles walk over a sandy road. The young horse,
+caught at last,&mdash;our stud of four graze on the turfy acre
+fenced in about the house,&mdash;is a little restive at first in
+the unwonted restraint of the harness, but soon gets
+broken in to steady work by the heavy roads. Somewhat
+over an hour's slow progress brings me to the rude
+portal which spans the entrance of the McTureous
+estate. The houses of all the plantations on the Sea
+Side road are to be found on the eastern, or left-hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>
+as one rides towards Hilton Head. The character of
+the fields and quarters between the road and the water
+is very much the same on all the places. The "water"
+is a creek, separating the island proper from salt-water
+marshes and the higher islands outside, against which
+latter the ocean itself beats. The distance from the road
+to the creek averages half a mile. The quarters, universally
+called "nigger-houses," are strung along the bank
+of the creek, at about 100 feet from the water, on a ridge
+between the water and the corn. The "big house" is
+a two-story affair, old, dirty, rickety, poorly put together
+and shabbily kept. Here lived old Mrs. Martha
+E. McTureous, with a large household. The James
+McTureous place&mdash;the other half of this one&mdash;is
+all in one and the same field. On both these places the
+houses are terribly out of repair, with wooden chimneys
+and mud floors, the people dirty and suffering
+from the effects of much confusion and discouragement
+in the spring. Limus,<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> their old driver, did much
+mischief by striving to keep up the old system, and at
+the same time neglected the place to go and earn
+money for himself. Then they suffered severely from
+the black draft, their four best men being taken, from
+a population furnishing only "eight men working cotton,"
+and thirteen full hands in all. Arriving as I did
+after all the mischief was done, I have had rather a
+discouraging time with them.</p>
+
+<p>Entering the plantation, I am aware of old Nat. He
+is hoeing pease. As I approach, he shouts, and comes
+to the road, and lays before me a case of menace, ill
+usage, and threatened assault. I inspected convalescent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>
+boy, ascertained what work had been done,&mdash;in
+a general way, that is, learning that corn-blades had
+been, and were being, stripped, that all the able-bodied
+men were cutting marsh-grass for manure, that Tirah
+had planted a task of cow-pease for the Government,
+but had allowed them to go to grass,&mdash;whereupon,
+after personal inspection of said task, with an injunction
+to strip some corn which was getting dry, I drove
+over to the James McTureous place. Having received
+from Mr. Soule two packages of Swedish turnip-seed,
+I enquired concerning the manner of planting, how
+much seed was required for a task, etc. Dismounting
+from the sulky, and leaving it in charge of a returned
+volunteer (I like the sarcastic phrase), who was unwell
+and therefore lounging under the trees in front of one
+of the nigger-houses, I went forth to the field to count
+the acres of Government corn with the driver. On the
+way, I counted up the tasks of pease, slip, etc., to see
+if they coincided with the account given me by the people.
+Found one and a half of corn worthless, except
+for fodder. Conversed concerning marsh-grass, found
+another hook for cutting would be acceptable, gladdened
+their hearts with promise of turnip-seed, and
+drove off.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Not the least curious part of the curious state of
+things described in the next paragraph is the matter-of-course
+view of it taken by the youthful superintendent.</p></div>
+
+<p>By the way, Jim, driver on the James McTureous
+place, used to be slave of Mr. Pritchard, residing in
+Hunting Island,<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> which runs along just outside of St.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>
+Helena. He was a very cruel man,&mdash;there are stories
+of his burning negroes,&mdash;so when the "guns fired at
+Bay Point," as he couldn't run from his negroes, as
+the other masters did, for lack of transportation, his
+negroes ran from him, and settled among their friends
+on St. Helena. When matters were established at Hilton
+Head, Pritchard went and took the oath and got
+a pass, and has since lived at home, supporting himself
+by fishing and raising hogs. He often visits Jim
+and others of his old slaves, getting them to go fishing
+with him. Now one day last year, Jim and Mr. Pritchard
+found a four-oared boat&mdash;I give Jim's story&mdash;on
+the beach. Pritchard promised Jim half the
+value of the boat, but has since refused to fulfill his
+promise. Jim referred the matter to me. I told him
+to send Pritchard up to me. I think there will be no
+trouble, if Jim's story is straight.</p>
+
+<p>Cherry Hill, one of T. A. Coffin's<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> places, comes
+next to McTureous'. Cherry Hill is one of the most
+encouraging places I have. The people are of a more
+sensible caste, old people, almost entirely, who see the
+sense and propriety of right measures, and display a
+most comforting willingness to work and be content,
+though with less energy, of course, than younger men.
+The place owes much of its success this year to Tony,
+the driver, a person of great discretion, energy, and
+influence. The ingenious method by which he induced
+the people to plant more cotton than they wanted to is
+entertaining, though a little troublesome to us in making
+out the pay-roll. Mr. Palmer, Mr. Soule's assistant,
+counted sixteen acres of cotton on the place. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>
+the several accounts of the people on the place added
+up only fourteen and a half acres. In this perplexity,
+Tony was appealed to, who explained the difficulty
+thus. The land was laid off in rows, twenty-one to the
+task, each row being one hundred and five feet long.
+Tony staked off the tasks anew, throwing twenty-four
+instead of twenty-one rows into the task, thus adding
+twelve rows to every acre, which the people blindly
+tilled, never suspecting but that they were having their
+own way about their cotton.</p>
+
+<p>Mulberry Hill, owned by Captain John Fripp, is a
+little place, with not many more hands than Cherry
+Hill, but they are younger. The driver here is an extremely
+nice person, hardly energetic enough, I should
+think, for the old system, but a very quiet, gentlemanly
+man, perfectly frank and open in his manner, and a
+little superior in his conversation to those by whom he
+is surrounded. He is much respected in the dark community.
+It is to his bounty that I owe several huge
+watermelons which I have brought home for our table,
+besides several partial favors of the same kind, enjoyed
+under his own roof.</p>
+
+<p>To these people I was to deliver one month's rations
+of hard bread. It comes in fifty-pound boxes; and as
+a day's ration is three quarters of a pound, and there
+are thirty-one days in August, it requires but a simple
+calculation to determine that each person entitled to a
+full ration should receive twenty-three and one quarter
+pounds, and that, one child being reckoned one sixth
+of a grown person (monstrous, you will say, when eating
+is concerned,&mdash;but such is law), one box must
+be delivered to every two grown-persons-and-one-child.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>
+Having the people together, I took the opportunity to
+enquire of them the number of tasks of cow-pease, slip-potatoes,
+etc., they had planted, likewise the amount
+of cotton they had hoed, "since Mr. Palmer took the
+last account." It will be a great job making up the next
+pay-roll. I hope the people won't lie worse than usual.
+If they do, if the drivers should fail me, especially,&mdash;if,
+as will probably happen, their own accounts, added
+up, do not tally within several tasks with my count of
+the whole, and if at the same time I shall be required
+to make out the whole roll in two days, and both my
+horses should have sore backs at once&mdash;you can imagine
+what a comfortable, easy time I shall have of it.</p>
+
+<p>From Mulberry Hill, after looking at some doubtful
+cotton in the field with the driver, Paris, and finally
+setting it down as not properly hoed, I proceeded to
+the next plantation, Alvirah Fripp's, commonly called
+the Hope Place. It is the largest, the most distant, and,
+in many respects, the toughest plantation I have. There
+are a great many men of twenty-five to forty, "tough-nuts"
+many of them, and all looking so much alike
+that it is impossible to remember the name that belongs
+to any one face, though all their names and all
+their faces are familiar enough. I can see that it is a
+great drawback to my obtaining their confidence to have
+to ask one and another, as I ask, "how many tasks of slip
+have you planted for the Government, and how many
+for your own use?" to have to ask also, in variously
+modified phrase, "What's your name?" Recognize a negro,
+remember anything in which he has any interest,
+and you have his confidence at once. I not only surprised
+but made my fast friend a fellow on one of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>
+places by calling him by his name the second time
+I saw him.</p>
+
+<p>The men on the Hope Place are not all of a poor
+stamp, of course. The driver, Isaac, is my very ideal of
+a nigger-driver on a large place, made alive. Strong of
+body and up to all the dodges of the plantation life,
+he shows the effect&mdash;not apparent, in such a disagreeable
+manner at least, in Tony and Paris&mdash;of having
+a good many rough fellows to manage. I do not think
+he is liked on the place; I doubt his frankness; I think
+he is somewhat disposed to kick against the new authorities,
+disputing, <i>e. g.</i>, their right to take away "his"
+horse, the little one Mr. Palmer and I foraged from
+him the first day I came.</p>
+
+<p>Charles, the carpenter, is a man after my own heart.
+He attracted me first by his dignified and respectful
+demeanor, and by his superior culture. He has a little
+touch of self-consideration. He, more than any other
+negro I know, seems to me like a white person. I forget
+his color entirely while talking with him, and am
+often surprised, on approaching a black man, to recognize
+Charles' features. I think he is a pretty able fellow,&mdash;I
+should like to give him some regular employment
+in his trade. It seems an imposition to expect
+such a man to work cotton and corn.</p>
+
+<p>Beaufort is neither Bofort nor Boofort nor Biufort,
+but B&uuml;ft, the &uuml; pronounced like the umlauted &uuml; in German.
+Sometimes one hears Biffut. Hooper, extremist in
+ridicule, says Biffit. A letter of Mrs. Philbrick's went,
+"missent," to Beaufort, N. C., which is, I believe, Bofort.
+Had the pronunciation been written on the envelope, as
+one hears it among the "black inhabitants," it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>
+have gone to the Dead Letter Office, unless, by good
+luck, the S. C. had brought it as far as Hilton Head.</p>
+
+<p>We get, first or last, a pretty good notion of one
+another (you understand I am speaking of the white
+population only), though we see very little of each other,
+except when we are on adjoining plantations. The
+Oaks is a rendezvous where we see each other at times;
+we meet occasionally in Biffut; but church is the principal
+meeting-house on the island, of course, and all
+the gossip of the week is fully aired on Sunday.</p>
+
+<p>There is very little to tell about General Saxton, except
+that it is a great pity that he does not come onto
+the plantations himself and learn something, personally,
+of their state and their wants. He was extremely surprised
+the other day when Mr. Philbrick represented to
+him the necessity of making the last payment promptly;
+it was then twenty days behind time. A good deal
+of ignorance is shown in various ways in the orders
+sent from headquarters&mdash;<i>e. g.</i>, the order that has
+been issued concerning marketing, nothing to be sold
+on the plantations except by leave of the superintendents
+and no boats to go to Hilton Head or Beaufort
+without a "Market Pass" from the superintendent.
+Until I hear that a guard is stationed [at Hilton Head],&mdash;which
+I shall the day after it is done,&mdash;I shall not
+order men to report to me before going over. I have
+no idea of making a rule I cannot enforce.</p>
+
+<p>On the whole, our work is succeeding as well as the
+disappointments and hindrances<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> of the year allow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>
+us to expect. A great deal will depend on the manner
+and promptness of the next payments and the treatment
+of the people at harvest-time.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 2.</i> There is one frightful contingency,&mdash;a
+much talked of evacuation. Where the people will go,
+I know not; but possibly to Hayti. In that case I presume
+the superintendents will go with them,&mdash;I certainly
+shall. General Saxton, I am sorry to say, goes
+to-morrow in a gunboat&mdash;for his health. It leaves us
+without a head and worse&mdash;renders evacuation all
+the more likely. It is thought that his presence and
+words prevented it several weeks ago. I doubt if he
+comes back,&mdash;he is not satisfied with his work here,
+does not enjoy it. It is properly the duty of a civilian,
+who should have military rank merely to give him a
+position. Saxton and his staff understand little or
+nothing of the real wants of the plantations, and though
+affairs have of course been improved by his presence
+and authority, very little in proportion to our hopes
+and our needs has been accomplished. We need a civilian,
+who is a first-rate business man,&mdash;of force, of
+forethought, of devoted interest in this undertaking.
+But there is no use in writing this,&mdash;rather some harm.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 6.</i> Things are in a state of suspension generally;
+I confess that a decidedly azure hue has prevailed
+during the last week. Talk of evacuation, General Saxton's
+departure, threatened attacks, and even successful
+forays on an island behind Hilton Head by the rebels,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>
+the increased inconvenience and vexation of red-tape-ism,
+threatened changes in the policy to be pursued
+towards the people in some minor matters, involving,
+however, infringement of our authority with them, it
+is feared, besides the breaking of promises already
+made; the difficulty of getting them promptly and
+properly paid, and of getting the value of their work
+fairly estimated; the general inefficiency, ignorance,
+and indecision of the authorities, wanting a defined
+system and hampered by prejudice and ignorance and
+selfishness,&mdash;all these things make the aspect of affairs
+dark enough at times, and one gets discouraged
+and disheartened and disgusted and disappointed, and
+is ready to part and have nothing more to do with the
+concern. When, in addition to actual evils, one feels
+that there is a strong opposition to the enterprise, and
+that the difficulties are made as vexatious as possible,
+by jealous and hostile army officers, so that, in short,
+the spirit of the stronger party here is against us; and
+when, added to injury, one has to bear</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i8">"the law's delays,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">The insolence of office, and the spurns,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Which patient merit of th' unworthy takes,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">One almost swears his homeward voyage to make,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">In the next steamer."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Ignorance and want of confidence are the two evils
+which we suffer; want of confidence by the powers
+in us, by us in the negroes. It is painful to note how
+distrust must be the rule; how every one must take it
+for granted that those under him are cheats and liars.
+Hence the necessity of red tape, and its delays and vexatious
+inconveniences. Mr. Philbrick says, "Working<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>
+for a Corporation is bad enough, but working for the
+Government is very much worse." However, it wouldn't
+be so bad if the Government officers knew enough
+of the plantation work to do the proper thing at the
+proper time, even though they use the red-tape method
+in doing it. I believe I knew more after being two
+weeks on my places than the Heads do at Beaufort
+now about the details of the work.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 9.</i> General Saxton went North last Friday. It
+is more than hinted that his principal purpose is to obtain
+greater powers for himself. Hunter has gone North
+too, "in disgust," it is said, and General Brannan, who
+is said to befriend the enemies of the United States,
+and has given Saxton a deal of trouble, is left at the
+head of the Department.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Brigadier-General John M. Brannan was in command
+for a fortnight only, pending the arrival of Major-General
+Ormsby M. Mitchel.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 18.</i> The President having sent word not to
+evacuate, you need not be anxious about us. I was a
+little afraid that A. L. would give in to Hunter, evacuate
+all but Hilton Head, and colonize the negroes from
+the other islands; glad he has more sense.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Here follows a detailed account of the kind of magisterial
+power which the superintendents found themselves
+called upon to "assume," though they "had it
+not."</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 23.</i> Alex sent Finnie here before breakfast to
+request me to come over at once, for Cato was driving
+his, Alex's daughter Rose, his own wife, out of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>
+house. I rode over after breakfast. Found the whole
+plantation excited and on the <i>qui vive</i>. Cato had broken
+up Rose's bedstead and thrown it out of doors and
+bundled up all her things. I began to talk with him,
+but he was very saucy and threatened to kill the first
+man who interfered with him in "his own house." I
+thought it quite time to test him, and taking hold of
+his arm told him he must go home with me. He hung
+back sulkily at first, but in a minute yielded and said
+he would do so. I stepped out of the house and he after.
+Caroline asked me to read her a letter from John at
+Hilton Head, and while preparing to do so Cato dodged
+about the house and made for the woods across the
+cornfield. I cried out for him to halt, but he ran the
+faster. I pulled out my revolver and fired two shots
+over his head, but he only ran the harder, and never
+stopped till he reached the woods. I then had a talk
+with his father, old Toby, who "wished I had shot
+him and stopped the confusion," and with Alex, both
+of whom I enjoined to hold their tongues in future.
+When halfway home Cato stood waiting for me in
+the road, opening a gate as I approached, touched his
+hat and said he was very sorry for what he had done
+and was willing to go with me. I told him to follow
+me to the house and I would talk with him. I found
+him very humble. I reasoned with him, telling him I
+was sure Rose's child was his and that he had done
+her great wrong, that he ought not to listen to such
+scandal after living peaceably with her for eight or nine
+years. Cato said he hoped he should never do so again.
+I told him that if I ever found him making any more
+trouble here I should send him to work on Fort Pulaski.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Philbrick's next letter shows him trying to arouse
+the slothful by "sharing out" a bale of white cotton
+cloth, in bonus form, to the industrious.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 27.</i> I gave one yard for every task of cotton
+hoed in July, requiring about 600 yards. The Coffin
+people all got some, but about half the people on the
+Fripp plantations had to go without, having neglected
+the last hoeing. The people who were too lazy to hoe
+their cotton in July looked rather glum, and those who
+got their cloth laughed and looked exultant. Some people
+here got twenty-two yards, and many got only two
+or three, but all took it thankfully and seemed content
+that they got any. Those who got so little will have
+to buy more, which they are doing already. I sell it
+at about half the price that is asked by our own quartermaster,
+so I shall be liberally patronized. In dividing
+up this cotton cloth I deducted from the shares of those
+people to whom clothing was given last spring the
+value of that clothing. The only cases were those of
+Martha, Amaritta, and Rosetta, to each of whom Mr.
+G. gave a dress. Rosetta's cotton was only <i>one</i> acre
+and her share of cloth was therefore but four yards,
+which was fully paid for last spring. So she got nothing
+now. She didn't take it very kindly, and growled about
+the dress being too small for her, so she couldn't wear
+it, whereupon I offered to take it back, but I haven't
+heard anything more about it. The more I see of these
+people, the more I am opposed to the practice of <i>giving</i>
+them anything except in payment for services actually<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>
+performed. The cases of destitution are comparatively
+very few.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>At this time some of the superintendents were trying
+hard to instruct the negroes in military drill. A
+young enthusiast on one of the Fripp places was very
+proud of his little squad of black recruits, but found
+their attendance on the daily drill amazingly irregular.
+Apropos of his own efforts in this direction, Mr. Philbrick
+pursues his letter as follows:</p></div>
+
+<p>I have tried in vain to get my young men together
+to drill for self-defense; my twenty-five guns are lying
+useless. One might as well think of a combination
+among the Boston kittens to scratch the eyes out of all
+the Boston dogs as to look for an insurrection in this
+State, if the negroes on these islands are a fair sample
+of those on the main. If there should be any insurrection
+in the South, it will not be in this State. The
+negroes in the sugar plantation districts are different,
+I suppose, being, a larger portion of them, Kentucky
+and Virginia born, torn from their old homes or sent
+South for bad behavior, and therefore more revengeful.
+But you know the people here are too timid to do
+any fighting unless driven to it. If General Hunter had
+not <i>forced</i> them into his regiment last May, we might
+do more at drilling now. As it is, my men won't listen
+to me when I talk about it; they only suspect me of
+wanting to press them into service by stealth, and lose
+what little confidence they have in my sincerity.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>C. P. W. opens the next letter with a melancholy
+comparison between the autumnal glories of "home"
+and the absence thereof on the Sea Islands of South
+Carolina.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p>
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 3.</i> Here there are no stones but grindstones, no
+elevation that can be called a hill except one mound,
+forty feet long and ten feet high, and that is artificial.
+The roads are sandy, the fields are broad and flat and
+full of weeds, the water stands about in great pools,
+not running off, but absorbing into the sandy soil.</p>
+
+<p>I find myself often using nigger idioms, especially
+in conversation with them. It is often very difficult
+to make them understand English, and one slips into
+the form of speech which they can most easily comprehend.
+O how deliciously obtuse they are on occasions!
+A boy came to me for a curry-comb for a Government
+mule this morning, which I was to send to the driver
+on his place. While scratching my name on it, I asked
+him if Jim had sent for some tobacco, as he said he
+should. "Yes, sarr." "Did he send the money?"
+"Sarr?" Repeated. "No, Sarr." "How much does he
+want?" "Don't know, Sarr." "How can I send the
+tobacco, if I don't know how much he wants?" "He
+send for him, Sarr." "Did he send you for it?" "No,
+Sarr." "Whom did he send?" "I dunno, Sarr." "How
+will he get his tobacco?" "He come himself, Sarr."
+"Where is he?" "Him at home, Sarr." "He is coming
+to get it himself, is he?" "Sarr?" Repeated, in nigger
+phrase. "Yes, Sarr." "Did Bruce send you for
+anything beside the curry-comb?" "Yes, Sarr." "What
+else?" "Sarr?" "Did Bruce tell you fetch anything
+beside this?" "No, Sarr." "Is this all Bruce told you
+to get?" "Yes, Sarr," with intelligence. "Go home,
+then, and give that to Bruce. Good-morning."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>This delay in payments is outrageous. It was bad
+enough to pay for May and June work the second week
+in August; but here is the work of July and August
+unpaid for yet, and with no prospect of its being paid
+for for six weeks to come.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sunday morning, Oct. 5.</i> The President's proclamation<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>
+does not seem to have made a great deal of
+stir anywhere. Here the people don't take the slightest
+interest in it. They have been free already for nearly
+a year, as far as they could see, and have so little comprehension
+about the magnitude of our country and
+are so supremely selfish that you can't beat it into their
+heads that any one else is to be provided for beyond
+St. Helena Island. After telling them of the proclamation
+and its probable effects, they all ask if they
+would be given up to their masters in case South Carolina
+comes back to the Union. I tell them there is little
+chance of such a thing, but a strong probability that
+there will be a long, bloody war, and that they ought
+to prepare to do their share of the fighting. I can't get
+one man to come up and drill yet. They say they would
+like to have guns to shoot with, but are afraid of being
+sent off into the "big fight," though willing to fight
+any one who comes onto this island to molest them.
+Of course their defense would amount to nothing unless
+they were organized and drilled. I do not, however,
+feel any uneasiness about the rebels coming here. If
+they came at all they would attack our forces at Beaufort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>
+or Hilton Head, where I am confident they would
+be whipped. Refugees continue to come in from the
+mainland every week. They all agree in saying that
+there are no troops left about here but boys, and that
+it would be an easy matter to take Charleston now.</p>
+
+<p>I am anxious to get the winter clothing here before
+next pay-day, so the people may buy it in preference
+to the trash they see in the shops at Beaufort, etc. Nothing
+is heard of our money yet. Some say that General
+Saxton will probably bring it. I only wish he would
+come; his picket-guard at St. Helena amuses itself
+hunting cattle on the Fripp Point Plantation. As I have
+no positive proof against them I can't do anything but
+watch the cattle to prevent a repetition of it.</p>
+
+<p><i>October 7.</i> I received on Sunday a copy of President
+Lincoln's proclamation. I now feel more than
+ever the importance of our mission here, not so much
+for the sake of the few hundreds under my own eyes
+as for the sake of the success of the experiment we are
+now trying. It is, you know, a question even with our
+good President whether negroes can be made available
+as free laborers on this soil. I, for one, believe
+they can, and I am more than ever in earnest to show it,
+for the importance of this question is greater than ever,
+now that we are so near a general crash of the whole
+social fabric in the Southern States. I don't think the
+old masters will ever be successful in employing the
+blacks, but I do believe that Yankees can be.</p>
+
+<p>Our people are picking the cotton very industriously,
+and though they have only about one third of last year's
+crop to gather, they are determined to make the most
+of it, and allow none to waste. It is interesting to see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>
+how much more economical of food they are this year
+than formerly. Every family now feels the responsibility
+of providing food for itself. The same rule should
+be followed with all tools. I would make the men pay
+a low price for every tool they want to use, and pay
+wages enough to enable them to do so.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a></p>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 8.</i> I succeeded day before yesterday in getting
+thirteen of the young men on this plantation to come
+up and drill, but they did not come again yesterday.
+I don't believe there is sufficient zeal among them to
+enable them to go through the tedious routine of drill
+with any regularity, unless held together by some
+stronger motive than now exists. I find them rather
+stupid. About half didn't know which their right foot
+was, and kept facing to the left when I told them to
+face to the right. They seemed to enjoy it, however.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 9.</i> We need people at headquarters who understand
+the details of plantation work. There is no
+one now who knows anything about the plantations
+except Hooper,<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> and he knows very little. He confesses
+and mourns at it himself; but he has done nothing but
+go back and forth between the Oaks and Beaufort ever
+since he came down. There is a general want of concerted
+system on all the places. Each superintendent
+has to do as he thinks best in all cases himself. General
+plans are usually determined on just too late.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 14.</i> The steamer which brought your letter
+brought also the General. It is said that he comes with
+additional powers.<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> This question will probably be
+settled soon, as a difficulty has already arisen between
+him and his old antagonist, Brannan, on a point of
+authority, and our General has gone to Hilton Head,
+probably to see Mitchel about it. This interference
+of the military authorities with our work and our privileges
+is going to make trouble. One of Mitchel's first
+acts was to send to Judd, as Superintendent of Port
+Royal Island, for 10,000 bushels of corn for army purposes.
+Poor Judd had been rationing his people for
+some time, owing to a lack of provisions occasioned
+by the depredations of the soldiers. We have none
+too much provision now, and any considerable drain
+must throw the plantations, sooner or later, upon the
+Government for support.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In the next letter (October 21) Mr. Philbrick says
+that the corn harvest, which is so light on St. Helena
+as a whole that it will hardly feed the people in the
+interval between old and new potatoes, will nevertheless
+amount to a surplus at Coffin's, adding:</p></div>
+
+<p>I attribute the greater comparative success on my
+plantations to my having abandoned the system of
+working a common field early in the season.<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> I now
+measure the yield of each family's corn-patch separately,
+with a view to pay them for it, if they have enough
+for their support in their private fields, or to regulate
+their allowance, if they need any, by the quantity they
+raise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>We had a case of imprisonment here last week. I
+learned that old Nat's boy, Antony, who wanted to
+marry Phillis, had given her up and taken Mary Ann,
+July's daughter, without saying a word to me or any
+other white man. I called him up to me one afternoon
+when I was there and told him he must go to church
+and be married by the minister according to law. He
+flatly refused, with a good deal of impertinence, using
+some profane language learned in camp. I thereupon
+told him he must go home with me, showing him I had
+a pistol, which I put in my outside pocket. He came
+along, swearing all the way and muttering his determination
+not to comply. I gave him lodging in the
+dark hole under the stairs, with nothing to eat. Next
+morning old Nat came and expostulated with him,
+joined by old Ben and Uncle Sam, all of whom pitched
+into him and told him he was very foolish and ought
+to be proud of such a chance. He finally gave up and
+promised to go. So I let him off with an apology. Next
+Sunday he appeared and was married before a whole
+church full of people. The wedding took place between
+the regular church service and the funeral, allowing
+an hour of interval, however.</p>
+
+<p>Cato never went back to Rose as he promised. 'Siah
+tells me he is afraid of his father, old Toby, who has
+been in a state of chronic feud with Rose's father, old
+Alex, and does all in his power to make trouble. Cato
+has gone over to Pine Grove and begun to build a house.
+I daresay he will take Rose into it bye and bye, when
+it is done.</p>
+
+<p>I have been very busy lately weighing pease and
+cotton and measuring corn. The latter is not very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>
+pleasant, for I have to stay in the corn-house and keep
+tally from nine to three o'clock, and the weevils are
+more numerous than were the fleas the first week we
+came here to live. Mosquitoes are about gone, but we
+have sand-flies again. No fleas yet that I am aware of.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 23.</i> General Saxton returned, as you know, with
+full powers from the President to raise one or if possible
+five negro regiments. I think it will be difficult
+to induce the men to enlist. Their treatment in the
+spring and summer was such as to prejudice them
+against military duty under any circumstances. They
+were forcibly drafted, were ill-treated by at least one
+officer,&mdash;who is a terror to the whole black population,&mdash;have
+never been paid a cent; they suffered
+from the change of diet, and quite as much from homesickness.
+I think if their treatment in the spring had
+been different, it would be possible to raise a regiment
+on these islands; as it is, I think it will be surprising
+if they fill a company from St. Helena. I think, too,
+that it would be very difficult, under any circumstances,
+to train them into fighting condition under six months,
+and if they had at the first the prospect of coming into
+actual conflict with the Secesh, the number who would
+be willing to enlist would be extremely small. They
+have not, generally speaking, the pluck to look in the
+face the prospect of actual fighting, nor have they the
+character to enlist for their own defense. They can
+understand the necessity of their knowing how to defend
+themselves, they acknowledge their obligations
+to help the Yankees, and do their part in keeping the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>
+islands against their old masters; a good many of them
+express their willingness to fight under white officers,
+and some have intimated a desire to know something
+of drill and how to handle a musket. But they are very
+timid and cautious. They fear that when they have
+learned their drill they will be drafted. They are very
+reluctant to leave their homes to go and live on Hilton
+Head or Port Royal, in camp, away from their families
+and crops. The mere mention of "Captain Tobey,"
+with a hint that "General Saxton wants the black people
+to help the white soldiers keep the Secesh off the
+islands," sends them in panic into the woods. Mr. Philbrick
+saw the General this morning, and was told that
+if the regiment were not raised we should have to give
+up the whole enterprise; that the President and the
+people of the North were looking to the raising of this
+regiment as a test experiment. That if it succeeded and
+it was found that the negroes could and would aid the
+Government, then the Government would be encouraged
+to hold the islands, trusting not only that the
+negroes could aid in defending them, but that as fast
+as negroes were freed, they could be used effectively
+against the rebels. Moreover, that the success of one
+regiment here would make the President's proclamation
+a more terribly effective weapon against the Southerners.
+(There is no doubt that in many parts of the
+South, especially on the Mississippi, the negroes are
+much more intelligent than here. Those from the main
+seem a superior class to those who have always lived
+on the islands. The success of armed negroes of this
+inferior class would indicate the danger of the masters
+of other slaves of a higher class, when they learn that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>
+"all slaves of rebel masters who enter into the service
+of the United States are forever free," with their families.)</p>
+
+<p>If, on the other hand, no black troops can be raised,
+the General says that the Government will be discouraged
+from attempting any longer to protect at such an
+expense a people who cannot or will not aid in defending
+themselves. I hope that General Saxton has not
+held out too grand hopes of the success of this undertaking
+to the President and to others at the North, and
+I hope he is exaggerating the importance of the movement.
+Perhaps the President wants to try his colonization
+scheme on these people. He had better lose
+a campaign than evacuate these islands and give up this
+experiment. This experiment and the war must go on
+side by side. I hope that before the war is done we
+shall have furnished the Government with sufficient
+facts to enable them to form a policy for the treatment
+of the millions whom the conclusion of the war, if not
+its continuance, must throw into our hands.</p>
+
+<p>I am very much afraid that the Government will
+look too much to the material results of the year's occupation
+for determining the success of free labor among
+the slaves. They will neglect to take into account the
+discouragements and drawbacks of the year. The
+sudden reaction consequent upon the change from
+slavery to what they hardly knew as freedom; the confusion
+incident upon military occupation (and the contradictory
+directions given concerning the year's crops);
+the abundance of money where the cotton-agents and
+officers were stationed, and the high wages promised
+and often obtained, at Hilton Head and Beaufort; the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>
+lateness of the cotton crop, the poorness of the seed,
+the uncertainty and doubt and want of system in regard
+to the management of the crops; the drafting of
+the able-bodied men at a critical period, their hardships
+and subsequent distrust and fear, or idleness
+and insubordination; the changing of superintendents,
+the fewness of both superintendents and teachers; and
+lastly, the shameful delay in the payments, causing
+distrust, carelessness, neglect of plantation work, and
+in some few cases, suffering for want of the means to
+purchase clothing. It is too bad to treat people so, and
+it is wonderful how much they have done and in what
+an excellent state they are, under these discouraging
+circumstances. If they were assured of a market at
+the end of the year, and sufficient money advanced
+them to enable them to get "sweetening" and clothes
+through the year, I would trust my plantations to go
+right ahead, put their crops into the ground, and
+insure to the Government a handsome surplus next
+November.</p>
+
+<p>The cheerfulness and hopefulness of the people in
+regard to next year's crops, and the interest they take
+in their success, is surprising. "If we live to see," "if
+God spare life," they say, "we will plant early, and
+begin in time, and then you will see. O&mdash;yes, sar."</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick is appointed cotton-agent for this crop.
+He is going to have the cotton ginned here, not at New
+York. Good seed is scarce. The improved seed, the
+result of many years' cultivation and selection, was
+lost to the island by the policy of ginning last year's
+crop in New York.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 27.</i> When in Beaufort last Wednesday, I got
+leave to pay off my people with my own funds, through
+the paymaster, Mr. Lee. So he came here next day,
+and I advanced the funds, $649. I sent Joe out to tell
+the people to come and get their money, but they didn't
+come with the usual promptness; bye and bye two
+men came to sound the way, the rest held back. I
+laughed at them and sent them off with the chink in
+their pockets, after which the rest came fast enough.
+They were evidently afraid of some trap to press them
+into United States service as General Hunter did. I didn't
+have the slightest difficulty in collecting what I had
+advanced last September. Every one paid it cheerfully
+and thanked us for what they got. This payment was
+all in specie. I don't think I shall be refunded in coin,
+and shall probably lose the difference, which is now
+about $120, but I don't grudge them this. I had rather
+let it go than see them paid in the paper currency which
+they can't read or judge of. It will come to that bye
+and bye, however, for I can't get any more coin here,
+and half of this money may not come back again into
+my hands.</p>
+
+<p>General Saxton is striving earnestly to fill up his brigade
+with negroes, but finds it very slow work. The
+people are so well off on the plantations they don't see
+why they should go and expose themselves. Moreover,
+the way they were treated last summer is not very
+attractive to them. Many of their officers abused them,
+and they were very generally insulted by every white
+man they met. It will now require a good deal of time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>
+and very judicious, careful treatment to get rid of these
+impressions, particularly as some of the very officers
+who abused and maltreated the men are still in General
+Saxton's confidence and have places in his new organization.</p>
+
+<p>I took this place<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> more because I want to see the
+work properly done and to keep it out of the hands of
+speculators and sharks than because I wanted the
+position. It is a useful position, however, and I mean
+to make it so.</p>
+
+<p>A meeting of superintendents<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> is to be held at the
+Episcopal Church next Wednesday, which I shall attend,
+and employ the occasion by trying to start some
+more methodical system of employing the negroes
+than heretofore.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 2.</i> At the meeting we discussed several methods
+of dealing with the corn crop, and several of the superintendents
+reported that the negroes had raised hardly
+enough corn to feed the plantation horses and mules
+on when at work. The small yield of cotton was also
+talked over and its causes discussed. I do not think it
+will pay expenses even on this island. My own plantations
+will yield about $5000 worth, when I expected
+$15,000, a good share of my crop having rotted in the
+pods during the rains in the early part of October and
+another share having dropped off the plant before filling,
+probably from lack of drainage after the heavy
+July rains.</p>
+
+<p>After returning from the meeting I found a large
+box of woolen goods forwarded by Edward Atkinson.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>
+I sold $100 worth the next day. Though providing for
+their wants quite freely, the people seem more frugal
+with their money than last summer, and I am glad to
+see them so.</p>
+
+<p>As far as I can learn now there are very few gins able
+to work<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> in the department. I have some very good
+seed here and at Pine Grove which I think I can gin on
+the spot. Mr. S.<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> came and spent a night here. He
+came to hire some men to go with him to pick up a lot
+of stray timber on commission for the Government.
+So my plans for ginning cotton here are postponed for
+a while. I had flattered myself that we were fairly rid
+of him, and the men were beginning to take an interest
+in plantation work in his absence, but he turns up
+again just as disagreeable as ever.</p>
+
+<p>There have been great exertions made the week
+past to fill the ranks of the first negro regiment. A Rev.
+Mr. Fowler has been appointed chaplain and is at
+work recruiting, appealing to their religious feelings.
+He spent two nights here and talked in the praise-house,
+both evenings. The women came to hear him,
+but the young men were shy. Not one came near him,
+nor would they come near me when he was present.</p>
+
+<p>The last time I saw General Saxton he seemed to
+think our whole destiny depended on the success of this
+negro recruitment. It <i>is</i> certainly a very important matter,
+but I think as before that it is doomed to fail here at
+present, from the imbecile character of the people. I
+thought while at work with Mr. Fowler that if I were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>
+to go as Captain I might get a company without trouble,
+but I failed to get a single man when seriously proposing
+it to them. If I had been able to raise a company
+to follow me and the same men would not have
+gone without me, I think I should have accepted General
+Saxton's offer,<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> but although I consider the arming
+of the negroes the most important question of the day,
+I don't feel bound to take hold unless I can give an
+impetus to the undertaking. I think it would have been
+attended with some degree of success a year ago at this
+place, directly after the masters left, when the negroes
+had more spite in them and had seen less of their facilities
+for making money which they have enjoyed this
+summer, and if General Hunter had not made his lamentable
+blunder, the men would not have been disgusted
+with camp-life at least, but it is difficult enough
+to get any one of them to feel any pluck. We succeeded
+in getting Ranty to promise to go, and he seemed quite
+earnest, but when he came to start next morning he
+suddenly found he had a pain in his chest! his heart
+failed him and he backed square out. Next day he
+came over here and, after begging some time for me
+to give him a shirt, without success, offered me in payment
+for it a counterfeit half-dollar which I had told
+him a week ago was such, but which he had meantime
+polished up and hoped to pass. So you see when a
+man's heart fails him he will stoop to almost anything.</p>
+
+<p>We had four couples married after church to-day,
+Andrew and Ph&#339;be of Pine Grove among the rest.
+Mr. Phillips tried to tie all four knots at one twitch,
+but found he had his hands full with two couples at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>
+once and concluded to take them in detail. They all
+behaved very well and seemed impressed with the ceremony,
+so it certainly has an excellent effect. We also
+had an address from Prince Rivers,<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> a black coachman
+from Beaufort, who has been in General Hunter's
+regiment all summer, and is of sufficient intelligence
+to take a lively interest in the cause of enlistment. He
+has been to Philadelphia lately and comes back duly
+impressed with the magnitude of the country and the
+importance of the "negro question," but has not sufficient
+eloquence to get many recruits. Of course the
+young men kept away from church and will keep away,
+so long as the subject is discussed. They have made
+up their silly minds and don't want to be convinced
+or persuaded to any change.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>You can imagine what a comfort it is to see Mr. G.
+again and looking so well.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>W. C. G., he who in June spoke so lightly of the
+dangers of the Sea Island climate, had been dangerously
+ill during the summer and had been obliged to
+go North for some weeks. In a letter written October
+30 he refers to the death of one of the superintendents,
+adding, "It greatly startled me." A month later another
+of the superintendents died in the same house, which
+later proved fatal to still a third white man. These
+three were cases of typhoid, but the malarial fever of
+the district not infrequently was as deadly; on October
+30 General Mitchel himself died of it. The fact as to
+the climate is expressed in one of the letters by the
+statement that fevers were "common among the negroes"
+and "universal among the whites." A letter
+of Mr. Philbrick's, written early in October, speaks
+of Captain Hooper's "indisposition" as having cut
+down "the trio of tough ones" to himself and Mr.
+Soule.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 7.</i> Everybody has been at work this week
+digging their winter crop of sweet potatoes, planted
+with slips in July. They bear famously on all three
+of my plantations, yielding in some cases two hundred
+bushels per acre. You know I told every man to plant
+for his own family separately, so that each one takes the
+potatoes home to his own yard and buries them, for
+winter use. They dig a hole about four or five feet in
+diameter and one foot deep, in which they pack the potatoes
+and pile them up above ground in a conical heap
+about four feet high. So when done they look like a
+sort of overgrown muskrat's nest, or small wigwam.<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>
+Large families have in some cases seven or eight of
+these conical heaps in their back yards.</p>
+
+<p>The mellowing effect of the potato harvest upon
+the hearts of the people is manifest. Yesterday was
+a rainy day and the women kept straggling up here in
+squads all day. Each one brought a basket of potatoes
+on her head, from a peck to half a bushel, as a present
+to me. Uncle Sam and Joe are making a cone of them
+in the yard. Many of the children bring ground-nuts,
+of which I now have half a bushel. They have raised
+a good crop of them this year, and we amuse ourselves
+evenings by roasting them in the ashes of our open
+fire and munching them at leisure. I endeavor to
+acknowledge all these good-will offerings in kind, by
+making deposits of sugar or coffee in the baskets after
+emptying the nuts.</p>
+
+<p>We live in the dining-room now, that being the only
+room without broken glass, and even there I can't get
+the thermometer above 60&deg; with all the fire I can build.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 8.</i> The only interesting event the day that I
+was in Beaufort I was obliged to leave without beholding,
+viz.: the mustering in of the first full company of
+the new regiment,<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> Captain James! They marched
+through the streets just before I came away, making
+a fine appearance. Many of them were in the first
+regiment,<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> and the regularity and steadiness of their
+marching was very creditable. They are a fine body of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>
+men. The regiment is filling fast, its friends are much
+encouraged. A number of men from the regiment
+(now numbering about four hundred) have been allowed
+to return home for a few days, and I think they will
+carry back quite a number with them.</p>
+
+<p>We have been in occupation just a year. The future,
+with the prospect of sale, or removal, or renewed blunders
+and mismanagement, is not very cheerful.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 15.</i> Our island work is acquiring a little more
+system, but I'm not sure that the people are as good
+as they were six months ago. Great mistakes have been
+made, and I'm afraid the experiment so far only shows
+the absolute necessity of avoiding errors which common
+sense pointed out before any experience. Still,
+my belief isn't altered that the slaves would speedily
+become a self-supporting people, either by a system of
+wise and humane care, or by the opposite method of
+letting them alone to feel the misery consequent on idleness
+and the comfort that with very many would at once
+result from industry.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 16.</i> I had a talk with General Saxton. He was
+feeling very blue, had just been to Hilton Head to get
+some tents for his new recruits of which he enlisted
+about a hundred on his recent expedition to St. Mary's.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a>
+There are some 3000 tents in warehouse there, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>
+General Brannan<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> refused to open it for him, alleging
+the advice of the Medical Department, which closed it
+because yellow fever had been near it. Now it is notorious
+that whenever one of General Brannan's men wants
+anything from the same warehouse, he gives a special
+order and it is opened for him, but not for General Saxton,
+the <i>Abolitionist</i>. So the new recruits have to sleep in
+open air these frosty nights, dampening their ardor somewhat.
+General Saxton agreed with me that if there is no
+more earnestness and sincerity among other army officers
+than among the specimens we have had here, we should
+all go to the dogs. His expedition was so successful that
+he was in good spirits till balked by General Brannan.
+The best item in it was that one of the rebel prisoners
+taken was marched to Beaufort jail guarded by
+one of his former slaves! The conduct of the negro
+troops was very well spoken of by their officers, but
+is the subject of a good deal of ribaldry among the white
+soldiers at Beaufort, who exhibit a degree of hatred
+really fiendish towards the black regiment, taking their
+cue from their commanding officer, of course.</p>
+
+<p>We had a very interesting discussion on Wednesday
+about the future management of the plantations.
+I advocated the subdivision of the land, allotting to
+each family what it could cultivate and measuring their
+crops separately. Mr. Bryant, who came from Edisto
+last June,<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> preferred working the people in a gang
+with a foreman, and paying them by the month. His
+people had worked very well in that way, but it would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>
+be impossible to work the people on this island in that
+way. They are too independent and too ignorant to
+see the advantages of it, and too deceitful to enable any
+foreman to discriminate between the lazy and industrious.
+Such a system, with the insufficient force of white
+foremen we could supply, would be only a premium
+on deceit and laziness, and would fail to call out the
+individual exertions of the people.</p>
+
+<p>The cotton crop will be worth, on this and Ladies
+Island, about $40,000. I have stored twenty-five
+thousand pounds stone cotton<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> on my plantations
+which will be worth at least $4000. The Pine
+Grove people have done picking and commenced
+ginning this week. All the men take hold of it
+readily. I can't find foot-gins enough here to gin
+more than one fourth the crop, and I don't think it
+worth while to gin by steam or horse-power, so remote
+as we are from mechanical repair-shops. There are
+several power-gins which might be readily fitted up
+in time of peace, but now it would cost too much. The
+engines have been appropriated to sawmills in some
+cases, and worn out in others, while the belting and
+other movable parts have all been stolen by the negroes.</p>
+
+<p>I have not yet decided whether or not to take care
+of these plantations another year. General Saxton says
+he don't think our relations with the people will be
+disturbed by the tax-commissioners, but, if the estates
+are offered for sale<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> as they expect to do, I don't see
+how he is to help it. I think I should like to buy this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>
+one and see what could be done with the people. I
+should not expect to make anything out of it. I don't
+believe much can be made out of this generation by
+free labor, nor out of the next without teaching them
+to read, and am sorry so little has been done as yet in
+the teaching department. It is difficult to get people
+to stick to it, especially in summer and during the unhealthy
+season.</p>
+
+<p>I have already started ginning on nine plantations
+along this seaside road and shall succeed in saving on
+the spot sufficient seed to plant this island, I think.
+General Saxton has given me <i>carte blanche</i> as to ginning
+and general management of the crop. It seems to
+be his way to leave all details to his subordinates, whom
+he holds responsible for a proper result. If I had the
+same authority in New York I could save something
+as compared with last year's crop, which was nearly
+all eaten up by the brokers and agents and contractors,
+through whose hands it passed, leaving but $200,000
+net proceeds from a shipment of about a million
+dollars' worth.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Lee has paid me the amount I advanced on my
+plantation pay-rolls for July and August. I have finished
+up my pay-rolls for September and October and
+intend to get him to go and pay off my people for these
+months with my funds when paying the other plantations
+for June and July.</p>
+
+<p>In the prolonged absence of window-glass, I have
+resorted to other expedients known to Irishmen, etc.,
+but can't keep the wind out of my chamber these frosty
+nights by any amount of ingenuity. Shingles might
+do it, but they are as difficult to obtain as the window-glass,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>
+and the towels won't stay put in a high
+wind.</p>
+
+<p>We are very sorry to hear of Captain Hooper's serious
+illness. He had kept up his strength so long on quinine
+during the summer, that a break-down must be dangerous
+now. I imagine that General Saxton misses his
+indefatigable zeal and straightforward gentleness.</p>
+
+<p>I want to see what is to be done at the tax-sale and
+what sort of a title is to be given. For I don't think I
+shall stay here another year unless I can control my
+men better than I have done, and I don't believe a
+better control can be had with the long-delayed payments
+rendered almost necessary by the lumbering
+machinery of the Quartermaster's department.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter is from C. P. W., and sets forth the
+result of his cogitations on plantation methods.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 16.</i> The slip-potato crop is the only crop
+by which to judge of the negroes' capacity to take care
+of themselves. This crop they have, as a general rule,
+raised entirely by themselves, and for their own consumption;
+they found their own manure, and received
+no help except the use (small) of the Government teams
+on the place. The crop exceeds, on the average, one hundred
+per cent. that raised by their masters,&mdash;I mean that
+each man gets twice as much as he used to when they
+worked and shared in common; and in some cases
+the tasks bear twice as much. "They beer uncommon."
+"If we live to see," all the crops next year,
+under a management that will encourage and stimulate,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>
+will be proportionally as good as this 'tater crop.
+One thing the people are universally opposed to. They
+all swear that they will not work in gang, <i>i. e.</i>, all working
+the whole, and all sharing alike. On those places
+where the root 'taters were thus worked this year, the
+crop did very poorly, and gave out long before its time.
+Where the Government corn was thus worked, the
+yield averages, I suppose, six to ten bushels, the nigger-field,
+meantime, bearing twice as much, where
+they had manure.</p>
+
+<p>Wherever the people have been able to look forward
+to the result of the crop as beneficial to them, they have
+shown industry, care, and energy in putting it through.
+There is much laziness to be overcome in them, however;
+even in tending their own crops they sometimes
+neglect well-known precautions because they cost too
+much trouble. But the best of them have carried their
+own crops well, and their example is beneficial in stimulating
+the lazier ones to exertion. There is a good deal
+of emulation among them; they will not sit quietly
+and see another earning all the money. And it is far
+better to adapt the system to the intelligence of the
+best than to treat them all, as one occasionally has to
+treat one or two, in special matters, like mere children.
+I am sure a large number of them could get through
+the year without any pecuniary aid from Government,
+on the simple assurance that they should be paid for
+their crop when they had picked it. I am often urged
+by the best of the people not to trouble myself about
+the means of doing work, but just to tell them to do
+the work, and expect to see it done, and not encourage
+them to ask for help to do everything. "They kin do<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>
+it, sir; don't you worry yeurself, sir; they kin find
+herself, sir." They have not been working cotton for
+nothing for so many years under their masters. They
+recollect how their masters used to treat the land and
+crops, and what treatment proved most successful. They
+need supervision and direction constantly, if only to
+prevent fighting when one says "I free," "I as much
+right to ole missus' things as you," etc., and more than
+all, they need the presence and conversation of a white
+man, not only to elevate them, but to encourage and
+stimulate them.</p>
+
+<p>There is but one opinion expressed. "We won't be
+driven by nobody;" "I don't want no driving, either
+by black man or white man." "We don't want de
+whole valler of de cotton. De land belongs to de Gover<i>ment</i>,
+de mule and ting on de place belong to de Gover<i>ment</i>,
+and we have to 'spect to pay somef'n for um.
+But you just pay us our share, accordin' as we make
+crop, and if you live to see, Marsa Charlie, and God
+spare life, you'll <i>see a crop on dis place next year</i>."
+"There will be a difference in de land, sir, but we can't
+help dat; each one work his own and do as well as he
+kin." It is mere fortune that one is on one soil, another
+on another, kept in better order, perhaps, by the
+Secesh master.</p>
+
+<p>The negroes ought not to bear the burden of the loss
+of their crop through any external cause, as the caterpillar,
+drought, etc. The Government ought to stand
+in the gap and bear the loss. But I should not tell the
+negroes anything about such atonement before it is
+made, else one would be overwhelmed with applications
+from those who had become tired of cotton-hoeing,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>
+and a thousand plausible stories would be fabricated,
+to show that this man or that was peculiarly
+afflicted in his crop.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 25.</i> The people have begun ginning cotton on
+several places. The gins are of the rudest construction.
+Two rollers, about the size of a spool of thread,
+one above the other, horizontal, just touching, are
+turned in opposite directions by two upright fly-wheels,
+moved by a single treadle. The cotton, with the seed
+in it, is presented to these rollers, which catch it and
+draw it through, leaving the seed behind. Ginning is
+considered "light work." Thirty pounds of the clean
+cotton is considered a good day's work. It is pretty
+severe for the knees. Women gin with the men. The
+movement of "jump and change feet" when one knee
+gets tired should be introduced into the ballet; it is
+very elegant.</p>
+
+<p>We have been reduced to the old system of rationing.<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a>
+For the last two months we have had liberty to
+draw the value of the soldier's ration which is allowed
+us, in any kind of food. Consequently everybody has
+rushed for sugar, rice, candles, and molasses, disdaining
+hard bread, salt beef, and such low fare. Of course
+there was soon a deficiency of the better articles in the
+Department, the Army Commissary at Hilton Head
+declaring that we used up more candles and sugar than
+any regiment; so we have got to draw soldier's rations
+again, a few candles, a little dab of sugar, a big hunk
+of salt food, and hard biscuit. They can be swapped
+for duck and chickens, but what a bother to get them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 26.</i> I hear that Hunter's reappointment<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> causes
+some dissatisfaction among the pro-slavery army officers
+here, as might be expected.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 2.</i> It is now rumored that we are likely to receive
+but little help from Congress this winter, and
+that the Cotton Fund<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> is getting low. It is said that
+the taking of Charleston would benefit us more than
+anything else could; that any way we must take some
+place on the main to attract attention and inspire confidence.
+The black regiment may do something for
+our interests. General Saxton is going to send a report
+of the year's work to Headquarters, and it will doubtless
+be laid before Congress. Commissioners, if appointed
+to investigate the matter, would probably have
+their notions of the character, ability, and prospects of
+the "Universal Nigger" much revised, with additions
+and corrections, before their investigations were completed.
+You at the North know nothing about niggers,
+nothing at all. When more is known of their powers
+and capacity and character more attention will be paid
+to the cultivation of free black labor.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter again focuses attention on the white
+population.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 29.</i> The wives are multiplying on St. Helena.
+Since Mrs. Bryant came, two other superintendents
+have made their houses homes,&mdash;one our Baptist parson,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>
+and the other a young fellow who went home
+shortly before me to marry his betrothed on our salary
+of $50 a month. Brave youth&mdash;in these times! One
+man has brought his sister and established her as
+the beauty of the island; one his mother; and one an
+older sister, a perfect New England housekeeper, who
+makes his home the paradise of mince-pies and family
+bread.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 10.</i> (At the Oaks.) I like the General<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> ever
+so much. He is so simple&mdash;straightforward, and earnest,
+so evidently pure and unselfish and so kind in his
+manner.</p>
+
+<p>I rode down to Dr. Jenkins' with Mr. G., but found
+all the "white folks" gone to Hilton Head. I visited
+the cotton-house, where about a dozen of the people
+were ginning cotton. They had just packed two bales
+of it, which I ripped open to inspect, and found, as I
+had feared, that it wasn't half cleaned. I left a note
+for Mr. Bryant telling him I didn't want to send the
+cotton off so and told his driver. Mr. B. was not acquainted
+with the way the staple is usually prepared
+for market, concerning which I had taken pains to inform
+myself before leaving home, and the negroes had
+taken the chance to shirk. I started off to take the tour
+of Ladies Island and see their cotton. I visited about
+a dozen cotton-houses during the day along the east
+side of the island, and rode on to Cuthbert's Point to
+sleep with Joe Reed and Mr. Hull. I found them
+delightfully situated in a small house on Beaufort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>
+River surrounded by a superb grove of live-oaks, clear
+of brush and nicely kept. It is the finest situation that
+I have found in the State, but the greater part of the
+plantations on Ladies Island are miserably poor, being
+the property of small proprietors who had not sufficient
+capital to make planting profitable. The soil
+is poor and the negroes for the most part have not sufficient
+food on hand for the coming year. The cotton
+crop is proportionally small and poor. No ginning
+apparatus being found there, I shall have it all taken
+to Beaufort for the steam-gins.</p>
+
+<p>Leaving Cuthbert's Point this morning, I rode with
+Mr. Hull to the superintendents' meeting at the Episcopal
+Church, about eighteen miles, and back here to
+sleep. We have matured a plan of operations for the
+employment of the negroes next year, at these meetings,
+and it is to be presented to General Saxton for his
+approval this week.<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a></p>
+
+<p>I have made some further inquiries of Dr. Brisbane,
+one of the tax-commissioners, about the sale of lands,
+which is to take place on the first of February next.
+He tells me it is to be a free sale and that the Government
+warrants the title, subject, however, to redemption
+by such proprietors as can prove themselves loyal
+within one year. I think it highly important that the
+welfare of these negroes should not be intrusted to
+speculators, and have written to Dr. Russell<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> to see
+if Boston people can't be interested, individually or
+collectively, in buying these lands and employing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>
+laborers. I am ready to go into it as far as I am able
+alone, and have offered my time in Boston to carry out
+any plan they think best. If I can't get any co&ouml;peration,
+I mean to buy some of the estates alone, if they
+don't go very high, and carry them on by means of such
+agents as I can get. I can find several first-rate men
+among the superintendents here who would work for
+me and do well, but I don't think I should care to stay
+here next summer, for sanitary reasons if nothing more.
+My experience here will enable me to act to good
+advantage in carrying on any such undertaking, and
+I hope to be of use in a permanent way to these people
+with whom I have been thrown in contact this year.
+I have given [to Dr. Russell] an exact statement, in
+dollars and cents, of the expenses and products of my
+three plantations this year, showing a profit to the Government
+of about $2000,<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> besides providing a year's
+supply of food to a population of four hundred and fifty
+blacks, "big and little." This island is very much more
+favorably placed than Ladies, Port Royal, or Hilton
+Head Islands, which are all much exposed to the depredations
+of the Union soldiers. I find on the north end
+of Ladies Island the pickets are changed every little
+while, and have killed nearly all the negroes' poultry.
+The people don't dare to leave their houses, and take
+all their hens into their houses every night. They shoot
+their pigs and in one case have shot two working mules!
+All these things are duly reported to General Saxton, but
+it does no good. Two regiments have come to encamp<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>
+at Land's End on St. Helena, and Mr. Hammond says
+they have burnt up a mile of his fences, and burn the
+new rails just split out in the woods; they burn the
+heaps of pine leaves raked up for manure and take
+possession of all his cotton and corn houses. It is certainly
+of no use to try to carry on any planting near
+these fellows. They would steal all the crops if any
+grew near them,<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> and if the whole military establishment
+is to be transferred to this side the harbour, it is
+of little use to try to do much on that end of the island.
+Coffin's Point is, however, remote from all these disturbances,
+and I hope it will remain so. I am anxious
+to continue this free-labor experiment through a term
+of years and under circumstances more favorable than
+those under which we have this year been placed. I
+do not see how I can do much good in any other way.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter is the first from H. W. on her return
+to Port Royal after spending the summer at home.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Dec. 14.</i> As we drew near the Fripp
+Point place at last, the people began to gather on the
+shore to watch us, and when the boat stopped the people
+were all on the banks, pressing forward, and Sammy
+rushed into the water and took me ashore in his arms.
+Then they got my trunks in the same manner, and
+such a shaking of hands! "So glad for see you! Glad
+for see you come back." Boys were sent off at once to
+catch the mules to take me over, while I went into
+'Siah's house to wait, and had some hominy and chicken,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>
+as I was very hungry. Everything was as neat as a
+pin here&mdash;the children were kept out of the house
+while I was eating, and then the hominy and chicken
+were mixed and passed round among the women when
+I had finished. Mr. Philbrick's sulky happened to be
+over there to be mended, and as it was finished I drove
+off in it, Sammy, Peter, and Tony on the mule-cart
+with all my traps, and Chester following me. The
+children all asked about school at once, and as I was
+waiting I drew words for them to spell in the sand to
+see how much they remembered.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 14.</i> I am glad H. came, for Mr. Philbrick has
+decided that he cannot attend to his plantations and
+his cotton-agency at the same time, and needs some
+one to take his place here. He thinks of buying the
+place in the spring, when the lands are sold (Feb. 1),
+and I have agreed to work it for him part of the time.
+So that, as some one must take Mr. Philbrick's place,
+and as the people had better have me than a stranger,
+and as I had better become acquainted with them at
+once, if I am to have charge of them in the spring, I
+have decided to take the places off his hands, stay here
+with H., and let my own plantations go to as good a
+person as I can find. H. is most welcome and much
+needed here; I am thankful to have her here, if only for
+the children's sakes. The only difficulty is that she may
+be devoured on her first visit to Pine Grove.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 16.</i> Had the children sent for to school. They
+brought eggs, and were pleased enough to begin school
+again.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 18.</i> Told the children yesterday that I wanted
+them to bring me some corn "shucks," as they call
+them, which are all left on the stalks in the fields. Mr.
+Philbrick thought I could get enough to stuff a bed
+with. I thought so too when the children all appeared
+with sheets and bags full on their heads, some containing
+two or three bushels!</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 20.</i> C. managed to get the piano downstairs
+this morning before he went off. I went with him in
+the double sulky as far as the cotton-house and then
+made an expedition to the quarters, where I shook
+hands with every man and woman to be seen, inspected
+every new baby (there have been a dozen born since
+I went away), visited Bacchus in his school, was kindly
+greeted, though the people hardly knew me and I don't
+know their names at all, was told that I looked "more
+hearty" than when I went away, and returned with
+two dozen eggs and the morning school at my heels.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Two dozen eggs at fifty cents a dozen was no mean
+proof of affection!</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 21.</i> We started for church. C. rode his largest
+horse and preceded or followed me in the double sulky,
+an unpainted box with a seat in it, of Mr. Philbrick's
+manufacture and quite "tasty" for these parts, on a
+single pair of wheels; and though it is on springs the
+exercise is not slight which one gets in driving over
+these sandy, uneven roads.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sunday evg. Dec. 21.</i> The cotton on this island is
+nearly all ginned. I have not been able to start the
+steam-gins in Beaufort yet&mdash;am waiting for authority
+to use the steam, which comes from the condensing
+boiler under the control of General Brannan's quartermaster.
+I asked General Saxton about it the other day,
+but he said he didn't know as they would let him have
+it. The General feels very blue about his position here,
+and I don't wonder. He declares he will not stay if he
+is not sustained, and says that General Halleck<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> sympathizes
+with Brannan and don't mean to let him be
+removed.</p>
+
+<p><i>Wednesday evg.</i> I looked over the Coffin people's
+cotton Monday and found it was not yet clean enough
+to pack, so refused to weigh it, and set the women at
+work picking over the whole of it again. Each woman
+keeps her own pile&mdash;the same that she and her husband
+raised.</p>
+
+<p>I find rumors here that General Saxton and staff are
+to be relieved. General Saxton believes in his being
+relieved, but no mail has come yet to confirm it.</p>
+
+<p>I want to keep R., G., C. P. W. and Bryant on plantations
+which I may buy, and they are all anxious to
+stay.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 22.</i> Joe doubled up and went off into convulsions
+when C. mentioned to me at table that he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>
+been to call on Mrs. Jenkins (Wil'by) and did not find
+her at home! I gave Joe a piece of gingerbread for
+her the other day, and he informed me this morning
+that she found it very "palatiable"! He inquired
+how my "palate was satisfy" with some oysters he fried
+for me the other day.</p>
+
+<p><i>Christmas.</i> C. took me in his double sulky to see
+the Pine Grove people, driving first to the quarters
+here, where I went into Bacchus' school and distributed
+toys. I had also armed myself with a hundred
+cents and several pounds of candy. At Pine Grove the
+people crowded about to shake hands, and as I went
+through the street, stopping at every house, they were
+pleased as possible that I remembered their names.
+They were very eager to know if I was not going to
+teach school, the children all rushing home to wash
+face and hands and dress themselves in their best,
+after the old fashion, when I told them I wanted to
+have them go to the praise-house. Flora followed me
+about, as usual. I saw York for the first time. He is a
+very fine-looking specimen of a thorough black, large,
+manly, courteous, and straightforward.</p>
+
+<p>Once more in the old praise-house, I heard the children
+spell, and then distributed toys among them,
+with candy to the babies and grown people! and gave
+to each of the girls who have been married since I left
+a Bible with her name in it. All seemed honestly glad
+to see me there&mdash;there was no mistaking their shining
+faces. I was there two hours and then went to
+Fripp Point, where I gave candy to all the grown people
+and children, and a toy to each child. I do not know
+all names and faces anywhere except at Pine Grove.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 26.</i> I was in the midst of school when Joe announced
+two strangers on horseback. They were the
+Quartermaster and Adjutant of the 1st S. C. V., come
+for a dozen cattle to be roasted on New Year's Day at
+General Saxton's grand celebration. C. and the officers
+went off to select the cattle. They had a very long tramp
+of it and did not get back till some time after dark.
+They are very pleasant and gentlemanly and give a
+charming impression of their intercourse with Colonel
+Higginson, and of his with the regiment. They had
+no "taps" Christmas Eve or night, and the men kept
+their "shout" up all night. One of the Captains heard
+a negro praying most fervently, contrasting their "lasty
+Christymas and thisty Christymas," greatly to the
+advantage of that in the "Yankee Camp" with "too
+much for eat."</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 26.</i> The preparation of the cotton for ginning
+goes on very slowly. I am out of all patience with some
+of the superintendents. They are slower than the
+negroes. I don't believe in putting Reverends in places
+where prompt business men are required. Some of
+them don't get through morning prayers and get about
+their business till nearly noon, and then depend entirely
+upon their black drivers for their information in
+regard to plantation matters. I saw Captain Hooper for
+a few minutes last evening and he relieved my mind
+about General Saxton's removal. It seems it was all
+a false report got up for a sensation by the <i>Herald</i>.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 28.</i> I was in the midst of school when it was
+announced that Mr. G. was coming. The children's
+eyes glistened and they audibly expressed their delight,
+but kept their seats very well till he was fairly
+in the room and had shaken hands with one or two
+near him; then their impatience could resist no longer
+and they crowded about him with great delight, tumbling
+over the benches in their eagerness to shake hands
+with him. It was a very pretty sight.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick has been entertaining us with an account
+of his week's experience, which ended at church
+to-day in a funny way. A couple came forward to be
+married after church, as often happens, when Sarah
+from this place got up and remarked that was her husband!
+Whereupon Mr. Philbrick was called in from
+the yard and promised to investigate and report. Jack
+said he had nothing against Sarah, but he did not live
+on the plantation now, and wanted a wife at Hilton
+Head.</p>
+
+<p>General Saxton was at church to-day to invite the
+people to camp Thursday, telling them that they need
+not be afraid to go, as no one would be kept there against
+their will. They are afraid of a trap, as they were at
+the Fourth of July Celebration, but I hope a good many
+will have the sense to go.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick and C. are having an amiable comparison
+of relative plantation work and which has
+raised the most cotton. The cotton raised on these
+places and C.'s and R.'s is more than half of that raised
+on all the islands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Pine Grove house has been broken into and
+the furniture we left there carried off. The way in
+which those people have degenerated and these improved
+since we moved here is a proof of how necessary
+it is that they should have the care and oversight
+of white people in this transition state. When we lived
+there, that plantation was the best behaved and this
+the worst; now the reverse is the case. The Point Plantation
+has not been affected so much any way, as they
+never had a "white house" and have the same excellent
+driver.</p>
+
+<p>Finding that Maria, the old nurse, and some babies
+were sick, I made a pilgrimage to the quarters, visited
+the invalids and also Bacchus' school, and told the
+people I hoped they would go to the Celebration at
+camp. As I went through the long street, women were
+washing outside their doors, sitting on their doorsteps
+sewing or tending babies, while the smaller children
+were rolling in the dirt. In one of the cabins I accidentally
+encountered Sarah, the deserted wife, and
+coming out found Grace, Jack's mother, holding forth
+in her dignified way upon the subject, condemning her
+son, quietly but earnestly. She turned to Sarah as she
+came out and, gesticulating with her hands respectively,
+said, "I take Becca in dis han' and carry her
+to punishment, an' Sarah in dis right han' and carry
+her to Christ." She is a "fine figure of a woman"&mdash;I
+wish I could have drawn her as she stood. She did
+more work than any one on the plantation on cotton
+this year. Her husband was coachman and was taken
+off by the overseer the day after the "gun was fire
+at Hilton Head."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Minda gave me an amusing account of a conversation
+she heard between Mr. Cockloft, the overseer,
+and his niece, Miss "Arnie," about the prospect of the
+Yankees coming here, she telling him, when he was
+expressing his gratification at the very large crop raised
+last year, that he did not talk sense,&mdash;he was just
+raising it for the Yankees. And when they had to run
+off, in the midst of all the crying and dismay, she could
+not resist telling him she was glad of it, to prove her
+right. Minda said that she knew more than her uncle
+because she had been to school, and had "high edicate."
+They sent Henry to the other end of the island to see
+if the forts were really taken, and he came back and
+told them that they had better be off, for all the Yankee
+ships were "going in procession up to Beaufort, solemn
+as a funeral."</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 30.</i> My occupation was interrupted by the
+arrival of William Hall,<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> bag and baggage. You can
+think of us as a household of three<a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> pursuing our several
+occupations, of which more hereafter.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p>
+<h2>1863</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Celebration of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation&mdash;The land-sales
+of 1863, Mr. Philbrick's purchase of plantations&mdash;"Shop"&mdash;Visit
+to Camp&mdash;Arrest of General Stevenson&mdash;Difficulties with
+army officers&mdash;More drafting by Hunter&mdash;Encouraging signs
+among the negroes&mdash;"The black draft"&mdash;The siege of Charleston&mdash;Assault
+on Fort Wagner&mdash;Care of the wounded&mdash;Depredations
+of the soldiers on the plantations&mdash;Interest in the former owners of
+plantations&mdash;The "Plantation Commission" an informal civil
+court&mdash;Negro speech and negro ways&mdash;Attacks on Mr. Philbrick
+as a "speculator"&mdash;Discouraging signs among the negroes&mdash;Plans
+of the Government for selling land to the negroes&mdash;The cotton crop
+of 1863&mdash;The black draft again.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The first letter of 1863 gives an account of the ceremonies
+with which the Sea Islands celebrated the
+Emancipation Proclamation. The place was the Smith
+Plantation, on Port Royal Island, where the First South
+Carolina had its camp.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 1, 1863.</i> We started [from R.'s] at ten o'clock
+with four oarsmen, under a cloudless sky, which remained
+undimmed through the day. The men sang
+and we sang, as we wound our way through the marsh-bound
+creek, reaching the Smith Plantation just as
+the <i>Flora</i> was landing her first load from the Ferry.
+We followed the crowd up to the grove of live-oaks
+with their moss trimmings, which did not look so dreary
+under a winter's sun, but very summer-like and beautiful.
+The regiment, which had been drawn up at the
+wharf to receive the guests from Beaufort, escorted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>
+them to the platform in the middle of the grove, where
+we found it&mdash;the regiment&mdash;in a circle round the
+stand, where they remained quiet and orderly as possible
+through the whole proceedings, which lasted about
+three hours. Guests, white and colored, were admitted
+within the line, and as ladies we were shown seats on
+the platform. The general arrived in his carriage with
+the Mission House<a name="FNanchor_90_90" id="FNanchor_90_90"></a><a href="#Footnote_90_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> ladies.</p>
+
+<p>It is simply impossible to give you any adequate
+idea of the next three hours. Picture the scene to yourself
+if you can,&mdash;I will tell you all the facts,&mdash;but if
+I could transcribe every word that was uttered, still
+nothing could convey to you any conception of the
+solemnity and interest of the occasion. Mr. Judd, General
+Superintendent of the Island, was master of ceremonies,
+and first introduced Mr. Fowler, the Chaplain,
+who made a prayer,&mdash;then he announced that the
+President's Proclamation would be read, and General
+Saxton's also, by a gentleman who would be introduced
+by Colonel Higginson. And he rose amid perfect
+silence, his clear rich voice falling most deliciously on
+the ear as he began to speak. He said that the Proclamation
+would be read "by a South Carolinian to
+South Carolinians"&mdash;a man who many years before
+had carried the same glad tidings to his own slaves now
+brought them to them, and with a few most pertinent
+words introduced Dr. Brisbane, one of the tax-commissioners
+here now, who read both proclamations
+extremely well. They cheered most heartily at the
+President's name, and at the close gave nine with a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>
+will for General "Saxby," as they call him. Mr. Zachos
+then read an ode he had written for the occasion, which
+was sung by the white people (printed copies being
+distributed, he did not line it as is the fashion in
+these parts)&mdash;to "Scots wha hae." I forgot to mention
+that there was a band on the platform which discoursed
+excellent music from time to time. At this stage
+of the proceedings Mr. French rose and, in a short
+address, presented to Colonel Higginson from friends
+in New York a beautiful silk flag, on which was embroidered
+the name of the regiment and "The Year
+of Jubilee has come!"</p>
+
+<p>Just as Colonel Higginson had taken the flag and
+was opening his lips to answer (his face while Mr.
+French was speaking was a beautiful sight), a single
+woman's voice below us near the corner of the platform
+began singing "My Country, 'tis of thee." It was
+very sweet and low&mdash;gradually other voices about her
+joined in and it began to spread up to the platform,
+till Colonel Higginson turned and said, "Leave it to
+them," when the negroes sang it to the end. He stood
+with the flag in one hand looking down at them, and
+when the song ceased, his own words flowed as musically,
+saying that he could give no answer so appropriate
+and touching as had just been made. In all the
+singing he had heard from them, that song he had
+never heard before&mdash;they never could have truly sung
+"my country" till that day. He talked in the most
+charming manner for over half an hour, keeping every
+one's attention, the negroes' upturned faces as interested
+as any, if not quite as comprehending. Then he
+called Sergeant Rivers and delivered the flag to his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>
+keeping, with the most solemn words, telling him that
+his life was chained to it and he must die to defend it.
+Prince Rivers looked him in the eye while he spoke,
+and when he ended with a "Do you understand?"
+which must have thrilled through every one, answered
+most earnestly, "Yas, Sar." The Colonel then, with
+the same solemnity, gave into the charge of Corporal
+Robert Sutton<a name="FNanchor_91_91" id="FNanchor_91_91"></a><a href="#Footnote_91_91" class="fnanchor">[91]</a> a bunting flag of the same size; then
+stepping back stood with folded arms and bare head
+while the two men spoke in turn to their countrymen.
+Rivers is a very smart fellow, has been North and is
+heart and soul in the regiment and against the "Seceshky."
+He spoke well; but Sutton with his plain common
+sense and simpler language spoke better. He made
+telling points; told them there was not one in that crowd
+but had sister, brother, or some relation among the
+rebels still; that all was not done because they were so
+happily off, that they should not be content till all their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>
+people were as well off, if they died in helping them;
+and when he ended with an appeal to them to above all
+follow after their Great Captain, Jesus, who never was
+defeated, there were many moist eyes in the crowd.</p>
+
+<p>General Saxton then said a few words, regretting that
+his flag had not arrived as he intended, and introduced
+Mrs. Gage, who spoke to them of her visit to St. Croix
+and how the negroes on that island had freed themselves,
+and telling them that her own sons were in the
+army; she might any day hear of their death, but that
+she was willing they should die in the cause and she
+hoped they were ready to die too. Quartermaster Bingham
+led the regiment in singing "Marching Along."
+Mr. Judd had written a hymn which he and a few friends
+sang. Judge Stickney spoke. The whole regiment then
+sang "John Brown," and was dismissed in a few words
+from the Colonel to the tables for the twelve roasted
+oxen,<a name="FNanchor_92_92" id="FNanchor_92_92"></a><a href="#Footnote_92_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> hard bread, and molasses and water, except
+one company and certain corporals whom he mentioned,
+who came to the foot of the steps to escort the
+colors.</p>
+
+<p>Lieutenant Duhurst was waiting to escort us to dinner
+at his mess-table. We walked into the old fort,
+part of the walls of which are still standing, made of
+oyster-shells and cement, very hard still. It was built,
+say the authorities, in 1562, half a century before the
+Pilgrims landed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Miss Forten<a name="FNanchor_93_93" id="FNanchor_93_93"></a><a href="#Footnote_93_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> had a letter from Whittier enclosing
+a song he had written for the Jubilee and which they
+have been teaching the children to sing at church next
+Sunday.</p>
+
+<p>After dinner we went up to the camp, and a very
+nice-looking place it was. The tents only hold five, so
+that there were a great many of them, making the
+camp look very large. The officers' tents are in a row
+opposite the ends of the streets, but with only a narrow
+street between. The Adjutant took us into his,
+which is a double one with two apartments like the Colonel's,
+as his wife is coming out to live there and teach
+the first sergeants to read, write, and keep their accounts.
+As dress-parade was to come off at once, we stayed to
+see that. Only the commissioned officers are white; the
+uniform of the privates is the same as any others, except
+that the pantaloons are red,<a name="FNanchor_94_94" id="FNanchor_94_94"></a><a href="#Footnote_94_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> faces and hands
+black! The parade was excellent,&mdash;they went through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>
+the manual, including, "load in nine times." There
+were eighteen men absent without leave, a circumstance
+not to be wondered at, as they had kept no guard all
+day, and a negro thinks to go and see his family the
+height of happiness. Colonel Higginson said, "Think
+of a camp where there is no swearing, drinking, or card-playing
+among the men,&mdash;where the evenings are spent
+praying and singing psalms, and it is the first sound you
+hear in the morning!" He is a strong anti-tobacconist,
+but he lets the men have all they can get, and helps them
+get it.</p>
+
+<p>We started just after sunset, and at the same time
+with the band, who were rowed up to Beaufort as we
+went across the river. They played "Sweet Home," and
+the music sounded delightfully, but made Mr. Williams
+exclaim, "Now that's too bad, when a fellow is going
+to an old South Carolina whitewashed house, with a
+broken table and chair in it!" Nevertheless, he was
+very merry, and we had a fine row. The sunset was
+perfectly clear, the sky retained its brightness for a long
+time, and the moon was so bright that it did not grow
+dark. Our delay made us against tide for the second
+hour, so the negroes turned out of the main creek into
+the narrow creeks among the grass, which at high tide
+are deep enough, though very narrow. Our oars were
+often in the "mash" on one side, but the men knew
+their way and brought us safely through. They grew
+very much excited as they rowed and sung, shouting
+with all their might, and singing song after song the
+whole way home. The singing while they row always
+sounds differently from [that] at any other time to me,
+though they always sing the same, religious songs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In the following letter Mr. Philbrick begins by defending
+himself against the charge of rashness in proposing
+to buy land of which the legal title was so insecure as to
+make it a most unsafe investment, and the geographical
+situation such as to make it unfit for habitation by Northerners.
+The point of view of his critic is amusingly different
+from that of the good people who subsequently
+accused him of buying with the expectation of making
+large profits.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 2.</i> As to the title, the right of redemption expires
+at the end of two years in all cases, and fifteen per
+cent. interest must be paid by the redeemer before he
+can take possession. Now I never thought of paying
+more for these lands than the net value of two good
+crops, and don't undertake it for the sake of making
+money at all, but for the sake of carrying out to a
+more satisfactory issue the present short-lived and unfairly
+judged experiment of free labor, and for the sake
+of keeping the people out of the hands of bad men.
+You will of course admit that such an enterprise is
+worthy of my assistance and worthy of the time of such
+men as are now engaged in it. The health of every
+white man who has lived on the seaward side of St.
+Helena, from Coffin's Point to Land's End, has been
+perfectly good, and that is where I intend to buy, if at
+all, including perhaps the places under R.'s charge which
+he wishes to retain, and those of Captain John Fripp
+and Thomas B. Fripp, which could easily be managed
+by a person living on Cherry Hill or Mulberry Hill,
+directly adjoining them on the south.</p>
+
+<p>We had a flare-up with Ranty about the furniture left<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>
+in the big house [at Pine Grove]. The people broke in on
+Christmas and took out what we left there, appropriating
+it to their private uses. I found Frank had the side-board
+in his new house (the old carriage-house). I told
+him to give it up and asked where the rest was. Mily
+had taken the desk, for safe-keeping, and offered to deliver
+it when wanted, but the bedsteads are not reported.
+Ranty had locked up the large dining-table in the pease-house.
+I blew him up for not reporting such things instanter,
+and hired June to sleep in the big house nights
+and be responsible for its safe-keeping. Otherwise the
+doors and windows would soon disappear.</p>
+
+<p>The future of our country looks darker than ever. I
+can't see much prospect of an improvement in the conduct
+of the war, so long as the mass of our people do not
+see in slavery the great cause of all the trouble. Neither
+do I believe that the war will terminate slavery unless
+the blacks will voluntarily take a part in it. The 1st Regiment
+is at length filled here, by means of a great deal of
+coaxing and the abandonment of St. Simon's Island,<a name="FNanchor_95_95" id="FNanchor_95_95"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_95" class="fnanchor">[95]</a>
+taking all the men for recruits. They have made two
+raids upon the Florida coast, where they met with little
+resistance and accomplished but little. If they can once
+gain a footing on the mainland and add to their numbers
+as they advance, they could easily carry all before them.
+Any other race of men under the sun would do it, but I
+doubt yet whether there is the requisite amount of pluck
+in them to fall into such a scheme even when we are
+ready to lead them. I feel as if this winter were the turning-point
+of the whole question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Captain Oliver's, Jan. 4.</i> Mr. Philbrick has very generously
+offered to assist three or four of us poorer superintendents
+in buying plantations. If we do not buy, the
+occupation of most of us is probably gone. Government
+will probably retain possession of many plantations from
+the lack of purchasers,&mdash;but they will be the poorer ones
+and those where the people will be subject to such influences
+that our purposes will meet with little success. For
+such plantations superintendents may be needed, but,
+besides doing little good, their own position I think will
+be very unpleasant. Nor do I think it unmanly to withdraw
+from such plantations. The irregular wayward
+life which the people on such places would probably lead
+undoubtedly will help to develop their self-reliance, but
+our style of development&mdash;that of regular, persistent
+industry&mdash;is so wholly different, that I doubt the wisdom
+of attempting to yoke the two styles together. In
+one point experience confirms what theory would suggest,&mdash;that
+their own increasing comfort or <i>misery</i> will
+be a far stronger agent in the development of these people
+than any amount of outside human effort.</p>
+
+<p>I think I shall accept Mr. Philbrick's offer. I wish to
+stay down here, and I see no satisfactory way of so doing,
+except by this arrangement. It may turn out disastrously,&mdash;so
+be it; the Government will probably refund the
+purchase-money in case the lands return to the Confederate
+States either by capture or compromise. But with
+success, I doubt if I should realize the amount of my
+present salary and support. If the lands sell at a nominal
+price, however, they are worth that risk. To stay in
+the work is my object.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I am having a pretty hard time at present. The people
+are very wayward,&mdash;now they work and then they
+stop,&mdash;and some stop before they begin. Several men
+have been acting badly, too; I actually knocked a man
+down the other day,&mdash;and think I did right,&mdash;for the
+first time in my life. It very much hurts one's popularity
+to be often severe,&mdash;and one's reputation with higher
+authorities also, I fear. My places have the disadvantage&mdash;to
+me&mdash;of being very near headquarters, and my
+people have learned through a very unwise act&mdash;the
+removal of a superintendent on the complaint of the
+negroes&mdash;the benefit of appealing from me. I have
+always been sustained&mdash;otherwise I should probably
+have resigned; but it very much weakens my authority,
+and, as I said, probably my reputation. But the worst
+is that it discourages and dulls one for the work.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 7.</i> I went into Ellen's house to see her sick children.
+It was her children who were so sick last summer,
+and Nancy died. They had swollen throats and I promised
+red flannel&mdash;then went all through the quarters
+talking and giving to all the old women some of our
+ration coffee and sugar. The women went on talking,
+Louisa winding up with an attempt to solve the to
+them great mystery&mdash;"Miss Hayiat, you not married?
+when you going to be married? What, and you so
+smairt?" C. says they are constantly asking him the
+same question. "Oh, Mass' Charlie," said a woman to
+him the other day, "if I was as pretty a woman as you
+are a man I should be so glad!" I find I shall have to
+give up going to the quarters if they insist upon giving<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>
+me so many eggs&mdash;I had two dozen and a half given to-day&mdash;I
+can't use them up so fast! I found C. in colloquy
+with a man who came down to see if he could not
+move here so as to be under him. "But how do you know
+you shall like me?" said C., "and get along with me?"
+"See it in your countenance, sar, first time I eber see
+you!" Nat talked some time (he was a sort of Major
+Domo here and kept the keys) about the necessity of
+some white people's staying here, and of the people's
+confidence in Mr. Philbrick and C. They are very
+desirous that Mr. Philbrick should buy. "You see, sar;
+you won't have no trouble 'bout cotton dis year&mdash;Mr.
+Philbrick pay more money than any other man&mdash;de
+people know now you here to see justice. People all
+work cotton dis year. I don't care if you neber go 'way&mdash;like
+you much."</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 8.</i> General Saxton said he was here on the Coast
+Survey seven years ago, cut that gap through the trees
+for his triangles, which caused us so much speculation
+last spring,<a name="FNanchor_96_96" id="FNanchor_96_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_96_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> and landing at the Point one day dined here
+with Mr. Coffin.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 12.</i> Just as we were going to sit down to lunch,
+Tim came running up with a line from C. for his revolver,
+which I sent. Tim said two of the men were fighting, so
+Mr. Philbrick<a name="FNanchor_97_97" id="FNanchor_97_97"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_97" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> took his pistol and went to see what was
+the row, and soon came back to say that a former husband
+of the woman who had been married the day before
+at church had turned up, and C. had ordered him
+off the place. It is a complicated story and I do not know
+its merits and demerits. I wish C. would write it out as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>
+a specimen of that part of his business. It is equal to
+Indian Cutchery.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan 16.</i> Woke to find it very blowy and cold. The
+changes seem to be as great here as in New England, of
+their kind. It is funny to see how the people feel the cold.
+I got no milk, because they could not milk in such weather,
+and it was so warm the day before that all we had
+soured. The children wore sheets over their shoulders
+and handkerchiefs on their heads to school.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan 17.</i> Went to the quarters to see the people, who
+wondered to see me out such a cold day! Found those
+who were out of doors on the sunny side of the street
+against the houses to keep warm.</p>
+
+<p>This afternoon I had to sew up a bad cut in Hester's
+arm. She sat all through school without a word to me,
+and then I could not close the wound with sticking-plaster,
+so there was no alternative. She behaved like a
+Spartan&mdash;her black skin made it easier for me, but not
+for her, I fancy. So much for my first attempt at surgery.
+It was an ugly job.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>The Oaks, Jan. 21.</i> I got a letter from Mr. Forbes,
+who says he can raise $12,000 for land, etc., to put in my
+hands, with the understanding that when I get tired of
+managing the thing I shall close up and divide what shall
+be left.<a name="FNanchor_98_98" id="FNanchor_98_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_98_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> So I shall certainly buy that end of the island,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>
+provided the lands are sold, which in Boston they feel
+very sure they will <i>not</i> be, and provided nobody else bids
+over one dollar an acre or so.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 21.</i> C. was gone all day tramping over the Pine
+Grove plantation to see and map out the land so as to
+allot it for corn and cotton to the people for this year's
+crop,&mdash;Flora's York for guide, who was much amused
+at his maps. He brought me home as a present from Susan
+half a dozen delicious sausages and a piece of fresh
+pork, which is very nice here, as the pigs run wild and
+feed on the potatoes left in the field, and other roots.
+Having had to wait for my washing for over a week, as
+Judy went first to Beaufort to see "him niece," a man
+grown, who was sick and died, and then was too sick herself,
+I hunted up some one else and had our washing done.
+Housekeeping with such young things to look after as
+Robert and Rose<a name="FNanchor_99_99" id="FNanchor_99_99"></a><a href="#Footnote_99_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> only is not an easy or thoroughly
+satisfactory proceeding, with so much else to see to in
+this great house.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 22.</i> Sam sent word that buckra and white lady
+were coming. I went to the door. There stood Miss R.,
+Mrs. Clark, and Mr. De la Croix, and coming up the
+path were the rest of their party, Mrs. Bundy, Mrs. Williams,
+Mr. R., and, still on the beach, Mr. Williams and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span>
+Dr. Bundy shooting. I flew down to Uncle Sam to give
+him potatoes, white and sweet, and rice and hominy,
+telling him to have the tea-kettle boiling so that I could
+give them a cup of coffee. We had eaten our last loaf
+of bread that morning, so I mixed some griddle-cakes,
+and Robert, who enjoyed the fun of so many people, set
+the table and did very nicely, Rose running up and down
+stairs with the hot flap-jacks. I don't wonder that country-people
+eat "griddles" so much,&mdash;they are so much
+easier and more quickly prepared than anything else.
+But nothing is done quickly in this region, and all this
+was a work of time, during which I entertained my guests
+and they entertained themselves in the "shop," and
+they became great purchasers. Then the boatmen who
+had brought them came up for sugar and tobacco, and
+Mr. De la Croix opened the new box for me, and they
+were very much amused to see me diving into the depths
+of the sugar-barrel and handling the tobacco at "eight
+cents a plug!" They were very merry and jolly and
+seemed to enjoy themselves,&mdash;certainly Mrs. Bundy
+did at our piano, and we in hearing her. Robert and Rose
+could not put the things on the table&mdash;they were fixed,
+as soon as they entered the room, with delight. It was
+funny work getting together dishes enough, but I made
+out. My table was full and my guests hungry, though
+they protested they only came for a call and did not want
+any luncheon. We got up from table about three, I got
+Dr. Bundy to take the stitches from Hester's arm and
+dress it, and then they said they must be off,&mdash;they had
+stayed too long already. And so it proved, for the tide
+had gone out and the boat was high and dry on an oyster-bank!
+They did not seem much distressed, and all betook<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>
+themselves to a walk towards the quarters, which they
+visited in a body, to the delight of the people. I was informed,
+"Miss Hayut, buckra-man on hos-bahck," and
+Mr. Thorpe appeared on business with C.; as it never
+rains but it pours, two officers from our blockading vessel
+now landed, to see the pickets they were told were
+here. They did not stay long, and then I went to find Dr.
+Bundy and see what time they would get off. I found
+they could not get away till seven, so began to make preparations
+for tea. I knew my table would not be large
+enough, and was quietly taking all the books and papers
+off the big round one in the corner, when the ladies discovered
+what I was about; they rose in a body and protested
+they would not have any tea. But the gentlemen
+equally protested I should do just as I chose, and set
+them to work if I would, so they wheeled out the table
+and Mr. De la Croix went with me to the milk-closet to
+take down the shelves, which were the leaves. The table
+is a monstrous great round one, solid mahogany, and
+with its leaves in made my table-cloth look like a towel
+on the grass, so we took to the bare boards. We sat down
+twelve to a repetition of the lunch, with the addition of
+Susan's pork and sausages, as our boys had had no dinner.
+I could not persuade any of them to stay all night,
+though I showed them that I had bed accommodations
+for four, and sofas for more, to say nothing of a floor!
+There was a little moon and they all got home safely&mdash;we
+had a suspicion we might see them about midnight!</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 23.</i> In the midst of all the fun and frolic yesterday
+there came a sudden pause, when Mrs. Williams
+drew down the corners of her mouth and remarked,
+"And this is a band of Missionaries!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I had the room in the basement cleaned to-day by
+Samson's Betty. She is the woman whose old husband
+turned up and gave C. so much trouble. This thing is
+happening a good deal now, and must. A man who was
+sold six years ago to Georgia came up from St. Simon's
+with the troops not long ago to find his wife here married
+again. He gave her leave to do so, however, when he was
+sold off, so had nothing to say. To go back to Betty. I
+gave her as careful directions as I could and left her to
+her own devices. When I went to her once I found her in
+the middle of the room with two great tubs of water, her
+skirts all tied up to her knees, the floor swimming in water
+which she was flinging about with a handful of shucks
+<i>i. e.</i>, corn-husks! It would be easier to keep house in a
+small country house at home and do my own work (minus
+the washing) and live better than we do here. However,
+I am very philosophical, and ignore dirt and irregularity.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 24.</i> I had promised to go to the quarters and
+rode down, C. walking by my side to take down the
+amount of cotton and corn land each hand wished to
+work this year. He stood with his back against a fence,
+the "gang" collected in front of him, book in hand,
+taking down the number of tasks each agreed to work,
+talking to them about the crop, laughing with them
+and at them. A not less unique picture certainly was
+his sister riding his little horse, whose back her large
+shawl nearly covered behind, in her ordinary dress and
+hoops, stopping at door after door to look at this sick
+baby, talk to that old woman; give a comb out of one
+pocket and put an egg into another; dismount to show
+Amaritta how to make yeast and raise bread, examine
+some sore throats, go to Louisa's house and repeat the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>
+yeast operation there, then remount and proceed through
+the street in the same style, only that now the flour and
+warm water are brought to the door and she stirs on
+horseback! Sunday is the "Quarter meeting-day"&mdash;over
+a hundred are to be baptized and they want some
+bread to carry, as they will have to stay all day. I ride
+back through the overseer's yard, stop at her door to
+speak to Judy, then have a talk with Abel, who wants
+to know how I find Rose, says he knows character is
+better than all the riches of this world, and that he was
+taught and teaches his children not to lay hand on anything
+that does not belong to them. I took her partly
+because I knew it was a good family. Demus<a name="FNanchor_100_100" id="FNanchor_100_100"></a><a href="#Footnote_100_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> attends
+me, and I ride home followed by half a dozen little
+boys who are coming up to school and run races by my
+side. The wind has turned east, and a thick fog is driving
+in visible clouds over the dreary cotton-fields, raw,
+chilly, and disagreeable enough. I come out of school
+wondering what I am going to have for dinner and what
+for Sunday, knowing that Uncle Sam, whose daughter
+Katrine is "going in the water," will probably be away
+all day and that the R.'s are coming to spend Sunday.
+You know there was trouble last summer about the
+superintendents who were not Baptists remaining to
+the Communion Service&mdash;there has been more since,
+and the negro elders have become so excited about it
+that they will not allow them to stay, so the R.'s did
+not wish to go to church, and planned when we were
+there at New Year's to come down here to spend that
+Sunday. They told me when they were here Thursday<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>
+that they were coming, so I ought to have been ready,
+but except my three loaves of bread I had made no
+preparation, and was expecting them momentarily.
+The Fates were propitious, however, for Minda sent
+me a piece of fresh pork, and a note from Mr. Philbrick
+said he would send us a piece of fresh beef for our
+rations Sunday. I had just time to wash my hands when
+my guests arrived. That is a process, by the way, which
+I have to go through with, at the least, twice in an hour&mdash;sometimes
+oftener than that in fifteen minutes&mdash;with
+sand-soap and brush!</p>
+
+<p>There was a great church-going from this place, as
+fourteen people were to be baptized, and Sam when he
+was rigged was a sight, with his beaver over his head-hankercher.
+Carts were in requisition to bring home
+the wet clothes&mdash;Louisa told C. that she couldn't wear
+hoops into the water and should be so cold she should
+wear eight coats (they drop the petti-) and she couldn't
+bring them all home. It was foggy and chilly, though the
+sun came out at noon when the proceedings must have
+been at their height, as the tide was high then. There
+were one hundred and forty-nine dipped on this occasion.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next two letters are largely occupied with the
+beginnings of the new working year.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>C. P. W. TO E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 25.</i> I went down to this nigger-house yesterday
+morning, called the people up and told them what they
+were going to get on their cotton besides the pay for
+picking already paid, and then, after talking over
+plantation matters a little, got their acres for next year.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>
+They seemed "well satisfy" with the additional payment,
+fully appreciated the pay according to crop and
+according to acre combined, and started on this year's
+work with "good encourage." I suppose Mr. Forbes
+and you are two bricks, serving as the beginning of a
+good foundation for these people's prosperity.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Captain Oliver Fripp's, Jan. 26.</i> We are very busy
+now on the plantations. A new system of labor to
+inaugurate,&mdash;lands to allot,&mdash;grumbling to pacify
+and idleness to check,&mdash;my hands&mdash;with nine plantations&mdash;are
+perfectly overrunning. The worst of it
+is that my people are in pretty bad disposition,&mdash;the
+new system has been received with joy and thankfulness
+in most parts of the island,&mdash;here with suspicion,
+grumbling, and aversion. How far it is the fault of their
+past and present superintendents, I cannot tell,&mdash;it
+has been known as a hard district ever since we came
+here,&mdash;but it must be our failing in some degree. I
+devoutly hope that by the middle of February it will
+be over as far as I am concerned. It is a little remarkable
+that while the Abolitionists and negroes' friends up
+North are striving so hard to have the sale postponed,<a name="FNanchor_101_101" id="FNanchor_101_101"></a><a href="#Footnote_101_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a>
+we superintendents, without exception that I have
+heard, are very desirous to have it effected. This
+"superintendence" is a most unsatisfactory system,&mdash;temporary
+and unprogressive in every element. Of
+course, nothing else could well have been tried this last
+year, and perhaps the time has not yet come to abandon
+it. But we all think it has. I am satisfied that the sooner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>
+the people are thrown upon themselves, the speedier will
+be their salvation. Let all the natural laws of labor,
+wages, competition, etc., come into play,&mdash;and the
+sooner will habits of responsibility, industry, self-dependence,
+and manliness be developed. Very little,
+very little, should be given them: now, in the first moments
+of freedom, is the time to influence their notion
+of it. To receive has been their natural condition. They
+are constantly comparing the time when they used to
+obtain shoes, dresses, coats, flannels, food, etc., from
+their masters, with the present when little or nothing is
+given them. I think it would be <i>most unwise and
+injurious</i> to <i>give</i> them <i>lands</i>,&mdash;negro allotments;
+they should be made to <i>buy</i> before they can feel themselves
+possessors of a rod. There are some who are
+now able to buy their houses and two or three acres of
+land,&mdash;by the end of the year their number will probably
+be greatly increased. These will be the more intelligent,
+the more industrious and persistent. But <i>give</i>
+them land, and a house,&mdash;and the ease of gaining as
+good a livelihood as they have been accustomed to
+would keep many contented with the smallest exertion.
+I pity some of them very much, for I see that nothing
+will rouse and maintain their energy but suffering.</p>
+
+<p>In regard to the immediate sale,&mdash;even should
+speculators buy some plantations, I don't think the
+people would suffer much oppression during the years
+of their possession. It would be for their interest to
+continue or increase the wages which Government offers,&mdash;and
+probably many would let the places almost alone.
+Should oppression occur, the negroes will probably have
+an opportunity to move,&mdash;such cases would be closely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>
+watched and loudly reported,&mdash;and the people would
+be all the more dependent on their own exertions. I
+should think the great injury would come at the end of
+the war, or whenever the speculators sell the lands:
+then, instead of selling at low prices and in small lots
+or of consulting the people's interest in any way, they
+will simply realize the greatest advantage for themselves.
+Other places, however, will be bought by friends
+and by the Government,&mdash;on the whole, great good
+would result to the people. Moreover, the work will
+then have very much more value as a test of their
+capacity and ambition,&mdash;as an experiment in American
+emancipation.</p>
+
+<p>I feel that outside of directly spiritual labor, this
+emancipation work is the noblest and holiest in the
+country.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 27.</i> Both schools were very satisfactory. If
+any one could have looked in, without the children's
+seeing them, they would have thought we presented
+quite an ordinary school-like appearance. I have a
+blackboard with numerals and figures and the second
+line of the Multiplication Table written on it, all of
+which the oldest school know tolerably, but they make
+sorry work trying to copy the figures on their slates.
+I let them use them every day now, however, for they
+must learn, by gradually growing familiar with the use
+of a pencil, not to use it like a hoe. There are furrows
+in the slates made by their digging in which you might
+plant benny-seed, if not cotton!</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 29.</i> Am trying to teach the children how to tell<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>
+time on the dial-plate of an old English clock, "Presented
+by Sir Isaac Coffin, Bart.," as its face informs
+you&mdash;one of the many valuable things demolished.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 31.</i> Started directly after breakfast to spend the
+day and night with H. We broke down, as usual, had
+to stop and be tinkered up, so that William was late
+for the ferry, and when we got to the Oaks avenue I
+got out with my bag and basket and let him go on. I
+trusted to fate to find some one to carry my traps for
+me the mile up to the house. The drive was lovely, and
+I found some people waiting by the roadside for Mr.
+Soule, to get passes to go to Beaufort. A boy readily
+took my things for me without promise of any payment.
+On the walk I found he was one of the Edisto refugees
+who are quartered at the village and supplied with
+rations by Government, but he had left home with only
+two pieces of hardtack in his pocket and without
+breakfast. "Think we'll go back to Edisto, Missy?"
+he asked most earnestly, hoping that a stranger would
+give him some hope that he should see his home again.
+He was a nice boy; as a general thing the Edisto people
+are a better class of blacks, more intelligent and cultivated,
+so to speak, but those brought from there were
+then refugees from many other places.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick brought word that the North Carolina
+army<a name="FNanchor_102_102" id="FNanchor_102_102"></a><a href="#Footnote_102_102" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> had arrived at Hilton Head, and we were excited
+to know who of our friends had come.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 1.</i> A message came back from Mr. Philbrick
+that General "Saxby" was coming to dinner. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>
+General was decidedly blue about affairs here at present.
+He wants to stop the sale of lands very much,
+though, as he can control the sale so as to keep it out of
+the hands of speculators, I hope the sale will take place.
+You cannot understand how much we long to have the
+sale over. If it could only have taken place a month
+sooner it would have been all the better, as then the
+purchasers could have stocked their places by the time
+work began. As it is, the people have gone into the
+fields without the necessary number of cattle or mules,
+and with only their worn-out hoes; the Edisto people
+who are now being distributed onto the plantations have
+nothing. With the chance of giving up the control so
+soon, Government has not supplied all that is necessary
+and work bids fair to be as behindhand here as it was
+last year. Where the people have gone to work at all&mdash;at
+this end of the island&mdash;they have started with "good
+encourage," but at other places it has been impossible
+to get them to start any cotton, though they work corn.
+This is partly due to the fact that this end of the island
+is removed from the demoralizing effects of the camps,
+and partly, too, to the confidence the people have in the
+superintendents here, who have mostly been with them
+steadily now for nearly a year. It seems to us on the spot
+as if things could not go on another year as they are now,
+and we long for February eleventh and things to be
+settled. The auctioneer is at Washington trying, not to
+have the sale postponed, but to have lands set apart and
+given the blacks beforehand, and we dread lest any day
+we should hear that it has been delayed. Some of the
+blacks mean to buy&mdash;we don't wish them to till the
+war is over, as our tenure here is too uncertain for them
+to sink their money.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>C. on horseback, I in the double sulky started homeward,
+reaching home&mdash;and we agreed that it was certainly
+homelike&mdash;by half past six. Rose came up
+from her house acknowledging that though she wanted
+to see me she could have waited till to-morrow, but her
+mother made her come!</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 2.</i> The sale is a week from Wednesday. General
+Saxton (proclaim it not from the house-top) says he
+shall take the liberty to use the Cotton Fund to outbid
+any troublesome speculators. Glory Hallelujah!</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 4.</i> Cold as ever again&mdash;can do nothing but try
+to keep warm. Have a good fire in the school-room,
+and quite a full school&mdash;those who stay away for the
+cold being jeered at as not wishing to learn by the
+others. I think they have done well for a year with
+the amount of teaching they have had.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 7.</i> Found C. was going to Pine Grove, so thought
+I would go too, as I have not been to see them since
+Christmas. I went round to see the people who were at
+home; many of them had gone into the field, where C.
+went to deal out the land to them. Then I followed him
+in the sulky to bring him home, but when I reached the
+field, Flora, who came running out to see me, crying
+out, "my ole missus!" informed me that "Mass'
+Charlie have much long jawing, people in confusion."
+Mr. S.,<a name="FNanchor_103_103" id="FNanchor_103_103"></a><a href="#Footnote_103_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> it seemed, had disturbed them about the land-sale,
+and York vowed if anybody but Mr. Philbrick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>
+or C. had the place he would pack up and go to New
+York with his family. Went home alone, forced to
+leave C. to walk. Found some of his old people waiting
+for him&mdash;they are very much attached to him and he
+to them&mdash;it is hard for him to give them up. One
+man met him at church last Sunday, took off his hat,
+rolled up his eyes, and remarked pathetically, "I goes
+to sleep and dreams of you, Boss!"</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 8.</i> Dr. Russell sends me word that after March
+1st my salary will be $20 instead of $25.</p>
+
+<p>We all went up to church this morning for the chance
+of finding John L.<a name="FNanchor_104_104" id="FNanchor_104_104"></a><a href="#Footnote_104_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> there. We go to church to see our
+friends, and generally manage to get there just as service
+is over. If it were any good to the people we could
+bear it, but they get stones, not bread, I am sorry to say.
+We did not find any friends from the Twenty-Fourth.</p>
+
+<p>I shall hope to send you Colonel Higginson's report of
+his expedition<a name="FNanchor_105_105" id="FNanchor_105_105"></a><a href="#Footnote_105_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> with the Black Regiment, which was a
+great success. Oh, if the formation of the regiment last
+spring had only been differently managed! we should
+have had a brigade by this time. January, who I wrote
+you was taken from here one night as a deserter, and
+who was found up his chimney, almost frightened to
+death at going back, he was so badly treated before,
+came for a day or two since he got back from the
+expedition and told C. he would not take a thousand
+dollars to leave now, he had such a good time.</p>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p><div class="blockquot"><p>On February 10, the very eve of the eagerly awaited
+day set for the land-sale, H. W. writes: "The cart
+went up for rations, so I sent some sausages for H. and
+got some cake at night, with a note saying the sale was
+stopped." True to his extreme record as friend of the
+negro, General Hunter had been the means of postponing
+the sales, in the hope, as has been said, of eventually
+turning most of the plantations into negro holdings, by
+gift or the next thing to it. More will be heard of all
+this shortly.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 14.</i> It is supposed that the postponement of
+the land-sales till the allotment of lands is made will be
+for a year at least. I expect to find the people, though
+they are all members, will become profane immediately.
+They are depending on a chance to buy or hire land.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>W. C. G. writes the next letter after having had a
+talk with a friend in the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 17.</i> He seemed very well, more contented than
+most of the soldiers and talking more rationally and
+humanely than four fifths of those with whom I have
+conversed. The troops will probably be here a month
+or two at least, before any attempt is made in any direction.
+The commanding generals have quarreled,<a name="FNanchor_106_106" id="FNanchor_106_106"></a><a href="#Footnote_106_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> and
+one has gone North; the troops are insufficient, the
+enemy on the alert and strongly defended. The history
+of the Department so far might read: the forts were
+taken, one thousand-odd children were taught to read,
+and one negro regiment was formed.<a name="FNanchor_107_107" id="FNanchor_107_107"></a><a href="#Footnote_107_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> Hunter seems<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>
+to be a narrow, self-willed man&mdash;to me&mdash;who don't
+know much about his affairs. At first the soldiers were
+allowed to go wherever they pleased; consequently
+they poured over our end of the island, confusion
+coming with them. They cheated, they plundered,
+they threatened lives, they stole boats, poultry, hogs,
+money, and other property, they paid for dinners with
+worthless Richmond money, taking good bills in
+exchange. They behaved like marauders in an enemy's
+country, and disgraced the name of man, American, or
+soldier. The houses of one whole plantation they burnt
+to the ground in the night. For three whole days and
+far into the night I did nothing but chase soldiers and
+ride about to protect the people. The consequence of
+it all is that the soldiers are now tied up in camp pretty
+firmly.</p>
+
+<p>The sales have been postponed to my and many
+persons' great disappointment. And yet it does seem
+absurd, in view of the increasing uncertainties of the
+moment here, to sell land. But I am so heartily sick
+and weary of this system! What I shall do if the lands
+are not sold within a month or two, I don't know.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 19.</i> You will see by this copy of the <i>Free South</i><a name="FNanchor_108_108" id="FNanchor_108_108"></a><a href="#Footnote_108_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a>
+the outrages that have been committed by the troops
+who were landed at Land's End, but it can give you
+but little idea of the outrages that have been committed
+or the mischief done. Besides the actual loss to the
+people,&mdash;and in many cases it has been their all,&mdash;the
+loss of confidence in Yankees is an incalculable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>
+injury. The scenes some of the superintendents have
+had to go through with are beyond description. Sumner
+had a pistol put at his breast for trying to stop the
+soldiers and protect the negroes, and Mr. Hammond,
+when he went with General Saxton to tell Hunter of
+what had been done under his very eyes on his own
+plantations, burst into tears. It is disgusting that any
+Massachusetts regiment should be mixed up with such
+savage treatment, and that the Twenty-Fourth should
+be is shameful in the extreme.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 20.</i> To-day all the people were on the Bay
+"drawing seine" when I came out of morning school,
+and as that is a process I have wished to see I ran down
+to the beach myself between whiles. Here was a droll
+enough scene indeed. They had made one "drawing"
+and were just casting the seine again as I walked along
+for half a mile towards the drum-hole.<a name="FNanchor_109_109" id="FNanchor_109_109"></a><a href="#Footnote_109_109" class="fnanchor">[109]</a> The shell-banks,
+which are exposed at low tide, were fringed with
+small children with baskets and bags which they were
+filling with oysters and conchs. Rose followed me as
+guide and protector, jabbering away in her outlandish
+fashion to my great entertainment, and was very much
+afraid that the oyster-shells, over which she walked with
+impunity with bare feet, would cut up my heavy leather
+boots. I could go out to the very edge of one of these
+curious shell-banks, and the seine was drawn up almost
+at my feet. The net was laid on a boat which was hauled
+out into the water by the men, who were up to their
+waists, then dropped along its full length, which is very
+great, and gradually hauled in shore again with two or
+three bushels of fish in it, and any number of crabs,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>
+which the children pick up very carefully and fling
+ashore. There were about thirty men, and you would
+have thought from the noise and talking that it was a
+great fire in the country, with no head to the engine
+companies and every man giving orders. They were
+good-natured as possible, but sometimes their gibberish
+sounds as if they were scolding. The boys, with
+their pantaloons, or what answer for sich, rolled up to
+their knees, were hauling at the rope or picking up the
+crabs and making them catch hold of each other till
+they had a long string of them. Another mode of proceeding
+with them&mdash;for a crab-bite is a pretty serious
+thing&mdash;is to hold an oyster-shell out, which they grab,
+and then with a quick shake the claw is broken off, and
+they are harmless. A large bass having been taken in
+the haul I witnessed, it was laid at my feet for my
+acceptance, and then, the girls following, most of the
+boys staying to see the third drawing, I wended my
+way back to school.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 21.</i> Such steady shop that C. could not get off
+very early and sold a barrel of flour before he departed.
+Shop is a great nuisance, but I don't know what the
+people would do without it and don't see how it can be
+given up for a long time. They can't get things as cheap
+anywhere else, but they cannot understand that it is
+of no advantage to us. When I told them yesterday
+they must not hurry me, for I had to put everything
+down so as to keep a correct account to send to the
+Quartermaster and people who sent the things, they
+were quite surprised, and when in explaining the state
+of the case to them I remarked that I was not even paid
+for the trouble, Binah said she would not take the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>
+trouble then; and they can't understand that any one
+should.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Other comments on this laborious shop-keeping are:
+[Feb. 23]. What with sugar and dry goods upstairs, and
+flour, pork, and salt down, it's busy, not to say nasty
+work. [Apr. 9.] Mr. P.'s molasses fell short about $5.00
+on the barrel! Yet you can't convince the people he is
+not making heaps of money, and I, too, for the matter
+of that. [June 6.] A stranger the other day asked me
+for a looking-glass that he might see how his new hat
+looked, and then informed me that I ought to keep
+lemonade for my friends! But such things are rare,
+and so ludicrous that one doesn't mind.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 22.</i> I heard Uncle Sam read the first three chapters
+of Genesis, which he translated into his own lingo
+as he went along, calling the subtile serpent the most
+"amiable" of beasts, and ignoring gender, person, and
+number in an astonishing manner. He says "Lamb
+books of life," and calls the real old Southern aristocracy
+the gentiles! His vocabulary is an extensive
+one&mdash;I wish his knowledge of the art of cooking were
+as great!</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 25.</i> I was in full tide with my A B C's when I
+saw two mounted officers pass the window. They presently
+appeared at the door of the school-room, one of
+them with a General's stars, addressing me and asking
+about the school. But he did not introduce himself, and
+I was in profound ignorance as to who it might be.
+They came, apparently, to see the place, and while they
+walked on the beach I got up what lunch I could. The
+title had an immense effect upon Robert; when I told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>
+Sam I must have the water boiled to give the General
+some coffee, he opened his eyes as wide as the gate, and
+Rose, who came to ask for the key of the corn-room
+for him to feed the horses, was such a comical sight, as
+she stared with mouth and eyes and then dropped a
+curtsey in the middle of the room, that if any one had
+been here I think I should have disgraced myself and
+snickered! Unfortunately the dignitary did not see her.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 26.</i> I had scarcely done breakfast when I was
+called upon to serve in the shop for half a dozen men
+from the blockading vessel off Otter Island, all negroes.
+They come every once in a while and buy large amounts
+of sugar and other little things. They evidently think
+their patronage of great advantage to us.</p>
+
+<p>Five grown men have come in to swell the evening
+school. I can't do much for them, as they don't all
+know their letters, but they have books and I hope the
+children will help them on out of school.</p>
+
+<p>Have I told you that the path to the beach has been
+bordered with flowers for several weeks, jonquils and
+narcissus, so far as I can make out, though unlike any I
+ever saw before? They are in great profusion, and there
+are a few snow-drops, very pretty, but a foot or more
+high, and losing their charm in the height and strength.
+The jasmine and hawthorn are just coming into blossom,
+and I see what looks like a peach-tree in full bloom
+in Sam's yard.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 27.</i> C. came home before night, with the news
+that the sales had begun<a name="FNanchor_110_110" id="FNanchor_110_110"></a><a href="#Footnote_110_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> and that our fate would be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>
+decided by next week probably. He brought no other
+news of importance except that my unknown guest was
+probably a General Potter<a name="FNanchor_111_111" id="FNanchor_111_111"></a><a href="#Footnote_111_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> on Foster's staff. When I
+came out of school this morning I found Rose asleep on
+the rug in front of the parlor fire! She is quite a Topsy
+in some things, playing all sorts of tricks with her voice
+and actions, but I have never had reason to doubt her
+truth or honesty in the smallest particular, since the
+first, and I have been very watchful.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 28.</i> Before I was up I heard a perfect babel of
+tongues, a magpie chattering, which, on looking out
+of the window, I found came from about twenty women
+at work in our new garden getting out the "jint-grass,"
+swinging their great, heavy hoes above their heads. Dr.
+Dio Lewis should have seen their gymnastics and the
+physical development therefrom. It was a droll sight&mdash;red,
+blue, and bright yellow in their costume, and such
+a gabbling! Hindustanee is as intelligible as their talk
+among themselves. How C. astonished a man who
+was muttering away to himself the other day at the
+Oaks by laughing at him and telling him he understood
+Nigger as well as he!</p>
+
+<p>Old Deborah walked from Cherry Hill this morning,&mdash;she
+has lately moved there from here,&mdash;and came
+into the early school, which greatly delighted her. She
+is Rose's grandmother, and heard her great-grandchild
+reading to me, yet she is a smart old body and carries
+on her own cotton this year. Her delight over Raphael's
+angels&mdash;we have Mr. Philbrick's photographs of
+them here&mdash;was really touching. "If a body have
+any consider, 'twould melt their hairt,"&mdash;and she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>
+tried to impress it upon Rose that she was a greatly
+privileged person to be able to see them every day.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In the next letter is described a visit to the camp of
+the "North Carolina army" at Land's End.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Sunday, March 1.</i> We started off in time to reach
+church before the sermon was over, I in the sulky
+with my things to stay all night,&mdash;if it should prove
+practicable for me to go to camp, by staying at G.'s or
+the Oaks. H. got into my sulky and we drove off, the
+question to be decided after dinner. The road to-day
+was lined with the jasmine in full bloom running over
+everything. I was too late to see it last spring and as I
+had not been out of the house for a fortnight the change
+was very marked. Some trees are putting out fresh,
+green leaves, the peach and wild plum-trees are all in
+blossom. Our large field, too, had been "listed"<a name="FNanchor_112_112" id="FNanchor_112_112"></a><a href="#Footnote_112_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a>
+since I passed through it last, and altogether things had
+a very spring-like look. After dinner it was decided to
+take the carriage and Northern horses, with Harry, and
+make our expedition to the camp in style, escorted by
+Mr. Sumner on horseback.</p>
+
+<p>Behold us, then, starting about ten in the morning,
+Monday, March 2, driving for fifteen miles through
+the woods, a perfect spring day, till, as we reached our
+journey's end, we found the woods cut down and fields
+cleared for the camps over an immense space. Tents
+in every direction and masts beyond, looking very busy
+and thriving. Real war camps, not such as we see at
+Readville, for most of the regiments coming on such
+an expedition, from which they expected to return<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>
+before this time, had only shelter tents, as few things
+as they could possibly get along with, and their worst
+clothes. There were men washing (with a bit of board
+in a half of a barrel with a horse-brush!), cutting wood,
+mending the road very much cut up with the army-wagons,
+sticking down trees in front of their tents, and
+in almost every camp we saw some men playing ball.
+Horses and wagons, rough stables, and the carpenters
+at work with plane and saw getting up comforts. The
+Twenty-Fourth was at Land's End indeed, so we
+passed through all the others before we came to it, each
+additional one causing a louder and more wondering
+exclamation from Harry at the sight of so many men, till
+the oxen, evidently waiting to be slaughtered, and of a
+size so vastly superior to those indigenous to these
+regions, quite dumbfounded him.</p>
+
+<p>The Twenty-Fourth reached at last, we went at once to
+James's tent, where he greeted us very kindly, and inviting
+us in, went off for John. Glad as I was to see them at last,
+it only made me doubly sorry that they should have
+been so near us and unable to come down to the few
+home comforts we could have offered them; but they
+have both tried to get away in vain. We found the Twenty-Fourth
+was in a very excited state over General Stevenson's
+arrest;<a name="FNanchor_113_113" id="FNanchor_113_113"></a><a href="#Footnote_113_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> and speaking of his release and return to
+camp the day before, James said&mdash;"We gave him such a
+reception as the Twenty-Fourth <i>can</i> give." The whole
+North Carolina division were feeling very sore over the
+quarrel between Hunter and Foster which has so unjustly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>
+as they feel, deprived them of going under Foster on this
+expedition, and over the general treatment of them and
+their officers which they have received ever since they
+came into this Department.<a name="FNanchor_114_114" id="FNanchor_114_114"></a><a href="#Footnote_114_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> This I heard from James
+first, but more at length and in detail from the surgeon
+afterwards. For as we drove home a gentleman passed
+us on horseback, and we presently saw him racing
+with Mr. Sumner, and then riding by his side. They
+soon turned. Mr. Sumner introduced to me S. A. Green.
+Mr. Sumner had never seen him before, but asked him
+to join us at lunch at Mr. G.'s, where we were to stop
+on our way.</p>
+
+<p>G. was expecting us, and such a dinner as he spread
+before us! A little roasted pig, over which Mr. Sumner
+grew pathetic as he described its baby-like appearance
+before it was cooked, when Tamah, their invaluable
+cook, brought it in to show them&mdash;potatoes, rice, etc.,
+and for dessert, trifle, cake, muffins, waffles of a most
+excellent variety, and I don't know what. But the spice
+of the dinner was a long and animated discussion over
+the cause of General Stevenson's arrest and other matters
+appertaining thereto. Dr. Green was present at
+the time Stevenson had his discussion with Major Barstow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>
+and is reported to have said that he would rather
+be defeated than gain a victory with the aid of black
+soldiers,&mdash;and says that he said no such thing. The
+question was asked as a leading one, and before General
+Stevenson replied, Major Barstow exclaimed, "You
+hear that declaration?" and went off and reported.
+Pretty small business, anyway, though the General and
+most of his officers apparently are not at all waked up
+to the question, and oppose the idea of negro soldiers
+very strongly. They seem to have been living for a
+year with their old prejudices quietly slumbering&mdash;without
+coming in contact with the subject and its
+practical working as we have here, and so are not prepared
+for the change of opinion which has been silently
+advancing here. We did not think a year ago that these
+people would make soldiers, though it might be a wise
+measure to organize them for garrison duty to save the
+lives of our men in a climate they could not bear well
+and where no fighting would be necessary. Now it is
+a matter of fact, not opinion, as Colonel Higginson's
+report shows, that they will fight in open warfare, and
+will succeed in a certain sort of expedition when white
+men would fail, thus being too valuable an aid in
+putting down the Rebellion for us to give way to the
+prejudices of the mass of the soldiers. But I do not
+think it strange those prejudices exist, and they can
+only be removed by degrees.</p>
+
+<p>The sales are to go on&mdash;how glad I shall be when
+the whole thing is settled! Dr. Brisbane thinks he has
+proof that Mr. Coffin is in jail in Charleston for Union
+sentiments,<a name="FNanchor_115_115" id="FNanchor_115_115"></a><a href="#Footnote_115_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> so that he shall reserve his plantations for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>
+him. Mr. Philbrick may be able to lease them till the
+war is over, but if we take Charleston and if Mr. Coffin
+claims his own again, behold us! I don't know what the
+negroes would do, at first, if they thought Mr. Coffin
+was coming back to take possession of the lands&mdash;though
+they all acknowledge that when he was here
+there was no "confusion"&mdash;"that was all along de
+overseer." I suppose, if they were not taken by surprise
+and could understand matters, they would work for
+him as well as any one else; but a great deal would
+depend upon whom they had over them&mdash;they would
+not work under Cockloft again "first." They will be
+disappointed if Mr. Philbrick does not get this place.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 1.</i> The sale of lands, which was arrested by
+General Hunter's order, has recommenced by authority
+obtained from Washington. The generals commanding&mdash;Hunter
+and Saxton&mdash;are both interested in terms
+and regulations which will favor the negroes. I hear
+they are both added as, in some way, joint commissioners
+to those who have been acting in that capacity,
+with full powers to retain all lands in Government
+possession which may be wanted for military or educational
+purposes.<a name="FNanchor_116_116" id="FNanchor_116_116"></a><a href="#Footnote_116_116" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> What plan they may adopt is not
+yet known; but we have already been called on for a
+complete census of the population, with a view to a
+land allotment of some kind. I pray it may not be by
+<i>gift</i>. I used to dread the effects of immediate emancipation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>
+and think it was the duty of a Christian nation
+to ease the passage from slavery to freedom with all
+kinds of assistance; but I am nearly satisfied that the
+best thing our Government can do, for the good of these
+people themselves, is simply to offer and enforce their
+acceptance of the advantages of civil law and education.
+I should hope that for a time the relations of employer
+and employed might be also watched and determined
+by law,&mdash;but more than this, anything in the form of
+<i>gifts</i> and <i>charity</i> will, I'm pretty sure, only relieve
+momentary distress at the expense of their development
+in manliness and independence. Very few will take a
+responsibility which they can in any way avoid, and not
+one in a thousand will refuse charity if offered, even
+when there is no slightest need of it. At the same time,
+they perfectly understand the rights of property, almost
+superstitiously appreciate the advantages of education,
+and will eagerly seize any opportunity they may have
+of acquiring the one or the other. As to these island
+people I feel no doubt that at least three out of five
+of the present children will be able to read and write
+when men and women, and that of the present generation
+of grown people, half a plantation at least would
+own land in their own right before four years had past,&mdash;if
+they were permitted to buy. Then how much better
+to throw them on themselves, to leave them to their
+own ambition and intelligence, when they have so
+much of both. Their inveterate suspicion of white
+kindness, too, joined to their ignorance, so clog the
+wheels of any system of charity like this of superintendence
+that for this reason alone I think it should cease.
+But they only too thoroughly comprehend the idea of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>
+<i>law</i>,&mdash;and are therefore well able to understand and
+be grateful for beneficent law, which at once protects
+and leaves them to themselves. "Let us alone"&mdash;the
+cry of their masters&mdash;really belongs to them and is
+their wisest demand.</p>
+
+<p>I am anxiously hoping to be freed from this place by
+the sales and to return to my old neighborhood, and
+there to be able to accomplish something. This is but
+a stand-still experience, compared to our wishes. The
+people advance in spite of it. I believe almost the only
+real good I've done was to partially protect these people
+for three days from the soldiers.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 5.</i> C. came home at night with the news that
+the First South Carolina Volunteers started on an expedition<a name="FNanchor_117_117" id="FNanchor_117_117"></a><a href="#Footnote_117_117" class="fnanchor">[117]</a>
+to-day which Colonel Higginson considers
+of very great importance, which will have very great
+results, or from which they will probably never return.
+Also that drafting has begun in Beaufort by Hunter's
+orders.</p>
+
+<p>General Saxton has <i>passed his word</i> to the people
+here that they shall not be forced into the army&mdash;I
+don't see what is to be the upshot of it&mdash;they will lose
+all confidence in us. Anywhere but here! Saxton himself
+gave Colonel Montgomery<a name="FNanchor_118_118" id="FNanchor_118_118"></a><a href="#Footnote_118_118" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> leave to draft in Florida
+and Key West, but he had no need to&mdash;more recruits
+offered than he could bring away with him. I don't
+wish to find fault with my commanding general, but
+I have yet to be shown the first thing Hunter has done<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>
+which I consider wise or fine. Saxton has had to go
+down more than once and persuade him not to execute
+his orders.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In the following letter the reference to Mrs. Wolcott
+and McClellan has to do with that visit to Boston of
+the deposed general which was made such a triumphal
+progress for him by the conservatives of the town. The
+reference to Hallowell, who had a commission in the
+Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts, the first colored regiment
+raised by a state government, is interesting as further
+evidence of the prejudice against negro troops.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>March 6.</i> C. brought me last night a long letter from
+S. descriptive of Mrs. Wolcott's party, McClellan, the
+fashions, and Hallowell's feeling at the position in
+which he places himself in going into a negro regiment.
+I wish he could see Colonel Higginson and his, but a
+Northern black regiment will be a very different thing
+from a Southern one&mdash;the men will have the vices of
+civilization from which these are free. Colonel Higginson
+is an enthusiast, but I do not see that he exaggerates
+or states anything but facts.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Then follow specimens of the conversation of Robert
+and Rose, with which may be put here two others,
+really of later date.</p></div>
+
+<p>"Miss Hayiut, that your home?" Robert asked me
+this morning, looking at some colored pictures of the
+Crystal Palace I found in a <i>London News</i> and nailed
+up in the entry yesterday! He's bound to go North
+with Mass' Charlie. If he expects to live in such a mansion
+I don't wonder he wishes to.</p>
+
+<p><i>Saturday, March 7.</i> If you could have seen Rose's astonishment
+this morning when she comprehended that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>
+the clock was not alive! I made her tell me what time it
+was, which she did successfully, and then, as she stood
+gazing at the minute-hand "move so fast," I said, "Yes,
+it is going all the time&mdash;it never stops." "No rest for
+eat?" she said with the utmost innocence; and when I told
+her it was not alive and did not need to eat, she was
+quite sure the pendulum must be if the hands were not.</p>
+
+<p>[<i>March 10.</i><a name="FNanchor_119_119" id="FNanchor_119_119"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a>] Some instructions about cleaning up
+led me to ask Rose if she liked dirt, to which she replied,
+like a true Yankee, with the question, "Miss Hay't,
+you like um? You no like um, I no like um." A little
+while after, she got talking about "Maussa" and
+Cockloft; when I asked what she would do if she should
+see Mr. Coffin come here, she said, "I run," "dey
+bad." Oh, no, not bad, I guess. "Miss Hay't" (you
+have no idea how short it is, almost "Hat"), "you
+shum? [see 'em] Well, you do'no; I shum, I know."</p>
+
+<p>[<i>Nov. 1.</i>] "I say praise for you, 'cause I mind you,"
+said Rose to me in her affectionate way this morning.
+She tames slowly, as Mr. Soule and I thought when we
+came home from riding this morning and saw her waiting
+for us at the entrance of the path on the beach
+turning somersaults on the sand! Her hands would
+appear high in the air, when suddenly her heels would
+be in their place! Yesterday morning she said: "Miss
+Hayiut, you gwine let me go home to-day for wash?"
+Yes, Rose, if you are a good girl. "Yes, <i>Ma'am</i>, me
+gwine be good girl, my contans [conscience] say, 'Rose,
+you be good girl, not make Miss Hayiut talk.'"</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>To return to H. W.'s letter of March 7:</p></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p>
+<p>We drove up to church and heard the text read for
+the first time! H. was not there, so we went there to
+dinner again, probably for the last time, as we found
+the places are really to be sold to-morrow. Mr. Philbrick
+hopes to be through with collecting the cotton
+in a fortnight, and then they will be able to come down
+here, as he can go to Beaufort once a week for a night
+or two until it is all ginned and shipped, and then they
+will go home.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letters return to the all-absorbing matter
+of the land-sales. The opening paragraph refers to
+them and the way they were being managed, as well
+as to the old question of negro character and negro
+labor.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 8.</i> I should like to come home and make inquiries
+among my friends concerning Port Royal matters.
+I should like to take the part of an intelligent foreigner
+desiring to obtain information concerning this
+interesting experiment of free black labor. And when
+I had heard and written down their description of this
+enterprise, I should return to my friends here and read
+for their entertainment. How we should laugh; I must
+try it some day.</p>
+
+<p>When the lands are finally sold, a great many entertaining
+questions will arise. Only the real estate will
+be sold; what is to be done with the cattle, the mules,
+the boats, the furniture, the carriages? How is the
+Government to be repaid for what it has spent on this
+year's crop? How are the reserved plantations to be
+worked by the Government?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The sale having taken place at last on March 9, the
+list with which C. P. W. begins his next letter is of
+plantations reserved from sale by the Government.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>March 10.</i> The Oaks, Oakland, where Mr. Hunn's
+Philadelphia Commission store is, Eddings Point, T.
+B. Fripp, my two McTureous places, the Hope Place,
+and a few others on the Sea Side road, about four at
+Land's End, etc., etc. Mr. Eustis and a Mr. Pritchard,
+living on Pritchard's Island, near Land's End, paid
+taxes before the sale. (Most of the places reserved were
+selected for the purpose of selling land to the negroes
+next year, after this crop is in.)</p>
+
+<p>The General [Saxton] is afraid that some speculators
+may interfere with the plan for this year which has been
+started.<a name="FNanchor_120_120" id="FNanchor_120_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_120_120" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> He has made certain promises to the people
+in regard to this year's crop, and he feels that he ought
+to be able to impose some conditions on purchasers.
+Of course he could not impose conditions under which
+the lands should be sold, but he still may, as Military
+Governor, enforce justice toward the people.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 10.</i> C. and Mr. Philbrick stopped at the
+nigger-house to see and tell the people of the result of
+the sale. At Fripp Point, which he also bought, the
+people were as usual unmoved and apparently apathetic,
+but here they were somewhat more demonstrative, and
+slightly expressed their pleasure. All the places he most
+cared for Mr. Philbrick was able to bid off, and two of
+C.'s old places, which he wanted but did not expect to
+get. So much is settled; but there is a great deal besides<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>
+that it will take a long time and a deal of trouble to
+arrange&mdash;we don't know yet how much goes with the
+plantations, or when possession will be given.</p>
+
+<p>The confirmation of the report that Hunter is going
+to draft these people causes a great deal of feeling, as
+Saxton has publicly promised them that they shall
+not be forced to join the army. They seem to understand
+that Hunter is in authority and Saxton can't help
+himself, C. says, and so have no ill feeling towards the
+latter; but they will hide, if possible, and it is hard to
+feel that they have been so treated as to make them as
+suspicious of a Yankee's word as they have always
+been of a white man's. I think it right they should go
+if they are needed,&mdash;the war is of more importance
+even than the experiment of free labor,&mdash;but to have
+them lied to so! Why was Hunter ever sent back
+here?</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 14.</i> Mr. Philbrick has bought in all thirteen
+plantations,<a name="FNanchor_121_121" id="FNanchor_121_121"></a><a href="#Footnote_121_121" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> at an expense of about $7000: three places
+for R., two for Wells, two for Hull on Ladies Island,
+six places within five miles of this place. I remain here,
+and shall probably assume Cherry Hill and Mulberry
+Hill, my old places; G. comes to Pine Grove, and takes
+that, the Point, and Captain John Fripp Homestead.
+The people are all starting well, we are in excellent
+spirits, and are in proper season for the crops; and "if
+God spare life," "if nothing strange happens," "if we
+live to see," we shall "<i>see</i> crop make, sir."</p>
+
+<p>This drafting business is simply folly. Hunter is an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>
+ignorant, obstinate fool.<a name="FNanchor_122_122" id="FNanchor_122_122"></a><a href="#Footnote_122_122" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> General Saxton is very much
+opposed to the measure, especially after promising the
+men again and again that they would not be taken
+unless they were willing to go; but he says he has done
+all he can to dissuade Hunter without any effect, and
+if he should go further in the matter, either he or Hunter
+would have to go home, and he is not willing at this
+crisis to raise this additional difficulty. Hunter's order
+was published in the <i>New South</i><a name="FNanchor_123_123" id="FNanchor_123_123"></a><a href="#Footnote_123_123" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> last Monday. For
+a full week before the negroes had been anxiously questioning
+us about this strange news that "they want to
+take we to make soldiers." Up to Monday I was able
+to tell them that I had heard such stories, but did not
+believe them; but Tuesday night, when I got home, I
+told them how matters stood, and they confessed that
+for a full week before hardly a man on the plantation
+under sixty years of age had slept in his bed. A strange
+white face drives them from the field into the woods like
+so many quails; they will not go to church, they will
+not go to the Ferry. Two Sundays ago I happened to
+ask one of the elders at church, to make talk merely,
+how soon the next Society meeting took place at Pine
+Grove. It was last Saturday evening. My question to
+Demus was reported at the meeting, they immediately
+became suspicious of some trap to catch them, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>
+grew anxious, a cry arose that there were soldiers out
+on the plantation, the men left the praise-house, and
+the meeting, instead of continuing all night, broke up
+about midnight with some confusion.<a name="FNanchor_124_124" id="FNanchor_124_124"></a><a href="#Footnote_124_124" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> They were
+caught last year, they will not be caught again. They
+cannot understand how it is that the Government, for
+whom they have been working, and in whom they have
+learned to place confidence as a protection, should wish
+to interrupt their work here. It is a terrible discouragement
+to them, just as they are starting their first fair
+trial for themselves, to be forced, I do not say into the
+military service, for very few will be caught, but forced
+to abandon their crops, and skulk and hide and lead
+the life of hunted beasts during all this precious planting
+season. The women would be physically able to carry
+on for some time the men's share with their own, but they
+would be very much disheartened, and would need
+constant encouragement. Under this terrible uncertainty
+and fear, the work has begun to slacken. Even
+the head men on the plantations are losing courage.
+I make as light of the evil as I can, but I am always
+met by the remark: "We are a year older than we was
+last year, sir." Their trust in me is a little surprising.
+They converse in my presence about their dodging life,
+and I could easily take any ten of them I chose alone;
+or, with the aid of one other, I could take the whole
+plantation. "If we didn't trust to you, sir, we should<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>
+have to leave the plantation entirely; you are the only
+person to protect we now, sir." It is hardly necessary
+to remark that their confidence is not misplaced. Help
+catch them? "I wouldn't do it first."</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In accordance with Hunter's order, referred to
+above, Saxton issued a general order to superintendents,
+which bade them send to Captain Hooper a list of all
+able-bodied freedmen between eighteen and fifty on the
+plantations, and instructed them to urge the negroes to
+enlist by appealing to "their reason, sense of right,
+their love of liberty and their dread of returning to the
+rule of their late masters," adding: "The General
+Commanding expects to form a pretty correct judgment
+of the comparative efficiency of the different superintendents
+and the amount of influence for good they are
+capable of exerting over their people, by the proportion
+of the whole number subject to draft which they are
+able to bring in without the aid of physical force."
+Referring to this last sentence as a "mean insinuation,"
+C. P. W. goes on:</p></div>
+
+<p>For my people, I know there is about as much use in
+asking them to enlist as in requesting my horse, a very
+intelligent animal, to drink salt water. I hope they will
+draft, they may possibly enlist, the loafers at Hilton
+Head and Beaufort, and those whose proximity to
+camps, or general worthless character, prevents them
+from taking much interest in their crops. But these
+men, who have been paid up in full for last year's crop,
+and have seen that their crop, slim as it was, brought
+them a fair compensation, are bound to show <i>a crop</i>
+this year. Crop-raising is their business, their trade,
+and they intend to show what they can do at it this
+year for the Government, which protects them, for me,
+who "see them justice" (they have a vague idea that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>
+I reap a certain percentage from their crop&mdash;they say,
+"You will have a bigger crop of cotton than Mr. Philbrick,
+sir"&mdash;they also think that if I "overlook" four
+hundred hands, I ought to get more pay than a man who
+only sees to two hundred), and last, and principally, for
+themselves. They have not been learning cotton-raising,
+perforce, all these years for nothing. Now their
+enforced knowledge comes out in tending a crop of
+which they are to own a share, and the little tricks of the
+trade, which had to be watchfully enforced in the old
+time, are now skillfully produced, especially in the food
+crops, which are more evidently their own. I let them
+go ahead very much as they choose; I make regulations
+for the good of all, as in the matter of carts, oxen,
+etc., but the minuti&aelig; I do not meddle with, except as
+a matter of curiosity and acquirement of knowledge.
+They work well, some of them harder than in the old
+time; the lazy ones are stimulated to exertion for their
+own benefit, the energetic ones <i>race like sixty</i>.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 13.</i> I had the sick people to visit, and C. was
+going over to the <i>Kingfisher</i>, our blockader, for coal-tar
+to plant corn with, so he went to the field and I was to
+make my professional calls for the Doctor, and meet
+him at the Creek at the nigger-house to take the row
+with him. Just as I came out of school, however, two
+officers of an Illinois regiment rode up to look about and
+see what they could see, and asked if they could have
+food for man and beast. So I left orders for some lunch,
+dressed, and started on my tour. I went through the
+quarters&mdash;not a man was to be seen. There lay the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>
+boat, and the women were coming in from their work,
+but said the men would not come till the officers had
+gone&mdash;they were afraid of being taken. C. had to beg
+the officers to go off the plantation, for he could not get
+his crew. Not a man sleeps at night in the houses,
+except those too old to be taken. They have made a
+camp somewhere and mean never to be caught. There
+is no question that they can hide; a slave here hid himself
+for two years on one of the little islands, though
+the whole district was after him; he finally came out
+himself.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 14.</i> On March 9th the estates were at last
+offered for sale. On our island two thirds were bidden
+in by the Government and I presume they will remain
+under the system of superintendence. The other third
+was bought by Mr. Philbrick and two or three sutlers.
+No agents of Southern owners and no dangerous
+speculators made their appearance, to my knowledge.
+Where any person evinced a desire to buy, the commissioners,
+by their bids, forced an offer of one dollar per
+acre and let the place go for that price. Several plantations,
+perhaps one in five or six, were bidden in for
+the special purpose of negro reservations; but in what
+way they will be offered to the people is undecided.
+Indeed, nothing is certain except that the sales have
+been made and titles given. I should have bought only
+two of my places in any case,&mdash;and that for the benefit
+of the people,&mdash;but it happened that both were among
+the number reserved. So I own none of the sacred soil.</p>
+
+<p>In regard to your questions concerning the condition<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>
+and capabilities of the blacks, I hardly feel like writing
+anything at length, my opinion, as far as it is made up,
+is so short and decided. Every one says that these
+island negroes are more ignorant and degraded than
+the great majority of the slaves, and I feel no doubt that,
+under conditions of peace, three years would find these
+people, with but very few exceptions, a self-respecting,
+self-supporting population. Almost everything about
+them, even to their distrust and occasional turbulence,
+has that in it which suggests to me the idea of capacity
+and power of development. Their principal vices,&mdash;dishonesty,
+indolence, unchastity, their dislike of responsibility,
+and unmanly willingness to be dependent on
+others for what their own effort might bring,&mdash;their
+want of forethought and inability to organize and combine
+operations for mutual benefit,&mdash;nearly all their
+mental and moral weaknesses can be traced naturally
+and directly to slavery,&mdash;while on the other hand, the
+fact that at my close view I cannot make them out to
+be characteristic traits confirms that opinion as to their
+origin. Industry is very certainly the <i>rule</i>; there is
+much idleness, but apply the spurs of which you
+think a white man worthy, and you are sure to obtain
+earnest and persistent exertion. Manliness and self-respect
+are sufficiently strong and common to excite
+an expectation of finding them. Instances of plan, contrivance,
+forethought are very numerous; you are
+constantly meeting "smart" fellows. Their eagerness
+and aptitude in learning to read surprises every one.
+Their memories are usually excellent, their power of
+observation pretty keen, and their general intelligence
+is in most striking contrast to the idea of chattel and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>
+wonderfully harmonizes with that of man. I am only
+stating the grounds on which I have hopes of their
+development, not trying to describe their characteristics
+or the course or limit of that development. The discussion
+whether they will ever be equal to the white race
+in anything seems to me to be entirely irrelevant to
+everything. The only question of importance is whether
+they can become a moral, self-supporting, and useful
+part of our population, and of this I cannot feel the
+slightest doubt. That they ever can leave the country I
+regard as impossible, that they ever ought to leave it, as
+ill-advised. That the period of transition will be one of
+great difficulty and considerable suffering is certain.
+The best heads and hearts in the country will find work
+in it. As I think now, I would recommend no gradual
+system of preparation and training. Strike the fetters
+off at a blow and let them jump, or lie down, as they
+please, in the first impulse of freedom, and let them at
+once see the natural effects of jumping and lying down.
+Then if the Government would simply provide or enforce
+education, and with few laws but very many eyes
+would watch over the new relations of laborer and
+employer, I should trust that in ten years America
+would again raise her head proudly among the nations.
+But all this supposes that we gain our end and have the
+work to do. Till the common head of the people understands
+and the common heart of the people feels that
+this <i>is</i> the work of the war, that Emancipation should be
+the means, and not only the best means but the holy
+<i>end</i> of the war,&mdash;I tremble, and fear neither our
+strength nor God's help will give us the victory.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 20.</i> C. amused himself and us by making two
+or three of my children who were waiting for school
+read to him upside down, which they did as readily as
+the right way.</p>
+
+<p>Just a year to-night since Mr. Philbrick spent his
+first night in this house. He has been telling us about
+it: a file of soldiers were drawn up at the gate and
+refused him admittance till his credentials were examined;
+now he is lord of the manor. I reminded the
+children to-night that a year ago they did not know
+their letters; now they are reading Hillard's Second
+Reader for the second time.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The feat of reading upside down might seem to suggest
+that they were reading Hillard's Second Reader
+for the second time chiefly by the aid of memory!</p>
+
+<p>The next letter, written by Mr. Philbrick to a Northern
+correspondent, was printed at the time on a broadside,
+for distribution.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, March 20.</i> Just a year ago to-night
+I entered this house for the first time. If our Northern
+croakers could only be made to realize as we do here
+the ease with which we have reduced a comparative
+degree of order out of the chaos we found, and see how
+ready this degraded and half-civilized race are to become
+an industrious and useful laboring class, there would
+not be so much gabble about the danger of immediate
+emancipation, or of a stampede of negro labor to the
+North.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>We found them a herd of suspicious savages who
+regarded their change of condition with fear and trembling,
+looking at the cotton-field as a life-long scene of
+unrequited toil, and hailing with delight the prospect
+of "no more driver, no more cotton, no more lickin'."
+They had broken up the cotton-gins and hidden the
+iron-work, and nothing was more remote from their
+shallow pates than the idea of planting cotton for
+"white folks" again.</p>
+
+<p>Now they have, without the least urging, prepared
+for planting some two hundred acres of cotton-land upon
+this plantation, having spread on it sixteen hundred
+ox-cart-loads of manure, and worked up every inch of
+the ground with their hoes. They have also planted one
+hundred and thirty acres of corn, and have begun
+ploughing to-day, banking up into ridges with the
+ploughs the cotton-land into which the manure had
+been first hoed. The ploughs run over twenty acres
+per day on this place. They were made at Groton, Mass.,
+and astonish the negroes by their efficiency.</p>
+
+<p>As a sample of the change of feeling in regard to
+working on cotton, I will relate how I got the cotton
+ginned on this and the various other plantations in this
+neighborhood. I walked through the negro quarters
+one day in December and told the people I would pay
+them three cents per pound of clean cotton if they
+would gin, assort, clean, and pack their cotton ready for
+market. They said in reply their gins were all broken
+up. I told them that was their own fault, and that, if
+they wanted other people to gin their cotton and get
+their seed away from the place, they would do so, and
+so get all the money and leave them no good seed to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>
+plant. "Dat' so, Massa," said they, and I passed along.
+The next time I came they had hunted up the broken
+pieces of twenty-five gins, and patched them up, and
+had ginned and packed all their cotton, in two weeks,
+wanting to know what I would have them do next,
+for they did not want to lie still and do nothing.</p>
+
+<p>So you see there is some satisfaction in being among
+these people, although they are not exactly companions
+for us.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>March 23.</i> C. came home to-night, having resigned
+his position under the Government.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>H. W.'s next letter, after describing a drive towards
+Land's End, narrates the events of her return trip as
+follows.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>March 25.</i> I opened the first gate myself, then met a
+man coming from his work, who took off his hat with
+rather a surprised look at seeing a lady alone, and an
+"Evening, Missus, how far you come from?" "From
+Coffin's Point, and am going back again&mdash;Mr. Charlie's
+sister." Whereupon another bow and a pleased grin
+as I go on. Soon I met another man coming out into
+the road with a piece of paper, which he asked me to
+read to him. I took the precaution to ask him his name
+before opening it, to be sure he had not another man's
+pass, and then read him an autograph pass from General
+Hunter for him to go to St. Helena and back to
+Hilton Head, to see his wife. He was a servant of Hunter's
+and <i>afraid of some trick</i>. He seemed satisfied, and
+thanked me. When I asked him where his wife lived
+and if he had seen her, he said, "Shum dere?" pointing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>
+to a woman hoeing, towards whom he made his
+way again. At the next gate I was cutting cherokee-roses
+before opening it, when a slight sound behind
+me attracted my attention to a boy on a mule who had
+come noiselessly up, so I got into the sulky again, and
+as he followed me along and I questioned him, found
+he was coming here to see his "aunty." In a few minutes
+a loud whistle attracted my attention and Sharper<a name="FNanchor_125_125" id="FNanchor_125_125"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_125" class="fnanchor">[125]</a>
+announced Mass' Charlie, who came cantering up behind
+me. He had sent the boy with a note to me and
+exemption-papers for the old and feeble on his places,
+as he could not go home and had met the black soldiers
+out taking the men for the draft. With Sharper
+for attendant I drove on to Pine Grove, where I gave
+C.'s note to William and the papers to distribute on both
+the Fripp places while I went on to deliver those here.
+Heard one man say to William that he wished his old
+master was back,&mdash;he was at peace then. Poor fellows!</p>
+
+<p>By the time I reached our quarters it was bright
+moonlight, and in that light I drove through the street,
+read the names on C.'s papers and the contents to the
+men named as they came out at Primus' knock. A
+little group gathered about to hear what I had to say
+as I explained to the men,&mdash;a sober, disturbed set, saying
+nothing, but receiving the explanation with a sad
+silence that went to my heart.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, March 31.</i> You see I write from my first
+home. In truth it seems like a home. Mrs. Philbrick<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>
+and Miss W., Mr. Philbrick, and Mr. Hall are here,
+besides Mr. Folsom&mdash;of '62, Harvard&mdash;who is to be
+my future house-mate. A week ago, after settling up
+all business at Captain Oliver's, I resigned my place
+of Government Superintendent, and last Friday came
+down here. To-morrow we shall take up our quarters
+at the "Pine Grove." I am going to take charge of the
+two William Fripp places. The people are old friends.
+I used to teach school for them. I think I shall like the
+work here much better; the people are far better and
+the locality less exposed to outside influences. It is
+a much better opportunity for trying the experiment of
+free black labor. I manage the places, Mr. Philbrick
+supplies money to carry them on, and at the end of the
+year, after deducting all expenses, we share the profits,
+if any.</p>
+
+<p>The draft is either taking or frightening off most of
+the men, but it should be made, I think.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>April 3.</i> C&aelig;sar came home on a furlough, and it
+was fun to see him in the street afterwards, surrounded
+by a great gang, talking away as eagerly as possible. I
+should like to have heard him, if I could have understood
+him; he had had a "firs' rate time" and he and
+January have been trying to get some of the men to go
+back with them, but they can't succeed any better than
+C. or Mr. Philbrick.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next few letters are entirely occupied with incidents
+of the draft.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p>
+<h3>E. S. P. TO C. P. W. (IN BOSTON)</h3>
+
+<p><i>April 7.</i> Nothing has been done yet about enforcing
+the draft on our island, but Captain Bryant<a name="FNanchor_126_126" id="FNanchor_126_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_126_126" class="fnanchor">[126]</a> told
+me yesterday he should probably strike the last of this
+week, taking every point at once as near as may be.
+Colonel Montgomery's regiment<a name="FNanchor_127_127" id="FNanchor_127_127"></a><a href="#Footnote_127_127" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> are given him for
+the purpose, with orders not to <i>shoot</i> except in self defense!</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>April 14.</i> The soldiers had been there [at Fripp Point]
+in the night, but had only caught old Simon and Mike,
+a boy of about fifteen, though one of them had shot at
+Dan's Peter, about seventeen, and wounded him in
+the head slightly. They went in squads all over this
+end of the island except Pine Grove and here. They
+got sixty men in all, most of them old, a waste of Uncle
+Sam's money. Of course our people here are warned
+and all off again. The white officer said they took what
+men they could get without reference to the superintendents'
+lists.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 15.</i> Hamlet's wife, Betsey, came to buy salt,
+said her husband was carried off the other night and
+she left with ten children and a "heart most broke,
+shan't live long, no way, oh my Jesus!" My new cook's
+husband was shot (and killed) as he ran away when
+the Secesh tried to make him go with them&mdash;how are
+they to understand the difference? Captain Dutch<a name="FNanchor_128_128" id="FNanchor_128_128"></a><a href="#Footnote_128_128" class="fnanchor">[128]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>
+says he thinks that six or eight have gone onto the
+Main from this island; they openly say, some of them,
+that they wish the old times were back again.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 23.</i> The men at Fripp Point are said to have fired
+on the soldiers from their houses. They are very bitter
+that negroes should be sent against them. They would
+not mind white men, they say. R. has persuaded all his
+men to go up to Beaufort,<a name="FNanchor_129_129" id="FNanchor_129_129"></a><a href="#Footnote_129_129" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> and only a few were retained.
+The rest have come back as happy as kings&mdash;no
+more bush for them! I wish all would do the
+same.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 29.</i> Mr. Philbrick went off to the wharf before
+breakfast, and as he was coming back met Phillis on her
+way to tell the men who were at work on it that the soldiers
+had come. As we sat down to lunch we could see
+the gleaming of the bayonets as they came through the
+first gate, and Primus sent up to say that he was taken
+and wanted Mr. Philbrick to come down. Mr. G. appeared
+from Pine Grove, where they had taken only
+two men, who will probably be let off. Soon William
+appeared, saying they had been at the Point, too, but
+had got no one. Mr. Philbrick rowed down to the
+[Fripp Point] quarters and presently returned with
+Captain Hoyt and Captain Thompson, who were very
+tired, to lunch. They all received him very crustily and
+coldly at first, but they were prejudiced against him
+and vexed at their want of success, and I think it did
+something towards removing ill feelings to see him.
+When they reached the nigger-house here, where the
+men [the soldiers], about fifty, had been waiting, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>
+found they had tracked two men down through the
+marsh from Fripp Point and caught them just here,
+after shooting one. The people were in a wild state of
+confusion. The soldiers had been telling our people
+all sorts of stories&mdash;that they had orders to shoot
+because Mr. Philbrick had said in Beaufort that he
+had a battery here to defend his people, etc. They
+came flocking round him, all women of course, and
+all talking at once to try and get at the truth of things,
+and Mr. Philbrick had to quiet them before he could
+make out a word. Then Amaritta naturally stood forward
+as spokeswoman to get "satisfaction," and they
+were easily made to understand that the soldiers had
+been telling lies, and their confidence in Mr. Philbrick
+quieted them.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, May 1.</i> We are led to admire more than
+ever the cool discrimination of the General commanding
+the Department. The other day some officer conceived
+the idea that the superintendents of St. Helena
+in general, and W. C. G. in particular, were opposing
+the draft, <i>employing</i> able-bodied men, etc.; also that
+shots had been fired at the black soldiers on his plantation.
+It was so represented to General Hunter, and
+he ordered on the spot that he should be arrested and
+sent out of the Department. Fortunately Captain Bryant,
+who was to have executed the order, was a man of
+sense and consulted Captain Hooper, who told him
+that General Saxton didn't want to spare Mr. G., and
+that as he had no written orders he had better hold on.
+The editor of the <i>Free South</i> has been amusing him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>self
+by throwing out owlish insinuations to the effect
+that speculators and others on St. Helena had better
+take heed of General Hunter's orders, for the prospective
+profits of a speedy fortune would hardly warrant
+the risk, etc., etc.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next paragraph gives another version of the
+search for black recruits.</p></div>
+
+<p>Captain Thompson came to Coffin's on Wednesday
+with about fifty men. They caught no one but Primus,
+who felt safe and didn't hide. If he had behaved himself
+he wouldn't have been taken, but got into a passion
+and talked so wild that he was taken out of punishment
+for his impudence, and then held on the ground
+that his influence must be against the draft, and as he
+was foreman, his power must be considerable! Captain
+Thompson pretended to have orders to shoot men running,
+and scoured the Fripp Point place through Lieutenant
+O. E. Bryant and some black soldiers. They
+met no young men except Sancho and Josh, whom
+they chased down into the marsh opposite Coffin
+nigger-house, and then shot Josh. He was taken with a
+bullet in his leg and a buckshot in his head, carried
+to the village, and placed under Dr. Bundy's care.
+Of course, Sancho was taken, too, and brought up to
+camp. He had an Enfield rifle with him, and admits
+that he fired it to "scare away the soldiers," after
+Josh was hit, but not before. The black soldiers all say
+he fired first, and no white man was present to see.
+I came up to lay the matter before the General, but
+he is not well. Captain Hooper has taken it in hand and
+promises to investigate it. The Major of the Second<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>
+Regiment<a name="FNanchor_130_130" id="FNanchor_130_130"></a><a href="#Footnote_130_130" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> was down here, but I couldn't see him.
+He may have given such orders to Thompson as he pretends.
+They seem to have got enraged because they
+couldn't find any men on those three plantations after
+having been quartered at the village for two weeks,
+and imputed their want of success to G. and myself.
+I shouldn't be surprised if I am ordered out of the
+Department at any moment.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Then comes the sequel.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 17.</i> Primus has come home. He deserted a week
+ago and has been all that time getting here. He says
+that he has not drilled but once since he was taken to
+camp, that he has been sick all the time, but that he has
+not been in the hospital. Of course, not being volunteers,
+there is a great deal of shamming, and they have
+to be very strict; in short, they pursue the old masters'
+system of believing they lie until it is proved they have
+spoken the truth,&mdash;a most elevating process! and he
+had a large blister put on the back of his neck and was
+kept in his tent. Finally Captain Hoyt took him to
+Colonel Montgomery and told him that he thought
+the man was really sick and not fit to be kept, but the
+Colonel was very short with him and said drill was the
+best cure for him. Then Primus ran away, and is now
+in his bed here. Mr. Philbrick has seen him and says
+it is impossible to tell whether he is sick or not, but he
+understands fully the consequences of desertion, and
+that Mr. Philbrick and C. cannot employ him again.
+Mr. Philbrick told him that he should not inform<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>
+against him, but that if the officers asked him if he had
+come home he should have to tell them that he had.
+"I know dat, massa, but I won't stay dere." He understands
+that we are helpless. He says, and we have
+learned in other ways, that all who were drafted have
+been deserting. One day they brought in fourteen, and
+the next day twelve of them had gone, and the next
+the other two. They can't pretend to get them back
+again, and of course the demoralization must be great.
+It will be very bad for Primus now, if they do not take
+him, to live on here an outlaw, working his wife's cotton
+but not able to resume his plow or his old position in
+any way&mdash;yet if he is taken again he will never make
+a good soldier. The whole thing is wrong from the
+foundation, and should be given up, and all those who
+did not volunteer sent to their homes&mdash;if any are then
+left in the regiments. Yet I don't see how that could
+be done unless Hunter went off, and some other Major
+General repealed his orders.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>To return to matters of plantation management.</p>
+
+<p>C. P. W. had recently been sent home by Mr. Philbrick
+to buy and send a schooner-load of provisions,
+merchandise, etc., for the "store." He found himself
+"an object of regard and curiosity," "engaged out
+to dinner and tea to 'talk Port Royal' many days
+ahead." Apropos of the things he bought for Coffin's
+Point, he wrote:</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>C. P. W. TO E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston</i>, [<i>April 27.</i>] I received permission from the
+Secretary of the Treasury to ship the powder, shot,
+saddle, bridle, tar, pitch, and rope, but I had to consign
+these, with the hats, to General Saxton, from whom<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>
+you will have to obtain an order for them. The tobacco,
+shoes, rice, and buggy are not contraband. They were
+going to stop the hats, on the ground that they were
+"adapted for military uniforms," and I had to get a
+"character" from one of my friends, a clerk in the
+Custom House, and then assure the crusty old Collector
+that the hats were not to be used for any illegal purpose,
+before he would let them pass.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove, May 17.</i> The schooner has but just come
+round to Coffin's, and the rain has prevented our
+plundering her with energy. But Friday I got up my
+molasses and gave some out yesterday. You ought to
+have seen the little ones dance as the mothers came
+home with their piggins full. We are going to give
+some molasses and bacon monthly for the present,&mdash;in
+lieu of an increase of wages. Most of the proprietors
+are offering rather better terms than the Government,&mdash;some
+in money, others in a larger share of the crop.
+We keep the Government scale of prices, but give them
+the "poke" and "sweet'ning," and I think have touched
+their sensibilities much more certainly thereby.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>This same day Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick left Port
+Royal and went home. The next extracts are from two
+of H. W.'s letters, full of details about the home life
+and the wonderful ways of the "people."</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>June 10.</i> As we drove up under the shade of a buttonwood-tree
+[at Fripp Point] we found a group of children
+under it, three or four boys and girls washing at wash-tubs,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>
+others sitting round taking care of younger children.
+They were just like children all over the world,<a name="FNanchor_131_131" id="FNanchor_131_131"></a><a href="#Footnote_131_131" class="fnanchor">[131]</a>
+playing and teasing each other, but very good-naturedly,
+and as happy as you please. This weather the children
+wear nothing but a shift or shirt, and the other day
+Lewis and Cicero appeared in the yard entirely naked.
+Aunt Sally, from Eddings Point, amused us with her
+queer, wild talk a long time. The story is that she was
+made crazy by her master's whipping her daughter to
+death, and very sad it was to hear her talk, though it
+was funny. She knows any number of hymns and parts
+of the Bible, and jumbles scraps and lines from the
+one with Genesis and Revelation in the most extraordinary
+manner, talking about Mr. Adam and Madam
+Eve, who brought her and her race all their woe, whom
+she knows but will never forgive. She stands and reads
+everything out of her "heart-book," which she says
+tells her everything, looking all the time at her left hand,
+which she holds out like a book. Her epithets against
+her old master and the rebels were voluble and denunciatory
+in the extreme, and she left us with many
+warnings to remember "Det and de Jugment." I had
+sent for the "Widow Bedotte," to whom I presented
+some tobacco and who was very funny indeed. She is
+in her right mind and delights in making herself agreeable.
+I wish I could describe to you this extraordinary
+specimen of humanity&mdash;a short little old body with
+an intelligent face&mdash;all her wool carefully concealed
+by an enormous turban, from beneath each side of
+which hung four black strings, looking like an imitation<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>
+frisette of false curls, her odd figure enveloped in shawl
+and cape, rubbing her hands nervously and sinking
+into the floor, as it seemed, as she curtseyed to us
+lower than I ever saw anybody go and get up again
+straight. And then her conversation and manner were
+as comical as her appearance.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Another characteristic of the "Widow Bedotte"
+H. W. describes elsewhere.</p></div>
+
+<p>She prides herself upon her good manners, which
+she says she gets because she belongs to the church,
+which every now and then she joins again. She has
+just done so here, so is full of extra flourishes.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>On June 12 Hunter was replaced by Brigadier-General
+Quincy A. Gillmore.<a name="FNanchor_132_132" id="FNanchor_132_132"></a><a href="#Footnote_132_132" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> Here follow comments
+on Hunter's last acts before leaving, as well as on the
+impression made by his successor.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 28.</i> Mr. Williams brought word that Hunter has
+issued an order to all civilians to enter the army or leave
+the Department! Twenty days' notice. You need not
+be afraid of C.'s enlisting here; he wouldn't do it
+"first." I don't think many of the superintendents
+would now like to serve under Hunter. He imprisoned
+two of them upon the evidence of their people without
+inquiring into the matter, and ignored Saxton in the
+most insulting manner. Mr. Hammond was released
+by a court-martial with honor.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 30.</i> In the evening came a note from R. saying<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>
+that there was no danger from the draft for the superintendents,
+but they would probably have to get exemption-papers.</p>
+
+<p><i>June 20.</i> C. came home after church Sunday with
+the information that General Gillmore had given out
+that he should carry out Hunter's orders, but that he
+took the liberty of believing a white man as well as a
+negro!</p>
+
+<p><i>June 24.</i> We hear but little about the new General.
+He is General Saxton's junior in rank, but a fine engineer,
+so it is supposed he was sent to conduct the siege
+of Charleston.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The siege of Charleston,&mdash;another attempt,
+"prompted more by sentiment than military sagacity,"
+to capture "the city in which the secession had
+begun,"<a name="FNanchor_133_133" id="FNanchor_133_133"></a><a href="#Footnote_133_133" class="fnanchor">[133]</a>&mdash;is the subject of the next dozen extracts.
+The expedition failed to justify the high hopes that
+accompanied it, yet one event in it has attained undying
+fame.</p>
+
+<p>When, in the first week of July, all the troops left
+Hilton Head, Land's End, and Port Royal Island, the
+regiment followed with the keenest interest by the
+writers of these letters was the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts
+(colored), Colonel Robert G. Shaw.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>July 10.</i> It was strange to be waked this morning by
+the incessant, thundering roar of heavy guns. It was
+just at sunrise, and as I gradually woke to the full
+realization of what it must be&mdash;though as it mingled
+in my dreams, I was conscious that our masked batteries
+had opened at last&mdash;it was very exciting to feel my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>
+bed shake under me from such a cause. I could hear
+the people talking excitedly in the yard. About seven
+o'clock the heavy firing ceased, and we hoped that
+Morris Island was ours. C. went to the beach and
+reported a very heavy cloud of smoke resting in the
+direction of "Town."</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The following extract is a good specimen of the
+groundless rumors, all with copious circumstantial
+evidence, that infested the islands.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 11.</i> About ten o'clock came Juno's daughter
+Fanny from "Pope's" to spend Sunday, bringing us
+the apparently reliable intelligence that "Town taken."
+It seemed too much to believe, but her story was this:
+her aunt, Juno's sister, and one of Dr. Whitredge's
+servants, is washing at Hilton Head and was there
+yesterday, when a vessel came from Charleston with
+the news and many people (prisoners, we infer), and the
+first who came ashore were Mass' Alonso and Mass'
+John, Whitredge, who said to her, "How d' ye!" She
+says that five boat-loads put off to the Yankees and gave
+themselves up. "Mass' John know too much to fight
+'gainst de Yankee&mdash;him get college at de Nort'&mdash;him
+say him got no nigger&mdash;him no gwine fight." It is
+preposterous to write you all this. You will know
+everything with certainty before this reaches you.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 12.</i> The good news was most welcome from
+Vicksburg and Pennsylvania, and our attack on Morris
+Island was successful, if Town was not taken; but
+Colonel Higginson's attempt to reach the railroad was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>
+a failure,<a name="FNanchor_134_134" id="FNanchor_134_134"></a><a href="#Footnote_134_134" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> and he was wounded, thought not, it is said,
+badly.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The successful attack on Morris Island on July 10
+had resulted in the occupation of all the ground south
+of Fort Wagner. On July 18 was made the famous
+assault on the fort itself,&mdash;an assault hopeless from
+the start,&mdash;in which the attacking column was led
+by the Massachusetts negro regiment, its colonel at its
+head.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>July 20.</i> C. came back with the terrible accounts
+of the Charleston fight and the almost total destruction
+of the Fifty-Fourth. Beaufort<a name="FNanchor_135_135" id="FNanchor_135_135"></a><a href="#Footnote_135_135" class="fnanchor">[135]</a> is in amaze at the spirit
+of "that little fellow, Colonel Shaw." Certainly it is
+one of the most splendid things ever known in the annals
+of warfare. I long to be doing, and not living so
+at our ease here. C. offered everything, and Mr. Eustis
+has been with Hallowell and James<a name="FNanchor_136_136" id="FNanchor_136_136"></a><a href="#Footnote_136_136" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> all day. The
+greatest want is of physicians&mdash;there is no proper
+medical staff for the Department, and surgeons are
+scarce. Drs. Bundy and Wakefield were sent for yesterday.
+The officers are in the Fripp house, where the
+Forbeses were.</p>
+
+<p>There has been very heavy firing again to-day. You
+see we hear it all, though sometimes very faintly.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 24.</i> William took farewell of his schools and
+came home, having received six dozen eggs as tokens
+of regret&mdash;an ovation at his departure.<a name="FNanchor_137_137" id="FNanchor_137_137"></a><a href="#Footnote_137_137" class="fnanchor">[137]</a> He left them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>
+to go up to the sick and wounded to-morrow with contributions
+from the people. All vegetables, etc., are
+seized by the Provost and paid for, for the use of the
+sick, and there is some one on this side the ferry to
+receive the gifts. We send all we can, but it is unsatisfactory
+not to be on the spot.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 25.</i> William is just off for Beaufort. He will
+stay to watch to-night, if needed. But "no ladies" is
+the cry.</p>
+
+<p>[Later.] William went to the hospital for the officers,
+of which Dr. Bundy has charge, where he was set to
+watch and administer to a very badly wounded captain
+of the Forty-Eighth New York, Paxton by name. He
+cannot live, and knows it, but bears his terrible wounds
+with the utmost fortitude. William was with him Saturday
+and Sunday, parts of the day, and G. and Wells
+divided the night between them. Everything seems to
+be well conducted, and the hospitals in good order. I
+suppose the <i>Fulton</i>, which is expected daily, will bring
+supplies and surgeons. Captain Hooper is invaluable&mdash;busy
+as possible, as he always is&mdash;I don't know
+what the Department would be without him. Yet he
+found time to write me a long note to tell me about
+the wounded, and that there was no doubt of Colonel
+Shaw's death.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Beaufort, July 26.</i> Last night several of us passed in
+Beaufort at the hospitals. The wounded have been
+brought down and all the hospitals in Beaufort are full.
+Wednesday we heard at the superintendents' meeting
+that there was a great scarcity of fresh fruits and vegetables;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>
+so at the Thursday night praise I told the
+people about it, and yesterday came up with nearly
+two cartloads of provisions, most of it contributed by
+the people. Another gentleman had done the same and
+between us we supplied five hospitals. It is my first
+experience in such work. It's surprising to see how
+cheerful and jolly all the wounded are&mdash;all who have
+any strength. A wound means home and a vacation to
+many of them, and with few exceptions these men with
+holes in them lie on their beds like boys waiting for the
+word which gives them recess. To-night I shall try
+to go to one of the colored hospitals.</p>
+
+<p>A boat is just in from Charleston. A cartel of exchange
+had been agreed upon, by which all the wounded
+on our side were to be exchanged for all the wounded
+upon the other, so that reference to negro soldiers is
+avoided. The negro soldiers appear to have received
+the same care as the white; on the other hand, some
+of the rebel officers told with much gusto how Colonel
+Shaw's body had been thrown into a common pit and
+those of two of his men tossed on top of him.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 31.</i> In at our open door walked Captain Hooper,
+and with him Captain Rand of the First Cavalry, now
+on General Saxton's staff. Captain Rand told us
+that our wounded who came down from Charleston
+had been miserably cared for&mdash;the rebels acknowledged
+that they could not take care of them. The
+surgeon said but one man had been properly operated
+upon, and his wound had been dressed by one of the
+navy surgeons, a prisoner. No men or officers of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>
+Fifty-Fourth among them: they said the officers we
+should hear of by way of Richmond; the men, I suspect,
+are not. No one knows who are among the dead
+or living&mdash;only that Colonel Shaw is dead, and probably
+Cabot Russel. It is said to have been a very imposing
+sight, when, in the midst of heavy firing from
+every fort, battery, and gunboat on each side, the
+<i>Cosmopolitan</i>, with the rebel wounded on board, her
+hospital flag and flag of truce flying, steamed up toward
+the city. Instantly every gun ceased, and white
+flags appeared from each fort and ship till she had
+passed, met the rebel steamer (a very fine one, which
+had run the blockade in the morning!), exchanged her
+wounded cargo, and returned.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>To give complete the story of the siege of Charleston
+as seen from St. Helena Island, some letters have
+been included in advance of their chronological place
+in the series. Therefore the next letter goes back to an
+earlier date.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 3.</i> We were all standing at the back door when
+a small crowd became visible at the first gate. We
+watched to discover what it meant, as it was an unmistakable
+"gang" drawing nearer. 'Siah's boy had
+come over from the Point to tell C. that some white
+soldiers were there from the village stealing corn, etc.,
+after the manner of the soldiers in this region, but so
+far our plantations have been very free from such depredations
+C. had just told Tony that he did not feel
+well enough to go over, and that the men would be
+gone before he could get there&mdash;and turning to Mr.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>
+Soule he said that those Point men were just the men
+to catch white soldiers, if they could do it, and he should
+not be surprised if they did. The words were hardly
+out of his mouth before the "gang" appeared, so you
+may imagine we watched it with great curiosity as it
+drew near. On they came, a compact body of people,
+among whom we tried to discover some white faces.
+Presently the gleaming of muskets was distinctly visible,
+and as one of the men stepped forward and threw
+the gate wide open for the company to pass through,
+three white soldiers appeared in the front ranks. They
+were all perfectly quiet, not a word was said; and as
+C. ran down the steps to receive them and they came
+to a halt, the men brought the muskets to the ground
+and the women emptied their aprons of corn-shucks at
+his feet, waiting quietly for him to do what he thought
+right. I did not hear one loud or angry tone while I
+stood listening as C. heard their story and then questioned
+the soldiers. They were perfectly quiet, too,&mdash;young
+fellows from the One Hundred and Fourth
+Pennsylvania Volunteers, a new regiment,&mdash;and they
+evidently thought that C. was a person of authority or
+the blacks would not have marched them three miles
+to him. He took from them their dirks and pistols,
+and the musket which one of them had, and they
+made no resistance&mdash;nor did they say a word when
+he called to me for "three pair of hand-cuffs" (all
+he brought down), and asked the three men from the
+Point who had guns, if they would stay and guard
+them all night. It was rather a troublesome elephant
+and he did not quite know what to do with it now
+it was in his possession. It was a good chance to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>
+do something if he would be sustained, but General
+Saxton has not conferred any magisterial powers<a name="FNanchor_138_138" id="FNanchor_138_138"></a><a href="#Footnote_138_138" class="fnanchor">[138]</a>
+on the superintendents yet, and if he undertook too
+much and was not sustained, it would be worse than
+nothing. At any rate, he would have to take them to
+the village in the morning, so he decided to do so that
+night, and went off with his prisoners and their guard,
+driving his light sulky, and carrying the light arms, one
+of the men taking the musket again. He did not use
+the hand-cuffs.</p>
+
+<p>It was strange to see how very quiet and apparently
+unexcited the people were. After the first few minutes
+they came up to me to buy, and then all went off when
+C. did, as quickly as possible.</p>
+
+<p><i>July 5.</i> When two buckra were reported as approaching
+while we were at breakfast it turned out to be two
+men from the village picket with a note from the Lieutenant
+to C. I did not find out the sequel to the story
+the other night, but it seems that C. and William crossed
+the creek with the soldiers, only taking two men to
+row. The blacks certainly behaved extremely well,
+and Moll told the men they might have the corn, which
+of course they refused to take. And as they went into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>
+the boat a boy put in the watermelon they had taken,
+saying, "B'longs to you, sah," but the man sent it ashore.
+The coals were rather hot, I guess, and the men were
+heartily ashamed of themselves and thoroughly penitent.
+C. went with them to the mess-room and saw the
+sergeant, who expressed great regret and said it was
+the first time any of their men had been guilty of such
+acts. The Lieutenant was away, and as C. drew paper
+towards him to report the case in writing, they looked
+very blank and begged him not to report. After some
+consideration he concluded not to report them, as he
+could not see the Lieutenant and they had behaved
+so well about it, and told them he would not unless
+some further acts of the kind were perpetrated by their
+men. They were very grateful, but C. did not feel sure
+that the Lieutenant would not hear of it. And so he
+did, in some way; investigated the affair and sent the
+men to Beaufort to be punished by the Commander
+of the post, who is now not General Saxton but, as it
+happens, is their own Colonel,<a name="FNanchor_139_139" id="FNanchor_139_139"></a><a href="#Footnote_139_139" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> who is not likely to be
+lenient towards them. The Lieutenant sent a note to
+this effect to C. this morning, and also wished to know
+what would repay the negroes for the damage done.
+(The soldiers had already promised to make it good
+to them, and were to have been paid off yesterday, but
+their pay was stopped in consequence of this very occurrence.)
+So the whole affair has ended very satisfactorily.
+I am sorry for the poor fellows, for they will probably
+suffer not so much for what they actually did themselves,
+but to serve as an example to all other offenders.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>July 7.</i> Mr. Wells was to come at nine o'clock to the
+wharf to take Mr. Soule<a name="FNanchor_140_140" id="FNanchor_140_140"></a><a href="#Footnote_140_140" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> to Morgan Island, one of his
+plantations. Mr. Wells appeared at the door to say
+that he had a large sail-boat&mdash;it was only a half-hour's
+sail to the island, and would not I go too. So I put up
+a little lunch and C. had his horse saddled and down
+to the wharf we went, and were soon at our destination.
+The only white-house on the island now occupied
+is on quite a bluff looking directly out to sea,
+pleasantly shaded, with a fresh breeze all the time up
+the Sound, and is a very healthy situation. But the
+house is of the roughest description, without paint inside
+or out, very much like a New Hampshire farmhouse
+in the back-woods a quarter of a century ago,
+but not so large, clean, or thrifty-looking, by any means.
+Here we stopped to see an old man who was brought
+from Africa when he was over twenty, and remembers
+his life in his own country, from which he was sold
+by his brother to pay a debt. Mr. Soule said he was
+bright and talkative when he last saw him, but now
+he is very much broken; and after sitting a few minutes
+we went on to the driver's house, a great contrast in
+neatness, and the gentleman left me in a rocking-chair
+under the shade of the large Asia-berry tree in front
+of the house, while they went off with Bacchus, the
+foreman, to see the cotton-fields. Here I stayed for a
+couple of hours, I should think, talking with Elsie,
+Bacchus' wife, who was not in the field because she
+had a headache, and very neat and nice she looked in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>
+her calico gown. She has no children, but made up
+for the want as far as she could by the number of chickens
+and ducks she had round. By and bye she got up,
+and picking up a piece of brick, pounded it up with
+an axe, and began to clean a large knife, which I knew
+meant watermelon. And when the gentlemen came
+back, Bacchus brought out a small table and put a
+melon on it which was almost large enough for a tablecloth;
+then he produced plates, and Mr. Wells carved
+the huge monster, which we nearly devoured. The air
+and grace with which one of the men, who came up
+to clear off the table for Mr. Wells to pay the people,
+touched his hat with a bow and a scrape would not have
+misbecome a Commencement Dinner or Wedding Party.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The keen interest which these Northern interlopers
+took in everything that concerned the people into whose
+shoes they had stepped, and their constant sense of
+the strangeness and romance of their situation appear
+in the extracts that follow. Again the chronology of
+the letters has been somewhat disregarded.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 14.</i> G. came over here and spent the day. He
+told us that a man who belonged on his place came
+back with the troops on one of their late expeditions,
+and told him that his master, T. J. Fripp, was killed
+at Darien. He said he (Fripp) had been past here in
+a boat and came back with his hands all blistered from
+rowing; they had been hailed by the <i>Kingfisher</i>, but
+told some story of having come from here, and escaped.
+He said his master swore the Yankees were everywhere,
+and that there was a light in every window of Tom
+Coffin's house.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Sept. 30.</i> I heard the other day that Captain
+Boutelle of the Coast Survey, who used to enjoy
+the hospitality of the planters of St. Helena, Edisto,
+etc., was dining at Cambridge, Mass., with a classmate
+of T. A. C.'s. The host inquired what had become of
+the Captain's former friends, the South Carolina planters.
+"Oh, they are all scattered and their property
+ruined." "Well, what has become of my classmate,
+Thomas A. Coffin?" "Oh, he is gone with the rest,
+and his fine plantation is in the hands of that confounded
+Abolitionist, Philbrick."</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 10.</i> William has been overhauling the old letters
+and papers in the garret and has come across
+many very interesting bits of information among them.
+They are mostly very old. Old plantation books of
+Mr. Eben Coffin, the first proprietor of the name of
+this estate, dated 1800, containing lists of the slaves
+of former generations, in which some of the oldest
+here now, like Uncle Sam, are mentioned as two years
+old; estimates for this house and the building in the
+yard, etc.</p>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 5.</i> C. has found a spike of papers in the
+old overseer house, on which he and Mr. Soule are
+now expending their eyesight. Letters from Mr. Coffin
+to Cockloft, etc. They have found out how much
+he was paid for the year&mdash;also some references to
+an exciting time on Frogmore where the overseer<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>
+seems to have mismanaged&mdash;somebody was shot and
+there was a trial! We shall ask the negroes about
+it all.</p>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 6.</i> I entertained myself to-day reading over
+these same letters. It made me feel very queerly&mdash;they
+were mostly written during the summer of 1860,
+from Charleston and Newport. It seemed so short a
+time ago, and every thing and person spoken of about
+the plantation was so familiar. It seems that the overseer
+of Frogmore, Benjarola Chaplin, was a bad man,
+and, suspecting a boy and girl there of poisoning him,
+had them tried and sentenced to be hung without letting
+Mr. Coffin know anything about it. We find that
+the sentence was not executed,&mdash;for Peter and Katy
+are still living,&mdash;but don't know why they were pardoned,
+though apparently there was no proof of their
+guilt.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 22.</i> This morning I had a call from Henry,
+Mr. Coffin's old cook, a very intelligent mulatto who
+wanted me to read some letters to him and then talked
+a little while about Mrs. Coffin, to whom he seems very
+much attached, and says he would serve her to the end
+of his days. He and his wife would like to go North
+to her, and he was very glad to hear from Captain Boutelle
+that she was safe there; he says she suffered so
+the last part of the time she was here, he could not bear
+to look at her. "The first Mrs. Coffin was a very nice
+lady, but she <i>succeed</i> her." He talks very well. He
+was much pleased that I offered to write to her for him
+sometime, and said he had not liked to ask any one to
+do so for fear they should not think it right to have
+anything to do with the old people&mdash;"but she's a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>
+Nort' lady, you know, Ma'am, a beautiful lady, I would
+serve her all my life."</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 27.</i> Have I told you of an interesting talk we
+had from one Pompey, who said that it was the poor
+whites in Beaufort who made the negroes "sensible"
+about the war? That if it had not been for them he
+should have believed his master and gone away with
+him, but that they let him into the secret.<a name="FNanchor_141_141" id="FNanchor_141_141"></a><a href="#Footnote_141_141" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> He says that
+[the poor whites] wished to stay, but were driven off
+by the rich men, whom they hate, and are now in the
+ranks fighting the rich men's battles. He has heard
+several times from the Main, through his old fellow
+servants who have run off, and mentioned two or three
+of the old proprietors here who are now in jail for trying
+to escape, among them Dr. Clarence Fripp, of whom
+they all speak with great affection. He never wanted
+to go, but was carried off by his brothers, one of whom,
+Eddings, has since died.</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 15.</i> As soon after breakfast as Robert had finished
+his regular work we mounted two pair of stairs
+"to clear up the attic." Do you think you know what
+that means? You have not the least idea. So far as
+we can make out, this house was built in 1809, and I
+think Robert dragged out from under the eaves the
+original shavings. It was melancholy to see the spoiled
+and demolished furniture which would be of so much
+use to us now, bureaus without drawers, sofas with
+only the frames, and those all broken, pieces of washstands
+and bedsteads, etc.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>It seems that such wonders were afterwards performed
+in renovating this broken furniture that the
+parlor became almost a parody of its ancient splendor.</p>
+
+<p>The letters now return to chronological order.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 18.</i> The cotton-fields are quite full of yellow
+and pink blossoms. We rode through many cotton-fields,
+and a pretty sight they were, some good, some
+poor,&mdash;those belonging to the Government as a general
+thing showing marked inferiority to those of the
+"Concern."</p>
+
+<p>C. has been in the field all day, and has come home
+with a strong feeling of how much the people in general
+have gained and improved in the last year. There
+are poor ones among them, of course,&mdash;some he says
+he should like to send off the place, another year; but
+the majority of the people are very much ashamed of
+them, and for some time have been very anxious he
+should go over the fields to see who "work for deir
+money and who shirk." To-night he has been distributing
+the pork and molasses and has refused the
+bonus to those who have not done their work properly,
+preferring to make the distinction here rather
+than in the pay, and most of the delinquents have
+appreciated the justice of the proceeding, only one
+or two making any fuss at all, and the others were
+very much ashamed of them. C. says he thinks that
+school has improved the children, too, their manners
+are improved, as have the grown people's,&mdash;less
+cringing and subservient, but more respectful and
+manly. Tim does not pull his forelock at every word<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>
+he speaks, as he did last year, looking like a whipped
+dog, but looks you full in the face and speaks out as
+if he were not ashamed of himself, and is perfectly respectful
+withal.</p>
+
+<p>The names of the people have often puzzled me as
+to what they were originally intended for, and in taking
+down the names of the children "Rode" puzzled
+me completely, until old Maria, in talking of her "crop"
+the other day, told me that one child was born in the
+<i>road</i> on the way from the field the day "gun fire at
+Bay Point, and I give him name o' Road"!</p>
+
+<p>I don't think any of the heirs will find that these
+people are deteriorated when they redeem this property.
+I only hope young Mass' Julian, who is in Europe,
+will be glad to find them so far in training for free
+laborers and be grateful that they are not ruined, as
+some of the people are!</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 3.</i> The people say, all in good earnest, that the
+best of the [cotton] crop (including nine tenths of it)
+equals and excels the "Secesh own." There are a few
+lazy, who have allowed their crop to grow grassy, and
+some young ones, who need careful instruction or severe
+admonition from the elder ones. But the large majority
+are careful, faithful, honest, enthusiastic, and are doing
+much better for themselves than they would have for
+their "obershere." The people anxiously inquire for
+cotton sheets to pick in. They are hiring hands now
+to pick for them; some of them will be tight pushed
+to save all their crop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove, Aug. 22.</i> We are all very busy, all day
+and every day. And it is well that it is so, for in this
+climate the only way to keep one's faculties from rust
+is to keep them constantly in use. It is encouraging,
+however, to find the good results of our labor so apparent.
+I think our people are improving very fast,
+and they are very contented and happy. (Next week
+don't be surprised, however, to find the thermometer
+lower.)</p>
+
+<p>A great step has lately been taken. On the whole
+the people have been growing more lawless this year;
+to remedy the evil, civil law has just been introduced.
+The first Commission<a name="FNanchor_142_142" id="FNanchor_142_142"></a><a href="#Footnote_142_142" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> was appointed a few days ago,
+and as I am one of its members, it gives occupation
+for another day or two days of a week. I hope it will
+be able to do much good; at all events it will be abundantly
+supplied with cases. This life is very narrowing,&mdash;we
+talk nothing but negro, we think nothing but
+negro; and yet it develops a man at almost every point.
+From house-carpenter to Chief Justice is a long way.
+And in one who uses the opportunity aright it develops
+patience and faith marvelously, but through many
+failures.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 15.</i> Just as we got up from the dinner-table,
+a woman came running up for C. because the people
+were fighting. Poor thing! she was dreadfully frightened
+and had run the whole way with her baby in her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>
+arms and looked as if she had just stepped out of the
+river. I don't know what the trouble was&mdash;it was the
+tongues of the women, and they fired shells and tore
+each other's clothes in a most disgraceful way, much
+to the mortification of the better part of the community.
+Jealousy is the foundation of a great deal of trouble
+among them, and there is often too much foundation
+for it.</p>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 31.</i> Mr. Soule had planned to go to Beaufort
+and see the General, and C. wished especially to get
+permission to turn all the young men from outlaws
+into private citizens by employing them and paying
+them regularly, for he could not help their aiding their
+wives and being employed by each other, a species of
+evasion which was eminently calculated to give them
+high ideas of the power and value of the law in the hands
+of the present authorities&mdash;C. helpless, and they doing
+as they pleased! It looked like rain, however, and
+they gave it up for that day.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 1.</i> We had breakfast very early, and Mr. Soule
+and C. went off, to discover as usual that our clock was
+about an hour fast! I thought I would go out and dine
+and see how Mr. G. was, as he had had a fever turn.
+So I mounted and started alone on my expedition, after
+carefully locking the house. It was cloudy and cool,
+but I found my beast beastly hard, so had to content
+myself with a walk. It was very pleasant, as I rode
+along, to see how brightly the people looked up to
+bow and speak. First old Richard in the overseer-yard,
+watching the arbors, as they are called&mdash;the frames
+where the cotton is spread out to dry; then men and
+women coming from the field with great sheets of cotton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>
+on their heads which made them almost unrecognizable,
+little Susie staggering under such a pile that I
+saw she never could get it onto her head again alone as
+she was, if I asked her to put it down and run back
+to open the gate for me, so after more than one trial I
+succeeded in opening it for myself. Then I took my
+sack off and rode in my white jacket, putting the sack
+round the pummel and fastening it there by the extra
+stirrup which, as the only saddle we had for a long
+time, was rigged onto it for Mr. Philbrick and still
+remains, a relic of our early, barbarous days. But in
+a canter I lost it off, and had to call a child to pick it
+up for me. Then Miller came along, going out to help
+his "old woman" pick cotton, and walked by my side
+talking of the fine crop, and that next year there would
+not be land enough for the people&mdash;"dey work better
+nor Secesh time&mdash;encouragement so good!" He was
+as bright and jolly as you ever saw any honest farmer
+when his crops were in fine condition, and as we came
+in sight of Phillis and Katy, his wife and daughter, and
+Amaritta in a task just behind them, the latter called
+out to him, "Hi! Hi! bru' Miller, where you go? my
+back mos' broke!" as if it were the pleasantest news
+in the world. He answered, "Oh, I go walk, I got
+people pick my cotton," with such a hearty ha! ha! as
+did me good to hear. Many of the men laugh just like
+little children&mdash;Abel does. Next came Nancy, Peg,
+and Doll, Demus' mother and sisters, and such a nice
+family&mdash;the bright, smiling faces they raised to me
+and the cheerful "Hahdy, Missus," was worth seeing
+and hearing, and when Nancy sent Peg running after
+me to open the gate I was "fighting" with, she looked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>
+so bright, strong, and handsome as she strode along
+so splendidly, her dress caught up at the waist and let
+down from the shoulders, that I wished I could daguerreotype
+her on the spot.</p>
+
+<p>I found Mr. G. in a very decided chill on the sofa in
+front of the parlor fire. I stayed an hour or two, and
+then, the fever coming on quite severely and affecting
+his head a good deal, I rode home as fast as possible to
+signal for Dr. Westcott.<a name="FNanchor_143_143" id="FNanchor_143_143"></a><a href="#Footnote_143_143" class="fnanchor">[143]</a> I could not get through the
+cotton-field, however, without being stopped two or
+three times by applications for "suthin" for this child's
+boils or that one's sore eyes, all of which I referred to
+the house, where I afterwards administered to the best
+of my knowledge&mdash;one of my constant occupations.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Soule and C. came back, with no news from
+Charleston, having found the General and his staff just
+starting on a visit to the scene of action, but C. had
+obtained permission to employ the men and made
+them very happy the next day by telling them so.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 5.</i> I have been endeavoring to instill habits
+of cleanliness into Rose and in many ways have succeeded&mdash;she
+has regular days when she goes home to
+wash, changes her "linen" twice a week, takes a warm
+bath every Saturday, and keeps her head and feet in a
+condition to which they were strangers previously. I
+can see, too, that it has had a decided effect upon her
+sisters. One of the important items has been pocket-handkerchiefs,
+with which I provided her, and she has
+to keep them in her pocket. For two or three days lately
+she has forgotten this essential article, and I finally told
+her that if it was forgotten the next day I should have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>
+to send her home for it. I had forgotten all about it,
+till, the next morning when she came to pour the water
+into my tub for me, a most inordinate snuffling betrayed
+the absent wipe. "Rose, where's your pocket-handkerchief?
+have you forgotten it again?" No answer, but
+a hiding of the head under her arm like a duck, which
+often takes place when she is in fault. "Then, Rose,
+put the coffee on, sweep the parlor, and go home for it."
+This elicited, "me no gwine home," a pert rejoinder I
+could not understand, till on calling her to me I saw
+by her face how excessively green I had been. I reprimanded
+her with a sober face as she again repeated
+"me no gwine home," at the same time untwisting the
+handkerchief from about her waist, but when she had
+left the room I should have shaken the bed, if that had
+been my style of laughter. Robert is a great wag in
+his way, though we do not see so much of his fun, as,
+having been used to the house in "Secesh time," he
+is utterly undemonstrative before white people and is
+only gradually thawing into a little more communicativeness.
+But we overhear him sometimes talking with
+the others. A most entertaining but not quite so pleasant
+exhibition of it (and C. and I could not help laughing
+at Rose and Hester's good-natured, amusing
+account) was his riding after the two girls one day
+when he had been out for the horses, extolling himself
+and insisting that they should call him "Maussa" or he
+would ride them down, with his spurs on! Hester gave
+in, but Rose wouldn't&mdash;"him too mannish!"</p>
+
+<p>There is a great deal of tyrannizing over each other.
+"Mind now, min', run quick or I knock you,"&mdash;or
+"kill you dead" it is as likely to be,&mdash;is an ordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>
+method of getting anything done, while "cursing," as
+they call calling names, etc., is one of the hardest things
+I have to contend with in school, they are so quick to
+interpret any look or act into an offense and resent it
+on the spot with word or blow.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 9.</i> I had a long talk with some of my big
+girls who had been very noisy and fighting&mdash;they do
+"knock" each other most unmercifully, and I can't
+instill any better notions into them. "Anybody hurt
+you, you <i>'bleeged</i> to knock 'em," is the universal response,
+and they have no idea of letting any difficulty
+be peaceably settled.</p>
+
+<p>The definite reply which these people require to the
+ordinary salutation of Hahdy? or Huddy? into which
+it has degenerated here, is very amusing, and a corresponding
+inquiry is expected in return, to which
+they give the most minute answers. "Good morning,
+Hacklis (Hercules), how are you to-day?" "Stirring,
+tank you, Ma'am, how youself?" and if I had a headache
+I should no more think of saying "pretty well"
+than if I were being cross-questioned at the bar&mdash;the
+inquiry is so sincere and expects such a particular
+reply. "Dunno, Missus&mdash;tank de Lord for life," is
+a common rejoinder, as well as "Not so well, tank you,
+ma'am."</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>This is as good a place as any for some more examples
+of negro speech and negro ways. The sayings
+of Rose, in particular, were a constant source of interest
+and amusement. H. W. writes that she "tells me
+everything, in her simplicity, even to the fact that her
+father has silver money which he keeps buried, and
+that her mother sends her to the pen for milk before it
+comes up here!"</p></div>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p>
+<p>[<i>May 16.</i>] Rose commented, "You lub Miss Helen,"
+and then in a few minutes, "Miss Helen lub you.
+All two (both). I love Miss Helen, too. Miss Helen
+one <i>nice</i> buckra. You more rough 'long er Miss
+Helen. Miss Helen <i>so</i> softle&mdash;when him touch me I
+no feel 'um&mdash;me feel you&mdash;you so strong." All this
+with inimitable gesture and expression and a "leetle"
+and "middling-sized-bear" voice that was inexpressibly
+droll.</p>
+
+<p>[<i>May 17.</i>] As I sat down to write this morning, Rose
+came in to dust. "Miss Hy't, you gwine write Norf?"
+Yes, Rose. I told her that little Robert sent me the
+pictures and a letter from little Mary. It pleased her
+very much, and she said she wanted to see them. "Me
+lub Robert and Mary." Thinking I should like to get
+at some of her notions, I asked her, What do you mean
+by love, Rose? "Me dunno&mdash;brothers and sisters."
+Don't you love any one else, Rose? "Me dunno."
+Why, you said yesterday that you loved Miss Helen,
+and just now that you loved Robert and Mary. "Me
+lub dem." By this time the top of her head was in contact
+with the floor, when she suddenly raised herself
+to a kneeling posture and pointing up, said a moment
+after, "Me lub God," and in a few minutes, as if she
+were quoting, "An dem dat foller arter Christ." What
+do you mean by that, Rose? "Me dunno," and I found
+she had not the least idea. Presently she enumerated
+Mass' Charlie, Mass' Willyum, and Mister Philbrick
+in her category, and then went on with her dusting.
+By and by she said&mdash;"Miss Hyut, me no say your
+name." No, Rose. "Well, me lub you an' Miss Helen
+de <i>morer</i>."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Mr. Thorpe has a boy, Strappan, who is even more
+noted than my Rose, and who has given some remarkable
+answers to questions which Mr. Thorpe puts to
+him, and which he takes down verbatim. The only one
+I know is his definition of Love. "Arter you lub, you
+lub, you know, boss. You can't broke lub. Man can't
+broke lub. Lub stan', he ain't goin' broke. Man hab
+to be berry smart for broke lub. Lub is a ting stan' jus'
+like tar; arter he stick, he stick. He ain't goin' move.
+He can't move less dan you burn um. Hab to kill all
+two arter he lub, 'fo you broke lub."</p>
+
+<p>[<i>Aug. 15.</i>] This morning Rose was sewing with me
+in my chamber, and, as she is very apt to, got talking
+about the time when they ran away from the "robbers"
+and the Yankees first came. It is always interesting,
+and I wish I could give you her language,
+though it would be little without her emphasis and
+expression. The first time she saw a Yankee&mdash;"Great
+dairdy!" she said, "So Yankee stan'?" I don't think
+she knew what sort of an animal to expect.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 15.</i> When Rose came into my room this morning,
+she came up to my bed to ask how I was and
+express her contrition that she did not stay all night
+with me! "Me couldn't sleep, me think all night
+Miss Hayiut sick, me should stay long him&mdash;when I
+go bed, me say, 'Hester, Miss Hayiut sick, I oughter
+stay wid her;' Hester say, 'Come, go 'long me, take
+you shum,' but me wouldn't go den!" She is very
+trying sometimes, but full of character, as you see,
+and it is hard to know just how to deal with her. I am
+afraid of being too lenient to her and so spoiling her,
+or too stern, for fear I <i>should</i> spoil her, and so losing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>
+her affection, which ought to be the controlling influence.
+With all their subserviency, which I am happy
+to say is disappearing, they have little idea of obedience.</p>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 17.</i> This morning there was no milk, as in this
+benighted region if it rains they don't "pen cow" at
+night, and for the same reason Abel did not catch one in
+the field this morning that we might have a drop for
+breakfast!</p>
+
+<p>[<i>Oct. 19.</i>] The doctor wanted some wormwood, and
+thinking I had heard the people speak of it, I asked
+Elsie. "Me dunno, me dunno nothing; me jis' born
+yestiddy!" she answered.</p>
+
+<p>[<i>Nov. 16.</i>] Rose came to tell me this morning that
+there was no milk. Henry had dropped the bucket
+(from his head) and spilled it all. "See Henry here."
+Why, Henry, where did you spill the milk? I asked in
+dismay; but he looked blank till she interpreted for
+him&mdash;"Which side de milk churray?" (throw away).
+<i>How</i>, <i>when</i>, and <i>where</i> they do not use or know the
+meaning of. <i>Which side</i>, is <i>where</i>&mdash;<i>What time</i>, <i>when</i>&mdash;but
+they do not understand a sentence with <i>how</i> in it.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next four extracts give a good idea of Mr. Philbrick's
+letters to his superintendents and of the far-sighted,
+honest thought which he put on his Port Royal
+undertaking. The first was written in the summer;
+the others appear in their proper place in order of time.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, July 28.</i> If you can induce some old man
+who is a good judge, I would let him pick select cotton
+all through the season for seed, going over the whole
+field, or such parts of it as he finds the best cotton,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>
+culling the best pods from the best plants. In this way
+you can get seed enough to plant some acres next
+year, which would yield enough for the whole plantation
+another year and of a superior quality. This is the
+way the most intelligent planters got up their famous
+varieties of seed, and we ought to be able to use as
+much brains as they did. Perhaps you can get some
+refugee to do this, without giving offense to the mass,
+but he must be a good judge.</p>
+
+<p>I hope you will not feel it your duty to enlist in the
+army, for I consider your position there a very useful one
+and difficult to replace. I don't mean useful merely to
+the people with whom you come in contact, but politically,
+upon the solution of the great social, political
+problem which we have got to solve, viz., the worthiness
+and capacity of the negro for immediate and unconditional
+emancipation. I intend to publish the results
+of this year's operations next winter and want to
+be able to show that we have raised cotton at a lower
+price per pound than the former proprietors did, counting
+the interest upon their capital invested in negroes
+as a part of their expenses, which is no more than just.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>This point, as regards the raising of cotton by free
+labor, Mr. Philbrick did successfully make later, as will
+be seen (see page <a href="#Page_265">265</a>). Another inducement to Northern
+capital to come South was offered by him at this time
+in a letter which appeared in the Boston <i>Daily Advertiser</i>
+on July 20. It was entitled "A New Market for
+Manufactures," and tabulated the results of his operations
+in the "shop" during the fifteen months of its
+existence so far. Between March, 1862, and March,
+1863, for instance, a population of four hundred and
+twelve had spent there $3047; during the months of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>
+May and June, 1863, a population of nine hundred
+and thirty-three had spent $3800; the articles bought
+had included a variety of dry goods, provisions, hardware,
+etc., almost all of which supplied needs entirely
+new to the blacks. The letter concluded: "It may
+readily be seen that a considerable demand may arise
+for the articles above-named and others of kindred nature,
+when a population of some millions shall be in
+a position to apply their earnings to the supply of their
+rapidly increasing wants. Should not the manufacturing
+interests of the North be awake to this?" This
+letter, written for the express purpose of bringing
+means of civilization to the blacks, was taken by many
+Northern friends of the negro as proof that its writer's
+motive was to exploit the black race for the benefit of
+the white. Of course, Mr. Philbrick knew perfectly
+well to what misconstruction he exposed himself when
+he told the public that there was profit to be made on
+the old plantations. The following letter was written
+in reply to a warning from C. P. W. on this very head.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Sept. 24.</i> I don't agree with you about avoiding
+publicity for our enterprise. I hold that the pecuniary
+success we are likely to meet with is the very best
+reason why the whole thing should be made public, for
+it is the only sort of success which can make our enterprise
+a permanent thing and take it off the hands of philanthropic
+benevolence, which, though well enough for a
+spurt, can never be relied on to civilize the four millions
+of darkies likely to be on our hands. If we succeed financially,
+it will prove that free labor is self-sustaining, and
+that the blacks are capable of becoming a useful laboring
+class immediately after leaving their masters' hands,
+and this fact is of vast importance. If we attempt to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>
+keep quiet, we shall incur with much more justice the
+accusation of being mere speculators than if we make
+the most of our success by bringing it before the public
+as a political experiment, of great influence upon our
+future social system, thus giving the public the full
+benefit of the experiment. The fact is just this. Negro
+labor has got to be employed, if at all, because it is <i>profitable</i>,
+and it has got to come into the market like everything
+else, subject to the supply and demand which may
+arise from all kinds of enterprises in which it chances to
+be employed. It is not likely that it can be protected on
+a large scale by the amount of disinterested philanthropy
+which happens to be present on the Sea Islands, but if it
+can be open to private enterprise, by an occupation of
+lands free from unnecessary restrictions and under a
+proper sense of the security of property, it can afford to
+<i>lose</i> some of the Methodism now bestowed upon it at
+Beaufort. We want first to prove that it is profitable,
+and then it will take care of itself.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 24.</i> Limus' seine was shipped in the schooner.
+I have not yet ordered any for 'Siah, for I thought it
+would be too late for him to use it this year, and he had
+better wait and see if Limus' seine was all right. Moreover,
+entre nous, I don't believe it will do him any good
+to spend his time a-fishing. It has a sort of excitement,
+like gold-digging, which unfits a man for steady, plodding
+industry, witness Limus. Now the present demand
+for fish will not be permanent. After the war the
+negroes will have to fall back upon field-labor for a
+living, and it will be better for them if in the meanwhile<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>
+they do not acquire a distaste for steady labor
+and get vagrant habits. I would talk this over with
+'Siah and ask him in serious mood if he really thinks
+best to spend so much money in fishing-gear, when he
+could buy land with it by and bye.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Here begins again the rambling narrative of plantation
+happenings.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 26.</i> C. was very busy paying for cotton, and
+we found him on the piazza, sitting at a little table with
+the drawer full of money and the gang of women standing
+and sitting about at the foot of the steps, while he
+called them up one at a time. He paid old Nancy first,
+asking her how much she thought it was. "Me dunno,
+Massa, you knows." As much as ten dollars? "Oh
+yes! Massa, I tink you gib me more nor dat." Fifteen,
+perhaps? Five for you, Doll, and Peg, each? "Yes,
+Massa, I tink so." And it was pleasant to see the corners
+of her mouth go as he counted out $48&mdash;which
+she took in perfect quietness and with a sober face, a
+curtsey and "Tank'ee, Massa." Sinnet was more
+demonstrative than anybody, lifting up hands and eyes,
+and ending with "Tank de Lord; I mus' go praise."
+Amaritta drew for her gang $78&mdash;they have picked
+over three thousand pounds. C. paid out over $1000.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>H. W. further reports that when C. told old Grace
+he had weighed altogether a bale for her, "Good God!"
+she cried, "me lib to raise bale o' cotton! Come along,
+Tim, less get some vittle."</p>
+
+<p>The next letter is Mr. Tomlinson's reply to one
+from W. C. G., in which he had complained of negroes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>
+who refused to pay their "corn-tax,"&mdash;a rent in kind
+for their private patches of corn-land,&mdash;and had suggested
+their expulsion from the plantation as the best
+remedy.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>REUBEN TOMLINSON<a name="FNanchor_144_144" id="FNanchor_144_144"></a><a href="#Footnote_144_144" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 30.</i> I have just read yours on the "corn question."
+I have told Government Superintendents, when
+the people refuse or neglect to bring their corn to the
+corn-house, not to interfere with them until it is all
+broken in;<a name="FNanchor_145_145" id="FNanchor_145_145"></a><a href="#Footnote_145_145" class="fnanchor">[145]</a> then to tell them how much is expected
+from them, and give them a certain length of time to
+bring it in. If it is not done, get a "guard" from the
+"Jail," and go to their houses and take it. Of course
+the superintendent is to use a sound discretion in
+making his demand, making due allowance for failure of
+"crop," etc. Your plan is in my opinion open to serious
+objections as a matter of <i>expediency</i>. I have no doubt
+that there are people on your places whom you would
+be well rid of. If you can endure them patiently a little
+while longer, I think it will be to your advantage to
+do so. The Government is commencing at once the
+erection of a large number of houses, and after they
+are finished those turbulent and unruly people may
+be disposed of without the scandal and excitement
+which would otherwise accompany their removal.
+After this season is terminated, you can refuse any
+longer to employ such persons, and the Government
+having then provided homes for them, there will be
+no longer an excuse for boring you with them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Mr. Philbrick's advice was as follows:</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p>I am not surprised at the prospect of some meanness
+about the corn-tax. The negroes would be a marvelous
+race if it were not so. If any difficulty is
+encountered in collecting the tax, I should take it out
+of their pay at $1.50 per bushel, which is about what it
+costs me to send corn there.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 13.</i> Mr. G., who had just come from the Point,
+told me a very nice thing about the men there. It seems
+that a few weeks ago Mr. Tomlinson made an address
+to them at church about there being five church-members
+in jail for shooting cattle, and after he got through,
+'Siah, the foreman and elder of the Fripp Point Plantation,
+rose and indorsed what he had said, adding
+that the thing had never happened on his place. That
+very week an ox was shot there, and Mr. G. has been
+unable to find out who did it, all the men protesting
+that they did not know. So to-day he called them all
+up and talked to them, and then spoke of the ox and
+asked them what they thought they ought to do. One
+man rose and proposed to pay for it&mdash;another seconded
+the motion, and they passed the resolution to do so by
+a vote of sixteen against two! Mr. G. was very much
+pleased, and gave notice that if the perpetrator of the
+deed would come to him and confess within four days
+he should be let off without paying the fine.</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 20.</i> Thomas seemed much better, but very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>
+weak, and asked me if I would not give him some liquor!
+I asked if he had ever been in the habit of drinking it,
+and he said yes, that he bought it by the pint at camp!
+He belongs to the First South Carolina Volunteers, Colonel
+Higginson's Regiment. It is dreadful to think of
+such means of civilization being introduced among
+these poor people. It made me heartsick.</p>
+
+<p>While I was dressing for dinner C. came up to ask
+me if I had "any prejudice against color," as he had
+asked the steward of the <i>Wabash</i><a name="FNanchor_146_146" id="FNanchor_146_146"></a><a href="#Footnote_146_146" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> to dine, "a Boston
+boy who speaks English as well as you do." We found
+him a very bright, intelligent young fellow and very
+modest and unassuming withal&mdash;gave his name only
+as "Joseph" both to Mr. Soule and C. He had come
+foraging for the Admiral, and as C. found him waiting
+for the people to come from the field, he took him
+about with him and brought up at the house. He was
+on board the <i>Mohegan</i> when Port Royal was taken
+and had then just come from the coast of Africa where
+they had taken Gordon, the slave-pirate, on board
+the barque <i>Ariel</i>, and he gave us a most interesting
+account of the whole affair, as he went on board with
+the Captain when he ordered the hatches to be opened
+and the nine hundred blacks were discovered. C. says
+he overheard Amaritta say to him, "You free man? I
+t'o't so, when I see you walk wi' buckra," and old
+Grace, when he asked her if she had any eggs, answered,
+"No, Maus&mdash;my dear," her first impression
+being that as he walked "wid buckra" she must be
+respectful, and then remembering that she must not
+say "Maussa" to a black man. He is black as Robert,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>
+but with Saxon features. Speaking of Henry, he asked,
+"Is he short and stout and about my complexion?"
+Henry is almost white!</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 22.</i> Limus is full of amazement at the men of
+the Fifty-Fifth<a name="FNanchor_147_147" id="FNanchor_147_147"></a><a href="#Footnote_147_147" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> and could not express his surprise at
+their walking up to their post-office kept by a black
+man, and opening their letters to read "just like white
+men!" They don't know what to make of educated
+blacks,&mdash;it upsets all their ideas on the relative position
+of the two races! I expected some remarks from
+Rose about our sable guest&mdash;she was not here, but
+the next day she began: "That stranger man eat up
+here? Which side him eat?" In the dining-room with
+us. "Him free man?" Yes, he was born in Boston.
+"Him read and write?" Yes, as well as I can. This
+made her open her eyes, and when I told her that in
+Boston there were schools for the black children to go
+to just like those for the white children, where they
+could learn the same things, she departed with a very
+quiet, "Yes, Ma'am."</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 24.</i> Nothing happens here now, so that even
+this delightful country, with its charming variety of
+scenery and its delicious climate, its bracing air, its
+sparkling streams, its richness of autumnal tints, the
+ever-varying play of light and shade upon the steep
+hillsides and through the green valleys often cease to
+charm. For myself, I may say that even the continual
+excitement incident to the task of weighing cotton,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>
+selling sugar, or counting rails, not to mention the no
+less important duty of seeing that my hat is not stolen
+from my head, or the shingles off my roof,&mdash;even these
+interesting and exciting occupations sometimes grow
+wearisome, and fail to afford that continued gratification
+and satisfaction to enjoy which is the object of a
+life in this Department. Although the statement seems
+absurd, I must nevertheless affirm, that it is more
+bother to take care of a plantation of one hundred and
+twenty working hands than it is to exercise that number
+in the "School of the Company;" and that the
+satisfaction derived from the faithfulness and honesty
+of perhaps thirty is hardly sufficient to atone for the
+anxiety and distrust with which one regards the remaining
+ninety, who lie by habit and steal on the least
+provocation, who take infinite pains to be lazy and
+shirk, who tell tales of others, of which themselves are
+the true subjects, and from whom all the artifices of
+the lawyer cannot draw a fair statement of fact, even
+when it is obviously for their own interest to tell the
+whole truth. "Wherefore he is called the everlasting
+Niggah."</p>
+
+<p>I have had my grumble, and I feel better. What I
+have said "has truth in it, only distorted." I am not
+actually miserable, though one might draw that inference
+from these remarks. The fact is that, the novelty of this
+life having worn off after fifteen months of the "useful
+experience," the life, as was to be, and was expected,
+loses something of its satisfaction, and one is more open
+to the effect of the vexations and annoyances than when
+the interest was fresh and the work new and untried.
+It is not so much that one is annoyed by the work itself,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>
+but the imperfections of the system under which
+we are obliged to work grow more clear and are continually
+presented in various forms. The only satisfactory
+thing would be to reconstruct the system on
+the plantation, first, by turning off all the hands not
+wanted; second, by adopting a new system in regard
+to the privileges and compensation of the people. The
+privileges are, free houses, free land for provision crops,
+free use of wood, and, with certain restrictions, of the
+animals and implements. I should do away with these
+privileges, making them pay house-rent and land-rent,
+making them pay for their wood, if of certain qualities,
+and for the use of teams and implements&mdash;for their
+own work. Then I should increase their wages, with
+fixed prices for the various kinds of work. I should
+wish to be able to discharge any one whose work did
+not suit me, and remove him from the plantation.
+These reforms cannot possibly be instituted now, and
+can never be, probably, on this island. In the meantime,
+if the people were only honest and truthful, other
+matters would be of comparatively little account, but
+they are the most provoking set, in this respect, that
+you can easily conceive. They are almost incorrigible.</p>
+
+
+<h3>REUBEN TOMLINSON TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Oaks, Oct. 30.</i> I have appointed you one of a "Commission"
+of three, to meet in the "Study" at R.'s
+place on Wednesday, November 4, at 10 <span class="smcap">a. m.</span> The first
+case that will probably come before you will be that
+of the disputed ownership of a "boat," now in the
+possession of one "Limus," purveyor to General Gillmore,
+but which is claimed by "Barkis," who lives at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>
+Hilton Head. Both the parties have been to see me,
+and Barkis is not "willin'" to give up his claim.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 8.</i> I found C. had two men locked up in separate
+rooms downstairs&mdash;there had been some trouble,
+and one, who was half drunk, had used a knife. One
+man he let go, the other is still shut up, and sent to see
+me this evening. It is dreadful to have such things
+happening, but it will do good for the people to find
+that there is some law over them.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Early in November Mr. Philbrick went down to
+Port Royal again to gin and export his cotton crop.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO MRS. PHILBRICK.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Nov. 10.</i> Arrived here about 6. I
+found people in the field picking cotton at R.'s places,
+and found on nearly all my fields the cotton still green
+and blossoming, while on most of the Government
+plantations the grass had stopped its growth long ago
+and the crop was about over. I find old Frank (the
+wily) in confinement in the harness-room for some row
+among the people last Sunday, awaiting trial. Oh, the
+horses, how they do look! A few months among our
+Northern fixings make everything look so wretched
+down here.</p>
+
+<p>There is a circular just issued by General Saxton,
+pointing out the plantations which are to be sold to
+the negroes, and advising them to stake out their claims
+and build cabins on them as pre&euml;mptors, which will
+not attract many of my people, I think. The McTureous<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>
+places, T. B. Fripp's, Hamilton Fripp's, and others
+are to be so sold, as soon as the necessary surveys are
+made. I doubt the policy of this sort of thing until the
+time shall have passed for the redemption of the land
+by the old owners, though none may ever appear to redeem.
+I am afraid some rows may arise from the difficulty
+of fixing and recording boundaries among a lot
+of negro squatters, should there be many such.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>These plantations, about to be sold at auction to
+negro pre&euml;mptors, were those which had been reserved
+for this purpose from the sale of March 9, 1863 (see
+p. <a href="#Page_171">171</a>). The order of the President (dated September
+16), from which General Saxton got authority for his
+circular just mentioned, also provided for the sale at
+auction of about twenty plantations in lots not to exceed
+three hundred and twenty acres. This latter provision,
+which might possibly result in preventing many
+negroes from owning any land at present,&mdash;since the
+plantations reserved for them alone were not large
+enough for all,&mdash;presently brought about infinite
+trouble, through disagreement among the authorities.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 15.</i> The people are quite disturbed about General
+Saxton's new order, which Mr. French and Judge
+Smith have been trying to explain to them at church;&mdash;in
+vain, apparently,&mdash;for some of the most ignorant
+of our people thought they should be obliged to buy
+land, and came to C. in distress at leaving the plantation.
+Others we hear are selecting their lots, but now
+comes General Gillmore's order to stop all sales; I am
+afraid these poor people, who hate all change and "confusion,"
+will have their brains hopelessly confused.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 18.</i> General Saxton has given orders that all
+work on the plantations<a name="FNanchor_148_148" id="FNanchor_148_148"></a><a href="#Footnote_148_148" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> in preparation for next year's
+crop shall be stopped, for he expects to give them up
+either to the purchasers or the tax-commissioners very
+soon. The tax men are here, as amicably disposed towards
+each other as cat and dog, and as they are not
+remarkable for their efficiency in matters of business,
+I do not think it very likely that they will accomplish
+much this winter. They have two parties of surveyors
+at work, but they don't seem to be doing much but
+chop vines and sail about the creeks in boats.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Pine Grove.</i> [<i>Sept. 23.</i>] I think you would be quite
+astonished at the refinement and homelikeness of our
+parlor. Bright table-cloths, a most elegant couch lately
+developed,&mdash;a comfortable old sofa, pictures all around,
+a fancy bookcase almost full of books,&mdash;a glass-topped
+secretary with an ample supply of pigeon-holes and
+writing arrangements,&mdash;papers lying around loose,&mdash;and
+a wood fire burning in the big chimney-place,&mdash;won't
+that do for philanthropists? One door opens
+into a large dining-room,&mdash;the windows upon a portico,
+looking out upon the creek winding among the green
+marsh grass, with broad water and islands in the distance.
+For contrast now and then a pig squalls vigorously
+under the house,&mdash;for it is getting cold now and
+the pigs eagerly seek the shelter of the "big house."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>
+It is in vain to try to keep them out, though I've had
+a fence built round the house.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 14.</i> I shall have to take to contraband pants,
+I'm afraid, as I did last winter. The negroes can hardly
+hold me to be of gentle kind, when they see me doing
+their own work in their own clothes. I wish you would
+come down to see me, if it is only, by the sight of a white
+cravat and shining beaver, to convince them that I am
+a "boss" born. You shall have your fill of clearing up
+and improving, too; I need just such energy to make
+respectable my own premises. At present they are the
+pigs' playground, except on Sundays, when a lot of
+the plantation urchins are allowed very quietly to peep
+in at the windows and learn manners from white folks.
+At present a young fellow, who has lately waked up
+from a slouch into a man, is patiently leaning against
+the sill, waiting, I suppose, for his lesson.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26.</i> We sat down to dinner&mdash;sixteen
+Massachusetts people, six ministers' sons.
+Mr. Folsom and William Allen, Miss R. and Mr. G.
+went home; all the rest spent the night, and no one on
+a sofa. We wondered what was the last [dinner-party]
+as large that had dined in this old house, but Robert
+says he never saw such a large party here&mdash;Mr. Coffin
+used to give his dinners in Charleston.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 26.</i> We got to R.'s house, where he told us he
+had been helping Mr. Wells all day before in boating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>
+his cotton from Morgan Island to his home place.<a name="FNanchor_149_149" id="FNanchor_149_149"></a><a href="#Footnote_149_149" class="fnanchor">[149]</a>
+There was about $3000 worth on the island, and he
+did not choose to expose the rebels to any further temptation
+in regard to it. It seems that Tuesday morning
+the cow-minder had gone out to the pen with his milk-pail
+and never returned. Search being made, the milk-pail
+and his jacket were found, and some new tracks
+of shoes on the beach, also traces of a bivouac breakfast
+and marks of a boat's keel on the Coosaw River
+beach. Nothing more is known than this. The presumption
+is that a scouting party had come over Coosaw
+River and bivouacked on the beach, hauling up
+their boat, and that, seeing this poor man in the morning,
+they gobbled him up and cleared out as they came.
+He was an Edisto man, of considerable intelligence,
+and it is hoped his information will not be so reliable
+as the rebels might wish. Mr. Wells immediately informed
+Captain Dutch and got Mr. R. to help him
+boat over his cotton. Captain Dutch sent a guard to
+patrol the island and sent his little schooner up opposite
+Morgan Island in Coosaw River as an outpost.</p>
+
+<p>We had an immense rush at the store yesterday, four
+hundred and sixty odd dollars during the day here. R.
+and Wells have taken over fifteen hundred dollars in
+the three days after opening their goods. Amaritta
+bought over forty dollars' worth at once, and poor
+Juliana staggered off with a load on her head that she
+could hardly carry. The trunks go like smoke, so do
+the firkins and other domestic wares.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 1.</i> Uncle Nat, who has carried the plantation
+keys for forty years, giving out all the allowance for
+people and creatures, and has done no field work for that
+length of time, has had an acre and a half of cotton this
+year, and has raised the largest proportion, six hundred
+pounds seed-cotton per acre, of any one on the place. He
+lives at Pine Grove with his wife, but plants here for old
+association's sake, and the other day, when C. made the
+last cotton payment, he gave Nat's money to his sister,
+Nancy. The next morning Nat was up here early and
+took his hat off to the ground to C. "Came to thank
+you for what you send me yesterday, Sar&mdash;much
+obliged to you, Sar (with another flourish and scrape).
+I well sat-is-<i>fy</i>, and jest as long as the Lord give me
+life and dese ole arms can do <i>so</i> (imitating the motion
+of hoeing), I work cotton for you, Sar!"</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 5.</i> Our cotton crop is about all in, though some
+people are still in the field gleaning. They glean very
+carefully now, and don't allow a single pod to escape
+them. I have about one hundred gins now in running
+order, and expect to have fifty more, all going in another
+week.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 10.</i> I rode down to see the work. It was a busy
+scene&mdash;a whipper on each arbor with a child atop to
+fill the machine, which is used to lash the dirt out of
+the cotton before ginning and make it easier to gin;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>
+then the gins were all at work&mdash;the women were sorting&mdash;the
+men packing&mdash;potato-vines were being
+brought in to be weighed, carts and oxen carrying seed&mdash;altogether
+such a busy piece of work as one does
+not often see here.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 10.</i> We were surprised by a green carryall coming
+down the road drawn by some army horses, hay-fed
+and round. The passengers were a Mr. Paige, a
+correspondent of the <i>Tribune</i>, and his friend, a Mr.
+Baldwin from Cleveland. I had met them in one of
+my trips between Hilton Head and Beaufort, and after
+answering several questions asked them to come and
+see me, but I didn't think they would take the pains.
+Mr. Paige asked questions enough to pump me dry
+while here, but I don't believe he will be much the
+wiser, for he asked some three or four times over. I
+took them down to the praise house in the evening and,
+Uncle Sam being ill of "fever and pain in head," I
+helped with the hymns and read a chapter from the
+Bible. Old Aaron and George prayed, Doll's Will told
+off a hymn from memory, and George repeated one,
+as I think, from his own brain, putting in all the couplets
+he could remember, and hunting over his brain
+for each one while they were singing the last. My visitors
+were very much interested, and were chiefly pleased
+with the earnestness and simplicity of their worship,
+remarking that they were fortunate in not being bothered
+with doctrine. I am afraid they didn't get much of
+an idea of our schools, for the only girl they asked to
+spell happened to be Caroline, whom they met in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>
+street. She is only half-witted, you know, and didn't
+do her teachers much credit. I should like to see what
+Mr. Paige has to say about our doings in the <i>Tribune</i>.
+I asked him not to mention the name of this plantation,
+for I didn't want to call the attention of the Coffin
+family upon us any more than I could help. He asked
+me for the names of any superintendents and teachers
+here, but I told him they didn't care to be brought
+before the public.</p>
+
+<p>I was curious to know how much cotton could be got
+from a certain amount of seed. I ginned just five pounds
+of cotton and had thirteen pounds of seed left, being over
+a peck, for it weighs forty-four pounds to the bushel.
+The people were very much amused to see me gin so
+long, and wondered that I had the strength for it. You
+know they consider us rather effeminate in regard to
+strength, but I did not find it nearly so hard work as I
+supposed. It is not half as hard as mowing.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 13.</i> Mr. Wells had his cotton about half ginned
+when there came a posse of men from the First South
+Carolina Regiment, without a white officer, to hunt after
+deserters on his plantation. They met the men they
+wanted and shot them all three in broad daylight; one
+is badly wounded and may not recover, but the others
+probably will. After shooting one man they were going
+away to leave him, and Mr. Wells went and took care
+of him and sent him to the hospital.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 17.</i> The people were all at work ginning cotton,
+and the new mechanic Nero, whom we found at the
+White place, was putting the engine in order. This engine
+serves as a moral stimulus to keep the people at
+work at their hand-gins, for they want to gin all the cotton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>
+by hand, and I tell them if they don't get it done by
+the middle of January I shall gin it by steam. The result
+will probably be that there will be little left for the steam-engine
+to do. But it will do no harm to put it in order
+and then I can grind corn with it next summer. The
+weight of all my cotton is now 287,790 pounds<a name="FNanchor_150_150" id="FNanchor_150_150"></a><a href="#Footnote_150_150" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> in seed.
+The samples which I sent to Liverpool were appraised
+there as worth forty-eight to fifty pence, which, if exchange
+remains as high as at present, would make our
+crop worth $100,000 in Liverpool. This is as much as I
+had ever estimated I should realize from it.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<div class="figright" style="width: 323px;">
+<img src="images/image237.png" width="323" height="159" alt="Old Coffin trademark" title="Old Coffin trademark" />
+<span class="caption">Old Coffin trademark</span>
+</div>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 17.</i> The cotton packing continues; twelve bales
+are already prepared for the market, stamped with
+the old Coffin trademark. The initiated know what
+it means, but I doubt if any one else would
+recognize the significance of the headless and footless
+box!</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 27.</i> The children came up about half-past two
+o'clock on Christmas afternoon [to see the tree], but
+being told not to come until sunset they hung around
+outside the gate till Mr. Hall was ready for them. About
+dusk they were all marshaled in by classes, and we all
+helped distribute the presents. The children seemed
+struck aghast with the brilliant sight, and when William
+Hall wished them all a Merry Christmas, they threw up
+their hands and shouted with all their might. It wasn't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>
+a cheer, but more like a yell, evidently in answer to his
+good wishes. The presents were taken with the usual
+apathy shown on such occasions, and as soon as they
+had time they began to compare them with each other
+and some to complain how they didn't get enough.</p>
+
+<p>Yesterday morning we made our preparations for
+Hunting Island. It was a fine day, wind east, and rather
+warm. We had four negro oarsmen. Seven white folks
+made up the load, including Mr. Eustis. We landed on
+the Island just as G.'s boat did. After unloading our
+grub and firing off our guns to dry them and let the deer
+know that we were coming, we scattered about in various
+directions in search of game. I then went to see the
+ruins of the lighthouse in the middle of the point, a few
+rods from each beach. It was a brick structure and must
+have been over one hundred feet high in order to overlook
+the pine trees about it. There is nothing left now
+but a mass of brick and rubbish about forty feet high,
+covering an acre of ground. It was blown up by the
+rebels at the beginning of the war, and they did the
+work thoroughly. Great blocks of granite and plates of
+iron lay bedded in between the masses of brick-work,
+some of which are still coherent in masses, and several
+feet in thickness. It is the first real ruin I ever saw in
+this country. The keeper's house close by has been all
+torn to pieces by the negroes for rebuilding their own
+cabins and corn-houses.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next extracts tell of more raids for soldiers, fresh
+despair, and renewed hope that they might at last be
+stopped.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p>
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 27.</i> On getting up this morning the people were
+found all in a hubbub. The soldiers had been there in
+the night, some fifty strong, and had carried off not only
+C&aelig;sar, a deserter, Abel's son, but also old Miller, Tony,
+and Jonas and David, neither of whom had ever belonged
+to any of the regiments. Of course all the people
+were enraged, and justly, for they have been assured
+by General Saxton over and over again during several
+months past that they needn't be afraid of any more
+drafting, for it was all over. As soon as we had done
+breakfast I walked down to the quarters to see what
+facts I could gather. It seemed they [the soldiers] had
+come by rowboats to the village creek, thinking they had
+got to our creek, and landed at Fripp Point. There
+they found no deserters, for there were none, but took
+all the men they could find, viz.: Pompey's boy Isaac,
+Fortune's boy Jimmy, and Alick's boy January. They
+got old Dan to show them the way to Coffin's and came
+along the road, arriving just after praise-meeting; they
+set a guard all about the houses and shot at every man
+that tried to run away, catching the men named above
+and carrying them off. Tony and Jonas got away at
+Fripp Point, but they carried off the others. C. and I got
+into our little boat with Jim to help, and rowed around
+to the village in hopes to find the party still there, but
+they had gone, carrying Dr. Hunting's cook. So we
+rowed back and ate our dinner in disgust. This raid will
+break up my ginning on this end of the island and put it
+back at least two weeks, for the men are so scared that
+they won't dare to go to work, and the women can't do
+much without them.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 27.</i> Mr. Philbrick has gone up to-night to see
+General Saxton, and Mr. Eustis says that if he can't (or
+won't) stop it, he shall write to Washington. It is the
+unauthorized work of the officers whose commissions
+perhaps depend upon their keeping full ranks.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 28.</i> I rode off for Coosaw Fort on Ladies Island,
+where the pickets are. I found Captain Bryant at camp.
+He was very pleasant and told me that the descent upon
+Coffin's Point Saturday night was not made by his orders,
+but by one of Colonel Higginson's captains. The
+men were brought to him, however, and he discharged
+all who didn't want to enlist. So I came off content.</p>
+
+<p>The holidays and the hunt for deserters have so broken
+up the labor that nothing of any consequence can be
+done now till after New Year's, when I hope the work
+will move on smoothly again.</p>
+
+<p>[<i>Jan. 1, 1864.</i>] My errand to Beaufort on Tuesday
+was not very successful. I could find neither Colonel
+Higginson nor General Saxton. So I had to content myself
+with writing to the latter an account of how the soldiers
+had been behaving here. On getting back, I found
+the people more quiet than I had expected. The return
+of the men from camp had reassured them, and most of
+them have gone to work again.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The year closes with W. C. G.'s reflections on the
+progress of the "Port Royal Experiment."</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p>
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 27.</i> We are busy ginning and packing. Both men
+and women are hard at work, and till 3 o'clock <span class="smcap">p. m.</span> the
+scene is almost one of Northern industry. There is more
+noise, less system and steadiness. Now and then two or
+three break out into a quarrel, in which they excel all
+other people I ever saw with their tongues,&mdash;tremendous
+noise, terrible gestures, the fiercest looks,&mdash;and perhaps
+by evening they are friends again. Meanwhile the
+others sit still at their work, listening to it as a matter in
+the common course of things,&mdash;and will tell how <i>they</i>
+love peace and quiet; it will be their own turn next! In
+all their faults,&mdash;passion, lying, stealing, etc.,&mdash;they
+are perfectly conscious of the sin; and the same ones
+whom it would be impossible to stop, except by force,
+in their tempests of rage, will when quiet talk as sensibly
+of their folly as any one could desire. They seem to
+have a very delicate conscience without the slightest
+principle. That this want of principle is not innate and
+not their own fault, I think is proved by their consciences
+remaining true. Their state of morals I should say is decidedly
+better than it was under slavery,&mdash;less of licentiousness,
+lying, and stealing,&mdash;and more general manliness
+and self-respect. But they are very far behind, in
+character as well as intelligence, and I suspect that most
+abolitionist views of their character are exaggerated in
+their favor. It increases the need and it does not decrease
+the interest of helping them, to think so. Many a
+talking abolitionist would be disgusted into indifference,
+and many a hearty hater of the talk would be surprised
+into interest and favor, if they lived here for six months.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>
+It's pretty hard sometimes to find your best men lying
+to you, or your most trusty people ungrateful and distrusting
+you,&mdash;and then again a light breaks out where
+you thought there was neither fuel nor fire. The most
+encouraging symptom is the clearly increasing influence
+which the best of the people are acquiring,&mdash;so that
+there certainly is a <i>general</i> improvement.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p>
+<h2>1864</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The land-sales of 1864, contradictory orders&mdash;Discontent among the
+negroes about wages&mdash;Small-pox on the plantations&mdash;The
+chattel sale&mdash;Labor contracts for the season&mdash;Newspaper attacks
+on Mr. Philbrick&mdash;The raid on Morgan Island&mdash;Mr. Philbrick's
+plans for the future&mdash;The black draft&mdash;Red tape&mdash;Approach
+of Sherman and the battle of Honey Hill.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 3.</i> I don't know how low the thermometer
+would have stood out of doors here. R.'s was at 19&deg;.
+The one in our parlor was at 28&deg; some time after lighting
+the fire.</p>
+
+<p>You will probably in due course of time see the tintypes
+of Rose and Demus. Old Judy and Minda got
+theirs taken some time since, but there has been no
+opportunity of sending them to you. As they went up
+all by themselves, the arrangement of their toilet was
+original; hence a display of jewelry rather more characteristic
+than tasteful.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The subject of the approaching land-sales now becomes
+the all-important topic.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 20.</i> There was notice given for all the people
+to meet at St. Helena church on Sunday last to hear
+the President's new instructions about land-sales. These
+new orders were obtained, as nearly as I can learn,
+by Father French, who went to Washington at General
+Saxton's request to urge the matter. The plan defeats<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>
+that of Dr. Brisbane, who meant to sell at auction.<a name="FNanchor_151_151" id="FNanchor_151_151"></a><a href="#Footnote_151_151" class="fnanchor">[151]</a>
+Now, as you will see by the papers, all the lands that
+were bid in by the United States are offered at private
+sale, to black or white, in lots of twenty or forty acres
+at a uniform price of $1.25 per acre, like Western public
+lands, with the privilege of pre&euml;mption, but to those
+only who have resided on lands belonging to the Government
+for at least six months since the occupation
+of the island by our forces. So this gives all the superintendents
+and teachers a chance to buy as well as
+the negroes, but excludes all new-comers. I found
+Dr. Brisbane as much disturbed as it is possible to
+conceive.</p>
+
+<p>Of course I stayed over with Mr. R. another night
+to attend the church. It was a fine morning, and we
+found a pretty large attendance, both black and white.
+Parson Phillips was there and opened the services.
+Mr. French followed, urging them to go ahead at once
+and locate their lots. General Saxton followed, saying
+but little, but urging them not to sleep till they had
+staked out their claims.</p>
+
+<p>Father French begged leave to differ, for he wanted
+them to respect the Sabbath. Mr. Hunn followed, saying
+they had better do it <i>to-day</i>, for it was no worse to
+drive stakes Sunday than to keep thinking about it.
+He condoled them on the small pay they had been getting
+from Government and private speculators, saying,
+"What's thirty cents a day in these times for a
+man who has to maintain himself and his family?"
+(Great sensation among negroes, and a buzz, with
+mutterings of "that's so," etc.). Then a paymaster<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>
+made a spread-eagle speech. Then Colonel Ellwell was
+called out by Mr. French. Then Judge Smith mounted
+the pulpit and explained to the negroes the meaning
+of pre&euml;mption, how it was formed of two Latin words.
+Colonel Ellwell contrived to mystify the people a little as
+follows. After expatiating on the goodness of President
+Lincoln, he said he was so kind he had even offered pardon
+to the rebels, and perhaps we should see their old
+masters back here some day, with a whole county of
+scoundrels to swear they had always been loyal Union
+men, etc. The whole fandango lasted till nearly three
+o'clock, and then we had the usual amount of shaking of
+hands, etc., outside. I lost no time in finding Mr. Hunn
+and informing him that I had paid an average of over fifty
+cents a day through the whole season of working cotton.
+If he had been a younger man, I should have said, as
+I thought, that it was not a true kindness to these ignorant
+people to say anything tending to make them discontented
+with the rates of pay that had been established
+with a good deal of care by men who had been
+quite disinterested and well calculated to judge of such
+things. In fact, I might have told him, what I certainly
+believe, that a much higher rate of pay than they have
+been receiving would tend to diminish the amount of
+industry rather than to stimulate it, by rendering it too
+easy for them to supply their simple wants. I held my
+peace, however, and was content to hear him apologize,
+disclaiming any intention of referring to me in what
+he had said, etc., and admitting that my case was an
+exception, adding that he didn't suppose I should be
+<i>allowed</i> by Government to pay higher rates than those
+established by General Saxton! We were accompanied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>
+home from church by Mr. Eustis, and Mr. R. came as
+far as G.'s. They all met here Monday, in a pouring
+rain, to talk over the subject of wages for the coming
+year. It was concluded to pay in money entirely instead
+of in molasses and bacon, believing that the days
+of rationing in any form had passed, and that the negroes
+would be better pleased to handle all the money
+and spend it as they pleased. So we raise the pay of
+cotton hoeing from twenty-five cents to thirty-five
+cents per old task, and add five cents more, making it
+forty cents, besides the premium on the weight of crop,
+which remains as before, making the average wages
+about sixty or sixty-five cents for cotton work, which
+we think none too high for the present prices of dry
+goods, etc. Of course, the smart hands earn more than
+this in a day, for they do one and one-half times or twice
+as much per day as they used to, and these prices are
+based upon the old master's day's work or task. I have
+some men who gin fifty pounds a day and earn their
+dollar, while they never ginned more than thirty pounds
+for their master. I spent most of the day with G. on
+his plantations, talking with him and his people about
+the prospect of success with the new system. I haven't
+yet found a single man on any of my places who wants
+to risk buying land. They all say they had rather stay
+where they are and work for me. The more intelligent
+foresee many difficulties in owning land, such as
+having no access to marsh, or woodland, no capital
+for live-stock, plows, harness, carts, etc., and they don't
+like the idea of having to wait a whole year to get their
+reward for planting the cotton crop. The people seemed
+highly satisfied to work on and well pleased with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>
+prospect of higher nominal wages to talk about, and
+slightly higher in reality, with the privilege of spending
+them as they wish.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 27.</i> Last Friday I made an expedition to Eddings
+Point in our little boat. Arriving about one
+o'clock, and leaving the boat in charge of the boys,
+I walked up to Mr. Wells' house on the Mary Jenkins
+place, about one and one-quarter miles. I went down
+to the nigger-house to see the people. I found the people
+in a state of confusion about buying land. They
+had got the impression at church from the earnest way
+in which they were urged to buy, that they <i>must</i> buy
+land <i>nolens volens</i>, and wanted to have my consent to
+stay where they were and work for me as long as they
+pleased! Of course I laughed and told them they were
+welcome to stay as long as they wished and behaved
+well. They seemed "well satisfy" with this, and all
+in good humor.</p>
+
+<p>I stayed at home Monday to see Mr. Hull, who came
+down with another big boat-load of cotton for our people
+to gin. They had finished ginning what he brought
+last week in two days. As soon as his boat came to the
+landing near Nab's house, the people made a rush for
+the cotton, the men carting it and the women carrying
+the bags on their heads and hiding it, so they might have
+some of it to gin. It was like rats scrambling for nuts.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. B. has a letter from Secretary Chase, urging
+that a bale of free labor cotton be sent to the Sanitary
+Fair at New York, and I offered to present a bale for
+the purpose. It will be worth about five hundred dollars;
+but is not a very great contribution, considering
+that we have two hundred of them nearly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I see that my letter to Alpheus Hardy<a name="FNanchor_152_152" id="FNanchor_152_152"></a><a href="#Footnote_152_152" class="fnanchor">[152]</a> is going the
+rounds, being copied in Providence <i>Journal</i> and New
+York <i>Evening Post</i>, with a few blunders as usual. Did
+you notice the expression "extend the arm of charity"
+was printed "area" instead of "arm," making a very
+absurd appearance? The Providence <i>Journal</i> put in
+an extra cipher, multiplying my figures by ten. In order
+to correct this blunder, which was a serious one, making
+the cotton cost ten times as much as I stated, I wrote
+to the editor, giving him some more information about
+my crop, for the benefit of the Providence cotton spinners.<a name="FNanchor_153_153" id="FNanchor_153_153"></a><a href="#Footnote_153_153" class="fnanchor">[153]</a></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 29.</i> Outside of our plantations, the people for
+once are excited with good reason. In the most awkward,
+incomplete, bungling way the negroes are allowed
+to pre&euml;mpt twenty and forty acre tracts; so everybody
+is astir, trying to stake out claims and then to
+get their claims considered by the Commissioners.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>
+These gentlemen meanwhile are at loggerheads, the
+land is but half surveyed, and everything is delightfully
+confused and uncertain. Still it is the beginning
+of a great thing,&mdash;negroes become land-owners and
+the door is thrown open to Northern immigration.
+Years hence it will be a satisfaction to look back on
+these beginnings,&mdash;now it is very foggy ahead and
+very uncertain under foot.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 4.</i> Sunday morning I met the whole female
+population on the road, coming to church. It was baptism
+day, and the women had all put on their best
+dresses, their summer muslins and turbans, making a
+fine show. On arriving at the Captain John Fripp
+gate, by the avenue, I found a knot of young men seated
+there, with one of their number reading to the rest from
+the Testament. I asked them why they didn't go to
+church with the women! They said they had heard
+that "soldiers had come to catch we," and "we were
+scary." Poor fellows, what a strange life of suspense
+they are leading! General Gillmore has ordered a complete
+census of the islands, black and white men included,
+for enrollment on the militia lists, and no white
+citizen is allowed to leave the Department until after
+it is found whether he is wanted for military service,
+<i>i. e.</i>, after a draft.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Having got the cotton all shipped, Mr. Philbrick
+prepared to go home, but he was not to leave without
+receiving from his employees more than one expression
+of their growing consciousness of power.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p>
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 9.</i> The women came up in a body to complain
+to Mr. Philbrick about their pay,&mdash;a thing which has
+never happened before and shows the influence of very
+injudicious outside talk, which has poisoned their minds
+against their truest friends. The best people were among
+them, and even old Grace chief spokeswoman. It is very
+hard, but not to be wondered at in the poor, ignorant
+creatures, when people who ought to know better are so
+injudicious,&mdash;to use the mildest term the most charitable
+interpretation of their conduct will allow. I don't
+see what is to be the end of it all, but at this rate they
+will soon be spoiled for any habits of industry.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 14.</i> As we went to the back steps to see Mr. Philbrick
+off, we found the people collecting with eggs and
+peanuts for him to carry. He told them that he could
+not carry the eggs to Miss Helen, but would tell her.
+Then Grace begged his pardon for her bad behavior and
+complaining the other day, and, collecting all the eggs
+which he had refused, told C. they were for him, and
+sent them by Rose into the house. She, with the other
+women, had complained of C. to him, and I suppose she
+meant it as a peace offering.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Feb. 22.</i> I regretted that you were not present
+at the pow-wow after church on the 14th. Mr. Tomlinson
+talked very "straight" to Pompey and others about
+their having no right to live on my land without working
+for me at fair rates. He expressed his opinion very freely
+about the fairness of our prices and told them they must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>
+go and hunt up another home or work for us at these
+rates. I promised to sign a "pass," which you can do
+for me, promising to Pompey or any other man who
+works for us that as soon as he gets a piece of land of his
+own, gets a deed of it, and gets it fenced in, we will sell
+him a cow at cost, but I would not agree to allow their
+cows to run at large on the plantation, and Mr. Tomlinson
+said I was perfectly right. During the confab I overheard
+mutterings among the crowd such as "we shan't
+get anything," "it's no use," etc., serving to convince
+me that the whole subject would be quietly dropped unless
+stirred up by some such men as J. H. and F. J. W.
+again. Considering the prospect of high prices of molasses
+and bacon, etc., I think we may find it advisable
+to pay fifty cents all summer for what we had promised
+forty. But would do nothing about it till I have made
+my purchases of molasses, etc., and know just how the
+thing will stand.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>An unexpected danger in the shape of an epidemic of
+small-pox made its appearance in the middle of the winter
+and lasted for two or three months.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p>[<i>Jan. 29.</i>] Mr. Philbrick vaccinated all the children
+here last year, and the few cases we have had have been
+among those grown persons who were vaccinated many
+years ago, and have all been very mild. It may run
+through the place, but it is not likely to be violent, and
+the quarters are too far off to expose us.</p>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 26.</i> Rose came up as usual, but had such hot fever
+that I sent her home to add one more to the sick list there,
+where all but one have "the Pox," taken from Hester.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>
+I expected Rose would not escape. Moreover, Uncle
+Sam now has it, so Robert may give out in a few weeks;
+but no one has been very ill, and no one yet has died here.
+It seems to be a milder form than that which appeared
+at the Oaks and at Mr. Eustis', where a number have
+died, or else they give them more air here, which is I
+believe the fact. I do not go to the quarters now at all.
+I can do no special good in going, and they send to me
+for what they want.</p>
+
+<p>[<i>March 21.</i>] Monday morning just after breakfast Rose
+came into the parlor with a funny expression on her face
+and asked me if I had been into the kitchen. "Well,
+Aunt Betty got de Gove<i>ment</i> lump, for true; I shum yere
+and yere," pointing to her chin and cheek. So I went
+downstairs, and there was Betty on the floor, fairly in
+for the small-pox. I find the people call it "Govement
+lump," and those who have it "Union," those who
+don't "Secesh," while the fever which precedes the
+eruption goes by the very appropriate name of "Horse
+Cavalry!"</p>
+
+<p><i>March 9.</i> In the evening, a little after nine o'clock, the
+air was suddenly filled, as it seemed to me, with a strange
+wild, screaming wail. At first I thought it must be the
+mules; but it rose and fell again and again in such
+agony, as I thought, that Mr. Soule and William went
+out to investigate, while I opened the window to listen
+more distinctly. It seemed to come from Uncle Sam's
+house, and though now more subdued I thought it the
+sobbing of strong men, and that I could distinguish
+Titus' and Robert's voices. But the gentlemen soon
+came back, saying that there were evidently a good many
+people in Uncle Sam's house having a merry time. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>
+said that was strange, for he was not well, and that it
+sounded so like distress to me that I should think, if I
+supposed him sick enough, or that they ever manifested
+grief so audibly, that he had suddenly died. Several
+times before I went to bed I thought I heard the same
+sound, though more subdued. As I went upstairs to bed
+there began, at first quite low, then swelling louder with
+many voices, the strains of one of their wild, sad songs.
+Once before when Uncle Sam was sick they have had
+their praise-meeting up there, for he is the Elder. But
+it was not praise-night, and as the hymn ceased and I
+could distinguish almost the words of a fervent prayer,
+I was quite sure that, as is their custom, they were sitting
+up and singing with the friends of the dead,&mdash;all
+of the plantation who were not watching with the sick
+in their own homes. And so it proved. The night was
+wild and stormy, but above the tempest I could hear, as
+I woke from time to time, the strangely "solemn, wildly
+sad strains" which were continued all the night through.
+At sunrise they ceased and separated; the air of their
+last hymn has been running in my head all day. Then
+came the stir in the house&mdash;Robert making fires&mdash;I
+knew his step&mdash;and then Betty at my bedside to ask
+about the breakfast. "And Bu' Sam dead too," was her
+quiet remark when her business was done. "I dunner if
+you yeardy de whoop when he gone."</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>This practice of sitting up all night with the dying,
+H. W. justly enough condemns as "heathenish:" "The
+houses cannot hold them all, of course, and they sit
+round out-of-doors in the street, the younger ones often
+falling asleep on the ground, and then they 'hab fever.'"
+But of course it was useless to expostulate with them;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>
+to their minds the omission of the watch would be a mark
+of the greatest disrespect.</p>
+
+<p>The next two extracts furnish further comments on
+the mismanagement preliminary to the land-sales.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 22.</i> Did you know we had long ceased to be philanthropists
+or even Gideonites? We are nothing now
+but speculators, and the righteous rail against us. A
+great crowd of our brethren have just come down to be
+present at the late sales. Mr. Philbrick and the purchasers
+of last spring paid about $1.00 or $1.25 per acre;
+now prices run from $5.00 to $27.00 per acre.<a name="FNanchor_154_154" id="FNanchor_154_154"></a><a href="#Footnote_154_154" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> There has
+been the most disgraceful squabbling among the tax-commissioners,
+General Saxton, Rev. Mr. French, and
+other authorities. The people are the victims. At first
+most of the lands were to be sold at auction in large lots;
+that brought in white settlers&mdash;and only a little was
+for negro sales. Then one commissioner sends up to
+Washington, gets orders for a Western pre&euml;mption system,
+and with a grand hurrah the negroes were told to
+go and grab the lands. The other commissioners then
+throw all possible obstacles in the way till they can
+get dispatches up to Washington too, and the answer
+comes back,&mdash;Pre&euml;mptions don't count, sell by auction.&mdash;And
+so!&mdash;This is a precious Department of
+ours.</p>
+
+<p><i>March 14.</i> The past two months have been full of
+unpleasant work,&mdash;the people were unsettled, discontented,
+and grumbling. I hope their growling is nearly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>
+over, and look for quieter times soon. The disputes
+among the tax-commissioners have been very unintelligible
+and prejudicial to them. On some places I
+understand that the negroes refuse to have anything to
+do with the new proprietors. On others they have agreed
+to work, and the year as a whole will probably witness
+much more industry than either of the last two.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>At about this time an appraisal was at last made of
+the "chattel property" which had been found on the
+plantations, with a view to selling it at auction. Of
+course Mr. Philbrick and his superintendents, who had
+been using these things ever since they came into possession,
+desired, in most cases, to buy them. At the Fripp
+Point auction the negroes showed their ungracious, not
+to say ungrateful spirit, by bidding against W. C. G.
+and actually buying all the mules, oxen, and cows away
+from him. In looking forward to the auction at Coffin's
+Point; where the movables alone had been appraised
+as worth more than Mr. Philbrick had paid for the entire
+place, H. W. writes:</p></div>
+
+<p><i>March 6.</i> We were doubtful how far the behavior
+of the Fripp Point people might affect ours, though C.
+was quite confident there would be no trouble&mdash;and
+moreover expected a good many outsiders, as R. said
+Beaufort people had been inquiring all through the
+week when the sale was to take place here, with the significant
+remark, "Coffin's Point's the place!" and we
+knew if they did come things would be run up very high.
+So that it was impossible not to feel a most uncomfortable
+anxiety all day.</p>
+
+<p><i>March 7.</i> Monday morning the first thing I heard
+was Mike in excited tones calling to C. that the Fripp
+people were coming over "to buy everything out de<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>
+gate"&mdash;that they would leave everything on top Massa
+Charlie, but that he must not let the stranger black
+people get anything.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Fortunately Mike's fears proved to be exaggerated,
+and Massa Charlie got practically everything that he
+wanted.</p>
+
+<p>The next letter, from Mr. Philbrick to W. C. G., is
+concerned with several different matters. The last paragraph
+will serve to introduce a number of extracts all
+concerned with criticisms directed against Mr. Philbrick
+by Abolitionists and negroes.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, March 24.</i> I hope no cases of merchandise will
+be opened without carefully comparing contents with
+the invoices, and if any errors are found they should
+be reported immediately. I am sorry to see that a considerable
+deficit was found in some of the stores, which
+I can only account for on the supposition of theft. I
+think sufficient care has not been taken to guard against
+theft from carts on road. The value of the property
+lost is not a matter of so much consequence as the demoralization
+to the thief and to others who are encouraged
+to similar practices by his example. I don't think
+the negroes one bit worse in this respect than the laboring
+classes of other countries, and not nearly so bad
+as the lower classes in all large cities. But we ought
+to be very careful how we expose them to temptations
+which they are not strong enough to resist, till such
+time as they acquire more self-respect than they are
+likely to in this generation.</p>
+
+<p>I shall not be able to make any dividend to the shareholders
+this year. After paying my advances and settling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>
+with superintendents, there will not be any surplus
+over the needs of the current year.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. F. J. W. has been quite talkative and rides his
+hobby to death,<a name="FNanchor_155_155" id="FNanchor_155_155"></a><a href="#Footnote_155_155" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> concerning the rights of the negro to
+have land for nothing, etc., etc., expatiating upon the
+tyranny of the newly forming <i>landed aristocracy</i>, the
+gigantic speculators who are grinding the negro down,
+etc., etc., ad libitum. He held forth on these topics at
+length at a meeting of the Educational Commission
+about two weeks ago, and succeeded in making Professor
+Child and some others believe that the whole
+labor of the Commission for two years past had been
+wasted or overthrown by the recent changing policy,
+which had ousted them out of their promised rights
+and cast them out upon the merciless open jaws to
+devour them alive, etc., etc.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>April 18.</i> Just now it would seem as if the Sea Islands
+were to be abandoned to the negroes and wild
+hogs. I had heard some things of General Birney<a name="FNanchor_156_156" id="FNanchor_156_156"></a><a href="#Footnote_156_156" class="fnanchor">[156]</a>
+before which led me to regard him as having injudicious
+sympathies, and should not be surprised at any
+time to have him send you home as a "fraudulent coadjutor"
+of an unrighteous speculation, upon the representation
+of Pompey and John, if they should happen
+to gain an audience after dinner some day. Joking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>
+aside, however, I think it would be a good plan to get
+Colonel S. to retract some of his nonsense, and I have
+no doubt he will do it at your request, for he is one of
+the most good-natured and well-intentioned men in the
+world. He is very likely to have said what the negroes
+say he did, indiscreetly, of course, and without dreaming
+what effect it might have. If the people continue
+to refuse to receive their money, as I don't believe they
+will long, I would consult Mr. Tomlinson about it. I
+think he will sustain us in anything reasonable. I think
+if Mr. Tomlinson were to tell John or Pompey that
+they would not be allowed to take any of their cotton
+and would be severely punished if they attempted it,
+it would have a good effect. Any way I think the matter
+will blow over soon. It is not strange that the negroes
+should act like fools when they have such examples
+before them as we see nowadays.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>April 18.</i> At night came Mr. Soule from Beaufort
+with an account of the investigations going on there
+concerning the tax-commissioners before Judge Smith,
+an agent sent by the President for the purpose.
+Mr. Soule found that he had also been commissioned
+to look into the affairs of our "concern," as the Fripp
+Point men had sent a petition to the President to be
+relieved from Mr. Philbrick's oppression! Mr. Soule
+and Mr. Tomlinson both saw Judge Smith, and had
+some talk with him at the meeting, which was a public
+one, and he was invited to come down here, see Mr.
+Soule's books and investigate all the charges thoroughly.
+Whoever drew up the petition (of course it had been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>
+done by a white man, but who we could not tell, for his
+name as witness had been omitted in the copy given
+Judge Smith) had so overshot the mark that it was
+palpably absurd to all who knew the facts, and happily
+Mr. Soule had found Judge Smith to be a fair-minded,
+able, clear-sighted person, who could not have dust
+thrown in his eyes.</p>
+
+<p><i>April 21.</i> Sat waiting the arrival of Judge Smith,
+when about one o'clock Robert called to me that a carriage
+was coming. To my amazement, instead of the
+Judge alone or with only a friend, a great vehicle with
+four white horses and "sofas inside,"<a name="FNanchor_157_157" id="FNanchor_157_157"></a><a href="#Footnote_157_157" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> as Rose said,
+dashed up to the front door with four gentlemen, Mr.
+Tomlinson and Mr. G. being on horseback besides.
+Of course I had to fly round about my dinner and get
+up tables large enough to seat thirteen people. By three
+dinner was ready and my guests at table&mdash;a very
+pleasant company: Judge Smith, a round, smooth-faced
+<i>gentleman</i> between fifty and sixty, active and
+wide-awake; Judge Cooley, the new tax-commissioner,
+a Westerner and also very pleasant. Judge Smith
+took Mr. Soule's statement before dinner, and afterwards
+Mr. G.'s, all simply facts and with no waste of
+words. C. was not questioned at all. Then Mr. G.
+went over to the Point for the men there, for, though
+the Judge was satisfied that Mr. Philbrick was not a
+scoundrel and all of us aiders and abetters of his iniquities,
+we knew the men there would never be satisfied
+with the statement from any of us or Mr. Tomlinson, who
+had been talking to them for two hours that morning.
+Poor things, they are much more sinned against than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>
+sinning. They came flocking over so closely upon Mr.
+G.'s heels as to get here nearly as soon as he did, and
+the session of the Court began by the examination of
+John Major before tea, the others crowding about the
+door and filling the piazza, quiet and orderly, but eager
+listeners. Not a single one of our people came up. John
+Major is a discontented, conceited fellow, who has
+never worked for Mr. Philbrick, though his wife and
+children have, and he headed the petition. It was
+splendid to see how quickly the Judge saw through him,
+when he has been only a week in the Department, and
+could hardly understand what he said; but he showed
+the man pretty plainly what he thought of him, telling
+him, when he said the Government could not find
+him out [know him] that it <i>had</i> found him out, that it
+had his name in Washington, and that if he thought
+Secesh times were so much better, the Government
+loved him so well it would let him go back to his old
+master! After tea came 'Siah and Pompey, two very
+different men,&mdash;intelligent, hard-working, and honest,
+the former particularly truthful and reliable, men whom
+we all respect,&mdash;and it was a fine sight to see these
+men, only two years out of slavery, respectfully but
+decidedly standing up for what they thought their
+rights in a room full of white people. 'Siah only said
+that he thought he ought to have fifty cents for what
+he is now paid forty for<a name="FNanchor_158_158" id="FNanchor_158_158"></a><a href="#Footnote_158_158" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> (about four hours work), but
+that he had given his word to Mr. Philbrick for this
+year and he would stand by it. He says he never signed
+the paper, or saw it, but that he answered the question
+the two officers asked him and told his name.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>
+Pompey afterwards stated that the two officers asked
+who owned the adjoining plantations and that one,&mdash;and
+that on being told that Mr. Philbrick had bought
+them all, said: "Then we need not go any further"&mdash;which
+looks like malice aforethought. The paper was,
+apparently, written at Hilton Head and there signed
+with the men's marks&mdash;if so, it is a forgery. Pompey's
+great difficulty seemed to have arisen from a misunderstanding
+of statements made by Mr. Philbrick, in
+which he considered that Mr. Philbrick took back his
+word, and so he had lost confidence in him and was
+ready to appeal to any one who promised to see him
+righted and relieved from his "confusion." He says,
+and all the men say so too, that Mr. Philbrick promised
+when he bought the land to sell it to them when the
+war was over for what he gave for it, and that when
+he was here last he told them he should ask them ten
+dollars an acre. This they all stand to, and cannot be
+convinced they have made a mistake, but have lost
+their faith because he has broken his word,&mdash;and
+outsiders have fanned the flame, telling them that if
+they did not work for Mr. Philbrick for what he chose
+to pay them,&mdash;and that he was paying them nothing,&mdash;he
+would turn them out of their homes, and more
+to the same effect. It was a most interesting occasion,
+and it was pleasant to feel that there was a man of so
+much sense in the Department. He tried to pacify the
+men, and then privately told Mr. Soule that he should
+advise Mr. Philbrick to pay the fifty cents.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next day the gentlemen departed, Mr. Tomlinson
+going to the smaller Philbrick plantations to
+make the newly-ordered written contracts with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>
+people. By the terms of a circular issued April 1 by
+General Saxton, each superintendent was ordered,
+before April 15, to make to his general superintendent
+and to sign a statement of the agreement existing between
+himself and his laborers. The general superintendent
+was then ordered to visit the plantation, explain
+the contract to the negroes, and affix to it the
+names of all who agreed to the terms of it; any laborer
+who objected to the terms was warned to leave his employer
+or stay with him at his own risk. H. W. records
+the reception given to Mr. Tomlinson by the Pine
+Grove people.</p></div>
+
+<p><i>April 22.</i> They were silenced, but not convinced, but
+agreed for this year. Mr. Tomlinson had trouble with
+the people at Mr. Folsom's and Mr. Harrison's both.
+He had meant to do the job here, but could not, as C.
+was away. C. did not expect any difficulty, and I suspect
+that he was right, for just after all had gone, two
+of our men, "Useless" Monday, the stuttering cow-minder,
+and Hacklis, the sulkiest-looking man on the
+place, came up and, with the brightest smiles and
+cheeriest manner, began to ask me so earnestly how
+I was, that I felt as if I were not honest if I did not
+mention that I had a slight headache. "Mebbe de confusion
+make you sick, sorry for dat. Not one our
+people come up yere. We bery sorry for dat,"&mdash;and
+much more of regret, and assertion that "so long as
+Mass' Charlie on de place dey satisfy." Old Monday
+wished to know if the milk satisfied me, and was very
+much delighted when I told him that if he had not sent
+some up the night before I should have had none for
+the gentlemen's breakfast, and kept exclaiming, "I
+glad for dat," as if he had wished to express his sympathy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>
+by deeds as well as words. Then Hacklis said,
+"Come, let's go," as if they had come up simply to
+assure me that our people would give no trouble. I was
+touched.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The end of the story was a month later.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 27.</i> Mr. Tomlinson came home last night with
+C. and Mr. Soule to spend the night and make the
+contract with the people, so C. sent word to them to
+assemble in the cotton-house yard before they went
+to their work, and he and Mr. Tomlinson went down
+before breakfast, so that they need not be interrupted
+in their work. They were gone so long that we began
+to fear some trouble&mdash;indeed C. said he expected
+some "jawing," and that it would be strange if this
+was the only place where there was none; but not a
+word was said&mdash;the people apparently are so ashamed
+of the conduct of the women when Mr. Philbrick was
+here and so indignant with the "Fripp People" that
+they are on their best behavior.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Early May.</i> We have been having a funny time with
+our people lately. One of my plantations is decidedly
+ahead of all the others in intelligence and energy. They
+were so energetic about March 1 as to get a petition
+sent up to President Lincoln, praying for redress against
+their various oppressions. The matter was referred
+to some gentlemen coming down here to make other
+investigations, and two or three weeks ago they pretty
+thoroughly examined our affairs. I believe the result<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>
+was pretty satisfactory. The originators of the movement
+were two dissatisfied men who have given me
+great trouble. There was much reason for some of
+their feeling, but very little for their complaints. As
+a result of the whole affair, however, I believe we all
+think it would be politic to increase our wages still
+more. At present we pay rather less than some, but
+our cheap stores far more than make up the difference.
+This, however, the people, instead of appreciating,
+only make the subject of more complaint.</p>
+
+<p>When that was nicely settled, I made the discovery
+that both plantations had thought it proper to plant
+a great deal of corn among my cotton. I had given
+them corn-land for themselves, but they, in pursuance
+of a Secesh custom of planting a little corn between
+the cotton rows, had done so to an outrageous extent.
+And they in many cases refused to take it out. The
+truth is here,&mdash;that we are rather more in the power
+of the negroes than they in ours. I shall insist on every
+grain being out, but actually shall probably have to
+do it myself. Well&mdash;such disputes are almost the only
+excitement I have; better some, perhaps, though unpleasant,
+than none.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, May 3.</i> As soon as I can get complete information
+from Liverpool about my claim on the
+insurance company,<a name="FNanchor_159_159" id="FNanchor_159_159"></a><a href="#Footnote_159_159" class="fnanchor">[159]</a> I shall settle with them and be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span>
+ready to settle with yourself, G., and Folsom. Are you
+not ashamed to put in your own private pocket the
+proceeds of the hard labor of the poor abused negro? I
+think you cannot have read the <i>Tribune</i> and <i>Independent</i>
+lately, or you would not be so depraved.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The sarcastic allusion in this last letter to the <i>Tribune</i>
+and the <i>Independent</i> refers to two letters which
+had lately appeared in those papers respectively, the
+one signed "J. A. S.," the other anonymous. Both
+were from Beaufort, and both attacked Mr. Philbrick
+for a letter which he had recently written (February
+24) to the New York <i>Evening Post</i>. This letter was
+the presentation which he had planned to make proving
+from his own experience that it was possible to
+raise cotton cheaper by free labor than had been possible
+by slave labor.<a name="FNanchor_160_160" id="FNanchor_160_160"></a><a href="#Footnote_160_160" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> In it Mr. Philbrick had also stated
+his belief that the land-sales would be an injury to the
+negro if they enabled him to buy at $1.25 an acre land
+which was already worth much more and would, after
+the war, rise still higher in value, for such purchases
+would be made largely as speculations, and would
+destroy all incentive to labor. The points of attack
+selected by the writers in the <i>Independent</i> and the
+<i>Tribune</i> were Mr. Philbrick's rate of wages,&mdash;why
+did he not pay his hands $2.50 a day?&mdash;his views
+on the land-sales, which, they said, showed his desire
+to make of the negroes an "agricultural peasantry,"
+as dependent upon great landed proprietors as ever
+they had been in their days of slavery, and the course
+he had pursued relative to his own purchases in land.
+"His own statements of his intentions induced the
+almost universal belief that he desired to buy land
+for the purpose of testing the industrial capabilities<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>
+of the negroes, and when they had justified his confidence
+in this respect, that he would sell them the lands
+in small allotments at the cost to himself." His actual
+performance now, on the other hand, was to put the
+price of his lands "further from their reach than
+before," fixing it "according to the increased value
+which their labor and proved capacity have given
+them." To these three accusations Mr. Philbrick
+made reply in two letters. First, as to the auction-sales,
+he agreed "that the good faith of the Government
+should have been kept in regard to the promised homesteads,
+however we may differ in opinion as to the
+expediency of making the promise at this time."
+Second, as to his scale of wages, he maintained that, on
+his plantations, "whenever the amount of work done
+in a day approaches the standard of a day's work in the
+North, the wages also approach the limit of Northern
+wages, under similar conditions."<a name="FNanchor_161_161" id="FNanchor_161_161"></a><a href="#Footnote_161_161" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> Third, as to his
+alleged promise to sell his land to negroes at cost, he
+said, "I am not aware that I have ever committed
+myself to any definite plans for disposing of this land;
+for I have not been able to digest or mature any plan
+satisfactory to myself."<a name="FNanchor_162_162" id="FNanchor_162_162"></a><a href="#Footnote_162_162" class="fnanchor">[162]</a></p>
+
+<p>There is nothing vital in these two letters of Mr.
+Philbrick's which is new to the reader of these pages.
+They are based on his firm belief that it was no kindness
+to the negro to make discriminations in his favor.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick's message to his superintendents
+about the increased pay demanded by 'Siah and
+Pompey, and his advice to W. C. G. in the matter of
+corn planted between the rows of cotton were as
+follows:</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, May 18.</i> I have already written expressing
+my assent to the rise of wages at any time when you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>
+shall all agree, and also write C. P. W. to-day that I
+should at any time assent to any change in the management,
+sustained by the unanimous approval of the
+corps upon the spot, without waiting to hear from me.
+You can avail yourself of the change to get rid of the
+corn in cotton-fields. I hope you will not pull it up
+yourself. I think such a step would lose more in dignity
+than you would gain in consistency of purpose. We
+must expect these people will take any undue advantage
+of us they think they can do with impunity, but I
+think such cases can be more readily reached through
+their pocket nerves than their moral sensibilities.
+Moreover, it is always better to do nothing in which
+we should not be sustained by the authorities, whose
+tender sympathies are not always judicious, as you
+know. I would not allow a hill of corn in the cotton-field,
+<i>i. e.</i>, I would not pay the extra price till it is
+pulled up.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter shows that the freedmen were waking
+up to their rights in more ways than one.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 19.</i> We had a queer scene here on Tuesday.
+It is probably the first time that the slaves&mdash;contrabands&mdash;freedmen&mdash;have
+asserted themselves our
+fellow-countrymen by claiming the right of voting. A
+meeting was called in Beaufort to elect delegates to
+the Baltimore convention.<a name="FNanchor_163_163" id="FNanchor_163_163"></a><a href="#Footnote_163_163" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> It was assumed that we
+could stand for the sovereign state of South Carolina,
+and so we sent her full complement of sixteen representatives,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>
+and furnished each with an alternate. There
+are hardly thirty-two decent men in the Department,
+it is commonly believed. A large half of the meeting
+consisted of blacks, and <i>four black delegates were chosen</i>,
+Robert Small<a name="FNanchor_164_164" id="FNanchor_164_164"></a><a href="#Footnote_164_164" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> among them; the others I believe were
+sergeants in the South Carolina regiment. At one
+time there was considerable excitement, and white
+paired off against black,&mdash;but on the whole both
+colors behaved very well.</p>
+
+<p>The whole affair will be laughed at by the North, and
+it is hardly probable that the delegates will be received.
+I hope they will.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>In this hope W. C. G. was to be disappointed. Not
+one of the delegates was received.</p>
+
+<p>With a group of H. W.'s letters the story goes back
+to home life.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sunday, May 8.</i> I have been wanting to see a Baptism
+performed as it is here in the creek, and as there was
+to be one to-day C. arranged yesterday for us all to go
+up. We had a lovely drive, reaching the bridge by the
+church just as the Baptism began, and, sitting in the
+wagon where we could see and hear everything, we
+witnessed the whole ceremony and saw the vast crowd
+that had collected for the same purpose. As the last
+came up out of the water the people began to sing, and
+we moved with the crowd towards the church, which
+was presently filled, as many more people outside sitting
+about. We sat for about four hours, through all
+the services. The minister soon changed his clothes and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span>
+came in, but in the meantime the people sung. Mr.
+Parker took occasion in his sermon to express very
+liberal views towards other denominations of Christians,
+and then invited "all members of sister churches
+to remain to the Communion service." There has been
+so much talk and trouble about this, and all who were
+not Baptists have been so vigorously excluded,<a name="FNanchor_165_165" id="FNanchor_165_165"></a><a href="#Footnote_165_165" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> that
+we were very glad to see the new minister take a different
+ground, and remained gladly. While the deacons
+were arranging the Table, those who chose went out,
+after which the elders went to the doors to call them
+back. "Member, member, what you keep de church
+waitin' for?" and again the church was filled, floor
+and gallery,&mdash;I never saw such a sight,&mdash;but the
+minister's earnestness and the general seriousness of
+the people made it unlike a spectacle, and a serious,
+most interesting occasion. Then there was a collection
+taken up in the elders' hats, the people making change
+while old Robert would attempt to persuade them to
+leave the whole bill! Then two couples were severally
+married, not both at once after Mr. Phillips' heathenish
+fashion, pronouncing them all husbands and wives!</p>
+
+<p><i>May 16.</i> I found that the Court was to meet here at
+nine o'clock. Mr. Soule asked me to be present, and I
+listened all day to the examination of the various witnesses.
+It was very interesting; but it was very sad to see
+how little dependence could be placed upon their word.
+Men and boys took the oath one after the other and then
+lied as if they had sworn to do so. Their ingenuity was
+wonderful, and we had to come to the conclusion that
+if those who we supposed spoke the truth had been on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span>
+the other side they would have lied as badly as the others.
+It has now become very important to carry the case
+through and discover if possible who have perjured
+themselves, as they must learn how important it is for
+them to speak the truth. But little additional light was
+thrown by the labor of to-day, and they adjourned at
+night till Thursday, at Pine Grove.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 19.</i> The court sat at Pine Grove, but though
+the moral certainty was very great, it was almost impossible
+to convict on the evidence, because they lied so.</p>
+
+<p>A man came in great excitement to tell us that the
+rebels had made a raid during the night onto Morgan
+Island and carried off all the people. F. and R. immediately
+took the sailboat and went over to the gunboat
+to let them know.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 22.</i> F. went to church to find out about the poor
+Morgan Island people, and heard from Mrs. Wells that
+eleven people, men and women, had been carried off by
+fifteen Secesh&mdash;three of Hamilton Fripp's sons were
+among them. They took all the clothes, money, and eatables
+they could find, and told the people that they were
+living well and earning forty cents a day while their old
+mistress was starving and had no one to work for her,
+and they thought it was time they went to take care of
+her. One man escaped after his hands were tied, and
+one woman refused to get into the boat, and they knocked
+her down and left her. They have frightened poor Mrs.
+Wells pretty effectually by saying they should like to
+carry Mr. Wells off on the points of their bayonets.
+"That man that pays them forty cents a day." A
+picket has been stationed there and another on Eddings
+Point.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>May 27.</i> My "seamster," Maria, has a little girl
+who she sent me word should be my little chambermaid,
+and she wished me to name her. Her youngest child,
+Noble, I did not know, he is such a great boy, and I remarked
+that he was bigger than Cicero was two years
+ago. "Too much, Missus, him lick Cicero now," and
+she explained that it was because he was a Yankee child,
+and then she and Rose enlarged upon the general superiority
+of the Yankee children, who could all "lick" all
+the Secesh children of twice their years! It was very
+funny, but I daresay there is some truth in it, as the
+women only work when they feel able to do so, and
+moreover they all have a greater variety of food.</p>
+
+<p>The boys returned from the gunboats with full accounts
+from the officers of the disgraceful abandonment
+of the expedition<a name="FNanchor_166_166" id="FNanchor_166_166"></a><a href="#Footnote_166_166" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> and its complete failure, owing in
+the first place to the drunkenness of an officer and then
+to the failure of common sense. General Foster has
+arrived<a name="FNanchor_167_167" id="FNanchor_167_167"></a><a href="#Footnote_167_167" class="fnanchor">[167]</a>&mdash;I hope he will prove to be somebody; this
+poor Department seems doomed. General Birney seems
+to have shown as little sense in this matter as on the negro
+question.</p>
+
+<p><i>May 31.</i> To dine at Pine Grove, stopping on the
+way to see if I could find any of Pierce Butler's<a name="FNanchor_168_168" id="FNanchor_168_168"></a><a href="#Footnote_168_168" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> people
+among the St. Simonians who have settled on the deserted
+plantation of Hamilton Fripp. Found one woman
+who was nursery-maid at Mr. Hazard's, who she said
+was a cousin of "Butler's;" she remembered him well
+and his two daughters, also Mrs. Butler. "She was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>
+very great lady&mdash;a <i>very</i> great lady, and a most beautiful
+lady&mdash;slender-like: she tell Mr. Butler if he give
+up the slavery, she would likes to live there, but she
+couldn't stan' that; but he wouldn't 'grees to that,
+so she goes 'way and she get a dewoce. Oh, but she could
+ride hos'!" She said that Mr. Butler was a very kind
+master to his servants indeed, "but sometimes he have
+bad overseer."</p>
+
+<p><i>June 15.</i> Rode through the quarters to tell the people
+myself that I was going home for a visit. "But you
+comin' back dough&mdash;arter we get use' to you you mustn't
+lef' we&mdash;and you sarvice to we when we sick too
+much." "Hi!" said old Betty, "you brudder an' sister
+been eat you like one oyshter!" "Dey tink you like
+one angel come down," said old Judy, "and they no
+ben see you so long time."</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The long letter that comes next is perhaps the most
+interesting and convincing of all that Mr. Philbrick
+wrote.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, July 8.</i> Your long letter has received due attention,
+but I do not yet feel as if it would be advisable
+to sell lands any sooner than I had always intended, viz.,
+at the end of the war. I agree with you that the present
+system is unsatisfactory and annoying, tending to develop
+the evil as well as the good that is in the negro
+character. I had about concluded to propose next winter
+something like the following plan, but don't think it
+good policy to promise <i>anything</i> now for two reasons:
+first, such promises would be distorted and misrepresented
+by the negroes among themselves in the interim,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span>
+so that when the time comes, nothing but dissatisfaction
+and growling would result; second, because something
+may turn up in the meantime to change my mind as to
+what is best. My rough plan is to sell to the people at
+cost all live-stock and implements we could spare,&mdash;nearly
+the whole,&mdash;for which they can doubtless pay
+cash next winter. Then divide the lands among them
+to be used as they see fit for the remainder of the war,
+they to pay either a certain share of the cotton they raise,
+say one half, or a certain amount of cotton, annually.
+(Don't like this last.) A small farm to be reserved on
+large plantations to be sold to or worked by some white
+settler, who can devote his time there and act as our agent
+to look after our rights, and if possible work a little cotton
+on his own account, experimenting and introducing improved
+methods of culture. It might be almost impossible
+for such a man to get labor, but there will be some negroes
+too dependent in their habits to want to wait a year
+for their pay and some old people and widows who would
+prefer wages paid monthly. This white man's farm is,
+however, not a necessary part of the plan, and if labor
+can't be got, of course it wouldn't succeed. Teachers
+and store-keepers to be kept on the ground at our expense,
+who will look after the houses they live in and do
+whatever else they can to keep things straight.</p>
+
+<p>Another plan is to sell life-leases to the negroes, instead
+of the fee simple, disposing of the lands you propose
+to sell. This occurred to me as a means of avoiding
+the terrible and disastrous confusion which it will be next
+to impossible to avoid after a term of years, if the fee
+should be conveyed, when the purchasers die and sell or
+change land as they will to a certain extent in time. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span>
+is bad enough to trace a title and find out whether it is
+good for anything here in systematic New England,
+and difficult enough, too, to fix boundaries and maintain
+them against encroachments; but it makes my
+orderly bones ache to think of a time when, after some
+men now purchasing land shall die, leaving two or
+three sets of children, some born under wedlock and
+some not, some not their own but their wives' children,
+some even of questionable parentage, and some who
+were never heard of before, all claiming a slice of the
+deceased man's land, and of course all claiming the
+best. Suppose it was bounded by a "stake and stones"
+as of old here, minus the stones which are absent; suppose
+some of the claimants think best to set up a new
+stake where one has gone to decay, and suppose they
+are not over exact in placing it; or suppose, as is more
+than likely, their neighbor thinks the new stake encroaches
+on him and pulls it up entirely, stamping on
+the hole and putting it in according to his own ideas,
+etc., etc., ad infinitum. Now, as you must admit that
+all this is likely to occur, and worse too, would such a
+state of things tend to bring about a healthy and rapid
+development? Any one who has watched the minute
+subdivision of lands among the French peasantry
+knows that after a few generations a man has not land
+enough to live on or work economically, and hence a
+vast amount of time and energy is wasted in France
+for lack of organization;&mdash;that, too, where they have
+an administration of justice the most minute and exact
+to be found in the whole world, an organization of the
+judiciary which reaches to every man's case, however
+minute or inconspicuous. The life-lease system would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>
+avoid these troubles, but would be open to this objection,
+a serious one, too, viz., the negro ought to feel that in
+building up a home for himself, it shall be a home for
+his children, for he has too little of the feeling of responsibility
+for his offspring, which is one of the best stimulants
+to good order and civilization.</p>
+
+<p>The future value of the lands is a question I don't
+think of much consequence, neither is the question of
+profit to the present holders to be considered, when
+conflicting with the future welfare of the community.
+If we only had clearness of vision, the wisdom to see
+what would really be best for the masses, I sincerely
+believe that it could readily be adopted without in any
+way prejudicing the present profits of the holders. You
+speak of the probability of having less cotton planted
+for us in case your plan is followed. I shouldn't consider
+that of <i>any consequence whatever</i>, except that, as a
+general thing, the amount of cotton planted will always
+be a pretty sure index of the state of industry of the
+people, and their industry will always be the best measure
+of their improvement. It might take them some
+time to find out that cotton was the best thing for them
+to work on, but present prices are fast teaching them
+this fact.</p>
+
+<p>The objection noted above against a life-lease is a
+serious one, and perhaps sufficient to balance those
+future annoyances likely to grow out of selling the
+fee.</p>
+
+<p>I do not agree with you in what you say of the <i>unnatural</i>
+dependence of these people. I don't see any
+people on the face of the earth of their rank in civilization
+who are so independent as they are.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>I don't see the justice of the claim to the soil now
+made in their behalf by Mr. J. A. Saxton<a name="FNanchor_169_169" id="FNanchor_169_169"></a><a href="#Footnote_169_169" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> and others,
+and with which you seem to sympathize somewhat.
+The fact is that no race of men on God's earth ever
+acquired the right to the soil on which they stand without
+more vigorous exertions than these people have
+made. This is apparently the wise order of Providence
+as a means of discipline, or the misfortune of man, as
+a consequence of his failings, perhaps both; but I cannot
+see why these people should be excepted from the
+general rule. If they <i>have</i> acquired the necessary
+qualifications to be benefited by becoming landholders,
+then there is no reason for delay; but here is the very
+point of difference between us, whether they would be
+in the long run so benefited.</p>
+
+<p>As to price, I never considered the question of profit
+to myself or those I represent as of consequence in
+fixing the price. It is no doubt an expression of this
+kind which gave rise to the general belief, claimed by
+some whites as well as blacks, that I would sell at cost,
+"was bound" to do so, etc. It did not occur to those
+who so believed that I could have any good or disinterested
+reasons for selling for more than cost. It may
+be difficult to fathom one's own motives in such cases,
+but I can say honestly that I do not believe in the success
+of a system of selling to any people any property
+whatever for less than its market value, with a view to
+confer a lasting benefit upon them. That is, I think the
+immediate ease which such a course would confer
+would beget idleness and unthrifty habits when compared
+with a system by which every man should be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>
+required to pay full price. No man or race of men
+ever truly appreciate freedom who do not fight for it,
+and no man appreciates property who does not work
+for it, on the same terms with those around him. I
+think they would be better off for paying ten dollars
+an acre for land, if the land is worth it, rather than one
+dollar, because they would use the land for which they
+had paid full price more economically, would be likely
+to get more out of it, and would be taught a feeling
+of independence more readily than by being made the
+recipients of charity.</p>
+
+<p>In this case, however, we have a complication of
+circumstances entirely unique. We have a number of
+people who have bought land at a rate fixed by Government,
+and a certain amount of "discouragement"
+would ensue if our people were charged more per acre
+than their neighbors for similar land. They couldn't
+be expected to see the justice of such an arrangement,
+and it is difficult for us to explain why it should be so.
+This is a very strong argument for selling cheap, for
+we should avoid any course which we should not be
+able to easily prove just, when dealing with such a
+defenceless people. Of course there would be a grand
+howl among the so-called philanthropists at the mention
+of any plan on my part of selling at any rate above
+cost, witness the sensation produced by my letter to
+the <i>Evening Post</i>; but I don't care much for that,
+and ought not to care at all. We couldn't sell the land
+as you propose<a name="FNanchor_170_170" id="FNanchor_170_170"></a><a href="#Footnote_170_170" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> without calling forth a similar howl<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>
+from this sickly sympathy, which would have me sell
+all the land and would accuse me of a tendency to
+aristocracy if I retained any lands to be disposed of
+otherwise. Of course the negroes wouldn't be satisfied
+either. I don't expect to satisfy them by any course
+which would be consistent with common sense. I think
+it possible that I may fall into such a plan as you suggest
+after I get down there next winter. In the meantime
+I don't want to make any promises.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next three letters are full of the irritation engendered
+by unintelligent orders from official superiors.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>July 17.</i> Do people look with any interest toward this
+Department, either for military achievement or civil
+improvement? The former require better men&mdash;generals&mdash;than
+we are blessed with; the latter may come,&mdash;after
+the war.</p>
+
+<p>Do people expect much of the negro of Port Royal?
+Let them expect. It is amusing to hear M. W.<a name="FNanchor_171_171" id="FNanchor_171_171"></a><a href="#Footnote_171_171" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> She
+understands all the peculiarities of affairs down here
+with wonderful quickness and penetration; I have
+learned to respect her judgment and opinion. To
+hear her rail at these people, and slip out sly hints about
+the conduct of the "friends of the freedman" is a treat.</p>
+
+<p>Rose was sitting disconsolately on the wood-box the
+other evening; I began chaffing her about her melancholy
+looks. She did not say much, but presently she
+asked if I had heard from Miss Harriet again; I told
+her no, and she heaved a big sigh, and asked when she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span>
+would come back. "Mass' Charlie, no one <i>know</i> how
+I miss Miss Hayyut. If my own <i>mudder</i> go Nort', I no
+miss her mo'." I asked her if she missed Miss Harriet
+more than I missed my "farmly," whom I hadn't seen
+for so many months. She couldn't tell. "Ebry man
+hab e own feelin'."</p>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 17.</i> The unexpected opportunity to send off
+my letter was the visit of one Lewis Keller, from
+the provost marshal's office at Hilton Head; he came
+down to make inquiries concerning deserters, able-bodied
+men, etc., etc. He also obtained a map of the
+island, with plantations marked thereon. The provost
+marshal, I am sorry to say, is conceited, opinionated,
+and wanting in common sense and discretion. He has
+ideas which, if founded on anything, rest on reports
+only, and very vague reports too. He thinks, or rather
+(as the notion, once in his head, must stick there) he
+is certain, that there is communication between the
+negroes who buy at our stores and the rebels; that there
+is a camp of deserters (black and white) on Hunting
+Island, and that these deserters are employed in carrying
+supplies to the main; that the proximity of our
+stores to the rebel country is a dangerous state of things,
+not only inciting the rebels to come over, but likely to
+supply them with all they want if they do come. Also
+he thinks that the negroes have no business to have
+guns. Also he does not see what they can want with
+all the stuff sent on the <i>Kelley</i>. Now the <i>Kelley</i> arrived
+just before the regulations which allowed plantation
+supplies to enter insurrectionary districts. The treasury
+agent at once offered to permit the <i>Kelley's</i> cargo
+to come on shore. The provost marshal, who by this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>
+time appeared to be very willing to "help us all he
+could," took the invoice to General Foster, and came
+back with permission to land all of some things, one
+half the dry goods, one third only of the grocery supplies,
+flour, bacon, etc. We shall probably have to sell
+the rest at Hilton Head. Very provoking. Some of the
+supplies were small enough as they were; what is left
+will be about a mouthful apiece all around; <i>e. g.</i>, one
+hundred and eighty barrels of flour came; my share
+would be about thirty-five. I could have sold twenty-five
+whole barrels, and peddled out the rest in six weeks.
+My share of sixty barrels will be about twelve! The
+provost marshal could not see what the people wanted
+of so much provision. Yet he has at his office the census
+of all these plantations, besides a written statement
+prepared by Mr. Soule of the amount bought at these
+stores within the last six months and the lists of purchases
+over five dollars at a time (we have to keep these
+lists, as one condition of keeping store).</p>
+
+<p>Besides restricting the quantity of goods, all the
+stores are to be closed except those at R.'s and Folsom's.
+I may sell what I have on hand, but not take
+in anything more. Ignorance, stupidity, and conceit.</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Aug. 24.</i> The recent assumption of authority
+by the military officials seems to have extinguished the
+Treasury Department in Port Royal. It is a difficult
+case to reach, for this officious intermeddling bears the
+semblance of earnest and zealous watchfulness of the
+public interests. Any representations at Washington
+will avail nothing, so long as Colonel H. cherishes the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>
+idea, or pretends to, that it is not for the public welfare
+to have us sell bacon and 'lasses at Coffin's Point.
+Any permission from the Treasury Department which
+would appear to him as too lenient would only give
+him another chance to exercise his authority, which
+tickles his vanity and makes him appear a big man.
+A difference of opinion between him and myself would
+hardly be listened to at Washington, so long as it is
+upon a subject on which his superiors think him qualified
+to judge better than myself. Suppose the Secretary
+of the Treasury were to allow goods to be taken from
+Hilton Head without restriction, General Foster and
+Colonel H. would still think the rebels would get them,
+and, having the power in their own hands, would not
+be likely to allow us to avail ourselves of any such privileges.
+I should like to have the question asked him,
+"How the Coffin's Point people are to get supplies?"
+If we are forbidden to keep a store there, it certainly
+cannot be forbidden us to send a wagon-load of goods
+there for the supply of that plantation whenever needed,
+which will answer our purposes well enough. In order
+to avoid any trap-springing by parties who might
+think it a smart thing to tell Colonel H. we had not
+discontinued the store, it would be best to have a plain
+talk with him on the subject. We don't want to <i>keep store</i>,
+but supply the plantations, and need not keep
+any considerable stock on hand at these "exposed"
+points.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next group of letters returns to the subject of
+negro recruitment. By this time various Northern
+States, in despair of finding enough men at home to
+make out the number of recruits required of them by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span>
+the general Government, were getting hold of Southern
+negroes for the purpose, and their agents had appeared
+in the Department of the South, competing for freedmen
+with offers of large bounties. At the same time
+General Foster made up his mind that all able-bodied
+negroes who refused to volunteer, even under these
+conditions, should be forced into the service. If the
+conscription methods of the Government up to this
+time had not been brutal, certainly no one can deny
+that adjective to the present operations. Yet it will be
+seen that experience has tempered the indignation of
+the superintendents, though not their distress.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Aug. 9.</i> Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, agent for Massachusetts,
+has come. After looking about a little, he does
+not think the prospect of getting recruits <i>very</i> brilliant,
+but his agents are at work in Beaufort streets, and may
+pick up a few men. He intends to send native scouts
+on to the main to beat up recruits; $35 a man is
+offered for all they will bring in. Colonel Rice intended
+to come down here to-day, but had to go and see
+General Foster and Colonel Littlefield,<a name="FNanchor_172_172" id="FNanchor_172_172"></a><a href="#Footnote_172_172" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> Superintendent
+of Recruiting. (He&mdash;Colonel L.&mdash;calls it recruiting
+to conscript all he can lay hands on.) There is to be,
+not a draft, but a wholesale conscription,<a name="FNanchor_173_173" id="FNanchor_173_173"></a><a href="#Footnote_173_173" class="fnanchor">[173]</a> enforced
+here. Lieutenant-Colonel Strong of the First South
+(Thirty-Third United States Colored Troops)<a name="FNanchor_174_174" id="FNanchor_174_174"></a><a href="#Footnote_174_174" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> enrolled
+all colored men last month. It is possible, if the men<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span>
+can be made to understand this, that a few can be
+induced to volunteer, but I hardly think that many
+will be secured, either by enlistment or draft. Colonel
+Rice comes down here this week. Mr. Soule (just
+returned from Beaufort) describes him as a pleasant
+man, simple in manner, with great good sense, shrewd
+enough, and of an inquiring turn. He has gone right
+to work, not bidding for men, but offering the whole
+bounty, etc., at once, and at the same time he is trying
+to find out all he can about things and people here. I
+long to "shum" and keep him over night.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 23.</i> I'm glad to say that my plantations have
+at last contributed their share to the regiment. With
+two or three exceptions all my young men have gone,&mdash;twenty,
+more or less,&mdash;which has deprived me of at
+least half my stock of labor. They are carrying out the
+draft with excessive severity, not to say horrible cruelty.
+Last night three men were shot,&mdash;one killed, one
+wounded fatally, it is thought, and the other disappeared
+over the boat's side and has not been seen
+since,&mdash;shot as they were trying to escape the guard sent to
+capture all men who have not been exempted by the
+military surgeons. The draft here is a mere
+conscription,&mdash;<i>every</i> able-bodied man is compelled to serve,&mdash;and
+many not fit for military service are forced to work
+in the quartermaster's department.</p>
+
+<p><i>Oct. 12.</i> You ask more about the draft. The severity
+of the means employed to enforce it is certainly not to
+be justified, nor do the authorities attempt to do so,&mdash;<i>after</i>
+the act is done. The draft here is carried on by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span>
+military, not civil, powers. We have no civil laws,
+courts, officers, etc. Consequently the only way in
+which public operations can be accomplished is by
+issuing a general order and instructing the provost
+marshals to see it carried into execution. The only
+agents to be employed are necessarily soldiers, and the
+only coercion is necessarily that of guns and arbitrary
+arrests. The state of society&mdash;as far as regards the
+draft and also many other things&mdash;is one in which
+most men conspire to escape the voice of the law; so
+that, when such unfortunate occurrences happen as
+the late shooting affair, there seems to be nothing for
+it but indignation and sorrow, and perhaps an examination
+into the circumstances to discover if they justified
+recourse to such extreme action: <i>e. g.</i>, the shooting
+seems to have stopped further proceeding in the draft.
+If there were any civil power here, such things would
+be as unjust and horrible as they seem. As it is, each
+case has to be weighed by itself and may prove better
+than it seems. The Massachusetts recruiting agents,
+of course, have nothing to do with enforcing the draft.
+But their presence seems to have increased its activity
+and their bounty contributes to its success. Nearly all
+my men have gone voluntarily (<i>i. e.</i>, felt they must go,
+and, for the bounty offered, concluded to go without
+violence), and all are constantly writing home letters
+expressive of great satisfaction.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The letter following from T. E. R. (one of Mr.
+Philbrick's superintendents, frequently referred to in
+these letters as "R."), gives a capital idea of the pleasures
+of living under military rule.</p></div>
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span></p>
+<h3>T. E. R. TO C. P. W. (AT HOME ON A VISIT)</h3>
+
+<p><i>St. Helena Island, Oct. 17.</i> An order was issued
+just before or about the time you left to take away all
+the boats, to prevent intercourse with the rebels; so
+they attempted to enforce it, but, after the first day,
+boats all went out into the <i>mash</i> or up on dry land in
+the bush, and then alas for <i>General Order</i> or any other
+man. Several applications were sent to General Saxton
+in reference to the matter, and these he forwarded to
+Foster, and he let his dignity down easily by permitting
+all the boats taken to be returned and all not taken
+to be retained, on the presentation to the provost
+marshal of <i>triplicate</i> certificates describing the owner
+(age, height, color of eyes, hair, complexion, and occupation),
+describing boat (a pine dugout), certifying to
+the strict loyalty and <i>good citizenship</i> of the owner,
+signed by general superintendent, and approved by
+general commanding. Isn't that red tape to perfection?
+They never went to Coffin's to take the boats, nor
+did they ever go there to get soldiers&mdash;strange, when
+it is thought by many that there is nearly a regiment on
+that plantation. Perhaps they feared <i>Coffin's Battery</i>.<a name="FNanchor_175_175" id="FNanchor_175_175"></a><a href="#Footnote_175_175" class="fnanchor">[175]</a></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letter is from H. W., at the time of her return
+with C. P. W. to Port Royal.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Nov. 12.</i> There had been so much
+delay and uncertainty over our arrival that Rose had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span>
+gone home, but Rodwell stopped to tell her we had come
+as he went down with the cart, and she exclaimed,
+"Pray day come for me go see Miss Hayiut." In the
+morning she came early into my chamber, bright and
+eager. I knew Robert was black as the ace of spades,
+but they both of them did look blacker than anything
+I ever saw before, but it was good to see them.</p>
+
+<p>The next group of extracts is again occupied with
+the everyday events of plantation life.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 12.</i> As usual I managed to miss the last mail.
+Now that the W.'s and their party have returned, perhaps
+we may be assisted into greater punctuality. Fortunately
+for us they live farther from the human race
+by two and a half miles than ourselves, and can't reach
+it without passing within half a mile of our house.
+Politeness usually obliges them to come up and take
+our budget. We live on our friends in a great many
+ways here. Without attempting any system or intending
+to set a wrong world right, we realize all the best fruits
+of socialistic communities. If any one has anything
+good, he is expected to enjoy only a small piece himself;
+and most things that are done have a reference to our
+united, not to any individual interest. Our own geographical
+location is such that we are peculiarly fitted to
+receive the benefit of this interchange of good offices,&mdash;while
+we can hardly reciprocate as we ought to.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 19.</i> Alden and I were put on Plantation Commission
+work as soon as we got here, had a session<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>
+Wednesday and tried several cases. The untrustworthiness
+of these people is more apparent and troublesome
+than ever. I feel as if it would not be safe
+to allow them to gin the cotton&mdash;it seems certain that
+a great deal of it would be stolen. Their skill in lying,
+their great reticence, their habit of shielding one another
+(generally by silence), their invariable habit of
+taking a rod when you, after much persuasion, have
+been induced to grant an inch, their assumed innocence
+and ignorance of the simplest rules of <i>meum</i>
+and <i>tuum</i>, joined with amazing impudence in making
+claims,&mdash;these are the traits which try us continually
+in our dealings with them, and sometimes almost make
+us despair of their improvement&mdash;at least, in the present
+generation. It is certain that their freedom has
+been too easy for them,&mdash;they have not had a hard
+enough time of it. In many cases they have been "fair
+spoiled."</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 27.</i> Rose is a trump. She does all my cooking
+neater and better than I have ever had it done&mdash;makes
+bread and biscuit and puddings as well as I
+could myself, and until this morning, with our help, of
+course, has done the chamber-work too. With those
+three children I have got along as well as I could ask.
+I begin to appreciate what and how much they have
+learned the last two years.</p>
+
+<p>[<i>Dec. 11.</i>] Over seventy children at Sunday School.
+I had a very nice time with them indeed, and was much
+struck with their progress in general intelligence. Their
+eager, intelligent faces and earnest attention and interest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>
+in all I said to them were a great contrast to anything
+they would have manifested two years ago. Indeed, I
+could not have talked to them, and they would not have
+understood me if I had, in anything like the same way
+that I did to-day.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 23.</i> We saw Mrs. Vaughn, who seems to find
+life here very hard, and repeats the inevitable experience
+of all those who have ever had anything to do
+with the blacks previously, that these are the most
+degraded and barbarous of their race in the country.</p>
+
+<p>We met C. Soule and Captain Crane,<a name="FNanchor_176_176" id="FNanchor_176_176"></a><a href="#Footnote_176_176" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> with their two
+servants, coming down to spend Thanksgiving. We had
+a right pleasant evening. Captain Crane played and
+sung, and we were very glad to hear the piano, and he
+to touch one.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 27.</i> On Thanksgiving Day we gathered together
+all our friends,&mdash;all our "set," at least,&mdash;and sat
+down, twenty-six of us, together, to eat turkeys and pies.
+It was a rather formidable thing to attempt, with negro
+servants and St. Helena supplies, but we had quite a
+good time, and have done our duty in giving the party.
+It is probably the last time that we'll all meet together.
+Those who are to stay next year are all bemoaning their
+fate; together we have had a very courteous and friendly
+circle,&mdash;rather peculiarly so for such a rough kind of
+life and surroundings,&mdash;and the loss of so many as
+will go will probably rob the work here of much of its
+pleasantness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>War, in the person of the triumphant Sherman, was
+again drawing near, and the two young officers of the
+Fifty-Fifth had barely celebrated Thanksgiving with
+the people from home when they were summoned to
+take their part.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 28.</i> C. brought word that all the troops had
+been sent to Savannah to meet Sherman, and that citizens
+were on guard at Beaufort.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 1.</i> To-night comes C. from Beaufort with news
+of the Grahamville fight.<a name="FNanchor_177_177" id="FNanchor_177_177"></a><a href="#Footnote_177_177" class="fnanchor">[177]</a> It is said we have been twice
+repulsed, and the fight is not over.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 2.</i> A cart came down from R.'s and brought a
+note from him to the effect that Captain Crane, who
+was with us such a short time ago, has been killed in the
+fight at Grahamville, but that C. Soule was unhurt.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 3.</i> The rumors with regard to the expedition
+are various and contradictory, but the impression seems
+to be that we have been whipped, but hold on and have
+intrenched at Grahamville. Mr. and Mrs. Soule are
+cheerful and brave, but very anxious, and it makes
+our hearts sink to hear the guns as we do. Pray God
+we may succeed this time and Sherman may come
+through. It will be such a day as has not been seen in
+this Department since Dupont took the place.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 4.</i> We have repulsed the enemy since we intrenched,
+and deserters say Sherman is coming.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 6.</i> Captain Crane found that his company was
+left behind at Morris Island, but begged so to go,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>
+that Colonel Hartwell<a name="FNanchor_178_178" id="FNanchor_178_178"></a><a href="#Footnote_178_178" class="fnanchor">[178]</a> took him on his staff, sending a
+Captain Gordon, who had just come from the North,
+to take charge of his company. Colonel Hartwell was
+wounded and Captain Crane killed in one of the first
+charges, in which our troops were repulsed, so that
+Captain Crane's body was left in the hands of the
+enemy. To-night we hear that ten thousand troops have
+come from Fortress Monroe to reinforce us, and deserters
+tell of Sherman's advance and successes. You
+may imagine we are all on the <i>qui vive</i>, and anxious,
+for we hear all the firing.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 11.</i> Savannah is in Sherman's hands and Pocotaligo
+in Foster's. We hope and trust this is no South
+Carolina rumor.</p>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 15.</i> To-night Mr. Soule brings word that Sherman
+breakfasted with Foster yesterday morning, on a
+boat that came to Beaufort to-day.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Just after Christmas Mr. Philbrick went back to Port
+Royal to see to shipping his cotton.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Dec. 28.</i> Arrived this evening. No fellow passengers
+that I knew. Most of them were Sherman's officers who
+had left him at Atlanta for various reasons and now
+come to join him. Very pleasant men, with a degree
+of hearty good sense and whole-souled patriotism that
+was truly refreshing.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p>
+<h2>1865</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The Georgia refugees&mdash;Sherman's army at Beaufort&mdash;Discontent
+of the negroes about wages&mdash;W. C. G.'s work at Savannah for the
+refugees&mdash;Return home of most of the letter-writers&mdash;The death
+of Lincoln, its effect on the negroes&mdash;End of the war and return of
+the planters&mdash;Stealing of cotton by the negroes&mdash;Superintendents
+"demoralized on the negro question."</i></p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 1.</i> Yesterday morning I had a talk with Mr. H.<a name="FNanchor_179_179" id="FNanchor_179_179"></a><a href="#Footnote_179_179" class="fnanchor">[179]</a>
+in the yard, where he is at work framing the school-house.
+I like him very much. He is a somewhat rare
+combination of a refined gentleman, without much
+education, but very well informed and wide awake, and
+a modest and quiet industry with the most practical
+common sense. He is truly interested in the negroes,
+without the least bit of sentimental or ill-advised sympathy.
+He is very glad to come here and take charge,
+and I think he is the best superintendent I have had
+here at all.</p>
+
+<p>I saw some of the people who came about the house
+by chance during the day, and who seemed truly glad<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span>
+to see me. They have got quite over the land-fever,
+and say they prefer to work along as they have, wherein
+they begin to show sense. Rose is still the only cook
+and does very well, except that she sometimes bakes
+potatoes longer than she boils hams, etc., etc. I suspect
+H. helps her put things together somewhat. The
+Christmas tree was to have been last evening, but the
+rain prevented. C. P. W. has gone up to bring down
+Mr. Eustis and his two ladies to dine. The house being
+an elastic one, I suppose it can be made to hold several
+more people than at present, if they will only bring
+their own blankets. The old diet of sweet potatoes and
+hominy, ham, fresh pork, and waffles, holds its sway
+yet, with grunnuts in the evening, of course.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 2.</i> At sunset we all adjourned to the cotton-house,
+where the tree was all ready to be lighted. It
+was a very pretty sight, and after we had let the children
+in I sent word that the grown people might come
+and see, if they liked. Then, before anything was cut
+down, the children sang a number of the songs I have
+taught them, standing in classes, the smallest in front,
+their little eager faces irresistibly comic. The older
+people soon filled up the building, making rather a
+crowd, and a less manageable one than the children
+alone; but they were pleased at the sight, and when the
+noise became overpowering, I could stop it for the time
+being by starting a song, which the children would
+instantly catch up. Then I let the children sing some
+of their own songs in genuine, shouting style, a sight
+too funny in the little things, but sad and disagreeable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span>
+to me in the grown people, who make it a religious act.
+It is impossible to describe it&mdash;the children move
+round in a circle, backwards, or sideways, with their
+feet and arms keeping energetic time, and their whole
+bodies undergoing most extraordinary contortions,
+while they sing at the top of their voices the refrain to
+some song sung by an outsider. We laughed till we
+almost cried over the little bits of ones, but when the
+grown people wanted to "shout," I would not let them,
+and the occasion closed by their "drawing" candy
+from C. as they passed out. I daresay this sounds
+pleasant, and I know they all had a good time; but if
+you could have looked in, you would have thought it
+Bedlam let loose!</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The "Georgia refugees" referred to in several of the
+subsequent letters were hundreds of negroes who had
+followed Sherman's army northward. "They are said,"
+says C. P. W., "to be an excellent set of people, more
+intelligent than most here, and eager for work. They
+will get distributed onto the plantations before a great
+while."</p></div>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 6.</i> Miss Towne gave us quite an interesting
+account of the Georgia refugees that have been sent
+to the Village. The hardships they underwent to march
+with the army are fearful, and the children often gave
+out and were left by their mothers exhausted and dying
+by the roadside and in the fields. Some even put their
+children to death, they were such a drag upon them,
+till our soldiers, becoming furious at their barbarous
+cruelty, hung two women on the spot. In contrast to
+such selfishness, she told us of one woman who had
+twelve small children&mdash;she carried one and her husband<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>
+another, and for fear she should lose the others
+she tied them all together by the hands and brought
+them all off safely, a march of hundreds of miles. The
+men have all been put to work in the quartermaster's
+department or have gone into the army, and the families
+are being distributed where they can find places
+for them.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 8.</i> Miss Towne told some amusing stories of
+the Georgia refugees. Some of them, being very destitute,
+were bemoaning their condition, and wishing they
+had never left their old plantations, feeling rather
+abashed at the responsibility of taking care of themselves.
+The old Edisto people, who have been there a
+year or two, encourage them, saying, "Look 'o we,"
+"We come here wi' noffin at all," "Now we have money
+for cotton and all the tater and hominy we can eat," etc.
+One woman said, "Bress the Lord, I have striven and
+got enough to give <i>seven</i> gowns to these poor folk."
+So it seems they do what they can for the new-comers.
+I guess these Edisto people, who have their own recent
+destitution fresh in mind, are more kind than the natives
+of St. Helena, who are rather inclined to be jealous of
+the new-comers, who make the labor market rather
+easier than before.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 6. Monday.</i> I had a talk with the people, who
+came up to see me in a crowd in the forenoon. They
+seemed jolly, and had no complaints to make about
+the past, but wanted higher wages for the future. I
+talked with them very quietly for an hour, told them
+I would give higher wages if I felt sure the price of cotton<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span>
+a year hence would pay me as well as the past
+crop,<a name="FNanchor_180_180" id="FNanchor_180_180"></a><a href="#Footnote_180_180" class="fnanchor">[180]</a> and told them if they wanted to share this risk
+with me, I would give them a share of the cotton for
+their wages. They all objected to this except one or
+two of the men, who said they would like such an
+arrangement, but their <i>families</i> couldn't wait so long
+for their money. On the whole they preferred wages,
+and therein showed their sense, I think. I find that
+when my last cargo arrived in the <i>Redwing</i>, the people
+who had worked for me had their pockets full of money
+and bought what they wanted, but the men who had
+been cultivating cotton on their own hook looked on
+with envious eyes and empty pockets, creating a very
+general impression in favor of the <i>wages system</i>. Under
+this impression, I think they will fall to work gradually
+at similar wages to what I have been paying, but will
+probably lie idle a few weeks to think about it, in hopes
+I will offer more.</p>
+
+<p><i>Tuesday morning.</i> I heard that the schooner was at
+Fuller Place to take our cotton. We have been at it
+ever since till yesterday noon, when we put in the last
+we had, nearly filling her up. There was about half of
+it negro cotton, brought from one hundred and seventy-six
+different proprietors, for whom I act as agent in
+forwarding and selling it. I drove over to spend the
+night at Mr. Wells' house on Wednesday. He had
+gone to Morgan Island to receive and stow away some
+one hundred and fifty Georgia refugees, which were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>
+expected by a steamer from Beaufort. After he had
+waited for them all day, they arrived about sunset, and
+he spent half the night there in the rain, stowing them
+in houses and getting their baggage up from the steamer,
+which lay at anchor in the river discharging into small
+boats. They came from the shore counties near to Savannah,
+and brought a good deal of truck, beds, and
+blankets, and some rice and peas. Mr. Wells gave
+them rations for a week, and I suppose will continue to
+do so, for they can't get anything to eat till next harvest
+in any other way. The able-bodied have all been taken
+either by the rebels or our Government for fatigue
+duty and quartermaster service, so those who come here
+are all women, children, or cripples, such as we had
+before. They will doubtless be so glad of a home, however,
+that they will do a good deal of work. Of course
+it is not an economical class of labor, for it takes too
+much land to feed the non-workers to allow a great deal
+to be planted in cotton. In the morning I walked out
+with Mr. Wells and sold him both the plantations of
+which he has had charge for me, viz., the Jenkins place,
+where he lives, for $1600 or $10 per acre, and Morgan
+Island for $1200, or about $5 per acre, which is
+more than any one would have given a few weeks ago,
+when we couldn't get a negro to stay there for fear of
+the rebels. I daresay he may do very well with it now,
+but it is a vexatious thing to get rations to them in such
+an out-of-the-way place, and, after all, young Mr. Fripp
+may make them another visit some night and carry off
+some more negroes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 8.</i> Howard's<a name="FNanchor_181_181" id="FNanchor_181_181"></a><a href="#Footnote_181_181" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> corps came to Beaufort early
+last week, and carpenters and engineers have been
+busy putting the Shell Road<a name="FNanchor_182_182" id="FNanchor_182_182"></a><a href="#Footnote_182_182" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> to the Ferry in order and
+building a bridge across the Ferry. It looks as if a move
+were to be made towards Charleston or the interior
+soon. Beaufort presents a lively spectacle; the Western
+soldiers are rough, unkempt customers, whose hair,
+falling over their shoulders, suggests vows of abstinence
+from the shears till they shall have accomplished a great
+work. The first few days of their stay in Beaufort were
+marked by acts more amusing to the soldiers than to
+the owners of property "lying round loose." The first
+night was chilly, and three thousand feet of lumber
+furnished bonfires at which the soldiers of the "movable
+army" warmed themselves. Shopkeepers do a tremendous
+business, and their shops look "fair dry;" but
+they do not always get pay for their goods, but are requested
+to look on the battlefield for their money. The
+troops were paid off just before leaving Atlanta, and are
+"flush." Bread is very scarce. The troops fared very
+well on the march,&mdash;one continued Thanksgiving
+through the richest part of Georgia.</p>
+
+<p>The schooner <i>Horace</i> for New York, with the rest
+of our cotton and the first of the negroes', is loaded.
+The negroes' crops did not turn out very well, as a
+general rule; want of manure and careless working
+being the principal causes; the caterpillar did a great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span>
+deal of damage. They seem somewhat discouraged at
+the prospect of having to wait so long for their money;
+but the advance paid them on shipping the cotton (a
+dollar a pound of ginned cotton) will be a great help
+to those who have done well.</p>
+
+<p>It is an excellent thing for the property here that
+Mr. H.<a name="FNanchor_183_183" id="FNanchor_183_183"></a><a href="#Footnote_183_183" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> is here to keep it in repair. He is a regular
+trump, the best man down here. I feel more contented
+at leaving the place with him than with any one here.</p>
+
+<p>If I could have a place down here all to myself, and
+have what help I wanted, I think I should stay another
+year and try the experiment on a little different plan.
+But, as Mr. Folsom said one day, when we agreed that it
+would be pleasant to stay and hard to leave, "But, after
+all, one must remember that one has an immortal soul."</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 11.</i> Mr. Soule, coming from R.'s, tells us that a
+salute fired the day before was for Stanton's arrival,
+come to confer with Sherman.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next paragraph suggests that the Secretary of
+War had come for something besides a conference with
+Sherman; at any rate, he took speedy action in one
+important direction.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 18.</i> We stopped at Miss Towne's new school-house
+to see them all in it, and found to our pleasure
+that General Howard was addressing the children.
+General Saxton, too, was there, in his new major-general's
+straps. I was very glad to see General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span>
+Howard, who has superseded General Foster here.
+He has a very nice face indeed, and his one arm seemed
+to make quite an impression on the children. Stanton
+has been investigating the conscription business, and
+Foster's removal is the result, apparently, while Saxton
+has been promoted.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next letters, Mr. Philbrick's last from Port
+Royal, contain various pieces of Sea Island news,
+chiefly in connection with his plans for the next year
+and his difficulties with his laborers.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM E. S. P.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 9.</i> I started for Coffin's Point, meeting a long
+procession of the people on the way to church. More
+than half the number were in sulkies or some sort of
+go-carts, with all sorts of animals pulling them, mostly
+quadrupeds that had once been horses,&mdash;and some
+might still bear that name. I had to stop and shake
+hands every few rods, of course. I have spent most of
+the day at Fripp Point, with Mr. York. Mr. G. had not
+been able to collect the rent of corn-land there, to be
+paid in corn, most of the men refusing to pay. He had
+withheld enough from their pay to cover the amount
+of corn due. I took over the money due, with the pay-roll
+and corn-list. After a long talk on the part of
+Pompey and John Major and others, which I listened
+to patiently, most of them still refused to bring their
+corn. But I felt pretty sure that when some began
+they would all do it, and so opened the door of the
+corn-house and told the willing ones to bring in their
+corn. Jack came first, then Katy, Louisa, and Moll.
+Pretty soon John Major came along with a cart-load,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>
+and all the rest followed but Pompey. Then I began
+to pay off the women for ginning and preparing their
+cotton. All went smoothly except that Celia wanted
+her "yellow-cotton-money"<a name="FNanchor_184_184" id="FNanchor_184_184"></a><a href="#Footnote_184_184" class="fnanchor">[184]</a> "by himself," and as I
+couldn't tell exactly how much the "yellow-cotton-money"
+was, I had to take her money all back and tell
+her to go over and see Mr. G. After paying the others,
+however, Celia came up and concluded to take her
+dues. They all took their money excepting Pompey,
+who stoutly refused, and I came off without paying
+him. Then came the talk about next year. I introduced
+Mr. York as having leased the plantation for the year,
+which fact was received with less dissatisfaction than I
+expected; but when it came to talk about prices, which
+I left for Mr. York to settle, they all demanded <i>a dollar
+a task</i>, evidently having been preparing their minds for
+this for some time back. Then followed the usual
+amount of reasoning on my part, enlarging upon the
+future uncertainty of prices of cotton, etc., but we made
+little or no impression on them. They had evidently
+been listening to an amount of talk about the wealth
+I had acquired at their expense, and felt aggrieved
+that they were not making money as fast as those who
+planted their own cotton, on Frogmore and other
+places. I told them that the proceeds of last year's
+crop had all been expended by me in carrying on this
+year's work, but they wouldn't believe it. John Major
+said he knew very well they had been jamming the
+bills into that big iron cage (meaning my safe at R.'s)
+for six months, and there must be enough in it now to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>
+bust it! It had been raining for the last half-hour pretty
+steadily, and we finally withdrew, the choir of hands
+hanging about me, singing out "A dollar a task!" "A
+dollar a task!" as we went off.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 15.</i> I went out and introduced Mr. Jackson
+on Tuesday morning to the Pine Grove people, who
+expressed very little surprise or feeling of any kind, but
+met him with the same cry which had greeted me and
+Mr. York at the Point about <i>a dollar a task</i>. I left him
+with them and rode over to Cherry Hill with old Mr.
+Waters. The Cherry Hill people received us very well.
+Tony had a long list of grievances to relate, for Mr.
+Folsom had had him in jail for a fortnight for refusing
+to bring out his cotton, raised for me, which he kept
+in his own house. I listened quietly, and then told
+Tony I couldn't go behind the decision of the court, but
+if he had any other matters in dispute with Mr. Folsom
+he had better come up to the house in the evening and
+we would talk them over together; but he never came,
+probably from a sense of guilty conscience.</p>
+
+<p>Primus and Mike and several other negroes were
+there [in Beaufort], buying horses from officers and
+men in Sherman's army, titles very uncertain, for they
+mostly belong to the quartermaster. I advised them not
+to buy a horse till the ownership was certified by an
+officer, but they were too much in a hurry for that and
+hooked on to the first quadruped they could find offered
+for sale. The fact is that thousands of horses are
+attached to this army which are picked up by the
+privates in their march through Georgia, and which
+these privates pretend to own, and sell without authority,
+pocketing their money as fast as they please.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>
+Some of them are very good horses, and some are not.
+The town was crowded with the army, on a general
+leave to ramble about, and new troops continually
+arrive. One entire corps marched over Port Royal
+Ferry yesterday, and two more army corps are said
+to be following. Some twenty steamers arrive daily at
+Beaufort direct from Savannah, bringing the troops and
+wagons, artillery and animals. So you can imagine what
+a confusion appears in the streets as they disembark
+and march out to camp. The greater part of the whole
+army seems to be coming around this way and marching
+over the Ferry towards Pocotaligo. Secretary Stanton
+is said to have arrived from Savannah at Beaufort last
+evening. It seems that Primus and the other negroes
+were about to get their new horses over the Ferry, when
+the provost marshal sent down a guard to seize men and
+animals, and marched them all off to the guard-house
+for the night. The horses will probably be taken away
+from them and the men allowed to pursue their way
+this morning, with more sense and less money than they
+came with. I don't pity them much, for they were fairly
+warned, and their eagerness to own horses, for which
+they pay from $200 to $300 each, is perfectly absurd.<a name="FNanchor_185_185" id="FNanchor_185_185"></a><a href="#Footnote_185_185" class="fnanchor">[185]</a><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>Later.</i> An interesting scene has just taken place.
+May's Comba knocked at the door and asked me to
+come out in the entry a minute. Thinking there might
+be some domestic trouble, though she looked smiling,
+I went out and found about twenty women (representative
+women) about the door. Comba disappeared in
+the mass with a giggle, and old Grace spoke up, about
+as follows: "I'se come to you, sir"&mdash;pause&mdash;"I'se
+been working fer owner three years, and made with
+my chillun two bales cotton last year, two more this
+year. I'se a flat-footed pusson and don't know much,
+but I knows those two bales cotton fetch 'nough money,
+and I don't see what I'se got for 'em. When I take
+my leetle bit money and go to store, buy cloth, find it
+so dear, dear Jesus!&mdash;the money all gone and leave
+chillun naked. Some people go out yonder and plant
+cotton for theyself. Now they get big pile of money
+for they cotton, and leave we people 'way back. That's
+what I'se lookin' on, Marsa. Then when I come here
+for buy 'lasses, when Massa Charlie sell he sell good
+'lasses, then when Mister W. sell he stick <i>water</i> in 'em,
+<i>water enough</i>. Molasses turn thin, but he charge big
+price for 'em. Now I'se done working for such 'greement.
+I'se done, sir." Whereupon chorus of women
+join in like a flock of blackbirds all talking at once.
+After a while I got a chance to say about as follows:
+"If any one wants to work on this plantation I will give
+them so and so (naming terms), but if any one don't
+like my wages, they may go and find better, but they
+can't use my land to plant their corn and 'tater on.
+That's my rule." Chorus interrupts with discordant
+shouts: "I stay right here, sir&mdash;I will work this land<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>
+for myself, sir&mdash;I will sell the cotton," etc., etc.
+Amaritta and Petra stood silent all this time, and finally
+Amaritta quietly asked me to repeat my terms, which I
+did. She repeated them after me word for word, but
+said nothing more, only nodded and grunted a sort of
+assent. The chorus became wilder and more noisy, and
+I walked off into the house. Presently Demus came
+to the door and said Amaritta wanted to see me by
+heself. So I went to the door, and Amaritta called Tilly,
+Petra, and one or two others. Thus said Amaritta:
+"I'se work for you dis lass year, sir, what I was able.
+I been sick, you know, wi' small-pox and didn't get
+much strength all summer, but I don't mind much
+what them people say, sir, they'se got no manners.
+Now you say you'll give so and so (carefully repeating
+my terms). Well, sir, I'se come to say I'se 'gree for
+work. I 'speck to work, sir. I want to lay my bones in
+dat air bush (pointing to cemetery), and don't want
+to go nowhar else; that's what I wanted to say, sir."
+Then the other two or three women chimed in with
+smiling faces and said the same in fewer words, and
+so I bid them good-morning. I told them, too, that if
+some of those people who made so much noise didn't
+look out, they would get turned off the place, just as
+Venus and her gang got turned off last year. The fact
+is, they are trying to play brag, as such people often
+will; but they will all go to work in a few days, I feel
+sure.</p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 17.</i> Mr. Folsom went over to Port Royal Island
+with Mr. G. on Sunday, taking their own horses, and
+rode over Sherman's pontoons at Port Royal Ferry,
+without a challenge, and then up the mainland as far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>
+as Pocotaligo Bridge, around which the 17th Army Corps
+is encamped, in full possession of the railroad. Mr. G.
+called here an hour ago on his way back, and told some
+of his experiences. He says they were taken for "Secesh"
+by our own troops, all the way, just as we all
+are in Beaufort, for the officers themselves seem to be
+hardly aware that we are all Yankees, taking us for
+the old residents of the island, made loyal by our experiences.</p>
+
+<p>Every one wonders what brought Secretary Stanton
+here. He seems to have done something, at any rate,
+viz., hauled General Foster over the coals severely for
+his negro conscription last summer, promoted General
+Saxton to a brevet major-general, with enlarged
+powers; and, report says, put General Howard in place
+of General Foster. The newspapers will tell you all I
+know, and more, too, without doubt. Mr. Tomlinson,
+who was about disgusted with things here as he found
+them when he came back from the North, and had
+concluded to go to Philadelphia to take some position
+offered him there by the Philadelphia committee, now
+thinks he will remain here,&mdash;for which I am very glad.
+Very few men could be so useful as he in this place;
+for though he has a weak spot on the question of negro
+character, he has a vast deal of good sense in detail,
+and is perfectly unimpeachable in his stern regard for
+justice, never allowing himself to be <i>used</i> in any way
+for the furthering of the designs of interested parties.
+No one who has not spent some time under martial
+law knows how hard it is and how <i>rare</i> for men in
+office to follow such a course, unswerved by either
+flattery or ambition.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 22.</i> General Saxton came over to the St. Helena
+church last Sunday, and set all the Edisto people into
+a stew by telling how he was going to send the black
+troops there to defend the islands, and how they might
+all go back to their "old homes," etc., forgetting that
+they were not natives of Edisto, but only refugees when
+there, and that they were now more comfortably settled
+here than they were there in 1862. The Georgia
+refugees are coming along by hundreds and thousands,
+and he "wanted to make room for them," etc. Of
+course the Edisto people all say the General has ordered
+them to pack up and he will carry them back, etc. So,
+many refuse to work, but pack up and sit still, waiting
+for the General to come along and tote them across the
+sound! The Georgia negroes are a superior-looking set
+to those of these islands. Many are taken in outbuildings,
+etc., and have given a good start to labor by
+giving the impression that if the old residents don't
+work, <i>somebody else will</i>. They have gone to work for
+Mr. York at Fripp Point, and here for Mr. H., and all
+along the road generally. George Wells has got over
+a hundred Georgians on Morgan Island doing well,
+and I guess the rebs won't trouble him, they are too
+busy.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Tomlinson is to take the place on General
+Saxton's staff formerly held by Captain Hooper, but
+without military rank. C. F. Williams is to take Mr.
+Tomlinson's place here.</p>
+
+<p>We hear by your letter the list of the passengers lost
+on the <i>Melville</i>. All our worst fears are confirmed, and
+you were right in supposing that it was our acquaintances
+who were lost. This miserable steamer I once<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>
+talked of coming on, by her previous trip, but gave it
+up when I found her character.</p>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Jan. 23.</i> I think I suggested in a previous letter the
+possibility of my staying here. Sherman's operations
+have opened a wider sphere for negro work and thrown
+a great number of refugees into our hands. And his
+approaching campaign will have a similar effect.
+General Saxton has been appointed "Inspector General,"
+with control of all negro affairs from Key West
+to Charleston and thirty miles inland. The first thing
+proposed is to recolonize Edisto and the other deserted
+Sea Islands with the refugees, and men are wanted to
+assist in their settlement. I have been offered a situation
+of this kind, or rather the General has simply
+asked a few of us to stay, and Mr. Tomlinson, Folsom,
+and myself will all remain for the present at least. I
+know nothing more than this, but I look forward to a
+rough life, something like our first year here. I shall
+probably go to Edisto in a day or two. There will be
+no danger from attack, etc., as a regiment is to be stationed
+there. The island is described by all as the
+finest and healthiest of all the Sea Islands.</p>
+
+<p>If there is any movement afoot in Boston for the
+assistance of the negro refugees that Sherman's operations
+throw into our hands, it can be of the greatest
+benefit. The efforts three years ago were made chiefly
+for persons left in their own homes, and with their own
+clothing and property, besides their share of the plunder
+from their masters' houses. And in many cases too
+much was given. But now hundreds and thousands<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>
+are coming in, shivering, hungry, so lean and bony
+and sickly that one wonders to what race they belong.
+Old men of seventy and children of seven years have
+kept pace with Sherman's advance, some of them for
+two months and over, from the interior of Georgia;
+of course little or nothing could be brought but the
+clothing on their backs and the young children in arms.
+Since their arrival in comparatively comfortable quarters,
+great sickness has prevailed, and numbers and
+numbers have died. The Government gives them
+rations, and has tried to give out clothing. But if
+clothes, cooking utensils, etc., can be sent by Northern
+friends, nowhere can generosity be better extended.</p>
+
+<p><i>Savannah, Feb. 16.</i> As you see, my destination has
+been changed. General Saxton needed a kind of colonization
+office here, and I am sent as an assistant. How
+long this will continue my headquarters I don't know.
+I am writing in a very large and fine house formerly
+occupied by Habersham, rebel. It is full of fine furniture.
+Our office, too, is one of the City Bank buildings.
+The prices are regal, too&mdash;$15 per week for board, <i>e. g.</i></p>
+
+<p><i>Mar. 7.</i> The work at the office continues the same
+in kind, and the stream of waiters increases. We hope
+to send quite a company off to some of the more distant
+islands before long, but are terribly embarrassed for
+want of transportation. First, no steamer! then no
+coal! And when one can be had, the other can't. General
+Saxton is still, as ever previously, left to get round
+on one leg. His work is of course always inferior in
+importance to the needs of the military service, so there
+is never an absence of reason for refusing him what he
+wants. "Bricks!&mdash;without straw," has so far been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span>
+the usual fortune. Soon a gentleman is going out
+towards the Ogeechee to report numbers and condition
+there. It seems to be a Central Asia, from the population
+that swarms in for rations. Compared with those
+who apply, few are allowed them. No one who can
+show a finger to pick with and reports an oyster to pick,
+is allowed to come on the Government for support.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>Here follows the last letter from G., written three
+months later, not long before he came away.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Savannah, June 9.</i> Our business has slacked greatly,
+and is now mainly kept up by recent refugees from the
+up-country. We have stopped more than half the rations,
+and almost every family within a dozen miles has been
+represented at the office and been furnished with the
+proper papers. But slavery still exists in the interior
+and is spending its last moments in the old abominations
+of whipping and punishing. Of course it is nearly
+dead,&mdash;the people know they are free and the masters
+have to own it,&mdash;but the ruling passion is strong in
+death.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>W. C. G. left the South in June; H. W. and C. P. W.
+had gone several months before him. The letters written
+at intervals during the next two years are mostly
+addressed to the latter by F. H. and T. E. R. They
+report the gradually changing conditions and increasing
+difficulties of plantation superintendence.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, April 29.</i> Mr. H. is getting on pretty
+smoothly, though he has occasionally to take a dose of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>
+what Mr. York calls "Plantation Bitters," in the shape
+of complaints, faithlessness, and general rascality on
+the part of the "poor negroes."</p>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G. (IN SAVANNAH)</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, May 1.</i> You will see by the papers all about
+the fall in prices. The Liverpool cotton men had lost
+twelve millions sterling upon the depreciation of their
+cotton in store before they heard of the fall of Richmond
+and Lee's surrender. There is a terrible panic there,
+and some of the best firms are failing. After things have
+come to an equilibrium, and the manufacturers begin
+to buy cotton for spinning, there will be a demand for
+ours, but it may take several months, for they haven't
+got to the bottom of the trouble yet.</p>
+
+<p>The affairs at St. Helena seem to be progressing
+quietly. The chances are that all the cotton we raise
+this year will cost nearly if not quite as much as we
+shall get for it. I advanced a dollar a pound on the
+negroes' cotton, you know, and it has cost me about
+twenty-five cents a pound more to gin it, etc., etc., while
+I am offered less than a dollar. Query: how much
+commission shall I get for doing the business?</p>
+
+
+<h3>T. E. R. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>St. Helena, May 6.</i> The Coffin's Pointites had a gay
+old blow-out over at church, owing to Mr. Williams'
+telling them that they must pay Mr. Philbrick for pasturing
+their horses. They called Mr. P. a thief, robber,
+liar, and everything else that was bad.</p>
+
+<p>The death of Lincoln was an awful blow to the
+negroes here. One would say, "Uncle Sam is dead,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span>
+isn't he?" Another, "The Government is dead, isn't
+it? You have got to go North and Secesh come back,
+haven't you? We going to be slaves again?" They
+could not comprehend the matter at all&mdash;how Lincoln
+could die and the Government still live. It made them
+very quiet for a few days.</p>
+
+<p>Secesh are coming back quite freely nowadays and
+looking about as much as they please: Old Ben and
+young Ben Chaplin, several of the Pritchards, and Captain
+Williams, that owned a plantation on Ladies Island.</p>
+
+<p>The negroes begin to clamor about the final payment
+for their cotton, and we have to tell them that the
+probabilities are that there will not be any more. Then
+they think we have cheated them, and so the world goes
+in South Carolina. Rather a thankless task.</p>
+
+
+<h3>F. H. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's, May 21.</i> The honesty of this people and
+their disinterested benevolence are as apparent as ever.
+Please don't exaggerate these valuable qualities, either
+in the papers, to the Educational Commission, or in
+your private conversation; because it is better that
+those who are interested in the welfare of these people
+should not be deceived into the notion that they are so
+nearly perfect as to need no further expenditure of
+benevolent effort. Of course, we know the great danger
+of your wreathing your account of them in roses and
+laurel. One's enthusiasm is so excited in their behalf
+by a few years' residence here, that his veracity is in
+great danger of being swamped in his ideality, and
+his judgment lost in his admiration. So pardon my
+warning to you.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The McTureous lands have recently been sold, and
+about every family upon this place has got its five or
+ten acres. I tell them they had better move or build
+houses upon their lots and be independent of "we, us,
+and co." But the idea seems to meet with little favor.
+A good many of them are expecting these lands to be
+offered to them the coming year, now that the war is
+about over, Dr. Brisbane, General Saxton, and others
+assuring them that such was Mr. Philbrick's promise
+when he bought them. I think there would be some
+important advantages to white proprietors as well as
+black laborers, if they had some ten acres of land of their
+own,&mdash;at least enough to raise their own provisions
+upon, and to keep their own hogs and horses upon.
+Such an arrangement would rid us of many annoyances,
+and help define the rights of each party.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>"G.'s article," referred to in the next letter, was entitled
+"The Freedmen at Port Royal," and appeared
+in the <i>North American Review</i> for July, 1865.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Sept. 10.</i> G.'s article is well written
+and interesting. He was evidently disposed to report
+as favorably as possible for the negroes, while at the
+same time he seems to have suspected that the reader
+would be a good deal impressed by the darker shades
+of his sketch, and the conclusion of the whole is: There
+is ground for hope, but the case is a pretty desperate
+one. A conclusion to which, I confess, my own
+observation and studies lead me, whichever way I
+turn.</p>
+
+<p>The furor among the negroes here just now is to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>
+a Union Store, and they are contributing their funds
+for this purpose. They propose to put up a building
+for the store near Smallwood's Bakery (at the corner
+where village road branches from main road), and to
+make Mr. Smallwood President of their Corporation!
+This project will probably have one good effect in the
+end, namely, to open their eyes to see some things
+which nobody can make them see now.</p>
+
+
+<h3>F. H. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Sept. 18.</i> Cotton is opening well now,
+but we have rather unfavorable weather for picking
+and drying. The caterpillars have finally run over a
+good deal of ground, doing some damage, hard to tell
+how much.</p>
+
+<p>R. thinks he don't care to try the experiment of
+cotton-raising again&mdash;the risks and vexations are so
+great. I find that feeling quite general here this year
+among planters. William Alden says it is his last
+year. I doubt whether he pays expenses this season.
+His cotton is late, and now the caterpillars are destroying
+it.</p>
+
+
+<h3>F. H. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Sept. 24.</i> Much of my time has been occupied of late
+in service on Plantation Commission. The most important
+case is still on trial,&mdash;that of the stealing of twelve
+hundred pounds of seed cotton from Mr. De Golyer.
+There is a "cloud of witnesses"&mdash;a very dark one&mdash;and
+it is hard, as yet, to discern in it any glimmering
+of truth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>T. E. R. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>St. Helena Island, Sept. 25.</i> With the dry weather
+of July and the wet weather now, with the worm, we
+shall lose a third sure of our crop, if not more.</p>
+
+<p>The negroes on the island are very quiet&mdash;all
+absorbed in a scheme of establishing a "St. Helena
+Protective Union Store," J. Smallwood, President.
+They have got the frame out and on the ground. I
+have a great deal of curiosity to see the working of the
+thing, for they never did succeed in the North among
+intelligent white people. If they can read and write, or
+<i>keep a Union Store, I think they ought to have the right
+of suffrage</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Nearly all the Secesh are back in Beaufort, confidently
+expecting that they will get their land back in season
+to plant next year.</p>
+
+<p>All the Georgians will go back this fall, but all the
+people Fuller<a name="FNanchor_186_186" id="FNanchor_186_186"></a><a href="#Footnote_186_186" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> <i>took</i> with him (excuse me, I should say
+<i>went</i> with him) will return here in a few weeks. Fuller
+hasn't any cotton this year, only corn and potatoes.
+When he returned from here he told them the people
+down here were very poor and in miserable condition;
+nevertheless, they seem willing to come down and
+share the misery of freedom to staying up there with
+Fuller in comfort. At the time he was here, 17th of June,
+he never had said a word to the people with him that
+they were free, and did not until they made a plan
+among themselves to go up to him in a body and make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>
+him tell them. Then Fuller took the old driver one
+side and told him he wanted him and all the people
+to stay with him and plant another year, and wanted
+him to use his influence to persuade the people to stay.
+So next morning he called them all up and had them
+stand on his right hand, and as he called their names he
+wanted those who were willing to stay with him another
+year to step over to his left hand. So he commenced
+with Old Gib, the driver (January's father). He
+turned right round and walked towards the negro
+quarters. Fuller says, "Why, Gib, you will stay, won't
+you?" "No, Sir." Then he went through the whole
+list, and every one marched straight home and none to
+his left hand, much to his disgust.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The next extract reports E. S. P.'s final decision as
+to the price for which he should offer land to the negroes.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.<a name="FNanchor_187_187" id="FNanchor_187_187"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_187" class="fnanchor">[187]</a></h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Oct. 5.</i> C. F. Williams has gone down to finish
+surveying my land, and will cut up and sell for me to
+the negroes about as much land as they have been in
+the habit of using,&mdash;good, arable land, at $5 per acre,
+where they are not already provided.</p>
+
+
+<h3>R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Oct. 9.</i> I have no reason to complain
+of my people for any extraordinary delinquencies, for
+they have worked as well as we shall probably ever be
+able to get these negroes to work; but I have frequently
+had occasion to be vexed at their slow, shiftless habits
+and at their general stupidity. It is a very great trial<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>
+to any Northern man to have to deal with such a set
+of people, and I am satisfied that if Northerners emigrate
+to the South and undertake agriculture or anything
+else here, they will be compelled to import white laborers.
+In the first place, they will not have the patience
+to get along with the negroes, even if there were enough
+of these freedmen to do all the work. But, in the second
+place, there will not be one quarter enough of them to
+supply the demand there will be for laborers when the
+uncleared land at the South is brought under cultivation.
+The old slaveholders could never get hands enough,
+and yet they cultivated only about one tenth of the land
+that is fit for cotton.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>It need hardly be said that this prophecy has not yet
+been fulfilled.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Oct. 15.</i> I have had a letter from Charleston
+written by a lawyer on behalf of Captain John Fripp
+and his three daughters! The writer says but little about
+his legal rights, but appeals to my "sense of justice
+and generosity," to see if some compromise can't be
+made. He doesn't say exactly what he wants, but
+intimates that both parties could profit by such an
+arrangement and save the vexations of a law suit. I
+don't see exactly what he has got to give, except his old
+title, which he probably values a good deal higher than
+I do. I wrote him telling him I was hampered in acts
+of "generosity" by the fact that the present title was
+not in me alone, but that about a dozen other gentlemen
+were interested, and asked him to make us a definite
+proposition. You may see by the papers that General<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>
+Howard is sent by the President to see if he can reconcile
+the claims of the negroes on Edisto and other islands
+with those of the former owners who clamor to be reinstated
+in their position. I guess General Howard will
+have a tough job. I don't envy him.</p>
+
+<p><i>Nov. 21.</i> There is a large number of old planters
+who are offering their lands at very low rates, and so
+many tempting chances are offered to Northern men.
+The tide of emigration southward doesn't yet set very
+strong, however. I think the great drawback is the
+feeling that the South is still intolerant of Yankees.
+The rabble and the young men are still clinging to the
+hope that they are going to have their own way about
+managing the nigger, somehow or other, as soon as
+they get rid of the United States forces, and they know
+very well that Yankees who come among them will not
+agree with them about the best way of "making him
+work," for they won't believe that he will ever work
+till he is <i>made</i> to. Now, to tell the truth, I don't believe
+myself that the present generation of negroes will work
+as they were formerly obliged to, and therefore the race
+will not produce so much cotton in this generation as
+they did five years ago. The change is too great a one
+to be made in a day. It will take many years to make
+an economical and thrifty man out of a freedman, and
+about as long to make a sensible and just employer out
+of a former slaveholder. It is not at all likely that the
+Southern community will tax itself to educate the negro
+yet for a good while, and I have my doubts whether the
+system of education thus far carried on through the
+benevolence of Northern and English communities can
+be kept up much longer. It is a laudable and a noble<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>
+work, but I fear it can't be sustained after the novelty is
+over. There seems to be a lethargy creeping over our
+community on this subject, which is very hard to shake
+off. The feeling is somewhat general that the negro must
+make the most of his chances and pick up his a, b, c's
+as he can. Moreover, there is a mass of ignorance in the
+South under <i>white</i> skins, which is likely to give us more
+immediate trouble, politically, than the ignorance of
+the negro, for that latter is not as yet armed with the
+suffrage. Of course there is not much enthusiasm
+about sending teachers South to teach the poor whites,
+so the negro suffers from the magnitude of the undertaking,
+from his remoteness from view, and the general
+disposition among mankind to let everybody hoe their
+own weeds so long as they don't shade one's own
+garden.</p>
+
+<p>I hear that General Howard went to Edisto with the
+view of reconciling the squatter negroes with the claims
+of the former owners, as requested by the President,
+but that the task was rather difficult, as you may imagine;
+and though the former owners had promised to
+"absorb" the labor, and provide for the negroes' wants,
+etc., they found the negroes had ideas which they were
+not quite prepared for, and, in short, got so disgusted
+with the prospect of getting the said negroes to work
+for them under the new order of things that they did
+not seem so anxious to "absorb" them as before, and
+as General Howard did not feel like driving off the
+negroes to put the old owners in possession, he left things
+pretty much as he found them,<a name="FNanchor_188_188" id="FNanchor_188_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_188" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> except that the old
+owners, who went there confidently expecting to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span>
+all their own way, went off with a flea in the ear. I
+have nothing more from the Charleston lawyer, but
+Mr. Tomlinson reports that Charleston lawyers told him
+they didn't see how to get around our tax-titles, though
+they would doubtless carry them into court as soon as
+they have courts, and give the lawyers plenty of work.<a name="FNanchor_189_189" id="FNanchor_189_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_189_189" class="fnanchor">[189]</a></p>
+
+<p>Dr. Clarence Fripp began to practice medicine on
+St. Helena, living with John Major, but afterwards
+got a contract surgeon's berth from General Saxton,
+and is now in the Village, next door to his old house, now
+occupied by Miss Towne! He made a professional
+visit at Coffin's Point and dined with them!</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>A picture of Clarence Fripp on his return to St.
+Helena, and a glimpse of his situation from his own
+point of view, are given in a letter to the New York
+<i>Nation</i> from Dennett, a special correspondent (see
+page <a href="#Page_320">320</a>). Dennett writes that, among the Northern
+soldiers and traders in the hotel at Hilton Head, there
+was also "a person who had the easily distinguishable
+appearance and manners of a South Carolinian. This
+gentleman, a person of some fifty odd years old, dressed
+tolerably well in a suit of grey clothes, with a large
+display of crumpled linen at the collar and cuffs of his
+coat, sat before the stove smoking, and talking very
+freely about his present poverty and his plans for the
+future." After explaining that he had left St. Helena
+when Dupont forced an entrance, leaving his plate and
+furniture behind, and that his plantation had been sold,
+Dr. Fripp set forth the situation in which he now found
+himself. "Some Massachusetts man had bought it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>
+and he didn't know when he'd get it back.... Up in
+Greenville he soon spent all his money to support his
+family, but if he'd had money he couldn't have saved
+his property. How was he to come back inside the
+Yankee lines and pay the tax? The Commissioners
+knew very well it couldn't be done; the sale was a perfectly
+unfair thing." In coming back now to Beaufort,
+he said "he hoped to be able to pick up a little medical
+practice; but if his profession failed him, he supposed
+his son and himself could put up a cabin somewhere in
+the vicinity, and get fish and oysters enough to live on."
+He even talked of circulating a handbill at Greenville
+asking for money for his needs, and Dennett adds:
+"This gentleman, it is currently reported, has made
+several visits to the plantation which he formerly
+owned, and the negroes living there have collected for
+his use nearly a hundred dollars."<a name="FNanchor_190_190" id="FNanchor_190_190"></a><a href="#Footnote_190_190" class="fnanchor">[190]</a></p></div>
+
+
+<h3>T. E. R. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>St. Helena, Dec. 10.</i> Your letter has been a reminder
+of my duty, but cotton ginning is my only excuse. It
+has proved much more of a bore this year than usual,
+for it is nothing but <i>tief, tief</i>, all the time. We do not
+get more than one fifth<a name="FNanchor_191_191" id="FNanchor_191_191"></a><a href="#Footnote_191_191" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> of the weight of seed cotton
+after it is ginned, and the probabilities are that they
+steal the balance; but we are perfectly helpless, for we
+cannot prove it against any of them. I have had about
+a bale of cotton stolen at the "Oaks" since I put it in
+the cotton-house. I can assure you there is nothing to
+be made this year.</p>
+
+<p>We had a call from Dennett (correspondent of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>
+<i>Nation</i>) on his Southern tour, a few weeks ago. He
+said he was disappointed in not getting better reports
+of the negroes here on these islands, for he had been
+looking forward to this place, feeling sure he should
+find something good to offset the many evil reports he
+had heard of them all the way down through the country.
+He thinks Mr. Soule and Mr. H. very much
+demoralized on the negro question.<a name="FNanchor_192_192" id="FNanchor_192_192"></a><a href="#Footnote_192_192" class="fnanchor">[192]</a></p>
+
+<p>General Gillmore was removed for being unfriendly
+to Freedmen's Bureau, and General Sickles is now in
+command. He told Saxton<a name="FNanchor_193_193" id="FNanchor_193_193"></a><a href="#Footnote_193_193" class="fnanchor">[193]</a> to let him know what was
+wanted and he should have it, so things are moving on
+very smoothly now. Tomlinson<a name="FNanchor_194_194" id="FNanchor_194_194"></a><a href="#Footnote_194_194" class="fnanchor">[194]</a> has been on a trip
+through South Carolina to see what the condition of
+the people was and at what points he could establish
+schools. They have them started in nearly all the principal
+points. He says the whites do not know that
+they have been whipped yet, and many of the negroes
+don't know they are free.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Bryant has opened a pay school [at T. B.
+Fripp's], older scholars paying one dollar per month
+and young ones fifty cents. She has about sixty scholars.
+Alden has opened a store on the place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The negroes' Union Store is raised and covered, but
+I guess will never be stocked.<a name="FNanchor_195_195" id="FNanchor_195_195"></a><a href="#Footnote_195_195" class="fnanchor">[195]</a></p>
+
+
+<h3>R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Dec. 17.</i> I suppose you have heard
+that our plantation operations here this year have been
+a failure. Nobody has raised more than half a crop.
+The drought in the early part of the summer and the
+caterpillar in August and September contrived to
+diminish the yield. Most of the planters, however,
+thinking that two bad seasons will not come in succession,
+are making vigorous preparations for next year in
+the way of gathering marsh-grass and mud. I have
+about concluded to sell or to lease Mulberry Hill, and
+if I succeed in doing either I shall probably go home
+about the first of February.</p>
+
+<p>There is a universal feeling of dissatisfaction, not to
+say disgust, with our colored brethren here at the present
+time, on account of the extraordinary development
+of some of their well-known characteristics. They are
+stealing cotton at a fearful rate. Captain Kellum of
+Dathaw lost a whole bale a few nights since, and to-day
+Mr. Williams, who has just come down from R.'s,
+tells us that the cotton-house has been broken into
+and one packed bale cut open and about one hundred
+pounds taken out of it and carried off! This bale belonged
+to Mr. York. We none of us feel secure against
+these depredations.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Two of the thieves at Coffin's Point were caught
+with ginned cotton in their houses, Peter Brown and
+William White. Before Mr. Towne could apprehend
+them they escaped to the main. Another, Jonas Green,
+had cotton-seed hid away in his corn-house. He was
+caught, and a Plantation Commission sentenced him to
+two months' imprisonment. This is the first fruit of
+making land-owners of the negroes. While they raise
+cotton of their own and no restraint is put upon them
+in making sale of what they bring to market, it is impossible
+to ferret out their robberies in most cases. Such
+rascality on the part of the negroes is more discouraging
+than caterpillars and drought.</p>
+
+
+<h3>F. H. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's, Dec. 26.</i> I expect my sojourn at Coffin's
+Point is nearly closed. The attractions of the place or
+the people are not sufficient to keep me here another
+year. The climate is bad enough, the general "shiftlessness"
+of the people is disgusting enough; but when
+I see that the disposition to steal the crop is very general,
+that the people have done and can do it with
+impunity, I am discouraged about cotton-raising here.
+I believe they have not taken any of ours since it has
+been packed, but large quantities of it before. And as
+they all raised cotton on McTureous<a name="FNanchor_196_196" id="FNanchor_196_196"></a><a href="#Footnote_196_196" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> for themselves,
+they could mix and secrete it very successfully.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Soule has this moment learned that his cotton-house
+has been entered and cotton stolen, but to what
+extent has not been determined.</p>
+
+<p>I think Mr. Soule will be glad to get away from this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span>
+"Sodom." He is too good a man to be worn out by the
+barbarians of this latitude.</p>
+
+
+<h3>R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Dec. 31.</i> How well Grant appears in
+everything he writes as well as in everything he does!
+In the <i>Weekly Advertiser</i> just received by me, I find
+his report of his recent Southern tour,<a name="FNanchor_197_197" id="FNanchor_197_197"></a><a href="#Footnote_197_197" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> and, if I mistake
+not, he intimates pretty clearly that General Saxton
+has not managed his Department judiciously.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Philbrick has made an effort to sell the most of
+the plantations. As yet, however, no purchaser has
+appeared, and he has now about concluded to dispose
+of them as follows: to lease Fuller Place to N., R., and
+W. (the new firm who have purchased the stock on hand
+in store), and Cherry Hill<a name="FNanchor_198_198" id="FNanchor_198_198"></a><a href="#Footnote_198_198" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> to Mr. Waters, to intrust
+the management of Homestead to the latter gentleman,
+and that of Coffin's Point to Mr. H. for account
+of E. S. P., and to let Mr. Williams sell the whole of
+Corner<a name="FNanchor_199_199" id="FNanchor_199_199"></a><a href="#Footnote_199_199" class="fnanchor">[199]</a> and Fripp Point to negroes. I have leased
+Mulberry Hill to Mr. Waters.</p>
+
+<p>Negroes continue to steal cotton, and we continue
+to be helpless against their depredations.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span></p>
+<h2>1866&mdash;1867&mdash;1868</h2>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Mr. Philbrick's sales to the negroes&mdash;Persistent discouragement
+with the negroes&mdash;H. W.'s visit to Coffin's Point in 1868&mdash;Tribute
+of the negroes to Mr. Philbrick.</i></p></div>
+
+
+<h3>E. S. P. TO W. C. G. [IN EUROPE]</h3>
+
+<p><i>Boston, Jan. 12, 1866.</i> The Freedmen's Aid Societies
+have all consolidated, and lately have united with the
+big Orthodox society for helping refugees, the latter
+class being no longer so needy except that the poor
+whites need education as much as the blacks, and I
+have made up my mind that we can't help the blacks
+much except by helping poor whites at the same time.
+The combination enlarges the begging field immensely,
+and by putting white and black schools under the same
+control will give negro schools a sort of footing which
+they wouldn't otherwise have, after our troops get
+scarce. The old feeling has already blossomed out
+and borne fruit in Louisiana, where all the freedmen's
+schools have just been extinguished or snuffed out at
+a single pinch, except in New Orleans city, one lady
+teacher being shot through the head.</p>
+
+<p>A sweeping order has mustered out over a hundred
+generals of the Volunteer Army, General Saxton among
+the rest. I don't know who takes his place in the
+Freedmen's Bureau. This institution will probably be
+continued by Congress with enlarged powers, but it is
+but a drop in the bucket, after all.</p>
+
+<p>C. F. Williams is busy sharing out land. He sells the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span>
+whole of Fripp Point in small lots to the negroes of both
+places, and some others from outside. The whole place
+measures only four hundred and sixty acres, bought
+for seven hundred and fifty, and the Captain John
+Fripp place is only four hundred and sixty instead of
+one thousand for which I bought it! By the way, the
+old man is dead, leaving his three daughters in poverty,
+to earn their living as they best may. Julian Coffin has
+visited Mr. Soule, etc., asking leave to go into his old
+room, to take some of his father's old books, and left
+after a few hours, since which none of us have heard
+anything further of them.</p>
+
+<p>There seems to be less law than ever there. I am
+about making representations at Washington to see if
+I can't get some improvement.</p>
+
+<p>I lost about $2800 on the negro cotton ginned in
+New York, and paid over about $2500 on account of
+the cotton which they ginned there! I also lost some
+$2000 on cotton taken from Mr. &mdash;&mdash; in Beaufort, he
+turning out a knave. Our crop of 1864 paid our Company
+a profit of about $19,000. I shall just about pay
+expenses on the crop of 1865, not much more, I think.
+The caterpillar and the drought didn't leave much
+cotton.</p>
+
+
+<h3>T. E. R. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Feb. 3, 1866.</i> I am a <i>gentleman of leisure</i> and, like
+most every one else here, am living on the interest of
+what I have lost. I am no longer a member of the noted
+firm of N., R., and W. We dissolved January 1, and
+N. and W. continue the business at the old stand. I
+decided that there was not salt enough for three certainly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span>
+There is no money here to speak of, and what
+there is will go to Beaufort where there is liquor sold
+or given away. I have also given up cotton-planting;
+it is not a very lucrative business when it brings only
+sixty-six cents.</p>
+
+<p>I made arrangements with Mr. Pope to still occupy
+this half of the house free of rent until August, if I
+wished, and was calculating on having a rich time
+seeing a native plant cotton with these island negroes,
+but alas, my hopes are all blighted, for every blessed
+soul but one man and his wife has moved away and
+will not work for him; so he has decided not to move
+here until after we are gone. He has sent one man here
+who was an old servant and has been with him all the
+time, and he is very industrious, works from morn until
+night; it is quite refreshing to see him. Pope was the
+only one of the natives who bid off places at auction<a name="FNanchor_200_200" id="FNanchor_200_200"></a><a href="#Footnote_200_200" class="fnanchor">[200]</a>
+that came to time in paying up; so the places were put
+up again and bought by Northern men.</p>
+
+<p>The present planters are in a dubious frame of mind
+these days over the prospect for another year, for it is
+very hard to bring wages down, and one cannot get his
+money back at the present price of cotton, so most of
+them will work on shares;<a name="FNanchor_201_201" id="FNanchor_201_201"></a><a href="#Footnote_201_201" class="fnanchor">[201]</a> but that is a sure way of
+running a place all out, for the people will not manure
+it sufficiently to keep it up. Mr. Eustis is always good-natured,
+and is about the only man here who is not
+utterly demoralized on the negro question.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h3>F. H. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Coffin's Point, Feb. 16, 1866.</i> Really the people have
+met with a great change of late, since I have sent away
+Anthony Bail. They love and respect me <i>hugely</i>, which
+I hope will last another whole week.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Oliver and Captain Ward, who have bought
+"Pine Grove," have taken the usual disgust for the
+people. They have got it bad; say they would not have
+bought here had they imagined half of the reality.
+They have some friends who would have bought
+Coffin's Point if they could have made a favorable
+report of the people. But they tell them not to think
+of buying to use the labor that is now here. I say the
+same when I say anything about it, though I have no
+friends who think of buying here.</p>
+
+
+<h3>T. E. R. TO C. P. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>May 21, 1867.</i> I don't suppose we shall be able to
+make any new additions to your collection of negro
+songs.<a name="FNanchor_202_202" id="FNanchor_202_202"></a><a href="#Footnote_202_202" class="fnanchor">[202]</a> They sing but very little nowadays to what
+they used to. Do you remember those good old days
+when the Methodists used to sing up in that cotton-house
+at Fuller's? Wasn't it good? They never sing
+any of them at the church, and very few in their praise-meeting.</p>
+
+<p>Crops on the island are looking worse than I ever
+saw them at this season before.</p>
+
+<p><i>We are all American citizens</i> now, and there has been
+an effort to form a Republican party, but it has not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span>
+succeeded very well yet. They are too suspicious to be
+led by the whites, and there is not sense enough in
+themselves to go ahead.</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>The last extract in the series is from a letter written
+by H. W. exactly one year later, when she made a
+trip to Port Royal, staying with Miss Towne and Miss
+Murray at St. Helena Village. The tardy tribute of
+the negroes to Mr. Philbrick makes the story complete.</p></div>
+
+
+<h3>FROM H. W.</h3>
+
+<p><i>Thursday, May 21, 1868.</i> When I inquired at breakfast
+if I could have Jacob's horse for the day, I found
+that, as he was in use for the crop, Miss Towne had
+already had her horse put singly into their rockaway
+for school, and Miss Murray's into the chaise for my
+use. So when they started for school, I followed along
+in company as far as the end of the Village road, where
+Mr. N. now has a store, and, turning on to the more
+familiar road, soon found myself crossing the creek
+over Mr. Philbrick's bridge,&mdash;one of the very few in
+decent repair,&mdash;and on my way to Captain John
+Fripp Homestead. The entire absence of gates, and as
+a consequence of pigs, or <i>vice versa</i>, made my drive an
+easy one, and I did not have to get out once. It had
+seemed hot early, but light clouds and a fresh breeze
+kept it cool all day. I turned up the familiar avenue
+to Folsom's, after passing through one field in which
+the houses are still, though more scattered. The avenue
+was clean and trim, and the house corresponded,&mdash;a
+new piazza and steps all freshly painted, fresh
+paint inside, and paper on the walls made everything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>
+look uncommonly spruce. The schoolroom
+is now the parlor, and my sofa and cushion grace it
+still!</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Alden met me very cordially at the foot of the
+steps, and I went in to see the other occupants, Mr. and
+Mrs. Waters and their son. I had a pleasant call and
+talk, and then, refusing their earnest invitation to spend
+the day, as Coffin's Point was my one object, I pursued
+my lonely way. Trees cut down, and houses
+moved and built in the middle of the field, with the
+absence of fences, gates, and pigs, were the most noticeable
+changes, and I drove along, meeting no one,
+until I came to the pine woods on the right opposite
+old Frank's ground, just before you turn into the Pine
+Grove field. The woods were all thinned out, logs
+lying in every direction. Hoeing the corn planted there
+were two women I thought I recognized, and, walking
+the horse, I leaned forward to see who was the man
+further on. Then I stopped and asked him whose the
+land was he was working, when he began an account
+of how "it used to be McTureous and Mr. Thomas
+Coffin buy 'em,"<a name="FNanchor_203_203" id="FNanchor_203_203"></a><a href="#Footnote_203_203" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> which I cut short with&mdash;"Yes, I
+know that, but is it your own now? What is your name?"
+"My name Able, ma'am; dis lan' mine, yes, ma'am"&mdash;and
+then&mdash;"Oh! my Lord! Der Miss Hayiut, an'
+me no know um!" and he dropped his hoe and came
+scrambling and running to the road. Sarah and Elsie,
+whom I had just passed, and Martha further on, came
+out at his call, grinning and pleased, and then he and
+Martha began directly upon what I had done for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span>
+Rose,<a name="FNanchor_204_204" id="FNanchor_204_204"></a><a href="#Footnote_204_204" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> their gratitude, and willingness that I should
+keep her forever. Then they talked of how hard
+the last year or two had been, and there were many
+reiterations of "Ebery word Mass' Charlie and Mr.
+Philbrick tell we come true." "Tell 'em tousan howdy
+over for we&mdash;long too much for shum. We fin' 'em
+out now."</p>
+
+<p>A few steps more brought me into the Pine Grove
+field, and I turned towards the house, followed by half
+a dozen small children, only one of whom I knew or
+knew me,&mdash;little Abigail. Towards the house whom
+should I come upon but Flora and her Sarah, a great
+girl. She was pleased as could be, but told me I should
+find no one at the Grove. Old Monah was dead, and
+all the old people had bought land and lived at the
+Point. They were working for Mr. Ward, glad enough
+to earn a little ready money for food. I went on to see
+Mrs. Vaughn, and as she had not come up from school,
+walked down to the praise-house, seeing no one I
+knew but old Binah.</p>
+
+<p>School had dispersed, so I walked back to the house,
+and dined there, and then for Coffin's Point. Once
+inside the line&mdash;for the gate is not&mdash;I met the familiar
+breeze of the Big Pasture, but its altered face.
+The houses are back as far as the creek on one side
+and the woods on the other,&mdash;two or three quite large
+and with piazzas,&mdash;the praise-house near the corner of
+the wood. I was a long time passing through it, for they
+all dropped their hoes and came down to shake hands.
+I got Uncle George to follow along with hammer and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>
+nails to mend the chaise, as the floor was so broken I
+could not put my feet on it, and the bag of oats had
+dropped through on the way. I had tied the halter to
+the dasher and wound it round the bag, so there was
+no loss. The dilapidation was a pleasing reminiscence
+of old times, and George was pleased enough to earn
+a quarter by patching it up. Then I drove on to the
+house, where are only a Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair left in
+charge. Mrs. S. was very polite, and asked me up into
+our old parlor, which did not look as pleasant as in the
+old time. Garibaldi was out at pasture, so I could not
+have the ride I coveted while my horse was eating his
+dinner. As I had never been into the schoolhouse
+since it was finished, I borrowed the key and walked
+down to it. As I pulled the rope to hear the sound of the
+unused bell, Robert came in, quiet as ever, but greatly
+pleased, and asking many questions about Mass'
+Charlie and Mr. and Mrs. Soule. I found the people
+were coming up to be paid, so I went back to the yard
+and stood there as they came up to the schoolroom
+door, across which was the old school table, with
+Primus behind it, and Mr. Sinclair, looking over his
+list. Then I walked on the beach, and Robert put my
+horse in and I drove off.</p>
+
+<p>Mike had followed me up the road, loud in his
+regrets for the "good ole times when Mass' Charlie
+and de fust gang white people been here." "Mr.
+Philbrick de fustest man in de worl'. General Bennett<a name="FNanchor_205_205" id="FNanchor_205_205"></a><a href="#Footnote_205_205" class="fnanchor">[205]</a>
+couldn't&mdash;couldn't&mdash;fetch de fust feathers round
+his heart!" whatever that may be.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="CONCLUSION" id="CONCLUSION"></a>CONCLUSION</h2>
+
+
+<p>When the end of this record is reached, undoubtedly
+the feeling uppermost in the mind of the reader is one
+of disappointment. At first blush one is ready to believe
+that the members of the little colony, in proving the
+free negro capable of raising cotton to good advantage,
+had still more completely proved him unfit for freedom.
+Yet the more one reflects on the story, the more
+plainly one sees that the discouraging state of things
+described in the later letters was merely the inevitable
+result of Emancipation, and would have been the same
+had any other race been concerned, whatever its characteristics.
+The ferment of Freedom worked slowly in
+the negroes, but it worked mightily, and the very sign
+of its working was, as a matter of course, unreasonableness,
+insubordination, untrustworthiness. This result
+might have been foreseen, and probably was foreseen.
+It was not a pleasant thing to contemplate, nor is it
+pleasant to read of, but it proved nothing as to the
+powers and possibilities of the negro people. It is not
+probable that any of the "missionaries," however discouraged,
+came to think that the black man was too
+stupid or too dishonest to become a self-respecting
+member of society. Nor does it appear that W. C. G.
+was justified in fearing that their efforts were worse
+than wasted, inasmuch as the negro might have acquired
+manhood more rapidly if left to himself from
+the start. They had established two facts, the very
+foundation-stones of the new order in the South; that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>
+the freedman would work, and that, as an employee,
+he was less expensive than the slave. Their reward was
+not in any one's gratitude, but in their own knowledge
+that they had served their unfortunate fellow-beings as
+far as, at the moment, was possible. And it must not
+be forgotten that some stayed on, putting their energies
+where there was no question, even, of waste or of ingratitude.
+There is no telling the service done for the
+Sea Islands by the education that has been given to it
+these forty years, or indeed by the mere presence of the
+women who have devoted their lives to this service.</p>
+
+<p>Looking at the letters as a whole, perhaps the reader
+finds that the chief impression they have made upon
+him is that of profound respect for the negro wisdom
+shown by the writers. Keenly as they felt the past
+suffering and the present helplessness of the freedmen,
+they had the supreme common-sense to see that these
+wrongs could not be righted by any method so simple
+as that of giving. They saw that what was needed was,
+not special favor, but even-handed justice. Education,
+indeed, they would give outright; otherwise they would
+make the negro as rapidly as possible a part of the
+economic world, a laborer among other laborers. All
+that has happened since has only gone to prove how
+right they were.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="FOOTNOTES" id="FOOTNOTES"></a>FOOTNOTES:</h2>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Later "The New England Freedmen's Aid Society."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The name Port Royal, in ante-bellum days used only of the island
+on which Beaufort is situated and of the entrance to the Beaufort
+River, was given by the United States Government to the military
+post and the harbor at Hilton Head, and to the post-office there.
+Hence the Sea Island district came to be referred to in the North as
+"Port Royal."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Collector Barney of the Port of New York.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Edward L. Pierce (see Introduction).</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Richard Soule, Jr.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Edward W. Hooper, afterwards for many years Treasurer of Harvard
+College.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> G. is W. C. G. of these letters.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> John M. Forbes, who had hired a house at Beaufort for a few
+months.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Rev. Mansfield French had already spent some weeks at Port
+Royal.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Thrown up by the island planters after the outbreak of the war.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Thomas A. Coffin's large plantation at the eastern end of St.
+Helena Island.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> F. A. Eustis of Milton, who was part owner of the plantation in
+question.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Mr. Philbrick had gone down to Hilton Head again to see about
+his luggage.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> See page v.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Pine Grove and Fripp Point.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The drivers, negroes holding a position next below the white overseers,
+were found by the Northerners still keeping the keys and trying
+to exert their authority.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> For clothing their masters had been in the habit of giving them
+material for two suits a year; a pair of blankets every few years made
+up the sum of gratuities.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Mrs. Philbrick.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Miss Laura E. Towne of Philadelphia. She never returned to
+live in the North. The school she started in 1862 is still in existence,
+under the name of the Penn Normal, Industrial, and Agricultural
+School.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Known as the Smith Plantation.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> The ferry to Ladies Island, across which ran the road to St. Helena
+Island and Mr. Philbrick's plantations.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> The plantation "praise-house," as the negroes' church was called,
+was often merely "a rather larger and nicer negro hut than the others.
+Here the master was an exemplary old Baptist Christian, who has
+left his house full of religious magazines and papers, and built
+his people quite a nice little house,&mdash;the best on this part of the
+Island."
+</p><p>
+(Letter of W. C. G., April 22, 1862.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Pine Grove was in this respect an exception among the Sea Island
+plantations.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_33">33</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Mrs. Philbrick.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> "The true 'shout' takes place on Sundays or on 'praise'-nights
+through the week, and either in the praise-house or some cabin in
+which a regular religious meeting has been held. Very likely more
+than half the population of the plantation is gathered together. Let
+it be the evening, and a light-wood fire burns red before the door to
+the house and on the hearth.... The benches are pushed back to
+the wall when the formal meeting is over, and old and young, men
+and women, sprucely-dressed young men, grotesquely half-clad field-hands&mdash;the
+women generally with gay handkerchiefs twisted about
+their heads and with short skirts&mdash;boys with tattered shirts and
+men's trousers, young girls barefooted, all stand up in the middle
+of the floor, and when the 'sperichil' is struck up, begin first walking
+and by-and-by shuffling round, one after the other, in a ring. The
+foot is hardly taken from the floor, and the progression is mainly due
+to a jerking, hitching motion, which agitates the entire shouter, and
+soon brings out streams of perspiration. Sometimes they dance silently,
+sometimes as they shuffle they sing the chorus of the spiritual, and
+sometimes the song itself is also sung by the dancers. But more frequently
+a band, composed of some of the best singers and of tired
+shouters, stand at the side of the room to 'base' the others, singing
+the body of the song and clapping their hands together or on the knees.
+Song and dance are alike extremely energetic, and often, when the
+shout lasts into the middle of the night, the monotonous thud, thud
+of the feet prevents sleep within half a mile of the praise-house."
+(New York <i>Nation</i>, May 30, 1867.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Miss Lucy McKim, in a letter to the Boston <i>Journal of Music</i>,
+November 8, 1862.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> This old woman Mr. Philbrick had found "keeping guard over
+her late master's household goods&mdash;<i>i. e.</i>, selling them."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> A few weeks earlier than this, one of the drivers told Mr. Philbrick
+that Washington Fripp had just been shot near Charleston
+for refusing to enlist.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> A "title" was a negro surname of whatever derivation.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> The following description of Limus and his subsequent doings
+is copied from a letter of W. C. G.'s (June 12, 1863), which was printed
+by the Educational Commission in one of a series of leaflets containing
+extracts from Port Royal letters:
+</p><p>
+"He is a black Yankee. Without a drop of white blood in him, he
+has the energy and <i>'cuteness</i> and big eye for his own advantage of a
+born New Englander. He is not very moral or scrupulous, and the
+church-members will tell you 'not yet,' with a smile, if you ask whether
+he belongs to them. But he leads them all in enterprise, and his ambition
+and consequent prosperity make his example a very useful
+one on the plantation. Half the men on the island fenced in gardens
+last autumn, behind their houses, in which they now raise vegetables
+for themselves and the Hilton Head markets. Limus in his half-acre
+has quite a little farmyard besides. With poultry-houses, pig-pens,
+and corn-houses, the array is very imposing. He has even a stable,
+for he made out some title to a horse, which was allowed; and then
+he begged a pair of wheels and makes a cart for his work; and not
+to leave the luxuries behind, he next rigs up a kind of sulky and bows
+to the white men from his carriage. As he keeps his table in corresponding
+style,&mdash;for he buys more sugar ... than any other two
+families,&mdash;of course the establishment is rather expensive. So, to
+provide the means, he has three permanent irons in the fire&mdash;his
+cotton, his Hilton Head express, and his seine. Before the fishing
+season commenced, a pack of dogs for deer-hunting took the place
+of the net. While other families 'carry' from three to six or seven acres
+of cotton, Limus says he must have <i>fourteen</i>. To help his wife and
+daughters keep this in good order, he went over to the rendezvous
+for refugees, and imported a family to the plantation, the men of
+which he hired at $8 a month.... With a large boat which he owns,
+he usually makes weekly trips to Hilton Head, twenty miles distant,
+carrying passengers, produce and fish. These last he takes in an immense
+seine,&mdash;an abandoned chattel,&mdash;for the use of which he pays
+Government by furnishing General Hunter and staff with the finer
+specimens, and then has ten to twenty bushels for sale. Apparently
+he is either dissatisfied with this arrangement or means to extend his
+operations, for he asks me to bring him another seine for which I am
+to pay $70. I presume his savings since 'the guns fired at Bay Point'&mdash;which
+is the native record of the capture of the island&mdash;amount to
+four or five hundred dollars. He is all ready to buy land, and I expect
+to see him in ten years a tolerably rich man. Limus has, it is
+true, but few equals on the islands, and yet there are many who follow
+not far behind him."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Major-General David Hunter, who on March 31 had taken command
+of the newly created Department of the South, consisting of
+the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Dr. Wakefield was physician for that end of St. Helena Island.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> On Cockspur Island, Georgia.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> As the quarter-acre "task," which was all that the planters had required
+of their slaves each day, had occupied about four or five hours
+only, it will be seen that the slaves on the Sea Islands had not been
+overworked, though they had been underfed. Like the "task," the
+"private patches" were also an institution retained, at E. L. Pierce's
+suggestion, from slavery times, with the difference that their size was
+very much increased&mdash;often from a fraction of an acre to ten times
+that amount.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> By the rebels.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> He had already had sent down from the North a quantity of
+articles to sell to the negroes.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens, then at Beaufort, commanding
+the Second Division.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> The "Brick Church" was a Baptist Church which had always
+been used by both blacks and whites. Less than a mile away stood
+the "White Church," Episcopalian,&mdash;closed since the flight of the
+planters.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Issued May 9, and on May 19, nullified by President Lincoln.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> South Carolina corn is white flint corn.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> The cotton-agent who had been at Coffin's Point.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> The Government not only had made no definite promise of payment,
+but it was of course unable to bring to bear on the negroes any
+compulsion of any sort. They worked or not, as they liked, and when
+they liked.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> The old system of labor&mdash;the system in force in slavery times&mdash;had
+been the "gang system," the laborers working all together,
+so that no one had continuous responsibility for any one piece
+of land.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> For Coffin's Point.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> As a result of Lincoln's proclamation of May 19 (see p. <a href="#Page_50">50</a>&nbsp;n.),
+the regiment, all but one company, was disbanded in August.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> This burying-place was "an unfenced quarter of an acre of perfectly
+wild, tangled woodland in the midst of the cotton-field, halfway
+between here [the 'white house'] and the quarters. Nothing
+ever marks the graves, but the place is entirely devoted to them."
+</p><p>
+[From a letter of H. W.'s, June 5, '62.]</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Saxton's first general order, announcing his arrival, is dated
+June 28.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> E. L. Pierce had changed his headquarters from "Pope's."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> From the first the anti-slavery Northerners at Port Royal had
+had no hesitation in telling their employees that they were freemen.
+Indeed, they had no choice but to do so, the tadpoles on these islands,
+as Mr. Philbrick said, having "virtually shed their tails in course of
+nature already."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Pierce's second report to Secretary Chase on the Sea Islands,
+dated June 2, 1862.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> "We have to spend more than half our time," writes Mr. Philbrick
+in September, "getting our limited supplies."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Richard Soule, Jr., was General Superintendent of St. Helena
+and Ladies Islands, and was living at Edgar Fripp's plantation.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> The first of many references to the frequent lack of sympathy
+shown by army officers.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> That is, the account had been taken before he came South.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> See page <a href="#Page_37">37</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> The term "Hunting Island" was applied to several of the outside
+islands collectively.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Thomas Astor Coffin, of Coffin's Point.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> The chief "hindrance" was, of course, the late date at which
+work on the cotton crop had been started; the land should have been
+prepared in February, and the planting begun at the end of March.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> The preliminary proclamation of emancipation, dated September
+22, 1862.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> It will be seen that this excellent idea was not adopted by the
+authorities.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Edward W. Hooper served on Saxton's staff, with the rank of
+Captain.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> He came with authority to raise negro troops.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_58">58</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> As Saxton's agent to collect and ship the cotton crop. See p. <a href="#Page_99">99</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> The superintendents of the Second Division of the Sea Islands.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> The negroes had broken the cotton-gins by way of putting their
+slavery more completely behind them.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Again the cotton-agent.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> Evidently the offer of a captaincy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Of Prince Rivers, who became color-sergeant and provost-sergeant
+in the First South Carolina Volunteers, Thomas Wentworth
+Higginson, its colonel, writes: "There is not a white officer in this
+regiment who has more administrative ability, or more absolute authority
+over the men; they do not love him, but his mere presence
+has controlling power over them. He writes well enough to prepare
+for me a daily report of his duties in the camp; if his education
+reached a higher point, I see no reason why he should not command
+the Army of the Potomac. He is jet-black, or rather, I should say,
+<i>wine-black</i>; his complexion, like that of others of my darkest men,
+having a sort of rich, clear depth, without a trace of sootiness, and
+to my eye very handsome. His features are tolerably regular, and
+full of command, and his figure superior to that of any of our white
+officers, being six feet high, perfectly proportioned, and of apparently
+inexhaustible strength and activity. His gait is like a panther's; I
+never saw such a tread. No anti-slavery novel has described a man of
+such marked ability. He makes Toussaint perfectly intelligible; and if
+there should ever be a black monarchy in South Carolina, he will be
+its king." (<i>Army Life in a Black Regiment</i>, pp. 57, 58.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> "These heaps are, <i>lucus a non</i>, called holes." C. P. W.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> The First South Carolina Volunteers (colored), Thomas Wentworth
+Higginson, colonel.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Usually referred to as the "Hunter Regiment."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> A town very near the extreme southern point of the Georgia
+coast.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> After Mitchel's death, Brannan again acted as head of the Department,
+till General Hunter's return in January, 1863.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> To the Dr. Jenkins plantation.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Stone or seed-cotton is unginned cotton.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Of course on almost all the plantations no taxes had been paid,
+so that the Government was at liberty to sell them at auction.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> That is, of drawing their own rations.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> General Hunter did not actually arrive until January. See note 1
+[now Footnote 75], p. <a href="#Page_108">108</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> The $200,000 (mentioned on page <a href="#Page_110">110</a>) received by the Government
+for the crop of 1861.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Saxton.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> This plan of operations was adopted by General Saxton.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Dr. LeBaron Russell, of the Committee on Teachers of the Educational
+Commission.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Taking the plantations as a whole, the Government lost in 1862
+the whole $200,000 which it had cleared from the planters' big cotton
+crop of 1861.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> On Port Royal Island "whole fields of corn, fifty acres in extent,
+have been stripped of every ear before hard enough to be stored."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Henry W. Halleck, since July 11 General-in-Chief of the Army,
+with headquarters at Washington.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> Another young Harvard graduate, cousin of H. W., come to teach
+the two Fripp schools.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> Mr. Philbrick had changed his residence to the Oaks.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_90_90" id="Footnote_90_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> An institution situated in Beaufort, managed by the New York
+Commission.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_91_91" id="Footnote_91_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Of Corporal Sutton Colonel Higginson says: "If not in all respects
+the ablest, he was the wisest man in our ranks. As large, as powerful,
+and as black as our good-looking Color-sergeant, but more heavily
+built and with less personal beauty, he had a more massive brain and
+a far more meditative and systematic intellect. Not yet grounded
+even in the spelling-book, his modes of thought were nevertheless
+strong, lucid, and accurate; and he yearned and pined for intellectual
+companionship beyond all ignorant men whom I have ever met. I
+believe that he would have talked all day and all night, for days together,
+to any officer who could instruct him, until his companion,
+at least, fell asleep exhausted. His comprehension of the whole problem
+of slavery was more thorough and far-reaching than that of any
+Abolitionist, so far as its social and military aspects went; in that
+direction I could teach him nothing, and he taught me much. But
+it was his methods of thought which always impressed me chiefly;
+superficial brilliancy he left to others, and grasped at the solid truth."
+(<i>Army Life in a Black Regiment</i>, p. 62.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_92_92" id="Footnote_92_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> Mr. Philbrick describes the feast: "I walked about for a half
+hour watching the carving, which was done mostly with <i>axes</i>, and
+the eager pressing of the hungry crowds about the rough board tables,
+by which each ox was surrounded. The meat didn't look very inviting."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_93_93" id="Footnote_93_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> Miss Forten was of partly negro blood. H. W. says of her elsewhere:
+"She has one of the sweetest voices I ever heard. The negroes
+all knew the instant they saw her what she was, but she has been
+treated by them with universal respect. She is an educated lady."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_94_94" id="Footnote_94_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> When General Hunter, bent on raising his negro troops, asked
+the Secretary of War for 50,000 muskets, "with authority to arm such
+loyal men as I find in the country, whenever, in my opinion, they can
+be used advantageously against the enemy," he added: "It is important
+that I should be able to know and distinguish these men at
+once, and for this purpose I respectfully request that 50,000 pairs of
+scarlet pantaloons may be sent me; and this is all the clothing I shall
+require for these people." (Hunter to Stanton, April 3, 1862.) Of
+the privates of the First S. C. V., when clothed in these trousers,
+Colonel Higginson writes: "Their coloring suited me, all but the
+legs, which were clad in a lively scarlet, as intolerable to my eyes as
+if I had been a turkey." (<i>Army Life in a Black Regiment</i>, p. 7.)</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_95_95" id="Footnote_95_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> On the Georgia coast.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_96_96" id="Footnote_96_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_60">60</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_97_97" id="Footnote_97_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Mr. Philbrick was staying at Coffin's for a few days.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_98_98" id="Footnote_98_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> The agreement made on April 8, between Mr. Philbrick and
+fourteen gentlemen, all but one of Boston, provided that Mr. Philbrick,
+in whose name the land should be bought and who should have
+complete responsibility for managing it, should, after paying the subscribers
+six per cent. interest, receive one fourth of the net profits.
+Mr. Philbrick was to be liable for losses and without the right to call
+for further contribution; on the other hand, no subscription was to be
+withdrawn unless he ceased to superintend the enterprise. On his
+closing the business, the net proceeds were to be divided <i>pro rata</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_99_99" id="Footnote_99_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Joe having gone back to his trade of carpenter, the domestic
+force now included a boy and a girl (daughter of Abel and sister of
+Hester), marvelously ignorant, even for a Sea Island field-hand.
+Uncle Sam, Robert's father, was acting as cook.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_100_100" id="Footnote_100_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> A boy lately added to the corps of house-servants at Coffin's
+Point.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_101_101" id="Footnote_101_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> From unwillingness to see the land owned by any one but negroes.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_102_102" id="Footnote_102_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> A detachment from the Eighteenth Army Corps, under Major-General
+John G. Foster, had come to help in the operations against
+Charleston.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_103_103" id="Footnote_103_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> The new postmaster for Beaufort.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_104_104" id="Footnote_104_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> A cousin in the 24th Massachusetts, which had come to Land's
+End as part of the "North Carolina army."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_105_105" id="Footnote_105_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> For lumber up the St. Mary's River, which separates Georgia
+from Florida.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_106_106" id="Footnote_106_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_162">162</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_107_107" id="Footnote_107_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> The history of the Department had been defined as "a military
+picnic."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_108_108" id="Footnote_108_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> A paper published at Beaufort.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_109_109" id="Footnote_109_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> Haunt of the drum-fish.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_110_110" id="Footnote_110_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> The War Department ordered the sales to go forward, leaving
+the restrictions to be arranged by Hunter, Saxton, and the Commissioners
+in charge. See p. <a href="#Page_165">165</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_111_111" id="Footnote_111_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> Brigadier-General Edward E. Potter, Foster's Chief of Staff.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_112_112" id="Footnote_112_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> That is, hoed over again and new furrows made for the next crop.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_113_113" id="Footnote_113_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> Brigadier-General Thomas G. Stevenson, originally colonel of
+the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts, was arrested by General Hunter
+and soon after released.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_114_114" id="Footnote_114_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> The immediate cause of this trouble was a disagreement about
+the extent of Hunter's authority over Foster and his command while
+they were in the Department of the South, but the underlying difficulty
+was that Foster and his officers distrusted Hunter as an anti-slavery
+zealot.
+</p><p>
+Finding that the operations against Charleston could not go forward
+immediately, Foster returned to North Carolina within a few
+days after his arrival in the Department of the South. His troops remained,
+so restive under Hunter's command that Foster's whole staff
+was presently sent back to North Carolina for alleged insubordination.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_115_115" id="Footnote_115_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> This report turned out to be a mistake.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_116_116" id="Footnote_116_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> That is, the revenue from the cotton on certain plantations was
+used for these purposes. A plantation thus devoted to the educational
+needs of the people was called a School Farm.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_117_117" id="Footnote_117_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> To capture Jacksonville, on the St. John's River, Florida.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_118_118" id="Footnote_118_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> Of the Second South Carolina Volunteers (colored).</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_119_119" id="Footnote_119_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> The bracket is used for unimportant dates which are out of their
+chronological place.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_120_120" id="Footnote_120_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_120"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_147">147</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_121_121" id="Footnote_121_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_121"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> Two of the thirteen were merely leased.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_122_122" id="Footnote_122_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_122"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> H. W., commenting more mildly, says (Mar. 18): "He certainly
+has not a clear idea of what the superintendents and teachers are doing,
+and unfortunately classes them as in opposition to himself,&mdash;as preferring
+the agricultural to the military department. This I do not think
+is the case, but they most of them feel his want of wisdom in dealing
+with the subject, which has made his own especial object as well as
+theirs harder to accomplish."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_123_123" id="Footnote_123_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_123"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> A short-lived newspaper published in the Department.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_124_124" id="Footnote_124_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_124"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> H. W. describes another service that was broken up by this fear
+of the draft: "[May 2.] At church yesterday a squad of soldiers with
+their officer came from Land's End to the service, when a general
+stampede took place among the men, and women too, jumping from
+the windows and one man even from the gallery into the midst of the
+congregation."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_125_125" id="Footnote_125_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_125"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> The boy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_126_126" id="Footnote_126_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_126"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> Captain J. E. Bryant, of the Eighth Maine.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_127_127" id="Footnote_127_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_127"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> The Second South Carolina Volunteers (colored).</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_128_128" id="Footnote_128_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_128"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> Of the <i>Kingfisher</i>, the blockader.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_129_129" id="Footnote_129_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_129"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> To be examined, adjudged not "able-bodied," and given exemption-papers.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_130_130" id="Footnote_130_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_130"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> Second South Carolina Volunteers.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_131_131" id="Footnote_131_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_131"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> A noticeable thing about the children of slaves was that they had
+no games.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_132_132" id="Footnote_132_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_132"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> In the words of the order the command of the Department was
+taken from Hunter and given to Gillmore "temporarily."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_133_133" id="Footnote_133_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_133"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> Rhodes' <i>History of the United States from the Compromise of 1850</i>,
+vol. iv, p. 332.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_134_134" id="Footnote_134_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_134"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> Colonel Higginson had been sent up the South Edisto River, to
+cut the railroad at Jacksonboro.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_135_135" id="Footnote_135_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_135"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> Whither the wounded had been brought.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_136_136" id="Footnote_136_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_136"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> Edward N. Hallowell and Garth Wilkinson James, Major and
+Adjutant of the Fifty-Fourth.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_137_137" id="Footnote_137_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_137"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> For the North.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_138_138" id="Footnote_138_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_138"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> A few weeks later (July 15) General Saxton authorized the general
+superintendents to appoint plantation commissions, or courts
+for the administration of justice. The people eligible for these commissions
+were Government plantation superintendents and Mr. Philbrick's
+six plantation superintendents, and they were instructed "that
+in cases where immediate arrest is in their opinion necessary, the
+plantation superintendents, and the persons above named, are hereby
+authorized themselves to make arrests of civilians upon the plantations.
+But they must exercise this power with great discretion, and
+will be held responsible for any abuse of it."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_139_139" id="Footnote_139_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_139"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> Colonel W. W. H. Davis was in command of the post at Beaufort
+during Saxton's temporary absence.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_140_140" id="Footnote_140_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_140"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> R. Soule, Jr., now one of Mr. Philbrick's superintendents, who,
+upon the departure of the Philbricks, had come to live at Coffin's
+Point.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_141_141" id="Footnote_141_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_141"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> The rebel masters had told their slaves that the Yankees intended
+to sell them "South,"&mdash;that is, to Cuba or the Gulf.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_142_142" id="Footnote_142_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_142"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> See note, p. <a href="#Page_201">201</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_143_143" id="Footnote_143_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_143"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> On board the <i>Kingfisher</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_144_144" id="Footnote_144_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_144"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> A Pennsylvanian, General Superintendent for St. Helena and
+Ladies Islands, since Richard Soule had resigned that position.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_145_145" id="Footnote_145_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_145"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> That is, gathered.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_146_146" id="Footnote_146_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_146"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> Admiral Dupont's flag-ship.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_147_147" id="Footnote_147_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_147"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> The Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers (colored), which was
+in camp at Port Royal.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_148_148" id="Footnote_148_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_148"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> Meaning, of course, plantations belonging to the Government.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_149_149" id="Footnote_149_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_149"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> The "Mary Jenkins" place.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_150_150" id="Footnote_150_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_150"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> Two hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds was "about as
+much as there was raised in the whole Department" in 1862.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_151_151" id="Footnote_151_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_151"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_230">230</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_152_152" id="Footnote_152_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_152"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> A letter dated December 28, 1863, inclosing $100 for the relief
+of families of freedmen. The letter gives figures that prove the success
+of the free labor experiment on Mr. Philbrick's plantations, and
+concludes as follows: "I mention these things to show how easy it
+is to render the negroes a self-supporting and wealth-producing class
+with proper management; and I, at the same time, fully appreciate
+the duty imposed upon us as a nation to extend the arm of charity
+where the unsettled state of the country renders industry impossible
+until time is given to recognize and force to protect it. We are more
+fortunately situated than the people of the Mississippi valley, and
+have got the start of them."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_153_153" id="Footnote_153_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_153"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> A letter dated January 25, 1864, and printed in the Providence
+<i>Journal</i> on February 6.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_154_154" id="Footnote_154_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_154"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> Land on the Sea Islands is now worth $15 an acre,&mdash;$20 if it is
+near a road.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_155_155" id="Footnote_155_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_155"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> F. J. W. was in Boston at the time.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_156_156" id="Footnote_156_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_156"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> William Birney, Brigadier-General and Commander of the Post
+at Beaufort during one of Saxton's absences, had, on March 30, issued
+an order to the effect that in all cases the negroes were to be left in
+possession of the land they claimed as theirs.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_157_157" id="Footnote_157_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_157"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> An ambulance.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_158_158" id="Footnote_158_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_158"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> Cf. E. S. P.'s letter of February 22, p. <a href="#Page_251">251</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_159_159" id="Footnote_159_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_159"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> Early in April the steamer <i>City of New York</i>, carrying sixty-one
+bales of Mr. Philbrick's cotton, was wrecked in Queenstown harbor.
+The cotton was insured for $1.50 a pound, but would have brought
+more in the market.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_160_160" id="Footnote_160_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_160"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_219">219</a>. The idea was by no means new. Frederick Law Olmstead
+had devoted a great deal of space to proving the truth of it, and
+indeed had quoted many planters who admitted that, as a system of
+labor, slavery was expensive.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_161_161" id="Footnote_161_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_161"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> (Dated April 26, in the <i>Independent</i>.) On St. Helena to-day it is
+always possible to hire men for common work at fifty cents per day.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_162_162" id="Footnote_162_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_162"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> Dated May 2.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_163_163" id="Footnote_163_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_163"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> The National Union Convention which met on June 7.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_164_164" id="Footnote_164_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_164"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> The hero of the <i>Planter</i> episode; see p. <a href="#Page_46">46</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_165_165" id="Footnote_165_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_165"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_145">145</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_166_166" id="Footnote_166_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_166"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> One of many minor raids, very likely up the Combahee River.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_167_167" id="Footnote_167_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_167"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> As General commanding the Department of the South.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_168_168" id="Footnote_168_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_168"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> Husband of Fanny Kemble.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_169_169" id="Footnote_169_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_169"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> Compare J. A. S. on p. <a href="#Page_265">265</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_170_170" id="Footnote_170_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_170"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> Evidently G.'s suggestion was practically for the plan Mr. Philbrick
+did in fact adopt finally, that of selling some of his land to negroes
+and some to white men. The price at which he sold to the negroes
+was determined by the ideas here expressed.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_171_171" id="Footnote_171_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_171"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> A mulatto, educated in the North, who had gone to help at Port
+Royal.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_172_172" id="Footnote_172_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_172"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> Colonel Milton S. Littlefield, Twenty-First United States Colored
+Troops.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_173_173" id="Footnote_173_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_173"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> Foster's order was dated August 16.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_174_174" id="Footnote_174_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_174"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> "The First South," as the First South Carolina Volunteers was
+always called by the negroes, had in the spring been enrolled among
+the United States Colored Troops as the Thirty-Third Regiment.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_175_175" id="Footnote_175_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_175"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_187">187</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_176_176" id="Footnote_176_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_176"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> Both in the Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers (colored).</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_177_177" id="Footnote_177_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_177"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> The battle of Honey Hill (near Grahamville), fought November
+30.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_178_178" id="Footnote_178_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_178"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> Of the Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_179_179" id="Footnote_179_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_179"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> F. H. was to take charge of Coffin's Point on C. P. W.'s leaving
+permanently for home a few weeks later. In connection with Mr.
+Philbrick's words about him and in preparation for his own letters,
+it is worth while to record something he had written in the autumn:
+</p><p>
+Oct. 7. St. Helena. I am slowly recovering from my three weeks'
+sickness,&mdash;more buoyant and hopeful than ever before. I seem to
+have a new birth, with new aspirations, and new views&mdash;particularly
+in regard to life and its duties and prospects among the freed
+people of South Carolina.
+</p><p>
+If <i>God</i> is not in it, then I am laboring under hallucination.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_180_180" id="Footnote_180_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_180"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> The crop of 1864 had cost Mr. Philbrick about $1.00 a pound,
+and he thought it quite possible that the crop of 1865 might not fetch
+more than that in the market. It will be seen that his fears were more
+than justified.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_181_181" id="Footnote_181_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_181"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> General Oliver O. Howard.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_182_182" id="Footnote_182_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_182"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> The only thoroughfare by land from Beaufort to Charleston.
+At Port Royal Ferry it crosses the Coosaw.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_183_183" id="Footnote_183_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_183"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> F. H.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_184_184" id="Footnote_184_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_184"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> "Yellow cotton" was cotton which for any reason had been
+stained in the pod.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_185_185" id="Footnote_185_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_185"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> Concerning this horse-buying fever Mr. Philbrick has elsewhere
+an amusing anecdote:
+</p><p>
+[Jan. 8.] The latest case of destitution I have heard of was the case
+of old Robert at the Oaks, cow-minder,&mdash;you remember him. He
+and old Scylla applied to Mr. Tomlinson for rations, pleading utter
+poverty. It turned out next day that Robert and Scylla's husband
+were in treaty for Mr. Fairfield's horse, at the rate of $350! They
+didn't allege <i>inability</i> to pay the price, but thought they would look
+around and see if they couldn't get one cheaper. I daresay it will
+end by their buying it.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_186_186" id="Footnote_186_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_186"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> Fuller, of Fuller Place, who had succeeded in keeping with him
+on a plantation elsewhere the negroes he had induced to accompany
+him when the war broke out.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_187_187" id="Footnote_187_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_187"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> In Europe.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_188_188" id="Footnote_188_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_188"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> By President Johnson's instructions.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_189_189" id="Footnote_189_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_189"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> The original owners of the Sea Island plantations were subsequently
+reimbursed by Congress for their loss (minors receiving again
+their actual land); but inasmuch as the sums paid them did not
+include the value of their slaves, they considered the payment inadequate.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_190_190" id="Footnote_190_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_190"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> New York <i>Nation</i>, November 30, 1865.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_191_191" id="Footnote_191_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_191"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> The cotton when ginned should have weighed between one
+third and one quarter as much as it weighed before ginning. See p. <a href="#Page_236">236</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_192_192" id="Footnote_192_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_192"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> In one of his letters to the <i>Nation</i> (December 14), Dennett quotes
+Richard Soule as saying that he thought the past four years had encouraged
+and confirmed the faults of the negro. "Demoralized on
+the negro question," therefore, seems to mean, not that Richard Soule
+and F. H. were finding the negro worse than they had thought him,
+but that they considered that present conditions were rapidly making
+him worse.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_193_193" id="Footnote_193_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_193"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> General Saxton was Assistant Commissioner for South Carolina
+under the Freedmen's Bureau.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_194_194" id="Footnote_194_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_194"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> Reuben Tomlinson had been made State Superintendent of Education.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_195_195" id="Footnote_195_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_195"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> The Union Store was finished, stocked, and operated, but its
+life was brief. From the first, its vitality was sapped by the claim
+of the stockholders to unlimited credit; then a dishonest treasurer
+struck the death-blow.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_196_196" id="Footnote_196_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_196"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> See p. <a href="#Page_312">312</a>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_197_197" id="Footnote_197_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_197"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> This was Grant's famous "car-window" report, in which he
+stated his belief that "the mass of thieving men at the South accept
+the situation in good faith."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_198_198" id="Footnote_198_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_198"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> Mr. Waters bought Cherry Hill and lived there for a short time.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_199_199" id="Footnote_199_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_199"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> "Corner" was the Captain John Fripp place.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_200_200" id="Footnote_200_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_200"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> At the auction referred to, the Government offered for sale the
+plantations which had been reserved for the support of schools.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_201_201" id="Footnote_201_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_201"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> A negro who worked a plantation "on shares" was independent
+of the owner, merely paying a rent in cotton.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_202_202" id="Footnote_202_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_202"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> Afterwards used as the nucleus of <i>Slave Songs of the United
+States</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_203_203" id="Footnote_203_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_203"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> Before the war.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_204_204" id="Footnote_204_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_204"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> Rose had been living with H. W. in the North, and was now at
+Port Royal with her, also on a visit.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_205_205" id="Footnote_205_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_205"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> General Bennett was managing Coffin's for the owner, who had
+bought it of Mr. Philbrick.</p></div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p>
+<h2><a name="INDEX" id="INDEX"></a>INDEX</h2>
+
+
+<p>
+Aaron, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Abel, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Abigail, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Abolitionists, hostility to.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See <a href="#Army_Officers">Army Officers</a>; <a href="#Hunter">Hunter</a>; <a href="#Saxton">Saxton</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+<i>Advertiser, Boston</i>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_219"><b>219</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Africa, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Alden, William, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Alex, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Alick, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Allen, William, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Amaritta, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Andrew, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Anti-slavery people, hostility to.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See <a href="#Army_Officers">Army Officers</a>; <a href="#Hunter">Hunter</a>; <a href="#Saxton">Saxton</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Antony, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Ariel</i>, The, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Army Corps,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#Page_17"><b>17</b></a>th, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a href="#Page_18"><b>18</b></a>th, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>&nbsp;n.</span><br />
+<br />
+<a name="Army_Officers" id="Army_Officers"></a>Army Officers, hostility of, to anti-slavery people, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See also <a href="#hostility_of_army_officers_to">Negroes, hostility of army officers to</a>; <a href="#Hunter">Hunter</a>; <a href="#Saxton">Saxton</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+<i>Army Life in a Black Regiment</i>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_131"><b>131</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+"Arnie," Miss, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Atkinson, Edward, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Atlanta, Georgia, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Atlantic</i>, The, <a href="#Page_2"><b>2</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+B&mdash;&mdash;, Mr., <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bacchus, <a href="#Page_64"><b>64</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_121"><b>121</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bacchus, foreman of Morgan Island, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bail, Anthony, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Baldwin, Mr., <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Baltimore Convention, 1864, <a href="#Page_267"><b>267</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Baptisms, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Barkis, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Barnard, James M., <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Barney, Hiram, <a href="#Page_2"><b>2</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Barstow, Major, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bay Point, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_29"><b>29</b></a>, <a href="#Page_35"><b>35</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Beaufort, N. C., <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Beaufort, S. C., <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>, <a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_134"><b>134</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_202"><b>202</b></a>, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_221"><b>221</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_267"><b>267</b></a>, <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>, <a href="#Page_283"><b>283</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>, <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Beaufort River, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Beaufort Sound, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Beauregard, Fort, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Becca, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ben, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bennett, General, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Betsey, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Betty, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>, <a href="#Page_253"><b>253</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Betty, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Biffert," <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Binah, <a href="#Page_27"><b>27</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_157"><b>157</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bingham, Quartermaster-General, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Birney, William, Brig.-Gen., <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Black Draft. See <a href="#Draft_Black">Draft, Black</a>.<br />
+<br />
+Boston, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_220"><b>220</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a>, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Boston_syndicate" id="Boston_syndicate"></a>Boston syndicate, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_275"><b>275</b></a>, <a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Boutelle, Captain, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Brannan, John M., Brig.-Gen., <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Brisbane, Dr., <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Brown, Peter, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bryant, Captain J. E., <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bryant, Lieutenant O. E., <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bryant, Mr., plantation superintendent, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bryant, Mrs., <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bundy, Dr. Francis, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>, <a href="#Page_143"><b>143</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Bundy, Mrs. Francis, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Burying-place, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Butler, Pierce, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Butler, Mrs. Pierce. See <a href="#Kemble">Kemble, Fanny</a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+C&aelig;sar, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Caroline (1), <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_17"><b>17</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Caroline (2), <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Caroline (3), <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cat Island, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cato, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Celia, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Chaplin, Benjarola, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Charleston, S. C., <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>, <a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">siege of, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>-<a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Chase, Salmon P., <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Chattel sales, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cherry Hill, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_80"><b>80</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Chester, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Child, Professor F. J., <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Christmas,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1863, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1864, <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Church, Brick (Baptist), <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Church, White (Episcopal), <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cicero, <a href="#Page_192"><b>192</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>City of New York</i>, The, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Clarke, Mrs., <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Climate of Sea Islands, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_110"><b>110</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coast Survey, <a href="#Page_60"><b>60</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cockloft, overseer, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_169"><b>169</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cockspur Island, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin, Eben, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin family, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin, Sir Isaac, Bart., <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin, Julian, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin, Thomas Astor, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin, Mrs. T. A., <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin trademark, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Coffin's Battery," <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coffin's Point, <a href="#Page_8"><b>8</b></a>, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_29"><b>29</b></a>, <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Comba, <a href="#Page_303"><b>303</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Combahee River, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+"Concern."<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See <a href="#Boston_syndicate">Boston Syndicate</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Contracts with negroes, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cooley, Judge, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coosaw, Fort, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Coosaw River, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Corn Crop of 1862, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Corner," <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Cosmopolitan</i>, The, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cotton-agents, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_18"><b>18</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See also <a href="#S">Mr. S</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Cotton crop,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1861, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_110"><b>110</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1862, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_99"><b>99</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>&nbsp;n.;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1863, <a href="#Page_151"><b>151</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1864, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1865, <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Cotton Fund, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cotton-gins broken by the negroes, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_181"><b>181</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Court."<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See <a href="#Plantation_Commission">Plantation Commission</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Crane, Captain W. D., <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Crystal Palace, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cuffy, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_27"><b>27</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cutchery, Indian, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Cuthbert's Point, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Dan, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Darien, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Dathaw, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+David, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Davis, Col. W. W. H., <a href="#Page_202"><b>202</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+De Golyer, Mr., <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+De la Croix, Mr., <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>, <a href="#Page_143"><b>143</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Deborah, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Demus, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Demus, elder, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Dennett, Mr., <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Department of the South, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_114"><b>114</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_227"><b>227</b></a>, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>, <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_278"><b>278</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Doll, <a href="#Page_25"><b>25</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Draft_Black" id="Draft_Black"></a>Draft, Black, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>-<a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_77"><b>77</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_99"><b>99</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>-<a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_176"><b>176</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>-<a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>-<a href="#Page_284"><b>284</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Drivers, <a href="#Page_8"><b>8</b></a>, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_80"><b>80</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Duhurst, Lieut., <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Dupont, Commodore S. F., <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Dutch, Captain, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Eddings Point, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_192"><b>192</b></a>, <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Edisto, <a href="#Page_318"><b>318</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Edisto_refugees" id="Edisto_refugees"></a>Edisto refugees, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_151"><b>151</b></a>, <a href="#Page_294"><b>294</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Educational Commission for Freedmen<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Boston), <a href="#Page_1"><b>1</b></a>, <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_33"><b>33</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(New York), <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>&nbsp;n.;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">(Philadelphia), <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Eggs, donations of, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_35"><b>35</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_121"><b>121</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Egypt, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ellen, <a href="#Page_138"><b>138</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ellwell, Col., <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Elsie, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Elsie, at Coffin's Point, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Emancipation celebration, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>-<a href="#Page_134"><b>134</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Emancipation, Preliminary Proclamation of, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Emancipation, Proclamation of, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Eustis, F. A., <a href="#Page_8"><b>8</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_32"><b>32</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_238"><b>238</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Eustis Place, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Evacuation of Sea Islands, <a href="#Page_84"><b>84</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Fanny, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fairfield, Mr., <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Ferry, from Port Royal Island to Ladies Island, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to mainland, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+<i>Festina Lente</i>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Finnie, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+First South, see <a href="#South_Carolina_Vols">S. C. Vols., 1st Regt.</a><br />
+<br />
+Flora, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_25"><b>25</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_35"><b>35</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Flora</i>, The, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Florida, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Folsom, Dr. Charles F., <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Folsom's Place, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Forbes, John M., <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_17"><b>17</b></a>, <a href="#Page_18"><b>18</b></a>, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_147"><b>147</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fort Coosaw, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fort on Smith Plantation, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Forts Walker and Beauregard, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Forten, Charlotte, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fortress Monroe, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fortune, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Foster, John G., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>, <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fourth of July, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>-<a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fowler, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Frank, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Free South, The</i>, <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Freedmen at Port Royal, The</i>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Freedmen's Aid Societies, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Freedmen's Bureau, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+French, Rev. Mansfield, <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>, <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Alvirah, plantation of, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Dr. Clarence, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Eddings, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Eden, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Edgar, plantation of, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_74"><b>74</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Hamilton, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plantation of, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sons of, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Harriet, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp house in Beaufort, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Captain John, <a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">daughters of, <a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">plantation of, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Juliana, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Lynch, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Captain Oliver, plantation of, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp Point, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_200"><b>200</b></a>, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Sam, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, T. B., plantation of, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, T. J., <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Washington, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fripp, William, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">sons of, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Fripp, Willie, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Frogmore, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fuller, Rev. Robert, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Fuller Place, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Fulton</i>, The, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Funeral, negro child's, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>, <a href="#Page_67"><b>67</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+K. G., <a href="#Page_33"><b>33</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+W. C. G., <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>, <a href="#Page_8"><b>8</b></a>, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_24"><b>24</b></a>, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_27"><b>27</b></a>, <a href="#Page_32"><b>32</b></a>, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_64"><b>64</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_147"><b>147</b></a>, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>-<a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_238"><b>238</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_333"><b>333</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_32"><b>32</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_84"><b>84</b></a>, <a href="#Page_107"><b>107</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_210"><b>210</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>, <a href="#Page_241"><b>241</b></a>, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_267"><b>267</b></a>, <a href="#Page_277"><b>277</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_283"><b>283</b></a>, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+W. C. G., article by, in <i>North American Review</i>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+W. C. G., poem by, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Gage, Mrs., <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Gang system, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_112"><b>112</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+George, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Georgia, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Georgia_refugees" id="Georgia_refugees"></a>Georgia refugees, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_294"><b>294</b></a>, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Gettysburg, battle of, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Gib, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Gillmore, Q. A., Brig.-Gen., <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Gordon, Captain, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Gordon, slave pirate, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Government, U. S., <a href="#Page_1"><b>1</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_17"><b>17</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_56"><b>56</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>, <a href="#Page_99"><b>99</b></a>, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>, <a href="#Page_112"><b>112</b></a>, <a href="#Page_113"><b>113</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a>, <a href="#Page_148"><b>148</b></a>, <a href="#Page_149"><b>149</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_151"><b>151</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_174"><b>174</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_277"><b>277</b></a>, <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Grace, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_303"><b>303</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Grahamville, S. C., <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Grant, U. S., Lieut.-Gen., <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Green, Jonas, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Green, Dr. S. A., <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Gun fire at Bay Point," <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+H&mdash;&mdash;, Col., <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+F. H., <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Habersham, Mr., <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hacklis, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Halleck, Henry W., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hall, Wm., <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hallowell, Col. E. N., <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hallowell, Col. N. P., <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hamlet, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hammond, Mr., <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hardy, Alpheus, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Harriet, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Harrison, Mr., <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Harry, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hartwell, Col. A. S., <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hayti, <a href="#Page_84"><b>84</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hazard, Mr., <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Henry, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Herald</i>, Boston, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hester, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>, <a href="#Page_214"><b>214</b></a>, <a href="#Page_217"><b>217</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Higginson, Col. T. W., <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>, <a href="#Page_131"><b>131</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_134"><b>134</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hilton Head, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>, <a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a>, <a href="#Page_77"><b>77</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a>, <a href="#Page_84"><b>84</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>, <a href="#Page_107"><b>107</b></a>, <a href="#Page_114"><b>114</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Honey Hill, S. C., <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Hooper, Captain E. W., <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hope Place, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Horace</i>, The, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Horse-buying, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Howard, O. O., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>, <a href="#Page_317"><b>317</b></a>, <a href="#Page_318"><b>318</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hoyt, Capt., <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hull, Mr., <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hunn, Mr. J., <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Hunter" id="Hunter"></a>Hunter, David, Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_38"><b>38</b></a>, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>, <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_89"><b>89</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hunter Regiment, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hunting Island, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_238"><b>238</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hunting, Dr., <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Hurd, Augustus, <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Indemnity, for slave-owners, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Independent</i>, The, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Irish, compared with negroes, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_18"><b>18</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_56"><b>56</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Isaac, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Jack, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jackson, Mr., <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jacksonboro', <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jacksonville, Fla., <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+James, Capt., <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+James, G. W., Adjt., <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+January, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_181"><b>181</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jenkins, Dr., plantation of, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jenkins, Mary, plantation of, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jim, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_90"><b>90</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jimmy, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Joe, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>, <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a>, <a href="#Page_60"><b>60</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+John, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+John, Major, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Johnson, Andrew, <a href="#Page_317"><b>317</b></a>, <a href="#Page_318"><b>318</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Jonas, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Joseph, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Josh, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Journal of Music</i>, The Boston, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Journal</i>, Providence, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Judd, Mr., Gen. Supt. of Port Royal Island, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Judy, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Juliana, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+July, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+June, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Katrine, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Katy, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Katy, at Frogmore, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Keller, Lewis, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Kelley</i>, The, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Kellum, Capt, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Kemble" id="Kemble"></a>Kemble, Fanny, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Kingfisher</i>, The, <a href="#Page_176"><b>176</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+L&mdash;&mdash;, John, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ladies Island, <a href="#Page_8"><b>8</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_223"><b>223</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Land-sales" id="Land-sales"></a>Land-sales, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a>, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_147"><b>147</b></a>, <a href="#Page_148"><b>148</b></a>, <a href="#Page_151"><b>151</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_277"><b>277</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>, <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Land's End, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>, <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>, <a href="#Page_174"><b>174</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lee, Mr., paymaster, U. S., <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_110"><b>110</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lee, R. E., Gen., <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lester, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lewis, <a href="#Page_192"><b>192</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lewis, Dio, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lieutenant, of 104th Pa. Vols., <a href="#Page_200"><b>200</b></a>, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>, <a href="#Page_202"><b>202</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Limus, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_77"><b>77</b></a>, <a href="#Page_221"><b>221</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Lincoln, Abraham, <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Littlefield, Milton S., Col., <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>London News</i>, The, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Louisa, <a href="#Page_35"><b>35</b></a>, <a href="#Page_138"><b>138</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+L'Ouverture, Toussaint, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+McClellan, George B., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+McKee's plantation, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+McKim, Lucy, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+McTureous Plantation, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_77"><b>77</b></a>, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mack, David, <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Maria, nurse, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Maria, seamster, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Market for manufactures, A new</i>, <a href="#Page_219"><b>219</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Marriage of negroes, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Martha, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mary, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mary Ann, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Massachusetts Vols.,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">24th Regt., <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">54th Regt., <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">55th Regt., <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>, <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>&nbsp;n.</span><br />
+<br />
+May, <a href="#Page_303"><b>303</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Mayflower</i>, The, <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Melville</i>, The, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Methodism, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>, <a href="#Page_221"><b>221</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mike, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Miller, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mily, nurse, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Minda, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mission House, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mitchel, Ormsby M., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Mohegan</i>, The, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Moll, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Monah, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Monday, "Useless," <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Monroe, Fortress, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Montgomery, Col., <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Morgan Island, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Morris Island, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Mulberry Hill, <a href="#Page_80"><b>80</b></a>, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Murray, Ellen, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+N. R. &amp; W., Firm of, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Nancy, <a href="#Page_138"><b>138</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Nancy, old, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Nat, <a href="#Page_77"><b>77</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Nation</i>, The New York, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>-<a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+National Union Convention, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Negro Burying Ground, The</i>, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Negroes" id="Negroes"></a>Negroes of Sea Islands,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">characteristics of, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_25"><b>25</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>, <a href="#Page_99"><b>99</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_138"><b>138</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_214"><b>214</b></a>, <a href="#Page_215"><b>215</b></a>, <a href="#Page_241"><b>241</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">compared with Irish, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_18"><b>18</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_56"><b>56</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">compared with negroes elsewhere, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_89"><b>89</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">condition of, in 1862, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>, <a href="#Page_181"><b>181</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">contracts with, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">cotton-gins destroyed by, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_181"><b>181</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">dishonesty of, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_227"><b>227</b></a>, <a href="#Page_241"><b>241</b></a>, <a href="#Page_242"><b>242</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>, <a href="#Page_287"><b>287</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">food of, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">future of, <a href="#Page_317"><b>317</b></a>, <a href="#Page_318"><b>318</b></a>, <a href="#Page_334"><b>334</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">gratuities to, <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_33"><b>33</b></a>, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_80"><b>80</b></a>, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_148"><b>148</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_166"><b>166</b></a>, <a href="#Page_179"><b>179</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_276"><b>276</b></a>, <a href="#Page_277"><b>277</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_334"><b>334</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">health of, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><a name="hostility_of_army_officers_to" id="hostility_of_army_officers_to"></a>hostility of army officers to, <a href="#Page_74"><b>74</b></a>, <a href="#Page_85"><b>85</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">industry of, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_55"><b>55</b></a>, <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_181"><b>181</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">independence of, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_275"><b>275</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">intelligence of, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_60"><b>60</b></a>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>, <a href="#Page_74"><b>74</b></a>, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_90"><b>90</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_112"><b>112</b></a>, <a href="#Page_166"><b>166</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_169"><b>169</b></a>, <a href="#Page_174"><b>174</b></a>, <a href="#Page_241"><b>241</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">intemperance of, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as land-owners (see also <a href="#Land-sales">Land-sales</a>), <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>, <a href="#Page_276"><b>276</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">language of, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_25"><b>25</b></a>, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_27"><b>27</b></a>, <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>, <a href="#Page_35"><b>35</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_90"><b>90</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_157"><b>157</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">marriage of, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">names of, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a>, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">petition of, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>-<a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">religion of, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_27"><b>27</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>, <a href="#Page_67"><b>67</b></a>, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">singing of, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>, <a href="#Page_29"><b>29</b></a>, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>, <a href="#Page_134"><b>134</b></a>, <a href="#Page_253"><b>253</b></a>, <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">as soldiers, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>, <a href="#Page_89"><b>89</b></a>, <a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">treatment of, by masters, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_32"><b>32</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">wages of, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_56"><b>56</b></a>, <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_85"><b>85</b></a>, <a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_99"><b>99</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_110"><b>110</b></a>, <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>, <a href="#Page_112"><b>112</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_147"><b>147</b></a>, <a href="#Page_148"><b>148</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_267"><b>267</b></a>, <a href="#Page_294"><b>294</b></a>, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_303"><b>303</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Nero, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+New Orleans, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>New South, The</i>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+New York Vols.,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">19th Regt., <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">48th, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">79th, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Nile, songs on the, <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Noble, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>North American Review</i>, The, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+North Carolina Army, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Nubia, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Oakland, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Oaks, The, <a href="#Page_69"><b>69</b></a>, <a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ogeechee River, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Oliver, Dr., <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Olmstead, Frederick Law, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Otter Island, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Paige, Mr., <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Palmer, Mr., <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Paris, <a href="#Page_81"><b>81</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Parker, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Paxton, Capt., <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Peg, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Peggy, Old, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Penn Normal, Industrial, and Agricultural School, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>, <a href="#Page_334"><b>334</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pennsylvania Volunteers,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Roundhead Regt., <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">104th Regt., <a href="#Page_200"><b>200</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Peter, Uncle, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Peter, on Frogmore, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Petition of negroes, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>-<a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Petra, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Philadelphia, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Philbrick, Edward S., <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_24"><b>24</b></a>, <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>, <a href="#Page_40"><b>40</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_64"><b>64</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_69"><b>69</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a>, <a href="#Page_85"><b>85</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_99"><b>99</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_121"><b>121</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_158"><b>158</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_176"><b>176</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_219"><b>219</b></a>, <a href="#Page_220"><b>220</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_284"><b>284</b></a>, <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Letters from, <a href="#Page_1"><b>1</b></a>, <a href="#Page_2"><b>2</b></a>, <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_7"><b>7</b></a>, <a href="#Page_9"><b>9</b></a>, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_107"><b>107</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_219"><b>219</b></a>, <a href="#Page_220"><b>220</b></a>, <a href="#Page_221"><b>221</b></a>, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_249"><b>249</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>, <a href="#Page_294"><b>294</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_316"><b>316</b></a>, <a href="#Page_317"><b>317</b></a>, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Philbrick, Mrs. E. S., <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>, <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_11"><b>11</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_25"><b>25</b></a>, <a href="#Page_33"><b>33</b></a>, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Phillips, Rev. Mr., <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Phillis, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_212"><b>212</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ph&#339;be, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pierce, E. L., <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>, <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>, <a href="#Page_7"><b>7</b></a>, <a href="#Page_8"><b>8</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_38"><b>38</b></a>, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_54"><b>54</b></a>, <a href="#Page_64"><b>64</b></a>, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_69"><b>69</b></a>, <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pine Grove Plantation, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_15"><b>15</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_60"><b>60</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_210"><b>210</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Plantation_Commission" id="Plantation_Commission"></a>Plantation Commission, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_210"><b>210</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Plantation Bitters," <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Planter</i>, The, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_63"><b>63</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Pocotaligo, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pompey, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Poor Rosy," <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pope, Mr., <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pope's plantation, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Port Royal, <a href="#Page_1"><b>1</b></a>, <a href="#Page_4"><b>4</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>, <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_278"><b>278</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Port Royal Bar, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Port Royal Experiment, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_219"><b>219</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_241"><b>241</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Port Royal Ferry, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Port Royal Island, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_69"><b>69</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Post</i>, The N. Y. Evening, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_277"><b>277</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Potter, Edward E., Brig.-Gen., <a href="#Page_158"><b>158</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pre&euml;mption system, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>, <a href="#Page_318"><b>318</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Prices, war-time, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Primus, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Prisoners, exchange of, <a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pritchard, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pritchard's Island, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Pulaski, Fort, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+T. E. R., <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_284"><b>284</b></a>, <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+"R.'s," <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+R., Miss, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rand, Capt., <a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ranty, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Raphael, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rations to negroes, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_80"><b>80</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_246"><b>246</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to whites, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_32"><b>32</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_114"><b>114</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Readville, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rebel raids, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Red tape, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_85"><b>85</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Reed, Joe, superintendent, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Refugees.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See <a href="#Edisto_refugees">Edisto Refugees</a> and <a href="#Georgia_refugees">Georgia Refugees</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Republican party, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rhodes, J. F., <i>History of the United States</i>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rice, Lt.-Col., <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>, <a href="#Page_283"><b>283</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Richard, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Richmond, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ripley, Fort, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rivers, Sergeant Prince, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>, <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>, <a href="#Page_131"><b>131</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Road, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Robert, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>, <a href="#Page_158"><b>158</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>, <a href="#Page_214"><b>214</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>, <a href="#Page_253"><b>253</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Robert, old, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Rodwell, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rose, Alex's daughter, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rose, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_214"><b>214</b></a>, <a href="#Page_215"><b>215</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>, <a href="#Page_217"><b>217</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_278"><b>278</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_287"><b>287</b></a>, <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Rosetta, <a href="#Page_88"><b>88</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Russel, Cabot, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Russell, Dr. LeBaron, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+S&mdash;&mdash;, Col., <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="S" id="S"></a>S&mdash;&mdash;, Mr., cotton-agent, <a href="#Page_12"><b>12</b></a>, <a href="#Page_14"><b>14</b></a>, <a href="#Page_33"><b>33</b></a>, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_55"><b>55</b></a>, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+S&mdash;&mdash;, postmaster at Beaufort, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Croix, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Helena Island, <a href="#Page_6"><b>6</b></a>, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_19"><b>19</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_74"><b>74</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_135"><b>135</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_223"><b>223</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>, <a href="#Page_294"><b>294</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Helena Sound, <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Helena Village, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. John's River, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Mary's, <a href="#Page_107"><b>107</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Mary's River, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+St. Simon's Island, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sally, Aunt, <a href="#Page_192"><b>192</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sam (Uncle), <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_66"><b>66</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_145"><b>145</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_158"><b>158</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>, <a href="#Page_253"><b>253</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sammy, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Samson, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sancho, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sanitary Fair, N. Y., <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sarah, of C. Pt., <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_126"><b>126</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sarah, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sarah, Flora's, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Savannah, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Saxby," Gen., <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Saxton" id="Saxton"></a>Saxton, J. A., <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>, <a href="#Page_276"><b>276</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Saxton, Maj.-Gen. Rufus, <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_69"><b>69</b></a>, <a href="#Page_83"><b>83</b></a>, <a href="#Page_84"><b>84</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_98"><b>98</b></a>, <a href="#Page_100"><b>100</b></a>, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>, <a href="#Page_103"><b>103</b></a>, <a href="#Page_107"><b>107</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_110"><b>110</b></a>, <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_116"><b>116</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_151"><b>151</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>, <a href="#Page_175"><b>175</b></a>, <a href="#Page_187"><b>187</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_198"><b>198</b></a>, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>, <a href="#Page_202"><b>202</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_244"><b>244</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Schools, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_20"><b>20</b></a>, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_24"><b>24</b></a>, <a href="#Page_32"><b>32</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_60"><b>60</b></a>, <a href="#Page_149"><b>149</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_273"><b>273</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_334"><b>334</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+School Farm, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Scylla, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Sea Islands, <a href="#Page_42"><b>42</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>, <a href="#Page_89"><b>89</b></a>, <a href="#Page_90"><b>90</b></a>, <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_221"><b>221</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_334"><b>334</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sea Side Road, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Secesh," <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>, <a href="#Page_113"><b>113</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Secesh children," <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Seed-cotton, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Shares," <a href="#Page_327"><b>327</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sharper, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Shaw, Col. R. G., <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Shell Road, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sherman, W. T., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_308"><b>308</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Shop" id="Shop"></a>Shop, <a href="#Page_24"><b>24</b></a>, <a href="#Page_33"><b>33</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_57"><b>57</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_142"><b>142</b></a>, <a href="#Page_157"><b>157</b></a>, <a href="#Page_158"><b>158</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_219"><b>219</b></a>, <a href="#Page_220"><b>220</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_264"><b>264</b></a>, <a href="#Page_273"><b>273</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Shout, <a href="#Page_26"><b>26</b></a>, <a href="#Page_27"><b>27</b></a>, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Siah, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_221"><b>221</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_266"><b>266</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sickles, D. E., Maj.-Gen., <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sim, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Simon, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sinclair, Mr., <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sinclair, Mrs., <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sinnet, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Slave Songs of the United States</i>, <a href="#Page_28"><b>28</b></a>, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Slip-potato crop. See <a href="#Sweet_potato_crop">Sweet potato crop</a>.<br />
+<br />
+Small, Robert, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Small-pox, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>-<a href="#Page_253"><b>253</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Smallwood, Mr., <a href="#Page_313"><b>313</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Smith, Judge, tax-commissioner, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_245"><b>245</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Smith, Judge, Special Agent, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Smith Plantation, <a href="#Page_17"><b>17</b></a>, <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Soldiers, <a href="#Page_38"><b>38</b></a>, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>, <a href="#Page_92"><b>92</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_118"><b>118</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>-<a href="#Page_202"><b>202</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Soule, Capt. C. C., <a href="#Page_89"><b>89</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Soule, Richard, Jr., <a href="#Page_3"><b>3</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_74"><b>74</b></a>, <a href="#Page_78"><b>78</b></a>, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_169"><b>169</b></a>, <a href="#Page_200"><b>200</b></a>, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_223"><b>223</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_283"><b>283</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Soule, Mrs. R., <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+South Carolina, <a href="#Page_50"><b>50</b></a>, <a href="#Page_53"><b>53</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_91"><b>91</b></a>, <a href="#Page_267"><b>267</b></a>, <a href="#Page_290"><b>290</b></a>, <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>, <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="South_Carolina_Vols" id="South_Carolina_Vols"></a>South Carolina Vols.,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1st, <a href="#Page_102"><b>102</b></a>, <a href="#Page_104"><b>104</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_107"><b>107</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>, <a href="#Page_134"><b>134</b></a>, <a href="#Page_136"><b>136</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>, <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">officers of, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">2d, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">officers of, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Stanton, E. M., Secretary of War, <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Stevens, Hazard, <a href="#Page_38"><b>38</b></a>, <a href="#Page_39"><b>39</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Stevens, Brig.-Gen. Isaac I., <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Stevenson, Thomas G., Brig.-Gen., <a href="#Page_162"><b>162</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>, <a href="#Page_164"><b>164</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Stickney, Judge, <a href="#Page_132"><b>132</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Stone-cotton, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Store.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See <a href="#Shop">Shop</a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Strappan, <a href="#Page_217"><b>217</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Strong, Lt.-Col., <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sumner, Arthur, <a href="#Page_68"><b>68</b></a>, <a href="#Page_156"><b>156</b></a>, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sumter, Fort, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_47"><b>47</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Superintendence, system of, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_137"><b>137</b></a>, <a href="#Page_147"><b>147</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Superintendent, typical day of, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>-<a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Superintendents, duties of, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">meetings of, <a href="#Page_101"><b>101</b></a>, <a href="#Page_108"><b>108</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Susan, <a href="#Page_23"><b>23</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Sutton, Corp. Robert, <a href="#Page_131"><b>131</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<a name="Sweet_potato_crop" id="Sweet_potato_crop"></a>Sweet potato crop, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>, <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Tamah, <a href="#Page_163"><b>163</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Task, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+Tax-commissioners, <a href="#Page_109"><b>109</b></a>, <a href="#Page_117"><b>117</b></a>, <a href="#Page_129"><b>129</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_231"><b>231</b></a>, <a href="#Page_248"><b>248</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_320"><b>320</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Thanksgiving Day,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1863, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1864, <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a></span><br />
+<br />
+Thomas, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Thompson, Capt. Thomas, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_188"><b>188</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Thorpe, Mr., <a href="#Page_143"><b>143</b></a>, <a href="#Page_217"><b>217</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Tilly, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Tim, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Times</i>, The New York, <a href="#Page_69"><b>69</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Tira, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Titles," <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Titus, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Tobey," Captain, <a href="#Page_97"><b>97</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Toby, <a href="#Page_87"><b>87</b></a>, <a href="#Page_95"><b>95</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Tom, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>, <a href="#Page_31"><b>31</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Tom, Uncle," <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Tomlinson, Reuben, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_261"><b>261</b></a>, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_302"><b>302</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_307"><b>307</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_321"><b>321</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_223"><b>223</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+Tony, driver, <a href="#Page_79"><b>79</b></a>, <a href="#Page_80"><b>80</b></a>, <a href="#Page_82"><b>82</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Towne, Laura E., founder of Penn School, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_294"><b>294</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_319"><b>319</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Towne, Mr., <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Treasury Department, <a href="#Page_1"><b>1</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Treasury, Secretary of, <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Tribune</i>, The New York, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_265"><b>265</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Union Store, <a href="#Page_312"><b>312</b></a>, <a href="#Page_314"><b>314</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+United States Colored Troops,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">21st Reg't., <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>&nbsp;n.;</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">33d Reg't. See <a href="#South_Carolina_Vols">S. C. Vols., 1st Reg't.</a></span><br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Vaughn, Mrs., <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Venus, <a href="#Page_304"><b>304</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Vicksburg, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+C. P. W., <a href="#Page_70"><b>70</b></a>, <a href="#Page_121"><b>121</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_138"><b>138</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_143"><b>143</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_157"><b>157</b></a>, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_176"><b>176</b></a>, <a href="#Page_177"><b>177</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_183"><b>183</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_200"><b>200</b></a>, <a href="#Page_201"><b>201</b></a>, <a href="#Page_202"><b>202</b></a>, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_210"><b>210</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_214"><b>214</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>, <a href="#Page_220"><b>220</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>, <a href="#Page_228"><b>228</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>, <a href="#Page_239"><b>239</b></a>, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_255"><b>255</b></a>, <a href="#Page_256"><b>256</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_267"><b>267</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_291"><b>291</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_303"><b>303</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>, <a href="#Page_332"><b>332</b></a>;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_71"><b>71</b></a>, <a href="#Page_72"><b>72</b></a>, <a href="#Page_73"><b>73</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_76"><b>76</b></a>, <a href="#Page_84"><b>84</b></a>, <a href="#Page_86"><b>86</b></a>, <a href="#Page_90"><b>90</b></a>, <a href="#Page_93"><b>93</b></a>, <a href="#Page_94"><b>94</b></a>, <a href="#Page_96"><b>96</b></a>, <a href="#Page_105"><b>105</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_106"><b>106</b></a>, <a href="#Page_111"><b>111</b></a>, <a href="#Page_114"><b>114</b></a>, <a href="#Page_115"><b>115</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_146"><b>146</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_190"><b>190</b></a>, <a href="#Page_209"><b>209</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_282"><b>282</b></a>, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_297"><b>297</b></a>.</span><br />
+<br />
+H. W., <a href="#Page_10"><b>10</b></a>, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_75"><b>75</b></a>, <a href="#Page_120"><b>120</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_278"><b>278</b></a>, <a href="#Page_279"><b>279</b></a>, <a href="#Page_286"><b>286</b></a>, <a href="#Page_309"><b>309</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>&nbsp;n.;<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">letters from, <a href="#Page_16"><b>16</b></a>, <a href="#Page_21"><b>21</b></a>, <a href="#Page_22"><b>22</b></a>, <a href="#Page_25"><b>25</b></a>, <a href="#Page_30"><b>30</b></a>, <a href="#Page_34"><b>34</b></a>, <a href="#Page_35"><b>35</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_44"><b>44</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_46"><b>46</b></a>, <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_52"><b>52</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_59"><b>59</b></a>, <a href="#Page_60"><b>60</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>, <a href="#Page_64"><b>64</b></a>, <a href="#Page_65"><b>65</b></a>, <a href="#Page_119"><b>119</b></a>, <a href="#Page_121"><b>121</b></a>, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>, <a href="#Page_124"><b>124</b></a>, <a href="#Page_125"><b>125</b></a>, <a href="#Page_127"><b>127</b></a>, <a href="#Page_128"><b>128</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_138"><b>138</b></a>, <a href="#Page_139"><b>139</b></a>, <a href="#Page_140"><b>140</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_144"><b>144</b></a>, <a href="#Page_149"><b>149</b></a>, <a href="#Page_150"><b>150</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>, <a href="#Page_153"><b>153</b></a>, <a href="#Page_154"><b>154</b></a>, <a href="#Page_155"><b>155</b></a>, <a href="#Page_157"><b>157</b></a>, <a href="#Page_158"><b>158</b></a>, <a href="#Page_160"><b>160</b></a>, <a href="#Page_161"><b>161</b></a>, <a href="#Page_167"><b>167</b></a>, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>, <a href="#Page_169"><b>169</b></a>, <a href="#Page_170"><b>170</b></a>, <a href="#Page_171"><b>171</b></a>, <a href="#Page_173"><b>173</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_174"><b>174</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_176"><b>176</b></a>, <a href="#Page_180"><b>180</b></a>, <a href="#Page_182"><b>182</b></a>, <a href="#Page_184"><b>184</b></a>, <a href="#Page_185"><b>185</b></a>, <a href="#Page_186"><b>186</b></a>, <a href="#Page_189"><b>189</b></a>, <a href="#Page_191"><b>191</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_194"><b>194</b></a>, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_199"><b>199</b></a>, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>, <a href="#Page_205"><b>205</b></a>, <a href="#Page_206"><b>206</b></a>, <a href="#Page_207"><b>207</b></a>, <a href="#Page_208"><b>208</b></a>, <a href="#Page_210"><b>210</b></a>, <a href="#Page_211"><b>211</b></a>, <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>, <a href="#Page_215"><b>215</b></a>, <a href="#Page_216"><b>216</b></a>, <a href="#Page_217"><b>217</b></a>, <a href="#Page_218"><b>218</b></a>, <a href="#Page_222"><b>222</b></a>, <a href="#Page_224"><b>224</b></a>, <a href="#Page_226"><b>226</b></a>, <a href="#Page_229"><b>229</b></a>, <a href="#Page_230"><b>230</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_234"><b>234</b></a>, <a href="#Page_237"><b>237</b></a>,</span><br />
+240, <a href="#Page_250"><b>250</b></a>, <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_252"><b>252</b></a>, <a href="#Page_253"><b>253</b></a>, <a href="#Page_258"><b>258</b></a>, <a href="#Page_259"><b>259</b></a>, <a href="#Page_262"><b>262</b></a>, <a href="#Page_263"><b>263</b></a>, <a href="#Page_268"><b>268</b></a>, <a href="#Page_269"><b>269</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_271"><b>271</b></a>, <a href="#Page_272"><b>272</b></a>, <a href="#Page_285"><b>285</b></a>, <a href="#Page_287"><b>287</b></a>, <a href="#Page_288"><b>288</b></a>, <a href="#Page_289"><b>289</b></a>, <a href="#Page_292"><b>292</b></a>, <a href="#Page_293"><b>293</b></a>, <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_329"><b>329</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+W&mdash;&mdash;, Miss, <a href="#Page_49"><b>49</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<i>Wabash</i>, <a href="#Page_225"><b>225</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Wagner, Fort, assault on, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Wakefield, Dr., <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_45"><b>45</b></a>, <a href="#Page_51"><b>51</b></a>, <a href="#Page_196"><b>196</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+War Department, <a href="#Page_159"><b>159</b></a>&nbsp;n.<br />
+<br />
+War, Secretary of, <a href="#Page_48"><b>48</b></a>, <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_298"><b>298</b></a>, <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_305"><b>305</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Ward, Captain, <a href="#Page_328"><b>328</b></a>, <a href="#Page_331"><b>331</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Walker, Fort, <a href="#Page_5"><b>5</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Washington, <a href="#Page_122"><b>122</b></a>&nbsp;n., <a href="#Page_151"><b>151</b></a>, <a href="#Page_165"><b>165</b></a>, <a href="#Page_240"><b>240</b></a>, <a href="#Page_243"><b>243</b></a>, <a href="#Page_254"><b>254</b></a>, <a href="#Page_260"><b>260</b></a>, <a href="#Page_280"><b>280</b></a>, <a href="#Page_281"><b>281</b></a>, <a href="#Page_326"><b>326</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Waters, Mr., <a href="#Page_301"><b>301</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Waters, Mrs., <a href="#Page_330"><b>330</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Wells, George, <a href="#Page_172"><b>172</b></a>, <a href="#Page_197"><b>197</b></a>, <a href="#Page_203"><b>203</b></a>, <a href="#Page_204"><b>204</b></a>, <a href="#Page_232"><b>232</b></a>, <a href="#Page_233"><b>233</b></a>, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>, <a href="#Page_247"><b>247</b></a>, <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>, <a href="#Page_295"><b>295</b></a>, <a href="#Page_296"><b>296</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Wells, Mrs. Geo., <a href="#Page_270"><b>270</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Westcott, Dr., <a href="#Page_213"><b>213</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+White, William, <a href="#Page_323"><b>323</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+White Place, <a href="#Page_236"><b>236</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Whitredge, Alonso, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Whitredge, John, <a href="#Page_195"><b>195</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Whittier, J. G., <a href="#Page_133"><b>133</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+"Widow Bedotte," <a href="#Page_192"><b>192</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Will, <a href="#Page_235"><b>235</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Wil'by, <a href="#Page_41"><b>41</b></a>, <a href="#Page_43"><b>43</b></a>, <a href="#Page_61"><b>61</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Williams, C. F., <a href="#Page_134"><b>134</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_193"><b>193</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_315"><b>315</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>, <a href="#Page_324"><b>324</b></a>, <a href="#Page_325"><b>325</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Williams, Mrs., <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_143"><b>143</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Williams, F. J., <a href="#Page_251"><b>251</b></a>, <a href="#Page_257"><b>257</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Williams, Capt., <a href="#Page_311"><b>311</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Williamsburg, battle of, <a href="#Page_62"><b>62</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+Wolcott, Mrs. J. Huntington, <a href="#Page_168"><b>168</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+York, Mr., <a href="#Page_299"><b>299</b></a>, <a href="#Page_300"><b>300</b></a>, <a href="#Page_306"><b>306</b></a>, <a href="#Page_310"><b>310</b></a>, <a href="#Page_322"><b>322</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+York, Polite, <a href="#Page_13"><b>13</b></a>, <a href="#Page_36"><b>36</b></a>, <a href="#Page_37"><b>37</b></a>, <a href="#Page_58"><b>58</b></a>, <a href="#Page_123"><b>123</b></a>, <a href="#Page_141"><b>141</b></a>, <a href="#Page_152"><b>152</b></a>.<br />
+<br />
+<br />
+Zachos, Mr., <a href="#Page_130"><b>130</b></a>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h3><a name="Transcribers_Notes" id="Transcribers_Notes"></a>Transcriber's Notes</h3>
+
+<p>Inconsistencies in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, and grammar
+are due to the dialects and preferences of the various letter writers.</p>
+
+<p>The Sea Islands of South Carolina <a href="#THE_SEA_ISLANDS_OF_SOUTH_CAROLINA">map</a> originally spanned two pages and
+had some text and lines cut off in the map's center. Therefore, the
+exact position of No. 17, the shape of the contour lines, and "brick
+yard" from the partial "bri&mdash; yar&mdash;" were best-guessed.</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_61">61</a>: Charleson changed to Charleston (cents in Charleston).</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_64">64</a>: sufficent changed to sufficient (sufficient intelligence).</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_76">76</a>: The illustrated symbol was originally on the line of text
+following the words: rude portal.</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_79">79</a>: assisttant changed to assistant (Mr. Soule's assistant).</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_158">158</a>: itle changed to title (The title had an immense effect).</p>
+
+<p>Page <a href="#Page_237">237</a>: The illustrated symbol was originally on the line of text
+following the words: Coffin trademark.</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL***</p>
+<p>******* This file should be named 24722-h.txt or 24722-h.zip *******</p>
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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Letters from Port Royal, by Various, Edited
+by Elizabeth Ware Pearson
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Letters from Port Royal
+       Written at the Time of the Civil War (1862-1868)
+
+
+Author: Various
+
+Editor: Elizabeth Ware Pearson
+
+Release Date: March 1, 2008  [eBook #24722]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Diane Monico, and the Project Gutenberg
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 24722-h.htm or 24722-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/2/24722/24722-h/24722-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/4/7/2/24722/24722-h.zip)
+
+
+Transcriber's note:
+
+      [=e] in waterm[=e]lions represents a macron over the e.
+
+
+
+
+
+LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL
+
+Written at the Time of the Civil War
+
+[1862-1868]
+
+
+Edited by
+
+ELIZABETH WARE PEARSON
+
+1906
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Copyright 1906 by Elizabeth Ware Pearson
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+INTRODUCTION               xi
+
+1862                        1
+
+1863                      128
+
+1864                      243
+
+1865                      291
+
+1866, 1867, 1868          325
+
+CONCLUSION                333
+
+FOOTNOTES                 335
+
+INDEX                     337
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+With Commodore Dupont's capture, on November 7, 1861, of two earth
+forts which the rebels had recently thrown up at Hilton Head and Bay
+Point, South Carolina, the Sea Island region became Union territory.
+The planters and their families having fled precipitately, the United
+States Government found itself in possession of almost everything that
+had been theirs, the two chief items being the largest cotton crop
+ever yet raised there, nearly ready for exporting, and several hundred
+demoralized, destitute slaves, the number of whom was daily being
+increased by refugees and returned fugitives. The negroes were plainly
+a burdensome problem, the cotton a valuable piece of property. The
+first thing to do was obvious, and fortunately the same
+"cotton-agents" who were despatched by the authorities at Washington
+to collect and ship the property were able, by employing negroes for
+the purpose, to make a beginning towards solving the problem.
+
+In another month the next step was taken; the Secretary of the
+Treasury sent down Edward L. Pierce, of Milton, Massachusetts, as a
+special agent charged with the duty of getting under way some method
+of managing the negroes and starting a cotton crop for 1862. Mr.
+Pierce, who the summer before had had charge of the contrabands at
+Fortress Monroe, did his work quickly and well, and his suggestions
+for organization were promptly adopted and put into practice by the
+Government. Meanwhile he had written to "benevolent persons in
+Boston," setting forth the instant need of the negroes for clothing
+and for teachers, meaning by the term "teachers" quite as much
+superintendents of labor as instructors in the rudiments of learning.
+The response to this appeal was immediate. An "Educational Commission
+for Freedmen"[1] was organized in Boston, New York and Philadelphia
+were quick to follow, and on March 3, 1862, there set sail from New
+York for Port Royal[2] a party of men and women who were almost
+without exception inspired purely by the desire to help those who had
+been slaves. Government made them an allowance of transportation,
+subsistence, and quarters; and, since few could afford to give their
+services, the Commissions paid them salaries of from $25 to $50 a
+month.
+
+There was a good deal of courage in what these people did. The climate
+of the Sea Islands is unwholesome; the rebels were more than likely,
+from across the narrow Coosaw River, to invade the territory held by
+Northern troops; it was not improbable that the negroes might refuse
+utterly to work; it was not impossible that they might wreak vengeance
+for their wrongs on every white man who should try to control them.
+Furthermore, as a rule these men and women knew little of any kind of
+agriculture, and still less of the local conditions under which they
+were to do their work, or of the people with whom they were to deal.
+They had, in fact, no other guides to action than enthusiasm and good
+sense, and of the latter, in particular, they carried widely differing
+amounts. Some, who went supplied with too little of either, were back
+in their Northern homes before summer was under way; the majority,
+making what they could of the means, or lack of means, at their
+disposal, had within the same period of time got about thirty-eight
+hundred laborers at steady work on fifteen thousand acres of corn,
+potatoes, and cotton. For the first time in our history educated
+Northern men had taken charge of the Southern negro, had learned to
+know his nature, his status, his history, first-hand, in the cabin and
+the field. And though subsequently other Southern territory was put
+into the hands of Northern men and women to manage in much the same
+fashion, it was not in the nature of things that these conditions
+should ever be exactly reproduced. The question whether or not the
+freedman would work without the incentive of the lash was settled once
+for all by the "Port Royal Experiment."
+
+Of the many thousand letters that must have been written by these
+people to their Northern homes, those of one small group only are
+represented by the extracts here printed. The writers were New
+Englanders and ardent anti-slavery people; W. C. G. and C. P. W. were
+Harvard men just out of college, H. W. was a sister of the latter. A
+few of the later letters were written by two other Massachusetts men,
+T. E. R., a Yale graduate of 1859, and F. H., who remained on the
+islands longer than the three just mentioned. All five are still
+living. Richard Soule, Jr., now dead for many years was an older man,
+a teacher, a person of great loveliness of character and justice of
+mind. The principal figure in the letters, Edward S. Philbrick of
+Brookline, who died in 1889, was in one sense the principal figure in
+the Sea Island situation. He began by contributing a thousand dollars
+to the work and volunteering his services on the ground, where he was
+given charge by Mr. Pierce of three plantations, including the largest
+on the islands; being a person of some means, with an established
+reputation as an engineer and a very considerable business experience,
+he was from the first prominent among the volunteers. When, in the
+following year, he became personally and financially responsible for a
+dozen plantations, this prominence was increased a hundredfold. Thus
+he found himself the victim of the vituperation hurled by many
+Northern friends of the blacks at the "professed philanthropists" who
+went to Port Royal to "make their fortunes" out of the labor of the
+"poor negro." The integrity of Mr. Philbrick's motives stands out in
+his letters beyond the possibility of misinterpretation. This record
+is a witness of what sort of thing he and his kind were ready to do to
+redress the wrongs of slavery.
+
+The extracts have been arranged in chronological order, except in a
+few cases where chronology has seemed less important than
+subject-matter. They tell a complete story, the greater part of which
+falls within the period of the Civil War. They give a vivid notion of
+the life from the midst of which they were written; of the flat,
+marsh-riddled country, in which few Northerners saw any lasting charm;
+of the untidy, down-at-the-heels plantations; of the "people," wards
+of the nation, childish, irritating, endlessly amusing; of the daily
+toil of Northern men in managing farms and of Northern women in
+managing households under Southern and war-time conditions; of the
+universal preoccupation with negro needs; of the friendly interchange
+of primitive hospitality; of the underlying sense in the writers'
+minds of romantic contrast between their own to-day and the yesterday
+of the planters,--or a possible to-morrow of the planters. It is not
+with matters military or political that these letters deal. They
+record the day to day experiences of the housekeeper, the teacher, the
+superintendent of labor, and the landowner. For this reason they form
+a new contribution to the history of the Port Royal Experiment.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE SEA ISLANDS OF SOUTH CAROLINA.]
+
+
+
+
+KEY TO MAP OF THE SEA ISLANDS OF
+SOUTH CAROLINA
+
+
+PLANTATIONS.
+
+  Cherry Hill (T. A. Coffin)         16
+  Coffin's Point (T. A. Coffin)      12
+  Corner (J. B. Fripp)                5
+  Eustis                              2
+  Alvirah Fripp (Hope Place)         18
+  Edgar Fripp                        20
+  Hamilton Fripp                     10
+  J. B. Fripp (Corner)                5
+  Capt. John Fripp (Homestead)        8
+  Capt. Oliver Fripp                 22
+  Thomas B. Fripp                     9
+  Fripp Point                        11
+  Frogmore (T. A. Coffin)            19
+  Rev. Robert Fuller ("R.'s")         4
+  Hope Place (Alvirah Fripp)         18
+  Dr. Jenkins                        21
+  Mary Jenkins                       28
+  Martha E. McTureous                14
+  James McTureous                    15
+  Mulberry Hill (John Fripp)         17
+  The Oaks (Pope)                     3
+  Oakland                             6
+  Pine Grove (Fripp)                 13
+  Pope (The Oaks)                     3
+  "R.'s" (Fuller)                     4
+  Smith                               1
+  Dr. White                          27
+BRICK CHURCH (Baptist)               24
+WHITE CHURCH (Episcopal)             23
+ST. HELENA VILLAGE                    7
+FORT WALKER                          26
+FORT BEAUREGARD                      25
+CAMP OF THE FIRST SOUTH CAROLINA
+  VOLUNTEERS (COLONEL HIGGINSON)      1
+
+
+
+
+LETTERS FROM PORT ROYAL
+
+1862
+
+    _Arrival of the "missionaries" at Port Royal.--The household
+    at Pine Grove.--First impressions of the blacks.--General
+    Hunter's attempt to recruit a negro regiment.--The Planter
+    episode.--The labor situation.--Establishment at Coffin's
+    Point.--Hunter's proclamation of freedom.--Details of
+    plantation work.--Lincoln's preliminary proclamation of
+    emancipation.--Unwillingness of the negroes even to
+    drill.--General Saxton's efforts to raise a negro
+    regiment.--The cotton crop of 1862.--Mr. Philbrick's plans
+    for buying plantations._
+
+
+FROM E. S. PHILBRICK
+
+_Boston, February 19, 1862._ Dear ----: I think you will not be
+greatly astonished when I tell you that I am off for Port Royal next
+week. I go under the auspices of the Educational Commission to make
+myself generally useful in whatever way I can, in reducing some amount
+of order and industry from the mass of eight or ten thousand
+contrabands now within our lines there. Boston is wide awake on the
+subject, and I am determined to see if something can't be done to
+prove that the blacks will work for other motives than the lash.
+
+The Treasury Department offer subsistence, protection, transportation,
+and the War Department offer their hearty cooperation to the work
+undertaken here by private citizens, but can't take any more active
+part at present for reasons obvious. They ridicule the idea that
+these blacks can ever again be claimed by their runaway masters, which
+is a satisfactory foundation for our exertions in overseeing their
+labor and general deportment.
+
+You don't know what a satisfaction it is to feel at last that there is
+a chance for me to _do something_ in this great work that is going on.
+
+    The next letter describes the sailing of the first party of
+    superintendents and teachers.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO MRS. PHILBRICK
+
+_New York City, Sunday, March 2._ We have a rather motley-looking set.
+A good many look like broken-down schoolmasters or ministers who have
+excellent dispositions but not much talent. As the kind of talent
+required where we are going is rather peculiar, the men may be useful,
+but I don't believe there will be a great deal of cotton raised under
+their superintendence.
+
+_Str. Atlantic, March 5._ We all repaired to the Collector's[3] house
+Sunday evening, and were sworn in squads of half a dozen with our
+hands on the Bible, after which our passports were made out and signed
+by Mr. Barney in his library with the whole thirty-three of us
+standing about.
+
+[The next morning] I found Collector Barney on the pier with his Bible
+and papers, swearing in the rest of the New York delegation. The last
+of the cargo was slung aboard about eleven, and we started off at
+quarter past, in a drizzling rain, freezing fast to everything it
+touched. Our Boston party consisted of twenty-nine men and four
+women; the New York one of twenty-three men and eight women, including
+those from Washington, making sixty-four in all. At dinner (2 P. M.)
+we found some one hundred and twenty cabin passengers, besides a lot
+of recruits, perhaps one hundred in all, who live forward. The larger
+part of the _Atlantic's_ staterooms have been taken out to make room
+for stowing troops or cargo, leaving enough for only about half our
+number. These rooms were assigned by the Steward and Mr. Pierce[4] to
+the ladies and the oldest of us gentlemen; so I got one with Uncle
+Richard,[5] for most of our party are quite youthful. Half a dozen
+ladies sat on the bare deck (no other seats provided), during most of
+the evening, singing Methodist hymns and glory hallelujah till after
+nine o'clock. I have talked with several of our party, and got
+slightly acquainted, chiefly with Messrs. Hooper,[6] G----,[7] and
+Mack; also with Mr. Forbes.[8] There is a general medley of cabin
+passengers, recruits, sutlers' and quartermasters' agents, and crew,
+the latter not being dressed in uniform, but in nondescript old
+garments such as can be found at any old Isaac's shop. Those
+passengers who are outside our party are coarse-looking and
+disagreeable,--Mr. Forbes and Mr. Augustus Hurd of Boston being almost
+the only exceptions. I had some talk with Mr. Pierce yesterday about
+your coming on, and he said as soon as I found it advisable he would
+send you a pass, but I am very glad you are not here now, for I don't
+believe these ladies will find anything but bare boards to sleep on.
+
+_Thursday evening, March 6._ We had a sort of lecture from Mr. Pierce
+before dinner, consisting of some very appropriate and sensible advice
+and suggestions, expressed simply and with a good deal of feeling. Mr.
+French[9] followed in his vein of honest, earnest Methodism. He is the
+head of the New York delegation, and a worthy man, though not so
+practical as Mr. Pierce.
+
+Our Boston party improves upon acquaintance, and the longer I think of
+the matter the more wonderful does it seem that such a number of
+disinterested, earnest men should be got together at so short a notice
+to exile themselves from all social ties and devote themselves, as
+they certainly do, with a will, to this holy work. It must and with
+God's help it _shall_ succeed! The more I see of our fellow-passengers
+and co-workers, the more do the party from Boston stand eminent in
+talent and earnestness, as compared with those from New York, and I
+can't help thinking that the former were more carefully selected. The
+Boston Commission acted with more deliberation than that of New York,
+and I think the result will be shown in the end. But it's early to
+form any such opinions, and out of place to draw any comparisons in
+disparagement of any of our colleagues. We are all yoked together and
+must pull together. The work is no trifle. It is Herculean in all its
+aspects--in its reactive effects upon our country and its future
+destiny, as well as in its difficulties. Yet never did men stand in a
+position to do more lasting good than we, if we act with a single eye
+to the object in view and pray God to guide us aright.
+
+_Friday, March 7._ We waked this morning still adrift off Port Royal
+Bar, where we had been tossing all night, near the lightship. The wind
+was blowing cold and clear from the northwest just as it does at home
+in March, almost cold enough for a frost. We continued to drift till
+the tide was near the flood, about noon, when a pilot came out and
+took us in to Hilton Head. Here in this magnificent harbour, larger
+than any other on our coast, lay some fifty transports and steamers at
+anchor, and here we dropped our anchor, almost directly between the
+two forts[10] taken by Dupont last November. These forts, by the way,
+are so inconspicuous as to be hardly perceptible to a passer-by, and
+would certainly fail to attract the attention of a person not on the
+lookout for them. The shore is as flat as flat can be, sand-banks and
+beaches being the only variety, backed by long dark green masses of
+foliage of the pitch-pine, reminding me forcibly of the coast of
+Egypt, with its sand and palm forests. Yet even Egypt was sufficiently
+enterprising to line its coast with windmills, while this state has
+not yet arrived at a stage of civilization sufficiently advanced to
+provide them. So, there being no water-power and no steam, every negro
+grinds his peck of corn in a handmill as in the year one. We came to
+anchor about one P. M. and have been waiting for the necessary passes
+from the quartermaster to enable us to proceed up to Beaufort, the
+only town in possession of our forces. Here we lie in the still
+harbour under the splendid moon, surrounded by the regiments encamped
+on the neighboring islands, with the prospect of another day afloat,
+before we can begin to be distributed over our field of labor.
+
+8 P. M. The acting Provost Marshal has just come aboard with our
+passports viseed, enabling us to land here, but I don't care to do
+that to-night, there being nothing but sand-banks to sleep on, while
+we have tolerable berths aboard. To-morrow I may go, if there is time
+before going upstream to Beaufort, though I imagine there is little to
+see but sand and tents, which look quite as well at a distance.
+
+_March 8._ We spent the greater part of the day transferring freight
+and baggage to the _Cosmopolitan_, a white river-steamer. We got
+started at last about three P. M. The distance to Beaufort can't be
+more than fifteen miles, and we had already made half of it at a
+tolerable rate of speed when we ran aground in the mud, about two
+hours before ebb tide. We were in the middle of a creek called
+Beaufort River, between Cat Island and Port Royal Island, whose flat
+shores did not look very inviting. I fell to reading about
+cotton-culture in my book, but some of our companions got a boat and
+went ashore on St. Helena Island, bringing back their hands full of
+beautiful flowers from some private garden, peach-blossoms,
+orange-blossoms, hyacinths, fleur-de-lis, etc. We succeeded in getting
+afloat about 9.30 P. M. and arrived at Beaufort about midnight, after
+poking slowly along the crooked channel under the glorious moonlight.
+On getting up in the morning, which we did betimes, we found the deck
+slippery with hoarfrost, and are told that it is the coldest night of
+this winter. Somebody has told me that Beaufort was on a bluff, and
+that its environments were not so flat as the rest of the islands.
+
+_Beaufort, Sunday, March 9._ But I can't find any place over ten feet
+above tide-water, and no hill over six feet high. So things are judged
+of by comparison. We all went ashore soon after sunrise and walked
+about the town, which is laid out in rectangular streets, lined with
+pleasant but weedy orange-gardens and often shaded by live-oak and
+sycamore trees, _i. e._, when the latter leave out, as they will soon.
+The soil is a fine sand, very like ashes, and the streets are
+ankle-deep with it already, wherever the grass doesn't grow.
+Dilapidated fences, tumble-down outbuildings, untrimmed trees with
+lots of dead branches, weedy walks and gardens and a general
+appearance of _un_thrift attendant upon the best of slaveholding
+towns, was aggravated here by the desolated houses, surrounded by
+heaps of broken furniture and broken wine and beer bottles which the
+army had left about after their pillage. Quantities of negro children
+lay basking in the morning sun, grinning at us as we passed. We saw a
+chain-pump in a yard and walked in to wash our faces, there having
+been no chance on the steamer, and were waited upon by an old negro,
+who brought us bowls, soap, and towels. Mr. Pierce succeeded in
+getting us some bread and coffee from one of the regiments, having no
+time to go to headquarters. They were carried to an old negro cabin in
+the remotest corner of the town, where the coffee was made and served
+up in the poultry-yard in our tin mugs.
+
+Our quarters are in a very fine house in the east end of the town,
+bordering on the river, against which is a garden wall, built of
+oyster-shells and mortar, there being no stone to be had here.
+
+We are to wait here till our positions are assigned to us by Mr.
+Pierce, which will be done in a few days. He told me he wanted me to
+take the most important one, which I suppose means Coffin's.[11] I am
+to have W---- G---- for my clerk and assistant. He is a very
+agreeable, quiet fellow, and works like a beaver, but like several
+others, is too young to take charge of the organization of the labor
+to good advantage.
+
+There is something very sad about these fine deserted houses. Ours has
+Egyptian marble mantels, gilt cornice and centre-piece in parlor, and
+bath-room, with several wash-bowls set in different rooms. The
+force-pump is broken and all the bowls and their marble slabs smashed
+to get out the plated cocks, which the negroes thought pure silver.
+Bureaus, commodes, and wardrobes are smashed in, as well as
+door-panels, to get out the contents of the drawers and lockers, which
+I suppose contained some wine and ale, judging by the broken bottles
+lying about. The officers saved a good many pianos and other furniture
+and stored it in the jail, for safe-keeping. But we kindle our fires
+with chips of polished mahogany, and I am writing on my knees with a
+piece of a flower-stand across them for a table, sitting on my camp
+bedstead.
+
+I am anxious to get to work, as I hope to in a few days. Mr.
+Eustis[12] has gone to his plantation, a few miles distant on Ladies
+Island, and Mr. Hooper is spending a few days with him. The latter is
+to be Mr. Pierce's private secretary at present.
+
+_Beaufort, March 10._ I can't tell until I get settled at my post what
+to say about your coming on here. If my post should be exposed to any
+of the rebels' scouting-parties you had better stay at home. I must
+say it seems rather _near_ to live within rifle-shot of their
+outposts, as some of the plantations are.
+
+_March 11._ We had a visit from the Provost Marshal last evening. He
+has had a good deal to do with the contrabands and came to give us
+some advice about them. He thinks that rebel spies may come among us,
+but don't apprehend any trouble, says we can govern the negroes easily
+enough by firm and judicious treatment, and says the officers in
+charge are very glad to have them taken off their hands.
+
+_Hilton Head_,[13] _March 13._ This is a most desolate-looking place,
+flat and sandy, and covered with camps and storehouses for a mile
+along the river. A line of intrenchments encloses the whole, some
+seven miles long, resting on the river at each end. There is a long
+wharf just built out to deep water, at the end of which the _Atlantic_
+is discharging. This is the general depot for stores for the whole
+army on the Atlantic coast and the blockading fleet.
+
+_March 14._ A fortnight has passed since I left Brookline, without my
+being able to get at my work. This loafing about and waiting upon the
+movements of Government officials is the hardest work I ever tried to
+do.
+
+If you can't come early in April you had better not come at all, for
+it will be too hot for even me to live on the plantations later than
+June 1. They say the planters never lived on the plantations in summer
+months, though they were acclimated, for fear of fevers. Beaufort is
+the healthiest place on these islands and their resort when leaving
+their plantations. Yet, if H---- W---- will come with you, _and not
+without_, and you think it will pay, come as soon as you can. I shall
+probably be on Coffin's plantation then, about fifteen miles east of
+Beaufort, on St. Helena Island, coast of St. Helena Sound. This
+plantation is one of the most secure from any interference from the
+rebels, so I don't feel the slightest uneasiness on that score, for
+the whole circumference of the island is picketed, and our forces also
+occupy the opposite or northeasterly coast of the sound.
+
+Now as to outfit. Not over $5 each in money, _silver_, for you are
+supplied with transportation and food by Government and there's
+nothing here to buy. Bed-sacks and pillow ditto. Three umbrellas with
+light covers, fly-paper, tin cups, bowls, and tea-pot, set of wooden
+boxes for rice, sugar, and other stores furnished by army rations.
+Spring-balance that will weigh about twenty pounds, knife, fork, and
+spoons for each of you, _plated_, thermometer, three pounds of tea in
+one of the boxes. We now have plenty of rice, sugar, molasses,
+vinegar, hominy, potatoes, coffee, and beans, from army stores, and on
+plantations can get fresh lamb, mutton, chickens, eggs, milk; so we
+shall fare better than I thought.
+
+_Beaufort, March 17._ I don't think they would let you take a servant;
+it's difficult enough to get you here alone, and there are plenty of
+servants here which you are supposed to teach not only to read
+but--what is more immediately important--to be _clean_ and
+industrious. If you feel any hesitation about coming in contact with
+them you shouldn't come, for they are sharp enough to detect apathy or
+lurking repugnance, which would render any amount of theoretical
+sympathy about worthless. Tell your father their nature and
+disposition is nothing new to me. I was with them in Egypt long enough
+to get pretty well acquainted, and though these sons of Western Africa
+are not exactly of the same stock as the Nubians, they are certainly
+no more degraded or lazy. In fact, from what I have already seen here
+I am agreeably disappointed. Think of their having reorganized and
+gone deliberately to work here some weeks ago, without a white man
+near them, preparing hundreds of acres for the new crop! The Irish
+wouldn't have done as much in the same position.
+
+    This comparison of the negroes with the Irish is made by the
+    letter-writers, as will be seen, more than once,--almost
+    always to the disadvantage of the Irish. Forty years ago the
+    Irish were still merely immigrants, and, further, they were
+    practically the only people in this country who suggested
+    comparison with negroes.
+
+    The next letter is the first from W. C. G., whom Mr.
+    Philbrick has already mentioned as destined to be his
+    assistant.
+
+_March 24. Coffin's Point._ It is the largest plantation on the
+Islands, numbering in its full days over 250 hands, or head, as the
+negroes call themselves.
+
+A large amount of cotton is still in store here, for which the boat I
+hope will call this week; meanwhile the cotton-agent[14] and a guard
+occupy the house with us. The former has been on the place three or
+four months in charge of a large district with several plantations; he
+is a smart young fellow, very dashing and jockey-like. We were
+received by the guard with shouldered arms and by this agent, who did
+their best to induce or rather bluff us into leaving the premises and
+taking possession of another house; for we have two plantations
+besides this,--estates belonging to William Fripp's sons.[15] We
+stayed, however, and are now occupying two rooms, with plenty of
+furniture of different kinds stored by the agent, probably for
+removal. The whole business of our Commission and all its agents are
+much disliked by the cotton-agents, partly because they don't
+sympathize with our purposes,--partly because we seem about to usurp
+their authority, to which of course we do succeed.
+
+The cotton-agents have started the corn-planting on most of the
+estates,--and almost everywhere the whole condition of people and land
+is much better than I expected to find it. The present state of a
+plantation depends on the previous character and age of the people,
+the influence of the drivers,[16] and the circumstances to which they
+have been exposed since the soldiers came. If the people are on the
+whole old and steady, if the drivers are intelligent and
+strong-minded, if their masters have been humane and fatherly, and if
+they have seen few soldiers,--then the work has usually been kept up
+pretty well and the negroes are still at home and willing to go
+a-field,--and their condition varies as those items vary. On the
+larger number, as I have said, things are much better than I expected
+to see them. As is proper, more attention has as yet been paid to the
+_corn_ lands, and very little to the cotton. Two precious months have
+been lost for that crop. On most of the plantations corn enough
+remains to last through the next crop,--so there is little danger of
+much suffering for want of food. But everything except corn, and their
+own eggs and poultry, is wanting,--no molasses, no sugar, no salt, no
+tobacco,--and no clothing.
+
+On two of our three plantations things are doing well, but this big
+Coffin place is in a very miserable, demoralized condition. It used to
+be very successful in cotton--and of late, especially, the hands have
+been worked very hard. There are many _young_ people--so all the more
+likely to leave. They are within a few miles of Bay Point opposite
+Hilton Head, so the temptation to leave is very pressing, for smart
+fellows can get money there,--one York with whom I was talking
+yesterday got over $30 a month by cooking for two or three messes; he
+is sick now and thinks he had better come home for the good of his
+_soul_. And perhaps as evil an influence as any was the early presence
+of the guards from the 19th N. Y. V., a regiment rather notorious for
+wild ways, I believe,--certainly one which greatly injured these
+people by their talk about _freedom_ and no need of work, etc., and
+their rampant deeds. We are therefore in a hard place here,--and shall
+take pretty energetic measures and do the best we can. Mr. Philbrick
+has charge of the farming, etc.,--I of the teaching. We were not all
+sent out two by two; small plantations had single men. Some men are
+expected to overlook several estates lying near each other.
+
+_March 29._ The women work much better than the men, but very few are
+faithful. Nor can we hope for any regularity and real improvement till
+we are delivered from our cotton-agent and the influences which
+emanate from him and his interests.
+
+The people are very discontented here, and as they have logic and need
+on their side, it is hard to meet their complaints. In fact, they
+can't be met,--very few do full work, many half or none. They need
+_clothing_ very badly. They need salt and tobacco,--this summer they
+need a little molasses and some bacon. These things[17] they have been
+accustomed to receive in stated quantities at stated times,--at
+Christmas, and in April or May. If we could supply them simply as they
+have been supplied by their masters, the majority I think would be
+contented and would work well. The _promises_ to pay to which they
+have been treated by the agents of the Government for the last three
+months haven't kept them warm. The agent here will probably soon give
+them some cloth in part payment. Money they don't know the value
+of--and especially now can't spend it to advantage; besides, as I
+said, I think few desire it.
+
+    The following fragment of a letter, from which the date and
+    the beginning are missing, was written from Pine Grove at
+    about this time; its subject is, of course, the negroes.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+They have not yet got any diseased appetite for alcoholic stimulants,
+and are happy in their comparative ignorance of such things.
+
+They are a simple, childlike people, almost ignorant of malice,
+patient and easily influenced by an appeal to their feelings. There is
+far less family feeling and attachment to each other than among the
+ignorant Irish, apparently, though I don't know how much allowance to
+make for their being so much less demonstrative in their emotions, and
+more inured to suffering. They are most eminently a religious people,
+according to their light, and always refer their sufferings to Divine
+Providence, though without the stoical or fatalist ideas of their
+Mohammedan brethren, whom I got to know pretty well in Nubia and
+Egypt.
+
+We find it very difficult to reach any motive that will promote
+cleanliness as a habit. It requires more authority than our position
+gives us as employers to make any police regulations very effectual in
+their quarters. This plantation is the neatest one I have seen
+anywhere in respect to their houses and yards, but there is room for
+great improvement here. They have the same dread of fresh air in
+sickness which is common to poor people at home, but there is very
+little sickness among them. Only one death has occurred since we came
+here, among a population of 420, and that was an infant. They place
+great trust in our doctors and keep them pretty busy jogging about.
+
+    The next letter, the first from H. W., records her arrival
+    with Mrs. Philbrick.
+
+_Beaufort, April 15._ The sail up was very beautiful, the green beyond
+description brilliant, and now and then the deeper shade of palmetto
+or live-oak. Some of the plantations were very picturesque. Roses and
+azaleas were plainly visible. An hour and a half, very quickly passed,
+brought us to the wharf, where Mr. Pierce and Mr. Hooper met us with
+the information that we were to go to Mr. Forbes's, whither we walked
+a long half-mile, a sentry at the street-corners, darkies bowing in
+every direction, birds and the scent of flowers filling the air,
+everything like a June day after a shower. Mr. Philbrick hopes to be
+ready for us on Saturday. A cotton-agent in his house prevents us from
+going just yet to the Coffin house, but we shall be established for
+the present on one of the smaller plantations adjoining.
+
+    The letter that follows, written at Pine Grove several days
+    later, narrates the events of these days, beginning with
+    April 16, in Beaufort.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Pine Grove, St. Helena, April 21._ H.[18] and Miss Towne[19] carried
+the letters to the post-office, Caroline, Mr. Forbes's chamber-girl,
+following to show them the way there, take them to the schools and
+into some negro quarters. They were derided by the soldiers, they
+said, who called after them, "See the Southern Aristocracy with their
+nigger behind them!" which amused Caroline very much.
+
+Mr. Forbes took me in his open wagon, a tumble-down affair he has from
+a negro to avoid the annoyance of always having to make a requisition
+upon Government, the only owner in these regions of anything, and
+drove me down the river to a plantation[20] we had noticed as we came
+up on the boat, and where there was a cotton-gin Mr. Forbes wanted me
+to see. The greater part of the way our road was shaded by woods on
+the water-side, live-oaks with their ornamental moss, gum-trees and
+pines with quantities of cat-brier and trumpet honeysuckle in full
+bloom. The cotton-fields were unshaded, of course, and very large,
+containing from one to three hundred acres. We passed some freshly
+planted, but most of them were covered with the old bushes, dry and
+dead, at which I was much surprised until I found that it was the
+habit to leave the fields as they are after the cotton is picked, for
+a year, planting on the same land only every other year. It makes
+dreary, desolate-looking fields, for though a few weeds spring up, no
+grass grows in this region, and they are brown instead of green all
+summer. The Smith Plantation is about five miles from town, the house
+in the centre of a live-oak grove, beautiful and beyond description,
+open underneath, and so hanging with moss that you can scarcely see
+any leaves as you look up. A little chapel on the place I got out to
+look at, made very roughly of boards whitewashed, inside an earth
+floor covered with straw, rough wooden benches, the pulpit and altar
+made in the same way, but covered entirely with the grey moss, as we
+trim for Christmas. The house looked rough and ordinary to us, as they
+all do, except a few in the town; we did not go in. I believe there
+are cotton-agents there attending to the ginning, which process we saw
+in a little house by itself, where a steam gin worked four stands
+tended by one hand each. The funny thing was to see them pack the
+bales. There was a round hole in the second-story floor and a bag was
+fastened to the edges, into which a man gets and stamps the cotton
+down. I saw it swinging downstairs, but did not know what it was till,
+on going up, I found a black head just above the floor, which grinned
+from ear to ear with pleasure at the sight of a white lady, and ducked
+and bobbed in most convulsive fashion.
+
+We drove through the negro quarters, or "nigger-house," as they
+themselves call the whole settlement, and they flocked to the doors to
+look at us, bowing and smiling as we went by. There were eight or ten
+separate houses just raised from the ground so that the air could pass
+underneath, and, as we looked in at the doors, apparently with very
+little furniture, though in some we saw chairs which were evidently
+Massa's. Dirty and ragged they all were, but certainly no more so than
+poor Irish, and it seemed to me not so dirty.
+
+I saw palmetto-trees for the first time on this drive near enough to
+know what they really looked like. They stand alone in the
+cotton-fields like our elms in a meadow, though there are fewer of
+them, and they are stiff and straight. The Spanish dagger, looking
+like a miniature palmetto, was planted for hedges round the garden and
+fish-pond. Mistletoe I saw for the first time.
+
+Mr. Hooper came over in the morning [of the next day] and told us he
+should come for us at 12.30, but it was five before we got into the
+boat.[21] The negroes sang to us in their wild way as they rowed us
+across--I cannot give you the least idea of it. Indeed, I can't give
+you the least idea of anything, and you must not expect it. The town
+looked very pretty from the boat, some of the houses are large and
+quite imposing in appearance. We found Mr. Pierce and his carriage
+waiting for us, having been there without any dinner since one
+o'clock. (This is the land of waiting, we have discovered--patience is
+a virtue our Northern people will have to learn here.) We drove at
+once to Pope's plantation, passing Mr. Eustis on the way at his
+overseer's house, bedaubed from head to foot with molasses, which he
+had been selling all day to the negroes, a pint to a hand. Here Mr.
+Philbrick was waiting with his sulky (a two-wheeled jockey-cart), an
+ox-team for the baggage, and a dump-cart in which he and H. were to
+drive, while I drove the sulky alone in my glory. But it was too late
+for us to think of driving ten miles farther, so we laid our beds down
+and prepared for another halt. The next morning Mr. Pierce sent us
+home in his carriage.
+
+We reached here not long before two, and went to work to try and
+muster up some dinner. I had a cup and saucer, tumbler and three
+knives and forks, and the rennet, which soon supplied one dish; the
+negroes brought china in limited quantities; we opened a box of
+sardines, and coffee, and, with the army bread we brought from
+Beaufort, fried eggs, and hominy, made a most excellent meal; a
+tablecloth, napkins, and silver spoons forming some of the
+appointments. Joe, the carpenter, young and handy, made a very good
+waiter, but when he went out and cut a bough of sycamore and began to
+brush the flies as we ate, it was almost more than I could stand. Then
+we went to work to put what things we had to rights, H. got her
+servant, and moreover we had to receive and shake hands with any
+number of negroes, who came flocking round us at once, following the
+carriage as we drove up in true Southern style, and coming into the
+house to satisfy their curiosity.
+
+W. G---- was here and aided us with a will, and about five o'clock I
+went with him to the praise-house,[22] where he has his school. The
+children were all assembled by Cuffy, and he was teaching them when we
+went in. Mr. G---- read in the Bible, substituting words that they
+could understand, made a very simple prayer, all kneeling, and then
+heard them their letters and words for an hour, with a great deal of
+tact and ability--strange words, you may think, to use in such a
+connection, but you have little idea how much it needs of both. We
+are not used to these people--it is even very difficult to understand
+what they say. They have been born and brought up just here, in the
+most isolated way, for generations, with no chance of improvement, and
+there is not a single mulatto[23] on the place--they are black as the
+blackest, and perfect children--docile, and with "faith enough to live
+by," W---- G---- says. I find I have no shrinking from them, and hope
+I shall be able to do my part. I take this school off his hands--he
+has two other plantations to teach on and has been working like a
+beaver. I made my first attempt this afternoon and got along
+comfortably. Flora, the house-servant (that is, ours,--she is a field
+hand), took me on my way to see the old mammas, and I went into
+several of the cabins and came home with a present of nine eggs!
+
+These houses are all built of hard pine, which is handsome on the
+floors, but the rest of the woodwork is painted, in this house an ugly
+green, which is not pretty or cheerful. The walls are always left
+white. Clapboards are unknown, but hard-pine boards, a foot or more
+broad, are put on in the same way, and everything outside is
+whitewashed. The place is very attractive-looking, grapevines and
+honeysuckles and pine woods near.
+
+_April 25._ The house is raised high from the ground, as all are here,
+and boarded in loosely underneath. There is a circle of orange-trees
+round the house, and roses in abundance, but no grass, which is
+dreary. The quarters are a quarter of a mile off, and the
+praise-house is near them, where I have school twice a day. It is very
+interesting, and I enjoy it much, though of course there is nothing to
+teach but the alphabet and little words. They sing their letters very
+nicely now. They are much better-mannered than the Irish, and I have
+had no trouble as yet.
+
+Perhaps when I get to understanding things better I shall be able to
+tell you some things they say. They were uneasy till they discovered
+our first names, and were pleased that mine was that of the "old
+Missus." They have brought me presents of eggs two or three times.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove Plantation, April 22._ You see that we have changed our
+home. The ladies have arrived. The house is in better condition than
+that at Coffin's, the people better disposed, and the locality is more
+retired and does not boast of a cotton-agent. In a month or two we
+shall probably move to our old quarters, if it doesn't take longer to
+clean it. Miss W---- will be a grand helper. It will be a pretty rough
+life for them, and New England comforts and neatness and intelligence
+will be sadly missed, but we certainly have been well,--our table is
+the most refined thing on the Island, I fancy.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Pine Grove, April 29._ Our days pass pretty much after this fashion.
+Mr. Philbrick gets up about six, calls me, and I obey, having
+stipulated for a full hour in which to dress. After we get downstairs
+it takes the united efforts of most of the family to get the breakfast
+on the table, and we are fortunate if we get up from that meal by
+half-past eight. It generally consists of hominy, very delicious eaten
+with either milk, butter, or molasses, corn-cake, or waffles of
+corn-flour--the best of their kind--concentrated coffee, chocolate, or
+tea, army bread--when we can get it--crackers, when we can't, and
+boiled eggs or fried fish, as the case may be. The important
+operations of dish-washing and arranging the rooms upstairs take
+longer than you can imagine, and things are not always done when I go
+to school at ten, which with our simple style of living is rather a
+nuisance. H. begins to pity the Southern housekeepers. This morning,
+after making the starch in our little kitchen in the house, she waited
+about for two hours, before she could get hold of one of the three
+servants. They were all off at the kitchen, smoking and talking and
+taking things easy. Joe was nominally cleaning knives, Flora had gone
+to empty a pail of water, and Sukey had no thought about her starched
+clothes!
+
+Well, I walk off to school, under the white umbrella if the sun
+shines, dressed as warmly as I can if it does not. My way lies between
+a row of large "Heshaberry" trees, as the negroes call them; a
+corruption, I suppose, of Asia Berry, as it is the "Pride of Asia," in
+full blossom now, with scent something like our lilac, but more
+delicate. On each side of these trees are the corn-houses, stables,
+cotton-houses, and near the house a few cabins for house-servants, and
+the well. They stretch an eighth of a mile, when a gate (left open)
+shuts off the nigger-house and field. Another eighth brings me to the
+cabins, which have trees scattered among them, figs and others. The
+children begin to gather round me before I get there, with their bow
+and curtsey and "goo' mornin, Marm," and as I go through the quarters
+I send them in to wash their hands and faces. The praise-house
+reached, one of the children rings the bell out of the door to summon
+all, and they gather quickly, some to be sent off to wash their
+faces--alas, they cannot change their clothes, which are of the
+raggedest. But now enough clothes have come to begin to sell, I hope
+to have a better dressed set before long. I keep them in for about two
+hours--there are about thirty of the little ones who come in the
+morning, ten and under; all older are in the field, and come in the
+afternoon, as they finish work by noon always.
+
+I go back to lunch at half-past twelve, a cold one generally,
+sometimes a few waffles or some hominy for variety, but crackers,
+sardines, and blackberries which we have in abundance now, make a
+refreshing meal, with tea or coffee when we please. Shop[24] has to be
+tended in the afternoon principally, and I sometimes take a turn at it
+till I go off at half-past three to school again. We use for shop the
+little room between Mr. G.'s and the entry, selling out of the window
+over a box for a counter, to the groups on the porch. It is a funny
+sight and funny work for us, albeit interesting, for they have had no
+clothes for a year, and buy eagerly. Mr. Philbrick has not been able
+to let them have any clothing before, as there has only been enough to
+give a garment to one in ten, and they have been so used to being
+treated alike that their jealousy is very easily roused, and it is a
+difficult matter to deal with them. For the same reason the clothes
+have to be sold, the money going back to the Commission, to be used
+again for their benefit. It would be very much better if only the
+goods were sent, for they prefer to make their own clothes and all
+know how to sew.
+
+These people show their subserviency in the way they put Marm or Sir
+into their sentences every other word and emphasize it as the one
+important word, and in always agreeing to everything you say. In
+school it is rather annoying to have them say, "Yes Marm, 'zackly
+Marm," before it is possible for an idea to have reached their brains.
+
+Flora, our housemaid, who is a character, has a great deal of dignity
+and influence among the other negroes, and takes the greatest care of
+us. She is most jealous for what she considers our interests, and
+moreover is quite an interpreter, though it is hard enough to
+understand her sometimes. "Learning" with these people I find means a
+knowledge of medicine, and a person is valued accordingly. Flora
+wanted to know how much "learning" Miss Helen[25] had had, and it was
+a long time before I could make out what she meant.
+
+H. says she never saw me look so well, so you see I thrive in spite of
+fleas, which have almost flayed me alive. I understand what it means
+by eels getting _used_ to being skinned.
+
+_May 1._ Took a ride through the quarters. We stopped to see Doll and
+her week-old baby. H. had quite a talk with Mily, the nurse, who told
+her it did them good to see white ladies about, and hoped we were
+going to stay. She seemed very much disappointed when H. told her we
+should be here [at Pine Grove] only a short time longer. I think it
+does them good just to have me walk through the quarters four times a
+day--they always curtsey and say a word.
+
+In the afternoon, as I came out of school, Cuffy said, "You promise to
+jine praise with we some night dis week, Missus," so I told him I
+would go up in the evening if Mr. G. would go with me. When we went up
+after eight they were just lighting the two candles. I sat down on the
+women's side next a window, and one of the men soon struck up a hymn
+in which the others joined and which seemed to answer the purpose of a
+bell, for the congregation immediately began to assemble, and after
+one or two hymns, Old Peter offered a prayer, using very good
+language, ending every sentence with "For Jesus' sake." He prayed for
+us, Massa and Missus, that we might be "boun' up in de belly-band of
+faith." Then Mr. G. read to them and made a few remarks to which they
+listened very attentively; then some hymn-singing, Cuffy deaconing out
+the lines two at a time. Then some one suddenly started up and
+pronounced a sort of benediction, in which he used the expression
+"when we done chawing all de hard bones and swallow all de bitter
+pills." They then shook hands all round, when one of the young girls
+struck up one of their wild songs, and we waited listening to them for
+twenty minutes more. It was not a regular "shout,"[26] but some of
+them clapped their hands, and they stamped in time. It was very
+difficult to understand the words, though there was so much repetition
+that I generally managed to make out a good deal, but could not
+remember it much, still less the music, which is indescribable, and no
+one person could imitate it at all. As we walked home we asked Cuffy
+if they considered the "shout" as part of their religious worship; he
+said yes, that "it exercise the frame." Mr. G. told him that some of
+the old people had told him they did not like the shouts, or think
+them religious, but he said old Binah did not object to them in the
+praise-house, but she did not like the shout "out in de world," _i.
+e._ before they joined the Church or came to "strive behind the
+Elders." He makes his own hymns, "praying to de Lord Jesus to teach
+him as he in de woods--jine one word 'ginst toder." They were almost
+unintelligible as he deaconed them out, but I daresay they were his
+own, unconsciously caught, perhaps, in part from what he had heard in
+the white people's church. The only song I could remember ran somewhat
+after this fashion:
+
+    Oh, Jacob's ladder.
+    Climb high, climb higher!
+    Oh sodier of de jubilee,
+    When you git dere 'member me,
+    Oh! sodier of de cross!
+
+    In the introduction to "Slave Songs of the United States," a
+    collection made chiefly at Port Royal and published in 1867,
+    this particular song is set down as spurious, that is, as
+    being sung to a well-known "white folks'" tune. But most of
+    the negro music is described as "civilized in its character,
+    partly composed under the influence of association with the
+    whites, partly actually imitated from their music. In the
+    main it appears to be original in the best sense of the word."
+
+    The same writer goes on:
+
+    "On the other hand there are very few which are of an
+    intrinsically barbaric character, and where this character
+    does appear, it is chiefly in short passages, intermingled
+    with others of a different character.... It is very likely
+    that if we had found it possible to get at more of their
+    secular music, we should have come to another conclusion as
+    to the proportion of the barbaric element.... Mr. E. S.
+    Philbrick was struck with the resemblance of some of the
+    rowing tunes at Port Royal to the boatmen's songs he had
+    heard upon the Nile....
+
+    "The words are, of course, in a large measure taken from
+    Scripture, and from the hymns heard at church; and for this
+    reason these religious songs do not by any means illustrate
+    the full extent of the debasement of the dialect." Of words
+    funnily distorted through failure to understand their
+    meaning there are, however, many examples. "Paul and Silas,
+    bound in jail," was often sung "Bounden Cyrus born in jail;"
+    "Ring Jerusalem" appeared as "Ring Rosy Land," etc., etc. "I
+    never fairly heard a secular song among the Port Royal
+    freedmen, and never saw a musical instrument among them. The
+    last violin, owned by a 'worldly man,' disappeared from
+    Coffin's Point 'de year gun shoot at Bay Pint.'"
+
+    The negroes' manner of singing is pretty well suggested by
+    the following:
+
+    "The voices of the colored people have a peculiar quality
+    that nothing can imitate; and the intonations and delicate
+    variations of even one singer cannot be reproduced on paper.
+    And I despair of conveying any notion of the effect of a
+    number singing together, especially in a complicated
+    shout.... There is no singing in _parts_, as we understand
+    it, and yet no two appear to be singing the same thing--the
+    leading singer starts the words of each verse, often
+    improvising, and the others, who 'base' him, as it is
+    called, strike in with the refrain, or even join in the
+    solo, when the words are familiar. When the 'base' begins,
+    the leader often stops, leaving the rest of his words to be
+    guessed at, or it may be they are taken up by one of the
+    other singers. And the 'basers' themselves seem to follow
+    their own whims, beginning when they please and leaving off
+    when they please, striking an octave above or below (in case
+    they have pitched the tune too low or too high), or hitting
+    some other note that chords, so as to produce the effect of
+    a marvellous complication and variety, and yet with the most
+    perfect time, and rarely with any discord. And what makes it
+    all the harder to unravel a thread of melody out of this
+    strange network is that, like birds, they seem not
+    infrequently to strike sounds that cannot be precisely
+    represented by the gamut, and abound in 'slides from one
+    note to another, and turns and cadences not in articulated
+    notes.'"
+
+    How the same songs could be sung equally well at all sorts
+    of work is explained by another writer,[27] as follows: "Of
+    course the _tempo_ is not always alike. On the water, the
+    oars dip 'Poor Rosy' to an even andante, a stout boy and
+    girl at the hominy-mill will make the same 'Poor Rosy' fly,
+    to keep up with the whirling stone; and in the evening,
+    after the day's work is done, 'Heab'n shall-a be my home' [a
+    line from 'Poor Rosy'] peals up slowly and mournfully from
+    the distant quarters. One woman--a respectable
+    house-servant, who had lost all but one of her twenty-two
+    children--said to me: 'Pshaw! don't har to dese yer chil'en,
+    misse. Dey just rattles it off,--dey don't know how for sing
+    it. I likes "Poor Rosy" better dan all de songs, but it
+    can't be sung widout a full heart and a troubled sperrit!'"
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Saturday, May 3._ Directly after breakfast I mounted the pony,
+followed by Tom to open the gates. In this way we proceeded to Fripp
+Point, the plantation which belongs to this one. Just before we
+reached the Point, Tom started my horse, and before I knew it I was on
+the ground from the saddle's having turned under me. The horse behaved
+perfectly well, and I mounted and rode on towards the quarters (there
+is no white people's house here), where I could see St. Helena Village
+across the creek--a Deserted Village of a dozen or more mansions with
+their house-servants' cabins behind them, and two churches in a large
+pine wood, free from underbrush, where there are only one mulatto
+woman and her two children, belonging to this place, the sole
+occupants.[28] The village is directly on the creek on a bluff like
+that on which Beaufort is situated, about eight feet high, and is the
+place where the white people used to spend the summers for health and
+society--those who did not go North to travel, or to Beaufort. This
+Fripp family had a house in each place, besides this one at Pine
+Grove. As he [Tom] walked alongside the horse, I questioned him about
+the old family, and found that it consisted of William Fripp and his
+wife Harriet, their four sons and a daughter. The old man they all
+speak of with respect as a "good marn." Mass' Washington they
+represent as not liking the war,[29] and papers have been found which
+prove this true. Mass' Clan's was a doctor and very kind, and lived at
+the village--"bes' young massa we hab." Mass' Eden lived alone on this
+place, and was from all accounts a very bad man. With only one meal a
+day, he lived on whiskey, and, beyond his own control most of the
+time, he used to "lick wus 'an fire." The tree in the yard to which
+they were tied, their feet a foot or more from the ground, while he
+used the raw cowhide himself, has the nails in it now which prevented
+the rope from slipping--Flora showed it to me from my window. They do
+not talk much unless we question them, when they tell freely. As I
+opened shop this afternoon, old Alick, head-carpenter and a most
+respectable man, opened the cupboard door in the entry, but when he
+saw our dishes shut it with an apology, saving that it was an old
+acquaintance and he wanted to see what it was used for now. "I get
+sixty lash for makin' dat two year Christmas, and hab to work all
+Christmas day beside." Well, Alick, those days are over for you now.
+"Tank de Lord, missus, tank de Lord."
+
+By afternoon my hip was swollen and painful. I did not go downstairs
+again that night; but hearing them laugh at the dinner-table over some
+experience of Mr. G.'s, found it was this. He had been telling them
+[his pupils] that it was necessary that they should be punctual, study
+hard, and behave well in order to have a good school, and talking to
+them Saturday night about the fresh week that was coming, in which
+they must try hard, asked what three things were necessary for a good
+school. A question which was received in profound silence, for it is
+almost impossible to make them put that and that together, till one
+boy about nineteen rose and said very solemnly, "Father, Son and Holy
+Ghost!"
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove, May 3._ Sunday, besides its other virtues, in this place
+brings us bread, and an opportunity to send and receive letters. Mr.
+Eustis takes a large bag of loaves in his carriage, which are shared
+out to hungry superintendents after service. Eustis's house and his
+plantation serve as general caravanserai to our whole establishment.
+His overseer house--a mile from his own--is the depot for supplies for
+these outside islands.
+
+Our cotton-agent has at last paid off our plantations and will
+probably say farewell this coming week. We also have made a small
+payment to the hands of $1.00 per acre for all the cotton they had
+planted up to a certain date. The slight sum has had a very good
+effect. Other things have aided it. The cotton-agent paid them partly
+in goods. As soon as they had received the money from him and
+ourselves, we opened store, putting our goods at cheap prices. The
+stock consisted of the clothes I brought with me, those which K. sent
+me, and some pieces Mrs. Philbrick brought with her, with some
+furnished by the Commission; also a barrel of molasses, some tobacco,
+and shoes. The "sweetening" and the clothing were at cheaper prices
+than anything they have been accustomed to, so they were greatly
+pleased and we have sold out rapidly. The good effect is already quite
+noticeable,--but they are by no means all clothed. The men and boys,
+especially, stick to their rags. [The money] obtained from our private
+boxes will be expended in buying other articles for the negroes, to be
+sold again, or distributed to them, as may seem best. A vast deal of
+dissatisfaction among the people has been saved by this method of
+distributing the clothing. The faithful workers have all had money.
+All understand and like the arrangement.
+
+I have made a rather elaborate explanation of all this, because to
+some perhaps it will seem to be a strange and suspicious operation.
+
+    The natural impulse to treat the negroes as objects of
+    charity was thus early found to be a mistaken one; by the
+    end of November the Government, too, had ceased to give
+    them anything, the system of rations having done, as is
+    remarked in one of the letters, "too much harm already." The
+    time never came, however, when there was not heard from the
+    North abundant criticism of the kind which H. W., in her
+    letter of April 29, and W. C. G. here are trying to disarm,
+    and the superintendents had to outgrow their fear of being
+    blamed for "strange and suspicious operations."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sunday, May 4._ They had had a "Shout," which I had heard distinctly
+at three o'clock in the morning when I happened to wake up. They come
+from all the plantations about, when these meetings take place for the
+examination of new members, "prodigals and raw souls," as 'Siah said,
+he being an elder and one of the deacons. They do not begin till about
+ten o'clock Saturday night, when the examinations commence and the
+other services, after which they keep up the shout till near daylight,
+when they can see to go home. They admitted two this time, and, as
+Uncle Sam remarked, "they say there is joy in Heaven over one sinner
+that repenteth, so we rejoice over these souls that have come in."
+
+A good many of the girls came up. They lay round the floor or squatted
+about as I read and sung hymns to them; they were very much surprised
+that I was not afraid to sleep alone in such a big room--said Miss
+Juliana and Miss Lynch, Mass' Sam and Mass' Willie and their Mamma
+used to sleep there. These people do not use any feminine adjective,
+and their "hims" are very confusing sometimes. Harriet walked down to
+the house behind me from school the other day for some sugar for a
+sick baby, and I asked her the name of a bird that flew across our
+path. "Him de Red bird." I thought the Red bird was all red, I said.
+"Him de 'oman bird, marm, de marn bird all red, him de 'oman bird,
+marm." The girls hung round till the faithful Flora appeared to "wash
+me down" with the tide. Everything here depends on the tide; Susan
+will not make butter when the tide is going out--it would take it all
+day to come; and Flora would bathe the swelling when the tide was
+going out, that it might carry it with it.
+
+No letters when they came from church--four weeks from home, and never
+a word.
+
+In the afternoon I walked out in the yard a few steps, and it was
+pleasant and touching to see how eagerly they watched me and passed
+the word, "Miss Hayiot's comin'," with bow and curtsey, asking, "How
+you find yourself to-day, Missus?" "Glad to see you on you feet,
+marm."
+
+_May 5._ I had the school come up to me on the piazza, a plan I shall
+adopt for the future; it is cool and pleasant, saves me a walk which
+will be warm by and by, and also from the fleas of the praise-house.
+Louisa came up to give me two eggs, carefully wrapped in her apron.
+This makes over a dozen I have had brought to me by my grateful
+pupils.
+
+_May 6._ In the afternoon Flora brought me a letter to read to her,
+which proved to be from her husband, who is cook to some officers at
+Bay Point. I am quite curious to see him--she is so fine and the
+children are among the brightest here. Some soldier had written it for
+him, and she was too pleased for anything at her first letter. It was
+signed "York polite," which she told me was his title. I can't make
+out whether they give each other surnames, and this is his, or whether
+it is really a title, as she says, like "Philip the Fair."[30] She
+told me what to say, and I wrote an answer for her.
+
+_May 8._ A Baptist minister, who came out with us and has been
+appointed the pastor of the island, came to lunch, went to the other
+plantations with Mr. Philbrick, and has come back to spend the night.
+He had been up to the praise-meeting by Uncle Peter's invitation. He
+is very much puzzled what to do about the religious feeling of these
+people and their habits and customs. I hope he will let them alone.
+
+_May 9._ Went up to the praise-house for school in the morning; it is
+so hard to get the little things together and then, like as not, they
+have _half_ of them to be sent back to wash their faces and hands.
+Asked the little children questions, such as "What are your eyes for?"
+"For see'long." "Teeth?" "For chaw'long," etc.
+
+_Sunday, May 11._ In the morning a number of the women had come up to
+the house to see us. It seems they have always been in the habit of
+coming into the yard on Sundays. Tira, Sim's wife, brought me three
+little fish fried. The women said that all the people here were born
+on the place, and no new hands had ever been bought, only one sold,
+and his master allowed him that privilege because his wife belonged in
+Charleston and he wanted to belong to the same man.
+
+Flora said at lunch, as she brushed off the flies, that her husband
+York was at work on the "main" (land), she did not know where, on a
+house, with five of their carpenters, when the war broke out, or
+rather, before the Fort here was "taken away," as they say, and that
+then the white people had not food enough to feed the blacks, and she
+is quite sure all her brothers and sisters who were carried off were
+dead before this--starved. York was five weeks getting back here, and
+arrived about Christmas.
+
+Limus came for a reading-lesson, a man about fifty, driver on one of
+Mr. Soule's plantations next this, who comes over almost every day for
+me to teach him. He has a wife here and grown children, and another on
+the other plantation, the rascal. He is very smart and learns
+well.[31]
+
+Mr. Philbrick had business with Mr. Pierce, and did not come home to
+dinner. But he got into more business than he expected before he came
+back, and I never saw a poor man show suffering more than he did when
+he came in after ten o'clock and told us what he had received orders
+to do the next day. While he was at Mr. Pierce's, writing, young
+Hazard Stevens came over with despatches from General Hunter[32]
+ordering all the agents to send him in the morning all the able-bodied
+black men between the ages of 18 and 45, capable of bearing arms, on
+the plantations. There was no explanation whatsoever of the reasons
+for the demand, no hint of what was to be done with them, and nothing
+but our confidence in General Hunter's friendliness to the race gave
+us a shadow of comfort. But that would avail little to the negroes,
+who would lose the confidence they are beginning to feel in white men.
+Yet there was but one thing for us to do, and it was with heavy,
+aching hearts that at midnight we separated. Companies of soldiers
+were to be sent from Beaufort in the night and distributed to the
+different plantations to prevent the negroes from taking to the woods,
+so that we were not surprised at being roused about two hours after by
+thundering knocks at the front door, echoing through all these empty
+rooms with a ghostly sound. This proved to be Captain Stevens again,
+alone, who had stopped to enquire the way to some of the other
+plantations he had to notify, and say that the soldiers would be here
+in about an hour. We had scarcely got to sleep again before we all
+were roused by their arrival, and eight men, a Captain and Sergeant of
+the New York 79th Highlanders, tramped through the house. Mr.
+Philbrick gave them a pail of water and some hardtack, for they had
+had a long walk, and then they stretched themselves on the floor of
+one of our empty parlors as quietly as could be, considering
+themselves in luxury. We slept as best we could the rest of the night,
+and were up early to get the soldiers their breakfast and get ready
+for the heart-sickening work. You never saw a more wretched set of
+people than sat down to our breakfast-table. I _could not_ eat, for
+about the first time in my life. Nothing had been said to any one. Joe
+saw the soldiers on the floor when he opened the house door in the
+morning, and wore a sober face when we came down, but no one asked any
+questions, and we moved about, seeing to the breakfast, trying to
+look as usual (and failing), getting out tobacco and crackers to give
+the men on all these plantations when they went off. It had been
+arranged that Mr. G. should see to these two plantations after Mr.
+Philbrick had taken part of the soldiers to Coffin's Point. When he
+had gone, Mr. G. began on Joe before he went to the field for the
+other hands--telling him that General Hunter had work at Hilton Head
+for a great many black men, that he did not know what for, but had
+received orders in the night, and they must be obeyed and he must
+march; he had to go at once to his house for his cap, say good-bye to
+his wife and come to us to leave his will, for he said he never
+expected to come back. We made as light of the whole thing as we
+could, but did not dare to say anything (as we knew nothing) which
+might make them feel afterwards as if we had deceived them, for the
+thing they dread is being made to fight, and we knew that there had
+been men about trying to recruit for Hunter's pet idea, a regiment of
+blacks. _One_ man had been obtained on this island! We told Joe that
+Mr. Philbrick knew nothing about it and was going with them himself,
+and gave him a letter Mr. Philbrick had written asking for him to be
+returned as a personal favor, as he was a house-servant. He did the
+same thing with each of the drivers, for the good of the plantation
+crops. The men were easily collected, ten here, and went off after all
+with much less emotion than we expected; the soldiers behaved
+admirably, delighted with the treatment they had received, and
+cheering the negroes with tales of money and clothes, treating them
+most kindly. Mr. Philbrick called all the hands together at Coffin's
+and told them the simple fact, all that he himself knew, and named
+the men who were to go, and the whole thing was accomplished with much
+less _apparent_ suffering than we had supposed possible. Many of the
+men were not averse to trying their hands at life in the world, for
+many of their number have been and still are at work for officers,
+etc., at Hilton Head and Bay Point, etc., with most desirable
+pecuniary results, but they are afraid of being made to fight. Flora,
+our heroine, said the women and boys could take care of all the cotton
+and corn if the men did have to go--that they did not trust many white
+people, but they did trust Mr. Philbrick.
+
+The day passed in perfect quiet: the women finished their work in the
+field, I kept school, Mr. G. came back from the Point and after lunch
+took the driver's place, sharing out the week's allowance of corn to
+the people, while H. and I sat under the shade of the trees, watching
+or talking to the women. Wil'by, Joe's wife, was the only one who
+seemed really sad and heart-sick--all the rest were as usual. Dr.
+Wakefield[33] came and recounted his miseries while I set the
+tea-table, when, just as everything was cleared away, Mr. G. came in,
+with his face all aglow, to tell us that the drivers, Joe, and one or
+two others had been sent back, and in a moment Joe appeared, radiant
+with happiness. Mr. G. found he had not seen his wife, so went to her
+cabin and told her the ladies wanted her, and it was pretty enough to
+see her simple delight as she caught sight of Joe in the doorway. They
+both laughed nervously, then shook hands shyly, and she curtseyed,
+then hid her face against the wall, saying, "I so thankful I can't say
+a word," and pretty soon, "Oh Joe, I couldn't eat the hominy for
+dinner;" and Joe, "I couldn't eat the biscuits, either, that Mr.
+Philbrick gave me, had to gi' um away--and then I was so glad, I
+didn't feel hungry till I got home." We sent them off to eat hominy
+and be happy, and sat down to write with lighter hearts ourselves.
+
+Mr. Philbrick soon appeared. He found Mr. Pierce had been down to
+Hilton Head and found what he had in part suspected to be the fact.
+General Hunter found that the negroes misapprehended his wishes and
+ideas, and he could not raise as many as he wanted, so had resorted to
+these measures, meaning to give the men an idea of the life and drill,
+and after a few weeks not retain any who wished to return to their
+homes. All the superintendents were indignant at the way the thing was
+done, but it will not turn out so badly as we feared, I trust. The
+people are used to being made to do things, and are not in the least
+rebellious, as any white man would have been. If we can have blacks to
+garrison the forts and save our soldiers through the hot weather,
+every one will be thankful. But I don't believe you could make
+soldiers of these men at all--they are afraid, and they know it.
+
+The cotton-agent left Coffin's Point to-day, so that we can go there
+now whenever we can get the house ready. Then we shall have horses and
+vehicles more at our disposal; you may hear of our carriage and span
+yet, but I shall hate to leave here. This moon is lovely, and to-night
+the flats are covered with water by the full moon tide, and the sea
+looks as if it came to our doors.
+
+    The opinion just expressed concerning the impossibility of
+    making soldiers from Sea Island negroes was, very
+    naturally, the view that prevailed at this time among the
+    superintendents and teachers; in the extract that follows it
+    is stated with even more decision. As the letters progress,
+    the reader will see the development of a complete change of
+    mind on this point.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_May 27._ Negroes--plantation negroes, at least--will never make
+soldiers in one generation. Five white men could put a regiment to
+flight; but they may be very useful in preventing sickness and death
+among our troops by relieving them of part of their work, and they may
+acquire a certain self-respect and independence which more than
+anything else they need to feel, if they are soon to stand by their
+own strength.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 13._ Old Peggy, the "leader" from Fripp Point, came over, and
+Flora brought her to see the school. She sat on the doorstep, very
+much interested and uttering frequent ejaculations of "Oh Lord!" H.
+had her sewing-school, and then I my regular session, with diminished
+numbers. Hope the men took their books. Saw Wil'by to-day and asked if
+she did not feel pretty well, when Susan answered, "She feel pretty
+well, Missus, but I don't; can't feel right with five boys all gone,
+not so much as that (pointing off the end of her finger) left of one
+of them; two carried off by Secesh, one with a Captain of ours at Fort
+Pulaski,[34] not heard from since Christmas, and now two gone
+yesterday." But she seemed to feel, spite of her regrets, that if they
+could help she was glad they should. Flora said old Peggy and Binah
+were the two whom all that came into the Church had to come through,
+and the Church supports them, and she contributed thirty-five cents to
+get her some flannel for garments, which she had always been used to
+till now. Of course we gave them to her.
+
+_May 14._ Our new equipage with its two horses drew up, and I got in,
+while H., shocked at the rags, cut out the lining of the top of the
+buggy, showering me with sand thereby. The buggy and horses were
+legacies from Mr. S., the cotton-agent, who departed yesterday.
+
+There have been seven babies born on the three plantations since we
+came, and thirteen since Mr. Philbrick came, for which we have been
+able to supply but little and that only on this place. The Master
+always provided for the new babies two of each garment and half a
+dozen diapers.
+
+I found that they had a most heart-rending time [at Mr. Eustis'
+plantation] on Monday. The two companies of soldiers coming over
+Sunday night had frightened them, and they kept watch all along the
+creek through the night of their own accord, for fear of Secesh. The
+thing was not judiciously done the next morning, and seems to have
+made a great deal of suffering which was avoided here.
+
+_May 15._ After lunch I walked down to the quarters and stopped at all
+the cabins. Found two of the men had already come back from Hilton
+Head and had eased the minds of all the mothers and wives by the
+reports which they brought back of comfortable quarters, good food and
+clothing, confirming all our statements. I think here a greater degree
+of confidence than ever will be established by this painful episode.
+Mr. Philbrick says they have not behaved so well at Coffin's Point as
+to-day since he came. We walked down to the field to see them hoeing
+corn in their own "nigger field"--what is raised for the plantation,
+not their own private patches, but that out of which their weekly peck
+comes, and which therefore they will work on out of hours. Their
+task[35] is done, often, by eleven o'clock.
+
+Went to see Binah. She is always very glad to see us, and to-day
+reached to a little shelf at the foot of the bed, off which she took a
+small tin pail and gave us three eggs--her last. I remonstrated, but
+she said, "You gib me ting, I say tank 'ee," so I picked them up and
+thanked her.
+
+Mr. Philbrick sent for the people to make the final payment for
+cotton-planting, which is now finished, and we stood at the window to
+watch them as they came up, and help give out the money. One woman,
+who had not done so much work, was disturbed at not getting as much
+money as the others, and Mr. Philbrick could not make her understand.
+Flora came to H. afterwards and said, "You must excuse we niggers, we
+no sense, and Mr. Philbrick _so_ patient; all Secesh on these islands
+couldn't make so much as he has with we."
+
+_May 16._ Dr. Wakefield arrived with the news of the rebel
+Flag-steamer's having escaped from Charleston through the inside
+passages, passed Beaufort and gone to Hilton Head. It was manned by
+blacks, who came off at two o'clock night before last with their wives
+and children, the officers having all gone ashore. It mounted two
+guns, and had four others on board which were to be taken[36]
+somewhere, passed Sumter with the right signals, and Beaufort with a
+Federal flag, and was sent back there again from Hilton Head. I should
+like to have been in Beaufort. It is magnificent.
+
+The sales have been quite large, as Mr. Philbrick's denims[37] have
+arrived, and the negroes had yesterday their second payment. The cloth
+is sold at the wholesale price, as it was bought. I am afraid they
+will never get it as cheap again. Now we can give away the made
+clothes with more freedom.
+
+Got old Peter to make me a piggin for fresh water in my chamber; as
+they always carry everything on their heads, a pail is no advantage.
+It is of a red color, and very nicely made. When I gave it to Flora to
+fill, she said, "him name Harriet"--whether intended as a compliment
+to me or to the piggin I could not understand. When we told Joe about
+the steamer, he exclaimed, "Gracious! 'zackly, that done beautiful,"
+and kept exploding through the rest of dinner, "my glory," "gracious,"
+"smartest ting done yet."
+
+_May 17._ H. called me out of school this morning to see one of the
+crew of the _Planter_, the steamer that ran off from Charleston. He
+proved to be a man from McKee's plantation who had a wife and children
+at Coffin's Point and had come round in a boat with a crew and pass
+from General Stevens[38] to take them to Beaufort. Almost all the men
+came from about here; David had two brothers with wives at Coffin's
+Point who were afraid to run the risk, and, though they belonged to
+the crew, went ashore. The pilot first proposed the plan, and they
+arranged a day or two beforehand with the wives they had there, took
+them on board in boats I think at two o'clock, passed Fort Sumter with
+the signal, two long whistles and a short, and came round inside the
+islands so that they did not encounter any of our blockading fleet
+till they came off Otter Island, where there is a vessel lying within
+sight of Coffin's Point. Then they raised the Federal flag which was
+on board, were boarded by our men and _cheered_ as they passed on
+their way. Beaufort was amazed at a steamer with the Federal flag
+coming from that direction. The guns were to be mounted between Sumter
+and Charleston at the new Fort Ripley. David said they had made up
+their minds to blow up the vessel rather than be taken--they knew they
+should have no mercy. I hope the men who stayed were not hung for not
+informing. He said Charleston was "very interrupted," not a white
+woman left in the town, as they were expecting an attack from the
+Federals. He reports coffee at $1.50 a pound, sugar 50 cents there,
+but I don't know how much he is to be relied on; he was very quiet and
+modest--the fireman; said he used to work in the field here, but would
+"go furder" before he ever would do it again.
+
+To-day a quantity of bacon, which was sent from Philadelphia, was
+given out to the hands on both the Fripp plantations. There has been
+a good deal of trouble about their working Saturday, and the bacon was
+only given to those who went into the field to-day, I hope with good
+effect. They have not done a third the usual work this year, and it is
+hard to bring anything to bear upon them. I hope Captain Saxton, who
+we hear is coming out as head of the whole concern, will have
+sufficient authority to settle some points which have been left to the
+individual superintendents and with regard to which they have not
+pursued the same course, making it very hard for some.
+
+    Rufus Saxton, Captain in the United States Army, had been a
+    quartermaster at Hilton Head ever since its capture. On
+    April 29, 1862, he was assigned, as Brigadier-General of
+    Volunteers, "to take possession of all the plantations
+    heretofore occupied by the rebels" in the Department of the
+    South, "and take charge of the inhabitants remaining thereon
+    within the department, or which the fortunes of the war may
+    hereafter bring into it, with authority to take such
+    measures, make such rules and regulations for the
+    cultivation of the land and for protection, employment, and
+    government of the inhabitants as circumstances may seem to
+    require." He was to act under the orders of the Secretary of
+    War, and, so far as the persons and purposes specified were
+    concerned, his action was to be "independent of that of
+    other military authorities of the department," and in all
+    other cases "subordinate only to the Major-General
+    commanding." Many of Saxton's orders are signed
+    "Brigadier-General and Military Governor," but of course he
+    was never a military governor in the sense in which that
+    term was used of Lincoln's military governors of states.
+    Doubtless Saxton was recommended for his position by General
+    Hunter, both being ardent anti-slavery men.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sunday, May 18._ Started [for church] directly after breakfast in the
+buggy. It is the first time I have been up, and I am glad to have seen
+the sight. The church[39] is of brick, in a grove of very beautiful
+live-oak trees wreathed with grapevines and hanging moss, under which
+were tied every conceivable description of horse and vehicle, from Mr.
+Pierce's six-seated carriage and pair of fine Northern horses to the
+one-seated sulkies, and mules saddled with cotton-bags. Just as we
+arrived the people were all pouring out of church after Sunday School,
+for a short intermission before the service. I was very sorry to lose
+that part of the performances. Mr. Hooper is superintendent, and they
+say has an admirable faculty at interesting the children, who are
+taught besides by the white people present in classes. We had a
+pleasant chat with Miss W. and Miss Towne and the gentlemen, most of
+whom do not meet at all except once a week at church, and then the
+people were collected again, and when they were seated, Mr. Pierce
+summoned us, the four ladies, to an empty pew with himself. The church
+is painted white inside, very plain, with galleries, and filled full
+of black people,--doors, windows and aisles. Dr. French had come over
+from "Biffert," as they call it, and conducted the services. He read a
+hymn through, "Am I a soldier of the Cross?" etc., and then deaconed
+out two lines at a time, while the negroes sang it in their peculiar,
+nasal manner, one always leading. He preached them an admirable
+sermon, familiar in its style. He told them of his visit to the men
+who had been carried to Hilton Head, which interested them very much
+and comforted them too, I guess. Compared them to the Israelites
+coming out of Egypt, as in a transition state in which everything
+depended upon themselves--they must not behave so ill that God would
+make them wander forty years in the wilderness instead of reaching
+Canaan in eighteen months. It was pleasant to see their interest--the
+"elders" all sat under the pulpit and in the front seats, and many
+would nod their heads from time to time in approbation, equivalent to
+the "'zackly" and "jus' so" of their every-day speech. They were all
+well dressed--a few in gaudy toggery, hoopskirts, and shabby bonnets,
+but mostly in their simple "head hankerchers" [which] I hope they will
+never give up. Many of the men on the road had their shoes in their
+hands to put on when they got to church. Most of them wear none. The
+women, many of them, came up to shake hands with us after church and
+said they must come and see us. There are no white ladies on the
+islands beside us and those at Pope's (Mr. Pierce's).
+
+Mr. Hooper told us of General Hunter's proclamation declaring all
+slaves free in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.[40] We got no
+letters or news from the North of any sort, and are waiting anxiously
+to know how this news is received there and what has happened since we
+heard last. He promises free papers to all who enlist, and gives each
+a chance to come home to his family if he concludes to do so.
+Expresses great regret that the thing should have been done as it was,
+but I don't know what he could expect, and it will be some time before
+the impression will die out, particularly among the women. The men are
+well contented there, and most of them will stay, I daresay; there are
+over five hundred.
+
+_May 19._ This evening Dr. Wakefield arrived with the Doctor of the
+Roundhead Pennsylvania Regiment. Said the pilot of the _Planter_, as
+he passed Fort Sumter at daybreak, broke into the Captain's room, put
+on his regimentals, and walked up and down the deck mimicking the
+Captain's gait, so that if they should use their glasses at Fort
+Sumter no suspicion should be excited!
+
+_May 20._ We are fortunate in being on a plantation so far from town,
+the soldiers, and the influence of the cotton-agents. At Coffin's
+Point the people have shown the effects of having soldiers quartered
+there so long, though they were a less simple and quiet sort than
+these in Secesh times. The quarters here are the cleanest and
+prettiest I have seen, though there is room for improvement.
+
+The day has been a very busy one. A large box of Philadelphia clothing
+I overhauled, made a list of everything in it, and with H.'s help
+rolled up half and packed again to go to Coffin's Point. It is the
+last box of clothing we shall have, I hope. We thought we should enjoy
+the giving more things, now that the goods have come by the piece
+which they prefer to buy, but they are so jealous, and it is so hard
+to keep the run of so many families so as to distribute the garments
+equally, that it is hard work, and proves the wisdom of those who
+decided it was best to sell in the first place. The old people and
+babies of course we give to entirely, _i. e._, as far as we have the
+means. I should like a box full of baby-clothes and flannel for the
+old rheumaticky women, whose garments are all worn out.
+
+Heard Joe tell Flora, "Don't call me 'Joe' again; my name Mr.
+Jenkins." I find they all have surnames, of one sort and another, a
+wife taking her husband's.
+
+_May 22._ When they go into the field to work, the women tie a bit of
+string or some vine round their skirts just below the hips, to shorten
+them, often raising them nearly to the knees; then they walk off with
+their heavy hoes on their shoulders, as free, strong, and graceful as
+possible. The prettiest sight is the corn-shelling on Mondays, when
+the week's allowance, a peck a hand, is given out at the corn-house by
+the driver. They all assemble with their baskets, which are shallow
+and without handles, made by themselves of the palmetto and holding
+from half a peck to a bushel. The corn is given out in the ear, and
+they sit about or kneel on the ground, shelling it with cleared
+corn-cobs. Here there are four enormous logs hollowed at one end,
+which serve as mortars, at which two can stand with their rude
+pestles, which they strike up and down alternately. It is very hard
+work, but quicker than the hand process. After it is all shelled, the
+driver puts a large hide on the ground and measures each one's portion
+into his basket, and men, women, girls, and boys go off with the
+weight on their heads. The corn-house is in a very pretty place, with
+trees about it, and it is always a picturesque sight--especially when
+the sand-flies are about, and the children light corn-cob fires to
+keep them off. The corn is ground by hand by each negro in turn for
+themselves; it is hard work and there are only three hand-mills on the
+place, but it makes very sweet meal and grits. The negroes do not like
+the taste of that which is ground by steam-mill at Beaufort; I suppose
+the heat of the stones hurts it. The blacks at Hilton Head, who have
+had our Indian-meal given them as rations, cannot eat the "red
+flour."[41] They separate the coarse and fine parts after it is ground
+by shaking the grits in their baskets; the finest they call corn-flour
+and make hoe-cake of, but their usual food is the grits, the large
+portion, boiled as hominy and eaten with clabber.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO EDWARD ATKINSON
+
+_Pine Grove, May 25._ We received the Philadelphia bacon and salt
+herring about a week ago and divided it among the cotton-workers. I
+have also distributed a part of the salt you sent. This allowance of
+bacon was given once a fortnight and _weekly_ at this season by the
+different masters, and the quart of salt monthly. Several plantations
+near Beaufort which had been stripped of their corn by the army have
+been referred to me for supplies. I have loaded three flat-boats from
+the corn-barns here and at Coffin's, where there was a surplus,
+sending off 285 bushels shelled corn in all. The removal of this corn
+from my barns gave occasion for some loud and boisterous talking on
+the part of some of the women, and made the driver of this plantation
+feel very sober, but I pacified them by telling them the Government
+showed its determination to provide for them by this very act, for
+here were several plantations on Ladies Island, destitute of corn,
+which might have been fed with much less trouble from the pile of
+bacon and herring recently received, but that the Government did not
+consider _that_ a just division of good things, so they sent me a part
+of the bacon and fish, and took my corn to feed the destitute.
+Thereby, said I, you are all gainers, for you have corn enough left to
+last till potatoes come, and you get the bacon besides, for which you
+ought to be thankful. The noisy ones stopped their clamor and the
+sensible ones thanked me and hoped I would stay and take care of them,
+saying they had about given up hopes of seeing any more meat in their
+lives, and were very thankful for even this bit to grease their hominy
+with.
+
+The people are taking hold of the cotton-fields with much more heart
+than I had feared, after the levy of recruits two weeks ago. The
+cotton has been mostly hoed once and is growing well under the
+favorable weather. Some of the corn is five feet high and it is all
+hoed and ploughed except the latest portion, which was planted this
+month. A small portion of the cornfields has been neglected, being the
+portions assigned to some of the men who are absent. There were ten
+young men belonging at Coffin's Point who escaped notice on the day of
+the levy, but who, on learning that I had called for them, came and
+delivered themselves up next morning. I sent them on towards Beaufort
+and they met Mr. Pierce on the road. He told them that General Hunter
+did not want their service against their will, and as they preferred
+to return home they did so. I had just organized the whole gang anew
+after this, when Mr. S.,[42] who I thought was gone for good, turned
+up with an order to collect cotton on the mainland, and requested me
+to let him have a boat's crew to explore for two days. I told him the
+men were all organized and at work, each on his own acre, but if he
+couldn't get men elsewhere I should not refuse for such a short time.
+The men came back on the third day without Mr. S. and notified me that
+he had hired them (and two more joined them, making twelve in all) to
+collect cotton for a month or two on the neighboring territory beyond
+our previous pickets, under protection of scouting-parties detached
+for the purpose. The men were offered fifty cents per day, and as I
+had no authority to offer _anything_ definitely, except, a house to
+live in and their allowance of corn, I told them they were free to go
+where they pleased, but advised them to stay. Of course they all went
+off, but have been back twice since to spend a night and have gone
+again this morning. They are nearly all active young men and are
+pleased with this roving sort of life, but you may imagine how fatal
+such a state of things is to my efforts at organization, and how
+demoralizing upon the general industry of those remaining at home
+these visits of the rovers are, to say nothing of the breaking up of
+old gangs and abandoning allotments of land. Some of these men who
+were about to go with Mr. S. told me their wives would carry on their
+tasks while they were gone, and I told them that if they would do so I
+would let them avail themselves of the proceeds of their labor, but if
+these patches should be neglected, I should assign them to other men,
+and their planting labor would be forfeited. Thus far I find but one
+neglected patch, and unless this is soon hoed by some of the friends
+of the sick woman to whom it belongs, I shall have to assign it to
+some one else. It is a common practice among them to hire each other
+to hoe their tasks, when sickness or other causes prevent them from
+doing it themselves, so that most of the tasks of the lying-in women
+are taken care of by sisters or other friends in the absence of their
+husbands.
+
+The more I see of these people the more surprised I am that they
+should have done so much as they have this year without any definite
+promise of payment on our part, and with so little acquaintance with
+us. The course we have been obliged to pursue[43] would not have got
+an acre planted by Irish laborers. I do not think it the best course,
+but under the existing confusion it was _only_ one. If we were
+authorized to say that we could pay a definite sum per one hundred
+pounds for cotton raised, or a definite sum per month for certain
+services performed, we might have accomplished much more, but under
+the present arrangement I doubt if we can do the usual work for next
+year's crop, _i. e._, in preparing manure. The only men left upon
+these plantations are the old ones and they are not fit to cut the
+marsh-grass commonly used for cotton manure. The only way I can get
+the cornfields ploughed is by asking the drivers to take the ploughs
+in their own hands, which they do very cheerfully and with good
+effect, each one ploughing three or four acres per day. I do not
+think the hands can be expected to work on all summer without further
+payments of money or some equivalent. I wait rather anxiously for the
+development of Captain or rather _General_ Saxton's instructions. He
+has not arrived yet, but is daily expected.
+
+The two thousand five hundred yards of cloth you sent me is all sold
+with the exception of about three pieces, and paid for in cash; a few
+have said they had no money and ask me to set it down in the book for
+them to pay when they get money from the cotton. I always trust them
+in this way when they desire it, and find them very reluctant to run
+up a long score. My willingness to trust them gives them confidence
+that they will be paid for their cotton labor, and though the "white
+folks" at Hilton Head are telling them that the cotton crop is a mere
+speculation on our part, I don't think they listen much to them. One
+man told me to-day that nobody could cross the sill of my door to harm
+me or my ladies while he could prevent it. This same man was sent by
+his master, the day that Hilton Head was taken, with a fleet of
+flat-boats, to bring the secession soldiers away from their forts.
+
+    W. C. G. says of the situation at this time:
+
+_May 27._ Between the gradual settling of affairs, the people's
+growing confidence in us and in the Government as paymasters, and the
+absence of the unruly men, the plantations are getting on quite
+nicely. The land, both corn and cotton, has been divided and allotted
+to the hands,--so a new system of labor[44] is--on our places--already
+inaugurated.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Monday, May 26._ Had quite a talk with Flora over the bed-making; she
+asked me to hem her a muslin head-hankercher which York had sent her
+from Hilton Head, and re-string some beads which had come too and been
+broken. I promised to do it, telling her she would have things enough
+to remember me by--to which she responded, "Neber forget you, long as
+I hab breath for draw." I find they are all beginning to feel badly at
+our leaving,[45] now they know we shall really go so soon.
+
+This is 'lowance day, and school is always late Monday P. M., but
+to-day, as they were all together, after they got through their corn,
+Ranty distributed some salt and mackerel Mr. Philbrick had for them,
+which kept them till six, our dinner-time, and they lost school
+altogether, greatly to their regret. We went to the porch to watch the
+groups, and as they passed us with their baskets on their heads and
+fish wrapped in green leaves in their hands, they all looked up and
+curtseyed, with a "tank 'ee, Massa."
+
+When Flora came in with the tea just after, she was muttering, "Neber
+see a marn so payshun as Mr. Philbri'," and then, turning to H. as if
+she was afraid she did not appreciate his virtue,--"Miss Helen, not
+two body in de worl' so payshun as him." I don't know what had
+excited her admiration just then, but she probably never saw a white
+man before who did not swear, at least. For even her favorite Mass'
+Clan's she does not consider as immaculate, though he would "nebber
+drive nigger."
+
+_May 28._ To the [Pine Grove] quarters to say good-bye all round,
+stopping at each house. They seemed quite sorry to have us go,
+expressing their regret by presents of eggs. I filled my pockets and
+H. her hands; then Mily held her apron and walked home with us; she
+counted over three dozen in all. My children came in the evening, and
+we went to bed early; and so passed the last day at William Fripp's
+Pine Grove Plantation.
+
+_Coffin's Point, May 29._ Before ten the two carts were ready, and
+Flora and Joe mounted one to help us get to rights. Then H. and Mr.
+Philbrick went off in the buggy with the span. I was to have gone in
+the sulky, but harness fell short, and I had to wait till Tom could
+come back with the mule-cart. So I collected the children and had a
+last school for them, and when Tom came, locked the door, mounted the
+sulky (with the white umbrella) onto which the saddles had been tied,
+and, followed to the gate by the whole tribe singing "A, B, C," took
+my departure, the children shouting as I bid them good-bye, "We come
+for see you!"
+
+As I drove up to the house [at Coffin's] the yard really looked
+attractive, as it has some grass in it, though I had not thought the
+house so. But a day's work has made a vast change, and to-night it
+looks quite habitable. It was built in good style originally, but it
+is very old, and has been so abused by the negroes in the first
+place, and then from having had soldiers living in it for so many
+months, it is very shabby. It must have been handsomely furnished, to
+judge from the relics, for they are nothing more--rosewood tables,
+sideboards and washstands with marble tops, drawers and doors broken
+in and half gone, sofas that must have been of the best, nothing left
+but the frame; no one can conceive of the destruction who has not seen
+it. The rooms are twelve feet high, and the lower story is more than
+that from the ground. The air is delicious, and we shall find the
+blinds which are on the second story a luxury. I have my own little
+bed, bureau, marble-top washstand, _three_ chairs and a large
+wardrobe, to say nothing of a piano, in my chamber, which is I should
+think eighteen feet square.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_May 30._ Schools are getting on pretty well, I suppose,--slowly, of
+course. A few are really bright,--a few really dull; the larger
+part--like the same proportion of white children--could creep, walk,
+or trot, according to the regularity with which they are driven, and
+the time devoted to their books. While we have been living at Pine
+Grove, there have been five schools daily, teaching about one hundred
+and forty scholars.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 30._ We have moved just in time, I guess, for the weather will
+grow warmer now. Between eight and eleven is the warmest part of the
+day; after that the sea-breeze is sure to come up.
+
+_May 31._ There is a line cut through the trees all across the
+islands so that they can see the light-house from Beaufort. I asked
+Tom who cut it, as I rode over the other day, and he said, "Yankee cut
+it." "Since the Fort was taken?" "Long time ago." "The old Masters cut
+it, then?" "No, Secesh neber cut down trees, make nigger do it; poor
+white men cut 'em." I finally came to the conclusion that it must have
+been done by the Coast Survey. I daresay they think we are all "poor
+white." Mary, a mulatto here, told Mr. G. his clothes would be fifty
+cents per dozen for washing; that she used to have seventy-five cents
+in Charleston, "for real gentle folks!"
+
+_Sunday, June 1._ H. called in Betty, Joe, and Uncle Sam while she
+read, and after Mr. Philbrick had repeated the Lord's Prayer, Uncle
+Sam of his own accord offered a very simple, touching prayer. He is an
+Elder, and as honest and true as "Uncle Tom" himself--a genuine
+specimen of that class among the negroes, which exists in reality as
+well as in story. The younger ones do not seem to be quite so
+religious a class, though perhaps they are too young to tell, for
+young married men like Joe and Cuffy seem to have genuine principle,
+and belong to the church. H. told Joe, when he had been sulky for the
+first time, that she hoped he felt better; she did not like to see him
+so. "Yes, Marm, feel better now, Marm; you know de ole marn will rise
+sometimes." And he told Mr. G. once that he should not cry if his baby
+died, "'cause de Lord take him to a better place--not punish him,
+'cause he have no sin;" but he said he should cry hard if Wil'by died,
+because he knew she would be punished. (His wife is not a
+"professor.")
+
+_June 2._ An officer from the gunboat off here came ashore to see if
+he could hire some men, but Mr. Philbrick told him that General Hunter
+had taken off more than he could spare. The officer seemed to think
+that Hunter would be recalled and the regiment disbanded[46]--in which
+case Mr. Philbrick told him he did not want the men and he might take
+what he needed. We hear they are made sick by the change of diet; army
+rations can't be very good for men who have lived on hominy all their
+lives. He told us, moreover, a most interesting piece of news; that
+the firing we heard the other day was from the blockading fleet off
+Charleston, which captured six and sunk three of a fleet of English
+steamers, ten in number, laden with arms and munitions of war, which
+were making an attempt to run in to Charleston--thus letting only one
+escape. I don't know whether it got in or off.
+
+A semiweekly _Advertiser_ and _Tribune_ of May 14th, with full
+accounts of the taking of New Orleans and the battle of Williamsburg,
+which we have not heard about, and the splendid doings have roused me
+all up to full war pitch again. We have been so peaceful I could not
+realize all that was going on.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO EDWARD ATKINSON
+
+_Coffin's Point, June 3._ I suppose we shall lose General Hunter, for
+even if not recalled I don't see how he could stay after Lincoln's
+proclamation. I must say I think his, Hunter's action, premature and
+uncalled for. It seemed to me very like the tadpole resolution in
+"Festina lente." In this case, too, the tadpoles were quite out of our
+reach except the small number in these islands, who had virtually shed
+their tails in course of nature already. I have great faith in Lincoln
+and am ready to leave the question with him. I think the effect of
+Hunter's proclamation upon the slaves of these states would be
+inconsiderable. They don't hear of it, to begin with, and if they did
+they wouldn't care for it. I am surprised to find how little most of
+these people appreciate their present prospects. Once in a while you
+find an intelligent man who does so, but the mass plod along in the
+beaten track with little thought about the future and no sort of
+feeling of responsibility. They feel a sense of relief that no one
+stands to force them to labor, and they fall back with a feeling of
+indifference as to whether they exert themselves beyond what is
+necessary to supply the demands of necessity. No better result can be
+hoped for till the time comes for each to see the reward for his
+labor. At present they are working upon faith, without even a definite
+promise as to what that payment shall be. Hunter's course is of far
+greater importance in its effect upon the political world in the North
+than in its immediate influence upon the status of the negroes in the
+districts to which it applies. The secret of such exploits as the crew
+of the _Planter_ have lately performed lies in the fact that the men
+were forcibly taken from this region last November and wanted to get
+back home again. If their old home had been in Charleston, they would
+not have left it at the risk they incurred. In short, I don't regard
+the blacks as of any account in a military light, for they are not a
+military race, and have not sufficient intelligence to act in concert
+in any way where firmness of purpose is required.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_June 5._ Mr. Philbrick brought one unwelcome letter--an appointment
+from Mr. Pierce to Mr. G. to some plantation at the other end of the
+island. He is too valuable to be here. He is going to a hard place,
+ten or twelve plantations, though with fewer negroes in all than on
+these three.
+
+The mule-cart came up and was loaded with all Mr. G.'s things, and by
+nine o'clock he took his departure on horseback, in his red flannel
+shirt and palm-leaf hat looking quite Southern and picturesque.
+
+[Later.] Here came my morning school, for the first time, under
+Bacchus' conduct. I heard them singing and went to the window to watch
+and see how he was bringing them from the quarters. He is a cripple in
+his hands, which turn backwards, and he has but little control of his
+arms, but is much looked up to by the other children. Of course he
+cannot do any work, and Mr. G. has made him a sort of schoolmaster,
+and he has always kept school when Mr. G. was away. He manages them
+nicely, after his fashion--leaving them in the midst if he happens to
+want to eat some hominy! They never have regular meals, but each one
+eats hominy when he happens to want it. Well, soldiers have been
+stationed on the place, and Bacchus had got some notion of drill, so
+he marched up the thirty-five children, six or seven in a row, holding
+hands to keep them straight, and with two of the oldest boys for
+captains on each side to administer raps with their sticks if they
+did not keep in line, walking backwards himself to oversee the whole
+company, with a soldier's cap on his head, and shouting out his orders
+for them to sing their different tunes all the way,--the funniest
+spectacle himself imaginable.
+
+_Monday, June 9._ Found that Bacchus' brother Lester had been taken
+sick Sunday morning and died at night, so he did not bring up the
+school. Just after dinner we saw the people assembling at their
+burying-place,[47] and H. and I went down to witness the services.
+Uncle Sam followed us, book in hand and spectacles on nose, reading as
+he walked. As we drew near to the grave we heard all the children
+singing their A, B, C, through and through again, as they stood
+waiting round the grave for the rest to assemble and for Uncle Sam to
+begin. Each child had his school-book or picture-book Mr. G. had given
+him in his hand,--another proof that they consider their lessons as in
+some sort religious exercise. We were joined at once by Mr. Philbrick,
+and stood uncovered with the rest about the grave, at the mouth of
+which rested the coffin, a rough board one, but well shaped and
+closed. Uncle Sam took off his hat, tied a red handkerchief round his
+head and, adjusting his glasses, read the hymn through, and then
+deaconed out two lines at a time for the people to sing. He repeated
+the process with a second hymn, when Abel made a prayer; then Uncle
+Sam read from the Burial Service and began his exordium, apologizing
+for his inability to speak much on account of a sore throat, but
+holding forth for about half an hour upon the necessity for all to
+prepare for "dis bed," filling his discourse with Scripture
+illustrations and quotations aptly and with force, using the story of
+"Antoninus and Suffirus" as a proof that God would not have any "half
+religions"--that if anybody had "hid his Lord's money in de eart' he
+must grabble for it before 'twas too late." He read from the service
+again, one of the men throwing on earth at the usual place. When they
+came to cover up the grave, the men constantly changed hoes with those
+who had not handled them before, that each might aid, women and old
+men stooping to throw in a handful. Abel made another prayer, they
+sang again and dispersed.
+
+    It was of this scene that W. C. G. wrote the following
+    lines:
+
+THE NEGRO BURYING-GROUND.
+
+    'Mid the sunny flat of the cotton-field
+      Lies an acre of forest-tangle still;
+    A cloister dim, where the grey moss waves
+      And the live-oaks lock their arms at will.
+
+    Here in the shadows the slaves would hide
+      As they dropped the hoe at death's release,
+    And leave no sign but a sinking mound
+      To show where they passed on their way to peace.
+
+    This was the Gate--there was none but this--
+      To a Happy Land where men were men;
+    And the dusky fugitives, one by one,
+      Stole in from the bruise of the prison-pen.
+
+    When, lo! in the distance boomed the guns,
+      The bruise was over, and "Massa" had fled!
+    But _Death_ is the "Massa" that never flees,
+      And still to the oaks they bore the dead.
+
+    'Twas at set of sun; a tattered troop
+      Of children circled a little grave,
+    Chanting an anthem rich in its peace
+      As ever pealed in cathedral-nave,--
+
+    The A, B, C, that the lips below
+      Had learnt with them in the school to shout.
+    Over and over they sung it slow,
+      Crooning a mystic meaning out.
+
+    A, B, C, D, E, F, G,--
+      Down solemn alphabets they swept:
+    The oaks leaned close, the moss swung low,--
+      What strange new sound among them crept?
+
+    The holiest hymn that the children knew!
+      'Twas dreams come real, and heaven come near;
+    'Twas light, and liberty, and joy,
+      And "white-folks' sense,"--and God right here!
+
+    Over and over; they dimly felt
+      _This_ was the charm could make black white,
+    This was the secret of "Massa's" pride,
+      And this, unknown, made the negro's night.
+
+    What could they sing of braver cheer
+      To speed on his unseen way the friend?
+    The children were facing the mystery Death
+      With the deepest prayer that their hearts could send.
+
+    Children, too, and the mysteries last!
+      We are but comrades with them _there_,--
+    Stammering over a meaning vast,
+      Crooning our guesses of how and where.
+
+    But the children were right with their A, B, C;
+      In our stammering guess so much we say!
+    The singers were happy, and so are we:
+      Deep as our wants are the prayers we pray.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Captain Oliver Fripp's Plantation, June 9._ I came here, in
+consequence of a letter received from Mr. Pierce, asking me to take
+charge over some plantations here. There is a Mr. Sumner here,--lately
+arrived,--who is teaching. The place is quite at the other end of the
+island from Coffin's Point. At present I am by no means settled; it
+seems like jumping from the 19th century into the Middle Ages to
+return from the civilization and refinement which the ladies
+instituted at Coffin's to the ruggedness of bachelor existence.
+
+_June 22._ In regard to danger of sickness, I hear much about it,--but
+I think it is exaggerated. The white overseer stayed on Edgar Fripp's
+Plantation--close by--all summer. The planters generally went to
+Beaufort or the Village, but I think very much as we go out of town in
+summer. The summer was the fashionable and social time here, when the
+rich people lived together, gave parties, etc.
+
+_July 6._ The people do not work very willingly,--things are not so
+steady as they have become at Coffin's. The district is even more
+exposed to the influence of visits to and from the camps.
+
+We had quite a celebration for the people on the Fourth. A stage was
+erected near the old Episcopal church in a cool grove of live-oaks,
+all grey with long trails of Southern moss. A large flag was obtained
+and suspended between trees across the road--it was good to see the
+old flag again. The people had been notified the previous Sunday, and
+I should think about a thousand were present, in gala dress and mood,
+from all parts of the island. When the ladies, the invited
+superintendents from Port Royal, and the General (Saxton)[48] had
+taken their seats, the people marched up in two processions from each
+direction, carrying green branches and singing. Under the flag they
+gave three rousing cheers, then grouped around the stage. The children
+from three or four of the schools marched in separately. After a
+prayer and some native songs, Mr. Philbrick, the General, and the
+_Times_ reporter addressed them, and then one of the old darkies got
+on the stage and in an ecstasy of obedience and gratitude exhorted
+them to share his feelings, I believe.
+
+For an hour and a half there was a general press for the hard
+bread, herring, and molasses and water. When everything was
+devoured, the superintendents rode up to "the Oaks,"--Pierce's
+headquarters[49],--and had a collation. So much for Fourth of July. It
+was strange and moving down here on South Carolina ground, with the
+old flag waving above us, to tell a thousand slaves that they were
+freemen,[50] that that flag was theirs, that our country now meant
+their country, and to tell them how Northerners read the
+Declaration--"All men are born free and equal." The people had a grand
+time, they say, and seem really grateful for it. It was a new thing
+for them, a Fourth of July for the negro. In old times they worked, if
+with any difference, harder than usual, while their masters met and
+feasted and drank.
+
+    The rest of this extract is an expression--which will be
+    followed later by many like it--of the sense that people in
+    the North were getting too complacent a notion of what had
+    been done and what could be done for the Sea Island negroes.
+
+Pierce's report[51] has too much sugar in it. His statements are
+facts, but facts with the silver lining out. The starving, naked
+condition of the blacks was much exaggerated when we started to come
+down here.
+
+_July 25._ On the whole, affairs conduct themselves pretty quietly and
+regularly. The cases of discipline are the most vexing and amusing. It
+is a peculiar experience to be detective, policeman, judge, jury, and
+jailer,--all at once,--sometimes in cases of assault and battery, and
+general, plantation _squows_,--then in a divorce case,--last Sunday in
+a whiskey-selling affair; a calf-murder is still on the docket.
+
+    The next letter is the first from C. P. W., who went to Port
+    Royal early in July, on the same steamer with Charles F.
+    Folsom of Harvard, '62, who is often mentioned in the
+    letters that follow, and with several other young
+    Massachusetts men who had volunteered as superintendents.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Beaufort, July 7._ We got our luggage into the Mayflower and started
+for this place [from Hilton Head] about six o'clock. It was droll
+enough to find a party of Boston men taking a sail in the old Hingham
+boat up Beaufort River under United States passes, to superintend
+South Carolina plantations.
+
+_July 15. Coffin's Point._ The nearest of my five plantations is three
+miles distant, along the shore road, and the four on that road extend
+about two miles; my fifth is on the upper road, to Beaufort, about
+four and a half miles from the Point. The roads are mere tracks worn
+in the fields, sometimes through woods, like our wood roads, only more
+sandy. In front of my plantations there are bushes on the right-hand
+side, for some distance, the field being bounded on the other side by
+woods. Fields usually very long, sometimes three quarters of a mile,
+divided across the road by fences, gates occurring at every passage
+from one to another; the plantation houses and quarters at an average
+of one third of a mile from the road, paths through cotton-fields
+leading to them. Imagine a perfectly flat country, relieved by belts
+of trees, and intersected by rows of brush, single trees standing here
+and there in the bare, hot fields. Very little fresh water either in
+brooks or pools. Salt-water creeks are to be crossed on the shore
+roads; the richest lands in the adjoining meadows. A cotton-field
+looks not unlike a potato-field, the rows higher and more distinct,
+the plants further apart, usually two feet; the rows five feet. Corn
+planted on rows like cotton. You would be surprised to see the soil in
+which these flourish; beach sand, in many places, is the principal
+ingredient. The fields are very much the colour of the sea-beach.
+
+We live on the fat of the land. We are allowed $5.24 per month for
+rations, but I do not use even that. Rice, sugar, and molasses are our
+principal draughts from the Commissary.
+
+    The colonists referred to at the beginning of the next
+    letter were a thousand blacks from the island of Edisto,
+    which the United States Government, after taking, had
+    evacuated, as too troublesome to hold. The place where they
+    were quartered, as described in the first sentence, was St.
+    Helena Village.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_July 20._ The Secesh houses there are insufficient to accommodate
+them all, and they stow themselves in sheds, tents, and even in the
+open air, as best they can. Many of them are to be distributed on
+plantations where there are quarters; they will probably be set to
+planting slip-potatoes and cow-pease.
+
+Everything needs personal supervision here; every barrel or parcel
+must be kept under your eye from the time it leaves the storehouse in
+Beaufort till it is put in your mule-cart, on Ladies Island. Then you
+must be at home when the team arrives and see everything brought into
+the storeroom. There is a good deal of red tape, too, at Beaufort, the
+untying and retying of which is a tedious and vexatious operation.[52]
+They are becoming more strict here in Beaufort in several respects;
+passes are needed by every one. There is a great deal of running to
+Hilton Head and Bay Point, which is to be stopped as far as possible.
+
+_July 30._ I ride right through the morning, from nine till four,
+without suffering from the heat so much as in one trip to town and
+back one of our warm, still days at home. I have my white umbrella,
+there is usually some breeze, often a very cool one; the motion of the
+sulky puts me to sleep, but the heat of the sun has not been
+oppressive more than once or twice on this island. If I had attempted
+to follow all the directions I received before leaving, concerning my
+health, I should have been by this time a lunatic.
+
+Rust is such a common thing here that we get used to it. Mrs.
+Philbrick's needles rust in her work-bag; our guns, even after
+cleaning and oiling, are soon covered with a thin coating. Food moulds
+here very rapidly, crackers soften and dried beef spoils. Hominy, of
+course, is the chief article of food. I think it tastes best hot in
+the negro cabins, without accompaniment of molasses, sugar, or salt.
+
+Our life here is, necessarily, very monotonous: the hired people come
+and go, or we go and come to and from them, and the mosquitoes and
+flies do very much as we do. Mosquitoes are really a great annoyance
+at times. They introduce themselves under the netting at night in a
+very mysterious way, and wake us up early with their singing and
+stinging. My theory is that those that can lick the others get
+themselves boosted through the apertures; the animal is smaller than
+ours at the North. I think that they are unaccustomed to human
+treatment; they will not be brushed away, and slapping, if not fatal,
+only excites their curiosity. There is also a small fly which appears
+on warm days after a rain in great numbers. Driving on my beat the
+other day, and holding my umbrella in one hand and newspaper scrap in
+the other, I was driven nearly wild by their continuous attentions. It
+is very easy to read driving here; the roads are so sandy that the
+horse has to walk a great part of the way and one is glad to be able
+to employ the weary hours with literature.
+
+This is the greatest country for false rumors that I ever was in.
+Communication is very uncertain, nothing but special messengers to
+bring us news from the outside world. An occasional visit to Mr.
+Soule[53] or to Beaufort enlivens the long weeks, and we welcome the
+gathering at church on Sunday, with the gossip and the mail and the
+queer collection of black beings in gay toggery, as the great event of
+our lives. If it were not for the newspapers, I might forget the time
+of year. It is very amusing to be appealed to by a negro to know how
+soon the 1st of August is; to tell them it is the 20th of July gives
+them very little idea.
+
+I should like to look in upon you and bring you some of the delicacies
+of the tropical clime, waterm[=e]lions, as the "inhabitants" call
+them, rich and red; huge, mellow figs, seedy but succulent; plump
+quails, sweet curlew, delicate squirrels, fat rabbits, tender
+chickens. We fare well here. If the wretched country only had more
+rocks and less sand, better horses, more tolerable staff officers,[54]
+and just a little more frequent communication with New England, I
+should perhaps be content to make quite a long stay, if I were wanted.
+
+I will only remark at present that I find the nigs rather more
+agreeable, on the whole, than I expected; that they are much to be
+preferred to the Irish; that their blackness is soon forgotten, and as
+it disappears their expression grows upon one, so that, after a week
+or so of intercourse with a plantation, the people are as easily
+distinguished and as individual as white people; I have even noticed
+resemblances in some of them to white people I have seen. They are
+about as offensively servile as I expected. The continual "sur,"
+"maussa," with which their remarks are besprinkled is trying, but soon
+ceases to be noticed. "Bauss" is the most singular appellation, used
+by a few only.
+
+"M's Hayyet's brudder" passed through the Pine Grove "nigger-house"
+one day and retired, after a distinguished ovation, incubating, like a
+hen, upon a sulky-box full of eggs. Promises to show Miss Harriet's
+picture, not yet fulfilled, were received with the greatest
+satisfaction.
+
+We have been making out our pay-rolls for May and June; the blanks,
+delayed in the printing, have just arrived. Red Tape. The money has
+been ready a long time. We ought to pay for July at the same time.
+This, understand, is only a partial payment, on account; the full
+payment is to be made when the crop comes in.
+
+_Aug. 7._ Last Friday Mr. Philbrick and I got our money. The people
+generally took the payment in excellent spirit. A few seemed
+surprised, not knowing what to do with so much money; a few, of
+course, grumbled at the amount, though a clear explanation was always
+understood and received with reasonable satisfaction. I thought that
+one or two were disposed to take advantage of the fact that I had not
+taken the account of acres,[55] and so tried to make a difficulty by
+telling strange tales. But there was a great deal of manliness and
+fairness shown, with a degree of patience and foresight that was very
+gratifying.
+
+_Aug. 16._ Perhaps the best way to give you a satisfactory notion of
+"what my work is, how I like it," etc., is to give an account of a
+day's work on my plantations.
+
+[Illustration: rude portal]
+
+Thursday, Aug. 14. I allow Mr. Philbrick to have his horse saddled
+first,--this was polite,--and as soon as he is out of the
+gate--"Robert!"--"Surr!" "Put my _smallest_ horse into the sulky." I
+retire within, and collect the necessary equipment for a day "out,"
+viz.: white umbrella, whip (riding, long enough for sulky use),
+plantation-book, spring-balance (some rations to be delivered), much
+stout twine, for mending harness if need be, paper of turnip-seeds,
+two thirds of a pound of powder, and one novel, "An Only Son," for
+occupation during the first weary hour, consumed in a three miles walk
+over a sandy road. The young horse, caught at last,--our stud of four
+graze on the turfy acre fenced in about the house,--is a little
+restive at first in the unwonted restraint of the harness, but soon
+gets broken in to steady work by the heavy roads. Somewhat over an
+hour's slow progress brings me to the rude portal which spans the
+entrance of the McTureous estate. The houses of all the plantations on
+the Sea Side road are to be found on the eastern, or left-hand as one
+rides towards Hilton Head. The character of the fields and quarters
+between the road and the water is very much the same on all the
+places. The "water" is a creek, separating the island proper from
+salt-water marshes and the higher islands outside, against which
+latter the ocean itself beats. The distance from the road to the
+creek averages half a mile. The quarters, universally called
+"nigger-houses," are strung along the bank of the creek, at about 100
+feet from the water, on a ridge between the water and the corn. The
+"big house" is a two-story affair, old, dirty, rickety, poorly put
+together and shabbily kept. Here lived old Mrs. Martha E. McTureous,
+with a large household. The James McTureous place--the other half of
+this one--is all in one and the same field. On both these places the
+houses are terribly out of repair, with wooden chimneys and mud
+floors, the people dirty and suffering from the effects of much
+confusion and discouragement in the spring. Limus,[56] their old
+driver, did much mischief by striving to keep up the old system, and
+at the same time neglected the place to go and earn money for himself.
+Then they suffered severely from the black draft, their four best men
+being taken, from a population furnishing only "eight men working
+cotton," and thirteen full hands in all. Arriving as I did after all
+the mischief was done, I have had rather a discouraging time with
+them.
+
+Entering the plantation, I am aware of old Nat. He is hoeing pease. As
+I approach, he shouts, and comes to the road, and lays before me a
+case of menace, ill usage, and threatened assault. I inspected
+convalescent boy, ascertained what work had been done,--in a general
+way, that is, learning that corn-blades had been, and were being,
+stripped, that all the able-bodied men were cutting marsh-grass for
+manure, that Tirah had planted a task of cow-pease for the Government,
+but had allowed them to go to grass,--whereupon, after personal
+inspection of said task, with an injunction to strip some corn which
+was getting dry, I drove over to the James McTureous place. Having
+received from Mr. Soule two packages of Swedish turnip-seed, I
+enquired concerning the manner of planting, how much seed was required
+for a task, etc. Dismounting from the sulky, and leaving it in charge
+of a returned volunteer (I like the sarcastic phrase), who was unwell
+and therefore lounging under the trees in front of one of the
+nigger-houses, I went forth to the field to count the acres of
+Government corn with the driver. On the way, I counted up the tasks of
+pease, slip, etc., to see if they coincided with the account given me
+by the people. Found one and a half of corn worthless, except for
+fodder. Conversed concerning marsh-grass, found another hook for
+cutting would be acceptable, gladdened their hearts with promise of
+turnip-seed, and drove off.
+
+    Not the least curious part of the curious state of things
+    described in the next paragraph is the matter-of-course view
+    of it taken by the youthful superintendent.
+
+By the way, Jim, driver on the James McTureous place, used to be slave
+of Mr. Pritchard, residing in Hunting Island,[57] which runs along
+just outside of St. Helena. He was a very cruel man,--there are
+stories of his burning negroes,--so when the "guns fired at Bay
+Point," as he couldn't run from his negroes, as the other masters did,
+for lack of transportation, his negroes ran from him, and settled
+among their friends on St. Helena. When matters were established at
+Hilton Head, Pritchard went and took the oath and got a pass, and has
+since lived at home, supporting himself by fishing and raising hogs.
+He often visits Jim and others of his old slaves, getting them to go
+fishing with him. Now one day last year, Jim and Mr. Pritchard found a
+four-oared boat--I give Jim's story--on the beach. Pritchard promised
+Jim half the value of the boat, but has since refused to fulfill his
+promise. Jim referred the matter to me. I told him to send Pritchard
+up to me. I think there will be no trouble, if Jim's story is
+straight.
+
+Cherry Hill, one of T. A. Coffin's[58] places, comes next to
+McTureous'. Cherry Hill is one of the most encouraging places I have.
+The people are of a more sensible caste, old people, almost entirely,
+who see the sense and propriety of right measures, and display a most
+comforting willingness to work and be content, though with less
+energy, of course, than younger men. The place owes much of its
+success this year to Tony, the driver, a person of great discretion,
+energy, and influence. The ingenious method by which he induced the
+people to plant more cotton than they wanted to is entertaining,
+though a little troublesome to us in making out the pay-roll. Mr.
+Palmer, Mr. Soule's assistant, counted sixteen acres of cotton on the
+place. But the several accounts of the people on the place added up
+only fourteen and a half acres. In this perplexity, Tony was appealed
+to, who explained the difficulty thus. The land was laid off in rows,
+twenty-one to the task, each row being one hundred and five feet long.
+Tony staked off the tasks anew, throwing twenty-four instead of
+twenty-one rows into the task, thus adding twelve rows to every acre,
+which the people blindly tilled, never suspecting but that they were
+having their own way about their cotton.
+
+Mulberry Hill, owned by Captain John Fripp, is a little place, with
+not many more hands than Cherry Hill, but they are younger. The driver
+here is an extremely nice person, hardly energetic enough, I should
+think, for the old system, but a very quiet, gentlemanly man,
+perfectly frank and open in his manner, and a little superior in his
+conversation to those by whom he is surrounded. He is much respected
+in the dark community. It is to his bounty that I owe several huge
+watermelons which I have brought home for our table, besides several
+partial favors of the same kind, enjoyed under his own roof.
+
+To these people I was to deliver one month's rations of hard bread. It
+comes in fifty-pound boxes; and as a day's ration is three quarters of
+a pound, and there are thirty-one days in August, it requires but a
+simple calculation to determine that each person entitled to a full
+ration should receive twenty-three and one quarter pounds, and that,
+one child being reckoned one sixth of a grown person (monstrous, you
+will say, when eating is concerned,--but such is law), one box must be
+delivered to every two grown-persons-and-one-child. Having the people
+together, I took the opportunity to enquire of them the number of
+tasks of cow-pease, slip-potatoes, etc., they had planted, likewise
+the amount of cotton they had hoed, "since Mr. Palmer took the last
+account." It will be a great job making up the next pay-roll. I hope
+the people won't lie worse than usual. If they do, if the drivers
+should fail me, especially,--if, as will probably happen, their own
+accounts, added up, do not tally within several tasks with my count of
+the whole, and if at the same time I shall be required to make out the
+whole roll in two days, and both my horses should have sore backs at
+once--you can imagine what a comfortable, easy time I shall have of
+it.
+
+From Mulberry Hill, after looking at some doubtful cotton in the field
+with the driver, Paris, and finally setting it down as not properly
+hoed, I proceeded to the next plantation, Alvirah Fripp's, commonly
+called the Hope Place. It is the largest, the most distant, and, in
+many respects, the toughest plantation I have. There are a great many
+men of twenty-five to forty, "tough-nuts" many of them, and all
+looking so much alike that it is impossible to remember the name that
+belongs to any one face, though all their names and all their faces
+are familiar enough. I can see that it is a great drawback to my
+obtaining their confidence to have to ask one and another, as I ask,
+"how many tasks of slip have you planted for the Government, and how
+many for your own use?" to have to ask also, in variously modified
+phrase, "What's your name?" Recognize a negro, remember anything in
+which he has any interest, and you have his confidence at once. I not
+only surprised but made my fast friend a fellow on one of my places
+by calling him by his name the second time I saw him.
+
+The men on the Hope Place are not all of a poor stamp, of course. The
+driver, Isaac, is my very ideal of a nigger-driver on a large place,
+made alive. Strong of body and up to all the dodges of the plantation
+life, he shows the effect--not apparent, in such a disagreeable manner
+at least, in Tony and Paris--of having a good many rough fellows to
+manage. I do not think he is liked on the place; I doubt his
+frankness; I think he is somewhat disposed to kick against the new
+authorities, disputing, _e. g._, their right to take away "his" horse,
+the little one Mr. Palmer and I foraged from him the first day I came.
+
+Charles, the carpenter, is a man after my own heart. He attracted me
+first by his dignified and respectful demeanor, and by his superior
+culture. He has a little touch of self-consideration. He, more than
+any other negro I know, seems to me like a white person. I forget his
+color entirely while talking with him, and am often surprised, on
+approaching a black man, to recognize Charles' features. I think he is
+a pretty able fellow,--I should like to give him some regular
+employment in his trade. It seems an imposition to expect such a man
+to work cotton and corn.
+
+Beaufort is neither Bofort nor Boofort nor Biufort, but Bueft, the u
+pronounced like the umlauted u in German. Sometimes one hears Biffut.
+Hooper, extremist in ridicule, says Biffit. A letter of Mrs.
+Philbrick's went, "missent," to Beaufort, N. C., which is, I believe,
+Bofort. Had the pronunciation been written on the envelope, as one
+hears it among the "black inhabitants," it would have gone to the
+Dead Letter Office, unless, by good luck, the S. C. had brought it as
+far as Hilton Head.
+
+We get, first or last, a pretty good notion of one another (you
+understand I am speaking of the white population only), though we see
+very little of each other, except when we are on adjoining
+plantations. The Oaks is a rendezvous where we see each other at
+times; we meet occasionally in Biffut; but church is the principal
+meeting-house on the island, of course, and all the gossip of the week
+is fully aired on Sunday.
+
+There is very little to tell about General Saxton, except that it is a
+great pity that he does not come onto the plantations himself and
+learn something, personally, of their state and their wants. He was
+extremely surprised the other day when Mr. Philbrick represented to
+him the necessity of making the last payment promptly; it was then
+twenty days behind time. A good deal of ignorance is shown in various
+ways in the orders sent from headquarters--_e. g._, the order that has
+been issued concerning marketing, nothing to be sold on the
+plantations except by leave of the superintendents and no boats to go
+to Hilton Head or Beaufort without a "Market Pass" from the
+superintendent. Until I hear that a guard is stationed [at Hilton
+Head],--which I shall the day after it is done,--I shall not order men
+to report to me before going over. I have no idea of making a rule I
+cannot enforce.
+
+On the whole, our work is succeeding as well as the disappointments
+and hindrances[59] of the year allow us to expect. A great deal will
+depend on the manner and promptness of the next payments and the
+treatment of the people at harvest-time.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 2._ There is one frightful contingency,--a much talked of
+evacuation. Where the people will go, I know not; but possibly to
+Hayti. In that case I presume the superintendents will go with
+them,--I certainly shall. General Saxton, I am sorry to say, goes
+to-morrow in a gunboat--for his health. It leaves us without a head
+and worse--renders evacuation all the more likely. It is thought that
+his presence and words prevented it several weeks ago. I doubt if he
+comes back,--he is not satisfied with his work here, does not enjoy
+it. It is properly the duty of a civilian, who should have military
+rank merely to give him a position. Saxton and his staff understand
+little or nothing of the real wants of the plantations, and though
+affairs have of course been improved by his presence and authority,
+very little in proportion to our hopes and our needs has been
+accomplished. We need a civilian, who is a first-rate business
+man,--of force, of forethought, of devoted interest in this
+undertaking. But there is no use in writing this,--rather some harm.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Sept. 6._ Things are in a state of suspension generally; I confess
+that a decidedly azure hue has prevailed during the last week. Talk of
+evacuation, General Saxton's departure, threatened attacks, and even
+successful forays on an island behind Hilton Head by the rebels, the
+increased inconvenience and vexation of red-tape-ism, threatened
+changes in the policy to be pursued towards the people in some minor
+matters, involving, however, infringement of our authority with them,
+it is feared, besides the breaking of promises already made; the
+difficulty of getting them promptly and properly paid, and of getting
+the value of their work fairly estimated; the general inefficiency,
+ignorance, and indecision of the authorities, wanting a defined system
+and hampered by prejudice and ignorance and selfishness,--all these
+things make the aspect of affairs dark enough at times, and one gets
+discouraged and disheartened and disgusted and disappointed, and is
+ready to part and have nothing more to do with the concern. When, in
+addition to actual evils, one feels that there is a strong opposition
+to the enterprise, and that the difficulties are made as vexatious as
+possible, by jealous and hostile army officers, so that, in short, the
+spirit of the stronger party here is against us; and when, added to
+injury, one has to bear
+
+                        "the law's delays,
+    The insolence of office, and the spurns,
+    Which patient merit of th' unworthy takes,
+    One almost swears his homeward voyage to make,
+    In the next steamer."
+
+Ignorance and want of confidence are the two evils which we suffer;
+want of confidence by the powers in us, by us in the negroes. It is
+painful to note how distrust must be the rule; how every one must take
+it for granted that those under him are cheats and liars. Hence the
+necessity of red tape, and its delays and vexatious inconveniences.
+Mr. Philbrick says, "Working for a Corporation is bad enough, but
+working for the Government is very much worse." However, it wouldn't
+be so bad if the Government officers knew enough of the plantation
+work to do the proper thing at the proper time, even though they use
+the red-tape method in doing it. I believe I knew more after being two
+weeks on my places than the Heads do at Beaufort now about the details
+of the work.
+
+_Sept. 9._ General Saxton went North last Friday. It is more than
+hinted that his principal purpose is to obtain greater powers for
+himself. Hunter has gone North too, "in disgust," it is said, and
+General Brannan, who is said to befriend the enemies of the United
+States, and has given Saxton a deal of trouble, is left at the head of
+the Department.
+
+    Brigadier-General John M. Brannan was in command for a
+    fortnight only, pending the arrival of Major-General Ormsby
+    M. Mitchel.
+
+_Sept. 18._ The President having sent word not to evacuate, you need
+not be anxious about us. I was a little afraid that A. L. would give
+in to Hunter, evacuate all but Hilton Head, and colonize the negroes
+from the other islands; glad he has more sense.
+
+    Here follows a detailed account of the kind of magisterial
+    power which the superintendents found themselves called upon
+    to "assume," though they "had it not."
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sept. 23._ Alex sent Finnie here before breakfast to request me to
+come over at once, for Cato was driving his, Alex's daughter Rose, his
+own wife, out of the house. I rode over after breakfast. Found the
+whole plantation excited and on the _qui vive_. Cato had broken up
+Rose's bedstead and thrown it out of doors and bundled up all her
+things. I began to talk with him, but he was very saucy and threatened
+to kill the first man who interfered with him in "his own house." I
+thought it quite time to test him, and taking hold of his arm told him
+he must go home with me. He hung back sulkily at first, but in a
+minute yielded and said he would do so. I stepped out of the house and
+he after. Caroline asked me to read her a letter from John at Hilton
+Head, and while preparing to do so Cato dodged about the house and
+made for the woods across the cornfield. I cried out for him to halt,
+but he ran the faster. I pulled out my revolver and fired two shots
+over his head, but he only ran the harder, and never stopped till he
+reached the woods. I then had a talk with his father, old Toby, who
+"wished I had shot him and stopped the confusion," and with Alex, both
+of whom I enjoined to hold their tongues in future. When halfway home
+Cato stood waiting for me in the road, opening a gate as I approached,
+touched his hat and said he was very sorry for what he had done and
+was willing to go with me. I told him to follow me to the house and I
+would talk with him. I found him very humble. I reasoned with him,
+telling him I was sure Rose's child was his and that he had done her
+great wrong, that he ought not to listen to such scandal after living
+peaceably with her for eight or nine years. Cato said he hoped he
+should never do so again. I told him that if I ever found him making
+any more trouble here I should send him to work on Fort Pulaski.
+
+    Mr. Philbrick's next letter shows him trying to arouse the
+    slothful by "sharing out" a bale of white cotton cloth, in
+    bonus form, to the industrious.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sept. 27._ I gave one yard for every task of cotton hoed in July,
+requiring about 600 yards. The Coffin people all got some, but about
+half the people on the Fripp plantations had to go without, having
+neglected the last hoeing. The people who were too lazy to hoe their
+cotton in July looked rather glum, and those who got their cloth
+laughed and looked exultant. Some people here got twenty-two yards,
+and many got only two or three, but all took it thankfully and seemed
+content that they got any. Those who got so little will have to buy
+more, which they are doing already. I sell it at about half the price
+that is asked by our own quartermaster, so I shall be liberally
+patronized. In dividing up this cotton cloth I deducted from the
+shares of those people to whom clothing was given last spring the
+value of that clothing. The only cases were those of Martha, Amaritta,
+and Rosetta, to each of whom Mr. G. gave a dress. Rosetta's cotton was
+only _one_ acre and her share of cloth was therefore but four yards,
+which was fully paid for last spring. So she got nothing now. She
+didn't take it very kindly, and growled about the dress being too
+small for her, so she couldn't wear it, whereupon I offered to take it
+back, but I haven't heard anything more about it. The more I see of
+these people, the more I am opposed to the practice of _giving_ them
+anything except in payment for services actually performed. The cases
+of destitution are comparatively very few.
+
+    At this time some of the superintendents were trying hard to
+    instruct the negroes in military drill. A young enthusiast
+    on one of the Fripp places was very proud of his little
+    squad of black recruits, but found their attendance on the
+    daily drill amazingly irregular. Apropos of his own efforts
+    in this direction, Mr. Philbrick pursues his letter as
+    follows:
+
+I have tried in vain to get my young men together to drill for
+self-defense; my twenty-five guns are lying useless. One might as well
+think of a combination among the Boston kittens to scratch the eyes
+out of all the Boston dogs as to look for an insurrection in this
+State, if the negroes on these islands are a fair sample of those on
+the main. If there should be any insurrection in the South, it will
+not be in this State. The negroes in the sugar plantation districts
+are different, I suppose, being, a larger portion of them, Kentucky
+and Virginia born, torn from their old homes or sent South for bad
+behavior, and therefore more revengeful. But you know the people here
+are too timid to do any fighting unless driven to it. If General
+Hunter had not _forced_ them into his regiment last May, we might do
+more at drilling now. As it is, my men won't listen to me when I talk
+about it; they only suspect me of wanting to press them into service
+by stealth, and lose what little confidence they have in my sincerity.
+
+    C. P. W. opens the next letter with a melancholy comparison
+    between the autumnal glories of "home" and the absence
+    thereof on the Sea Islands of South Carolina.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 3._ Here there are no stones but grindstones, no elevation that
+can be called a hill except one mound, forty feet long and ten feet
+high, and that is artificial. The roads are sandy, the fields are
+broad and flat and full of weeds, the water stands about in great
+pools, not running off, but absorbing into the sandy soil.
+
+I find myself often using nigger idioms, especially in conversation
+with them. It is often very difficult to make them understand English,
+and one slips into the form of speech which they can most easily
+comprehend. O how deliciously obtuse they are on occasions! A boy came
+to me for a curry-comb for a Government mule this morning, which I was
+to send to the driver on his place. While scratching my name on it, I
+asked him if Jim had sent for some tobacco, as he said he should.
+"Yes, sarr." "Did he send the money?" "Sarr?" Repeated. "No, Sarr."
+"How much does he want?" "Don't know, Sarr." "How can I send the
+tobacco, if I don't know how much he wants?" "He send for him, Sarr."
+"Did he send you for it?" "No, Sarr." "Whom did he send?" "I dunno,
+Sarr." "How will he get his tobacco?" "He come himself, Sarr." "Where
+is he?" "Him at home, Sarr." "He is coming to get it himself, is he?"
+"Sarr?" Repeated, in nigger phrase. "Yes, Sarr." "Did Bruce send you
+for anything beside the curry-comb?" "Yes, Sarr." "What else?" "Sarr?"
+"Did Bruce tell you fetch anything beside this?" "No, Sarr." "Is this
+all Bruce told you to get?" "Yes, Sarr," with intelligence. "Go home,
+then, and give that to Bruce. Good-morning."
+
+This delay in payments is outrageous. It was bad enough to pay for May
+and June work the second week in August; but here is the work of July
+and August unpaid for yet, and with no prospect of its being paid for
+for six weeks to come.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sunday morning, Oct. 5._ The President's proclamation[60] does not
+seem to have made a great deal of stir anywhere. Here the people don't
+take the slightest interest in it. They have been free already for
+nearly a year, as far as they could see, and have so little
+comprehension about the magnitude of our country and are so supremely
+selfish that you can't beat it into their heads that any one else is
+to be provided for beyond St. Helena Island. After telling them of the
+proclamation and its probable effects, they all ask if they would be
+given up to their masters in case South Carolina comes back to the
+Union. I tell them there is little chance of such a thing, but a
+strong probability that there will be a long, bloody war, and that
+they ought to prepare to do their share of the fighting. I can't get
+one man to come up and drill yet. They say they would like to have
+guns to shoot with, but are afraid of being sent off into the "big
+fight," though willing to fight any one who comes onto this island to
+molest them. Of course their defense would amount to nothing unless
+they were organized and drilled. I do not, however, feel any
+uneasiness about the rebels coming here. If they came at all they
+would attack our forces at Beaufort or Hilton Head, where I am
+confident they would be whipped. Refugees continue to come in from the
+mainland every week. They all agree in saying that there are no troops
+left about here but boys, and that it would be an easy matter to take
+Charleston now.
+
+I am anxious to get the winter clothing here before next pay-day, so
+the people may buy it in preference to the trash they see in the shops
+at Beaufort, etc. Nothing is heard of our money yet. Some say that
+General Saxton will probably bring it. I only wish he would come; his
+picket-guard at St. Helena amuses itself hunting cattle on the Fripp
+Point Plantation. As I have no positive proof against them I can't do
+anything but watch the cattle to prevent a repetition of it.
+
+_October 7._ I received on Sunday a copy of President Lincoln's
+proclamation. I now feel more than ever the importance of our mission
+here, not so much for the sake of the few hundreds under my own eyes
+as for the sake of the success of the experiment we are now trying. It
+is, you know, a question even with our good President whether negroes
+can be made available as free laborers on this soil. I, for one,
+believe they can, and I am more than ever in earnest to show it, for
+the importance of this question is greater than ever, now that we are
+so near a general crash of the whole social fabric in the Southern
+States. I don't think the old masters will ever be successful in
+employing the blacks, but I do believe that Yankees can be.
+
+Our people are picking the cotton very industriously, and though they
+have only about one third of last year's crop to gather, they are
+determined to make the most of it, and allow none to waste. It is
+interesting to see how much more economical of food they are this
+year than formerly. Every family now feels the responsibility of
+providing food for itself. The same rule should be followed with all
+tools. I would make the men pay a low price for every tool they want
+to use, and pay wages enough to enable them to do so.[61]
+
+_Oct. 8._ I succeeded day before yesterday in getting thirteen of the
+young men on this plantation to come up and drill, but they did not
+come again yesterday. I don't believe there is sufficient zeal among
+them to enable them to go through the tedious routine of drill with
+any regularity, unless held together by some stronger motive than now
+exists. I find them rather stupid. About half didn't know which their
+right foot was, and kept facing to the left when I told them to face
+to the right. They seemed to enjoy it, however.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 9._ We need people at headquarters who understand the details of
+plantation work. There is no one now who knows anything about the
+plantations except Hooper,[62] and he knows very little. He confesses
+and mourns at it himself; but he has done nothing but go back and
+forth between the Oaks and Beaufort ever since he came down. There is
+a general want of concerted system on all the places. Each
+superintendent has to do as he thinks best in all cases himself.
+General plans are usually determined on just too late.
+
+_Oct. 14._ The steamer which brought your letter brought also the
+General. It is said that he comes with additional powers.[63] This
+question will probably be settled soon, as a difficulty has already
+arisen between him and his old antagonist, Brannan, on a point of
+authority, and our General has gone to Hilton Head, probably to see
+Mitchel about it. This interference of the military authorities with
+our work and our privileges is going to make trouble. One of Mitchel's
+first acts was to send to Judd, as Superintendent of Port Royal
+Island, for 10,000 bushels of corn for army purposes. Poor Judd had
+been rationing his people for some time, owing to a lack of provisions
+occasioned by the depredations of the soldiers. We have none too much
+provision now, and any considerable drain must throw the plantations,
+sooner or later, upon the Government for support.
+
+    In the next letter (October 21) Mr. Philbrick says that the
+    corn harvest, which is so light on St. Helena as a whole
+    that it will hardly feed the people in the interval between
+    old and new potatoes, will nevertheless amount to a surplus
+    at Coffin's, adding:
+
+I attribute the greater comparative success on my plantations to my
+having abandoned the system of working a common field early in the
+season.[64] I now measure the yield of each family's corn-patch
+separately, with a view to pay them for it, if they have enough for
+their support in their private fields, or to regulate their allowance,
+if they need any, by the quantity they raise.
+
+We had a case of imprisonment here last week. I learned that old Nat's
+boy, Antony, who wanted to marry Phillis, had given her up and taken
+Mary Ann, July's daughter, without saying a word to me or any other
+white man. I called him up to me one afternoon when I was there and
+told him he must go to church and be married by the minister according
+to law. He flatly refused, with a good deal of impertinence, using
+some profane language learned in camp. I thereupon told him he must go
+home with me, showing him I had a pistol, which I put in my outside
+pocket. He came along, swearing all the way and muttering his
+determination not to comply. I gave him lodging in the dark hole under
+the stairs, with nothing to eat. Next morning old Nat came and
+expostulated with him, joined by old Ben and Uncle Sam, all of whom
+pitched into him and told him he was very foolish and ought to be
+proud of such a chance. He finally gave up and promised to go. So I
+let him off with an apology. Next Sunday he appeared and was married
+before a whole church full of people. The wedding took place between
+the regular church service and the funeral, allowing an hour of
+interval, however.
+
+Cato never went back to Rose as he promised. 'Siah tells me he is
+afraid of his father, old Toby, who has been in a state of chronic
+feud with Rose's father, old Alex, and does all in his power to make
+trouble. Cato has gone over to Pine Grove and begun to build a house.
+I daresay he will take Rose into it bye and bye, when it is done.
+
+I have been very busy lately weighing pease and cotton and measuring
+corn. The latter is not very pleasant, for I have to stay in the
+corn-house and keep tally from nine to three o'clock, and the weevils
+are more numerous than were the fleas the first week we came here to
+live. Mosquitoes are about gone, but we have sand-flies again. No
+fleas yet that I am aware of.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 23._ General Saxton returned, as you know, with full powers from
+the President to raise one or if possible five negro regiments. I
+think it will be difficult to induce the men to enlist. Their
+treatment in the spring and summer was such as to prejudice them
+against military duty under any circumstances. They were forcibly
+drafted, were ill-treated by at least one officer,--who is a terror to
+the whole black population,--have never been paid a cent; they
+suffered from the change of diet, and quite as much from homesickness.
+I think if their treatment in the spring had been different, it would
+be possible to raise a regiment on these islands; as it is, I think it
+will be surprising if they fill a company from St. Helena. I think,
+too, that it would be very difficult, under any circumstances, to
+train them into fighting condition under six months, and if they had
+at the first the prospect of coming into actual conflict with the
+Secesh, the number who would be willing to enlist would be extremely
+small. They have not, generally speaking, the pluck to look in the
+face the prospect of actual fighting, nor have they the character to
+enlist for their own defense. They can understand the necessity of
+their knowing how to defend themselves, they acknowledge their
+obligations to help the Yankees, and do their part in keeping the
+islands against their old masters; a good many of them express their
+willingness to fight under white officers, and some have intimated a
+desire to know something of drill and how to handle a musket. But they
+are very timid and cautious. They fear that when they have learned
+their drill they will be drafted. They are very reluctant to leave
+their homes to go and live on Hilton Head or Port Royal, in camp, away
+from their families and crops. The mere mention of "Captain Tobey,"
+with a hint that "General Saxton wants the black people to help the
+white soldiers keep the Secesh off the islands," sends them in panic
+into the woods. Mr. Philbrick saw the General this morning, and was
+told that if the regiment were not raised we should have to give up
+the whole enterprise; that the President and the people of the North
+were looking to the raising of this regiment as a test experiment.
+That if it succeeded and it was found that the negroes could and would
+aid the Government, then the Government would be encouraged to hold
+the islands, trusting not only that the negroes could aid in defending
+them, but that as fast as negroes were freed, they could be used
+effectively against the rebels. Moreover, that the success of one
+regiment here would make the President's proclamation a more terribly
+effective weapon against the Southerners. (There is no doubt that in
+many parts of the South, especially on the Mississippi, the negroes
+are much more intelligent than here. Those from the main seem a
+superior class to those who have always lived on the islands. The
+success of armed negroes of this inferior class would indicate the
+danger of the masters of other slaves of a higher class, when they
+learn that "all slaves of rebel masters who enter into the service of
+the United States are forever free," with their families.)
+
+If, on the other hand, no black troops can be raised, the General says
+that the Government will be discouraged from attempting any longer to
+protect at such an expense a people who cannot or will not aid in
+defending themselves. I hope that General Saxton has not held out too
+grand hopes of the success of this undertaking to the President and to
+others at the North, and I hope he is exaggerating the importance of
+the movement. Perhaps the President wants to try his colonization
+scheme on these people. He had better lose a campaign than evacuate
+these islands and give up this experiment. This experiment and the war
+must go on side by side. I hope that before the war is done we shall
+have furnished the Government with sufficient facts to enable them to
+form a policy for the treatment of the millions whom the conclusion of
+the war, if not its continuance, must throw into our hands.
+
+I am very much afraid that the Government will look too much to the
+material results of the year's occupation for determining the success
+of free labor among the slaves. They will neglect to take into account
+the discouragements and drawbacks of the year. The sudden reaction
+consequent upon the change from slavery to what they hardly knew as
+freedom; the confusion incident upon military occupation (and the
+contradictory directions given concerning the year's crops); the
+abundance of money where the cotton-agents and officers were
+stationed, and the high wages promised and often obtained, at Hilton
+Head and Beaufort; the lateness of the cotton crop, the poorness of
+the seed, the uncertainty and doubt and want of system in regard to
+the management of the crops; the drafting of the able-bodied men at a
+critical period, their hardships and subsequent distrust and fear, or
+idleness and insubordination; the changing of superintendents, the
+fewness of both superintendents and teachers; and lastly, the shameful
+delay in the payments, causing distrust, carelessness, neglect of
+plantation work, and in some few cases, suffering for want of the
+means to purchase clothing. It is too bad to treat people so, and it
+is wonderful how much they have done and in what an excellent state
+they are, under these discouraging circumstances. If they were assured
+of a market at the end of the year, and sufficient money advanced them
+to enable them to get "sweetening" and clothes through the year, I
+would trust my plantations to go right ahead, put their crops into the
+ground, and insure to the Government a handsome surplus next November.
+
+The cheerfulness and hopefulness of the people in regard to next
+year's crops, and the interest they take in their success, is
+surprising. "If we live to see," "if God spare life," they say, "we
+will plant early, and begin in time, and then you will see. O--yes,
+sar."
+
+Mr. Philbrick is appointed cotton-agent for this crop. He is going to
+have the cotton ginned here, not at New York. Good seed is scarce. The
+improved seed, the result of many years' cultivation and selection,
+was lost to the island by the policy of ginning last year's crop in
+New York.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Oct. 27._ When in Beaufort last Wednesday, I got leave to pay off my
+people with my own funds, through the paymaster, Mr. Lee. So he came
+here next day, and I advanced the funds, $649. I sent Joe out to tell
+the people to come and get their money, but they didn't come with the
+usual promptness; bye and bye two men came to sound the way, the rest
+held back. I laughed at them and sent them off with the chink in their
+pockets, after which the rest came fast enough. They were evidently
+afraid of some trap to press them into United States service as
+General Hunter did. I didn't have the slightest difficulty in
+collecting what I had advanced last September. Every one paid it
+cheerfully and thanked us for what they got. This payment was all in
+specie. I don't think I shall be refunded in coin, and shall probably
+lose the difference, which is now about $120, but I don't grudge them
+this. I had rather let it go than see them paid in the paper currency
+which they can't read or judge of. It will come to that bye and bye,
+however, for I can't get any more coin here, and half of this money
+may not come back again into my hands.
+
+General Saxton is striving earnestly to fill up his brigade with
+negroes, but finds it very slow work. The people are so well off on
+the plantations they don't see why they should go and expose
+themselves. Moreover, the way they were treated last summer is not
+very attractive to them. Many of their officers abused them, and they
+were very generally insulted by every white man they met. It will now
+require a good deal of time and very judicious, careful treatment to
+get rid of these impressions, particularly as some of the very
+officers who abused and maltreated the men are still in General
+Saxton's confidence and have places in his new organization.
+
+I took this place[65] more because I want to see the work properly
+done and to keep it out of the hands of speculators and sharks than
+because I wanted the position. It is a useful position, however, and I
+mean to make it so.
+
+A meeting of superintendents[66] is to be held at the Episcopal Church
+next Wednesday, which I shall attend, and employ the occasion by
+trying to start some more methodical system of employing the negroes
+than heretofore.
+
+_Nov. 2._ At the meeting we discussed several methods of dealing with
+the corn crop, and several of the superintendents reported that the
+negroes had raised hardly enough corn to feed the plantation horses
+and mules on when at work. The small yield of cotton was also talked
+over and its causes discussed. I do not think it will pay expenses
+even on this island. My own plantations will yield about $5000 worth,
+when I expected $15,000, a good share of my crop having rotted in the
+pods during the rains in the early part of October and another share
+having dropped off the plant before filling, probably from lack of
+drainage after the heavy July rains.
+
+After returning from the meeting I found a large box of woolen goods
+forwarded by Edward Atkinson. I sold $100 worth the next day. Though
+providing for their wants quite freely, the people seem more frugal
+with their money than last summer, and I am glad to see them so.
+
+As far as I can learn now there are very few gins able to work[67] in
+the department. I have some very good seed here and at Pine Grove
+which I think I can gin on the spot. Mr. S.[68] came and spent a night
+here. He came to hire some men to go with him to pick up a lot of
+stray timber on commission for the Government. So my plans for ginning
+cotton here are postponed for a while. I had flattered myself that we
+were fairly rid of him, and the men were beginning to take an interest
+in plantation work in his absence, but he turns up again just as
+disagreeable as ever.
+
+There have been great exertions made the week past to fill the ranks
+of the first negro regiment. A Rev. Mr. Fowler has been appointed
+chaplain and is at work recruiting, appealing to their religious
+feelings. He spent two nights here and talked in the praise-house,
+both evenings. The women came to hear him, but the young men were shy.
+Not one came near him, nor would they come near me when he was
+present.
+
+The last time I saw General Saxton he seemed to think our whole
+destiny depended on the success of this negro recruitment. It _is_
+certainly a very important matter, but I think as before that it is
+doomed to fail here at present, from the imbecile character of the
+people. I thought while at work with Mr. Fowler that if I were to go
+as Captain I might get a company without trouble, but I failed to get
+a single man when seriously proposing it to them. If I had been able
+to raise a company to follow me and the same men would not have gone
+without me, I think I should have accepted General Saxton's offer,[69]
+but although I consider the arming of the negroes the most important
+question of the day, I don't feel bound to take hold unless I can give
+an impetus to the undertaking. I think it would have been attended
+with some degree of success a year ago at this place, directly after
+the masters left, when the negroes had more spite in them and had seen
+less of their facilities for making money which they have enjoyed this
+summer, and if General Hunter had not made his lamentable blunder, the
+men would not have been disgusted with camp-life at least, but it is
+difficult enough to get any one of them to feel any pluck. We
+succeeded in getting Ranty to promise to go, and he seemed quite
+earnest, but when he came to start next morning he suddenly found he
+had a pain in his chest! his heart failed him and he backed square
+out. Next day he came over here and, after begging some time for me to
+give him a shirt, without success, offered me in payment for it a
+counterfeit half-dollar which I had told him a week ago was such, but
+which he had meantime polished up and hoped to pass. So you see when a
+man's heart fails him he will stoop to almost anything.
+
+We had four couples married after church to-day, Andrew and Phoebe of
+Pine Grove among the rest. Mr. Phillips tried to tie all four knots at
+one twitch, but found he had his hands full with two couples at once
+and concluded to take them in detail. They all behaved very well and
+seemed impressed with the ceremony, so it certainly has an excellent
+effect. We also had an address from Prince Rivers,[70] a black
+coachman from Beaufort, who has been in General Hunter's regiment all
+summer, and is of sufficient intelligence to take a lively interest in
+the cause of enlistment. He has been to Philadelphia lately and comes
+back duly impressed with the magnitude of the country and the
+importance of the "negro question," but has not sufficient eloquence
+to get many recruits. Of course the young men kept away from church
+and will keep away, so long as the subject is discussed. They have
+made up their silly minds and don't want to be convinced or persuaded
+to any change.
+
+You can imagine what a comfort it is to see Mr. G. again and looking
+so well.
+
+    W. C. G., he who in June spoke so lightly of the dangers of
+    the Sea Island climate, had been dangerously ill during the
+    summer and had been obliged to go North for some weeks. In a
+    letter written October 30 he refers to the death of one of
+    the superintendents, adding, "It greatly startled me." A
+    month later another of the superintendents died in the same
+    house, which later proved fatal to still a third white man.
+    These three were cases of typhoid, but the malarial fever of
+    the district not infrequently was as deadly; on October 30
+    General Mitchel himself died of it. The fact as to the
+    climate is expressed in one of the letters by the statement
+    that fevers were "common among the negroes" and "universal
+    among the whites." A letter of Mr. Philbrick's, written
+    early in October, speaks of Captain Hooper's "indisposition"
+    as having cut down "the trio of tough ones" to himself and
+    Mr. Soule.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 7._ Everybody has been at work this week digging their winter
+crop of sweet potatoes, planted with slips in July. They bear famously
+on all three of my plantations, yielding in some cases two hundred
+bushels per acre. You know I told every man to plant for his own
+family separately, so that each one takes the potatoes home to his own
+yard and buries them, for winter use. They dig a hole about four or
+five feet in diameter and one foot deep, in which they pack the
+potatoes and pile them up above ground in a conical heap about four
+feet high. So when done they look like a sort of overgrown muskrat's
+nest, or small wigwam.[71] Large families have in some cases seven or
+eight of these conical heaps in their back yards.
+
+The mellowing effect of the potato harvest upon the hearts of the
+people is manifest. Yesterday was a rainy day and the women kept
+straggling up here in squads all day. Each one brought a basket of
+potatoes on her head, from a peck to half a bushel, as a present to
+me. Uncle Sam and Joe are making a cone of them in the yard. Many of
+the children bring ground-nuts, of which I now have half a bushel.
+They have raised a good crop of them this year, and we amuse ourselves
+evenings by roasting them in the ashes of our open fire and munching
+them at leisure. I endeavor to acknowledge all these good-will
+offerings in kind, by making deposits of sugar or coffee in the
+baskets after emptying the nuts.
+
+We live in the dining-room now, that being the only room without
+broken glass, and even there I can't get the thermometer above 60 deg.
+with all the fire I can build.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Nov. 8._ The only interesting event the day that I was in Beaufort I
+was obliged to leave without beholding, viz.: the mustering in of the
+first full company of the new regiment,[72] Captain James! They
+marched through the streets just before I came away, making a fine
+appearance. Many of them were in the first regiment,[73] and the
+regularity and steadiness of their marching was very creditable. They
+are a fine body of men. The regiment is filling fast, its friends are
+much encouraged. A number of men from the regiment (now numbering
+about four hundred) have been allowed to return home for a few days,
+and I think they will carry back quite a number with them.
+
+We have been in occupation just a year. The future, with the prospect
+of sale, or removal, or renewed blunders and mismanagement, is not
+very cheerful.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 15._ Our island work is acquiring a little more system, but I'm
+not sure that the people are as good as they were six months ago.
+Great mistakes have been made, and I'm afraid the experiment so far
+only shows the absolute necessity of avoiding errors which common
+sense pointed out before any experience. Still, my belief isn't
+altered that the slaves would speedily become a self-supporting
+people, either by a system of wise and humane care, or by the opposite
+method of letting them alone to feel the misery consequent on idleness
+and the comfort that with very many would at once result from
+industry.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 16._ I had a talk with General Saxton. He was feeling very blue,
+had just been to Hilton Head to get some tents for his new recruits of
+which he enlisted about a hundred on his recent expedition to St.
+Mary's.[74] There are some 3000 tents in warehouse there, but General
+Brannan[75] refused to open it for him, alleging the advice of the
+Medical Department, which closed it because yellow fever had been near
+it. Now it is notorious that whenever one of General Brannan's men
+wants anything from the same warehouse, he gives a special order and
+it is opened for him, but not for General Saxton, the _Abolitionist_.
+So the new recruits have to sleep in open air these frosty nights,
+dampening their ardor somewhat. General Saxton agreed with me that if
+there is no more earnestness and sincerity among other army officers
+than among the specimens we have had here, we should all go to the
+dogs. His expedition was so successful that he was in good spirits
+till balked by General Brannan. The best item in it was that one of
+the rebel prisoners taken was marched to Beaufort jail guarded by one
+of his former slaves! The conduct of the negro troops was very well
+spoken of by their officers, but is the subject of a good deal of
+ribaldry among the white soldiers at Beaufort, who exhibit a degree of
+hatred really fiendish towards the black regiment, taking their cue
+from their commanding officer, of course.
+
+We had a very interesting discussion on Wednesday about the future
+management of the plantations. I advocated the subdivision of the
+land, allotting to each family what it could cultivate and measuring
+their crops separately. Mr. Bryant, who came from Edisto last
+June,[76] preferred working the people in a gang with a foreman, and
+paying them by the month. His people had worked very well in that way,
+but it would be impossible to work the people on this island in that
+way. They are too independent and too ignorant to see the advantages
+of it, and too deceitful to enable any foreman to discriminate between
+the lazy and industrious. Such a system, with the insufficient force
+of white foremen we could supply, would be only a premium on deceit
+and laziness, and would fail to call out the individual exertions of
+the people.
+
+The cotton crop will be worth, on this and Ladies Island, about
+$40,000. I have stored twenty-five thousand pounds stone cotton[77] on
+my plantations which will be worth at least $4000. The Pine Grove
+people have done picking and commenced ginning this week. All the men
+take hold of it readily. I can't find foot-gins enough here to gin
+more than one fourth the crop, and I don't think it worth while to gin
+by steam or horse-power, so remote as we are from mechanical
+repair-shops. There are several power-gins which might be readily
+fitted up in time of peace, but now it would cost too much. The
+engines have been appropriated to sawmills in some cases, and worn out
+in others, while the belting and other movable parts have all been
+stolen by the negroes.
+
+I have not yet decided whether or not to take care of these
+plantations another year. General Saxton says he don't think our
+relations with the people will be disturbed by the tax-commissioners,
+but, if the estates are offered for sale[78] as they expect to do, I
+don't see how he is to help it. I think I should like to buy this one
+and see what could be done with the people. I should not expect to
+make anything out of it. I don't believe much can be made out of this
+generation by free labor, nor out of the next without teaching them to
+read, and am sorry so little has been done as yet in the teaching
+department. It is difficult to get people to stick to it, especially
+in summer and during the unhealthy season.
+
+I have already started ginning on nine plantations along this seaside
+road and shall succeed in saving on the spot sufficient seed to plant
+this island, I think. General Saxton has given me _carte blanche_ as
+to ginning and general management of the crop. It seems to be his way
+to leave all details to his subordinates, whom he holds responsible
+for a proper result. If I had the same authority in New York I could
+save something as compared with last year's crop, which was nearly all
+eaten up by the brokers and agents and contractors, through whose
+hands it passed, leaving but $200,000 net proceeds from a shipment of
+about a million dollars' worth.
+
+Mr. Lee has paid me the amount I advanced on my plantation pay-rolls
+for July and August. I have finished up my pay-rolls for September and
+October and intend to get him to go and pay off my people for these
+months with my funds when paying the other plantations for June and
+July.
+
+In the prolonged absence of window-glass, I have resorted to other
+expedients known to Irishmen, etc., but can't keep the wind out of my
+chamber these frosty nights by any amount of ingenuity. Shingles might
+do it, but they are as difficult to obtain as the window-glass, and
+the towels won't stay put in a high wind.
+
+We are very sorry to hear of Captain Hooper's serious illness. He had
+kept up his strength so long on quinine during the summer, that a
+break-down must be dangerous now. I imagine that General Saxton misses
+his indefatigable zeal and straightforward gentleness.
+
+I want to see what is to be done at the tax-sale and what sort of a
+title is to be given. For I don't think I shall stay here another year
+unless I can control my men better than I have done, and I don't
+believe a better control can be had with the long-delayed payments
+rendered almost necessary by the lumbering machinery of the
+Quartermaster's department.
+
+    The next letter is from C. P. W., and sets forth the result
+    of his cogitations on plantation methods.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Nov. 16._ The slip-potato crop is the only crop by which to judge of
+the negroes' capacity to take care of themselves. This crop they have,
+as a general rule, raised entirely by themselves, and for their own
+consumption; they found their own manure, and received no help except
+the use (small) of the Government teams on the place. The crop
+exceeds, on the average, one hundred per cent. that raised by their
+masters,--I mean that each man gets twice as much as he used to when
+they worked and shared in common; and in some cases the tasks bear
+twice as much. "They beer uncommon." "If we live to see," all the
+crops next year, under a management that will encourage and
+stimulate, will be proportionally as good as this 'tater crop. One
+thing the people are universally opposed to. They all swear that they
+will not work in gang, _i. e._, all working the whole, and all sharing
+alike. On those places where the root 'taters were thus worked this
+year, the crop did very poorly, and gave out long before its time.
+Where the Government corn was thus worked, the yield averages, I
+suppose, six to ten bushels, the nigger-field, meantime, bearing twice
+as much, where they had manure.
+
+Wherever the people have been able to look forward to the result of
+the crop as beneficial to them, they have shown industry, care, and
+energy in putting it through. There is much laziness to be overcome in
+them, however; even in tending their own crops they sometimes neglect
+well-known precautions because they cost too much trouble. But the
+best of them have carried their own crops well, and their example is
+beneficial in stimulating the lazier ones to exertion. There is a good
+deal of emulation among them; they will not sit quietly and see
+another earning all the money. And it is far better to adapt the
+system to the intelligence of the best than to treat them all, as one
+occasionally has to treat one or two, in special matters, like mere
+children. I am sure a large number of them could get through the year
+without any pecuniary aid from Government, on the simple assurance
+that they should be paid for their crop when they had picked it. I am
+often urged by the best of the people not to trouble myself about the
+means of doing work, but just to tell them to do the work, and expect
+to see it done, and not encourage them to ask for help to do
+everything. "They kin do it, sir; don't you worry yeurself, sir; they
+kin find herself, sir." They have not been working cotton for nothing
+for so many years under their masters. They recollect how their
+masters used to treat the land and crops, and what treatment proved
+most successful. They need supervision and direction constantly, if
+only to prevent fighting when one says "I free," "I as much right to
+ole missus' things as you," etc., and more than all, they need the
+presence and conversation of a white man, not only to elevate them,
+but to encourage and stimulate them.
+
+There is but one opinion expressed. "We won't be driven by nobody;" "I
+don't want no driving, either by black man or white man." "We don't
+want de whole valler of de cotton. De land belongs to de Gover_ment_,
+de mule and ting on de place belong to de Gover_ment_, and we have to
+'spect to pay somef'n for um. But you just pay us our share, accordin'
+as we make crop, and if you live to see, Marsa Charlie, and God spare
+life, you'll _see a crop on dis place next year_." "There will be a
+difference in de land, sir, but we can't help dat; each one work his
+own and do as well as he kin." It is mere fortune that one is on one
+soil, another on another, kept in better order, perhaps, by the Secesh
+master.
+
+The negroes ought not to bear the burden of the loss of their crop
+through any external cause, as the caterpillar, drought, etc. The
+Government ought to stand in the gap and bear the loss. But I should
+not tell the negroes anything about such atonement before it is made,
+else one would be overwhelmed with applications from those who had
+become tired of cotton-hoeing, and a thousand plausible stories would
+be fabricated, to show that this man or that was peculiarly afflicted
+in his crop.
+
+_Nov. 25._ The people have begun ginning cotton on several places. The
+gins are of the rudest construction. Two rollers, about the size of a
+spool of thread, one above the other, horizontal, just touching, are
+turned in opposite directions by two upright fly-wheels, moved by a
+single treadle. The cotton, with the seed in it, is presented to these
+rollers, which catch it and draw it through, leaving the seed behind.
+Ginning is considered "light work." Thirty pounds of the clean cotton
+is considered a good day's work. It is pretty severe for the knees.
+Women gin with the men. The movement of "jump and change feet" when
+one knee gets tired should be introduced into the ballet; it is very
+elegant.
+
+We have been reduced to the old system of rationing.[79] For the last
+two months we have had liberty to draw the value of the soldier's
+ration which is allowed us, in any kind of food. Consequently
+everybody has rushed for sugar, rice, candles, and molasses,
+disdaining hard bread, salt beef, and such low fare. Of course there
+was soon a deficiency of the better articles in the Department, the
+Army Commissary at Hilton Head declaring that we used up more candles
+and sugar than any regiment; so we have got to draw soldier's rations
+again, a few candles, a little dab of sugar, a big hunk of salt food,
+and hard biscuit. They can be swapped for duck and chickens, but what
+a bother to get them.
+
+_Nov. 26._ I hear that Hunter's reappointment[80] causes some
+dissatisfaction among the pro-slavery army officers here, as might be
+expected.
+
+_Dec. 2._ It is now rumored that we are likely to receive but little
+help from Congress this winter, and that the Cotton Fund[81] is
+getting low. It is said that the taking of Charleston would benefit us
+more than anything else could; that any way we must take some place on
+the main to attract attention and inspire confidence. The black
+regiment may do something for our interests. General Saxton is going
+to send a report of the year's work to Headquarters, and it will
+doubtless be laid before Congress. Commissioners, if appointed to
+investigate the matter, would probably have their notions of the
+character, ability, and prospects of the "Universal Nigger" much
+revised, with additions and corrections, before their investigations
+were completed. You at the North know nothing about niggers, nothing
+at all. When more is known of their powers and capacity and character
+more attention will be paid to the cultivation of free black labor.
+
+    The next letter again focuses attention on the white
+    population.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 29._ The wives are multiplying on St. Helena. Since Mrs. Bryant
+came, two other superintendents have made their houses homes,--one our
+Baptist parson, and the other a young fellow who went home shortly
+before me to marry his betrothed on our salary of $50 a month. Brave
+youth--in these times! One man has brought his sister and established
+her as the beauty of the island; one his mother; and one an older
+sister, a perfect New England housekeeper, who makes his home the
+paradise of mince-pies and family bread.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 10._ (At the Oaks.) I like the General[82] ever so much. He is
+so simple--straightforward, and earnest, so evidently pure and
+unselfish and so kind in his manner.
+
+I rode down to Dr. Jenkins' with Mr. G., but found all the "white
+folks" gone to Hilton Head. I visited the cotton-house, where about a
+dozen of the people were ginning cotton. They had just packed two
+bales of it, which I ripped open to inspect, and found, as I had
+feared, that it wasn't half cleaned. I left a note for Mr. Bryant
+telling him I didn't want to send the cotton off so and told his
+driver. Mr. B. was not acquainted with the way the staple is usually
+prepared for market, concerning which I had taken pains to inform
+myself before leaving home, and the negroes had taken the chance to
+shirk. I started off to take the tour of Ladies Island and see their
+cotton. I visited about a dozen cotton-houses during the day along the
+east side of the island, and rode on to Cuthbert's Point to sleep with
+Joe Reed and Mr. Hull. I found them delightfully situated in a small
+house on Beaufort River surrounded by a superb grove of live-oaks,
+clear of brush and nicely kept. It is the finest situation that I have
+found in the State, but the greater part of the plantations on Ladies
+Island are miserably poor, being the property of small proprietors who
+had not sufficient capital to make planting profitable. The soil is
+poor and the negroes for the most part have not sufficient food on
+hand for the coming year. The cotton crop is proportionally small and
+poor. No ginning apparatus being found there, I shall have it all
+taken to Beaufort for the steam-gins.
+
+Leaving Cuthbert's Point this morning, I rode with Mr. Hull to the
+superintendents' meeting at the Episcopal Church, about eighteen
+miles, and back here to sleep. We have matured a plan of operations
+for the employment of the negroes next year, at these meetings, and it
+is to be presented to General Saxton for his approval this week.[83]
+
+I have made some further inquiries of Dr. Brisbane, one of the
+tax-commissioners, about the sale of lands, which is to take place on
+the first of February next. He tells me it is to be a free sale and
+that the Government warrants the title, subject, however, to
+redemption by such proprietors as can prove themselves loyal within
+one year. I think it highly important that the welfare of these
+negroes should not be intrusted to speculators, and have written to
+Dr. Russell[84] to see if Boston people can't be interested,
+individually or collectively, in buying these lands and employing the
+laborers. I am ready to go into it as far as I am able alone, and have
+offered my time in Boston to carry out any plan they think best. If I
+can't get any cooperation, I mean to buy some of the estates alone, if
+they don't go very high, and carry them on by means of such agents as
+I can get. I can find several first-rate men among the superintendents
+here who would work for me and do well, but I don't think I should
+care to stay here next summer, for sanitary reasons if nothing more.
+My experience here will enable me to act to good advantage in carrying
+on any such undertaking, and I hope to be of use in a permanent way to
+these people with whom I have been thrown in contact this year. I have
+given [to Dr. Russell] an exact statement, in dollars and cents, of
+the expenses and products of my three plantations this year, showing a
+profit to the Government of about $2000,[85] besides providing a
+year's supply of food to a population of four hundred and fifty
+blacks, "big and little." This island is very much more favorably
+placed than Ladies, Port Royal, or Hilton Head Islands, which are all
+much exposed to the depredations of the Union soldiers. I find on the
+north end of Ladies Island the pickets are changed every little while,
+and have killed nearly all the negroes' poultry. The people don't dare
+to leave their houses, and take all their hens into their houses every
+night. They shoot their pigs and in one case have shot two working
+mules! All these things are duly reported to General Saxton, but it
+does no good. Two regiments have come to encamp at Land's End on St.
+Helena, and Mr. Hammond says they have burnt up a mile of his fences,
+and burn the new rails just split out in the woods; they burn the
+heaps of pine leaves raked up for manure and take possession of all
+his cotton and corn houses. It is certainly of no use to try to carry
+on any planting near these fellows. They would steal all the crops if
+any grew near them,[86] and if the whole military establishment is to
+be transferred to this side the harbour, it is of little use to try to
+do much on that end of the island. Coffin's Point is, however, remote
+from all these disturbances, and I hope it will remain so. I am
+anxious to continue this free-labor experiment through a term of years
+and under circumstances more favorable than those under which we have
+this year been placed. I do not see how I can do much good in any
+other way.
+
+    The next letter is the first from H. W. on her return to
+    Port Royal after spending the summer at home.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Dec. 14._ As we drew near the Fripp Point place at
+last, the people began to gather on the shore to watch us, and when
+the boat stopped the people were all on the banks, pressing forward,
+and Sammy rushed into the water and took me ashore in his arms. Then
+they got my trunks in the same manner, and such a shaking of hands!
+"So glad for see you! Glad for see you come back." Boys were sent off
+at once to catch the mules to take me over, while I went into 'Siah's
+house to wait, and had some hominy and chicken, as I was very hungry.
+Everything was as neat as a pin here--the children were kept out of
+the house while I was eating, and then the hominy and chicken were
+mixed and passed round among the women when I had finished. Mr.
+Philbrick's sulky happened to be over there to be mended, and as it
+was finished I drove off in it, Sammy, Peter, and Tony on the
+mule-cart with all my traps, and Chester following me. The children
+all asked about school at once, and as I was waiting I drew words for
+them to spell in the sand to see how much they remembered.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Dec. 14._ I am glad H. came, for Mr. Philbrick has decided that he
+cannot attend to his plantations and his cotton-agency at the same
+time, and needs some one to take his place here. He thinks of buying
+the place in the spring, when the lands are sold (Feb. 1), and I have
+agreed to work it for him part of the time. So that, as some one must
+take Mr. Philbrick's place, and as the people had better have me than
+a stranger, and as I had better become acquainted with them at once,
+if I am to have charge of them in the spring, I have decided to take
+the places off his hands, stay here with H., and let my own
+plantations go to as good a person as I can find. H. is most welcome
+and much needed here; I am thankful to have her here, if only for the
+children's sakes. The only difficulty is that she may be devoured on
+her first visit to Pine Grove.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 16._ Had the children sent for to school. They brought eggs, and
+were pleased enough to begin school again.
+
+_Dec. 18._ Told the children yesterday that I wanted them to bring me
+some corn "shucks," as they call them, which are all left on the
+stalks in the fields. Mr. Philbrick thought I could get enough to
+stuff a bed with. I thought so too when the children all appeared with
+sheets and bags full on their heads, some containing two or three
+bushels!
+
+_Dec. 20._ C. managed to get the piano downstairs this morning before
+he went off. I went with him in the double sulky as far as the
+cotton-house and then made an expedition to the quarters, where I
+shook hands with every man and woman to be seen, inspected every new
+baby (there have been a dozen born since I went away), visited Bacchus
+in his school, was kindly greeted, though the people hardly knew me
+and I don't know their names at all, was told that I looked "more
+hearty" than when I went away, and returned with two dozen eggs and
+the morning school at my heels.
+
+    Two dozen eggs at fifty cents a dozen was no mean proof of
+    affection!
+
+_Dec. 21._ We started for church. C. rode his largest horse and
+preceded or followed me in the double sulky, an unpainted box with a
+seat in it, of Mr. Philbrick's manufacture and quite "tasty" for these
+parts, on a single pair of wheels; and though it is on springs the
+exercise is not slight which one gets in driving over these sandy,
+uneven roads.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Sunday evg. Dec. 21._ The cotton on this island is nearly all ginned.
+I have not been able to start the steam-gins in Beaufort yet--am
+waiting for authority to use the steam, which comes from the
+condensing boiler under the control of General Brannan's
+quartermaster. I asked General Saxton about it the other day, but he
+said he didn't know as they would let him have it. The General feels
+very blue about his position here, and I don't wonder. He declares he
+will not stay if he is not sustained, and says that General
+Halleck[87] sympathizes with Brannan and don't mean to let him be
+removed.
+
+_Wednesday evg._ I looked over the Coffin people's cotton Monday and
+found it was not yet clean enough to pack, so refused to weigh it, and
+set the women at work picking over the whole of it again. Each woman
+keeps her own pile--the same that she and her husband raised.
+
+I find rumors here that General Saxton and staff are to be relieved.
+General Saxton believes in his being relieved, but no mail has come
+yet to confirm it.
+
+I want to keep R., G., C. P. W. and Bryant on plantations which I may
+buy, and they are all anxious to stay.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 22._ Joe doubled up and went off into convulsions when C.
+mentioned to me at table that he had been to call on Mrs. Jenkins
+(Wil'by) and did not find her at home! I gave Joe a piece of
+gingerbread for her the other day, and he informed me this morning
+that she found it very "palatiable"! He inquired how my "palate was
+satisfy" with some oysters he fried for me the other day.
+
+_Christmas._ C. took me in his double sulky to see the Pine Grove
+people, driving first to the quarters here, where I went into Bacchus'
+school and distributed toys. I had also armed myself with a hundred
+cents and several pounds of candy. At Pine Grove the people crowded
+about to shake hands, and as I went through the street, stopping at
+every house, they were pleased as possible that I remembered their
+names. They were very eager to know if I was not going to teach
+school, the children all rushing home to wash face and hands and dress
+themselves in their best, after the old fashion, when I told them I
+wanted to have them go to the praise-house. Flora followed me about,
+as usual. I saw York for the first time. He is a very fine-looking
+specimen of a thorough black, large, manly, courteous, and
+straightforward.
+
+Once more in the old praise-house, I heard the children spell, and
+then distributed toys among them, with candy to the babies and grown
+people! and gave to each of the girls who have been married since I
+left a Bible with her name in it. All seemed honestly glad to see me
+there--there was no mistaking their shining faces. I was there two
+hours and then went to Fripp Point, where I gave candy to all the
+grown people and children, and a toy to each child. I do not know all
+names and faces anywhere except at Pine Grove.
+
+_Dec. 26._ I was in the midst of school when Joe announced two
+strangers on horseback. They were the Quartermaster and Adjutant of
+the 1st S. C. V., come for a dozen cattle to be roasted on New Year's
+Day at General Saxton's grand celebration. C. and the officers went
+off to select the cattle. They had a very long tramp of it and did not
+get back till some time after dark. They are very pleasant and
+gentlemanly and give a charming impression of their intercourse with
+Colonel Higginson, and of his with the regiment. They had no "taps"
+Christmas Eve or night, and the men kept their "shout" up all night.
+One of the Captains heard a negro praying most fervently, contrasting
+their "lasty Christymas and thisty Christymas," greatly to the
+advantage of that in the "Yankee Camp" with "too much for eat."
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 26._ The preparation of the cotton for ginning goes on very
+slowly. I am out of all patience with some of the superintendents.
+They are slower than the negroes. I don't believe in putting Reverends
+in places where prompt business men are required. Some of them don't
+get through morning prayers and get about their business till nearly
+noon, and then depend entirely upon their black drivers for their
+information in regard to plantation matters. I saw Captain Hooper for
+a few minutes last evening and he relieved my mind about General
+Saxton's removal. It seems it was all a false report got up for a
+sensation by the _Herald_.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 28._ I was in the midst of school when it was announced that Mr.
+G. was coming. The children's eyes glistened and they audibly
+expressed their delight, but kept their seats very well till he was
+fairly in the room and had shaken hands with one or two near him; then
+their impatience could resist no longer and they crowded about him
+with great delight, tumbling over the benches in their eagerness to
+shake hands with him. It was a very pretty sight.
+
+Mr. Philbrick has been entertaining us with an account of his week's
+experience, which ended at church to-day in a funny way. A couple came
+forward to be married after church, as often happens, when Sarah from
+this place got up and remarked that was her husband! Whereupon Mr.
+Philbrick was called in from the yard and promised to investigate and
+report. Jack said he had nothing against Sarah, but he did not live on
+the plantation now, and wanted a wife at Hilton Head.
+
+General Saxton was at church to-day to invite the people to camp
+Thursday, telling them that they need not be afraid to go, as no one
+would be kept there against their will. They are afraid of a trap, as
+they were at the Fourth of July Celebration, but I hope a good many
+will have the sense to go.
+
+Mr. Philbrick and C. are having an amiable comparison of relative
+plantation work and which has raised the most cotton. The cotton
+raised on these places and C.'s and R.'s is more than half of that
+raised on all the islands.
+
+The Pine Grove house has been broken into and the furniture we left
+there carried off. The way in which those people have degenerated and
+these improved since we moved here is a proof of how necessary it is
+that they should have the care and oversight of white people in this
+transition state. When we lived there, that plantation was the best
+behaved and this the worst; now the reverse is the case. The Point
+Plantation has not been affected so much any way, as they never had a
+"white house" and have the same excellent driver.
+
+Finding that Maria, the old nurse, and some babies were sick, I made a
+pilgrimage to the quarters, visited the invalids and also Bacchus'
+school, and told the people I hoped they would go to the Celebration
+at camp. As I went through the long street, women were washing outside
+their doors, sitting on their doorsteps sewing or tending babies,
+while the smaller children were rolling in the dirt. In one of the
+cabins I accidentally encountered Sarah, the deserted wife, and coming
+out found Grace, Jack's mother, holding forth in her dignified way
+upon the subject, condemning her son, quietly but earnestly. She
+turned to Sarah as she came out and, gesticulating with her hands
+respectively, said, "I take Becca in dis han' and carry her to
+punishment, an' Sarah in dis right han' and carry her to Christ." She
+is a "fine figure of a woman"--I wish I could have drawn her as she
+stood. She did more work than any one on the plantation on cotton this
+year. Her husband was coachman and was taken off by the overseer the
+day after the "gun was fire at Hilton Head."
+
+Minda gave me an amusing account of a conversation she heard between
+Mr. Cockloft, the overseer, and his niece, Miss "Arnie," about the
+prospect of the Yankees coming here, she telling him, when he was
+expressing his gratification at the very large crop raised last year,
+that he did not talk sense,--he was just raising it for the Yankees.
+And when they had to run off, in the midst of all the crying and
+dismay, she could not resist telling him she was glad of it, to prove
+her right. Minda said that she knew more than her uncle because she
+had been to school, and had "high edicate." They sent Henry to the
+other end of the island to see if the forts were really taken, and he
+came back and told them that they had better be off, for all the
+Yankee ships were "going in procession up to Beaufort, solemn as a
+funeral."
+
+_Dec. 30._ My occupation was interrupted by the arrival of William
+Hall,[88] bag and baggage. You can think of us as a household of
+three[89] pursuing our several occupations, of which more hereafter.
+
+
+
+
+1863
+
+    _Celebration of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation--The
+    land-sales of 1863, Mr. Philbrick's purchase of
+    plantations--"Shop"--Visit to Camp--Arrest of General
+    Stevenson--Difficulties with army officers--More drafting by
+    Hunter--Encouraging signs among the negroes--"The black
+    draft"--The siege of Charleston--Assault on Fort
+    Wagner--Care of the wounded--Depredations of the soldiers on
+    the plantations--Interest in the former owners of
+    plantations--The "Plantation Commission" an informal civil
+    court--Negro speech and negro ways--Attacks on Mr. Philbrick
+    as a "speculator"--Discouraging signs among the
+    negroes--Plans of the Government for selling land to the
+    negroes--The cotton crop of 1863--The black draft again._
+
+
+    The first letter of 1863 gives an account of the ceremonies
+    with which the Sea Islands celebrated the Emancipation
+    Proclamation. The place was the Smith Plantation, on Port
+    Royal Island, where the First South Carolina had its camp.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 1, 1863._ We started [from R.'s] at ten o'clock with four
+oarsmen, under a cloudless sky, which remained undimmed through the
+day. The men sang and we sang, as we wound our way through the
+marsh-bound creek, reaching the Smith Plantation just as the _Flora_
+was landing her first load from the Ferry. We followed the crowd up to
+the grove of live-oaks with their moss trimmings, which did not look
+so dreary under a winter's sun, but very summer-like and beautiful.
+The regiment, which had been drawn up at the wharf to receive the
+guests from Beaufort, escorted them to the platform in the middle of
+the grove, where we found it--the regiment--in a circle round the
+stand, where they remained quiet and orderly as possible through the
+whole proceedings, which lasted about three hours. Guests, white and
+colored, were admitted within the line, and as ladies we were shown
+seats on the platform. The general arrived in his carriage with the
+Mission House[90] ladies.
+
+It is simply impossible to give you any adequate idea of the next
+three hours. Picture the scene to yourself if you can,--I will tell
+you all the facts,--but if I could transcribe every word that was
+uttered, still nothing could convey to you any conception of the
+solemnity and interest of the occasion. Mr. Judd, General
+Superintendent of the Island, was master of ceremonies, and first
+introduced Mr. Fowler, the Chaplain, who made a prayer,--then he
+announced that the President's Proclamation would be read, and General
+Saxton's also, by a gentleman who would be introduced by Colonel
+Higginson. And he rose amid perfect silence, his clear rich voice
+falling most deliciously on the ear as he began to speak. He said that
+the Proclamation would be read "by a South Carolinian to South
+Carolinians"--a man who many years before had carried the same glad
+tidings to his own slaves now brought them to them, and with a few
+most pertinent words introduced Dr. Brisbane, one of the
+tax-commissioners here now, who read both proclamations extremely
+well. They cheered most heartily at the President's name, and at the
+close gave nine with a will for General "Saxby," as they call him.
+Mr. Zachos then read an ode he had written for the occasion, which was
+sung by the white people (printed copies being distributed, he did not
+line it as is the fashion in these parts)--to "Scots wha hae." I
+forgot to mention that there was a band on the platform which
+discoursed excellent music from time to time. At this stage of the
+proceedings Mr. French rose and, in a short address, presented to
+Colonel Higginson from friends in New York a beautiful silk flag, on
+which was embroidered the name of the regiment and "The Year of
+Jubilee has come!"
+
+Just as Colonel Higginson had taken the flag and was opening his lips
+to answer (his face while Mr. French was speaking was a beautiful
+sight), a single woman's voice below us near the corner of the
+platform began singing "My Country, 'tis of thee." It was very sweet
+and low--gradually other voices about her joined in and it began to
+spread up to the platform, till Colonel Higginson turned and said,
+"Leave it to them," when the negroes sang it to the end. He stood with
+the flag in one hand looking down at them, and when the song ceased,
+his own words flowed as musically, saying that he could give no answer
+so appropriate and touching as had just been made. In all the singing
+he had heard from them, that song he had never heard before--they
+never could have truly sung "my country" till that day. He talked in
+the most charming manner for over half an hour, keeping every one's
+attention, the negroes' upturned faces as interested as any, if not
+quite as comprehending. Then he called Sergeant Rivers and delivered
+the flag to his keeping, with the most solemn words, telling him that
+his life was chained to it and he must die to defend it. Prince Rivers
+looked him in the eye while he spoke, and when he ended with a "Do you
+understand?" which must have thrilled through every one, answered most
+earnestly, "Yas, Sar." The Colonel then, with the same solemnity, gave
+into the charge of Corporal Robert Sutton[91] a bunting flag of the
+same size; then stepping back stood with folded arms and bare head
+while the two men spoke in turn to their countrymen. Rivers is a very
+smart fellow, has been North and is heart and soul in the regiment and
+against the "Seceshky." He spoke well; but Sutton with his plain
+common sense and simpler language spoke better. He made telling
+points; told them there was not one in that crowd but had sister,
+brother, or some relation among the rebels still; that all was not
+done because they were so happily off, that they should not be content
+till all their people were as well off, if they died in helping them;
+and when he ended with an appeal to them to above all follow after
+their Great Captain, Jesus, who never was defeated, there were many
+moist eyes in the crowd.
+
+General Saxton then said a few words, regretting that his flag had not
+arrived as he intended, and introduced Mrs. Gage, who spoke to them of
+her visit to St. Croix and how the negroes on that island had freed
+themselves, and telling them that her own sons were in the army; she
+might any day hear of their death, but that she was willing they
+should die in the cause and she hoped they were ready to die too.
+Quartermaster Bingham led the regiment in singing "Marching Along."
+Mr. Judd had written a hymn which he and a few friends sang. Judge
+Stickney spoke. The whole regiment then sang "John Brown," and was
+dismissed in a few words from the Colonel to the tables for the twelve
+roasted oxen,[92] hard bread, and molasses and water, except one
+company and certain corporals whom he mentioned, who came to the foot
+of the steps to escort the colors.
+
+Lieutenant Duhurst was waiting to escort us to dinner at his
+mess-table. We walked into the old fort, part of the walls of which
+are still standing, made of oyster-shells and cement, very hard still.
+It was built, say the authorities, in 1562, half a century before the
+Pilgrims landed.
+
+Miss Forten[93] had a letter from Whittier enclosing a song he had
+written for the Jubilee and which they have been teaching the children
+to sing at church next Sunday.
+
+After dinner we went up to the camp, and a very nice-looking place it
+was. The tents only hold five, so that there were a great many of
+them, making the camp look very large. The officers' tents are in a
+row opposite the ends of the streets, but with only a narrow street
+between. The Adjutant took us into his, which is a double one with two
+apartments like the Colonel's, as his wife is coming out to live there
+and teach the first sergeants to read, write, and keep their accounts.
+As dress-parade was to come off at once, we stayed to see that. Only
+the commissioned officers are white; the uniform of the privates is
+the same as any others, except that the pantaloons are red,[94] faces
+and hands black! The parade was excellent,--they went through the
+manual, including, "load in nine times." There were eighteen men
+absent without leave, a circumstance not to be wondered at, as they
+had kept no guard all day, and a negro thinks to go and see his family
+the height of happiness. Colonel Higginson said, "Think of a camp
+where there is no swearing, drinking, or card-playing among the
+men,--where the evenings are spent praying and singing psalms, and it
+is the first sound you hear in the morning!" He is a strong
+anti-tobacconist, but he lets the men have all they can get, and helps
+them get it.
+
+We started just after sunset, and at the same time with the band, who
+were rowed up to Beaufort as we went across the river. They played
+"Sweet Home," and the music sounded delightfully, but made Mr.
+Williams exclaim, "Now that's too bad, when a fellow is going to an
+old South Carolina whitewashed house, with a broken table and chair in
+it!" Nevertheless, he was very merry, and we had a fine row. The
+sunset was perfectly clear, the sky retained its brightness for a long
+time, and the moon was so bright that it did not grow dark. Our delay
+made us against tide for the second hour, so the negroes turned out of
+the main creek into the narrow creeks among the grass, which at high
+tide are deep enough, though very narrow. Our oars were often in the
+"mash" on one side, but the men knew their way and brought us safely
+through. They grew very much excited as they rowed and sung, shouting
+with all their might, and singing song after song the whole way home.
+The singing while they row always sounds differently from [that] at
+any other time to me, though they always sing the same, religious
+songs.
+
+    In the following letter Mr. Philbrick begins by defending
+    himself against the charge of rashness in proposing to buy
+    land of which the legal title was so insecure as to make it
+    a most unsafe investment, and the geographical situation
+    such as to make it unfit for habitation by Northerners. The
+    point of view of his critic is amusingly different from that
+    of the good people who subsequently accused him of buying
+    with the expectation of making large profits.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 2._ As to the title, the right of redemption expires at the end
+of two years in all cases, and fifteen per cent. interest must be paid
+by the redeemer before he can take possession. Now I never thought of
+paying more for these lands than the net value of two good crops, and
+don't undertake it for the sake of making money at all, but for the
+sake of carrying out to a more satisfactory issue the present
+short-lived and unfairly judged experiment of free labor, and for the
+sake of keeping the people out of the hands of bad men. You will of
+course admit that such an enterprise is worthy of my assistance and
+worthy of the time of such men as are now engaged in it. The health of
+every white man who has lived on the seaward side of St. Helena, from
+Coffin's Point to Land's End, has been perfectly good, and that is
+where I intend to buy, if at all, including perhaps the places under
+R.'s charge which he wishes to retain, and those of Captain John Fripp
+and Thomas B. Fripp, which could easily be managed by a person living
+on Cherry Hill or Mulberry Hill, directly adjoining them on the south.
+
+We had a flare-up with Ranty about the furniture left in the big
+house [at Pine Grove]. The people broke in on Christmas and took out
+what we left there, appropriating it to their private uses. I found
+Frank had the side-board in his new house (the old carriage-house). I
+told him to give it up and asked where the rest was. Mily had taken
+the desk, for safe-keeping, and offered to deliver it when wanted, but
+the bedsteads are not reported. Ranty had locked up the large
+dining-table in the pease-house. I blew him up for not reporting such
+things instanter, and hired June to sleep in the big house nights and
+be responsible for its safe-keeping. Otherwise the doors and windows
+would soon disappear.
+
+The future of our country looks darker than ever. I can't see much
+prospect of an improvement in the conduct of the war, so long as the
+mass of our people do not see in slavery the great cause of all the
+trouble. Neither do I believe that the war will terminate slavery
+unless the blacks will voluntarily take a part in it. The 1st Regiment
+is at length filled here, by means of a great deal of coaxing and the
+abandonment of St. Simon's Island,[95] taking all the men for
+recruits. They have made two raids upon the Florida coast, where they
+met with little resistance and accomplished but little. If they can
+once gain a footing on the mainland and add to their numbers as they
+advance, they could easily carry all before them. Any other race of
+men under the sun would do it, but I doubt yet whether there is the
+requisite amount of pluck in them to fall into such a scheme even when
+we are ready to lead them. I feel as if this winter were the
+turning-point of the whole question.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Captain Oliver's, Jan. 4._ Mr. Philbrick has very generously offered
+to assist three or four of us poorer superintendents in buying
+plantations. If we do not buy, the occupation of most of us is
+probably gone. Government will probably retain possession of many
+plantations from the lack of purchasers,--but they will be the poorer
+ones and those where the people will be subject to such influences
+that our purposes will meet with little success. For such plantations
+superintendents may be needed, but, besides doing little good, their
+own position I think will be very unpleasant. Nor do I think it
+unmanly to withdraw from such plantations. The irregular wayward life
+which the people on such places would probably lead undoubtedly
+will help to develop their self-reliance, but our style of
+development--that of regular, persistent industry--is so wholly
+different, that I doubt the wisdom of attempting to yoke the two
+styles together. In one point experience confirms what theory would
+suggest,--that their own increasing comfort or _misery_ will be a far
+stronger agent in the development of these people than any amount of
+outside human effort.
+
+I think I shall accept Mr. Philbrick's offer. I wish to stay down
+here, and I see no satisfactory way of so doing, except by this
+arrangement. It may turn out disastrously,--so be it; the Government
+will probably refund the purchase-money in case the lands return to
+the Confederate States either by capture or compromise. But with
+success, I doubt if I should realize the amount of my present salary
+and support. If the lands sell at a nominal price, however, they are
+worth that risk. To stay in the work is my object.
+
+I am having a pretty hard time at present. The people are very
+wayward,--now they work and then they stop,--and some stop before they
+begin. Several men have been acting badly, too; I actually knocked a
+man down the other day,--and think I did right,--for the first time in
+my life. It very much hurts one's popularity to be often severe,--and
+one's reputation with higher authorities also, I fear. My places have
+the disadvantage--to me--of being very near headquarters, and my
+people have learned through a very unwise act--the removal of a
+superintendent on the complaint of the negroes--the benefit of
+appealing from me. I have always been sustained--otherwise I should
+probably have resigned; but it very much weakens my authority, and, as
+I said, probably my reputation. But the worst is that it discourages
+and dulls one for the work.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 7._ I went into Ellen's house to see her sick children. It was
+her children who were so sick last summer, and Nancy died. They had
+swollen throats and I promised red flannel--then went all through the
+quarters talking and giving to all the old women some of our ration
+coffee and sugar. The women went on talking, Louisa winding up with an
+attempt to solve the to them great mystery--"Miss Hayiat, you not
+married? when you going to be married? What, and you so smairt?" C.
+says they are constantly asking him the same question. "Oh, Mass'
+Charlie," said a woman to him the other day, "if I was as pretty a
+woman as you are a man I should be so glad!" I find I shall have to
+give up going to the quarters if they insist upon giving me so many
+eggs--I had two dozen and a half given to-day--I can't use them up so
+fast! I found C. in colloquy with a man who came down to see if he
+could not move here so as to be under him. "But how do you know you
+shall like me?" said C., "and get along with me?" "See it in your
+countenance, sar, first time I eber see you!" Nat talked some time (he
+was a sort of Major Domo here and kept the keys) about the necessity
+of some white people's staying here, and of the people's confidence in
+Mr. Philbrick and C. They are very desirous that Mr. Philbrick should
+buy. "You see, sar; you won't have no trouble 'bout cotton dis
+year--Mr. Philbrick pay more money than any other man--de people know
+now you here to see justice. People all work cotton dis year. I don't
+care if you neber go 'way--like you much."
+
+_Jan. 8._ General Saxton said he was here on the Coast Survey seven
+years ago, cut that gap through the trees for his triangles, which
+caused us so much speculation last spring,[96] and landing at the
+Point one day dined here with Mr. Coffin.
+
+_Jan. 12._ Just as we were going to sit down to lunch, Tim came
+running up with a line from C. for his revolver, which I sent. Tim
+said two of the men were fighting, so Mr. Philbrick[97] took his
+pistol and went to see what was the row, and soon came back to say
+that a former husband of the woman who had been married the day before
+at church had turned up, and C. had ordered him off the place. It is a
+complicated story and I do not know its merits and demerits. I wish C.
+would write it out as a specimen of that part of his business. It is
+equal to Indian Cutchery.
+
+_Jan 16._ Woke to find it very blowy and cold. The changes seem to be
+as great here as in New England, of their kind. It is funny to see how
+the people feel the cold. I got no milk, because they could not milk
+in such weather, and it was so warm the day before that all we had
+soured. The children wore sheets over their shoulders and
+handkerchiefs on their heads to school.
+
+_Jan 17._ Went to the quarters to see the people, who wondered to see
+me out such a cold day! Found those who were out of doors on the sunny
+side of the street against the houses to keep warm.
+
+This afternoon I had to sew up a bad cut in Hester's arm. She sat all
+through school without a word to me, and then I could not close the
+wound with sticking-plaster, so there was no alternative. She behaved
+like a Spartan--her black skin made it easier for me, but not for her,
+I fancy. So much for my first attempt at surgery. It was an ugly job.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_The Oaks, Jan. 21._ I got a letter from Mr. Forbes, who says he can
+raise $12,000 for land, etc., to put in my hands, with the
+understanding that when I get tired of managing the thing I shall
+close up and divide what shall be left.[98] So I shall certainly buy
+that end of the island, provided the lands are sold, which in Boston
+they feel very sure they will _not_ be, and provided nobody else bids
+over one dollar an acre or so.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 21._ C. was gone all day tramping over the Pine Grove plantation
+to see and map out the land so as to allot it for corn and cotton to
+the people for this year's crop,--Flora's York for guide, who was much
+amused at his maps. He brought me home as a present from Susan half a
+dozen delicious sausages and a piece of fresh pork, which is very nice
+here, as the pigs run wild and feed on the potatoes left in the field,
+and other roots. Having had to wait for my washing for over a week, as
+Judy went first to Beaufort to see "him niece," a man grown, who was
+sick and died, and then was too sick herself, I hunted up some one
+else and had our washing done. Housekeeping with such young things to
+look after as Robert and Rose[99] only is not an easy or thoroughly
+satisfactory proceeding, with so much else to see to in this great
+house.
+
+_Jan. 22._ Sam sent word that buckra and white lady were coming. I
+went to the door. There stood Miss R., Mrs. Clark, and Mr. De la
+Croix, and coming up the path were the rest of their party, Mrs.
+Bundy, Mrs. Williams, Mr. R., and, still on the beach, Mr. Williams
+and Dr. Bundy shooting. I flew down to Uncle Sam to give him
+potatoes, white and sweet, and rice and hominy, telling him to have
+the tea-kettle boiling so that I could give them a cup of coffee. We
+had eaten our last loaf of bread that morning, so I mixed some
+griddle-cakes, and Robert, who enjoyed the fun of so many people, set
+the table and did very nicely, Rose running up and down stairs with
+the hot flap-jacks. I don't wonder that country-people eat "griddles"
+so much,--they are so much easier and more quickly prepared than
+anything else. But nothing is done quickly in this region, and all
+this was a work of time, during which I entertained my guests and they
+entertained themselves in the "shop," and they became great
+purchasers. Then the boatmen who had brought them came up for sugar
+and tobacco, and Mr. De la Croix opened the new box for me, and they
+were very much amused to see me diving into the depths of the
+sugar-barrel and handling the tobacco at "eight cents a plug!" They
+were very merry and jolly and seemed to enjoy themselves,--certainly
+Mrs. Bundy did at our piano, and we in hearing her. Robert and Rose
+could not put the things on the table--they were fixed, as soon as
+they entered the room, with delight. It was funny work getting
+together dishes enough, but I made out. My table was full and my
+guests hungry, though they protested they only came for a call and did
+not want any luncheon. We got up from table about three, I got Dr.
+Bundy to take the stitches from Hester's arm and dress it, and then
+they said they must be off,--they had stayed too long already. And so
+it proved, for the tide had gone out and the boat was high and dry on
+an oyster-bank! They did not seem much distressed, and all betook
+themselves to a walk towards the quarters, which they visited in a
+body, to the delight of the people. I was informed, "Miss Hayut,
+buckra-man on hos-bahck," and Mr. Thorpe appeared on business with C.;
+as it never rains but it pours, two officers from our blockading
+vessel now landed, to see the pickets they were told were here. They
+did not stay long, and then I went to find Dr. Bundy and see what time
+they would get off. I found they could not get away till seven, so
+began to make preparations for tea. I knew my table would not be large
+enough, and was quietly taking all the books and papers off the big
+round one in the corner, when the ladies discovered what I was about;
+they rose in a body and protested they would not have any tea. But the
+gentlemen equally protested I should do just as I chose, and set them
+to work if I would, so they wheeled out the table and Mr. De la Croix
+went with me to the milk-closet to take down the shelves, which were
+the leaves. The table is a monstrous great round one, solid mahogany,
+and with its leaves in made my table-cloth look like a towel on the
+grass, so we took to the bare boards. We sat down twelve to a
+repetition of the lunch, with the addition of Susan's pork and
+sausages, as our boys had had no dinner. I could not persuade any of
+them to stay all night, though I showed them that I had bed
+accommodations for four, and sofas for more, to say nothing of a
+floor! There was a little moon and they all got home safely--we had a
+suspicion we might see them about midnight!
+
+_Jan. 23._ In the midst of all the fun and frolic yesterday there came
+a sudden pause, when Mrs. Williams drew down the corners of her mouth
+and remarked, "And this is a band of Missionaries!"
+
+I had the room in the basement cleaned to-day by Samson's Betty. She
+is the woman whose old husband turned up and gave C. so much trouble.
+This thing is happening a good deal now, and must. A man who was sold
+six years ago to Georgia came up from St. Simon's with the troops not
+long ago to find his wife here married again. He gave her leave to do
+so, however, when he was sold off, so had nothing to say. To go back
+to Betty. I gave her as careful directions as I could and left her to
+her own devices. When I went to her once I found her in the middle of
+the room with two great tubs of water, her skirts all tied up to her
+knees, the floor swimming in water which she was flinging about with a
+handful of shucks _i. e._, corn-husks! It would be easier to keep
+house in a small country house at home and do my own work (minus the
+washing) and live better than we do here. However, I am very
+philosophical, and ignore dirt and irregularity.
+
+_Jan. 24._ I had promised to go to the quarters and rode down, C.
+walking by my side to take down the amount of cotton and corn land
+each hand wished to work this year. He stood with his back against a
+fence, the "gang" collected in front of him, book in hand, taking down
+the number of tasks each agreed to work, talking to them about the
+crop, laughing with them and at them. A not less unique picture
+certainly was his sister riding his little horse, whose back her large
+shawl nearly covered behind, in her ordinary dress and hoops, stopping
+at door after door to look at this sick baby, talk to that old woman;
+give a comb out of one pocket and put an egg into another; dismount to
+show Amaritta how to make yeast and raise bread, examine some sore
+throats, go to Louisa's house and repeat the yeast operation there,
+then remount and proceed through the street in the same style, only
+that now the flour and warm water are brought to the door and she
+stirs on horseback! Sunday is the "Quarter meeting-day"--over a
+hundred are to be baptized and they want some bread to carry, as they
+will have to stay all day. I ride back through the overseer's yard,
+stop at her door to speak to Judy, then have a talk with Abel, who
+wants to know how I find Rose, says he knows character is better than
+all the riches of this world, and that he was taught and teaches his
+children not to lay hand on anything that does not belong to them. I
+took her partly because I knew it was a good family. Demus[100]
+attends me, and I ride home followed by half a dozen little boys who
+are coming up to school and run races by my side. The wind has turned
+east, and a thick fog is driving in visible clouds over the dreary
+cotton-fields, raw, chilly, and disagreeable enough. I come out of
+school wondering what I am going to have for dinner and what for
+Sunday, knowing that Uncle Sam, whose daughter Katrine is "going in
+the water," will probably be away all day and that the R.'s are coming
+to spend Sunday. You know there was trouble last summer about the
+superintendents who were not Baptists remaining to the Communion
+Service--there has been more since, and the negro elders have become
+so excited about it that they will not allow them to stay, so the R.'s
+did not wish to go to church, and planned when we were there at New
+Year's to come down here to spend that Sunday. They told me when they
+were here Thursday that they were coming, so I ought to have been
+ready, but except my three loaves of bread I had made no preparation,
+and was expecting them momentarily. The Fates were propitious,
+however, for Minda sent me a piece of fresh pork, and a note from Mr.
+Philbrick said he would send us a piece of fresh beef for our rations
+Sunday. I had just time to wash my hands when my guests arrived. That
+is a process, by the way, which I have to go through with, at the
+least, twice in an hour--sometimes oftener than that in fifteen
+minutes--with sand-soap and brush!
+
+There was a great church-going from this place, as fourteen people
+were to be baptized, and Sam when he was rigged was a sight, with his
+beaver over his head-hankercher. Carts were in requisition to bring
+home the wet clothes--Louisa told C. that she couldn't wear hoops into
+the water and should be so cold she should wear eight coats (they drop
+the petti-) and she couldn't bring them all home. It was foggy and
+chilly, though the sun came out at noon when the proceedings must have
+been at their height, as the tide was high then. There were one
+hundred and forty-nine dipped on this occasion.
+
+    The next two letters are largely occupied with the
+    beginnings of the new working year.
+
+
+C. P. W. TO E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 25._ I went down to this nigger-house yesterday morning, called
+the people up and told them what they were going to get on their
+cotton besides the pay for picking already paid, and then, after
+talking over plantation matters a little, got their acres for next
+year. They seemed "well satisfy" with the additional payment, fully
+appreciated the pay according to crop and according to acre combined,
+and started on this year's work with "good encourage." I suppose Mr.
+Forbes and you are two bricks, serving as the beginning of a good
+foundation for these people's prosperity.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Captain Oliver Fripp's, Jan. 26._ We are very busy now on the
+plantations. A new system of labor to inaugurate,--lands to
+allot,--grumbling to pacify and idleness to check,--my hands--with
+nine plantations--are perfectly overrunning. The worst of it is that
+my people are in pretty bad disposition,--the new system has been
+received with joy and thankfulness in most parts of the island,--here
+with suspicion, grumbling, and aversion. How far it is the fault of
+their past and present superintendents, I cannot tell,--it has been
+known as a hard district ever since we came here,--but it must be our
+failing in some degree. I devoutly hope that by the middle of February
+it will be over as far as I am concerned. It is a little remarkable
+that while the Abolitionists and negroes' friends up North are
+striving so hard to have the sale postponed,[101] we superintendents,
+without exception that I have heard, are very desirous to have it
+effected. This "superintendence" is a most unsatisfactory
+system,--temporary and unprogressive in every element. Of course,
+nothing else could well have been tried this last year, and perhaps
+the time has not yet come to abandon it. But we all think it has. I am
+satisfied that the sooner the people are thrown upon themselves, the
+speedier will be their salvation. Let all the natural laws of labor,
+wages, competition, etc., come into play,--and the sooner will habits
+of responsibility, industry, self-dependence, and manliness be
+developed. Very little, very little, should be given them: now, in the
+first moments of freedom, is the time to influence their notion of it.
+To receive has been their natural condition. They are constantly
+comparing the time when they used to obtain shoes, dresses, coats,
+flannels, food, etc., from their masters, with the present when little
+or nothing is given them. I think it would be _most unwise and
+injurious_ to _give_ them _lands_,--negro allotments; they should be
+made to _buy_ before they can feel themselves possessors of a rod.
+There are some who are now able to buy their houses and two or three
+acres of land,--by the end of the year their number will probably be
+greatly increased. These will be the more intelligent, the more
+industrious and persistent. But _give_ them land, and a house,--and
+the ease of gaining as good a livelihood as they have been accustomed
+to would keep many contented with the smallest exertion. I pity some
+of them very much, for I see that nothing will rouse and maintain
+their energy but suffering.
+
+In regard to the immediate sale,--even should speculators buy some
+plantations, I don't think the people would suffer much oppression
+during the years of their possession. It would be for their interest
+to continue or increase the wages which Government offers,--and
+probably many would let the places almost alone. Should oppression
+occur, the negroes will probably have an opportunity to move,--such
+cases would be closely watched and loudly reported,--and the people
+would be all the more dependent on their own exertions. I should think
+the great injury would come at the end of the war, or whenever the
+speculators sell the lands: then, instead of selling at low prices and
+in small lots or of consulting the people's interest in any way, they
+will simply realize the greatest advantage for themselves. Other
+places, however, will be bought by friends and by the Government,--on
+the whole, great good would result to the people. Moreover, the work
+will then have very much more value as a test of their capacity and
+ambition,--as an experiment in American emancipation.
+
+I feel that outside of directly spiritual labor, this emancipation
+work is the noblest and holiest in the country.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 27._ Both schools were very satisfactory. If any one could have
+looked in, without the children's seeing them, they would have thought
+we presented quite an ordinary school-like appearance. I have a
+blackboard with numerals and figures and the second line of the
+Multiplication Table written on it, all of which the oldest school
+know tolerably, but they make sorry work trying to copy the figures on
+their slates. I let them use them every day now, however, for they
+must learn, by gradually growing familiar with the use of a pencil,
+not to use it like a hoe. There are furrows in the slates made by
+their digging in which you might plant benny-seed, if not cotton!
+
+_Jan. 29._ Am trying to teach the children how to tell time on the
+dial-plate of an old English clock, "Presented by Sir Isaac Coffin,
+Bart.," as its face informs you--one of the many valuable things
+demolished.
+
+_Jan. 31._ Started directly after breakfast to spend the day and night
+with H. We broke down, as usual, had to stop and be tinkered up, so
+that William was late for the ferry, and when we got to the Oaks
+avenue I got out with my bag and basket and let him go on. I trusted
+to fate to find some one to carry my traps for me the mile up to the
+house. The drive was lovely, and I found some people waiting by the
+roadside for Mr. Soule, to get passes to go to Beaufort. A boy readily
+took my things for me without promise of any payment. On the walk I
+found he was one of the Edisto refugees who are quartered at the
+village and supplied with rations by Government, but he had left home
+with only two pieces of hardtack in his pocket and without breakfast.
+"Think we'll go back to Edisto, Missy?" he asked most earnestly,
+hoping that a stranger would give him some hope that he should see his
+home again. He was a nice boy; as a general thing the Edisto people
+are a better class of blacks, more intelligent and cultivated, so to
+speak, but those brought from there were then refugees from many other
+places.
+
+Mr. Philbrick brought word that the North Carolina army[102] had
+arrived at Hilton Head, and we were excited to know who of our friends
+had come.
+
+_Feb. 1._ A message came back from Mr. Philbrick that General "Saxby"
+was coming to dinner. The General was decidedly blue about affairs
+here at present. He wants to stop the sale of lands very much, though,
+as he can control the sale so as to keep it out of the hands of
+speculators, I hope the sale will take place. You cannot understand
+how much we long to have the sale over. If it could only have taken
+place a month sooner it would have been all the better, as then the
+purchasers could have stocked their places by the time work began. As
+it is, the people have gone into the fields without the necessary
+number of cattle or mules, and with only their worn-out hoes; the
+Edisto people who are now being distributed onto the plantations have
+nothing. With the chance of giving up the control so soon, Government
+has not supplied all that is necessary and work bids fair to be as
+behindhand here as it was last year. Where the people have gone to
+work at all--at this end of the island--they have started with "good
+encourage," but at other places it has been impossible to get them to
+start any cotton, though they work corn. This is partly due to the
+fact that this end of the island is removed from the demoralizing
+effects of the camps, and partly, too, to the confidence the people
+have in the superintendents here, who have mostly been with them
+steadily now for nearly a year. It seems to us on the spot as if
+things could not go on another year as they are now, and we long for
+February eleventh and things to be settled. The auctioneer is at
+Washington trying, not to have the sale postponed, but to have lands
+set apart and given the blacks beforehand, and we dread lest any day
+we should hear that it has been delayed. Some of the blacks mean to
+buy--we don't wish them to till the war is over, as our tenure here is
+too uncertain for them to sink their money.
+
+C. on horseback, I in the double sulky started homeward, reaching
+home--and we agreed that it was certainly homelike--by half past six.
+Rose came up from her house acknowledging that though she wanted to
+see me she could have waited till to-morrow, but her mother made her
+come!
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Feb. 2._ The sale is a week from Wednesday. General Saxton (proclaim
+it not from the house-top) says he shall take the liberty to use the
+Cotton Fund to outbid any troublesome speculators. Glory Hallelujah!
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 4._ Cold as ever again--can do nothing but try to keep warm.
+Have a good fire in the school-room, and quite a full school--those
+who stay away for the cold being jeered at as not wishing to learn by
+the others. I think they have done well for a year with the amount of
+teaching they have had.
+
+_Feb. 7._ Found C. was going to Pine Grove, so thought I would go too,
+as I have not been to see them since Christmas. I went round to see
+the people who were at home; many of them had gone into the field,
+where C. went to deal out the land to them. Then I followed him in the
+sulky to bring him home, but when I reached the field, Flora, who came
+running out to see me, crying out, "my ole missus!" informed me that
+"Mass' Charlie have much long jawing, people in confusion." Mr.
+S.,[103] it seemed, had disturbed them about the land-sale, and York
+vowed if anybody but Mr. Philbrick or C. had the place he would pack
+up and go to New York with his family. Went home alone, forced to
+leave C. to walk. Found some of his old people waiting for him--they
+are very much attached to him and he to them--it is hard for him to
+give them up. One man met him at church last Sunday, took off his hat,
+rolled up his eyes, and remarked pathetically, "I goes to sleep and
+dreams of you, Boss!"
+
+_Feb. 8._ Dr. Russell sends me word that after March 1st my salary
+will be $20 instead of $25.
+
+We all went up to church this morning for the chance of finding John
+L.[104] there. We go to church to see our friends, and generally
+manage to get there just as service is over. If it were any good to
+the people we could bear it, but they get stones, not bread, I am
+sorry to say. We did not find any friends from the Twenty-Fourth.
+
+I shall hope to send you Colonel Higginson's report of his
+expedition[105] with the Black Regiment, which was a great success.
+Oh, if the formation of the regiment last spring had only been
+differently managed! we should have had a brigade by this time.
+January, who I wrote you was taken from here one night as a deserter,
+and who was found up his chimney, almost frightened to death at going
+back, he was so badly treated before, came for a day or two since he
+got back from the expedition and told C. he would not take a thousand
+dollars to leave now, he had such a good time.
+
+    On February 10, the very eve of the eagerly awaited day set
+    for the land-sale, H. W. writes: "The cart went up for
+    rations, so I sent some sausages for H. and got some cake at
+    night, with a note saying the sale was stopped." True to his
+    extreme record as friend of the negro, General Hunter had
+    been the means of postponing the sales, in the hope, as has
+    been said, of eventually turning most of the plantations
+    into negro holdings, by gift or the next thing to it. More
+    will be heard of all this shortly.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Feb. 14._ It is supposed that the postponement of the land-sales till
+the allotment of lands is made will be for a year at least. I expect
+to find the people, though they are all members, will become profane
+immediately. They are depending on a chance to buy or hire land.
+
+    W. C. G. writes the next letter after having had a talk with
+    a friend in the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Feb. 17._ He seemed very well, more contented than most of the
+soldiers and talking more rationally and humanely than four fifths of
+those with whom I have conversed. The troops will probably be here a
+month or two at least, before any attempt is made in any direction.
+The commanding generals have quarreled,[106] and one has gone North;
+the troops are insufficient, the enemy on the alert and strongly
+defended. The history of the Department so far might read: the forts
+were taken, one thousand-odd children were taught to read, and one
+negro regiment was formed.[107] Hunter seems to be a narrow,
+self-willed man--to me--who don't know much about his affairs. At
+first the soldiers were allowed to go wherever they pleased;
+consequently they poured over our end of the island, confusion coming
+with them. They cheated, they plundered, they threatened lives, they
+stole boats, poultry, hogs, money, and other property, they paid for
+dinners with worthless Richmond money, taking good bills in exchange.
+They behaved like marauders in an enemy's country, and disgraced the
+name of man, American, or soldier. The houses of one whole plantation
+they burnt to the ground in the night. For three whole days and far
+into the night I did nothing but chase soldiers and ride about to
+protect the people. The consequence of it all is that the soldiers are
+now tied up in camp pretty firmly.
+
+The sales have been postponed to my and many persons' great
+disappointment. And yet it does seem absurd, in view of the increasing
+uncertainties of the moment here, to sell land. But I am so heartily
+sick and weary of this system! What I shall do if the lands are not
+sold within a month or two, I don't know.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 19._ You will see by this copy of the _Free South_[108] the
+outrages that have been committed by the troops who were landed at
+Land's End, but it can give you but little idea of the outrages that
+have been committed or the mischief done. Besides the actual loss to
+the people,--and in many cases it has been their all,--the loss of
+confidence in Yankees is an incalculable injury. The scenes some of
+the superintendents have had to go through with are beyond
+description. Sumner had a pistol put at his breast for trying to stop
+the soldiers and protect the negroes, and Mr. Hammond, when he went
+with General Saxton to tell Hunter of what had been done under his
+very eyes on his own plantations, burst into tears. It is disgusting
+that any Massachusetts regiment should be mixed up with such savage
+treatment, and that the Twenty-Fourth should be is shameful in the
+extreme.
+
+_Feb. 20._ To-day all the people were on the Bay "drawing seine" when
+I came out of morning school, and as that is a process I have wished
+to see I ran down to the beach myself between whiles. Here was a droll
+enough scene indeed. They had made one "drawing" and were just casting
+the seine again as I walked along for half a mile towards the
+drum-hole.[109] The shell-banks, which are exposed at low tide, were
+fringed with small children with baskets and bags which they were
+filling with oysters and conchs. Rose followed me as guide and
+protector, jabbering away in her outlandish fashion to my great
+entertainment, and was very much afraid that the oyster-shells, over
+which she walked with impunity with bare feet, would cut up my heavy
+leather boots. I could go out to the very edge of one of these curious
+shell-banks, and the seine was drawn up almost at my feet. The net was
+laid on a boat which was hauled out into the water by the men, who
+were up to their waists, then dropped along its full length, which is
+very great, and gradually hauled in shore again with two or three
+bushels of fish in it, and any number of crabs, which the children
+pick up very carefully and fling ashore. There were about thirty men,
+and you would have thought from the noise and talking that it was a
+great fire in the country, with no head to the engine companies and
+every man giving orders. They were good-natured as possible, but
+sometimes their gibberish sounds as if they were scolding. The boys,
+with their pantaloons, or what answer for sich, rolled up to their
+knees, were hauling at the rope or picking up the crabs and making
+them catch hold of each other till they had a long string of them.
+Another mode of proceeding with them--for a crab-bite is a pretty
+serious thing--is to hold an oyster-shell out, which they grab, and
+then with a quick shake the claw is broken off, and they are harmless.
+A large bass having been taken in the haul I witnessed, it was laid at
+my feet for my acceptance, and then, the girls following, most of the
+boys staying to see the third drawing, I wended my way back to school.
+
+_Feb. 21._ Such steady shop that C. could not get off very early and
+sold a barrel of flour before he departed. Shop is a great nuisance,
+but I don't know what the people would do without it and don't see how
+it can be given up for a long time. They can't get things as cheap
+anywhere else, but they cannot understand that it is of no advantage
+to us. When I told them yesterday they must not hurry me, for I had to
+put everything down so as to keep a correct account to send to the
+Quartermaster and people who sent the things, they were quite
+surprised, and when in explaining the state of the case to them I
+remarked that I was not even paid for the trouble, Binah said she
+would not take the trouble then; and they can't understand that any
+one should.
+
+    Other comments on this laborious shop-keeping are: [Feb.
+    23]. What with sugar and dry goods upstairs, and flour,
+    pork, and salt down, it's busy, not to say nasty work. [Apr.
+    9.] Mr. P.'s molasses fell short about $5.00 on the barrel!
+    Yet you can't convince the people he is not making heaps of
+    money, and I, too, for the matter of that. [June 6.] A
+    stranger the other day asked me for a looking-glass that he
+    might see how his new hat looked, and then informed me that
+    I ought to keep lemonade for my friends! But such things are
+    rare, and so ludicrous that one doesn't mind.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 22._ I heard Uncle Sam read the first three chapters of Genesis,
+which he translated into his own lingo as he went along, calling the
+subtile serpent the most "amiable" of beasts, and ignoring gender,
+person, and number in an astonishing manner. He says "Lamb books of
+life," and calls the real old Southern aristocracy the gentiles! His
+vocabulary is an extensive one--I wish his knowledge of the art of
+cooking were as great!
+
+_Feb. 25._ I was in full tide with my A B C's when I saw two mounted
+officers pass the window. They presently appeared at the door of the
+school-room, one of them with a General's stars, addressing me and
+asking about the school. But he did not introduce himself, and I was
+in profound ignorance as to who it might be. They came, apparently, to
+see the place, and while they walked on the beach I got up what lunch
+I could. The title had an immense effect upon Robert; when I told Sam
+I must have the water boiled to give the General some coffee, he
+opened his eyes as wide as the gate, and Rose, who came to ask for the
+key of the corn-room for him to feed the horses, was such a comical
+sight, as she stared with mouth and eyes and then dropped a curtsey in
+the middle of the room, that if any one had been here I think I should
+have disgraced myself and snickered! Unfortunately the dignitary did
+not see her.
+
+_Feb. 26._ I had scarcely done breakfast when I was called upon to
+serve in the shop for half a dozen men from the blockading vessel off
+Otter Island, all negroes. They come every once in a while and buy
+large amounts of sugar and other little things. They evidently think
+their patronage of great advantage to us.
+
+Five grown men have come in to swell the evening school. I can't do
+much for them, as they don't all know their letters, but they have
+books and I hope the children will help them on out of school.
+
+Have I told you that the path to the beach has been bordered with
+flowers for several weeks, jonquils and narcissus, so far as I can
+make out, though unlike any I ever saw before? They are in great
+profusion, and there are a few snow-drops, very pretty, but a foot or
+more high, and losing their charm in the height and strength. The
+jasmine and hawthorn are just coming into blossom, and I see what
+looks like a peach-tree in full bloom in Sam's yard.
+
+_Feb. 27._ C. came home before night, with the news that the sales had
+begun[110] and that our fate would be decided by next week probably.
+He brought no other news of importance except that my unknown guest
+was probably a General Potter[111] on Foster's staff. When I came out
+of school this morning I found Rose asleep on the rug in front of the
+parlor fire! She is quite a Topsy in some things, playing all sorts of
+tricks with her voice and actions, but I have never had reason to
+doubt her truth or honesty in the smallest particular, since the
+first, and I have been very watchful.
+
+_Feb. 28._ Before I was up I heard a perfect babel of tongues, a
+magpie chattering, which, on looking out of the window, I found came
+from about twenty women at work in our new garden getting out the
+"jint-grass," swinging their great, heavy hoes above their heads. Dr.
+Dio Lewis should have seen their gymnastics and the physical
+development therefrom. It was a droll sight--red, blue, and bright
+yellow in their costume, and such a gabbling! Hindustanee is as
+intelligible as their talk among themselves. How C. astonished a man
+who was muttering away to himself the other day at the Oaks by
+laughing at him and telling him he understood Nigger as well as he!
+
+Old Deborah walked from Cherry Hill this morning,--she has lately
+moved there from here,--and came into the early school, which greatly
+delighted her. She is Rose's grandmother, and heard her
+great-grandchild reading to me, yet she is a smart old body and
+carries on her own cotton this year. Her delight over Raphael's
+angels--we have Mr. Philbrick's photographs of them here--was really
+touching. "If a body have any consider, 'twould melt their
+hairt,"--and she tried to impress it upon Rose that she was a greatly
+privileged person to be able to see them every day.
+
+    In the next letter is described a visit to the camp of the
+    "North Carolina army" at Land's End.
+
+_Sunday, March 1._ We started off in time to reach church before the
+sermon was over, I in the sulky with my things to stay all night,--if
+it should prove practicable for me to go to camp, by staying at G.'s
+or the Oaks. H. got into my sulky and we drove off, the question to be
+decided after dinner. The road to-day was lined with the jasmine in
+full bloom running over everything. I was too late to see it last
+spring and as I had not been out of the house for a fortnight the
+change was very marked. Some trees are putting out fresh, green
+leaves, the peach and wild plum-trees are all in blossom. Our large
+field, too, had been "listed"[112] since I passed through it last, and
+altogether things had a very spring-like look. After dinner it was
+decided to take the carriage and Northern horses, with Harry, and make
+our expedition to the camp in style, escorted by Mr. Sumner on
+horseback.
+
+Behold us, then, starting about ten in the morning, Monday, March 2,
+driving for fifteen miles through the woods, a perfect spring day,
+till, as we reached our journey's end, we found the woods cut down and
+fields cleared for the camps over an immense space. Tents in every
+direction and masts beyond, looking very busy and thriving. Real war
+camps, not such as we see at Readville, for most of the regiments
+coming on such an expedition, from which they expected to return
+before this time, had only shelter tents, as few things as they could
+possibly get along with, and their worst clothes. There were men
+washing (with a bit of board in a half of a barrel with a
+horse-brush!), cutting wood, mending the road very much cut up with
+the army-wagons, sticking down trees in front of their tents, and in
+almost every camp we saw some men playing ball. Horses and wagons,
+rough stables, and the carpenters at work with plane and saw getting
+up comforts. The Twenty-Fourth was at Land's End indeed, so we passed
+through all the others before we came to it, each additional one
+causing a louder and more wondering exclamation from Harry at the
+sight of so many men, till the oxen, evidently waiting to be
+slaughtered, and of a size so vastly superior to those indigenous to
+these regions, quite dumbfounded him.
+
+The Twenty-Fourth reached at last, we went at once to James's tent,
+where he greeted us very kindly, and inviting us in, went off for
+John. Glad as I was to see them at last, it only made me doubly sorry
+that they should have been so near us and unable to come down to the
+few home comforts we could have offered them; but they have both tried
+to get away in vain. We found the Twenty-Fourth was in a very excited
+state over General Stevenson's arrest;[113] and speaking of his
+release and return to camp the day before, James said--"We gave him
+such a reception as the Twenty-Fourth _can_ give." The whole North
+Carolina division were feeling very sore over the quarrel between
+Hunter and Foster which has so unjustly, as they feel, deprived them
+of going under Foster on this expedition, and over the general
+treatment of them and their officers which they have received ever
+since they came into this Department.[114] This I heard from James
+first, but more at length and in detail from the surgeon afterwards.
+For as we drove home a gentleman passed us on horseback, and we
+presently saw him racing with Mr. Sumner, and then riding by his side.
+They soon turned. Mr. Sumner introduced to me S. A. Green. Mr. Sumner
+had never seen him before, but asked him to join us at lunch at Mr.
+G.'s, where we were to stop on our way.
+
+G. was expecting us, and such a dinner as he spread before us! A
+little roasted pig, over which Mr. Sumner grew pathetic as he
+described its baby-like appearance before it was cooked, when Tamah,
+their invaluable cook, brought it in to show them--potatoes, rice,
+etc., and for dessert, trifle, cake, muffins, waffles of a most
+excellent variety, and I don't know what. But the spice of the dinner
+was a long and animated discussion over the cause of General
+Stevenson's arrest and other matters appertaining thereto. Dr. Green
+was present at the time Stevenson had his discussion with Major
+Barstow and is reported to have said that he would rather be defeated
+than gain a victory with the aid of black soldiers,--and says that he
+said no such thing. The question was asked as a leading one, and
+before General Stevenson replied, Major Barstow exclaimed, "You hear
+that declaration?" and went off and reported. Pretty small business,
+anyway, though the General and most of his officers apparently are not
+at all waked up to the question, and oppose the idea of negro soldiers
+very strongly. They seem to have been living for a year with their old
+prejudices quietly slumbering--without coming in contact with the
+subject and its practical working as we have here, and so are not
+prepared for the change of opinion which has been silently advancing
+here. We did not think a year ago that these people would make
+soldiers, though it might be a wise measure to organize them for
+garrison duty to save the lives of our men in a climate they could not
+bear well and where no fighting would be necessary. Now it is a matter
+of fact, not opinion, as Colonel Higginson's report shows, that they
+will fight in open warfare, and will succeed in a certain sort of
+expedition when white men would fail, thus being too valuable an aid
+in putting down the Rebellion for us to give way to the prejudices of
+the mass of the soldiers. But I do not think it strange those
+prejudices exist, and they can only be removed by degrees.
+
+The sales are to go on--how glad I shall be when the whole thing is
+settled! Dr. Brisbane thinks he has proof that Mr. Coffin is in jail
+in Charleston for Union sentiments,[115] so that he shall reserve his
+plantations for him. Mr. Philbrick may be able to lease them till the
+war is over, but if we take Charleston and if Mr. Coffin claims his
+own again, behold us! I don't know what the negroes would do, at
+first, if they thought Mr. Coffin was coming back to take possession
+of the lands--though they all acknowledge that when he was here there
+was no "confusion"--"that was all along de overseer." I suppose, if
+they were not taken by surprise and could understand matters, they
+would work for him as well as any one else; but a great deal would
+depend upon whom they had over them--they would not work under
+Cockloft again "first." They will be disappointed if Mr. Philbrick
+does not get this place.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_March 1._ The sale of lands, which was arrested by General Hunter's
+order, has recommenced by authority obtained from Washington. The
+generals commanding--Hunter and Saxton--are both interested in terms
+and regulations which will favor the negroes. I hear they are both
+added as, in some way, joint commissioners to those who have been
+acting in that capacity, with full powers to retain all lands in
+Government possession which may be wanted for military or educational
+purposes.[116] What plan they may adopt is not yet known; but we have
+already been called on for a complete census of the population, with a
+view to a land allotment of some kind. I pray it may not be by _gift_.
+I used to dread the effects of immediate emancipation and think it
+was the duty of a Christian nation to ease the passage from slavery to
+freedom with all kinds of assistance; but I am nearly satisfied that
+the best thing our Government can do, for the good of these people
+themselves, is simply to offer and enforce their acceptance of the
+advantages of civil law and education. I should hope that for a time
+the relations of employer and employed might be also watched and
+determined by law,--but more than this, anything in the form of
+_gifts_ and _charity_ will, I'm pretty sure, only relieve momentary
+distress at the expense of their development in manliness and
+independence. Very few will take a responsibility which they can in
+any way avoid, and not one in a thousand will refuse charity if
+offered, even when there is no slightest need of it. At the same time,
+they perfectly understand the rights of property, almost
+superstitiously appreciate the advantages of education, and will
+eagerly seize any opportunity they may have of acquiring the one or
+the other. As to these island people I feel no doubt that at least
+three out of five of the present children will be able to read and
+write when men and women, and that of the present generation of grown
+people, half a plantation at least would own land in their own right
+before four years had past,--if they were permitted to buy. Then how
+much better to throw them on themselves, to leave them to their own
+ambition and intelligence, when they have so much of both. Their
+inveterate suspicion of white kindness, too, joined to their
+ignorance, so clog the wheels of any system of charity like this of
+superintendence that for this reason alone I think it should cease.
+But they only too thoroughly comprehend the idea of _law_,--and are
+therefore well able to understand and be grateful for beneficent law,
+which at once protects and leaves them to themselves. "Let us
+alone"--the cry of their masters--really belongs to them and is their
+wisest demand.
+
+I am anxiously hoping to be freed from this place by the sales and to
+return to my old neighborhood, and there to be able to accomplish
+something. This is but a stand-still experience, compared to our
+wishes. The people advance in spite of it. I believe almost the only
+real good I've done was to partially protect these people for three
+days from the soldiers.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 5._ C. came home at night with the news that the First South
+Carolina Volunteers started on an expedition[117] to-day which Colonel
+Higginson considers of very great importance, which will have very
+great results, or from which they will probably never return. Also
+that drafting has begun in Beaufort by Hunter's orders.
+
+General Saxton has _passed his word_ to the people here that they
+shall not be forced into the army--I don't see what is to be the
+upshot of it--they will lose all confidence in us. Anywhere but here!
+Saxton himself gave Colonel Montgomery[118] leave to draft in Florida
+and Key West, but he had no need to--more recruits offered than he
+could bring away with him. I don't wish to find fault with my
+commanding general, but I have yet to be shown the first thing Hunter
+has done which I consider wise or fine. Saxton has had to go down
+more than once and persuade him not to execute his orders.
+
+    In the following letter the reference to Mrs. Wolcott and
+    McClellan has to do with that visit to Boston of the deposed
+    general which was made such a triumphal progress for him by
+    the conservatives of the town. The reference to Hallowell,
+    who had a commission in the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts, the
+    first colored regiment raised by a state government, is
+    interesting as further evidence of the prejudice against
+    negro troops.
+
+_March 6._ C. brought me last night a long letter from S. descriptive
+of Mrs. Wolcott's party, McClellan, the fashions, and Hallowell's
+feeling at the position in which he places himself in going into a
+negro regiment. I wish he could see Colonel Higginson and his, but a
+Northern black regiment will be a very different thing from a Southern
+one--the men will have the vices of civilization from which these are
+free. Colonel Higginson is an enthusiast, but I do not see that he
+exaggerates or states anything but facts.
+
+    Then follow specimens of the conversation of Robert and
+    Rose, with which may be put here two others, really of later
+    date.
+
+"Miss Hayiut, that your home?" Robert asked me this morning, looking
+at some colored pictures of the Crystal Palace I found in a _London
+News_ and nailed up in the entry yesterday! He's bound to go North
+with Mass' Charlie. If he expects to live in such a mansion I don't
+wonder he wishes to.
+
+_Saturday, March 7._ If you could have seen Rose's astonishment this
+morning when she comprehended that the clock was not alive! I made
+her tell me what time it was, which she did successfully, and then, as
+she stood gazing at the minute-hand "move so fast," I said, "Yes, it
+is going all the time--it never stops." "No rest for eat?" she said
+with the utmost innocence; and when I told her it was not alive and
+did not need to eat, she was quite sure the pendulum must be if the
+hands were not.
+
+[_March 10._[119]] Some instructions about cleaning up led me to ask
+Rose if she liked dirt, to which she replied, like a true Yankee, with
+the question, "Miss Hay't, you like um? You no like um, I no like um."
+A little while after, she got talking about "Maussa" and Cockloft;
+when I asked what she would do if she should see Mr. Coffin come here,
+she said, "I run," "dey bad." Oh, no, not bad, I guess. "Miss Hay't"
+(you have no idea how short it is, almost "Hat"), "you shum? [see 'em]
+Well, you do'no; I shum, I know."
+
+[_Nov. 1._] "I say praise for you, 'cause I mind you," said Rose to me
+in her affectionate way this morning. She tames slowly, as Mr. Soule
+and I thought when we came home from riding this morning and saw her
+waiting for us at the entrance of the path on the beach turning
+somersaults on the sand! Her hands would appear high in the air, when
+suddenly her heels would be in their place! Yesterday morning she
+said: "Miss Hayiut, you gwine let me go home to-day for wash?" Yes,
+Rose, if you are a good girl. "Yes, _Ma'am_, me gwine be good girl, my
+contans [conscience] say, 'Rose, you be good girl, not make Miss
+Hayiut talk.'"
+
+    To return to H. W.'s letter of March 7:
+
+We drove up to church and heard the text read for the first time! H.
+was not there, so we went there to dinner again, probably for the last
+time, as we found the places are really to be sold to-morrow. Mr.
+Philbrick hopes to be through with collecting the cotton in a
+fortnight, and then they will be able to come down here, as he can go
+to Beaufort once a week for a night or two until it is all ginned and
+shipped, and then they will go home.
+
+    The next letters return to the all-absorbing matter of the
+    land-sales. The opening paragraph refers to them and the way
+    they were being managed, as well as to the old question of
+    negro character and negro labor.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_March 8._ I should like to come home and make inquiries among my
+friends concerning Port Royal matters. I should like to take the part
+of an intelligent foreigner desiring to obtain information concerning
+this interesting experiment of free black labor. And when I had heard
+and written down their description of this enterprise, I should return
+to my friends here and read for their entertainment. How we should
+laugh; I must try it some day.
+
+When the lands are finally sold, a great many entertaining questions
+will arise. Only the real estate will be sold; what is to be done with
+the cattle, the mules, the boats, the furniture, the carriages? How is
+the Government to be repaid for what it has spent on this year's crop?
+How are the reserved plantations to be worked by the Government?
+
+    The sale having taken place at last on March 9, the list
+    with which C. P. W. begins his next letter is of plantations
+    reserved from sale by the Government.
+
+_March 10._ The Oaks, Oakland, where Mr. Hunn's Philadelphia
+Commission store is, Eddings Point, T. B. Fripp, my two McTureous
+places, the Hope Place, and a few others on the Sea Side road, about
+four at Land's End, etc., etc. Mr. Eustis and a Mr. Pritchard, living
+on Pritchard's Island, near Land's End, paid taxes before the sale.
+(Most of the places reserved were selected for the purpose of selling
+land to the negroes next year, after this crop is in.)
+
+The General [Saxton] is afraid that some speculators may interfere
+with the plan for this year which has been started.[120] He has made
+certain promises to the people in regard to this year's crop, and he
+feels that he ought to be able to impose some conditions on
+purchasers. Of course he could not impose conditions under which the
+lands should be sold, but he still may, as Military Governor, enforce
+justice toward the people.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 10._ C. and Mr. Philbrick stopped at the nigger-house to see
+and tell the people of the result of the sale. At Fripp Point, which
+he also bought, the people were as usual unmoved and apparently
+apathetic, but here they were somewhat more demonstrative, and
+slightly expressed their pleasure. All the places he most cared for
+Mr. Philbrick was able to bid off, and two of C.'s old places, which
+he wanted but did not expect to get. So much is settled; but there is
+a great deal besides that it will take a long time and a deal of
+trouble to arrange--we don't know yet how much goes with the
+plantations, or when possession will be given.
+
+The confirmation of the report that Hunter is going to draft these
+people causes a great deal of feeling, as Saxton has publicly promised
+them that they shall not be forced to join the army. They seem to
+understand that Hunter is in authority and Saxton can't help himself,
+C. says, and so have no ill feeling towards the latter; but they will
+hide, if possible, and it is hard to feel that they have been so
+treated as to make them as suspicious of a Yankee's word as they have
+always been of a white man's. I think it right they should go if they
+are needed,--the war is of more importance even than the experiment of
+free labor,--but to have them lied to so! Why was Hunter ever sent
+back here?
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_March 14._ Mr. Philbrick has bought in all thirteen plantations,[121]
+at an expense of about $7000: three places for R., two for Wells, two
+for Hull on Ladies Island, six places within five miles of this place.
+I remain here, and shall probably assume Cherry Hill and Mulberry
+Hill, my old places; G. comes to Pine Grove, and takes that, the
+Point, and Captain John Fripp Homestead. The people are all starting
+well, we are in excellent spirits, and are in proper season for the
+crops; and "if God spare life," "if nothing strange happens," "if we
+live to see," we shall "_see_ crop make, sir."
+
+This drafting business is simply folly. Hunter is an ignorant,
+obstinate fool.[122] General Saxton is very much opposed to the
+measure, especially after promising the men again and again that they
+would not be taken unless they were willing to go; but he says he has
+done all he can to dissuade Hunter without any effect, and if he
+should go further in the matter, either he or Hunter would have to go
+home, and he is not willing at this crisis to raise this additional
+difficulty. Hunter's order was published in the _New South_[123] last
+Monday. For a full week before the negroes had been anxiously
+questioning us about this strange news that "they want to take we to
+make soldiers." Up to Monday I was able to tell them that I had heard
+such stories, but did not believe them; but Tuesday night, when I got
+home, I told them how matters stood, and they confessed that for a
+full week before hardly a man on the plantation under sixty years of
+age had slept in his bed. A strange white face drives them from the
+field into the woods like so many quails; they will not go to church,
+they will not go to the Ferry. Two Sundays ago I happened to ask one
+of the elders at church, to make talk merely, how soon the next
+Society meeting took place at Pine Grove. It was last Saturday
+evening. My question to Demus was reported at the meeting, they
+immediately became suspicious of some trap to catch them, they grew
+anxious, a cry arose that there were soldiers out on the plantation,
+the men left the praise-house, and the meeting, instead of continuing
+all night, broke up about midnight with some confusion.[124] They were
+caught last year, they will not be caught again. They cannot
+understand how it is that the Government, for whom they have been
+working, and in whom they have learned to place confidence as a
+protection, should wish to interrupt their work here. It is a terrible
+discouragement to them, just as they are starting their first fair
+trial for themselves, to be forced, I do not say into the military
+service, for very few will be caught, but forced to abandon their
+crops, and skulk and hide and lead the life of hunted beasts during
+all this precious planting season. The women would be physically able
+to carry on for some time the men's share with their own, but they
+would be very much disheartened, and would need constant
+encouragement. Under this terrible uncertainty and fear, the work has
+begun to slacken. Even the head men on the plantations are losing
+courage. I make as light of the evil as I can, but I am always met by
+the remark: "We are a year older than we was last year, sir." Their
+trust in me is a little surprising. They converse in my presence about
+their dodging life, and I could easily take any ten of them I chose
+alone; or, with the aid of one other, I could take the whole
+plantation. "If we didn't trust to you, sir, we should have to leave
+the plantation entirely; you are the only person to protect we now,
+sir." It is hardly necessary to remark that their confidence is not
+misplaced. Help catch them? "I wouldn't do it first."
+
+    In accordance with Hunter's order, referred to above, Saxton
+    issued a general order to superintendents, which bade them
+    send to Captain Hooper a list of all able-bodied freedmen
+    between eighteen and fifty on the plantations, and
+    instructed them to urge the negroes to enlist by appealing
+    to "their reason, sense of right, their love of liberty and
+    their dread of returning to the rule of their late masters,"
+    adding: "The General Commanding expects to form a pretty
+    correct judgment of the comparative efficiency of the
+    different superintendents and the amount of influence for
+    good they are capable of exerting over their people, by the
+    proportion of the whole number subject to draft which they
+    are able to bring in without the aid of physical force."
+    Referring to this last sentence as a "mean insinuation," C.
+    P. W. goes on:
+
+For my people, I know there is about as much use in asking them to
+enlist as in requesting my horse, a very intelligent animal, to drink
+salt water. I hope they will draft, they may possibly enlist, the
+loafers at Hilton Head and Beaufort, and those whose proximity to
+camps, or general worthless character, prevents them from taking much
+interest in their crops. But these men, who have been paid up in full
+for last year's crop, and have seen that their crop, slim as it was,
+brought them a fair compensation, are bound to show _a crop_ this
+year. Crop-raising is their business, their trade, and they intend to
+show what they can do at it this year for the Government, which
+protects them, for me, who "see them justice" (they have a vague idea
+that I reap a certain percentage from their crop--they say, "You will
+have a bigger crop of cotton than Mr. Philbrick, sir"--they also think
+that if I "overlook" four hundred hands, I ought to get more pay than
+a man who only sees to two hundred), and last, and principally, for
+themselves. They have not been learning cotton-raising, perforce, all
+these years for nothing. Now their enforced knowledge comes out in
+tending a crop of which they are to own a share, and the little tricks
+of the trade, which had to be watchfully enforced in the old time, are
+now skillfully produced, especially in the food crops, which are more
+evidently their own. I let them go ahead very much as they choose; I
+make regulations for the good of all, as in the matter of carts, oxen,
+etc., but the minutiae I do not meddle with, except as a matter of
+curiosity and acquirement of knowledge. They work well, some of them
+harder than in the old time; the lazy ones are stimulated to exertion
+for their own benefit, the energetic ones _race like sixty_.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 13._ I had the sick people to visit, and C. was going over to
+the _Kingfisher_, our blockader, for coal-tar to plant corn with, so
+he went to the field and I was to make my professional calls for the
+Doctor, and meet him at the Creek at the nigger-house to take the row
+with him. Just as I came out of school, however, two officers of an
+Illinois regiment rode up to look about and see what they could see,
+and asked if they could have food for man and beast. So I left orders
+for some lunch, dressed, and started on my tour. I went through the
+quarters--not a man was to be seen. There lay the boat, and the women
+were coming in from their work, but said the men would not come till
+the officers had gone--they were afraid of being taken. C. had to beg
+the officers to go off the plantation, for he could not get his crew.
+Not a man sleeps at night in the houses, except those too old to be
+taken. They have made a camp somewhere and mean never to be caught.
+There is no question that they can hide; a slave here hid himself for
+two years on one of the little islands, though the whole district was
+after him; he finally came out himself.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_March 14._ On March 9th the estates were at last offered for sale. On
+our island two thirds were bidden in by the Government and I presume
+they will remain under the system of superintendence. The other third
+was bought by Mr. Philbrick and two or three sutlers. No agents of
+Southern owners and no dangerous speculators made their appearance, to
+my knowledge. Where any person evinced a desire to buy, the
+commissioners, by their bids, forced an offer of one dollar per acre
+and let the place go for that price. Several plantations, perhaps one
+in five or six, were bidden in for the special purpose of negro
+reservations; but in what way they will be offered to the people is
+undecided. Indeed, nothing is certain except that the sales have been
+made and titles given. I should have bought only two of my places in
+any case,--and that for the benefit of the people,--but it happened
+that both were among the number reserved. So I own none of the sacred
+soil.
+
+In regard to your questions concerning the condition and capabilities
+of the blacks, I hardly feel like writing anything at length, my
+opinion, as far as it is made up, is so short and decided. Every one
+says that these island negroes are more ignorant and degraded than the
+great majority of the slaves, and I feel no doubt that, under
+conditions of peace, three years would find these people, with but
+very few exceptions, a self-respecting, self-supporting population.
+Almost everything about them, even to their distrust and occasional
+turbulence, has that in it which suggests to me the idea of capacity
+and power of development. Their principal vices,--dishonesty,
+indolence, unchastity, their dislike of responsibility, and unmanly
+willingness to be dependent on others for what their own effort might
+bring,--their want of forethought and inability to organize and
+combine operations for mutual benefit,--nearly all their mental and
+moral weaknesses can be traced naturally and directly to
+slavery,--while on the other hand, the fact that at my close view I
+cannot make them out to be characteristic traits confirms that opinion
+as to their origin. Industry is very certainly the _rule_; there is
+much idleness, but apply the spurs of which you think a white man
+worthy, and you are sure to obtain earnest and persistent exertion.
+Manliness and self-respect are sufficiently strong and common to
+excite an expectation of finding them. Instances of plan, contrivance,
+forethought are very numerous; you are constantly meeting "smart"
+fellows. Their eagerness and aptitude in learning to read surprises
+every one. Their memories are usually excellent, their power of
+observation pretty keen, and their general intelligence is in most
+striking contrast to the idea of chattel and wonderfully harmonizes
+with that of man. I am only stating the grounds on which I have hopes
+of their development, not trying to describe their characteristics or
+the course or limit of that development. The discussion whether they
+will ever be equal to the white race in anything seems to me to be
+entirely irrelevant to everything. The only question of importance is
+whether they can become a moral, self-supporting, and useful part of
+our population, and of this I cannot feel the slightest doubt. That
+they ever can leave the country I regard as impossible, that they ever
+ought to leave it, as ill-advised. That the period of transition will
+be one of great difficulty and considerable suffering is certain. The
+best heads and hearts in the country will find work in it. As I think
+now, I would recommend no gradual system of preparation and training.
+Strike the fetters off at a blow and let them jump, or lie down, as
+they please, in the first impulse of freedom, and let them at once see
+the natural effects of jumping and lying down. Then if the Government
+would simply provide or enforce education, and with few laws but very
+many eyes would watch over the new relations of laborer and employer,
+I should trust that in ten years America would again raise her head
+proudly among the nations. But all this supposes that we gain our end
+and have the work to do. Till the common head of the people
+understands and the common heart of the people feels that this _is_
+the work of the war, that Emancipation should be the means, and not
+only the best means but the holy _end_ of the war,--I tremble, and
+fear neither our strength nor God's help will give us the victory.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 20._ C. amused himself and us by making two or three of my
+children who were waiting for school read to him upside down, which
+they did as readily as the right way.
+
+Just a year to-night since Mr. Philbrick spent his first night in this
+house. He has been telling us about it: a file of soldiers were drawn
+up at the gate and refused him admittance till his credentials were
+examined; now he is lord of the manor. I reminded the children
+to-night that a year ago they did not know their letters; now they are
+reading Hillard's Second Reader for the second time.
+
+    The feat of reading upside down might seem to suggest that
+    they were reading Hillard's Second Reader for the second
+    time chiefly by the aid of memory!
+
+    The next letter, written by Mr. Philbrick to a Northern
+    correspondent, was printed at the time on a broadside, for
+    distribution.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Coffin's Point, March 20._ Just a year ago to-night I entered this
+house for the first time. If our Northern croakers could only be made
+to realize as we do here the ease with which we have reduced a
+comparative degree of order out of the chaos we found, and see how
+ready this degraded and half-civilized race are to become an
+industrious and useful laboring class, there would not be so much
+gabble about the danger of immediate emancipation, or of a stampede of
+negro labor to the North.
+
+We found them a herd of suspicious savages who regarded their change
+of condition with fear and trembling, looking at the cotton-field as a
+life-long scene of unrequited toil, and hailing with delight the
+prospect of "no more driver, no more cotton, no more lickin'." They
+had broken up the cotton-gins and hidden the iron-work, and nothing
+was more remote from their shallow pates than the idea of planting
+cotton for "white folks" again.
+
+Now they have, without the least urging, prepared for planting some
+two hundred acres of cotton-land upon this plantation, having spread
+on it sixteen hundred ox-cart-loads of manure, and worked up every
+inch of the ground with their hoes. They have also planted one hundred
+and thirty acres of corn, and have begun ploughing to-day, banking up
+into ridges with the ploughs the cotton-land into which the manure had
+been first hoed. The ploughs run over twenty acres per day on this
+place. They were made at Groton, Mass., and astonish the negroes by
+their efficiency.
+
+As a sample of the change of feeling in regard to working on cotton, I
+will relate how I got the cotton ginned on this and the various other
+plantations in this neighborhood. I walked through the negro quarters
+one day in December and told the people I would pay them three cents
+per pound of clean cotton if they would gin, assort, clean, and pack
+their cotton ready for market. They said in reply their gins were all
+broken up. I told them that was their own fault, and that, if they
+wanted other people to gin their cotton and get their seed away from
+the place, they would do so, and so get all the money and leave them
+no good seed to plant. "Dat' so, Massa," said they, and I passed
+along. The next time I came they had hunted up the broken pieces of
+twenty-five gins, and patched them up, and had ginned and packed all
+their cotton, in two weeks, wanting to know what I would have them do
+next, for they did not want to lie still and do nothing.
+
+So you see there is some satisfaction in being among these people,
+although they are not exactly companions for us.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_March 23._ C. came home to-night, having resigned his position under
+the Government.
+
+    H. W.'s next letter, after describing a drive towards Land's
+    End, narrates the events of her return trip as follows.
+
+_March 25._ I opened the first gate myself, then met a man coming from
+his work, who took off his hat with rather a surprised look at seeing
+a lady alone, and an "Evening, Missus, how far you come from?" "From
+Coffin's Point, and am going back again--Mr. Charlie's sister."
+Whereupon another bow and a pleased grin as I go on. Soon I met
+another man coming out into the road with a piece of paper, which he
+asked me to read to him. I took the precaution to ask him his name
+before opening it, to be sure he had not another man's pass, and then
+read him an autograph pass from General Hunter for him to go to St.
+Helena and back to Hilton Head, to see his wife. He was a servant of
+Hunter's and _afraid of some trick_. He seemed satisfied, and thanked
+me. When I asked him where his wife lived and if he had seen her, he
+said, "Shum dere?" pointing to a woman hoeing, towards whom he made
+his way again. At the next gate I was cutting cherokee-roses before
+opening it, when a slight sound behind me attracted my attention to a
+boy on a mule who had come noiselessly up, so I got into the sulky
+again, and as he followed me along and I questioned him, found he was
+coming here to see his "aunty." In a few minutes a loud whistle
+attracted my attention and Sharper[125] announced Mass' Charlie, who
+came cantering up behind me. He had sent the boy with a note to me and
+exemption-papers for the old and feeble on his places, as he could not
+go home and had met the black soldiers out taking the men for the
+draft. With Sharper for attendant I drove on to Pine Grove, where I
+gave C.'s note to William and the papers to distribute on both the
+Fripp places while I went on to deliver those here. Heard one man say
+to William that he wished his old master was back,--he was at peace
+then. Poor fellows!
+
+By the time I reached our quarters it was bright moonlight, and in
+that light I drove through the street, read the names on C.'s papers
+and the contents to the men named as they came out at Primus' knock. A
+little group gathered about to hear what I had to say as I explained
+to the men,--a sober, disturbed set, saying nothing, but receiving the
+explanation with a sad silence that went to my heart.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Coffin's Point, March 31._ You see I write from my first home. In
+truth it seems like a home. Mrs. Philbrick and Miss W., Mr.
+Philbrick, and Mr. Hall are here, besides Mr. Folsom--of '62,
+Harvard--who is to be my future house-mate. A week ago, after settling
+up all business at Captain Oliver's, I resigned my place of Government
+Superintendent, and last Friday came down here. To-morrow we shall
+take up our quarters at the "Pine Grove." I am going to take charge of
+the two William Fripp places. The people are old friends. I used to
+teach school for them. I think I shall like the work here much better;
+the people are far better and the locality less exposed to outside
+influences. It is a much better opportunity for trying the experiment
+of free black labor. I manage the places, Mr. Philbrick supplies money
+to carry them on, and at the end of the year, after deducting all
+expenses, we share the profits, if any.
+
+The draft is either taking or frightening off most of the men, but it
+should be made, I think.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_April 3._ Caesar came home on a furlough, and it was fun to see him in
+the street afterwards, surrounded by a great gang, talking away as
+eagerly as possible. I should like to have heard him, if I could have
+understood him; he had had a "firs' rate time" and he and January have
+been trying to get some of the men to go back with them, but they
+can't succeed any better than C. or Mr. Philbrick.
+
+    The next few letters are entirely occupied with incidents of
+    the draft.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W. (IN BOSTON)
+
+_April 7._ Nothing has been done yet about enforcing the draft on our
+island, but Captain Bryant[126] told me yesterday he should probably
+strike the last of this week, taking every point at once as near as
+may be. Colonel Montgomery's regiment[127] are given him for the
+purpose, with orders not to _shoot_ except in self defense!
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_April 14._ The soldiers had been there [at Fripp Point] in the night,
+but had only caught old Simon and Mike, a boy of about fifteen, though
+one of them had shot at Dan's Peter, about seventeen, and wounded him
+in the head slightly. They went in squads all over this end of the
+island except Pine Grove and here. They got sixty men in all, most of
+them old, a waste of Uncle Sam's money. Of course our people here are
+warned and all off again. The white officer said they took what men
+they could get without reference to the superintendents' lists.
+
+_April 15._ Hamlet's wife, Betsey, came to buy salt, said her husband
+was carried off the other night and she left with ten children and a
+"heart most broke, shan't live long, no way, oh my Jesus!" My new
+cook's husband was shot (and killed) as he ran away when the Secesh
+tried to make him go with them--how are they to understand the
+difference? Captain Dutch[128] says he thinks that six or eight have
+gone onto the Main from this island; they openly say, some of them,
+that they wish the old times were back again.
+
+_April 23._ The men at Fripp Point are said to have fired on the
+soldiers from their houses. They are very bitter that negroes should
+be sent against them. They would not mind white men, they say. R. has
+persuaded all his men to go up to Beaufort,[129] and only a few were
+retained. The rest have come back as happy as kings--no more bush for
+them! I wish all would do the same.
+
+_April 29._ Mr. Philbrick went off to the wharf before breakfast, and
+as he was coming back met Phillis on her way to tell the men who were
+at work on it that the soldiers had come. As we sat down to lunch we
+could see the gleaming of the bayonets as they came through the first
+gate, and Primus sent up to say that he was taken and wanted Mr.
+Philbrick to come down. Mr. G. appeared from Pine Grove, where they
+had taken only two men, who will probably be let off. Soon William
+appeared, saying they had been at the Point, too, but had got no one.
+Mr. Philbrick rowed down to the [Fripp Point] quarters and presently
+returned with Captain Hoyt and Captain Thompson, who were very tired,
+to lunch. They all received him very crustily and coldly at first, but
+they were prejudiced against him and vexed at their want of success,
+and I think it did something towards removing ill feelings to see him.
+When they reached the nigger-house here, where the men [the soldiers],
+about fifty, had been waiting, they found they had tracked two men
+down through the marsh from Fripp Point and caught them just here,
+after shooting one. The people were in a wild state of confusion. The
+soldiers had been telling our people all sorts of stories--that they
+had orders to shoot because Mr. Philbrick had said in Beaufort that he
+had a battery here to defend his people, etc. They came flocking round
+him, all women of course, and all talking at once to try and get at
+the truth of things, and Mr. Philbrick had to quiet them before he
+could make out a word. Then Amaritta naturally stood forward as
+spokeswoman to get "satisfaction," and they were easily made to
+understand that the soldiers had been telling lies, and their
+confidence in Mr. Philbrick quieted them.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Beaufort, May 1._ We are led to admire more than ever the cool
+discrimination of the General commanding the Department. The other day
+some officer conceived the idea that the superintendents of St. Helena
+in general, and W. C. G. in particular, were opposing the draft,
+_employing_ able-bodied men, etc.; also that shots had been fired at
+the black soldiers on his plantation. It was so represented to General
+Hunter, and he ordered on the spot that he should be arrested and sent
+out of the Department. Fortunately Captain Bryant, who was to have
+executed the order, was a man of sense and consulted Captain Hooper,
+who told him that General Saxton didn't want to spare Mr. G., and that
+as he had no written orders he had better hold on. The editor of the
+_Free South_ has been amusing himself by throwing out owlish
+insinuations to the effect that speculators and others on St. Helena
+had better take heed of General Hunter's orders, for the prospective
+profits of a speedy fortune would hardly warrant the risk, etc., etc.
+
+    The next paragraph gives another version of the search for
+    black recruits.
+
+Captain Thompson came to Coffin's on Wednesday with about fifty men.
+They caught no one but Primus, who felt safe and didn't hide. If he
+had behaved himself he wouldn't have been taken, but got into a
+passion and talked so wild that he was taken out of punishment for his
+impudence, and then held on the ground that his influence must be
+against the draft, and as he was foreman, his power must be
+considerable! Captain Thompson pretended to have orders to shoot men
+running, and scoured the Fripp Point place through Lieutenant O. E.
+Bryant and some black soldiers. They met no young men except Sancho
+and Josh, whom they chased down into the marsh opposite Coffin
+nigger-house, and then shot Josh. He was taken with a bullet in his
+leg and a buckshot in his head, carried to the village, and placed
+under Dr. Bundy's care. Of course, Sancho was taken, too, and brought
+up to camp. He had an Enfield rifle with him, and admits that he fired
+it to "scare away the soldiers," after Josh was hit, but not before.
+The black soldiers all say he fired first, and no white man was
+present to see. I came up to lay the matter before the General, but he
+is not well. Captain Hooper has taken it in hand and promises to
+investigate it. The Major of the Second Regiment[130] was down here,
+but I couldn't see him. He may have given such orders to Thompson as
+he pretends. They seem to have got enraged because they couldn't find
+any men on those three plantations after having been quartered at the
+village for two weeks, and imputed their want of success to G. and
+myself. I shouldn't be surprised if I am ordered out of the Department
+at any moment.
+
+    Then comes the sequel.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 17._ Primus has come home. He deserted a week ago and has been
+all that time getting here. He says that he has not drilled but once
+since he was taken to camp, that he has been sick all the time, but
+that he has not been in the hospital. Of course, not being volunteers,
+there is a great deal of shamming, and they have to be very strict; in
+short, they pursue the old masters' system of believing they lie until
+it is proved they have spoken the truth,--a most elevating process!
+and he had a large blister put on the back of his neck and was kept in
+his tent. Finally Captain Hoyt took him to Colonel Montgomery and told
+him that he thought the man was really sick and not fit to be kept,
+but the Colonel was very short with him and said drill was the best
+cure for him. Then Primus ran away, and is now in his bed here. Mr.
+Philbrick has seen him and says it is impossible to tell whether he is
+sick or not, but he understands fully the consequences of desertion,
+and that Mr. Philbrick and C. cannot employ him again. Mr. Philbrick
+told him that he should not inform against him, but that if the
+officers asked him if he had come home he should have to tell them
+that he had. "I know dat, massa, but I won't stay dere." He
+understands that we are helpless. He says, and we have learned in
+other ways, that all who were drafted have been deserting. One day
+they brought in fourteen, and the next day twelve of them had gone,
+and the next the other two. They can't pretend to get them back again,
+and of course the demoralization must be great. It will be very bad
+for Primus now, if they do not take him, to live on here an outlaw,
+working his wife's cotton but not able to resume his plow or his old
+position in any way--yet if he is taken again he will never make a
+good soldier. The whole thing is wrong from the foundation, and should
+be given up, and all those who did not volunteer sent to their
+homes--if any are then left in the regiments. Yet I don't see how that
+could be done unless Hunter went off, and some other Major General
+repealed his orders.
+
+    To return to matters of plantation management.
+
+    C. P. W. had recently been sent home by Mr. Philbrick to buy
+    and send a schooner-load of provisions, merchandise, etc.,
+    for the "store." He found himself "an object of regard and
+    curiosity," "engaged out to dinner and tea to 'talk Port
+    Royal' many days ahead." Apropos of the things he bought for
+    Coffin's Point, he wrote:
+
+
+C. P. W. TO E. S. P.
+
+_Boston_, [_April 27._] I received permission from the Secretary of
+the Treasury to ship the powder, shot, saddle, bridle, tar, pitch, and
+rope, but I had to consign these, with the hats, to General Saxton,
+from whom you will have to obtain an order for them. The tobacco,
+shoes, rice, and buggy are not contraband. They were going to stop the
+hats, on the ground that they were "adapted for military uniforms,"
+and I had to get a "character" from one of my friends, a clerk in the
+Custom House, and then assure the crusty old Collector that the hats
+were not to be used for any illegal purpose, before he would let them
+pass.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove, May 17._ The schooner has but just come round to
+Coffin's, and the rain has prevented our plundering her with energy.
+But Friday I got up my molasses and gave some out yesterday. You ought
+to have seen the little ones dance as the mothers came home with their
+piggins full. We are going to give some molasses and bacon monthly for
+the present,--in lieu of an increase of wages. Most of the proprietors
+are offering rather better terms than the Government,--some in money,
+others in a larger share of the crop. We keep the Government scale of
+prices, but give them the "poke" and "sweet'ning," and I think have
+touched their sensibilities much more certainly thereby.
+
+    This same day Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick left Port Royal and
+    went home. The next extracts are from two of H. W.'s
+    letters, full of details about the home life and the
+    wonderful ways of the "people."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_June 10._ As we drove up under the shade of a buttonwood-tree [at
+Fripp Point] we found a group of children under it, three or four boys
+and girls washing at wash-tubs, others sitting round taking care of
+younger children. They were just like children all over the
+world,[131] playing and teasing each other, but very good-naturedly,
+and as happy as you please. This weather the children wear nothing but
+a shift or shirt, and the other day Lewis and Cicero appeared in the
+yard entirely naked. Aunt Sally, from Eddings Point, amused us with
+her queer, wild talk a long time. The story is that she was made crazy
+by her master's whipping her daughter to death, and very sad it was to
+hear her talk, though it was funny. She knows any number of hymns and
+parts of the Bible, and jumbles scraps and lines from the one with
+Genesis and Revelation in the most extraordinary manner, talking about
+Mr. Adam and Madam Eve, who brought her and her race all their woe,
+whom she knows but will never forgive. She stands and reads everything
+out of her "heart-book," which she says tells her everything, looking
+all the time at her left hand, which she holds out like a book. Her
+epithets against her old master and the rebels were voluble and
+denunciatory in the extreme, and she left us with many warnings to
+remember "Det and de Jugment." I had sent for the "Widow Bedotte," to
+whom I presented some tobacco and who was very funny indeed. She is in
+her right mind and delights in making herself agreeable. I wish I
+could describe to you this extraordinary specimen of humanity--a short
+little old body with an intelligent face--all her wool carefully
+concealed by an enormous turban, from beneath each side of which hung
+four black strings, looking like an imitation frisette of false
+curls, her odd figure enveloped in shawl and cape, rubbing her hands
+nervously and sinking into the floor, as it seemed, as she curtseyed
+to us lower than I ever saw anybody go and get up again straight. And
+then her conversation and manner were as comical as her appearance.
+
+    Another characteristic of the "Widow Bedotte" H. W.
+    describes elsewhere.
+
+She prides herself upon her good manners, which she says she gets
+because she belongs to the church, which every now and then she joins
+again. She has just done so here, so is full of extra flourishes.
+
+    On June 12 Hunter was replaced by Brigadier-General Quincy
+    A. Gillmore.[132] Here follow comments on Hunter's last acts
+    before leaving, as well as on the impression made by his
+    successor.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 28._ Mr. Williams brought word that Hunter has issued an order to
+all civilians to enter the army or leave the Department! Twenty days'
+notice. You need not be afraid of C.'s enlisting here; he wouldn't do
+it "first." I don't think many of the superintendents would now like
+to serve under Hunter. He imprisoned two of them upon the evidence of
+their people without inquiring into the matter, and ignored Saxton in
+the most insulting manner. Mr. Hammond was released by a court-martial
+with honor.
+
+_May 30._ In the evening came a note from R. saying that there was no
+danger from the draft for the superintendents, but they would probably
+have to get exemption-papers.
+
+_June 20._ C. came home after church Sunday with the information that
+General Gillmore had given out that he should carry out Hunter's
+orders, but that he took the liberty of believing a white man as well
+as a negro!
+
+_June 24._ We hear but little about the new General. He is General
+Saxton's junior in rank, but a fine engineer, so it is supposed he was
+sent to conduct the siege of Charleston.
+
+    The siege of Charleston,--another attempt, "prompted more by
+    sentiment than military sagacity," to capture "the city in
+    which the secession had begun,"[133]--is the subject of the
+    next dozen extracts. The expedition failed to justify the
+    high hopes that accompanied it, yet one event in it has
+    attained undying fame.
+
+    When, in the first week of July, all the troops left Hilton
+    Head, Land's End, and Port Royal Island, the regiment
+    followed with the keenest interest by the writers of these
+    letters was the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts (colored),
+    Colonel Robert G. Shaw.
+
+_July 10._ It was strange to be waked this morning by the incessant,
+thundering roar of heavy guns. It was just at sunrise, and as I
+gradually woke to the full realization of what it must be--though as
+it mingled in my dreams, I was conscious that our masked batteries had
+opened at last--it was very exciting to feel my bed shake under me
+from such a cause. I could hear the people talking excitedly in the
+yard. About seven o'clock the heavy firing ceased, and we hoped that
+Morris Island was ours. C. went to the beach and reported a very heavy
+cloud of smoke resting in the direction of "Town."
+
+    The following extract is a good specimen of the groundless
+    rumors, all with copious circumstantial evidence, that
+    infested the islands.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 11._ About ten o'clock came Juno's daughter Fanny from "Pope's"
+to spend Sunday, bringing us the apparently reliable intelligence that
+"Town taken." It seemed too much to believe, but her story was this:
+her aunt, Juno's sister, and one of Dr. Whitredge's servants, is
+washing at Hilton Head and was there yesterday, when a vessel came
+from Charleston with the news and many people (prisoners, we infer),
+and the first who came ashore were Mass' Alonso and Mass' John,
+Whitredge, who said to her, "How d' ye!" She says that five boat-loads
+put off to the Yankees and gave themselves up. "Mass' John know too
+much to fight 'gainst de Yankee--him get college at de Nort'--him say
+him got no nigger--him no gwine fight." It is preposterous to write
+you all this. You will know everything with certainty before this
+reaches you.
+
+_July 12._ The good news was most welcome from Vicksburg and
+Pennsylvania, and our attack on Morris Island was successful, if Town
+was not taken; but Colonel Higginson's attempt to reach the railroad
+was a failure,[134] and he was wounded, thought not, it is said,
+badly.
+
+    The successful attack on Morris Island on July 10 had
+    resulted in the occupation of all the ground south of Fort
+    Wagner. On July 18 was made the famous assault on the fort
+    itself,--an assault hopeless from the start,--in which the
+    attacking column was led by the Massachusetts negro
+    regiment, its colonel at its head.
+
+_July 20._ C. came back with the terrible accounts of the Charleston
+fight and the almost total destruction of the Fifty-Fourth.
+Beaufort[135] is in amaze at the spirit of "that little fellow,
+Colonel Shaw." Certainly it is one of the most splendid things ever
+known in the annals of warfare. I long to be doing, and not living so
+at our ease here. C. offered everything, and Mr. Eustis has been with
+Hallowell and James[136] all day. The greatest want is of
+physicians--there is no proper medical staff for the Department, and
+surgeons are scarce. Drs. Bundy and Wakefield were sent for yesterday.
+The officers are in the Fripp house, where the Forbeses were.
+
+There has been very heavy firing again to-day. You see we hear it all,
+though sometimes very faintly.
+
+_July 24._ William took farewell of his schools and came home, having
+received six dozen eggs as tokens of regret--an ovation at his
+departure.[137] He left them to go up to the sick and wounded
+to-morrow with contributions from the people. All vegetables, etc.,
+are seized by the Provost and paid for, for the use of the sick, and
+there is some one on this side the ferry to receive the gifts. We send
+all we can, but it is unsatisfactory not to be on the spot.
+
+_July 25._ William is just off for Beaufort. He will stay to watch
+to-night, if needed. But "no ladies" is the cry.
+
+[Later.] William went to the hospital for the officers, of which Dr.
+Bundy has charge, where he was set to watch and administer to a very
+badly wounded captain of the Forty-Eighth New York, Paxton by name. He
+cannot live, and knows it, but bears his terrible wounds with the
+utmost fortitude. William was with him Saturday and Sunday, parts of
+the day, and G. and Wells divided the night between them. Everything
+seems to be well conducted, and the hospitals in good order. I suppose
+the _Fulton_, which is expected daily, will bring supplies and
+surgeons. Captain Hooper is invaluable--busy as possible, as he always
+is--I don't know what the Department would be without him. Yet he
+found time to write me a long note to tell me about the wounded, and
+that there was no doubt of Colonel Shaw's death.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Beaufort, July 26._ Last night several of us passed in Beaufort at
+the hospitals. The wounded have been brought down and all the
+hospitals in Beaufort are full. Wednesday we heard at the
+superintendents' meeting that there was a great scarcity of fresh
+fruits and vegetables; so at the Thursday night praise I told the
+people about it, and yesterday came up with nearly two cartloads of
+provisions, most of it contributed by the people. Another gentleman
+had done the same and between us we supplied five hospitals. It is my
+first experience in such work. It's surprising to see how cheerful and
+jolly all the wounded are--all who have any strength. A wound means
+home and a vacation to many of them, and with few exceptions these men
+with holes in them lie on their beds like boys waiting for the word
+which gives them recess. To-night I shall try to go to one of the
+colored hospitals.
+
+A boat is just in from Charleston. A cartel of exchange had been
+agreed upon, by which all the wounded on our side were to be exchanged
+for all the wounded upon the other, so that reference to negro
+soldiers is avoided. The negro soldiers appear to have received the
+same care as the white; on the other hand, some of the rebel officers
+told with much gusto how Colonel Shaw's body had been thrown into a
+common pit and those of two of his men tossed on top of him.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 31._ In at our open door walked Captain Hooper, and with him
+Captain Rand of the First Cavalry, now on General Saxton's staff.
+Captain Rand told us that our wounded who came down from Charleston
+had been miserably cared for--the rebels acknowledged that they could
+not take care of them. The surgeon said but one man had been properly
+operated upon, and his wound had been dressed by one of the navy
+surgeons, a prisoner. No men or officers of the Fifty-Fourth among
+them: they said the officers we should hear of by way of Richmond; the
+men, I suspect, are not. No one knows who are among the dead or
+living--only that Colonel Shaw is dead, and probably Cabot Russel. It
+is said to have been a very imposing sight, when, in the midst of
+heavy firing from every fort, battery, and gunboat on each side, the
+_Cosmopolitan_, with the rebel wounded on board, her hospital flag and
+flag of truce flying, steamed up toward the city. Instantly every gun
+ceased, and white flags appeared from each fort and ship till she had
+passed, met the rebel steamer (a very fine one, which had run the
+blockade in the morning!), exchanged her wounded cargo, and returned.
+
+    To give complete the story of the siege of Charleston as
+    seen from St. Helena Island, some letters have been included
+    in advance of their chronological place in the series.
+    Therefore the next letter goes back to an earlier date.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 3._ We were all standing at the back door when a small crowd
+became visible at the first gate. We watched to discover what it
+meant, as it was an unmistakable "gang" drawing nearer. 'Siah's boy
+had come over from the Point to tell C. that some white soldiers were
+there from the village stealing corn, etc., after the manner of the
+soldiers in this region, but so far our plantations have been very
+free from such depredations C. had just told Tony that he did not feel
+well enough to go over, and that the men would be gone before he could
+get there--and turning to Mr. Soule he said that those Point men were
+just the men to catch white soldiers, if they could do it, and he
+should not be surprised if they did. The words were hardly out of his
+mouth before the "gang" appeared, so you may imagine we watched it
+with great curiosity as it drew near. On they came, a compact body of
+people, among whom we tried to discover some white faces. Presently
+the gleaming of muskets was distinctly visible, and as one of the men
+stepped forward and threw the gate wide open for the company to pass
+through, three white soldiers appeared in the front ranks. They were
+all perfectly quiet, not a word was said; and as C. ran down the steps
+to receive them and they came to a halt, the men brought the muskets
+to the ground and the women emptied their aprons of corn-shucks at his
+feet, waiting quietly for him to do what he thought right. I did not
+hear one loud or angry tone while I stood listening as C. heard their
+story and then questioned the soldiers. They were perfectly quiet,
+too,--young fellows from the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania
+Volunteers, a new regiment,--and they evidently thought that C. was a
+person of authority or the blacks would not have marched them three
+miles to him. He took from them their dirks and pistols, and the
+musket which one of them had, and they made no resistance--nor did
+they say a word when he called to me for "three pair of hand-cuffs"
+(all he brought down), and asked the three men from the Point who had
+guns, if they would stay and guard them all night. It was rather a
+troublesome elephant and he did not quite know what to do with it now
+it was in his possession. It was a good chance to do something if he
+would be sustained, but General Saxton has not conferred any
+magisterial powers[138] on the superintendents yet, and if he
+undertook too much and was not sustained, it would be worse than
+nothing. At any rate, he would have to take them to the village in the
+morning, so he decided to do so that night, and went off with his
+prisoners and their guard, driving his light sulky, and carrying the
+light arms, one of the men taking the musket again. He did not use the
+hand-cuffs.
+
+It was strange to see how very quiet and apparently unexcited the
+people were. After the first few minutes they came up to me to buy,
+and then all went off when C. did, as quickly as possible.
+
+_July 5._ When two buckra were reported as approaching while we were
+at breakfast it turned out to be two men from the village picket with
+a note from the Lieutenant to C. I did not find out the sequel to the
+story the other night, but it seems that C. and William crossed the
+creek with the soldiers, only taking two men to row. The blacks
+certainly behaved extremely well, and Moll told the men they might
+have the corn, which of course they refused to take. And as they went
+into the boat a boy put in the watermelon they had taken, saying,
+"B'longs to you, sah," but the man sent it ashore. The coals were
+rather hot, I guess, and the men were heartily ashamed of themselves
+and thoroughly penitent. C. went with them to the mess-room and saw
+the sergeant, who expressed great regret and said it was the first
+time any of their men had been guilty of such acts. The Lieutenant was
+away, and as C. drew paper towards him to report the case in writing,
+they looked very blank and begged him not to report. After some
+consideration he concluded not to report them, as he could not see the
+Lieutenant and they had behaved so well about it, and told them he
+would not unless some further acts of the kind were perpetrated by
+their men. They were very grateful, but C. did not feel sure that the
+Lieutenant would not hear of it. And so he did, in some way;
+investigated the affair and sent the men to Beaufort to be punished by
+the Commander of the post, who is now not General Saxton but, as it
+happens, is their own Colonel,[139] who is not likely to be lenient
+towards them. The Lieutenant sent a note to this effect to C. this
+morning, and also wished to know what would repay the negroes for the
+damage done. (The soldiers had already promised to make it good to
+them, and were to have been paid off yesterday, but their pay was
+stopped in consequence of this very occurrence.) So the whole affair
+has ended very satisfactorily. I am sorry for the poor fellows, for
+they will probably suffer not so much for what they actually did
+themselves, but to serve as an example to all other offenders.
+
+_July 7._ Mr. Wells was to come at nine o'clock to the wharf to take
+Mr. Soule[140] to Morgan Island, one of his plantations. Mr. Wells
+appeared at the door to say that he had a large sail-boat--it was only
+a half-hour's sail to the island, and would not I go too. So I put up
+a little lunch and C. had his horse saddled and down to the wharf we
+went, and were soon at our destination. The only white-house on the
+island now occupied is on quite a bluff looking directly out to sea,
+pleasantly shaded, with a fresh breeze all the time up the Sound, and
+is a very healthy situation. But the house is of the roughest
+description, without paint inside or out, very much like a New
+Hampshire farmhouse in the back-woods a quarter of a century ago, but
+not so large, clean, or thrifty-looking, by any means. Here we stopped
+to see an old man who was brought from Africa when he was over twenty,
+and remembers his life in his own country, from which he was sold by
+his brother to pay a debt. Mr. Soule said he was bright and talkative
+when he last saw him, but now he is very much broken; and after
+sitting a few minutes we went on to the driver's house, a great
+contrast in neatness, and the gentleman left me in a rocking-chair
+under the shade of the large Asia-berry tree in front of the house,
+while they went off with Bacchus, the foreman, to see the
+cotton-fields. Here I stayed for a couple of hours, I should think,
+talking with Elsie, Bacchus' wife, who was not in the field because
+she had a headache, and very neat and nice she looked in her calico
+gown. She has no children, but made up for the want as far as she
+could by the number of chickens and ducks she had round. By and bye
+she got up, and picking up a piece of brick, pounded it up with an
+axe, and began to clean a large knife, which I knew meant watermelon.
+And when the gentlemen came back, Bacchus brought out a small table
+and put a melon on it which was almost large enough for a tablecloth;
+then he produced plates, and Mr. Wells carved the huge monster, which
+we nearly devoured. The air and grace with which one of the men, who
+came up to clear off the table for Mr. Wells to pay the people,
+touched his hat with a bow and a scrape would not have misbecome a
+Commencement Dinner or Wedding Party.
+
+    The keen interest which these Northern interlopers took in
+    everything that concerned the people into whose shoes they
+    had stepped, and their constant sense of the strangeness and
+    romance of their situation appear in the extracts that
+    follow. Again the chronology of the letters has been
+    somewhat disregarded.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 14._ G. came over here and spent the day. He told us that a man
+who belonged on his place came back with the troops on one of their
+late expeditions, and told him that his master, T. J. Fripp, was
+killed at Darien. He said he (Fripp) had been past here in a boat and
+came back with his hands all blistered from rowing; they had been
+hailed by the _Kingfisher_, but told some story of having come from
+here, and escaped. He said his master swore the Yankees were
+everywhere, and that there was a light in every window of Tom Coffin's
+house.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, Sept. 30._ I heard the other day that Captain Boutelle of the
+Coast Survey, who used to enjoy the hospitality of the planters of St.
+Helena, Edisto, etc., was dining at Cambridge, Mass., with a classmate
+of T. A. C.'s. The host inquired what had become of the Captain's
+former friends, the South Carolina planters. "Oh, they are all
+scattered and their property ruined." "Well, what has become of my
+classmate, Thomas A. Coffin?" "Oh, he is gone with the rest, and his
+fine plantation is in the hands of that confounded Abolitionist,
+Philbrick."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 10._ William has been overhauling the old letters and papers in
+the garret and has come across many very interesting bits of
+information among them. They are mostly very old. Old plantation books
+of Mr. Eben Coffin, the first proprietor of the name of this estate,
+dated 1800, containing lists of the slaves of former generations, in
+which some of the oldest here now, like Uncle Sam, are mentioned as
+two years old; estimates for this house and the building in the yard,
+etc.
+
+_Aug. 5._ C. has found a spike of papers in the old overseer house, on
+which he and Mr. Soule are now expending their eyesight. Letters from
+Mr. Coffin to Cockloft, etc. They have found out how much he was paid
+for the year--also some references to an exciting time on Frogmore
+where the overseer seems to have mismanaged--somebody was shot and
+there was a trial! We shall ask the negroes about it all.
+
+_Aug. 6._ I entertained myself to-day reading over these same letters.
+It made me feel very queerly--they were mostly written during the
+summer of 1860, from Charleston and Newport. It seemed so short a time
+ago, and every thing and person spoken of about the plantation was so
+familiar. It seems that the overseer of Frogmore, Benjarola Chaplin,
+was a bad man, and, suspecting a boy and girl there of poisoning him,
+had them tried and sentenced to be hung without letting Mr. Coffin
+know anything about it. We find that the sentence was not
+executed,--for Peter and Katy are still living,--but don't know why
+they were pardoned, though apparently there was no proof of their
+guilt.
+
+_Sept. 22._ This morning I had a call from Henry, Mr. Coffin's old
+cook, a very intelligent mulatto who wanted me to read some letters to
+him and then talked a little while about Mrs. Coffin, to whom he seems
+very much attached, and says he would serve her to the end of his
+days. He and his wife would like to go North to her, and he was very
+glad to hear from Captain Boutelle that she was safe there; he says
+she suffered so the last part of the time she was here, he could not
+bear to look at her. "The first Mrs. Coffin was a very nice lady, but
+she _succeed_ her." He talks very well. He was much pleased that I
+offered to write to her for him sometime, and said he had not liked to
+ask any one to do so for fear they should not think it right to have
+anything to do with the old people--"but she's a Nort' lady, you
+know, Ma'am, a beautiful lady, I would serve her all my life."
+
+_Sept. 27._ Have I told you of an interesting talk we had from one
+Pompey, who said that it was the poor whites in Beaufort who made the
+negroes "sensible" about the war? That if it had not been for them he
+should have believed his master and gone away with him, but that they
+let him into the secret.[141] He says that [the poor whites] wished to
+stay, but were driven off by the rich men, whom they hate, and are now
+in the ranks fighting the rich men's battles. He has heard several
+times from the Main, through his old fellow servants who have run off,
+and mentioned two or three of the old proprietors here who are now in
+jail for trying to escape, among them Dr. Clarence Fripp, of whom they
+all speak with great affection. He never wanted to go, but was carried
+off by his brothers, one of whom, Eddings, has since died.
+
+_Oct. 15._ As soon after breakfast as Robert had finished his regular
+work we mounted two pair of stairs "to clear up the attic." Do you
+think you know what that means? You have not the least idea. So far as
+we can make out, this house was built in 1809, and I think Robert
+dragged out from under the eaves the original shavings. It was
+melancholy to see the spoiled and demolished furniture which would be
+of so much use to us now, bureaus without drawers, sofas with only the
+frames, and those all broken, pieces of washstands and bedsteads,
+etc.
+
+    It seems that such wonders were afterwards performed in
+    renovating this broken furniture that the parlor became
+    almost a parody of its ancient splendor.
+
+    The letters now return to chronological order.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_July 18._ The cotton-fields are quite full of yellow and pink
+blossoms. We rode through many cotton-fields, and a pretty sight they
+were, some good, some poor,--those belonging to the Government as a
+general thing showing marked inferiority to those of the "Concern."
+
+C. has been in the field all day, and has come home with a strong
+feeling of how much the people in general have gained and improved in
+the last year. There are poor ones among them, of course,--some he
+says he should like to send off the place, another year; but the
+majority of the people are very much ashamed of them, and for some
+time have been very anxious he should go over the fields to see who
+"work for deir money and who shirk." To-night he has been distributing
+the pork and molasses and has refused the bonus to those who have not
+done their work properly, preferring to make the distinction here
+rather than in the pay, and most of the delinquents have appreciated
+the justice of the proceeding, only one or two making any fuss at all,
+and the others were very much ashamed of them. C. says he thinks that
+school has improved the children, too, their manners are improved, as
+have the grown people's,--less cringing and subservient, but more
+respectful and manly. Tim does not pull his forelock at every word he
+speaks, as he did last year, looking like a whipped dog, but looks you
+full in the face and speaks out as if he were not ashamed of himself,
+and is perfectly respectful withal.
+
+The names of the people have often puzzled me as to what they were
+originally intended for, and in taking down the names of the children
+"Rode" puzzled me completely, until old Maria, in talking of her
+"crop" the other day, told me that one child was born in the _road_ on
+the way from the field the day "gun fire at Bay Point, and I give him
+name o' Road"!
+
+I don't think any of the heirs will find that these people are
+deteriorated when they redeem this property. I only hope young Mass'
+Julian, who is in Europe, will be glad to find them so far in training
+for free laborers and be grateful that they are not ruined, as some of
+the people are!
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Aug. 3._ The people say, all in good earnest, that the best of the
+[cotton] crop (including nine tenths of it) equals and excels the
+"Secesh own." There are a few lazy, who have allowed their crop to
+grow grassy, and some young ones, who need careful instruction or
+severe admonition from the elder ones. But the large majority are
+careful, faithful, honest, enthusiastic, and are doing much better for
+themselves than they would have for their "obershere." The people
+anxiously inquire for cotton sheets to pick in. They are hiring hands
+now to pick for them; some of them will be tight pushed to save all
+their crop.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove, Aug. 22._ We are all very busy, all day and every day.
+And it is well that it is so, for in this climate the only way to keep
+one's faculties from rust is to keep them constantly in use. It is
+encouraging, however, to find the good results of our labor so
+apparent. I think our people are improving very fast, and they are
+very contented and happy. (Next week don't be surprised, however, to
+find the thermometer lower.)
+
+A great step has lately been taken. On the whole the people have been
+growing more lawless this year; to remedy the evil, civil law has just
+been introduced. The first Commission[142] was appointed a few days
+ago, and as I am one of its members, it gives occupation for another
+day or two days of a week. I hope it will be able to do much good; at
+all events it will be abundantly supplied with cases. This life is
+very narrowing,--we talk nothing but negro, we think nothing but
+negro; and yet it develops a man at almost every point. From
+house-carpenter to Chief Justice is a long way. And in one who uses
+the opportunity aright it develops patience and faith marvelously, but
+through many failures.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Aug. 15._ Just as we got up from the dinner-table, a woman came
+running up for C. because the people were fighting. Poor thing! she
+was dreadfully frightened and had run the whole way with her baby in
+her arms and looked as if she had just stepped out of the river. I
+don't know what the trouble was--it was the tongues of the women, and
+they fired shells and tore each other's clothes in a most disgraceful
+way, much to the mortification of the better part of the community.
+Jealousy is the foundation of a great deal of trouble among them, and
+there is often too much foundation for it.
+
+_Aug. 31._ Mr. Soule had planned to go to Beaufort and see the
+General, and C. wished especially to get permission to turn all the
+young men from outlaws into private citizens by employing them and
+paying them regularly, for he could not help their aiding their wives
+and being employed by each other, a species of evasion which was
+eminently calculated to give them high ideas of the power and value of
+the law in the hands of the present authorities--C. helpless, and they
+doing as they pleased! It looked like rain, however, and they gave it
+up for that day.
+
+_Sept. 1._ We had breakfast very early, and Mr. Soule and C. went off,
+to discover as usual that our clock was about an hour fast! I thought
+I would go out and dine and see how Mr. G. was, as he had had a fever
+turn. So I mounted and started alone on my expedition, after carefully
+locking the house. It was cloudy and cool, but I found my beast
+beastly hard, so had to content myself with a walk. It was very
+pleasant, as I rode along, to see how brightly the people looked up to
+bow and speak. First old Richard in the overseer-yard, watching the
+arbors, as they are called--the frames where the cotton is spread out
+to dry; then men and women coming from the field with great sheets of
+cotton on their heads which made them almost unrecognizable, little
+Susie staggering under such a pile that I saw she never could get it
+onto her head again alone as she was, if I asked her to put it down
+and run back to open the gate for me, so after more than one trial I
+succeeded in opening it for myself. Then I took my sack off and rode
+in my white jacket, putting the sack round the pummel and fastening it
+there by the extra stirrup which, as the only saddle we had for a long
+time, was rigged onto it for Mr. Philbrick and still remains, a relic
+of our early, barbarous days. But in a canter I lost it off, and had
+to call a child to pick it up for me. Then Miller came along, going
+out to help his "old woman" pick cotton, and walked by my side talking
+of the fine crop, and that next year there would not be land enough
+for the people--"dey work better nor Secesh time--encouragement so
+good!" He was as bright and jolly as you ever saw any honest farmer
+when his crops were in fine condition, and as we came in sight of
+Phillis and Katy, his wife and daughter, and Amaritta in a task just
+behind them, the latter called out to him, "Hi! Hi! bru' Miller, where
+you go? my back mos' broke!" as if it were the pleasantest news in the
+world. He answered, "Oh, I go walk, I got people pick my cotton," with
+such a hearty ha! ha! as did me good to hear. Many of the men laugh
+just like little children--Abel does. Next came Nancy, Peg, and Doll,
+Demus' mother and sisters, and such a nice family--the bright, smiling
+faces they raised to me and the cheerful "Hahdy, Missus," was worth
+seeing and hearing, and when Nancy sent Peg running after me to open
+the gate I was "fighting" with, she looked so bright, strong, and
+handsome as she strode along so splendidly, her dress caught up at the
+waist and let down from the shoulders, that I wished I could
+daguerreotype her on the spot.
+
+I found Mr. G. in a very decided chill on the sofa in front of the
+parlor fire. I stayed an hour or two, and then, the fever coming on
+quite severely and affecting his head a good deal, I rode home as fast
+as possible to signal for Dr. Westcott.[143] I could not get through
+the cotton-field, however, without being stopped two or three times by
+applications for "suthin" for this child's boils or that one's sore
+eyes, all of which I referred to the house, where I afterwards
+administered to the best of my knowledge--one of my constant
+occupations.
+
+Mr. Soule and C. came back, with no news from Charleston, having found
+the General and his staff just starting on a visit to the scene of
+action, but C. had obtained permission to employ the men and made them
+very happy the next day by telling them so.
+
+_Sept. 5._ I have been endeavoring to instill habits of cleanliness
+into Rose and in many ways have succeeded--she has regular days when
+she goes home to wash, changes her "linen" twice a week, takes a warm
+bath every Saturday, and keeps her head and feet in a condition to
+which they were strangers previously. I can see, too, that it has had
+a decided effect upon her sisters. One of the important items has been
+pocket-handkerchiefs, with which I provided her, and she has to keep
+them in her pocket. For two or three days lately she has forgotten
+this essential article, and I finally told her that if it was
+forgotten the next day I should have to send her home for it. I had
+forgotten all about it, till, the next morning when she came to pour
+the water into my tub for me, a most inordinate snuffling betrayed the
+absent wipe. "Rose, where's your pocket-handkerchief? have you
+forgotten it again?" No answer, but a hiding of the head under her arm
+like a duck, which often takes place when she is in fault. "Then,
+Rose, put the coffee on, sweep the parlor, and go home for it." This
+elicited, "me no gwine home," a pert rejoinder I could not understand,
+till on calling her to me I saw by her face how excessively green I
+had been. I reprimanded her with a sober face as she again repeated
+"me no gwine home," at the same time untwisting the handkerchief from
+about her waist, but when she had left the room I should have shaken
+the bed, if that had been my style of laughter. Robert is a great wag
+in his way, though we do not see so much of his fun, as, having been
+used to the house in "Secesh time," he is utterly undemonstrative
+before white people and is only gradually thawing into a little more
+communicativeness. But we overhear him sometimes talking with the
+others. A most entertaining but not quite so pleasant exhibition of it
+(and C. and I could not help laughing at Rose and Hester's
+good-natured, amusing account) was his riding after the two girls one
+day when he had been out for the horses, extolling himself and
+insisting that they should call him "Maussa" or he would ride them
+down, with his spurs on! Hester gave in, but Rose wouldn't--"him too
+mannish!"
+
+There is a great deal of tyrannizing over each other. "Mind now, min',
+run quick or I knock you,"--or "kill you dead" it is as likely to
+be,--is an ordinary method of getting anything done, while "cursing,"
+as they call calling names, etc., is one of the hardest things I have
+to contend with in school, they are so quick to interpret any look or
+act into an offense and resent it on the spot with word or blow.
+
+_Sept. 9._ I had a long talk with some of my big girls who had been
+very noisy and fighting--they do "knock" each other most unmercifully,
+and I can't instill any better notions into them. "Anybody hurt you,
+you _'bleeged_ to knock 'em," is the universal response, and they have
+no idea of letting any difficulty be peaceably settled.
+
+The definite reply which these people require to the ordinary
+salutation of Hahdy? or Huddy? into which it has degenerated here, is
+very amusing, and a corresponding inquiry is expected in return, to
+which they give the most minute answers. "Good morning, Hacklis
+(Hercules), how are you to-day?" "Stirring, tank you, Ma'am, how
+youself?" and if I had a headache I should no more think of saying
+"pretty well" than if I were being cross-questioned at the bar--the
+inquiry is so sincere and expects such a particular reply. "Dunno,
+Missus--tank de Lord for life," is a common rejoinder, as well as "Not
+so well, tank you, ma'am."
+
+    This is as good a place as any for some more examples of
+    negro speech and negro ways. The sayings of Rose, in
+    particular, were a constant source of interest and
+    amusement. H. W. writes that she "tells me everything, in
+    her simplicity, even to the fact that her father has silver
+    money which he keeps buried, and that her mother sends her
+    to the pen for milk before it comes up here!"
+
+[_May 16._] Rose commented, "You lub Miss Helen," and then in a few
+minutes, "Miss Helen lub you. All two (both). I love Miss Helen, too.
+Miss Helen one _nice_ buckra. You more rough 'long er Miss Helen. Miss
+Helen _so_ softle--when him touch me I no feel 'um--me feel you--you
+so strong." All this with inimitable gesture and expression and a
+"leetle" and "middling-sized-bear" voice that was inexpressibly droll.
+
+[_May 17._] As I sat down to write this morning, Rose came in to dust.
+"Miss Hy't, you gwine write Norf?" Yes, Rose. I told her that little
+Robert sent me the pictures and a letter from little Mary. It pleased
+her very much, and she said she wanted to see them. "Me lub Robert and
+Mary." Thinking I should like to get at some of her notions, I asked
+her, What do you mean by love, Rose? "Me dunno--brothers and sisters."
+Don't you love any one else, Rose? "Me dunno." Why, you said yesterday
+that you loved Miss Helen, and just now that you loved Robert and
+Mary. "Me lub dem." By this time the top of her head was in contact
+with the floor, when she suddenly raised herself to a kneeling posture
+and pointing up, said a moment after, "Me lub God," and in a few
+minutes, as if she were quoting, "An dem dat foller arter Christ."
+What do you mean by that, Rose? "Me dunno," and I found she had not
+the least idea. Presently she enumerated Mass' Charlie, Mass' Willyum,
+and Mister Philbrick in her category, and then went on with her
+dusting. By and by she said--"Miss Hyut, me no say your name." No,
+Rose. "Well, me lub you an' Miss Helen de _morer_."
+
+Mr. Thorpe has a boy, Strappan, who is even more noted than my Rose,
+and who has given some remarkable answers to questions which Mr.
+Thorpe puts to him, and which he takes down verbatim. The only one I
+know is his definition of Love. "Arter you lub, you lub, you know,
+boss. You can't broke lub. Man can't broke lub. Lub stan', he ain't
+goin' broke. Man hab to be berry smart for broke lub. Lub is a ting
+stan' jus' like tar; arter he stick, he stick. He ain't goin' move. He
+can't move less dan you burn um. Hab to kill all two arter he lub, 'fo
+you broke lub."
+
+[_Aug. 15._] This morning Rose was sewing with me in my chamber, and,
+as she is very apt to, got talking about the time when they ran away
+from the "robbers" and the Yankees first came. It is always
+interesting, and I wish I could give you her language, though it would
+be little without her emphasis and expression. The first time she saw
+a Yankee--"Great dairdy!" she said, "So Yankee stan'?" I don't think
+she knew what sort of an animal to expect.
+
+_Sept. 15._ When Rose came into my room this morning, she came up to
+my bed to ask how I was and express her contrition that she did not
+stay all night with me! "Me couldn't sleep, me think all night Miss
+Hayiut sick, me should stay long him--when I go bed, me say, 'Hester,
+Miss Hayiut sick, I oughter stay wid her;' Hester say, 'Come, go 'long
+me, take you shum,' but me wouldn't go den!" She is very trying
+sometimes, but full of character, as you see, and it is hard to know
+just how to deal with her. I am afraid of being too lenient to her and
+so spoiling her, or too stern, for fear I _should_ spoil her, and so
+losing her affection, which ought to be the controlling influence.
+With all their subserviency, which I am happy to say is disappearing,
+they have little idea of obedience.
+
+_Sept. 17._ This morning there was no milk, as in this benighted
+region if it rains they don't "pen cow" at night, and for the same
+reason Abel did not catch one in the field this morning that we might
+have a drop for breakfast!
+
+[_Oct. 19._] The doctor wanted some wormwood, and thinking I had heard
+the people speak of it, I asked Elsie. "Me dunno, me dunno nothing; me
+jis' born yestiddy!" she answered.
+
+[_Nov. 16._] Rose came to tell me this morning that there was no milk.
+Henry had dropped the bucket (from his head) and spilled it all. "See
+Henry here." Why, Henry, where did you spill the milk? I asked in
+dismay; but he looked blank till she interpreted for him--"Which side
+de milk churray?" (throw away). _How_, _when_, and _where_ they do not
+use or know the meaning of. _Which side_, is _where_--_What time_,
+_when_--but they do not understand a sentence with _how_ in it.
+
+    The next four extracts give a good idea of Mr. Philbrick's
+    letters to his superintendents and of the far-sighted,
+    honest thought which he put on his Port Royal undertaking.
+    The first was written in the summer; the others appear in
+    their proper place in order of time.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, July 28._ If you can induce some old man who is a good judge,
+I would let him pick select cotton all through the season for seed,
+going over the whole field, or such parts of it as he finds the best
+cotton, culling the best pods from the best plants. In this way you
+can get seed enough to plant some acres next year, which would yield
+enough for the whole plantation another year and of a superior
+quality. This is the way the most intelligent planters got up their
+famous varieties of seed, and we ought to be able to use as much
+brains as they did. Perhaps you can get some refugee to do this,
+without giving offense to the mass, but he must be a good judge.
+
+I hope you will not feel it your duty to enlist in the army, for I
+consider your position there a very useful one and difficult to
+replace. I don't mean useful merely to the people with whom you come
+in contact, but politically, upon the solution of the great social,
+political problem which we have got to solve, viz., the worthiness and
+capacity of the negro for immediate and unconditional emancipation. I
+intend to publish the results of this year's operations next winter
+and want to be able to show that we have raised cotton at a lower
+price per pound than the former proprietors did, counting the interest
+upon their capital invested in negroes as a part of their expenses,
+which is no more than just.
+
+    This point, as regards the raising of cotton by free labor,
+    Mr. Philbrick did successfully make later, as will be seen
+    (see page 265). Another inducement to Northern capital to
+    come South was offered by him at this time in a letter which
+    appeared in the Boston _Daily Advertiser_ on July 20. It was
+    entitled "A New Market for Manufactures," and tabulated the
+    results of his operations in the "shop" during the fifteen
+    months of its existence so far. Between March, 1862, and
+    March, 1863, for instance, a population of four hundred and
+    twelve had spent there $3047; during the months of May and
+    June, 1863, a population of nine hundred and thirty-three
+    had spent $3800; the articles bought had included a variety
+    of dry goods, provisions, hardware, etc., almost all of
+    which supplied needs entirely new to the blacks. The letter
+    concluded: "It may readily be seen that a considerable
+    demand may arise for the articles above-named and others of
+    kindred nature, when a population of some millions shall be
+    in a position to apply their earnings to the supply of their
+    rapidly increasing wants. Should not the manufacturing
+    interests of the North be awake to this?" This letter,
+    written for the express purpose of bringing means of
+    civilization to the blacks, was taken by many Northern
+    friends of the negro as proof that its writer's motive was
+    to exploit the black race for the benefit of the white. Of
+    course, Mr. Philbrick knew perfectly well to what
+    misconstruction he exposed himself when he told the public
+    that there was profit to be made on the old plantations. The
+    following letter was written in reply to a warning from C.
+    P. W. on this very head.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, Sept. 24._ I don't agree with you about avoiding publicity
+for our enterprise. I hold that the pecuniary success we are likely to
+meet with is the very best reason why the whole thing should be made
+public, for it is the only sort of success which can make our
+enterprise a permanent thing and take it off the hands of
+philanthropic benevolence, which, though well enough for a spurt, can
+never be relied on to civilize the four millions of darkies likely to
+be on our hands. If we succeed financially, it will prove that free
+labor is self-sustaining, and that the blacks are capable of becoming
+a useful laboring class immediately after leaving their masters'
+hands, and this fact is of vast importance. If we attempt to keep
+quiet, we shall incur with much more justice the accusation of being
+mere speculators than if we make the most of our success by bringing
+it before the public as a political experiment, of great influence
+upon our future social system, thus giving the public the full benefit
+of the experiment. The fact is just this. Negro labor has got to be
+employed, if at all, because it is _profitable_, and it has got to
+come into the market like everything else, subject to the supply and
+demand which may arise from all kinds of enterprises in which it
+chances to be employed. It is not likely that it can be protected on a
+large scale by the amount of disinterested philanthropy which happens
+to be present on the Sea Islands, but if it can be open to private
+enterprise, by an occupation of lands free from unnecessary
+restrictions and under a proper sense of the security of property, it
+can afford to _lose_ some of the Methodism now bestowed upon it at
+Beaufort. We want first to prove that it is profitable, and then it
+will take care of itself.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 24._ Limus' seine was shipped in the schooner. I have not yet
+ordered any for 'Siah, for I thought it would be too late for him to
+use it this year, and he had better wait and see if Limus' seine was
+all right. Moreover, entre nous, I don't believe it will do him any
+good to spend his time a-fishing. It has a sort of excitement, like
+gold-digging, which unfits a man for steady, plodding industry,
+witness Limus. Now the present demand for fish will not be permanent.
+After the war the negroes will have to fall back upon field-labor for
+a living, and it will be better for them if in the meanwhile they do
+not acquire a distaste for steady labor and get vagrant habits. I
+would talk this over with 'Siah and ask him in serious mood if he
+really thinks best to spend so much money in fishing-gear, when he
+could buy land with it by and bye.
+
+    Here begins again the rambling narrative of plantation
+    happenings.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sept. 26._ C. was very busy paying for cotton, and we found him on
+the piazza, sitting at a little table with the drawer full of money
+and the gang of women standing and sitting about at the foot of the
+steps, while he called them up one at a time. He paid old Nancy first,
+asking her how much she thought it was. "Me dunno, Massa, you knows."
+As much as ten dollars? "Oh yes! Massa, I tink you gib me more nor
+dat." Fifteen, perhaps? Five for you, Doll, and Peg, each? "Yes,
+Massa, I tink so." And it was pleasant to see the corners of her mouth
+go as he counted out $48--which she took in perfect quietness and with
+a sober face, a curtsey and "Tank'ee, Massa." Sinnet was more
+demonstrative than anybody, lifting up hands and eyes, and ending with
+"Tank de Lord; I mus' go praise." Amaritta drew for her gang $78--they
+have picked over three thousand pounds. C. paid out over $1000.
+
+    H. W. further reports that when C. told old Grace he had
+    weighed altogether a bale for her, "Good God!" she cried,
+    "me lib to raise bale o' cotton! Come along, Tim, less get
+    some vittle."
+
+    The next letter is Mr. Tomlinson's reply to one from W. C.
+    G., in which he had complained of negroes who refused to
+    pay their "corn-tax,"--a rent in kind for their private
+    patches of corn-land,--and had suggested their expulsion
+    from the plantation as the best remedy.
+
+
+REUBEN TOMLINSON[144] TO W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 30._ I have just read yours on the "corn question." I have told
+Government Superintendents, when the people refuse or neglect to bring
+their corn to the corn-house, not to interfere with them until it is
+all broken in;[145] then to tell them how much is expected from them,
+and give them a certain length of time to bring it in. If it is not
+done, get a "guard" from the "Jail," and go to their houses and take
+it. Of course the superintendent is to use a sound discretion in
+making his demand, making due allowance for failure of "crop," etc.
+Your plan is in my opinion open to serious objections as a matter of
+_expediency_. I have no doubt that there are people on your places
+whom you would be well rid of. If you can endure them patiently a
+little while longer, I think it will be to your advantage to do so.
+The Government is commencing at once the erection of a large number of
+houses, and after they are finished those turbulent and unruly people
+may be disposed of without the scandal and excitement which would
+otherwise accompany their removal. After this season is terminated,
+you can refuse any longer to employ such persons, and the Government
+having then provided homes for them, there will be no longer an excuse
+for boring you with them.
+
+    Mr. Philbrick's advice was as follows:
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+I am not surprised at the prospect of some meanness about the
+corn-tax. The negroes would be a marvelous race if it were not so. If
+any difficulty is encountered in collecting the tax, I should take it
+out of their pay at $1.50 per bushel, which is about what it costs me
+to send corn there.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Oct. 13._ Mr. G., who had just come from the Point, told me a very
+nice thing about the men there. It seems that a few weeks ago Mr.
+Tomlinson made an address to them at church about there being five
+church-members in jail for shooting cattle, and after he got through,
+'Siah, the foreman and elder of the Fripp Point Plantation, rose and
+indorsed what he had said, adding that the thing had never happened on
+his place. That very week an ox was shot there, and Mr. G. has been
+unable to find out who did it, all the men protesting that they did
+not know. So to-day he called them all up and talked to them, and then
+spoke of the ox and asked them what they thought they ought to do. One
+man rose and proposed to pay for it--another seconded the motion, and
+they passed the resolution to do so by a vote of sixteen against two!
+Mr. G. was very much pleased, and gave notice that if the perpetrator
+of the deed would come to him and confess within four days he should
+be let off without paying the fine.
+
+_Oct. 20._ Thomas seemed much better, but very weak, and asked me if
+I would not give him some liquor! I asked if he had ever been in the
+habit of drinking it, and he said yes, that he bought it by the pint
+at camp! He belongs to the First South Carolina Volunteers, Colonel
+Higginson's Regiment. It is dreadful to think of such means of
+civilization being introduced among these poor people. It made me
+heartsick.
+
+While I was dressing for dinner C. came up to ask me if I had "any
+prejudice against color," as he had asked the steward of the
+_Wabash_[146] to dine, "a Boston boy who speaks English as well as you
+do." We found him a very bright, intelligent young fellow and very
+modest and unassuming withal--gave his name only as "Joseph" both to
+Mr. Soule and C. He had come foraging for the Admiral, and as C. found
+him waiting for the people to come from the field, he took him about
+with him and brought up at the house. He was on board the _Mohegan_
+when Port Royal was taken and had then just come from the coast of
+Africa where they had taken Gordon, the slave-pirate, on board the
+barque _Ariel_, and he gave us a most interesting account of the whole
+affair, as he went on board with the Captain when he ordered the
+hatches to be opened and the nine hundred blacks were discovered. C.
+says he overheard Amaritta say to him, "You free man? I t'o't so, when
+I see you walk wi' buckra," and old Grace, when he asked her if she
+had any eggs, answered, "No, Maus--my dear," her first impression
+being that as he walked "wid buckra" she must be respectful, and then
+remembering that she must not say "Maussa" to a black man. He is black
+as Robert, but with Saxon features. Speaking of Henry, he asked, "Is
+he short and stout and about my complexion?" Henry is almost white!
+
+_Oct. 22._ Limus is full of amazement at the men of the
+Fifty-Fifth[147] and could not express his surprise at their walking
+up to their post-office kept by a black man, and opening their letters
+to read "just like white men!" They don't know what to make of
+educated blacks,--it upsets all their ideas on the relative position
+of the two races! I expected some remarks from Rose about our sable
+guest--she was not here, but the next day she began: "That stranger
+man eat up here? Which side him eat?" In the dining-room with us. "Him
+free man?" Yes, he was born in Boston. "Him read and write?" Yes, as
+well as I can. This made her open her eyes, and when I told her that
+in Boston there were schools for the black children to go to just like
+those for the white children, where they could learn the same things,
+she departed with a very quiet, "Yes, Ma'am."
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Oct. 24._ Nothing happens here now, so that even this delightful
+country, with its charming variety of scenery and its delicious
+climate, its bracing air, its sparkling streams, its richness of
+autumnal tints, the ever-varying play of light and shade upon the
+steep hillsides and through the green valleys often cease to charm.
+For myself, I may say that even the continual excitement incident to
+the task of weighing cotton, selling sugar, or counting rails, not to
+mention the no less important duty of seeing that my hat is not stolen
+from my head, or the shingles off my roof,--even these interesting and
+exciting occupations sometimes grow wearisome, and fail to afford that
+continued gratification and satisfaction to enjoy which is the object
+of a life in this Department. Although the statement seems absurd, I
+must nevertheless affirm, that it is more bother to take care of a
+plantation of one hundred and twenty working hands than it is to
+exercise that number in the "School of the Company;" and that the
+satisfaction derived from the faithfulness and honesty of perhaps
+thirty is hardly sufficient to atone for the anxiety and distrust with
+which one regards the remaining ninety, who lie by habit and steal on
+the least provocation, who take infinite pains to be lazy and shirk,
+who tell tales of others, of which themselves are the true subjects,
+and from whom all the artifices of the lawyer cannot draw a fair
+statement of fact, even when it is obviously for their own interest to
+tell the whole truth. "Wherefore he is called the everlasting Niggah."
+
+I have had my grumble, and I feel better. What I have said "has truth
+in it, only distorted." I am not actually miserable, though one might
+draw that inference from these remarks. The fact is that, the novelty
+of this life having worn off after fifteen months of the "useful
+experience," the life, as was to be, and was expected, loses something
+of its satisfaction, and one is more open to the effect of the
+vexations and annoyances than when the interest was fresh and the work
+new and untried. It is not so much that one is annoyed by the work
+itself, but the imperfections of the system under which we are
+obliged to work grow more clear and are continually presented in
+various forms. The only satisfactory thing would be to reconstruct the
+system on the plantation, first, by turning off all the hands not
+wanted; second, by adopting a new system in regard to the privileges
+and compensation of the people. The privileges are, free houses, free
+land for provision crops, free use of wood, and, with certain
+restrictions, of the animals and implements. I should do away with
+these privileges, making them pay house-rent and land-rent, making
+them pay for their wood, if of certain qualities, and for the use of
+teams and implements--for their own work. Then I should increase their
+wages, with fixed prices for the various kinds of work. I should wish
+to be able to discharge any one whose work did not suit me, and remove
+him from the plantation. These reforms cannot possibly be instituted
+now, and can never be, probably, on this island. In the meantime, if
+the people were only honest and truthful, other matters would be of
+comparatively little account, but they are the most provoking set, in
+this respect, that you can easily conceive. They are almost
+incorrigible.
+
+
+REUBEN TOMLINSON TO C. P. W.
+
+_Oaks, Oct. 30._ I have appointed you one of a "Commission" of three,
+to meet in the "Study" at R.'s place on Wednesday, November 4, at
+10 A. M. The first case that will probably come before you will be
+that of the disputed ownership of a "boat," now in the possession of
+one "Limus," purveyor to General Gillmore, but which is claimed by
+"Barkis," who lives at Hilton Head. Both the parties have been to see
+me, and Barkis is not "willin'" to give up his claim.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 8._ I found C. had two men locked up in separate rooms
+downstairs--there had been some trouble, and one, who was half drunk,
+had used a knife. One man he let go, the other is still shut up, and
+sent to see me this evening. It is dreadful to have such things
+happening, but it will do good for the people to find that there is
+some law over them.
+
+    Early in November Mr. Philbrick went down to Port Royal
+    again to gin and export his cotton crop.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO MRS. PHILBRICK.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Nov. 10._ Arrived here about 6. I found people in the
+field picking cotton at R.'s places, and found on nearly all my fields
+the cotton still green and blossoming, while on most of the Government
+plantations the grass had stopped its growth long ago and the crop was
+about over. I find old Frank (the wily) in confinement in the
+harness-room for some row among the people last Sunday, awaiting
+trial. Oh, the horses, how they do look! A few months among our
+Northern fixings make everything look so wretched down here.
+
+There is a circular just issued by General Saxton, pointing out the
+plantations which are to be sold to the negroes, and advising them to
+stake out their claims and build cabins on them as preemptors, which
+will not attract many of my people, I think. The McTureous places, T.
+B. Fripp's, Hamilton Fripp's, and others are to be so sold, as soon as
+the necessary surveys are made. I doubt the policy of this sort of
+thing until the time shall have passed for the redemption of the land
+by the old owners, though none may ever appear to redeem. I am afraid
+some rows may arise from the difficulty of fixing and recording
+boundaries among a lot of negro squatters, should there be many such.
+
+    These plantations, about to be sold at auction to negro
+    preemptors, were those which had been reserved for this
+    purpose from the sale of March 9, 1863 (see p. 171). The
+    order of the President (dated September 16), from which
+    General Saxton got authority for his circular just
+    mentioned, also provided for the sale at auction of about
+    twenty plantations in lots not to exceed three hundred and
+    twenty acres. This latter provision, which might possibly
+    result in preventing many negroes from owning any land at
+    present,--since the plantations reserved for them alone were
+    not large enough for all,--presently brought about infinite
+    trouble, through disagreement among the authorities.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 15._ The people are quite disturbed about General Saxton's new
+order, which Mr. French and Judge Smith have been trying to explain to
+them at church;--in vain, apparently,--for some of the most ignorant
+of our people thought they should be obliged to buy land, and came to
+C. in distress at leaving the plantation. Others we hear are selecting
+their lots, but now comes General Gillmore's order to stop all sales;
+I am afraid these poor people, who hate all change and "confusion,"
+will have their brains hopelessly confused.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 18._ General Saxton has given orders that all work on the
+plantations[148] in preparation for next year's crop shall be stopped,
+for he expects to give them up either to the purchasers or the
+tax-commissioners very soon. The tax men are here, as amicably
+disposed towards each other as cat and dog, and as they are not
+remarkable for their efficiency in matters of business, I do not think
+it very likely that they will accomplish much this winter. They have
+two parties of surveyors at work, but they don't seem to be doing much
+but chop vines and sail about the creeks in boats.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Pine Grove._ [_Sept. 23._] I think you would be quite astonished at
+the refinement and homelikeness of our parlor. Bright table-cloths, a
+most elegant couch lately developed,--a comfortable old sofa, pictures
+all around, a fancy bookcase almost full of books,--a glass-topped
+secretary with an ample supply of pigeon-holes and writing
+arrangements,--papers lying around loose,--and a wood fire burning in
+the big chimney-place,--won't that do for philanthropists? One door
+opens into a large dining-room,--the windows upon a portico, looking
+out upon the creek winding among the green marsh grass, with broad
+water and islands in the distance. For contrast now and then a pig
+squalls vigorously under the house,--for it is getting cold now and
+the pigs eagerly seek the shelter of the "big house." It is in vain
+to try to keep them out, though I've had a fence built round the
+house.
+
+_Nov. 14._ I shall have to take to contraband pants, I'm afraid, as I
+did last winter. The negroes can hardly hold me to be of gentle kind,
+when they see me doing their own work in their own clothes. I wish you
+would come down to see me, if it is only, by the sight of a white
+cravat and shining beaver, to convince them that I am a "boss" born.
+You shall have your fill of clearing up and improving, too; I need
+just such energy to make respectable my own premises. At present they
+are the pigs' playground, except on Sundays, when a lot of the
+plantation urchins are allowed very quietly to peep in at the windows
+and learn manners from white folks. At present a young fellow, who has
+lately waked up from a slouch into a man, is patiently leaning against
+the sill, waiting, I suppose, for his lesson.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26._ We sat down to dinner--sixteen
+Massachusetts people, six ministers' sons. Mr. Folsom and William
+Allen, Miss R. and Mr. G. went home; all the rest spent the night, and
+no one on a sofa. We wondered what was the last [dinner-party] as
+large that had dined in this old house, but Robert says he never saw
+such a large party here--Mr. Coffin used to give his dinners in
+Charleston.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Nov. 26._ We got to R.'s house, where he told us he had been helping
+Mr. Wells all day before in boating his cotton from Morgan Island to
+his home place.[149] There was about $3000 worth on the island, and he
+did not choose to expose the rebels to any further temptation in
+regard to it. It seems that Tuesday morning the cow-minder had gone
+out to the pen with his milk-pail and never returned. Search being
+made, the milk-pail and his jacket were found, and some new tracks of
+shoes on the beach, also traces of a bivouac breakfast and marks of a
+boat's keel on the Coosaw River beach. Nothing more is known than
+this. The presumption is that a scouting party had come over Coosaw
+River and bivouacked on the beach, hauling up their boat, and that,
+seeing this poor man in the morning, they gobbled him up and cleared
+out as they came. He was an Edisto man, of considerable intelligence,
+and it is hoped his information will not be so reliable as the rebels
+might wish. Mr. Wells immediately informed Captain Dutch and got Mr.
+R. to help him boat over his cotton. Captain Dutch sent a guard to
+patrol the island and sent his little schooner up opposite Morgan
+Island in Coosaw River as an outpost.
+
+We had an immense rush at the store yesterday, four hundred and sixty
+odd dollars during the day here. R. and Wells have taken over fifteen
+hundred dollars in the three days after opening their goods. Amaritta
+bought over forty dollars' worth at once, and poor Juliana staggered
+off with a load on her head that she could hardly carry. The trunks go
+like smoke, so do the firkins and other domestic wares.
+
+
+From H. W.
+
+_Dec. 1._ Uncle Nat, who has carried the plantation keys for forty
+years, giving out all the allowance for people and creatures, and has
+done no field work for that length of time, has had an acre and a half
+of cotton this year, and has raised the largest proportion, six
+hundred pounds seed-cotton per acre, of any one on the place. He lives
+at Pine Grove with his wife, but plants here for old association's
+sake, and the other day, when C. made the last cotton payment, he gave
+Nat's money to his sister, Nancy. The next morning Nat was up here
+early and took his hat off to the ground to C. "Came to thank you for
+what you send me yesterday, Sar--much obliged to you, Sar (with
+another flourish and scrape). I well sat-is-_fy_, and jest as long as
+the Lord give me life and dese ole arms can do _so_ (imitating the
+motion of hoeing), I work cotton for you, Sar!"
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 5._ Our cotton crop is about all in, though some people are
+still in the field gleaning. They glean very carefully now, and don't
+allow a single pod to escape them. I have about one hundred gins now
+in running order, and expect to have fifty more, all going in another
+week.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 10._ I rode down to see the work. It was a busy scene--a whipper
+on each arbor with a child atop to fill the machine, which is used to
+lash the dirt out of the cotton before ginning and make it easier to
+gin; then the gins were all at work--the women were sorting--the men
+packing--potato-vines were being brought in to be weighed, carts and
+oxen carrying seed--altogether such a busy piece of work as one does
+not often see here.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 10._ We were surprised by a green carryall coming down the road
+drawn by some army horses, hay-fed and round. The passengers were a
+Mr. Paige, a correspondent of the _Tribune_, and his friend, a Mr.
+Baldwin from Cleveland. I had met them in one of my trips between
+Hilton Head and Beaufort, and after answering several questions asked
+them to come and see me, but I didn't think they would take the pains.
+Mr. Paige asked questions enough to pump me dry while here, but I
+don't believe he will be much the wiser, for he asked some three or
+four times over. I took them down to the praise house in the evening
+and, Uncle Sam being ill of "fever and pain in head," I helped with
+the hymns and read a chapter from the Bible. Old Aaron and George
+prayed, Doll's Will told off a hymn from memory, and George repeated
+one, as I think, from his own brain, putting in all the couplets he
+could remember, and hunting over his brain for each one while they
+were singing the last. My visitors were very much interested, and were
+chiefly pleased with the earnestness and simplicity of their worship,
+remarking that they were fortunate in not being bothered with
+doctrine. I am afraid they didn't get much of an idea of our schools,
+for the only girl they asked to spell happened to be Caroline, whom
+they met in the street. She is only half-witted, you know, and didn't
+do her teachers much credit. I should like to see what Mr. Paige has
+to say about our doings in the _Tribune_. I asked him not to mention
+the name of this plantation, for I didn't want to call the attention
+of the Coffin family upon us any more than I could help. He asked me
+for the names of any superintendents and teachers here, but I told him
+they didn't care to be brought before the public.
+
+I was curious to know how much cotton could be got from a certain
+amount of seed. I ginned just five pounds of cotton and had thirteen
+pounds of seed left, being over a peck, for it weighs forty-four
+pounds to the bushel. The people were very much amused to see me gin
+so long, and wondered that I had the strength for it. You know they
+consider us rather effeminate in regard to strength, but I did not
+find it nearly so hard work as I supposed. It is not half as hard as
+mowing.
+
+_Dec. 13._ Mr. Wells had his cotton about half ginned when there came
+a posse of men from the First South Carolina Regiment, without a white
+officer, to hunt after deserters on his plantation. They met the men
+they wanted and shot them all three in broad daylight; one is badly
+wounded and may not recover, but the others probably will. After
+shooting one man they were going away to leave him, and Mr. Wells went
+and took care of him and sent him to the hospital.
+
+_Dec. 17._ The people were all at work ginning cotton, and the new
+mechanic Nero, whom we found at the White place, was putting the
+engine in order. This engine serves as a moral stimulus to keep the
+people at work at their hand-gins, for they want to gin all the
+cotton by hand, and I tell them if they don't get it done by the
+middle of January I shall gin it by steam. The result will probably be
+that there will be little left for the steam-engine to do. But it will
+do no harm to put it in order and then I can grind corn with it next
+summer. The weight of all my cotton is now 287,790 pounds[150] in
+seed. The samples which I sent to Liverpool were appraised there as
+worth forty-eight to fifty pence, which, if exchange remains as high
+as at present, would make our crop worth $100,000 in Liverpool. This
+is as much as I had ever estimated I should realize from it.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 17._ The cotton packing continues; twelve bales are already
+prepared for the market, stamped with the old Coffin trademark. The
+initiated know what it means, but I doubt if any one else would
+recognize the significance of the headless and footless box!
+
+[Illustration: Old Coffin trademark]
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 27._ The children came up about half-past two o'clock on
+Christmas afternoon [to see the tree], but being told not to come
+until sunset they hung around outside the gate till Mr. Hall was ready
+for them. About dusk they were all marshaled in by classes, and we all
+helped distribute the presents. The children seemed struck aghast with
+the brilliant sight, and when William Hall wished them all a Merry
+Christmas, they threw up their hands and shouted with all their might.
+It wasn't a cheer, but more like a yell, evidently in answer to his
+good wishes. The presents were taken with the usual apathy shown on
+such occasions, and as soon as they had time they began to compare
+them with each other and some to complain how they didn't get enough.
+
+Yesterday morning we made our preparations for Hunting Island. It was
+a fine day, wind east, and rather warm. We had four negro oarsmen.
+Seven white folks made up the load, including Mr. Eustis. We landed on
+the Island just as G.'s boat did. After unloading our grub and firing
+off our guns to dry them and let the deer know that we were coming, we
+scattered about in various directions in search of game. I then went
+to see the ruins of the lighthouse in the middle of the point, a few
+rods from each beach. It was a brick structure and must have been over
+one hundred feet high in order to overlook the pine trees about it.
+There is nothing left now but a mass of brick and rubbish about forty
+feet high, covering an acre of ground. It was blown up by the rebels
+at the beginning of the war, and they did the work thoroughly. Great
+blocks of granite and plates of iron lay bedded in between the masses
+of brick-work, some of which are still coherent in masses, and several
+feet in thickness. It is the first real ruin I ever saw in this
+country. The keeper's house close by has been all torn to pieces by
+the negroes for rebuilding their own cabins and corn-houses.
+
+    The next extracts tell of more raids for soldiers, fresh
+    despair, and renewed hope that they might at last be
+    stopped.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 27._ On getting up this morning the people were found all in a
+hubbub. The soldiers had been there in the night, some fifty strong,
+and had carried off not only Caesar, a deserter, Abel's son, but also
+old Miller, Tony, and Jonas and David, neither of whom had ever
+belonged to any of the regiments. Of course all the people were
+enraged, and justly, for they have been assured by General Saxton over
+and over again during several months past that they needn't be afraid
+of any more drafting, for it was all over. As soon as we had done
+breakfast I walked down to the quarters to see what facts I could
+gather. It seemed they [the soldiers] had come by rowboats to the
+village creek, thinking they had got to our creek, and landed at Fripp
+Point. There they found no deserters, for there were none, but took
+all the men they could find, viz.: Pompey's boy Isaac, Fortune's boy
+Jimmy, and Alick's boy January. They got old Dan to show them the way
+to Coffin's and came along the road, arriving just after
+praise-meeting; they set a guard all about the houses and shot at
+every man that tried to run away, catching the men named above and
+carrying them off. Tony and Jonas got away at Fripp Point, but they
+carried off the others. C. and I got into our little boat with Jim to
+help, and rowed around to the village in hopes to find the party still
+there, but they had gone, carrying Dr. Hunting's cook. So we rowed
+back and ate our dinner in disgust. This raid will break up my ginning
+on this end of the island and put it back at least two weeks, for the
+men are so scared that they won't dare to go to work, and the women
+can't do much without them.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Dec. 27._ Mr. Philbrick has gone up to-night to see General Saxton,
+and Mr. Eustis says that if he can't (or won't) stop it, he shall
+write to Washington. It is the unauthorized work of the officers whose
+commissions perhaps depend upon their keeping full ranks.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 28._ I rode off for Coosaw Fort on Ladies Island, where the
+pickets are. I found Captain Bryant at camp. He was very pleasant and
+told me that the descent upon Coffin's Point Saturday night was not
+made by his orders, but by one of Colonel Higginson's captains. The
+men were brought to him, however, and he discharged all who didn't
+want to enlist. So I came off content.
+
+The holidays and the hunt for deserters have so broken up the labor
+that nothing of any consequence can be done now till after New Year's,
+when I hope the work will move on smoothly again.
+
+[_Jan. 1, 1864._] My errand to Beaufort on Tuesday was not very
+successful. I could find neither Colonel Higginson nor General Saxton.
+So I had to content myself with writing to the latter an account of
+how the soldiers had been behaving here. On getting back, I found the
+people more quiet than I had expected. The return of the men from camp
+had reassured them, and most of them have gone to work again.
+
+    The year closes with W. C. G.'s reflections on the progress
+    of the "Port Royal Experiment."
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Dec. 27._ We are busy ginning and packing. Both men and women are
+hard at work, and till 3 o'clock P. M. the scene is almost one of
+Northern industry. There is more noise, less system and steadiness.
+Now and then two or three break out into a quarrel, in which they
+excel all other people I ever saw with their tongues,--tremendous
+noise, terrible gestures, the fiercest looks,--and perhaps by evening
+they are friends again. Meanwhile the others sit still at their work,
+listening to it as a matter in the common course of things,--and will
+tell how _they_ love peace and quiet; it will be their own turn next!
+In all their faults,--passion, lying, stealing, etc.,--they are
+perfectly conscious of the sin; and the same ones whom it would be
+impossible to stop, except by force, in their tempests of rage, will
+when quiet talk as sensibly of their folly as any one could desire.
+They seem to have a very delicate conscience without the slightest
+principle. That this want of principle is not innate and not their own
+fault, I think is proved by their consciences remaining true. Their
+state of morals I should say is decidedly better than it was under
+slavery,--less of licentiousness, lying, and stealing,--and more
+general manliness and self-respect. But they are very far behind, in
+character as well as intelligence, and I suspect that most
+abolitionist views of their character are exaggerated in their favor.
+It increases the need and it does not decrease the interest of helping
+them, to think so. Many a talking abolitionist would be disgusted into
+indifference, and many a hearty hater of the talk would be surprised
+into interest and favor, if they lived here for six months. It's
+pretty hard sometimes to find your best men lying to you, or your most
+trusty people ungrateful and distrusting you,--and then again a light
+breaks out where you thought there was neither fuel nor fire. The most
+encouraging symptom is the clearly increasing influence which the best
+of the people are acquiring,--so that there certainly is a _general_
+improvement.
+
+
+
+
+1864
+
+    _The land-sales of 1864, contradictory orders--Discontent
+    among the negroes about wages--Small-pox on the
+    plantations--The chattel sale--Labor contracts for the
+    season--Newspaper attacks on Mr. Philbrick--The raid on
+    Morgan Island--Mr. Philbrick's plans for the future--The
+    black draft--Red tape--Approach of Sherman and the battle of
+    Honey Hill._
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 3._ I don't know how low the thermometer would have stood out of
+doors here. R.'s was at 19 deg.. The one in our parlor was at 28 deg. some
+time after lighting the fire.
+
+You will probably in due course of time see the tintypes of Rose and
+Demus. Old Judy and Minda got theirs taken some time since, but there
+has been no opportunity of sending them to you. As they went up all by
+themselves, the arrangement of their toilet was original; hence a
+display of jewelry rather more characteristic than tasteful.
+
+    The subject of the approaching land-sales now becomes the
+    all-important topic.
+
+_Jan. 20._ There was notice given for all the people to meet at St.
+Helena church on Sunday last to hear the President's new instructions
+about land-sales. These new orders were obtained, as nearly as I can
+learn, by Father French, who went to Washington at General Saxton's
+request to urge the matter. The plan defeats that of Dr. Brisbane,
+who meant to sell at auction.[151] Now, as you will see by the papers,
+all the lands that were bid in by the United States are offered at
+private sale, to black or white, in lots of twenty or forty acres at a
+uniform price of $1.25 per acre, like Western public lands, with the
+privilege of preemption, but to those only who have resided on lands
+belonging to the Government for at least six months since the
+occupation of the island by our forces. So this gives all the
+superintendents and teachers a chance to buy as well as the negroes,
+but excludes all new-comers. I found Dr. Brisbane as much disturbed as
+it is possible to conceive.
+
+Of course I stayed over with Mr. R. another night to attend the
+church. It was a fine morning, and we found a pretty large attendance,
+both black and white. Parson Phillips was there and opened the
+services. Mr. French followed, urging them to go ahead at once and
+locate their lots. General Saxton followed, saying but little, but
+urging them not to sleep till they had staked out their claims.
+
+Father French begged leave to differ, for he wanted them to respect
+the Sabbath. Mr. Hunn followed, saying they had better do it _to-day_,
+for it was no worse to drive stakes Sunday than to keep thinking about
+it. He condoled them on the small pay they had been getting from
+Government and private speculators, saying, "What's thirty cents a day
+in these times for a man who has to maintain himself and his family?"
+(Great sensation among negroes, and a buzz, with mutterings of "that's
+so," etc.). Then a paymaster made a spread-eagle speech. Then Colonel
+Ellwell was called out by Mr. French. Then Judge Smith mounted the
+pulpit and explained to the negroes the meaning of preemption, how it
+was formed of two Latin words. Colonel Ellwell contrived to mystify
+the people a little as follows. After expatiating on the goodness of
+President Lincoln, he said he was so kind he had even offered pardon
+to the rebels, and perhaps we should see their old masters back here
+some day, with a whole county of scoundrels to swear they had always
+been loyal Union men, etc. The whole fandango lasted till nearly three
+o'clock, and then we had the usual amount of shaking of hands, etc.,
+outside. I lost no time in finding Mr. Hunn and informing him that I
+had paid an average of over fifty cents a day through the whole season
+of working cotton. If he had been a younger man, I should have said,
+as I thought, that it was not a true kindness to these ignorant people
+to say anything tending to make them discontented with the rates of
+pay that had been established with a good deal of care by men who had
+been quite disinterested and well calculated to judge of such things.
+In fact, I might have told him, what I certainly believe, that a much
+higher rate of pay than they have been receiving would tend to
+diminish the amount of industry rather than to stimulate it, by
+rendering it too easy for them to supply their simple wants. I held my
+peace, however, and was content to hear him apologize, disclaiming any
+intention of referring to me in what he had said, etc., and admitting
+that my case was an exception, adding that he didn't suppose I should
+be _allowed_ by Government to pay higher rates than those established
+by General Saxton! We were accompanied home from church by Mr.
+Eustis, and Mr. R. came as far as G.'s. They all met here Monday, in a
+pouring rain, to talk over the subject of wages for the coming year.
+It was concluded to pay in money entirely instead of in molasses and
+bacon, believing that the days of rationing in any form had passed,
+and that the negroes would be better pleased to handle all the money
+and spend it as they pleased. So we raise the pay of cotton hoeing
+from twenty-five cents to thirty-five cents per old task, and add five
+cents more, making it forty cents, besides the premium on the weight
+of crop, which remains as before, making the average wages about sixty
+or sixty-five cents for cotton work, which we think none too high for
+the present prices of dry goods, etc. Of course, the smart hands earn
+more than this in a day, for they do one and one-half times or twice
+as much per day as they used to, and these prices are based upon the
+old master's day's work or task. I have some men who gin fifty pounds
+a day and earn their dollar, while they never ginned more than thirty
+pounds for their master. I spent most of the day with G. on his
+plantations, talking with him and his people about the prospect of
+success with the new system. I haven't yet found a single man on any
+of my places who wants to risk buying land. They all say they had
+rather stay where they are and work for me. The more intelligent
+foresee many difficulties in owning land, such as having no access to
+marsh, or woodland, no capital for live-stock, plows, harness, carts,
+etc., and they don't like the idea of having to wait a whole year to
+get their reward for planting the cotton crop. The people seemed
+highly satisfied to work on and well pleased with the prospect of
+higher nominal wages to talk about, and slightly higher in reality,
+with the privilege of spending them as they wish.
+
+_Jan. 27._ Last Friday I made an expedition to Eddings Point in our
+little boat. Arriving about one o'clock, and leaving the boat in
+charge of the boys, I walked up to Mr. Wells' house on the Mary
+Jenkins place, about one and one-quarter miles. I went down to the
+nigger-house to see the people. I found the people in a state of
+confusion about buying land. They had got the impression at church
+from the earnest way in which they were urged to buy, that they _must_
+buy land _nolens volens_, and wanted to have my consent to stay where
+they were and work for me as long as they pleased! Of course I laughed
+and told them they were welcome to stay as long as they wished and
+behaved well. They seemed "well satisfy" with this, and all in good
+humor.
+
+I stayed at home Monday to see Mr. Hull, who came down with another
+big boat-load of cotton for our people to gin. They had finished
+ginning what he brought last week in two days. As soon as his boat
+came to the landing near Nab's house, the people made a rush for the
+cotton, the men carting it and the women carrying the bags on their
+heads and hiding it, so they might have some of it to gin. It was like
+rats scrambling for nuts.
+
+Mr. B. has a letter from Secretary Chase, urging that a bale of free
+labor cotton be sent to the Sanitary Fair at New York, and I offered
+to present a bale for the purpose. It will be worth about five hundred
+dollars; but is not a very great contribution, considering that we
+have two hundred of them nearly.
+
+I see that my letter to Alpheus Hardy[152] is going the rounds, being
+copied in Providence _Journal_ and New York _Evening Post_, with a few
+blunders as usual. Did you notice the expression "extend the arm of
+charity" was printed "area" instead of "arm," making a very absurd
+appearance? The Providence _Journal_ put in an extra cipher,
+multiplying my figures by ten. In order to correct this blunder, which
+was a serious one, making the cotton cost ten times as much as I
+stated, I wrote to the editor, giving him some more information about
+my crop, for the benefit of the Providence cotton spinners.[153]
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Jan. 29._ Outside of our plantations, the people for once are excited
+with good reason. In the most awkward, incomplete, bungling way the
+negroes are allowed to preempt twenty and forty acre tracts; so
+everybody is astir, trying to stake out claims and then to get their
+claims considered by the Commissioners. These gentlemen meanwhile are
+at loggerheads, the land is but half surveyed, and everything is
+delightfully confused and uncertain. Still it is the beginning of a
+great thing,--negroes become land-owners and the door is thrown open
+to Northern immigration. Years hence it will be a satisfaction to look
+back on these beginnings,--now it is very foggy ahead and very
+uncertain under foot.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Feb. 4._ Sunday morning I met the whole female population on the
+road, coming to church. It was baptism day, and the women had all put
+on their best dresses, their summer muslins and turbans, making a fine
+show. On arriving at the Captain John Fripp gate, by the avenue, I
+found a knot of young men seated there, with one of their number
+reading to the rest from the Testament. I asked them why they didn't
+go to church with the women! They said they had heard that "soldiers
+had come to catch we," and "we were scary." Poor fellows, what a
+strange life of suspense they are leading! General Gillmore has
+ordered a complete census of the islands, black and white men
+included, for enrollment on the militia lists, and no white citizen is
+allowed to leave the Department until after it is found whether he is
+wanted for military service, _i. e._, after a draft.
+
+    Having got the cotton all shipped, Mr. Philbrick prepared to
+    go home, but he was not to leave without receiving from his
+    employees more than one expression of their growing
+    consciousness of power.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Feb. 9._ The women came up in a body to complain to Mr. Philbrick
+about their pay,--a thing which has never happened before and shows
+the influence of very injudicious outside talk, which has poisoned
+their minds against their truest friends. The best people were among
+them, and even old Grace chief spokeswoman. It is very hard, but not
+to be wondered at in the poor, ignorant creatures, when people who
+ought to know better are so injudicious,--to use the mildest term the
+most charitable interpretation of their conduct will allow. I don't
+see what is to be the end of it all, but at this rate they will soon
+be spoiled for any habits of industry.
+
+_Feb. 14._ As we went to the back steps to see Mr. Philbrick off, we
+found the people collecting with eggs and peanuts for him to carry. He
+told them that he could not carry the eggs to Miss Helen, but would
+tell her. Then Grace begged his pardon for her bad behavior and
+complaining the other day, and, collecting all the eggs which he had
+refused, told C. they were for him, and sent them by Rose into the
+house. She, with the other women, had complained of C. to him, and I
+suppose she meant it as a peace offering.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, Feb. 22._ I regretted that you were not present at the
+pow-wow after church on the 14th. Mr. Tomlinson talked very "straight"
+to Pompey and others about their having no right to live on my land
+without working for me at fair rates. He expressed his opinion very
+freely about the fairness of our prices and told them they must go
+and hunt up another home or work for us at these rates. I promised to
+sign a "pass," which you can do for me, promising to Pompey or any
+other man who works for us that as soon as he gets a piece of land of
+his own, gets a deed of it, and gets it fenced in, we will sell him a
+cow at cost, but I would not agree to allow their cows to run at large
+on the plantation, and Mr. Tomlinson said I was perfectly right.
+During the confab I overheard mutterings among the crowd such as "we
+shan't get anything," "it's no use," etc., serving to convince me that
+the whole subject would be quietly dropped unless stirred up by some
+such men as J. H. and F. J. W. again. Considering the prospect of high
+prices of molasses and bacon, etc., I think we may find it advisable
+to pay fifty cents all summer for what we had promised forty. But
+would do nothing about it till I have made my purchases of molasses,
+etc., and know just how the thing will stand.
+
+    An unexpected danger in the shape of an epidemic of
+    small-pox made its appearance in the middle of the winter
+    and lasted for two or three months.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+[_Jan. 29._] Mr. Philbrick vaccinated all the children here last year,
+and the few cases we have had have been among those grown persons who
+were vaccinated many years ago, and have all been very mild. It may
+run through the place, but it is not likely to be violent, and the
+quarters are too far off to expose us.
+
+_Feb. 26._ Rose came up as usual, but had such hot fever that I sent
+her home to add one more to the sick list there, where all but one
+have "the Pox," taken from Hester. I expected Rose would not escape.
+Moreover, Uncle Sam now has it, so Robert may give out in a few weeks;
+but no one has been very ill, and no one yet has died here. It seems
+to be a milder form than that which appeared at the Oaks and at Mr.
+Eustis', where a number have died, or else they give them more air
+here, which is I believe the fact. I do not go to the quarters now at
+all. I can do no special good in going, and they send to me for what
+they want.
+
+[_March 21._] Monday morning just after breakfast Rose came into the
+parlor with a funny expression on her face and asked me if I had been
+into the kitchen. "Well, Aunt Betty got de Gove_ment_ lump, for true;
+I shum yere and yere," pointing to her chin and cheek. So I went
+downstairs, and there was Betty on the floor, fairly in for the
+small-pox. I find the people call it "Govement lump," and those who
+have it "Union," those who don't "Secesh," while the fever which
+precedes the eruption goes by the very appropriate name of "Horse
+Cavalry!"
+
+_March 9._ In the evening, a little after nine o'clock, the air was
+suddenly filled, as it seemed to me, with a strange wild, screaming
+wail. At first I thought it must be the mules; but it rose and fell
+again and again in such agony, as I thought, that Mr. Soule and
+William went out to investigate, while I opened the window to listen
+more distinctly. It seemed to come from Uncle Sam's house, and though
+now more subdued I thought it the sobbing of strong men, and that I
+could distinguish Titus' and Robert's voices. But the gentlemen soon
+came back, saying that there were evidently a good many people in
+Uncle Sam's house having a merry time. I said that was strange, for
+he was not well, and that it sounded so like distress to me that I
+should think, if I supposed him sick enough, or that they ever
+manifested grief so audibly, that he had suddenly died. Several times
+before I went to bed I thought I heard the same sound, though more
+subdued. As I went upstairs to bed there began, at first quite low,
+then swelling louder with many voices, the strains of one of their
+wild, sad songs. Once before when Uncle Sam was sick they have had
+their praise-meeting up there, for he is the Elder. But it was not
+praise-night, and as the hymn ceased and I could distinguish almost
+the words of a fervent prayer, I was quite sure that, as is their
+custom, they were sitting up and singing with the friends of the
+dead,--all of the plantation who were not watching with the sick in
+their own homes. And so it proved. The night was wild and stormy, but
+above the tempest I could hear, as I woke from time to time, the
+strangely "solemn, wildly sad strains" which were continued all the
+night through. At sunrise they ceased and separated; the air of their
+last hymn has been running in my head all day. Then came the stir in
+the house--Robert making fires--I knew his step--and then Betty at my
+bedside to ask about the breakfast. "And Bu' Sam dead too," was her
+quiet remark when her business was done. "I dunner if you yeardy de
+whoop when he gone."
+
+    This practice of sitting up all night with the dying, H. W.
+    justly enough condemns as "heathenish:" "The houses cannot
+    hold them all, of course, and they sit round out-of-doors in
+    the street, the younger ones often falling asleep on the
+    ground, and then they 'hab fever.'" But of course it was
+    useless to expostulate with them; to their minds the
+    omission of the watch would be a mark of the greatest
+    disrespect.
+
+    The next two extracts furnish further comments on the
+    mismanagement preliminary to the land-sales.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Feb. 22._ Did you know we had long ceased to be philanthropists or
+even Gideonites? We are nothing now but speculators, and the righteous
+rail against us. A great crowd of our brethren have just come down to
+be present at the late sales. Mr. Philbrick and the purchasers of last
+spring paid about $1.00 or $1.25 per acre; now prices run from $5.00
+to $27.00 per acre.[154] There has been the most disgraceful
+squabbling among the tax-commissioners, General Saxton, Rev. Mr.
+French, and other authorities. The people are the victims. At first
+most of the lands were to be sold at auction in large lots; that
+brought in white settlers--and only a little was for negro sales. Then
+one commissioner sends up to Washington, gets orders for a Western
+preemption system, and with a grand hurrah the negroes were told to go
+and grab the lands. The other commissioners then throw all possible
+obstacles in the way till they can get dispatches up to Washington
+too, and the answer comes back,--Preemptions don't count, sell by
+auction.--And so!--This is a precious Department of ours.
+
+_March 14._ The past two months have been full of unpleasant
+work,--the people were unsettled, discontented, and grumbling. I hope
+their growling is nearly over, and look for quieter times soon. The
+disputes among the tax-commissioners have been very unintelligible and
+prejudicial to them. On some places I understand that the negroes
+refuse to have anything to do with the new proprietors. On others they
+have agreed to work, and the year as a whole will probably witness
+much more industry than either of the last two.
+
+    At about this time an appraisal was at last made of the
+    "chattel property" which had been found on the plantations,
+    with a view to selling it at auction. Of course Mr.
+    Philbrick and his superintendents, who had been using these
+    things ever since they came into possession, desired, in
+    most cases, to buy them. At the Fripp Point auction the
+    negroes showed their ungracious, not to say ungrateful
+    spirit, by bidding against W. C. G. and actually buying all
+    the mules, oxen, and cows away from him. In looking forward
+    to the auction at Coffin's Point; where the movables alone
+    had been appraised as worth more than Mr. Philbrick had paid
+    for the entire place, H. W. writes:
+
+_March 6._ We were doubtful how far the behavior of the Fripp Point
+people might affect ours, though C. was quite confident there would be
+no trouble--and moreover expected a good many outsiders, as R. said
+Beaufort people had been inquiring all through the week when the sale
+was to take place here, with the significant remark, "Coffin's Point's
+the place!" and we knew if they did come things would be run up very
+high. So that it was impossible not to feel a most uncomfortable
+anxiety all day.
+
+_March 7._ Monday morning the first thing I heard was Mike in excited
+tones calling to C. that the Fripp people were coming over "to buy
+everything out de gate"--that they would leave everything on top
+Massa Charlie, but that he must not let the stranger black people get
+anything.
+
+    Fortunately Mike's fears proved to be exaggerated, and Massa
+    Charlie got practically everything that he wanted.
+
+    The next letter, from Mr. Philbrick to W. C. G., is
+    concerned with several different matters. The last paragraph
+    will serve to introduce a number of extracts all concerned
+    with criticisms directed against Mr. Philbrick by
+    Abolitionists and negroes.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, March 24._ I hope no cases of merchandise will be opened
+without carefully comparing contents with the invoices, and if any
+errors are found they should be reported immediately. I am sorry to
+see that a considerable deficit was found in some of the stores, which
+I can only account for on the supposition of theft. I think sufficient
+care has not been taken to guard against theft from carts on road. The
+value of the property lost is not a matter of so much consequence as
+the demoralization to the thief and to others who are encouraged to
+similar practices by his example. I don't think the negroes one bit
+worse in this respect than the laboring classes of other countries,
+and not nearly so bad as the lower classes in all large cities. But we
+ought to be very careful how we expose them to temptations which they
+are not strong enough to resist, till such time as they acquire more
+self-respect than they are likely to in this generation.
+
+I shall not be able to make any dividend to the shareholders this
+year. After paying my advances and settling with superintendents,
+there will not be any surplus over the needs of the current year.
+
+Mr. F. J. W. has been quite talkative and rides his hobby to
+death,[155] concerning the rights of the negro to have land for
+nothing, etc., etc., expatiating upon the tyranny of the newly forming
+_landed aristocracy_, the gigantic speculators who are grinding the
+negro down, etc., etc., ad libitum. He held forth on these topics at
+length at a meeting of the Educational Commission about two weeks ago,
+and succeeded in making Professor Child and some others believe that
+the whole labor of the Commission for two years past had been wasted
+or overthrown by the recent changing policy, which had ousted them out
+of their promised rights and cast them out upon the merciless open
+jaws to devour them alive, etc., etc.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_April 18._ Just now it would seem as if the Sea Islands were to be
+abandoned to the negroes and wild hogs. I had heard some things of
+General Birney[156] before which led me to regard him as having
+injudicious sympathies, and should not be surprised at any time to
+have him send you home as a "fraudulent coadjutor" of an unrighteous
+speculation, upon the representation of Pompey and John, if they
+should happen to gain an audience after dinner some day. Joking
+aside, however, I think it would be a good plan to get Colonel S. to
+retract some of his nonsense, and I have no doubt he will do it at
+your request, for he is one of the most good-natured and
+well-intentioned men in the world. He is very likely to have said what
+the negroes say he did, indiscreetly, of course, and without dreaming
+what effect it might have. If the people continue to refuse to receive
+their money, as I don't believe they will long, I would consult Mr.
+Tomlinson about it. I think he will sustain us in anything reasonable.
+I think if Mr. Tomlinson were to tell John or Pompey that they would
+not be allowed to take any of their cotton and would be severely
+punished if they attempted it, it would have a good effect. Any way I
+think the matter will blow over soon. It is not strange that the
+negroes should act like fools when they have such examples before them
+as we see nowadays.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_April 18._ At night came Mr. Soule from Beaufort with an account of
+the investigations going on there concerning the tax-commissioners
+before Judge Smith, an agent sent by the President for the purpose.
+Mr. Soule found that he had also been commissioned to look into the
+affairs of our "concern," as the Fripp Point men had sent a petition
+to the President to be relieved from Mr. Philbrick's oppression! Mr.
+Soule and Mr. Tomlinson both saw Judge Smith, and had some talk with
+him at the meeting, which was a public one, and he was invited to come
+down here, see Mr. Soule's books and investigate all the charges
+thoroughly. Whoever drew up the petition (of course it had been done
+by a white man, but who we could not tell, for his name as witness had
+been omitted in the copy given Judge Smith) had so overshot the mark
+that it was palpably absurd to all who knew the facts, and happily Mr.
+Soule had found Judge Smith to be a fair-minded, able, clear-sighted
+person, who could not have dust thrown in his eyes.
+
+_April 21._ Sat waiting the arrival of Judge Smith, when about one
+o'clock Robert called to me that a carriage was coming. To my
+amazement, instead of the Judge alone or with only a friend, a great
+vehicle with four white horses and "sofas inside,"[157] as Rose said,
+dashed up to the front door with four gentlemen, Mr. Tomlinson and Mr.
+G. being on horseback besides. Of course I had to fly round about my
+dinner and get up tables large enough to seat thirteen people. By
+three dinner was ready and my guests at table--a very pleasant
+company: Judge Smith, a round, smooth-faced _gentleman_ between fifty
+and sixty, active and wide-awake; Judge Cooley, the new
+tax-commissioner, a Westerner and also very pleasant. Judge Smith took
+Mr. Soule's statement before dinner, and afterwards Mr. G.'s, all
+simply facts and with no waste of words. C. was not questioned at all.
+Then Mr. G. went over to the Point for the men there, for, though the
+Judge was satisfied that Mr. Philbrick was not a scoundrel and all of
+us aiders and abetters of his iniquities, we knew the men there would
+never be satisfied with the statement from any of us or Mr. Tomlinson,
+who had been talking to them for two hours that morning. Poor things,
+they are much more sinned against than sinning. They came flocking
+over so closely upon Mr. G.'s heels as to get here nearly as soon as
+he did, and the session of the Court began by the examination of John
+Major before tea, the others crowding about the door and filling the
+piazza, quiet and orderly, but eager listeners. Not a single one of
+our people came up. John Major is a discontented, conceited fellow,
+who has never worked for Mr. Philbrick, though his wife and children
+have, and he headed the petition. It was splendid to see how quickly
+the Judge saw through him, when he has been only a week in the
+Department, and could hardly understand what he said; but he showed
+the man pretty plainly what he thought of him, telling him, when he
+said the Government could not find him out [know him] that it _had_
+found him out, that it had his name in Washington, and that if he
+thought Secesh times were so much better, the Government loved him so
+well it would let him go back to his old master! After tea came 'Siah
+and Pompey, two very different men,--intelligent, hard-working, and
+honest, the former particularly truthful and reliable, men whom we all
+respect,--and it was a fine sight to see these men, only two years out
+of slavery, respectfully but decidedly standing up for what they
+thought their rights in a room full of white people. 'Siah only said
+that he thought he ought to have fifty cents for what he is now paid
+forty for[158] (about four hours work), but that he had given his word
+to Mr. Philbrick for this year and he would stand by it. He says he
+never signed the paper, or saw it, but that he answered the question
+the two officers asked him and told his name. Pompey afterwards
+stated that the two officers asked who owned the adjoining plantations
+and that one,--and that on being told that Mr. Philbrick had bought
+them all, said: "Then we need not go any further"--which looks like
+malice aforethought. The paper was, apparently, written at Hilton
+Head and there signed with the men's marks--if so, it is a
+forgery. Pompey's great difficulty seemed to have arisen from a
+misunderstanding of statements made by Mr. Philbrick, in which he
+considered that Mr. Philbrick took back his word, and so he had lost
+confidence in him and was ready to appeal to any one who promised to
+see him righted and relieved from his "confusion." He says, and all
+the men say so too, that Mr. Philbrick promised when he bought the
+land to sell it to them when the war was over for what he gave for it,
+and that when he was here last he told them he should ask them ten
+dollars an acre. This they all stand to, and cannot be convinced they
+have made a mistake, but have lost their faith because he has broken
+his word,--and outsiders have fanned the flame, telling them that if
+they did not work for Mr. Philbrick for what he chose to pay
+them,--and that he was paying them nothing,--he would turn them out of
+their homes, and more to the same effect. It was a most interesting
+occasion, and it was pleasant to feel that there was a man of so much
+sense in the Department. He tried to pacify the men, and then
+privately told Mr. Soule that he should advise Mr. Philbrick to pay
+the fifty cents.
+
+    The next day the gentlemen departed, Mr. Tomlinson going to
+    the smaller Philbrick plantations to make the newly-ordered
+    written contracts with the people. By the terms of a
+    circular issued April 1 by General Saxton, each
+    superintendent was ordered, before April 15, to make to his
+    general superintendent and to sign a statement of the
+    agreement existing between himself and his laborers. The
+    general superintendent was then ordered to visit the
+    plantation, explain the contract to the negroes, and affix
+    to it the names of all who agreed to the terms of it; any
+    laborer who objected to the terms was warned to leave his
+    employer or stay with him at his own risk. H. W. records the
+    reception given to Mr. Tomlinson by the Pine Grove people.
+
+_April 22._ They were silenced, but not convinced, but agreed for this
+year. Mr. Tomlinson had trouble with the people at Mr. Folsom's and
+Mr. Harrison's both. He had meant to do the job here, but could not,
+as C. was away. C. did not expect any difficulty, and I suspect that
+he was right, for just after all had gone, two of our men, "Useless"
+Monday, the stuttering cow-minder, and Hacklis, the sulkiest-looking
+man on the place, came up and, with the brightest smiles and cheeriest
+manner, began to ask me so earnestly how I was, that I felt as if I
+were not honest if I did not mention that I had a slight headache.
+"Mebbe de confusion make you sick, sorry for dat. Not one our people
+come up yere. We bery sorry for dat,"--and much more of regret, and
+assertion that "so long as Mass' Charlie on de place dey satisfy." Old
+Monday wished to know if the milk satisfied me, and was very much
+delighted when I told him that if he had not sent some up the night
+before I should have had none for the gentlemen's breakfast, and kept
+exclaiming, "I glad for dat," as if he had wished to express his
+sympathy by deeds as well as words. Then Hacklis said, "Come, let's
+go," as if they had come up simply to assure me that our people would
+give no trouble. I was touched.
+
+    The end of the story was a month later.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_May 27._ Mr. Tomlinson came home last night with C. and Mr. Soule to
+spend the night and make the contract with the people, so C. sent word
+to them to assemble in the cotton-house yard before they went to their
+work, and he and Mr. Tomlinson went down before breakfast, so that
+they need not be interrupted in their work. They were gone so long
+that we began to fear some trouble--indeed C. said he expected some
+"jawing," and that it would be strange if this was the only place
+where there was none; but not a word was said--the people apparently
+are so ashamed of the conduct of the women when Mr. Philbrick was here
+and so indignant with the "Fripp People" that they are on their best
+behavior.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Early May._ We have been having a funny time with our people lately.
+One of my plantations is decidedly ahead of all the others in
+intelligence and energy. They were so energetic about March 1 as to
+get a petition sent up to President Lincoln, praying for redress
+against their various oppressions. The matter was referred to some
+gentlemen coming down here to make other investigations, and two or
+three weeks ago they pretty thoroughly examined our affairs. I believe
+the result was pretty satisfactory. The originators of the movement
+were two dissatisfied men who have given me great trouble. There was
+much reason for some of their feeling, but very little for their
+complaints. As a result of the whole affair, however, I believe we all
+think it would be politic to increase our wages still more. At present
+we pay rather less than some, but our cheap stores far more than make
+up the difference. This, however, the people, instead of appreciating,
+only make the subject of more complaint.
+
+When that was nicely settled, I made the discovery that both
+plantations had thought it proper to plant a great deal of corn among
+my cotton. I had given them corn-land for themselves, but they, in
+pursuance of a Secesh custom of planting a little corn between the
+cotton rows, had done so to an outrageous extent. And they in many
+cases refused to take it out. The truth is here,--that we are rather
+more in the power of the negroes than they in ours. I shall insist on
+every grain being out, but actually shall probably have to do it
+myself. Well--such disputes are almost the only excitement I have;
+better some, perhaps, though unpleasant, than none.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, May 3._ As soon as I can get complete information from
+Liverpool about my claim on the insurance company,[159] I shall settle
+with them and be ready to settle with yourself, G., and Folsom. Are
+you not ashamed to put in your own private pocket the proceeds of the
+hard labor of the poor abused negro? I think you cannot have read the
+_Tribune_ and _Independent_ lately, or you would not be so depraved.
+
+    The sarcastic allusion in this last letter to the _Tribune_
+    and the _Independent_ refers to two letters which had lately
+    appeared in those papers respectively, the one signed "J. A.
+    S.," the other anonymous. Both were from Beaufort, and both
+    attacked Mr. Philbrick for a letter which he had recently
+    written (February 24) to the New York _Evening Post_. This
+    letter was the presentation which he had planned to make
+    proving from his own experience that it was possible to
+    raise cotton cheaper by free labor than had been possible by
+    slave labor.[160] In it Mr. Philbrick had also stated his
+    belief that the land-sales would be an injury to the negro
+    if they enabled him to buy at $1.25 an acre land which was
+    already worth much more and would, after the war, rise still
+    higher in value, for such purchases would be made largely as
+    speculations, and would destroy all incentive to labor. The
+    points of attack selected by the writers in the
+    _Independent_ and the _Tribune_ were Mr. Philbrick's rate of
+    wages,--why did he not pay his hands $2.50 a day?--his views
+    on the land-sales, which, they said, showed his desire to
+    make of the negroes an "agricultural peasantry," as
+    dependent upon great landed proprietors as ever they had
+    been in their days of slavery, and the course he had pursued
+    relative to his own purchases in land. "His own statements
+    of his intentions induced the almost universal belief that
+    he desired to buy land for the purpose of testing the
+    industrial capabilities of the negroes, and when they had
+    justified his confidence in this respect, that he would sell
+    them the lands in small allotments at the cost to himself."
+    His actual performance now, on the other hand, was to put
+    the price of his lands "further from their reach than
+    before," fixing it "according to the increased value which
+    their labor and proved capacity have given them." To these
+    three accusations Mr. Philbrick made reply in two letters.
+    First, as to the auction-sales, he agreed "that the good
+    faith of the Government should have been kept in regard to
+    the promised homesteads, however we may differ in opinion as
+    to the expediency of making the promise at this time."
+    Second, as to his scale of wages, he maintained that, on his
+    plantations, "whenever the amount of work done in a day
+    approaches the standard of a day's work in the North, the
+    wages also approach the limit of Northern wages, under
+    similar conditions."[161] Third, as to his alleged promise
+    to sell his land to negroes at cost, he said, "I am not
+    aware that I have ever committed myself to any definite
+    plans for disposing of this land; for I have not been able
+    to digest or mature any plan satisfactory to myself."[162]
+
+    There is nothing vital in these two letters of Mr.
+    Philbrick's which is new to the reader of these pages. They
+    are based on his firm belief that it was no kindness to the
+    negro to make discriminations in his favor.
+
+    Mr. Philbrick's message to his superintendents about the
+    increased pay demanded by 'Siah and Pompey, and his advice
+    to W. C. G. in the matter of corn planted between the rows
+    of cotton were as follows:
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, May 18._ I have already written expressing my assent to the
+rise of wages at any time when you shall all agree, and also write C.
+P. W. to-day that I should at any time assent to any change in the
+management, sustained by the unanimous approval of the corps upon the
+spot, without waiting to hear from me. You can avail yourself of the
+change to get rid of the corn in cotton-fields. I hope you will not
+pull it up yourself. I think such a step would lose more in dignity
+than you would gain in consistency of purpose. We must expect these
+people will take any undue advantage of us they think they can do with
+impunity, but I think such cases can be more readily reached through
+their pocket nerves than their moral sensibilities. Moreover, it is
+always better to do nothing in which we should not be sustained by the
+authorities, whose tender sympathies are not always judicious, as you
+know. I would not allow a hill of corn in the cotton-field, _i. e._, I
+would not pay the extra price till it is pulled up.
+
+    The next letter shows that the freedmen were waking up to
+    their rights in more ways than one.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_May 19._ We had a queer scene here on Tuesday. It is probably the
+first time that the slaves--contrabands--freedmen--have asserted
+themselves our fellow-countrymen by claiming the right of voting. A
+meeting was called in Beaufort to elect delegates to the Baltimore
+convention.[163] It was assumed that we could stand for the sovereign
+state of South Carolina, and so we sent her full complement of sixteen
+representatives, and furnished each with an alternate. There are
+hardly thirty-two decent men in the Department, it is commonly
+believed. A large half of the meeting consisted of blacks, and _four
+black delegates were chosen_, Robert Small[164] among them; the others
+I believe were sergeants in the South Carolina regiment. At one time
+there was considerable excitement, and white paired off against
+black,--but on the whole both colors behaved very well.
+
+The whole affair will be laughed at by the North, and it is hardly
+probable that the delegates will be received. I hope they will.
+
+    In this hope W. C. G. was to be disappointed. Not one of the
+    delegates was received.
+
+    With a group of H. W.'s letters the story goes back to home
+    life.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Sunday, May 8._ I have been wanting to see a Baptism performed as it
+is here in the creek, and as there was to be one to-day C. arranged
+yesterday for us all to go up. We had a lovely drive, reaching the
+bridge by the church just as the Baptism began, and, sitting in the
+wagon where we could see and hear everything, we witnessed the whole
+ceremony and saw the vast crowd that had collected for the same
+purpose. As the last came up out of the water the people began to
+sing, and we moved with the crowd towards the church, which was
+presently filled, as many more people outside sitting about. We sat
+for about four hours, through all the services. The minister soon
+changed his clothes and came in, but in the meantime the people sung.
+Mr. Parker took occasion in his sermon to express very liberal views
+towards other denominations of Christians, and then invited "all
+members of sister churches to remain to the Communion service." There
+has been so much talk and trouble about this, and all who were not
+Baptists have been so vigorously excluded,[165] that we were very glad
+to see the new minister take a different ground, and remained gladly.
+While the deacons were arranging the Table, those who chose went out,
+after which the elders went to the doors to call them back. "Member,
+member, what you keep de church waitin' for?" and again the church was
+filled, floor and gallery,--I never saw such a sight,--but the
+minister's earnestness and the general seriousness of the people made
+it unlike a spectacle, and a serious, most interesting occasion. Then
+there was a collection taken up in the elders' hats, the people making
+change while old Robert would attempt to persuade them to leave the
+whole bill! Then two couples were severally married, not both at once
+after Mr. Phillips' heathenish fashion, pronouncing them all husbands
+and wives!
+
+_May 16._ I found that the Court was to meet here at nine o'clock. Mr.
+Soule asked me to be present, and I listened all day to the
+examination of the various witnesses. It was very interesting; but it
+was very sad to see how little dependence could be placed upon their
+word. Men and boys took the oath one after the other and then lied as
+if they had sworn to do so. Their ingenuity was wonderful, and we had
+to come to the conclusion that if those who we supposed spoke the
+truth had been on the other side they would have lied as badly as the
+others. It has now become very important to carry the case through and
+discover if possible who have perjured themselves, as they must learn
+how important it is for them to speak the truth. But little additional
+light was thrown by the labor of to-day, and they adjourned at night
+till Thursday, at Pine Grove.
+
+_May 19._ The court sat at Pine Grove, but though the moral certainty
+was very great, it was almost impossible to convict on the evidence,
+because they lied so.
+
+A man came in great excitement to tell us that the rebels had made a
+raid during the night onto Morgan Island and carried off all the
+people. F. and R. immediately took the sailboat and went over to the
+gunboat to let them know.
+
+_May 22._ F. went to church to find out about the poor Morgan Island
+people, and heard from Mrs. Wells that eleven people, men and women,
+had been carried off by fifteen Secesh--three of Hamilton Fripp's sons
+were among them. They took all the clothes, money, and eatables they
+could find, and told the people that they were living well and earning
+forty cents a day while their old mistress was starving and had no one
+to work for her, and they thought it was time they went to take care
+of her. One man escaped after his hands were tied, and one woman
+refused to get into the boat, and they knocked her down and left her.
+They have frightened poor Mrs. Wells pretty effectually by saying they
+should like to carry Mr. Wells off on the points of their bayonets.
+"That man that pays them forty cents a day." A picket has been
+stationed there and another on Eddings Point.
+
+_May 27._ My "seamster," Maria, has a little girl who she sent me word
+should be my little chambermaid, and she wished me to name her. Her
+youngest child, Noble, I did not know, he is such a great boy, and I
+remarked that he was bigger than Cicero was two years ago. "Too much,
+Missus, him lick Cicero now," and she explained that it was because he
+was a Yankee child, and then she and Rose enlarged upon the general
+superiority of the Yankee children, who could all "lick" all the
+Secesh children of twice their years! It was very funny, but I daresay
+there is some truth in it, as the women only work when they feel able
+to do so, and moreover they all have a greater variety of food.
+
+The boys returned from the gunboats with full accounts from the
+officers of the disgraceful abandonment of the expedition[166] and its
+complete failure, owing in the first place to the drunkenness of an
+officer and then to the failure of common sense. General Foster has
+arrived[167]--I hope he will prove to be somebody; this poor
+Department seems doomed. General Birney seems to have shown as little
+sense in this matter as on the negro question.
+
+_May 31._ To dine at Pine Grove, stopping on the way to see if I could
+find any of Pierce Butler's[168] people among the St. Simonians who
+have settled on the deserted plantation of Hamilton Fripp. Found one
+woman who was nursery-maid at Mr. Hazard's, who she said was a cousin
+of "Butler's;" she remembered him well and his two daughters, also
+Mrs. Butler. "She was a very great lady--a _very_ great lady, and a
+most beautiful lady--slender-like: she tell Mr. Butler if he give up
+the slavery, she would likes to live there, but she couldn't stan'
+that; but he wouldn't 'grees to that, so she goes 'way and she get a
+dewoce. Oh, but she could ride hos'!" She said that Mr. Butler was a
+very kind master to his servants indeed, "but sometimes he have bad
+overseer."
+
+_June 15._ Rode through the quarters to tell the people myself that I
+was going home for a visit. "But you comin' back dough--arter we get
+use' to you you mustn't lef' we--and you sarvice to we when we sick
+too much." "Hi!" said old Betty, "you brudder an' sister been eat you
+like one oyshter!" "Dey tink you like one angel come down," said old
+Judy, "and they no ben see you so long time."
+
+    The long letter that comes next is perhaps the most
+    interesting and convincing of all that Mr. Philbrick wrote.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, July 8._ Your long letter has received due attention, but I
+do not yet feel as if it would be advisable to sell lands any sooner
+than I had always intended, viz., at the end of the war. I agree with
+you that the present system is unsatisfactory and annoying, tending to
+develop the evil as well as the good that is in the negro character. I
+had about concluded to propose next winter something like the
+following plan, but don't think it good policy to promise _anything_
+now for two reasons: first, such promises would be distorted and
+misrepresented by the negroes among themselves in the interim, so
+that when the time comes, nothing but dissatisfaction and growling
+would result; second, because something may turn up in the meantime to
+change my mind as to what is best. My rough plan is to sell to the
+people at cost all live-stock and implements we could spare,--nearly
+the whole,--for which they can doubtless pay cash next winter. Then
+divide the lands among them to be used as they see fit for the
+remainder of the war, they to pay either a certain share of the cotton
+they raise, say one half, or a certain amount of cotton, annually.
+(Don't like this last.) A small farm to be reserved on large
+plantations to be sold to or worked by some white settler, who can
+devote his time there and act as our agent to look after our rights,
+and if possible work a little cotton on his own account, experimenting
+and introducing improved methods of culture. It might be almost
+impossible for such a man to get labor, but there will be some negroes
+too dependent in their habits to want to wait a year for their pay and
+some old people and widows who would prefer wages paid monthly. This
+white man's farm is, however, not a necessary part of the plan, and if
+labor can't be got, of course it wouldn't succeed. Teachers and
+store-keepers to be kept on the ground at our expense, who will look
+after the houses they live in and do whatever else they can to keep
+things straight.
+
+Another plan is to sell life-leases to the negroes, instead of the fee
+simple, disposing of the lands you propose to sell. This occurred to
+me as a means of avoiding the terrible and disastrous confusion which
+it will be next to impossible to avoid after a term of years, if the
+fee should be conveyed, when the purchasers die and sell or change
+land as they will to a certain extent in time. It is bad enough to
+trace a title and find out whether it is good for anything here in
+systematic New England, and difficult enough, too, to fix boundaries
+and maintain them against encroachments; but it makes my orderly bones
+ache to think of a time when, after some men now purchasing land shall
+die, leaving two or three sets of children, some born under wedlock
+and some not, some not their own but their wives' children, some even
+of questionable parentage, and some who were never heard of before,
+all claiming a slice of the deceased man's land, and of course all
+claiming the best. Suppose it was bounded by a "stake and stones" as
+of old here, minus the stones which are absent; suppose some of the
+claimants think best to set up a new stake where one has gone to
+decay, and suppose they are not over exact in placing it; or suppose,
+as is more than likely, their neighbor thinks the new stake encroaches
+on him and pulls it up entirely, stamping on the hole and putting it
+in according to his own ideas, etc., etc., ad infinitum. Now, as you
+must admit that all this is likely to occur, and worse too, would such
+a state of things tend to bring about a healthy and rapid development?
+Any one who has watched the minute subdivision of lands among the
+French peasantry knows that after a few generations a man has not land
+enough to live on or work economically, and hence a vast amount of
+time and energy is wasted in France for lack of organization;--that,
+too, where they have an administration of justice the most minute and
+exact to be found in the whole world, an organization of the judiciary
+which reaches to every man's case, however minute or inconspicuous.
+The life-lease system would avoid these troubles, but would be open
+to this objection, a serious one, too, viz., the negro ought to feel
+that in building up a home for himself, it shall be a home for his
+children, for he has too little of the feeling of responsibility for
+his offspring, which is one of the best stimulants to good order and
+civilization.
+
+The future value of the lands is a question I don't think of much
+consequence, neither is the question of profit to the present holders
+to be considered, when conflicting with the future welfare of the
+community. If we only had clearness of vision, the wisdom to see what
+would really be best for the masses, I sincerely believe that it could
+readily be adopted without in any way prejudicing the present profits
+of the holders. You speak of the probability of having less cotton
+planted for us in case your plan is followed. I shouldn't consider
+that of _any consequence whatever_, except that, as a general thing,
+the amount of cotton planted will always be a pretty sure index of the
+state of industry of the people, and their industry will always be the
+best measure of their improvement. It might take them some time to
+find out that cotton was the best thing for them to work on, but
+present prices are fast teaching them this fact.
+
+The objection noted above against a life-lease is a serious one, and
+perhaps sufficient to balance those future annoyances likely to grow
+out of selling the fee.
+
+I do not agree with you in what you say of the _unnatural_ dependence
+of these people. I don't see any people on the face of the earth of
+their rank in civilization who are so independent as they are.
+
+I don't see the justice of the claim to the soil now made in their
+behalf by Mr. J. A. Saxton[169] and others, and with which you seem to
+sympathize somewhat. The fact is that no race of men on God's earth
+ever acquired the right to the soil on which they stand without more
+vigorous exertions than these people have made. This is apparently the
+wise order of Providence as a means of discipline, or the misfortune
+of man, as a consequence of his failings, perhaps both; but I cannot
+see why these people should be excepted from the general rule. If they
+_have_ acquired the necessary qualifications to be benefited by
+becoming landholders, then there is no reason for delay; but here is
+the very point of difference between us, whether they would be in the
+long run so benefited.
+
+As to price, I never considered the question of profit to myself or
+those I represent as of consequence in fixing the price. It is no
+doubt an expression of this kind which gave rise to the general
+belief, claimed by some whites as well as blacks, that I would sell at
+cost, "was bound" to do so, etc. It did not occur to those who so
+believed that I could have any good or disinterested reasons for
+selling for more than cost. It may be difficult to fathom one's own
+motives in such cases, but I can say honestly that I do not believe in
+the success of a system of selling to any people any property whatever
+for less than its market value, with a view to confer a lasting
+benefit upon them. That is, I think the immediate ease which such a
+course would confer would beget idleness and unthrifty habits when
+compared with a system by which every man should be required to pay
+full price. No man or race of men ever truly appreciate freedom who do
+not fight for it, and no man appreciates property who does not work
+for it, on the same terms with those around him. I think they would be
+better off for paying ten dollars an acre for land, if the land is
+worth it, rather than one dollar, because they would use the land for
+which they had paid full price more economically, would be likely to
+get more out of it, and would be taught a feeling of independence more
+readily than by being made the recipients of charity.
+
+In this case, however, we have a complication of circumstances
+entirely unique. We have a number of people who have bought land at a
+rate fixed by Government, and a certain amount of "discouragement"
+would ensue if our people were charged more per acre than their
+neighbors for similar land. They couldn't be expected to see the
+justice of such an arrangement, and it is difficult for us to explain
+why it should be so. This is a very strong argument for selling cheap,
+for we should avoid any course which we should not be able to easily
+prove just, when dealing with such a defenceless people. Of course
+there would be a grand howl among the so-called philanthropists at the
+mention of any plan on my part of selling at any rate above cost,
+witness the sensation produced by my letter to the _Evening Post_; but
+I don't care much for that, and ought not to care at all. We couldn't
+sell the land as you propose[170] without calling forth a similar
+howl from this sickly sympathy, which would have me sell all the land
+and would accuse me of a tendency to aristocracy if I retained any
+lands to be disposed of otherwise. Of course the negroes wouldn't be
+satisfied either. I don't expect to satisfy them by any course which
+would be consistent with common sense. I think it possible that I may
+fall into such a plan as you suggest after I get down there next
+winter. In the meantime I don't want to make any promises.
+
+    The next three letters are full of the irritation engendered
+    by unintelligent orders from official superiors.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_July 17._ Do people look with any interest toward this Department,
+either for military achievement or civil improvement? The former
+require better men--generals--than we are blessed with; the latter may
+come,--after the war.
+
+Do people expect much of the negro of Port Royal? Let them expect. It
+is amusing to hear M. W.[171] She understands all the peculiarities of
+affairs down here with wonderful quickness and penetration; I have
+learned to respect her judgment and opinion. To hear her rail at these
+people, and slip out sly hints about the conduct of the "friends of
+the freedman" is a treat.
+
+Rose was sitting disconsolately on the wood-box the other evening; I
+began chaffing her about her melancholy looks. She did not say much,
+but presently she asked if I had heard from Miss Harriet again; I told
+her no, and she heaved a big sigh, and asked when she would come
+back. "Mass' Charlie, no one _know_ how I miss Miss Hayyut. If my own
+_mudder_ go Nort', I no miss her mo'." I asked her if she missed Miss
+Harriet more than I missed my "farmly," whom I hadn't seen for so many
+months. She couldn't tell. "Ebry man hab e own feelin'."
+
+_Aug. 17._ The unexpected opportunity to send off my letter was the
+visit of one Lewis Keller, from the provost marshal's office at Hilton
+Head; he came down to make inquiries concerning deserters, able-bodied
+men, etc., etc. He also obtained a map of the island, with plantations
+marked thereon. The provost marshal, I am sorry to say, is conceited,
+opinionated, and wanting in common sense and discretion. He has ideas
+which, if founded on anything, rest on reports only, and very vague
+reports too. He thinks, or rather (as the notion, once in his head,
+must stick there) he is certain, that there is communication between
+the negroes who buy at our stores and the rebels; that there is a camp
+of deserters (black and white) on Hunting Island, and that these
+deserters are employed in carrying supplies to the main; that the
+proximity of our stores to the rebel country is a dangerous state of
+things, not only inciting the rebels to come over, but likely to
+supply them with all they want if they do come. Also he thinks that
+the negroes have no business to have guns. Also he does not see what
+they can want with all the stuff sent on the _Kelley_. Now the
+_Kelley_ arrived just before the regulations which allowed plantation
+supplies to enter insurrectionary districts. The treasury agent at
+once offered to permit the _Kelley's_ cargo to come on shore. The
+provost marshal, who by this time appeared to be very willing to
+"help us all he could," took the invoice to General Foster, and came
+back with permission to land all of some things, one half the dry
+goods, one third only of the grocery supplies, flour, bacon, etc. We
+shall probably have to sell the rest at Hilton Head. Very provoking.
+Some of the supplies were small enough as they were; what is left will
+be about a mouthful apiece all around; _e. g._, one hundred and eighty
+barrels of flour came; my share would be about thirty-five. I could
+have sold twenty-five whole barrels, and peddled out the rest in six
+weeks. My share of sixty barrels will be about twelve! The provost
+marshal could not see what the people wanted of so much provision. Yet
+he has at his office the census of all these plantations, besides a
+written statement prepared by Mr. Soule of the amount bought at these
+stores within the last six months and the lists of purchases over five
+dollars at a time (we have to keep these lists, as one condition of
+keeping store).
+
+Besides restricting the quantity of goods, all the stores are to be
+closed except those at R.'s and Folsom's. I may sell what I have on
+hand, but not take in anything more. Ignorance, stupidity, and
+conceit.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Boston, Aug. 24._ The recent assumption of authority by the military
+officials seems to have extinguished the Treasury Department in Port
+Royal. It is a difficult case to reach, for this officious
+intermeddling bears the semblance of earnest and zealous watchfulness
+of the public interests. Any representations at Washington will avail
+nothing, so long as Colonel H. cherishes the idea, or pretends to,
+that it is not for the public welfare to have us sell bacon and
+'lasses at Coffin's Point. Any permission from the Treasury Department
+which would appear to him as too lenient would only give him another
+chance to exercise his authority, which tickles his vanity and makes
+him appear a big man. A difference of opinion between him and myself
+would hardly be listened to at Washington, so long as it is upon a
+subject on which his superiors think him qualified to judge better
+than myself. Suppose the Secretary of the Treasury were to allow goods
+to be taken from Hilton Head without restriction, General Foster and
+Colonel H. would still think the rebels would get them, and, having
+the power in their own hands, would not be likely to allow us to avail
+ourselves of any such privileges. I should like to have the question
+asked him, "How the Coffin's Point people are to get supplies?" If we
+are forbidden to keep a store there, it certainly cannot be forbidden
+us to send a wagon-load of goods there for the supply of that
+plantation whenever needed, which will answer our purposes well
+enough. In order to avoid any trap-springing by parties who might
+think it a smart thing to tell Colonel H. we had not discontinued the
+store, it would be best to have a plain talk with him on the subject.
+We don't want to _keep store_, but supply the plantations, and need
+not keep any considerable stock on hand at these "exposed" points.
+
+    The next group of letters returns to the subject of negro
+    recruitment. By this time various Northern States, in
+    despair of finding enough men at home to make out the number
+    of recruits required of them by the general Government,
+    were getting hold of Southern negroes for the purpose, and
+    their agents had appeared in the Department of the South,
+    competing for freedmen with offers of large bounties. At the
+    same time General Foster made up his mind that all
+    able-bodied negroes who refused to volunteer, even under
+    these conditions, should be forced into the service. If the
+    conscription methods of the Government up to this time had
+    not been brutal, certainly no one can deny that adjective to
+    the present operations. Yet it will be seen that experience
+    has tempered the indignation of the superintendents, though
+    not their distress.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Aug. 9._ Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, agent for Massachusetts, has come.
+After looking about a little, he does not think the prospect of
+getting recruits _very_ brilliant, but his agents are at work in
+Beaufort streets, and may pick up a few men. He intends to send native
+scouts on to the main to beat up recruits; $35 a man is offered for
+all they will bring in. Colonel Rice intended to come down here
+to-day, but had to go and see General Foster and Colonel
+Littlefield,[172] Superintendent of Recruiting. (He--Colonel L.--calls
+it recruiting to conscript all he can lay hands on.) There is to be,
+not a draft, but a wholesale conscription,[173] enforced here.
+Lieutenant-Colonel Strong of the First South (Thirty-Third United
+States Colored Troops)[174] enrolled all colored men last month. It is
+possible, if the men can be made to understand this, that a few can
+be induced to volunteer, but I hardly think that many will be secured,
+either by enlistment or draft. Colonel Rice comes down here this week.
+Mr. Soule (just returned from Beaufort) describes him as a pleasant
+man, simple in manner, with great good sense, shrewd enough, and of an
+inquiring turn. He has gone right to work, not bidding for men, but
+offering the whole bounty, etc., at once, and at the same time he is
+trying to find out all he can about things and people here. I long to
+"shum" and keep him over night.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Sept. 23._ I'm glad to say that my plantations have at last
+contributed their share to the regiment. With two or three exceptions
+all my young men have gone,--twenty, more or less,--which has deprived
+me of at least half my stock of labor. They are carrying out the draft
+with excessive severity, not to say horrible cruelty. Last night three
+men were shot,--one killed, one wounded fatally, it is thought, and
+the other disappeared over the boat's side and has not been seen
+since,--shot as they were trying to escape the guard sent to capture
+all men who have not been exempted by the military surgeons. The draft
+here is a mere conscription,--_every_ able-bodied man is compelled to
+serve,--and many not fit for military service are forced to work in
+the quartermaster's department.
+
+_Oct. 12._ You ask more about the draft. The severity of the means
+employed to enforce it is certainly not to be justified, nor do the
+authorities attempt to do so,--_after_ the act is done. The draft here
+is carried on by military, not civil, powers. We have no civil laws,
+courts, officers, etc. Consequently the only way in which public
+operations can be accomplished is by issuing a general order and
+instructing the provost marshals to see it carried into execution. The
+only agents to be employed are necessarily soldiers, and the only
+coercion is necessarily that of guns and arbitrary arrests. The state
+of society--as far as regards the draft and also many other things--is
+one in which most men conspire to escape the voice of the law; so
+that, when such unfortunate occurrences happen as the late shooting
+affair, there seems to be nothing for it but indignation and sorrow,
+and perhaps an examination into the circumstances to discover if they
+justified recourse to such extreme action: _e. g._, the shooting seems
+to have stopped further proceeding in the draft. If there were any
+civil power here, such things would be as unjust and horrible as they
+seem. As it is, each case has to be weighed by itself and may prove
+better than it seems. The Massachusetts recruiting agents, of course,
+have nothing to do with enforcing the draft. But their presence seems
+to have increased its activity and their bounty contributes to its
+success. Nearly all my men have gone voluntarily (_i. e._, felt they
+must go, and, for the bounty offered, concluded to go without
+violence), and all are constantly writing home letters expressive of
+great satisfaction.
+
+    The letter following from T. E. R. (one of Mr. Philbrick's
+    superintendents, frequently referred to in these letters as
+    "R."), gives a capital idea of the pleasures of living under
+    military rule.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W. (AT HOME ON A VISIT)
+
+_St. Helena Island, Oct. 17._ An order was issued just before or about
+the time you left to take away all the boats, to prevent intercourse
+with the rebels; so they attempted to enforce it, but, after the first
+day, boats all went out into the _mash_ or up on dry land in the bush,
+and then alas for _General Order_ or any other man. Several
+applications were sent to General Saxton in reference to the matter,
+and these he forwarded to Foster, and he let his dignity down easily
+by permitting all the boats taken to be returned and all not taken to
+be retained, on the presentation to the provost marshal of
+_triplicate_ certificates describing the owner (age, height, color of
+eyes, hair, complexion, and occupation), describing boat (a pine
+dugout), certifying to the strict loyalty and _good citizenship_ of
+the owner, signed by general superintendent, and approved by general
+commanding. Isn't that red tape to perfection? They never went to
+Coffin's to take the boats, nor did they ever go there to get
+soldiers--strange, when it is thought by many that there is nearly a
+regiment on that plantation. Perhaps they feared _Coffin's
+Battery_.[175]
+
+    The next letter is from H. W., at the time of her return
+    with C. P. W. to Port Royal.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Nov. 12._ There had been so much delay and
+uncertainty over our arrival that Rose had gone home, but Rodwell
+stopped to tell her we had come as he went down with the cart, and she
+exclaimed, "Pray day come for me go see Miss Hayiut." In the morning
+she came early into my chamber, bright and eager. I knew Robert was
+black as the ace of spades, but they both of them did look blacker
+than anything I ever saw before, but it was good to see them.
+
+The next group of extracts is again occupied with the everyday events
+of plantation life.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 12._ As usual I managed to miss the last mail. Now that the W.'s
+and their party have returned, perhaps we may be assisted into greater
+punctuality. Fortunately for us they live farther from the human race
+by two and a half miles than ourselves, and can't reach it without
+passing within half a mile of our house. Politeness usually obliges
+them to come up and take our budget. We live on our friends in a great
+many ways here. Without attempting any system or intending to set a
+wrong world right, we realize all the best fruits of socialistic
+communities. If any one has anything good, he is expected to enjoy
+only a small piece himself; and most things that are done have a
+reference to our united, not to any individual interest. Our own
+geographical location is such that we are peculiarly fitted to receive
+the benefit of this interchange of good offices,--while we can hardly
+reciprocate as we ought to.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Nov. 19._ Alden and I were put on Plantation Commission work as soon
+as we got here, had a session Wednesday and tried several cases. The
+untrustworthiness of these people is more apparent and troublesome
+than ever. I feel as if it would not be safe to allow them to gin the
+cotton--it seems certain that a great deal of it would be stolen.
+Their skill in lying, their great reticence, their habit of shielding
+one another (generally by silence), their invariable habit of taking a
+rod when you, after much persuasion, have been induced to grant an
+inch, their assumed innocence and ignorance of the simplest rules of
+_meum_ and _tuum_, joined with amazing impudence in making
+claims,--these are the traits which try us continually in our dealings
+with them, and sometimes almost make us despair of their
+improvement--at least, in the present generation. It is certain that
+their freedom has been too easy for them,--they have not had a hard
+enough time of it. In many cases they have been "fair spoiled."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 27._ Rose is a trump. She does all my cooking neater and better
+than I have ever had it done--makes bread and biscuit and puddings as
+well as I could myself, and until this morning, with our help, of
+course, has done the chamber-work too. With those three children I
+have got along as well as I could ask. I begin to appreciate what and
+how much they have learned the last two years.
+
+[_Dec. 11._] Over seventy children at Sunday School. I had a very nice
+time with them indeed, and was much struck with their progress in
+general intelligence. Their eager, intelligent faces and earnest
+attention and interest in all I said to them were a great contrast to
+anything they would have manifested two years ago. Indeed, I could not
+have talked to them, and they would not have understood me if I had,
+in anything like the same way that I did to-day.
+
+_Nov. 23._ We saw Mrs. Vaughn, who seems to find life here very hard,
+and repeats the inevitable experience of all those who have ever had
+anything to do with the blacks previously, that these are the most
+degraded and barbarous of their race in the country.
+
+We met C. Soule and Captain Crane,[176] with their two servants,
+coming down to spend Thanksgiving. We had a right pleasant evening.
+Captain Crane played and sung, and we were very glad to hear the
+piano, and he to touch one.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Nov. 27._ On Thanksgiving Day we gathered together all our
+friends,--all our "set," at least,--and sat down, twenty-six of us,
+together, to eat turkeys and pies. It was a rather formidable thing to
+attempt, with negro servants and St. Helena supplies, but we had quite
+a good time, and have done our duty in giving the party. It is
+probably the last time that we'll all meet together. Those who are to
+stay next year are all bemoaning their fate; together we have had a
+very courteous and friendly circle,--rather peculiarly so for such a
+rough kind of life and surroundings,--and the loss of so many as will
+go will probably rob the work here of much of its pleasantness.
+
+    War, in the person of the triumphant Sherman, was again
+    drawing near, and the two young officers of the Fifty-Fifth
+    had barely celebrated Thanksgiving with the people from home
+    when they were summoned to take their part.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Nov. 28._ C. brought word that all the troops had been sent to
+Savannah to meet Sherman, and that citizens were on guard at Beaufort.
+
+_Dec. 1._ To-night comes C. from Beaufort with news of the Grahamville
+fight.[177] It is said we have been twice repulsed, and the fight is
+not over.
+
+_Dec. 2._ A cart came down from R.'s and brought a note from him to
+the effect that Captain Crane, who was with us such a short time ago,
+has been killed in the fight at Grahamville, but that C. Soule was
+unhurt.
+
+_Dec. 3._ The rumors with regard to the expedition are various and
+contradictory, but the impression seems to be that we have been
+whipped, but hold on and have intrenched at Grahamville. Mr. and Mrs.
+Soule are cheerful and brave, but very anxious, and it makes our
+hearts sink to hear the guns as we do. Pray God we may succeed this
+time and Sherman may come through. It will be such a day as has not
+been seen in this Department since Dupont took the place.
+
+_Dec. 4._ We have repulsed the enemy since we intrenched, and
+deserters say Sherman is coming.
+
+_Dec. 6._ Captain Crane found that his company was left behind at
+Morris Island, but begged so to go, that Colonel Hartwell[178] took
+him on his staff, sending a Captain Gordon, who had just come from the
+North, to take charge of his company. Colonel Hartwell was wounded and
+Captain Crane killed in one of the first charges, in which our troops
+were repulsed, so that Captain Crane's body was left in the hands of
+the enemy. To-night we hear that ten thousand troops have come from
+Fortress Monroe to reinforce us, and deserters tell of Sherman's
+advance and successes. You may imagine we are all on the _qui vive_,
+and anxious, for we hear all the firing.
+
+_Dec. 11._ Savannah is in Sherman's hands and Pocotaligo in Foster's.
+We hope and trust this is no South Carolina rumor.
+
+_Dec. 15._ To-night Mr. Soule brings word that Sherman breakfasted
+with Foster yesterday morning, on a boat that came to Beaufort to-day.
+
+    Just after Christmas Mr. Philbrick went back to Port Royal
+    to see to shipping his cotton.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Dec. 28._ Arrived this evening. No fellow passengers that I knew.
+Most of them were Sherman's officers who had left him at Atlanta for
+various reasons and now come to join him. Very pleasant men, with a
+degree of hearty good sense and whole-souled patriotism that was truly
+refreshing.
+
+
+
+
+1865
+
+    _The Georgia refugees--Sherman's army at
+    Beaufort--Discontent of the negroes about wages--W. C. G.'s
+    work at Savannah for the refugees--Return home of most of
+    the letter-writers--The death of Lincoln, its effect on the
+    negroes--End of the war and return of the planters--Stealing
+    of cotton by the negroes--Superintendents "demoralized on
+    the negro question."_
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 1._ Yesterday morning I had a talk with Mr. H.[179] in the yard,
+where he is at work framing the school-house. I like him very much. He
+is a somewhat rare combination of a refined gentleman, without much
+education, but very well informed and wide awake, and a modest and
+quiet industry with the most practical common sense. He is truly
+interested in the negroes, without the least bit of sentimental or
+ill-advised sympathy. He is very glad to come here and take charge,
+and I think he is the best superintendent I have had here at all.
+
+I saw some of the people who came about the house by chance during the
+day, and who seemed truly glad to see me. They have got quite over
+the land-fever, and say they prefer to work along as they have,
+wherein they begin to show sense. Rose is still the only cook and does
+very well, except that she sometimes bakes potatoes longer than she
+boils hams, etc., etc. I suspect H. helps her put things together
+somewhat. The Christmas tree was to have been last evening, but the
+rain prevented. C. P. W. has gone up to bring down Mr. Eustis and his
+two ladies to dine. The house being an elastic one, I suppose it can
+be made to hold several more people than at present, if they will only
+bring their own blankets. The old diet of sweet potatoes and hominy,
+ham, fresh pork, and waffles, holds its sway yet, with grunnuts in the
+evening, of course.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 2._ At sunset we all adjourned to the cotton-house, where the
+tree was all ready to be lighted. It was a very pretty sight, and
+after we had let the children in I sent word that the grown people
+might come and see, if they liked. Then, before anything was cut down,
+the children sang a number of the songs I have taught them, standing
+in classes, the smallest in front, their little eager faces
+irresistibly comic. The older people soon filled up the building,
+making rather a crowd, and a less manageable one than the children
+alone; but they were pleased at the sight, and when the noise became
+overpowering, I could stop it for the time being by starting a song,
+which the children would instantly catch up. Then I let the children
+sing some of their own songs in genuine, shouting style, a sight too
+funny in the little things, but sad and disagreeable to me in the
+grown people, who make it a religious act. It is impossible to
+describe it--the children move round in a circle, backwards, or
+sideways, with their feet and arms keeping energetic time, and their
+whole bodies undergoing most extraordinary contortions, while they
+sing at the top of their voices the refrain to some song sung by an
+outsider. We laughed till we almost cried over the little bits of
+ones, but when the grown people wanted to "shout," I would not let
+them, and the occasion closed by their "drawing" candy from C. as they
+passed out. I daresay this sounds pleasant, and I know they all had a
+good time; but if you could have looked in, you would have thought it
+Bedlam let loose!
+
+    The "Georgia refugees" referred to in several of the
+    subsequent letters were hundreds of negroes who had followed
+    Sherman's army northward. "They are said," says C. P. W.,
+    "to be an excellent set of people, more intelligent than
+    most here, and eager for work. They will get distributed
+    onto the plantations before a great while."
+
+_Jan. 6._ Miss Towne gave us quite an interesting account of the
+Georgia refugees that have been sent to the Village. The hardships
+they underwent to march with the army are fearful, and the children
+often gave out and were left by their mothers exhausted and dying by
+the roadside and in the fields. Some even put their children to death,
+they were such a drag upon them, till our soldiers, becoming furious
+at their barbarous cruelty, hung two women on the spot. In contrast to
+such selfishness, she told us of one woman who had twelve small
+children--she carried one and her husband another, and for fear she
+should lose the others she tied them all together by the hands and
+brought them all off safely, a march of hundreds of miles. The men
+have all been put to work in the quartermaster's department or have
+gone into the army, and the families are being distributed where they
+can find places for them.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 8._ Miss Towne told some amusing stories of the Georgia
+refugees. Some of them, being very destitute, were bemoaning their
+condition, and wishing they had never left their old plantations,
+feeling rather abashed at the responsibility of taking care of
+themselves. The old Edisto people, who have been there a year or two,
+encourage them, saying, "Look 'o we," "We come here wi' noffin at
+all," "Now we have money for cotton and all the tater and hominy we
+can eat," etc. One woman said, "Bress the Lord, I have striven and got
+enough to give _seven_ gowns to these poor folk." So it seems they do
+what they can for the new-comers. I guess these Edisto people, who
+have their own recent destitution fresh in mind, are more kind than
+the natives of St. Helena, who are rather inclined to be jealous of
+the new-comers, who make the labor market rather easier than before.
+
+_Jan. 6. Monday._ I had a talk with the people, who came up to see me
+in a crowd in the forenoon. They seemed jolly, and had no complaints
+to make about the past, but wanted higher wages for the future. I
+talked with them very quietly for an hour, told them I would give
+higher wages if I felt sure the price of cotton a year hence would
+pay me as well as the past crop,[180] and told them if they wanted to
+share this risk with me, I would give them a share of the cotton for
+their wages. They all objected to this except one or two of the men,
+who said they would like such an arrangement, but their _families_
+couldn't wait so long for their money. On the whole they preferred
+wages, and therein showed their sense, I think. I find that when my
+last cargo arrived in the _Redwing_, the people who had worked for me
+had their pockets full of money and bought what they wanted, but the
+men who had been cultivating cotton on their own hook looked on with
+envious eyes and empty pockets, creating a very general impression in
+favor of the _wages system_. Under this impression, I think they will
+fall to work gradually at similar wages to what I have been paying,
+but will probably lie idle a few weeks to think about it, in hopes I
+will offer more.
+
+_Tuesday morning._ I heard that the schooner was at Fuller Place to
+take our cotton. We have been at it ever since till yesterday noon,
+when we put in the last we had, nearly filling her up. There was about
+half of it negro cotton, brought from one hundred and seventy-six
+different proprietors, for whom I act as agent in forwarding and
+selling it. I drove over to spend the night at Mr. Wells' house on
+Wednesday. He had gone to Morgan Island to receive and stow away some
+one hundred and fifty Georgia refugees, which were expected by a
+steamer from Beaufort. After he had waited for them all day, they
+arrived about sunset, and he spent half the night there in the rain,
+stowing them in houses and getting their baggage up from the steamer,
+which lay at anchor in the river discharging into small boats. They
+came from the shore counties near to Savannah, and brought a good deal
+of truck, beds, and blankets, and some rice and peas. Mr. Wells gave
+them rations for a week, and I suppose will continue to do so, for
+they can't get anything to eat till next harvest in any other way. The
+able-bodied have all been taken either by the rebels or our Government
+for fatigue duty and quartermaster service, so those who come here are
+all women, children, or cripples, such as we had before. They will
+doubtless be so glad of a home, however, that they will do a good deal
+of work. Of course it is not an economical class of labor, for it
+takes too much land to feed the non-workers to allow a great deal to
+be planted in cotton. In the morning I walked out with Mr. Wells and
+sold him both the plantations of which he has had charge for me, viz.,
+the Jenkins place, where he lives, for $1600 or $10 per acre, and
+Morgan Island for $1200, or about $5 per acre, which is more than any
+one would have given a few weeks ago, when we couldn't get a negro to
+stay there for fear of the rebels. I daresay he may do very well with
+it now, but it is a vexatious thing to get rations to them in such an
+out-of-the-way place, and, after all, young Mr. Fripp may make them
+another visit some night and carry off some more negroes.
+
+
+FROM C. P. W.
+
+_Jan. 8._ Howard's[181] corps came to Beaufort early last week, and
+carpenters and engineers have been busy putting the Shell Road[182] to
+the Ferry in order and building a bridge across the Ferry. It looks as
+if a move were to be made towards Charleston or the interior soon.
+Beaufort presents a lively spectacle; the Western soldiers are rough,
+unkempt customers, whose hair, falling over their shoulders, suggests
+vows of abstinence from the shears till they shall have accomplished a
+great work. The first few days of their stay in Beaufort were marked
+by acts more amusing to the soldiers than to the owners of property
+"lying round loose." The first night was chilly, and three thousand
+feet of lumber furnished bonfires at which the soldiers of the
+"movable army" warmed themselves. Shopkeepers do a tremendous
+business, and their shops look "fair dry;" but they do not always get
+pay for their goods, but are requested to look on the battlefield for
+their money. The troops were paid off just before leaving Atlanta, and
+are "flush." Bread is very scarce. The troops fared very well on the
+march,--one continued Thanksgiving through the richest part of
+Georgia.
+
+The schooner _Horace_ for New York, with the rest of our cotton and
+the first of the negroes', is loaded. The negroes' crops did not turn
+out very well, as a general rule; want of manure and careless working
+being the principal causes; the caterpillar did a great deal of
+damage. They seem somewhat discouraged at the prospect of having to
+wait so long for their money; but the advance paid them on shipping
+the cotton (a dollar a pound of ginned cotton) will be a great help to
+those who have done well.
+
+It is an excellent thing for the property here that Mr. H.[183] is
+here to keep it in repair. He is a regular trump, the best man down
+here. I feel more contented at leaving the place with him than with
+any one here.
+
+If I could have a place down here all to myself, and have what help I
+wanted, I think I should stay another year and try the experiment on a
+little different plan. But, as Mr. Folsom said one day, when we agreed
+that it would be pleasant to stay and hard to leave, "But, after all,
+one must remember that one has an immortal soul."
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 11._ Mr. Soule, coming from R.'s, tells us that a salute fired
+the day before was for Stanton's arrival, come to confer with Sherman.
+
+    The next paragraph suggests that the Secretary of War had
+    come for something besides a conference with Sherman; at any
+    rate, he took speedy action in one important direction.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Jan. 18._ We stopped at Miss Towne's new school-house to see them all
+in it, and found to our pleasure that General Howard was addressing
+the children. General Saxton, too, was there, in his new
+major-general's straps. I was very glad to see General Howard, who
+has superseded General Foster here. He has a very nice face indeed,
+and his one arm seemed to make quite an impression on the children.
+Stanton has been investigating the conscription business, and Foster's
+removal is the result, apparently, while Saxton has been promoted.
+
+    The next letters, Mr. Philbrick's last from Port Royal,
+    contain various pieces of Sea Island news, chiefly in
+    connection with his plans for the next year and his
+    difficulties with his laborers.
+
+
+FROM E. S. P.
+
+_Jan. 9._ I started for Coffin's Point, meeting a long procession of
+the people on the way to church. More than half the number were in
+sulkies or some sort of go-carts, with all sorts of animals pulling
+them, mostly quadrupeds that had once been horses,--and some might
+still bear that name. I had to stop and shake hands every few rods, of
+course. I have spent most of the day at Fripp Point, with Mr. York.
+Mr. G. had not been able to collect the rent of corn-land there, to be
+paid in corn, most of the men refusing to pay. He had withheld enough
+from their pay to cover the amount of corn due. I took over the money
+due, with the pay-roll and corn-list. After a long talk on the part of
+Pompey and John Major and others, which I listened to patiently, most
+of them still refused to bring their corn. But I felt pretty sure that
+when some began they would all do it, and so opened the door of the
+corn-house and told the willing ones to bring in their corn. Jack came
+first, then Katy, Louisa, and Moll. Pretty soon John Major came along
+with a cart-load, and all the rest followed but Pompey. Then I began
+to pay off the women for ginning and preparing their cotton. All went
+smoothly except that Celia wanted her "yellow-cotton-money"[184]
+"by himself," and as I couldn't tell exactly how much the
+"yellow-cotton-money" was, I had to take her money all back and tell
+her to go over and see Mr. G. After paying the others, however, Celia
+came up and concluded to take her dues. They all took their money
+excepting Pompey, who stoutly refused, and I came off without paying
+him. Then came the talk about next year. I introduced Mr. York as
+having leased the plantation for the year, which fact was received
+with less dissatisfaction than I expected; but when it came to talk
+about prices, which I left for Mr. York to settle, they all demanded
+_a dollar a task_, evidently having been preparing their minds for
+this for some time back. Then followed the usual amount of reasoning
+on my part, enlarging upon the future uncertainty of prices of cotton,
+etc., but we made little or no impression on them. They had evidently
+been listening to an amount of talk about the wealth I had acquired at
+their expense, and felt aggrieved that they were not making money as
+fast as those who planted their own cotton, on Frogmore and other
+places. I told them that the proceeds of last year's crop had all been
+expended by me in carrying on this year's work, but they wouldn't
+believe it. John Major said he knew very well they had been jamming
+the bills into that big iron cage (meaning my safe at R.'s) for six
+months, and there must be enough in it now to bust it! It had been
+raining for the last half-hour pretty steadily, and we finally
+withdrew, the choir of hands hanging about me, singing out "A dollar a
+task!" "A dollar a task!" as we went off.
+
+_Jan. 15._ I went out and introduced Mr. Jackson on Tuesday morning to
+the Pine Grove people, who expressed very little surprise or feeling
+of any kind, but met him with the same cry which had greeted me and
+Mr. York at the Point about _a dollar a task_. I left him with them
+and rode over to Cherry Hill with old Mr. Waters. The Cherry Hill
+people received us very well. Tony had a long list of grievances to
+relate, for Mr. Folsom had had him in jail for a fortnight for
+refusing to bring out his cotton, raised for me, which he kept in his
+own house. I listened quietly, and then told Tony I couldn't go behind
+the decision of the court, but if he had any other matters in dispute
+with Mr. Folsom he had better come up to the house in the evening and
+we would talk them over together; but he never came, probably from a
+sense of guilty conscience.
+
+Primus and Mike and several other negroes were there [in Beaufort],
+buying horses from officers and men in Sherman's army, titles very
+uncertain, for they mostly belong to the quartermaster. I advised them
+not to buy a horse till the ownership was certified by an officer, but
+they were too much in a hurry for that and hooked on to the first
+quadruped they could find offered for sale. The fact is that thousands
+of horses are attached to this army which are picked up by the
+privates in their march through Georgia, and which these privates
+pretend to own, and sell without authority, pocketing their money as
+fast as they please. Some of them are very good horses, and some are
+not. The town was crowded with the army, on a general leave to ramble
+about, and new troops continually arrive. One entire corps marched
+over Port Royal Ferry yesterday, and two more army corps are said to
+be following. Some twenty steamers arrive daily at Beaufort direct
+from Savannah, bringing the troops and wagons, artillery and animals.
+So you can imagine what a confusion appears in the streets as they
+disembark and march out to camp. The greater part of the whole army
+seems to be coming around this way and marching over the Ferry towards
+Pocotaligo. Secretary Stanton is said to have arrived from Savannah at
+Beaufort last evening. It seems that Primus and the other negroes were
+about to get their new horses over the Ferry, when the provost marshal
+sent down a guard to seize men and animals, and marched them all off
+to the guard-house for the night. The horses will probably be taken
+away from them and the men allowed to pursue their way this morning,
+with more sense and less money than they came with. I don't pity them
+much, for they were fairly warned, and their eagerness to own horses,
+for which they pay from $200 to $300 each, is perfectly absurd.[185]
+
+_Later._ An interesting scene has just taken place. May's Comba
+knocked at the door and asked me to come out in the entry a minute.
+Thinking there might be some domestic trouble, though she looked
+smiling, I went out and found about twenty women (representative
+women) about the door. Comba disappeared in the mass with a giggle,
+and old Grace spoke up, about as follows: "I'se come to you,
+sir"--pause--"I'se been working fer owner three years, and made with
+my chillun two bales cotton last year, two more this year. I'se a
+flat-footed pusson and don't know much, but I knows those two bales
+cotton fetch 'nough money, and I don't see what I'se got for 'em. When
+I take my leetle bit money and go to store, buy cloth, find it so
+dear, dear Jesus!--the money all gone and leave chillun naked. Some
+people go out yonder and plant cotton for theyself. Now they get big
+pile of money for they cotton, and leave we people 'way back. That's
+what I'se lookin' on, Marsa. Then when I come here for buy 'lasses,
+when Massa Charlie sell he sell good 'lasses, then when Mister W. sell
+he stick _water_ in 'em, _water enough_. Molasses turn thin, but he
+charge big price for 'em. Now I'se done working for such 'greement.
+I'se done, sir." Whereupon chorus of women join in like a flock of
+blackbirds all talking at once. After a while I got a chance to say
+about as follows: "If any one wants to work on this plantation I will
+give them so and so (naming terms), but if any one don't like my
+wages, they may go and find better, but they can't use my land to
+plant their corn and 'tater on. That's my rule." Chorus interrupts
+with discordant shouts: "I stay right here, sir--I will work this
+land for myself, sir--I will sell the cotton," etc., etc. Amaritta
+and Petra stood silent all this time, and finally Amaritta quietly
+asked me to repeat my terms, which I did. She repeated them after me
+word for word, but said nothing more, only nodded and grunted a sort
+of assent. The chorus became wilder and more noisy, and I walked off
+into the house. Presently Demus came to the door and said Amaritta
+wanted to see me by heself. So I went to the door, and Amaritta called
+Tilly, Petra, and one or two others. Thus said Amaritta: "I'se work
+for you dis lass year, sir, what I was able. I been sick, you know,
+wi' small-pox and didn't get much strength all summer, but I don't
+mind much what them people say, sir, they'se got no manners. Now you
+say you'll give so and so (carefully repeating my terms). Well, sir,
+I'se come to say I'se 'gree for work. I 'speck to work, sir. I want to
+lay my bones in dat air bush (pointing to cemetery), and don't want to
+go nowhar else; that's what I wanted to say, sir." Then the other two
+or three women chimed in with smiling faces and said the same in fewer
+words, and so I bid them good-morning. I told them, too, that if some
+of those people who made so much noise didn't look out, they would get
+turned off the place, just as Venus and her gang got turned off last
+year. The fact is, they are trying to play brag, as such people often
+will; but they will all go to work in a few days, I feel sure.
+
+_Jan. 17._ Mr. Folsom went over to Port Royal Island with Mr. G. on
+Sunday, taking their own horses, and rode over Sherman's pontoons at
+Port Royal Ferry, without a challenge, and then up the mainland as
+far as Pocotaligo Bridge, around which the 17th Army Corps is
+encamped, in full possession of the railroad. Mr. G. called here an
+hour ago on his way back, and told some of his experiences. He says
+they were taken for "Secesh" by our own troops, all the way, just as
+we all are in Beaufort, for the officers themselves seem to be hardly
+aware that we are all Yankees, taking us for the old residents of the
+island, made loyal by our experiences.
+
+Every one wonders what brought Secretary Stanton here. He seems to
+have done something, at any rate, viz., hauled General Foster over the
+coals severely for his negro conscription last summer, promoted
+General Saxton to a brevet major-general, with enlarged powers; and,
+report says, put General Howard in place of General Foster. The
+newspapers will tell you all I know, and more, too, without doubt. Mr.
+Tomlinson, who was about disgusted with things here as he found them
+when he came back from the North, and had concluded to go to
+Philadelphia to take some position offered him there by the
+Philadelphia committee, now thinks he will remain here,--for which I
+am very glad. Very few men could be so useful as he in this place; for
+though he has a weak spot on the question of negro character, he has a
+vast deal of good sense in detail, and is perfectly unimpeachable in
+his stern regard for justice, never allowing himself to be _used_ in
+any way for the furthering of the designs of interested parties. No
+one who has not spent some time under martial law knows how hard it is
+and how _rare_ for men in office to follow such a course, unswerved by
+either flattery or ambition.
+
+_Jan. 22._ General Saxton came over to the St. Helena church last
+Sunday, and set all the Edisto people into a stew by telling how he
+was going to send the black troops there to defend the islands, and
+how they might all go back to their "old homes," etc., forgetting that
+they were not natives of Edisto, but only refugees when there, and
+that they were now more comfortably settled here than they were there
+in 1862. The Georgia refugees are coming along by hundreds and
+thousands, and he "wanted to make room for them," etc. Of course the
+Edisto people all say the General has ordered them to pack up and he
+will carry them back, etc. So, many refuse to work, but pack up and
+sit still, waiting for the General to come along and tote them across
+the sound! The Georgia negroes are a superior-looking set to those of
+these islands. Many are taken in outbuildings, etc., and have given a
+good start to labor by giving the impression that if the old residents
+don't work, _somebody else will_. They have gone to work for Mr. York
+at Fripp Point, and here for Mr. H., and all along the road generally.
+George Wells has got over a hundred Georgians on Morgan Island doing
+well, and I guess the rebs won't trouble him, they are too busy.
+
+Mr. Tomlinson is to take the place on General Saxton's staff formerly
+held by Captain Hooper, but without military rank. C. F. Williams is
+to take Mr. Tomlinson's place here.
+
+We hear by your letter the list of the passengers lost on the
+_Melville_. All our worst fears are confirmed, and you were right in
+supposing that it was our acquaintances who were lost. This miserable
+steamer I once talked of coming on, by her previous trip, but gave it
+up when I found her character.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Jan. 23._ I think I suggested in a previous letter the possibility of
+my staying here. Sherman's operations have opened a wider sphere for
+negro work and thrown a great number of refugees into our hands. And
+his approaching campaign will have a similar effect. General Saxton
+has been appointed "Inspector General," with control of all negro
+affairs from Key West to Charleston and thirty miles inland. The first
+thing proposed is to recolonize Edisto and the other deserted Sea
+Islands with the refugees, and men are wanted to assist in their
+settlement. I have been offered a situation of this kind, or rather
+the General has simply asked a few of us to stay, and Mr. Tomlinson,
+Folsom, and myself will all remain for the present at least. I know
+nothing more than this, but I look forward to a rough life, something
+like our first year here. I shall probably go to Edisto in a day or
+two. There will be no danger from attack, etc., as a regiment is to be
+stationed there. The island is described by all as the finest and
+healthiest of all the Sea Islands.
+
+If there is any movement afoot in Boston for the assistance of the
+negro refugees that Sherman's operations throw into our hands, it can
+be of the greatest benefit. The efforts three years ago were made
+chiefly for persons left in their own homes, and with their own
+clothing and property, besides their share of the plunder from their
+masters' houses. And in many cases too much was given. But now
+hundreds and thousands are coming in, shivering, hungry, so lean and
+bony and sickly that one wonders to what race they belong. Old men of
+seventy and children of seven years have kept pace with Sherman's
+advance, some of them for two months and over, from the interior of
+Georgia; of course little or nothing could be brought but the clothing
+on their backs and the young children in arms. Since their arrival in
+comparatively comfortable quarters, great sickness has prevailed, and
+numbers and numbers have died. The Government gives them rations, and
+has tried to give out clothing. But if clothes, cooking utensils,
+etc., can be sent by Northern friends, nowhere can generosity be
+better extended.
+
+_Savannah, Feb. 16._ As you see, my destination has been changed.
+General Saxton needed a kind of colonization office here, and I am
+sent as an assistant. How long this will continue my headquarters I
+don't know. I am writing in a very large and fine house formerly
+occupied by Habersham, rebel. It is full of fine furniture. Our
+office, too, is one of the City Bank buildings. The prices are regal,
+too--$15 per week for board, _e. g._
+
+_Mar. 7._ The work at the office continues the same in kind, and the
+stream of waiters increases. We hope to send quite a company off to
+some of the more distant islands before long, but are terribly
+embarrassed for want of transportation. First, no steamer! then no
+coal! And when one can be had, the other can't. General Saxton is
+still, as ever previously, left to get round on one leg. His work is
+of course always inferior in importance to the needs of the military
+service, so there is never an absence of reason for refusing him what
+he wants. "Bricks!--without straw," has so far been the usual
+fortune. Soon a gentleman is going out towards the Ogeechee to report
+numbers and condition there. It seems to be a Central Asia, from the
+population that swarms in for rations. Compared with those who apply,
+few are allowed them. No one who can show a finger to pick with and
+reports an oyster to pick, is allowed to come on the Government for
+support.
+
+    Here follows the last letter from G., written three months
+    later, not long before he came away.
+
+
+FROM W. C. G.
+
+_Savannah, June 9._ Our business has slacked greatly, and is now
+mainly kept up by recent refugees from the up-country. We have stopped
+more than half the rations, and almost every family within a dozen
+miles has been represented at the office and been furnished with the
+proper papers. But slavery still exists in the interior and is
+spending its last moments in the old abominations of whipping and
+punishing. Of course it is nearly dead,--the people know they are free
+and the masters have to own it,--but the ruling passion is strong in
+death.
+
+    W. C. G. left the South in June; H. W. and C. P. W. had gone
+    several months before him. The letters written at intervals
+    during the next two years are mostly addressed to the latter
+    by F. H. and T. E. R. They report the gradually changing
+    conditions and increasing difficulties of plantation
+    superintendence.
+
+
+R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, April 29._ Mr. H. is getting on pretty smoothly,
+though he has occasionally to take a dose of what Mr. York calls
+"Plantation Bitters," in the shape of complaints, faithlessness, and
+general rascality on the part of the "poor negroes."
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G. (IN SAVANNAH)
+
+_Boston, May 1._ You will see by the papers all about the fall in
+prices. The Liverpool cotton men had lost twelve millions sterling
+upon the depreciation of their cotton in store before they heard of
+the fall of Richmond and Lee's surrender. There is a terrible panic
+there, and some of the best firms are failing. After things have come
+to an equilibrium, and the manufacturers begin to buy cotton for
+spinning, there will be a demand for ours, but it may take several
+months, for they haven't got to the bottom of the trouble yet.
+
+The affairs at St. Helena seem to be progressing quietly. The chances
+are that all the cotton we raise this year will cost nearly if not
+quite as much as we shall get for it. I advanced a dollar a pound on
+the negroes' cotton, you know, and it has cost me about twenty-five
+cents a pound more to gin it, etc., etc., while I am offered less than
+a dollar. Query: how much commission shall I get for doing the
+business?
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_St. Helena, May 6._ The Coffin's Pointites had a gay old blow-out
+over at church, owing to Mr. Williams' telling them that they must pay
+Mr. Philbrick for pasturing their horses. They called Mr. P. a thief,
+robber, liar, and everything else that was bad.
+
+The death of Lincoln was an awful blow to the negroes here. One would
+say, "Uncle Sam is dead, isn't he?" Another, "The Government is dead,
+isn't it? You have got to go North and Secesh come back, haven't you?
+We going to be slaves again?" They could not comprehend the matter at
+all--how Lincoln could die and the Government still live. It made them
+very quiet for a few days.
+
+Secesh are coming back quite freely nowadays and looking about as much
+as they please: Old Ben and young Ben Chaplin, several of the
+Pritchards, and Captain Williams, that owned a plantation on Ladies
+Island.
+
+The negroes begin to clamor about the final payment for their cotton,
+and we have to tell them that the probabilities are that there will
+not be any more. Then they think we have cheated them, and so the
+world goes in South Carolina. Rather a thankless task.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's, May 21._ The honesty of this people and their disinterested
+benevolence are as apparent as ever. Please don't exaggerate these
+valuable qualities, either in the papers, to the Educational
+Commission, or in your private conversation; because it is better that
+those who are interested in the welfare of these people should not be
+deceived into the notion that they are so nearly perfect as to need no
+further expenditure of benevolent effort. Of course, we know the great
+danger of your wreathing your account of them in roses and laurel.
+One's enthusiasm is so excited in their behalf by a few years'
+residence here, that his veracity is in great danger of being swamped
+in his ideality, and his judgment lost in his admiration. So pardon my
+warning to you.
+
+The McTureous lands have recently been sold, and about every family
+upon this place has got its five or ten acres. I tell them they had
+better move or build houses upon their lots and be independent of "we,
+us, and co." But the idea seems to meet with little favor. A good many
+of them are expecting these lands to be offered to them the coming
+year, now that the war is about over, Dr. Brisbane, General Saxton,
+and others assuring them that such was Mr. Philbrick's promise when he
+bought them. I think there would be some important advantages to white
+proprietors as well as black laborers, if they had some ten acres of
+land of their own,--at least enough to raise their own provisions
+upon, and to keep their own hogs and horses upon. Such an arrangement
+would rid us of many annoyances, and help define the rights of each
+party.
+
+    "G.'s article," referred to in the next letter, was entitled
+    "The Freedmen at Port Royal," and appeared in the _North
+    American Review_ for July, 1865.
+
+
+R. SOULE, JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Sept. 10._ G.'s article is well written and
+interesting. He was evidently disposed to report as favorably as
+possible for the negroes, while at the same time he seems to have
+suspected that the reader would be a good deal impressed by the darker
+shades of his sketch, and the conclusion of the whole is: There is
+ground for hope, but the case is a pretty desperate one. A conclusion
+to which, I confess, my own observation and studies lead me, whichever
+way I turn.
+
+The furor among the negroes here just now is to have a Union Store,
+and they are contributing their funds for this purpose. They propose
+to put up a building for the store near Smallwood's Bakery (at the
+corner where village road branches from main road), and to make Mr.
+Smallwood President of their Corporation! This project will probably
+have one good effect in the end, namely, to open their eyes to see
+some things which nobody can make them see now.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Sept. 18._ Cotton is opening well now, but we have
+rather unfavorable weather for picking and drying. The caterpillars
+have finally run over a good deal of ground, doing some damage, hard
+to tell how much.
+
+R. thinks he don't care to try the experiment of cotton-raising
+again--the risks and vexations are so great. I find that feeling quite
+general here this year among planters. William Alden says it is his
+last year. I doubt whether he pays expenses this season. His cotton is
+late, and now the caterpillars are destroying it.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Sept. 24._ Much of my time has been occupied of late in service on
+Plantation Commission. The most important case is still on
+trial,--that of the stealing of twelve hundred pounds of seed cotton
+from Mr. De Golyer. There is a "cloud of witnesses"--a very dark
+one--and it is hard, as yet, to discern in it any glimmering of
+truth.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_St. Helena Island, Sept. 25._ With the dry weather of July and the
+wet weather now, with the worm, we shall lose a third sure of our
+crop, if not more.
+
+The negroes on the island are very quiet--all absorbed in a scheme of
+establishing a "St. Helena Protective Union Store," J. Smallwood,
+President. They have got the frame out and on the ground. I have a
+great deal of curiosity to see the working of the thing, for they
+never did succeed in the North among intelligent white people. If they
+can read and write, or _keep a Union Store, I think they ought to have
+the right of suffrage_.
+
+Nearly all the Secesh are back in Beaufort, confidently expecting that
+they will get their land back in season to plant next year.
+
+All the Georgians will go back this fall, but all the people
+Fuller[186] _took_ with him (excuse me, I should say _went_ with him)
+will return here in a few weeks. Fuller hasn't any cotton this year,
+only corn and potatoes. When he returned from here he told them the
+people down here were very poor and in miserable condition;
+nevertheless, they seem willing to come down and share the misery of
+freedom to staying up there with Fuller in comfort. At the time he was
+here, 17th of June, he never had said a word to the people with him
+that they were free, and did not until they made a plan among
+themselves to go up to him in a body and make him tell them. Then
+Fuller took the old driver one side and told him he wanted him and all
+the people to stay with him and plant another year, and wanted him to
+use his influence to persuade the people to stay. So next morning he
+called them all up and had them stand on his right hand, and as he
+called their names he wanted those who were willing to stay with him
+another year to step over to his left hand. So he commenced with Old
+Gib, the driver (January's father). He turned right round and walked
+towards the negro quarters. Fuller says, "Why, Gib, you will stay,
+won't you?" "No, Sir." Then he went through the whole list, and every
+one marched straight home and none to his left hand, much to his
+disgust.
+
+    The next extract reports E. S. P.'s final decision as to the
+    price for which he should offer land to the negroes.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.[187]
+
+_Boston, Oct. 5._ C. F. Williams has gone down to finish surveying my
+land, and will cut up and sell for me to the negroes about as much
+land as they have been in the habit of using,--good, arable land, at
+$5 per acre, where they are not already provided.
+
+
+R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Oct. 9._ I have no reason to complain of my people
+for any extraordinary delinquencies, for they have worked as well as
+we shall probably ever be able to get these negroes to work; but I
+have frequently had occasion to be vexed at their slow, shiftless
+habits and at their general stupidity. It is a very great trial to
+any Northern man to have to deal with such a set of people, and I am
+satisfied that if Northerners emigrate to the South and undertake
+agriculture or anything else here, they will be compelled to import
+white laborers. In the first place, they will not have the patience to
+get along with the negroes, even if there were enough of these
+freedmen to do all the work. But, in the second place, there will not
+be one quarter enough of them to supply the demand there will be for
+laborers when the uncleared land at the South is brought under
+cultivation. The old slaveholders could never get hands enough, and
+yet they cultivated only about one tenth of the land that is fit for
+cotton.
+
+    It need hardly be said that this prophecy has not yet been
+    fulfilled.
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G.
+
+_Boston, Oct. 15._ I have had a letter from Charleston written by a
+lawyer on behalf of Captain John Fripp and his three daughters! The
+writer says but little about his legal rights, but appeals to my
+"sense of justice and generosity," to see if some compromise can't be
+made. He doesn't say exactly what he wants, but intimates that both
+parties could profit by such an arrangement and save the vexations of
+a law suit. I don't see exactly what he has got to give, except his
+old title, which he probably values a good deal higher than I do. I
+wrote him telling him I was hampered in acts of "generosity" by the
+fact that the present title was not in me alone, but that about a
+dozen other gentlemen were interested, and asked him to make us a
+definite proposition. You may see by the papers that General Howard
+is sent by the President to see if he can reconcile the claims of the
+negroes on Edisto and other islands with those of the former owners
+who clamor to be reinstated in their position. I guess General Howard
+will have a tough job. I don't envy him.
+
+_Nov. 21._ There is a large number of old planters who are offering
+their lands at very low rates, and so many tempting chances are
+offered to Northern men. The tide of emigration southward doesn't yet
+set very strong, however. I think the great drawback is the feeling
+that the South is still intolerant of Yankees. The rabble and the
+young men are still clinging to the hope that they are going to have
+their own way about managing the nigger, somehow or other, as soon as
+they get rid of the United States forces, and they know very well that
+Yankees who come among them will not agree with them about the best
+way of "making him work," for they won't believe that he will ever
+work till he is _made_ to. Now, to tell the truth, I don't believe
+myself that the present generation of negroes will work as they were
+formerly obliged to, and therefore the race will not produce so much
+cotton in this generation as they did five years ago. The change is
+too great a one to be made in a day. It will take many years to make
+an economical and thrifty man out of a freedman, and about as long to
+make a sensible and just employer out of a former slaveholder. It is
+not at all likely that the Southern community will tax itself to
+educate the negro yet for a good while, and I have my doubts whether
+the system of education thus far carried on through the benevolence of
+Northern and English communities can be kept up much longer. It is a
+laudable and a noble work, but I fear it can't be sustained after the
+novelty is over. There seems to be a lethargy creeping over our
+community on this subject, which is very hard to shake off. The
+feeling is somewhat general that the negro must make the most of his
+chances and pick up his a, b, c's as he can. Moreover, there is a mass
+of ignorance in the South under _white_ skins, which is likely to give
+us more immediate trouble, politically, than the ignorance of the
+negro, for that latter is not as yet armed with the suffrage. Of
+course there is not much enthusiasm about sending teachers South to
+teach the poor whites, so the negro suffers from the magnitude of the
+undertaking, from his remoteness from view, and the general
+disposition among mankind to let everybody hoe their own weeds so long
+as they don't shade one's own garden.
+
+I hear that General Howard went to Edisto with the view of reconciling
+the squatter negroes with the claims of the former owners, as
+requested by the President, but that the task was rather difficult, as
+you may imagine; and though the former owners had promised to "absorb"
+the labor, and provide for the negroes' wants, etc., they found the
+negroes had ideas which they were not quite prepared for, and, in
+short, got so disgusted with the prospect of getting the said negroes
+to work for them under the new order of things that they did not seem
+so anxious to "absorb" them as before, and as General Howard did not
+feel like driving off the negroes to put the old owners in possession,
+he left things pretty much as he found them,[188] except that the old
+owners, who went there confidently expecting to have all their own
+way, went off with a flea in the ear. I have nothing more from the
+Charleston lawyer, but Mr. Tomlinson reports that Charleston lawyers
+told him they didn't see how to get around our tax-titles, though they
+would doubtless carry them into court as soon as they have courts, and
+give the lawyers plenty of work.[189]
+
+Dr. Clarence Fripp began to practice medicine on St. Helena, living
+with John Major, but afterwards got a contract surgeon's berth from
+General Saxton, and is now in the Village, next door to his old house,
+now occupied by Miss Towne! He made a professional visit at Coffin's
+Point and dined with them!
+
+    A picture of Clarence Fripp on his return to St. Helena, and
+    a glimpse of his situation from his own point of view, are
+    given in a letter to the New York _Nation_ from Dennett, a
+    special correspondent (see page 320). Dennett writes that,
+    among the Northern soldiers and traders in the hotel at
+    Hilton Head, there was also "a person who had the easily
+    distinguishable appearance and manners of a South
+    Carolinian. This gentleman, a person of some fifty odd years
+    old, dressed tolerably well in a suit of grey clothes, with
+    a large display of crumpled linen at the collar and cuffs of
+    his coat, sat before the stove smoking, and talking very
+    freely about his present poverty and his plans for the
+    future." After explaining that he had left St. Helena when
+    Dupont forced an entrance, leaving his plate and furniture
+    behind, and that his plantation had been sold, Dr. Fripp set
+    forth the situation in which he now found himself. "Some
+    Massachusetts man had bought it, and he didn't know when
+    he'd get it back.... Up in Greenville he soon spent all his
+    money to support his family, but if he'd had money he
+    couldn't have saved his property. How was he to come back
+    inside the Yankee lines and pay the tax? The Commissioners
+    knew very well it couldn't be done; the sale was a perfectly
+    unfair thing." In coming back now to Beaufort, he said "he
+    hoped to be able to pick up a little medical practice; but
+    if his profession failed him, he supposed his son and
+    himself could put up a cabin somewhere in the vicinity, and
+    get fish and oysters enough to live on." He even talked of
+    circulating a handbill at Greenville asking for money for
+    his needs, and Dennett adds: "This gentleman, it is
+    currently reported, has made several visits to the
+    plantation which he formerly owned, and the negroes living
+    there have collected for his use nearly a hundred
+    dollars."[190]
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_St. Helena, Dec. 10._ Your letter has been a reminder of my duty, but
+cotton ginning is my only excuse. It has proved much more of a bore
+this year than usual, for it is nothing but _tief, tief_, all the
+time. We do not get more than one fifth[191] of the weight of seed
+cotton after it is ginned, and the probabilities are that they steal
+the balance; but we are perfectly helpless, for we cannot prove it
+against any of them. I have had about a bale of cotton stolen at the
+"Oaks" since I put it in the cotton-house. I can assure you there is
+nothing to be made this year.
+
+We had a call from Dennett (correspondent of _Nation_) on his
+Southern tour, a few weeks ago. He said he was disappointed in not
+getting better reports of the negroes here on these islands, for he
+had been looking forward to this place, feeling sure he should find
+something good to offset the many evil reports he had heard of them
+all the way down through the country. He thinks Mr. Soule and Mr. H.
+very much demoralized on the negro question.[192]
+
+General Gillmore was removed for being unfriendly to Freedmen's
+Bureau, and General Sickles is now in command. He told Saxton[193] to
+let him know what was wanted and he should have it, so things are
+moving on very smoothly now. Tomlinson[194] has been on a trip through
+South Carolina to see what the condition of the people was and at what
+points he could establish schools. They have them started in nearly
+all the principal points. He says the whites do not know that they
+have been whipped yet, and many of the negroes don't know they are
+free.
+
+Mrs. Bryant has opened a pay school [at T. B. Fripp's], older scholars
+paying one dollar per month and young ones fifty cents. She has about
+sixty scholars. Alden has opened a store on the place.
+
+The negroes' Union Store is raised and covered, but I guess will never
+be stocked.[195]
+
+
+R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Dec. 17._ I suppose you have heard that our
+plantation operations here this year have been a failure. Nobody has
+raised more than half a crop. The drought in the early part of the
+summer and the caterpillar in August and September contrived to
+diminish the yield. Most of the planters, however, thinking that two
+bad seasons will not come in succession, are making vigorous
+preparations for next year in the way of gathering marsh-grass and
+mud. I have about concluded to sell or to lease Mulberry Hill, and if
+I succeed in doing either I shall probably go home about the first of
+February.
+
+There is a universal feeling of dissatisfaction, not to say disgust,
+with our colored brethren here at the present time, on account of the
+extraordinary development of some of their well-known characteristics.
+They are stealing cotton at a fearful rate. Captain Kellum of Dathaw
+lost a whole bale a few nights since, and to-day Mr. Williams, who has
+just come down from R.'s, tells us that the cotton-house has been
+broken into and one packed bale cut open and about one hundred pounds
+taken out of it and carried off! This bale belonged to Mr. York. We
+none of us feel secure against these depredations.
+
+Two of the thieves at Coffin's Point were caught with ginned cotton in
+their houses, Peter Brown and William White. Before Mr. Towne could
+apprehend them they escaped to the main. Another, Jonas Green, had
+cotton-seed hid away in his corn-house. He was caught, and a
+Plantation Commission sentenced him to two months' imprisonment. This
+is the first fruit of making land-owners of the negroes. While they
+raise cotton of their own and no restraint is put upon them in making
+sale of what they bring to market, it is impossible to ferret out
+their robberies in most cases. Such rascality on the part of the
+negroes is more discouraging than caterpillars and drought.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's, Dec. 26._ I expect my sojourn at Coffin's Point is nearly
+closed. The attractions of the place or the people are not sufficient
+to keep me here another year. The climate is bad enough, the general
+"shiftlessness" of the people is disgusting enough; but when I see
+that the disposition to steal the crop is very general, that the
+people have done and can do it with impunity, I am discouraged about
+cotton-raising here. I believe they have not taken any of ours since
+it has been packed, but large quantities of it before. And as they all
+raised cotton on McTureous[196] for themselves, they could mix and
+secrete it very successfully.
+
+Mr. Soule has this moment learned that his cotton-house has been
+entered and cotton stolen, but to what extent has not been determined.
+
+I think Mr. Soule will be glad to get away from this "Sodom." He is
+too good a man to be worn out by the barbarians of this latitude.
+
+
+R. S., JR., TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Dec. 31._ How well Grant appears in everything he
+writes as well as in everything he does! In the _Weekly Advertiser_
+just received by me, I find his report of his recent Southern
+tour,[197] and, if I mistake not, he intimates pretty clearly that
+General Saxton has not managed his Department judiciously.
+
+Mr. Philbrick has made an effort to sell the most of the plantations.
+As yet, however, no purchaser has appeared, and he has now about
+concluded to dispose of them as follows: to lease Fuller Place to N.,
+R., and W. (the new firm who have purchased the stock on hand in
+store), and Cherry Hill[198] to Mr. Waters, to intrust the management
+of Homestead to the latter gentleman, and that of Coffin's Point to
+Mr. H. for account of E. S. P., and to let Mr. Williams sell the whole
+of Corner[199] and Fripp Point to negroes. I have leased Mulberry Hill
+to Mr. Waters.
+
+Negroes continue to steal cotton, and we continue to be helpless
+against their depredations.
+
+
+
+
+1866--1867--1868
+
+    _Mr. Philbrick's sales to the negroes--Persistent
+    discouragement with the negroes--H. W.'s visit to Coffin's
+    Point in 1868--Tribute of the negroes to Mr. Philbrick._
+
+
+E. S. P. TO W. C. G. [IN EUROPE]
+
+_Boston, Jan. 12, 1866._ The Freedmen's Aid Societies have all
+consolidated, and lately have united with the big Orthodox society for
+helping refugees, the latter class being no longer so needy except
+that the poor whites need education as much as the blacks, and I have
+made up my mind that we can't help the blacks much except by helping
+poor whites at the same time. The combination enlarges the begging
+field immensely, and by putting white and black schools under the same
+control will give negro schools a sort of footing which they wouldn't
+otherwise have, after our troops get scarce. The old feeling has
+already blossomed out and borne fruit in Louisiana, where all the
+freedmen's schools have just been extinguished or snuffed out at a
+single pinch, except in New Orleans city, one lady teacher being shot
+through the head.
+
+A sweeping order has mustered out over a hundred generals of the
+Volunteer Army, General Saxton among the rest. I don't know who takes
+his place in the Freedmen's Bureau. This institution will probably be
+continued by Congress with enlarged powers, but it is but a drop in
+the bucket, after all.
+
+C. F. Williams is busy sharing out land. He sells the whole of Fripp
+Point in small lots to the negroes of both places, and some others
+from outside. The whole place measures only four hundred and sixty
+acres, bought for seven hundred and fifty, and the Captain John Fripp
+place is only four hundred and sixty instead of one thousand for which
+I bought it! By the way, the old man is dead, leaving his three
+daughters in poverty, to earn their living as they best may. Julian
+Coffin has visited Mr. Soule, etc., asking leave to go into his old
+room, to take some of his father's old books, and left after a few
+hours, since which none of us have heard anything further of them.
+
+There seems to be less law than ever there. I am about making
+representations at Washington to see if I can't get some improvement.
+
+I lost about $2800 on the negro cotton ginned in New York, and paid
+over about $2500 on account of the cotton which they ginned there! I
+also lost some $2000 on cotton taken from Mr. ---- in Beaufort, he
+turning out a knave. Our crop of 1864 paid our Company a profit of
+about $19,000. I shall just about pay expenses on the crop of 1865,
+not much more, I think. The caterpillar and the drought didn't leave
+much cotton.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Feb. 3, 1866._ I am a _gentleman of leisure_ and, like most every one
+else here, am living on the interest of what I have lost. I am no
+longer a member of the noted firm of N., R., and W. We dissolved
+January 1, and N. and W. continue the business at the old stand. I
+decided that there was not salt enough for three certainly. There is
+no money here to speak of, and what there is will go to Beaufort where
+there is liquor sold or given away. I have also given up
+cotton-planting; it is not a very lucrative business when it brings
+only sixty-six cents.
+
+I made arrangements with Mr. Pope to still occupy this half of the
+house free of rent until August, if I wished, and was calculating on
+having a rich time seeing a native plant cotton with these island
+negroes, but alas, my hopes are all blighted, for every blessed soul
+but one man and his wife has moved away and will not work for him; so
+he has decided not to move here until after we are gone. He has sent
+one man here who was an old servant and has been with him all the
+time, and he is very industrious, works from morn until night; it is
+quite refreshing to see him. Pope was the only one of the natives who
+bid off places at auction[200] that came to time in paying up; so the
+places were put up again and bought by Northern men.
+
+The present planters are in a dubious frame of mind these days over
+the prospect for another year, for it is very hard to bring wages
+down, and one cannot get his money back at the present price of
+cotton, so most of them will work on shares;[201] but that is a sure
+way of running a place all out, for the people will not manure it
+sufficiently to keep it up. Mr. Eustis is always good-natured, and is
+about the only man here who is not utterly demoralized on the negro
+question.
+
+
+F. H. TO C. P. W.
+
+_Coffin's Point, Feb. 16, 1866._ Really the people have met with a
+great change of late, since I have sent away Anthony Bail. They love
+and respect me _hugely_, which I hope will last another whole week.
+
+Dr. Oliver and Captain Ward, who have bought "Pine Grove," have taken
+the usual disgust for the people. They have got it bad; say they would
+not have bought here had they imagined half of the reality. They have
+some friends who would have bought Coffin's Point if they could have
+made a favorable report of the people. But they tell them not to think
+of buying to use the labor that is now here. I say the same when I say
+anything about it, though I have no friends who think of buying here.
+
+
+T. E. R. TO C. P. W.
+
+_May 21, 1867._ I don't suppose we shall be able to make any new
+additions to your collection of negro songs.[202] They sing but very
+little nowadays to what they used to. Do you remember those good old
+days when the Methodists used to sing up in that cotton-house at
+Fuller's? Wasn't it good? They never sing any of them at the church,
+and very few in their praise-meeting.
+
+Crops on the island are looking worse than I ever saw them at this
+season before.
+
+_We are all American citizens_ now, and there has been an effort to
+form a Republican party, but it has not succeeded very well yet. They
+are too suspicious to be led by the whites, and there is not sense
+enough in themselves to go ahead.
+
+    The last extract in the series is from a letter written by
+    H. W. exactly one year later, when she made a trip to Port
+    Royal, staying with Miss Towne and Miss Murray at St. Helena
+    Village. The tardy tribute of the negroes to Mr. Philbrick
+    makes the story complete.
+
+
+FROM H. W.
+
+_Thursday, May 21, 1868._ When I inquired at breakfast if I could have
+Jacob's horse for the day, I found that, as he was in use for the
+crop, Miss Towne had already had her horse put singly into their
+rockaway for school, and Miss Murray's into the chaise for my use. So
+when they started for school, I followed along in company as far as
+the end of the Village road, where Mr. N. now has a store, and,
+turning on to the more familiar road, soon found myself crossing the
+creek over Mr. Philbrick's bridge,--one of the very few in decent
+repair,--and on my way to Captain John Fripp Homestead. The entire
+absence of gates, and as a consequence of pigs, or _vice versa_, made
+my drive an easy one, and I did not have to get out once. It had
+seemed hot early, but light clouds and a fresh breeze kept it cool all
+day. I turned up the familiar avenue to Folsom's, after passing
+through one field in which the houses are still, though more
+scattered. The avenue was clean and trim, and the house
+corresponded,--a new piazza and steps all freshly painted, fresh paint
+inside, and paper on the walls made everything look uncommonly
+spruce. The schoolroom is now the parlor, and my sofa and cushion
+grace it still!
+
+Mr. Alden met me very cordially at the foot of the steps, and I went
+in to see the other occupants, Mr. and Mrs. Waters and their son. I
+had a pleasant call and talk, and then, refusing their earnest
+invitation to spend the day, as Coffin's Point was my one object, I
+pursued my lonely way. Trees cut down, and houses moved and built in
+the middle of the field, with the absence of fences, gates, and pigs,
+were the most noticeable changes, and I drove along, meeting no one,
+until I came to the pine woods on the right opposite old Frank's
+ground, just before you turn into the Pine Grove field. The woods were
+all thinned out, logs lying in every direction. Hoeing the corn
+planted there were two women I thought I recognized, and, walking the
+horse, I leaned forward to see who was the man further on. Then I
+stopped and asked him whose the land was he was working, when he began
+an account of how "it used to be McTureous and Mr. Thomas Coffin buy
+'em,"[203] which I cut short with--"Yes, I know that, but is it your
+own now? What is your name?" "My name Able, ma'am; dis lan' mine, yes,
+ma'am"--and then--"Oh! my Lord! Der Miss Hayiut, an' me no know um!"
+and he dropped his hoe and came scrambling and running to the road.
+Sarah and Elsie, whom I had just passed, and Martha further on, came
+out at his call, grinning and pleased, and then he and Martha began
+directly upon what I had done for Rose,[204] their gratitude, and
+willingness that I should keep her forever. Then they talked of how
+hard the last year or two had been, and there were many reiterations
+of "Ebery word Mass' Charlie and Mr. Philbrick tell we come true."
+"Tell 'em tousan howdy over for we--long too much for shum. We fin'
+'em out now."
+
+A few steps more brought me into the Pine Grove field, and I turned
+towards the house, followed by half a dozen small children, only one
+of whom I knew or knew me,--little Abigail. Towards the house whom
+should I come upon but Flora and her Sarah, a great girl. She was
+pleased as could be, but told me I should find no one at the Grove.
+Old Monah was dead, and all the old people had bought land and lived
+at the Point. They were working for Mr. Ward, glad enough to earn a
+little ready money for food. I went on to see Mrs. Vaughn, and as she
+had not come up from school, walked down to the praise-house, seeing
+no one I knew but old Binah.
+
+School had dispersed, so I walked back to the house, and dined there,
+and then for Coffin's Point. Once inside the line--for the gate is
+not--I met the familiar breeze of the Big Pasture, but its altered
+face. The houses are back as far as the creek on one side and the
+woods on the other,--two or three quite large and with piazzas,--the
+praise-house near the corner of the wood. I was a long time passing
+through it, for they all dropped their hoes and came down to shake
+hands. I got Uncle George to follow along with hammer and nails to
+mend the chaise, as the floor was so broken I could not put my feet on
+it, and the bag of oats had dropped through on the way. I had tied the
+halter to the dasher and wound it round the bag, so there was no loss.
+The dilapidation was a pleasing reminiscence of old times, and George
+was pleased enough to earn a quarter by patching it up. Then I drove
+on to the house, where are only a Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair left in
+charge. Mrs. S. was very polite, and asked me up into our old parlor,
+which did not look as pleasant as in the old time. Garibaldi was out
+at pasture, so I could not have the ride I coveted while my horse was
+eating his dinner. As I had never been into the schoolhouse since it
+was finished, I borrowed the key and walked down to it. As I pulled
+the rope to hear the sound of the unused bell, Robert came in, quiet
+as ever, but greatly pleased, and asking many questions about Mass'
+Charlie and Mr. and Mrs. Soule. I found the people were coming up to
+be paid, so I went back to the yard and stood there as they came up to
+the schoolroom door, across which was the old school table, with
+Primus behind it, and Mr. Sinclair, looking over his list. Then I
+walked on the beach, and Robert put my horse in and I drove off.
+
+Mike had followed me up the road, loud in his regrets for the "good
+ole times when Mass' Charlie and de fust gang white people been here."
+"Mr. Philbrick de fustest man in de worl'. General Bennett[205]
+couldn't--couldn't--fetch de fust feathers round his heart!" whatever
+that may be.
+
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+When the end of this record is reached, undoubtedly the feeling
+uppermost in the mind of the reader is one of disappointment. At first
+blush one is ready to believe that the members of the little colony,
+in proving the free negro capable of raising cotton to good advantage,
+had still more completely proved him unfit for freedom. Yet the more
+one reflects on the story, the more plainly one sees that the
+discouraging state of things described in the later letters was merely
+the inevitable result of Emancipation, and would have been the same
+had any other race been concerned, whatever its characteristics. The
+ferment of Freedom worked slowly in the negroes, but it worked
+mightily, and the very sign of its working was, as a matter of course,
+unreasonableness, insubordination, untrustworthiness. This result
+might have been foreseen, and probably was foreseen. It was not a
+pleasant thing to contemplate, nor is it pleasant to read of, but it
+proved nothing as to the powers and possibilities of the negro people.
+It is not probable that any of the "missionaries," however
+discouraged, came to think that the black man was too stupid or too
+dishonest to become a self-respecting member of society. Nor does it
+appear that W. C. G. was justified in fearing that their efforts were
+worse than wasted, inasmuch as the negro might have acquired manhood
+more rapidly if left to himself from the start. They had established
+two facts, the very foundation-stones of the new order in the South;
+that the freedman would work, and that, as an employee, he was less
+expensive than the slave. Their reward was not in any one's gratitude,
+but in their own knowledge that they had served their unfortunate
+fellow-beings as far as, at the moment, was possible. And it must not
+be forgotten that some stayed on, putting their energies where there
+was no question, even, of waste or of ingratitude. There is no telling
+the service done for the Sea Islands by the education that has been
+given to it these forty years, or indeed by the mere presence of the
+women who have devoted their lives to this service.
+
+Looking at the letters as a whole, perhaps the reader finds that the
+chief impression they have made upon him is that of profound respect
+for the negro wisdom shown by the writers. Keenly as they felt the
+past suffering and the present helplessness of the freedmen, they had
+the supreme common-sense to see that these wrongs could not be righted
+by any method so simple as that of giving. They saw that what was
+needed was, not special favor, but even-handed justice. Education,
+indeed, they would give outright; otherwise they would make the negro
+as rapidly as possible a part of the economic world, a laborer among
+other laborers. All that has happened since has only gone to prove how
+right they were.
+
+
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[Footnote 1: Later "The New England Freedmen's Aid Society."]
+
+[Footnote 2: The name Port Royal, in ante-bellum days used only of the
+island on which Beaufort is situated and of the entrance to the
+Beaufort River, was given by the United States Government to the
+military post and the harbor at Hilton Head, and to the post-office
+there. Hence the Sea Island district came to be referred to in the
+North as "Port Royal."]
+
+[Footnote 3: Collector Barney of the Port of New York.]
+
+[Footnote 4: Edward L. Pierce (see Introduction).]
+
+[Footnote 5: Richard Soule, Jr.]
+
+[Footnote 6: Edward W. Hooper, afterwards for many years Treasurer of
+Harvard College.]
+
+[Footnote 7: G. is W. C. G. of these letters.]
+
+[Footnote 8: John M. Forbes, who had hired a house at Beaufort for a
+few months.]
+
+[Footnote 9: Rev. Mansfield French had already spent some weeks at
+Port Royal.]
+
+[Footnote 10: Thrown up by the island planters after the outbreak of
+the war.]
+
+[Footnote 11: Thomas A. Coffin's large plantation at the eastern end
+of St. Helena Island.]
+
+[Footnote 12: F. A. Eustis of Milton, who was part owner of the
+plantation in question.]
+
+[Footnote 13: Mr. Philbrick had gone down to Hilton Head again to see
+about his luggage.]
+
+[Footnote 14: See page v.]
+
+[Footnote 15: Pine Grove and Fripp Point.]
+
+[Footnote 16: The drivers, negroes holding a position next below the
+white overseers, were found by the Northerners still keeping the keys
+and trying to exert their authority.]
+
+[Footnote 17: For clothing their masters had been in the habit of
+giving them material for two suits a year; a pair of blankets every
+few years made up the sum of gratuities.]
+
+[Footnote 18: Mrs. Philbrick.]
+
+[Footnote 19: Miss Laura E. Towne of Philadelphia. She never returned
+to live in the North. The school she started in 1862 is still in
+existence, under the name of the Penn Normal, Industrial, and
+Agricultural School.]
+
+[Footnote 20: Known as the Smith Plantation.]
+
+[Footnote 21: The ferry to Ladies Island, across which ran the road to
+St. Helena Island and Mr. Philbrick's plantations.]
+
+[Footnote 22: The plantation "praise-house," as the negroes' church
+was called, was often merely "a rather larger and nicer negro hut than
+the others. Here the master was an exemplary old Baptist Christian,
+who has left his house full of religious magazines and papers, and
+built his people quite a nice little house,--the best on this part of
+the Island."
+
+(Letter of W. C. G., April 22, 1862.)]
+
+[Footnote 23: Pine Grove was in this respect an exception among the
+Sea Island plantations.]
+
+[Footnote 24: See p. 33.]
+
+[Footnote 25: Mrs. Philbrick.]
+
+[Footnote 26: "The true 'shout' takes place on Sundays or on
+'praise'-nights through the week, and either in the praise-house or
+some cabin in which a regular religious meeting has been held. Very
+likely more than half the population of the plantation is gathered
+together. Let it be the evening, and a light-wood fire burns red
+before the door to the house and on the hearth.... The benches are
+pushed back to the wall when the formal meeting is over, and old and
+young, men and women, sprucely-dressed young men, grotesquely
+half-clad field-hands--the women generally with gay handkerchiefs
+twisted about their heads and with short skirts--boys with tattered
+shirts and men's trousers, young girls barefooted, all stand up in the
+middle of the floor, and when the 'sperichil' is struck up, begin
+first walking and by-and-by shuffling round, one after the other, in a
+ring. The foot is hardly taken from the floor, and the progression is
+mainly due to a jerking, hitching motion, which agitates the entire
+shouter, and soon brings out streams of perspiration. Sometimes they
+dance silently, sometimes as they shuffle they sing the chorus of the
+spiritual, and sometimes the song itself is also sung by the dancers.
+But more frequently a band, composed of some of the best singers and
+of tired shouters, stand at the side of the room to 'base' the others,
+singing the body of the song and clapping their hands together or on
+the knees. Song and dance are alike extremely energetic, and often,
+when the shout lasts into the middle of the night, the monotonous
+thud, thud of the feet prevents sleep within half a mile of the
+praise-house." (New York _Nation_, May 30, 1867.)]
+
+[Footnote 27: Miss Lucy McKim, in a letter to the Boston _Journal of
+Music_, November 8, 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 28: This old woman Mr. Philbrick had found "keeping guard
+over her late master's household goods--_i. e._, selling them."]
+
+[Footnote 29: A few weeks earlier than this, one of the drivers told
+Mr. Philbrick that Washington Fripp had just been shot near Charleston
+for refusing to enlist.]
+
+[Footnote 30: A "title" was a negro surname of whatever derivation.]
+
+[Footnote 31: The following description of Limus and his subsequent
+doings is copied from a letter of W. C. G.'s (June 12, 1863), which
+was printed by the Educational Commission in one of a series of
+leaflets containing extracts from Port Royal letters:
+
+"He is a black Yankee. Without a drop of white blood in him, he has
+the energy and _'cuteness_ and big eye for his own advantage of a born
+New Englander. He is not very moral or scrupulous, and the
+church-members will tell you 'not yet,' with a smile, if you ask
+whether he belongs to them. But he leads them all in enterprise, and
+his ambition and consequent prosperity make his example a very useful
+one on the plantation. Half the men on the island fenced in gardens
+last autumn, behind their houses, in which they now raise vegetables
+for themselves and the Hilton Head markets. Limus in his half-acre has
+quite a little farmyard besides. With poultry-houses, pig-pens, and
+corn-houses, the array is very imposing. He has even a stable, for he
+made out some title to a horse, which was allowed; and then he begged
+a pair of wheels and makes a cart for his work; and not to leave the
+luxuries behind, he next rigs up a kind of sulky and bows to the white
+men from his carriage. As he keeps his table in corresponding
+style,--for he buys more sugar ... than any other two families,--of
+course the establishment is rather expensive. So, to provide the
+means, he has three permanent irons in the fire--his cotton, his
+Hilton Head express, and his seine. Before the fishing season
+commenced, a pack of dogs for deer-hunting took the place of the net.
+While other families 'carry' from three to six or seven acres of
+cotton, Limus says he must have _fourteen_. To help his wife and
+daughters keep this in good order, he went over to the rendezvous for
+refugees, and imported a family to the plantation, the men of which he
+hired at $8 a month.... With a large boat which he owns, he usually
+makes weekly trips to Hilton Head, twenty miles distant, carrying
+passengers, produce and fish. These last he takes in an immense
+seine,--an abandoned chattel,--for the use of which he pays Government
+by furnishing General Hunter and staff with the finer specimens, and
+then has ten to twenty bushels for sale. Apparently he is either
+dissatisfied with this arrangement or means to extend his operations,
+for he asks me to bring him another seine for which I am to pay $70. I
+presume his savings since 'the guns fired at Bay Point'--which is the
+native record of the capture of the island--amount to four or five
+hundred dollars. He is all ready to buy land, and I expect to see him
+in ten years a tolerably rich man. Limus has, it is true, but few
+equals on the islands, and yet there are many who follow not far
+behind him."]
+
+[Footnote 32: Major-General David Hunter, who on March 31 had taken
+command of the newly created Department of the South, consisting of
+the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.]
+
+[Footnote 33: Dr. Wakefield was physician for that end of St. Helena
+Island.]
+
+[Footnote 34: On Cockspur Island, Georgia.]
+
+[Footnote 35: As the quarter-acre "task," which was all that the
+planters had required of their slaves each day, had occupied about
+four or five hours only, it will be seen that the slaves on the Sea
+Islands had not been overworked, though they had been underfed. Like
+the "task," the "private patches" were also an institution retained,
+at E. L. Pierce's suggestion, from slavery times, with the difference
+that their size was very much increased--often from a fraction of an
+acre to ten times that amount.]
+
+[Footnote 36: By the rebels.]
+
+[Footnote 37: He had already had sent down from the North a quantity
+of articles to sell to the negroes.]
+
+[Footnote 38: Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens, then at Beaufort,
+commanding the Second Division.]
+
+[Footnote 39: The "Brick Church" was a Baptist Church which had always
+been used by both blacks and whites. Less than a mile away stood the
+"White Church," Episcopalian,--closed since the flight of the
+planters.]
+
+[Footnote 40: Issued May 9, and on May 19, nullified by President
+Lincoln.]
+
+[Footnote 41: South Carolina corn is white flint corn.]
+
+[Footnote 42: The cotton-agent who had been at Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 43: The Government not only had made no definite promise of
+payment, but it was of course unable to bring to bear on the negroes
+any compulsion of any sort. They worked or not, as they liked, and
+when they liked.]
+
+[Footnote 44: The old system of labor--the system in force in slavery
+times--had been the "gang system," the laborers working all together,
+so that no one had continuous responsibility for any one piece of
+land.]
+
+[Footnote 45: For Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 46: As a result of Lincoln's proclamation of May 19 (see p.
+50 n.), the regiment, all but one company, was disbanded in August.]
+
+[Footnote 47: This burying-place was "an unfenced quarter of an acre
+of perfectly wild, tangled woodland in the midst of the cotton-field,
+halfway between here [the 'white house'] and the quarters. Nothing
+ever marks the graves, but the place is entirely devoted to them."
+
+(From a letter of H. W.'s, June 5, '62.)]
+
+[Footnote 48: Saxton's first general order, announcing his arrival, is
+dated June 28.]
+
+[Footnote 49: E. L. Pierce had changed his headquarters from
+"Pope's."]
+
+[Footnote 50: From the first the anti-slavery Northerners at Port
+Royal had had no hesitation in telling their employees that they were
+freemen. Indeed, they had no choice but to do so, the tadpoles on
+these islands, as Mr. Philbrick said, having "virtually shed their
+tails in course of nature already."]
+
+[Footnote 51: Pierce's second report to Secretary Chase on the Sea
+Islands, dated June 2, 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 52: "We have to spend more than half our time," writes Mr.
+Philbrick in September, "getting our limited supplies."]
+
+[Footnote 53: Richard Soule, Jr., was General Superintendent of St.
+Helena and Ladies Islands, and was living at Edgar Fripp's
+plantation.]
+
+[Footnote 54: The first of many references to the frequent lack of
+sympathy shown by army officers.]
+
+[Footnote 55: That is, the account had been taken before he came
+South.]
+
+[Footnote 56: See page 37.]
+
+[Footnote 57: The term "Hunting Island" was applied to several of the
+outside islands collectively.]
+
+[Footnote 58: Thomas Astor Coffin, of Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 59: The chief "hindrance" was, of course, the late date at
+which work on the cotton crop had been started; the land should have
+been prepared in February, and the planting begun at the end of
+March.]
+
+[Footnote 60: The preliminary proclamation of emancipation, dated
+September 22, 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 61: It will be seen that this excellent idea was not adopted
+by the authorities.]
+
+[Footnote 62: Edward W. Hooper served on Saxton's staff, with the rank
+of Captain.]
+
+[Footnote 63: He came with authority to raise negro troops.]
+
+[Footnote 64: See p. 58.]
+
+[Footnote 65: As Saxton's agent to collect and ship the cotton crop.
+See p. 99.]
+
+[Footnote 66: The superintendents of the Second Division of the Sea
+Islands.]
+
+[Footnote 67: The negroes had broken the cotton-gins by way of putting
+their slavery more completely behind them.]
+
+[Footnote 68: Again the cotton-agent.]
+
+[Footnote 69: Evidently the offer of a captaincy.]
+
+[Footnote 70: Of Prince Rivers, who became color-sergeant and
+provost-sergeant in the First South Carolina Volunteers, Thomas
+Wentworth Higginson, its colonel, writes: "There is not a white
+officer in this regiment who has more administrative ability, or more
+absolute authority over the men; they do not love him, but his mere
+presence has controlling power over them. He writes well enough to
+prepare for me a daily report of his duties in the camp; if his
+education reached a higher point, I see no reason why he should not
+command the Army of the Potomac. He is jet-black, or rather, I should
+say, _wine-black_; his complexion, like that of others of my darkest
+men, having a sort of rich, clear depth, without a trace of sootiness,
+and to my eye very handsome. His features are tolerably regular, and
+full of command, and his figure superior to that of any of our white
+officers, being six feet high, perfectly proportioned, and of
+apparently inexhaustible strength and activity. His gait is like a
+panther's; I never saw such a tread. No anti-slavery novel has
+described a man of such marked ability. He makes Toussaint perfectly
+intelligible; and if there should ever be a black monarchy in South
+Carolina, he will be its king." (_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, pp.
+57, 58.)]
+
+[Footnote 71: "These heaps are, _lucus a non_, called holes." C. P.
+W.]
+
+[Footnote 72: The First South Carolina Volunteers (colored), Thomas
+Wentworth Higginson, colonel.]
+
+[Footnote 73: Usually referred to as the "Hunter Regiment."]
+
+[Footnote 74: A town very near the extreme southern point of the
+Georgia coast.]
+
+[Footnote 75: After Mitchel's death, Brannan again acted as head of
+the Department, till General Hunter's return in January, 1863.]
+
+[Footnote 76: To the Dr. Jenkins plantation.]
+
+[Footnote 77: Stone or seed-cotton is unginned cotton.]
+
+[Footnote 78: Of course on almost all the plantations no taxes had
+been paid, so that the Government was at liberty to sell them at
+auction.]
+
+[Footnote 79: That is, of drawing their own rations.]
+
+[Footnote 80: General Hunter did not actually arrive until January.
+See note 1, [now Footnote 75] p. 108.]
+
+[Footnote 81: The $200,000 (mentioned on page 110) received by the
+Government for the crop of 1861.]
+
+[Footnote 82: Saxton.]
+
+[Footnote 83: This plan of operations was adopted by General Saxton.]
+
+[Footnote 84: Dr. LeBaron Russell, of the Committee on Teachers of the
+Educational Commission.]
+
+[Footnote 85: Taking the plantations as a whole, the Government lost
+in 1862 the whole $200,000 which it had cleared from the planters' big
+cotton crop of 1861.]
+
+[Footnote 86: On Port Royal Island "whole fields of corn, fifty acres
+in extent, have been stripped of every ear before hard enough to be
+stored."]
+
+[Footnote 87: Henry W. Halleck, since July 11 General-in-Chief of the
+Army, with headquarters at Washington.]
+
+[Footnote 88: Another young Harvard graduate, cousin of H. W., come to
+teach the two Fripp schools.]
+
+[Footnote 89: Mr. Philbrick had changed his residence to the Oaks.]
+
+[Footnote 90: An institution situated in Beaufort, managed by the New
+York Commission.]
+
+[Footnote 91: Of Corporal Sutton Colonel Higginson says: "If not in
+all respects the ablest, he was the wisest man in our ranks. As large,
+as powerful, and as black as our good-looking Color-sergeant, but more
+heavily built and with less personal beauty, he had a more massive
+brain and a far more meditative and systematic intellect. Not yet
+grounded even in the spelling-book, his modes of thought were
+nevertheless strong, lucid, and accurate; and he yearned and pined for
+intellectual companionship beyond all ignorant men whom I have ever
+met. I believe that he would have talked all day and all night, for
+days together, to any officer who could instruct him, until his
+companion, at least, fell asleep exhausted. His comprehension of the
+whole problem of slavery was more thorough and far-reaching than that
+of any Abolitionist, so far as its social and military aspects went;
+in that direction I could teach him nothing, and he taught me much.
+But it was his methods of thought which always impressed me chiefly;
+superficial brilliancy he left to others, and grasped at the solid
+truth." (_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, p. 62.)]
+
+[Footnote 92: Mr. Philbrick describes the feast: "I walked about for a
+half hour watching the carving, which was done mostly with _axes_, and
+the eager pressing of the hungry crowds about the rough board tables,
+by which each ox was surrounded. The meat didn't look very inviting."]
+
+[Footnote 93: Miss Forten was of partly negro blood. H. W. says of her
+elsewhere: "She has one of the sweetest voices I ever heard. The
+negroes all knew the instant they saw her what she was, but she has
+been treated by them with universal respect. She is an educated
+lady."]
+
+[Footnote 94: When General Hunter, bent on raising his negro troops,
+asked the Secretary of War for 50,000 muskets, "with authority to arm
+such loyal men as I find in the country, whenever, in my opinion, they
+can be used advantageously against the enemy," he added: "It is
+important that I should be able to know and distinguish these men at
+once, and for this purpose I respectfully request that 50,000 pairs of
+scarlet pantaloons may be sent me; and this is all the clothing I
+shall require for these people." (Hunter to Stanton, April 3, 1862.)
+Of the privates of the First S. C. V., when clothed in these trousers,
+Colonel Higginson writes: "Their coloring suited me, all but the legs,
+which were clad in a lively scarlet, as intolerable to my eyes as if I
+had been a turkey." (_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, p. 7.)]
+
+[Footnote 95: On the Georgia coast.]
+
+[Footnote 96: See p. 60.]
+
+[Footnote 97: Mr. Philbrick was staying at Coffin's for a few days.]
+
+[Footnote 98: The agreement made on April 8, between Mr. Philbrick and
+fourteen gentlemen, all but one of Boston, provided that Mr.
+Philbrick, in whose name the land should be bought and who should have
+complete responsibility for managing it, should, after paying the
+subscribers six per cent. interest, receive one fourth of the net
+profits. Mr. Philbrick was to be liable for losses and without the
+right to call for further contribution; on the other hand, no
+subscription was to be withdrawn unless he ceased to superintend the
+enterprise. On his closing the business, the net proceeds were to be
+divided _pro rata_.]
+
+[Footnote 99: Joe having gone back to his trade of carpenter, the
+domestic force now included a boy and a girl (daughter of Abel and
+sister of Hester), marvelously ignorant, even for a Sea Island
+field-hand. Uncle Sam, Robert's father, was acting as cook.]
+
+[Footnote 100: A boy lately added to the corps of house-servants at
+Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 101: From unwillingness to see the land owned by any one but
+negroes.]
+
+[Footnote 102: A detachment from the Eighteenth Army Corps, under
+Major-General John G. Foster, had come to help in the operations
+against Charleston.]
+
+[Footnote 103: The new postmaster for Beaufort.]
+
+[Footnote 104: A cousin in the 24th Massachusetts, which had come to
+Land's End as part of the "North Carolina army."]
+
+[Footnote 105: For lumber up the St. Mary's River, which separates
+Georgia from Florida.]
+
+[Footnote 106: See p. 162.]
+
+[Footnote 107: The history of the Department had been defined as "a
+military picnic."]
+
+[Footnote 108: A paper published at Beaufort.]
+
+[Footnote 109: Haunt of the drum-fish.]
+
+[Footnote 110: The War Department ordered the sales to go forward,
+leaving the restrictions to be arranged by Hunter, Saxton, and the
+Commissioners in charge. See p. 165.]
+
+[Footnote 111: Brigadier-General Edward E. Potter, Foster's Chief of
+Staff.]
+
+[Footnote 112: That is, hoed over again and new furrows made for the
+next crop.]
+
+[Footnote 113: Brigadier-General Thomas G. Stevenson, originally
+colonel of the Twenty-Fourth Massachusetts, was arrested by General
+Hunter and soon after released.]
+
+[Footnote 114: The immediate cause of this trouble was a disagreement
+about the extent of Hunter's authority over Foster and his command
+while they were in the Department of the South, but the underlying
+difficulty was that Foster and his officers distrusted Hunter as an
+anti-slavery zealot.
+
+Finding that the operations against Charleston could not go forward
+immediately, Foster returned to North Carolina within a few days after
+his arrival in the Department of the South. His troops remained, so
+restive under Hunter's command that Foster's whole staff was presently
+sent back to North Carolina for alleged insubordination.]
+
+[Footnote 115: This report turned out to be a mistake.]
+
+[Footnote 116: That is, the revenue from the cotton on certain
+plantations was used for these purposes. A plantation thus devoted to
+the educational needs of the people was called a School Farm.]
+
+[Footnote 117: To capture Jacksonville, on the St. John's River,
+Florida.]
+
+[Footnote 118: Of the Second South Carolina Volunteers (colored).]
+
+[Footnote 119: The bracket is used for unimportant dates which are out
+of their chronological place.]
+
+[Footnote 120: See p. 147.]
+
+[Footnote 121: Two of the thirteen were merely leased.]
+
+[Footnote 122: H. W., commenting more mildly, says (Mar. 18): "He
+certainly has not a clear idea of what the superintendents and
+teachers are doing, and unfortunately classes them as in opposition to
+himself,--as preferring the agricultural to the military department.
+This I do not think is the case, but they most of them feel his want
+of wisdom in dealing with the subject, which has made his own especial
+object as well as theirs harder to accomplish."]
+
+[Footnote 123: A short-lived newspaper published in the Department.]
+
+[Footnote 124: H. W. describes another service that was broken up by
+this fear of the draft: "[May 2.] At church yesterday a squad of
+soldiers with their officer came from Land's End to the service, when
+a general stampede took place among the men, and women too, jumping
+from the windows and one man even from the gallery into the midst of
+the congregation."]
+
+[Footnote 125: The boy.]
+
+[Footnote 126: Captain J. E. Bryant, of the Eighth Maine.]
+
+[Footnote 127: The Second South Carolina Volunteers (colored).]
+
+[Footnote 128: Of the _Kingfisher_, the blockader.]
+
+[Footnote 129: To be examined, adjudged not "able-bodied," and given
+exemption-papers.]
+
+[Footnote 130: Second South Carolina Volunteers.]
+
+[Footnote 131: A noticeable thing about the children of slaves was
+that they had no games.]
+
+[Footnote 132: In the words of the order the command of the Department
+was taken from Hunter and given to Gillmore "temporarily."]
+
+[Footnote 133: Rhodes' _History of the United States from the
+Compromise of 1850_, vol. iv, p. 332.]
+
+[Footnote 134: Colonel Higginson had been sent up the South Edisto
+River, to cut the railroad at Jacksonboro.]
+
+[Footnote 135: Whither the wounded had been brought.]
+
+[Footnote 136: Edward N. Hallowell and Garth Wilkinson James, Major
+and Adjutant of the Fifty-Fourth.]
+
+[Footnote 137: For the North.]
+
+[Footnote 138: A few weeks later (July 15) General Saxton authorized
+the general superintendents to appoint plantation commissions, or
+courts for the administration of justice. The people eligible for
+these commissions were Government plantation superintendents and Mr.
+Philbrick's six plantation superintendents, and they were instructed
+"that in cases where immediate arrest is in their opinion necessary,
+the plantation superintendents, and the persons above named, are
+hereby authorized themselves to make arrests of civilians upon the
+plantations. But they must exercise this power with great discretion,
+and will be held responsible for any abuse of it."]
+
+[Footnote 139: Colonel W. W. H. Davis was in command of the post at
+Beaufort during Saxton's temporary absence.]
+
+[Footnote 140: R. Soule, Jr., now one of Mr. Philbrick's
+superintendents, who, upon the departure of the Philbricks, had come
+to live at Coffin's Point.]
+
+[Footnote 141: The rebel masters had told their slaves that the
+Yankees intended to sell them "South,"--that is, to Cuba or the Gulf.]
+
+[Footnote 142: See note, p. 201.]
+
+[Footnote 143: On board the _Kingfisher_.]
+
+[Footnote 144: A Pennsylvanian, General Superintendent for St. Helena
+and Ladies Islands, since Richard Soule had resigned that position.]
+
+[Footnote 145: That is, gathered.]
+
+[Footnote 146: Admiral Dupont's flag-ship.]
+
+[Footnote 147: The Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers (colored),
+which was in camp at Port Royal.]
+
+[Footnote 148: Meaning, of course, plantations belonging to the
+Government.]
+
+[Footnote 149: The "Mary Jenkins" place.]
+
+[Footnote 150: Two hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds was "about
+as much as there was raised in the whole Department" in 1862.]
+
+[Footnote 151: See p. 230.]
+
+[Footnote 152: A letter dated December 28, 1863, inclosing $100 for
+the relief of families of freedmen. The letter gives figures that
+prove the success of the free labor experiment on Mr. Philbrick's
+plantations, and concludes as follows: "I mention these things to show
+how easy it is to render the negroes a self-supporting and
+wealth-producing class with proper management; and I, at the same
+time, fully appreciate the duty imposed upon us as a nation to extend
+the arm of charity where the unsettled state of the country renders
+industry impossible until time is given to recognize and force to
+protect it. We are more fortunately situated than the people of the
+Mississippi valley, and have got the start of them."]
+
+[Footnote 153: A letter dated January 25, 1864, and printed in the
+Providence _Journal_ on February 6.]
+
+[Footnote 154: Land on the Sea Islands is now worth $15 an acre,--$20
+if it is near a road.]
+
+[Footnote 155: F. J. W. was in Boston at the time.]
+
+[Footnote 156: William Birney, Brigadier-General and Commander of the
+Post at Beaufort during one of Saxton's absences, had, on March 30,
+issued an order to the effect that in all cases the negroes were to be
+left in possession of the land they claimed as theirs.]
+
+[Footnote 157: An ambulance.]
+
+[Footnote 158: Cf. E. S. P.'s letter of February 22, p. 251.]
+
+[Footnote 159: Early in April the steamer _City of New York_, carrying
+sixty-one bales of Mr. Philbrick's cotton, was wrecked in Queenstown
+harbor. The cotton was insured for $1.50 a pound, but would have
+brought more in the market.]
+
+[Footnote 160: See p. 219. The idea was by no means new. Frederick Law
+Olmstead had devoted a great deal of space to proving the truth of it,
+and indeed had quoted many planters who admitted that, as a system of
+labor, slavery was expensive.]
+
+[Footnote 161: (Dated April 26, in the _Independent_.) On St. Helena
+to-day it is always possible to hire men for common work at fifty
+cents per day.]
+
+[Footnote 162: Dated May 2.]
+
+[Footnote 163: The National Union Convention which met on June 7.]
+
+[Footnote 164: The hero of the _Planter_ episode; see p. 46.]
+
+[Footnote 165: See p. 145.]
+
+[Footnote 166: One of many minor raids, very likely up the Combahee
+River.]
+
+[Footnote 167: As General commanding the Department of the South.]
+
+[Footnote 168: Husband of Fanny Kemble.]
+
+[Footnote 169: Compare J. A. S. on p. 265.]
+
+[Footnote 170: Evidently G.'s suggestion was practically for the plan
+Mr. Philbrick did in fact adopt finally, that of selling some of his
+land to negroes and some to white men. The price at which he sold to
+the negroes was determined by the ideas here expressed.]
+
+[Footnote 171: A mulatto, educated in the North, who had gone to help
+at Port Royal.]
+
+[Footnote 172: Colonel Milton S. Littlefield, Twenty-First United
+States Colored Troops.]
+
+[Footnote 173: Foster's order was dated August 16.]
+
+[Footnote 174: "The First South," as the First South Carolina
+Volunteers was always called by the negroes, had in the spring been
+enrolled among the United States Colored Troops as the Thirty-Third
+Regiment.]
+
+[Footnote 175: See p. 187.]
+
+[Footnote 176: Both in the Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts Volunteers
+(colored).]
+
+[Footnote 177: The battle of Honey Hill (near Grahamville), fought
+November 30.]
+
+[Footnote 178: Of the Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts.]
+
+[Footnote 179: F. H. was to take charge of Coffin's Point on C. P.
+W.'s leaving permanently for home a few weeks later. In connection
+with Mr. Philbrick's words about him and in preparation for his own
+letters, it is worth while to record something he had written in the
+autumn:
+
+Oct. 7. St. Helena. I am slowly recovering from my three weeks'
+sickness,--more buoyant and hopeful than ever before. I seem to have a
+new birth, with new aspirations, and new views--particularly in regard
+to life and its duties and prospects among the freed people of South
+Carolina.
+
+If _God_ is not in it, then I am laboring under hallucination.]
+
+[Footnote 180: The crop of 1864 had cost Mr. Philbrick about $1.00 a
+pound, and he thought it quite possible that the crop of 1865 might
+not fetch more than that in the market. It will be seen that his fears
+were more than justified.]
+
+[Footnote 181: General Oliver O. Howard.]
+
+[Footnote 182: The only thoroughfare by land from Beaufort to
+Charleston. At Port Royal Ferry it crosses the Coosaw.]
+
+[Footnote 183: F. H.]
+
+[Footnote 184: "Yellow cotton" was cotton which for any reason had
+been stained in the pod.]
+
+[Footnote 185: Concerning this horse-buying fever Mr. Philbrick has
+elsewhere an amusing anecdote:
+
+[Jan. 8.] The latest case of destitution I have heard of was the case
+of old Robert at the Oaks, cow-minder,--you remember him. He and old
+Scylla applied to Mr. Tomlinson for rations, pleading utter poverty.
+It turned out next day that Robert and Scylla's husband were in treaty
+for Mr. Fairfield's horse, at the rate of $350! They didn't allege
+_inability_ to pay the price, but thought they would look around and
+see if they couldn't get one cheaper. I daresay it will end by their
+buying it.]
+
+[Footnote 186: Fuller, of Fuller Place, who had succeeded in keeping
+with him on a plantation elsewhere the negroes he had induced to
+accompany him when the war broke out.]
+
+[Footnote 187: In Europe.]
+
+[Footnote 188: By President Johnson's instructions.]
+
+[Footnote 189: The original owners of the Sea Island plantations were
+subsequently reimbursed by Congress for their loss (minors receiving
+again their actual land); but inasmuch as the sums paid them did not
+include the value of their slaves, they considered the payment
+inadequate.]
+
+[Footnote 190: New York _Nation_, November 30, 1865.]
+
+[Footnote 191: The cotton when ginned should have weighed between one
+third and one quarter as much as it weighed before ginning. See p.
+236.]
+
+[Footnote 192: In one of his letters to the _Nation_ (December 14),
+Dennett quotes Richard Soule as saying that he thought the past four
+years had encouraged and confirmed the faults of the negro.
+"Demoralized on the negro question," therefore, seems to mean, not
+that Richard Soule and F. H. were finding the negro worse than they
+had thought him, but that they considered that present conditions were
+rapidly making him worse.]
+
+[Footnote 193: General Saxton was Assistant Commissioner for South
+Carolina under the Freedmen's Bureau.]
+
+[Footnote 194: Reuben Tomlinson had been made State Superintendent of
+Education.]
+
+[Footnote 195: The Union Store was finished, stocked, and operated,
+but its life was brief. From the first, its vitality was sapped by the
+claim of the stockholders to unlimited credit; then a dishonest
+treasurer struck the death-blow.]
+
+[Footnote 196: See p. 312.]
+
+[Footnote 197: This was Grant's famous "car-window" report, in which
+he stated his belief that "the mass of thieving men at the South
+accept the situation in good faith."]
+
+[Footnote 198: Mr. Waters bought Cherry Hill and lived there for a
+short time.]
+
+[Footnote 199: "Corner" was the Captain John Fripp place.]
+
+[Footnote 200: At the auction referred to, the Government offered for
+sale the plantations which had been reserved for the support of
+schools.]
+
+[Footnote 201: A negro who worked a plantation "on shares" was
+independent of the owner, merely paying a rent in cotton.]
+
+[Footnote 202: Afterwards used as the nucleus of _Slave Songs of the
+United States_.]
+
+[Footnote 203: Before the war.]
+
+[Footnote 204: Rose had been living with H. W. in the North, and was
+now at Port Royal with her, also on a visit.]
+
+[Footnote 205: General Bennett was managing Coffin's for the owner,
+who had bought it of Mr. Philbrick.]
+
+
+
+
+INDEX
+
+
+Aaron, 235.
+
+Abel, 65, 66, 141 n., 145, 212, 218, 239, 330.
+
+Abigail, 331.
+
+Abolitionists, hostility to.
+  See Army Officers; Hunter; Saxton.
+
+_Advertiser, Boston_, 62, 219, 324.
+
+Africa, 203, 225.
+
+Alden, William, 286, 313, 321, 330.
+
+Alex, 86, 87, 95.
+
+Alick, 31, 239.
+
+Allen, William, 232.
+
+Amaritta, 88, 144, 187, 212, 222, 225, 233, 304.
+
+Andrew, 103.
+
+Anti-slavery people, hostility to.
+  See Army Officers; Hunter; Saxton.
+
+Antony, 95.
+
+_Ariel_, The, 225.
+
+Army Corps,
+  17th, 305;
+  18th, 150 n.
+
+Army officers, hostility of, to anti-slavery people, 108, 115, 122, 308.
+  See also Negroes, hostility of army officers to; Hunter; Saxton.
+
+_Army Life in a Black Regiment_, 104 n., 131 n., 133 n.
+
+"Arnie," Miss, 127.
+
+Atkinson, Edward, 53, 62, 101.
+
+Atlanta, Georgia, 290, 297.
+
+_Atlantic_, The, 2, 9.
+
+
+B----, Mr., 247.
+
+Bacchus, 64, 65, 121, 123, 126.
+
+Bacchus, foreman of Morgan Island, 203, 204.
+
+Bail, Anthony, 328.
+
+Baldwin, Mr., 235.
+
+Baltimore Convention, 1864, 267.
+
+Baptisms, 145, 146, 249, 268.
+
+Barkis, 228, 229.
+
+Barnard, James M., 162, 163.
+
+Barney, Hiram, 2.
+
+Barstow, Major, 163, 164.
+
+Bay Point, 13, 29, 35, 37 n., 41, 73, 79.
+
+Beaufort, N. C., 82.
+
+Beaufort, S. C., vi n., 6, 9, 16, 31, 39, 45, 46, 47, 53, 54, 61, 71,
+  72, 82, 83, 92, 93, 98, 100, 104, 106, 108, 117, 122, 127, 128,
+  129 n., 134, 141, 150, 155 n., 167, 170, 175, 186, 187, 196, 197,
+  202, 207, 211, 221, 235, 240, 255, 257 n., 258, 265, 267, 282, 283,
+  289, 290, 295, 297, 301, 302, 305, 314, 320, 326, 327.
+
+Beaufort River, vi n., 6, 71, 116, 117.
+
+Beaufort Sound, 203.
+
+Beauregard, Fort, 5, 37, 61.
+
+Becca, 126.
+
+Ben, 95.
+
+Bennett, General, 332.
+
+Betsey, 185.
+
+Betty, 61, 252, 253, 272.
+
+Betty, 144.
+
+"Biffert," 49, 82.
+
+Binah, 27, 44, 45, 157.
+
+Bingham, Quartermaster-General, 132.
+
+Birney, William, Brig.-Gen., 257, 271.
+
+Black Draft. See Draft, Black.
+
+Boston, 117, 118, 141, 168, 190, 205, 220, 225, 226, 250, 256, 257 n.,
+  264, 266, 272, 307, 310, 315, 316, 325.
+
+Boston syndicate, 140, 172, 208, 258, 275, 316.
+
+Boutelle, Captain, 205, 206.
+
+Brannan, John M., Brig.-Gen., 86, 94, 108, 122.
+
+Brisbane, Dr., 129, 164, 244, 312.
+
+Brown, Peter, 323.
+
+Bryant, Captain J. E., 185, 187, 240.
+
+Bryant, Lieutenant O. E., 188.
+
+Bryant, Mr., plantation superintendent, 108, 116, 122.
+
+Bryant, Mrs., 115, 321.
+
+Bundy, Dr. Francis, 142, 143, 188, 196, 197.
+
+Bundy, Mrs. Francis, 141, 142.
+
+Burying-place, 65 n., 66.
+
+Butler, Pierce, 271, 272.
+
+Butler, Mrs. Pierce. See Kemble, Fanny.
+
+
+Caesar, 184, 239.
+
+Caroline (1), 16, 17.
+
+Caroline (2), 87.
+
+Caroline (3), 235.
+
+Cat Island, 6.
+
+Cato, 86, 87, 95.
+
+Celia, 300.
+
+Chaplin, Benjarola, 206, 311.
+
+Charleston, S. C., 31 n., 36, 45, 46, 61, 62, 63, 92, 115, 164, 165,
+  195, 198, 206, 213, 232, 297, 307, 316, 319;
+  siege of, 150 n., 163 n., 194-199.
+
+Chase, Salmon P., 70 n., 247.
+
+Chattel sales, 255, 256.
+
+Cherry Hill, 79, 80, 135, 160, 172, 301, 324.
+
+Chester, 120.
+
+Child, Professor F. J., 257.
+
+Christmas,
+  1863, 237;
+  1864, 292, 293.
+
+Church, Brick (Baptist), 49, 243, 306.
+
+Church, White (Episcopal), 49 n., 68, 101, 117.
+
+Cicero, 192, 271.
+
+_City of New York_, The, 264 n.
+
+Clarke, Mrs., 141.
+
+Climate of Sea Islands, 10, 68, 73, 105, 106, 110, 118, 140, 145, 152,
+  243, 323.
+
+Coast Survey, 60, 139.
+
+Cockloft, overseer, 127, 165, 169.
+
+Cockspur Island, 43 n.
+
+Coffin, Eben, 205.
+
+Coffin family, 236.
+
+Coffin, Sir Isaac, Bart., 150.
+
+Coffin, Julian, 209, 326.
+
+Coffin, Thomas Astor, 79, 139, 164, 165, 204, 206, 232, 330.
+
+Coffin, Mrs. T. A., 206.
+
+Coffin trademark, 237.
+
+"Coffin's Battery," 187, 285.
+
+Coffin's Point, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 22, 29, 40, 42, 45, 46, 51, 53, 54,
+  58 n., 62, 68, 71, 79, 88, 94, 119, 122, 135, 139 n., 145, 180, 182,
+  183, 188, 190, 191, 203, 229, 239, 240, 255, 281, 285, 291 n., 299,
+  309, 310, 311, 312, 322, 323, 324, 328, 330, 331, 332 n.
+
+Comba, 303.
+
+Combahee River, 271 n.
+
+"Concern."
+  See Boston Syndicate.
+
+Contracts with negroes, 262, 263.
+
+Cooley, Judge, 259.
+
+Coosaw, Fort, 240.
+
+Coosaw River, 233, 297 n.
+
+Corn Crop of 1862, 12, 13, 54, 94, 101.
+
+"Corner," 324 n.
+
+_Cosmopolitan_, The, 6, 199.
+
+Cotton-agents, 12, 14, 18, 22, 98.
+  See also Mr. S.
+
+Cotton crop,
+  1861, 11, 110, 118 n., 127;
+  1862, 13, 54, 57, 83 n., 92, 99, 101, 109, 117, 125, 237 n., 264 n.;
+  1863, 151, 171, 208, 209, 211, 212, 234, 235, 236, 237;
+  1864, 295 n., 297, 310, 326;
+  1865, 313, 314, 320, 322, 326.
+
+Cotton Fund, 115, 152.
+
+Cotton-gins broken by the negroes, 102 n., 109, 181.
+
+"Court."
+  See Plantation Commission.
+
+Crane, Captain W. D., 288, 289, 290.
+
+Crystal Palace, 168.
+
+Cuffy, 20, 26, 27, 61.
+
+Cutchery, Indian, 140.
+
+Cuthbert's Point, 116, 117.
+
+
+Dan, 185, 239.
+
+Darien, 204.
+
+Dathaw, 322.
+
+David, 46, 47, 239.
+
+Davis, Col. W. W. H., 202 n.
+
+De Golyer, Mr., 313.
+
+De la Croix, Mr., 141, 142, 143.
+
+Deborah, 160.
+
+Demus, 145, 212, 243, 304.
+
+Demus, elder, 173.
+
+Dennett, Mr., 319, 320.
+
+Department of the South, 86, 114, 154, 163, 173 n., 193, 196, 197,
+  227, 237, 249, 254, 260, 261, 268, 271, 278, 289.
+
+Doll, 25, 212, 235.
+
+Draft, Black, 37-42, 43, 44, 50, 51, 54, 77, 96, 99, 167, 172-175, 176,
+  177, 182, 183, 184, 185-190, 211, 213, 236, 239, 240, 249, 281-284.
+
+Drivers, 8, 12, 31 n., 40, 41, 78, 80, 124.
+
+Duhurst, Lieut., 132.
+
+Dupont, Commodore S. F., 5, 225, 289, 319.
+
+Dutch, Captain, 185, 233.
+
+
+Eddings Point, 171, 192, 247, 270.
+
+Edisto, 318.
+
+Edisto refugees, 72, 150, 151, 294, 306, 307.
+
+Educational Commission for Freedmen
+  (Boston), 1, 4, 12, 33, 37 n., 117 n., 257, 311;
+  (New York), 4, 12, 129 n.;
+  (Philadelphia), 171, 305.
+
+Eggs, donations of, 21, 22, 35, 44, 59, 75, 121, 139, 196, 250.
+
+Egypt, 5, 11, 15, 28.
+
+Ellen, 138.
+
+Ellwell, Col., 245.
+
+Elsie, 203, 204.
+
+Elsie, at Coffin's Point, 218, 330.
+
+Emancipation celebration, 124, 125, 126, 127-134.
+
+Emancipation, Preliminary Proclamation of, 97.
+
+Emancipation, Proclamation of, 92.
+
+Eustis, F. A., 8, 19, 32, 44, 171, 196, 238, 240, 246, 292, 327.
+
+Eustis Place, 252.
+
+Evacuation of Sea Islands, 84, 86, 98.
+
+
+Fanny, 195.
+
+Fairfield, Mr., 302 n.
+
+Ferry, from Port Royal Island to Ladies Island, 19 n., 128, 173;
+  to mainland, 297, 302.
+
+_Festina Lente_, 63.
+
+Finnie, 86.
+
+First South, see S. C. Vols., 1st Regt.
+
+Flora, 21, 23, 25, 31, 35, 36, 40, 41, 43, 45, 46, 52, 58, 59, 123,
+  141, 152, 331.
+
+_Flora_, The, 182.
+
+Florida, 50, 136, 153 n., 167.
+
+Folsom, Dr. Charles F., 70, 184, 232, 262, 265, 298, 301, 304, 307.
+
+Folsom's Place, 280, 329.
+
+Forbes, John M., 3, 16, 17, 18, 140, 147, 196.
+
+Fort Coosaw, 240.
+
+Fort on Smith Plantation, 132.
+
+Forts Walker and Beauregard, 5, 37, 61.
+
+Forten, Charlotte, 133.
+
+Fortress Monroe, 290.
+
+Fortune, 239.
+
+Foster, John G., Maj.-Gen., 150 n., 154, 160, 162, 163, 271, 280, 281,
+  282, 285, 290, 299, 305.
+
+Fourth of July, 68-70.
+
+Fowler, Rev. Mr., 102, 129.
+
+Frank, 136, 229, 330.
+
+_Free South, The_, 155, 187.
+
+_Freedmen at Port Royal, The_, 312.
+
+Freedmen's Aid Societies, 325.
+
+Freedmen's Bureau, 321, 325.
+
+French, Rev. Mansfield, 4, 49, 50, 130, 230, 243, 254.
+
+Fripp, Alvirah, plantation of, 81.
+
+Fripp, Dr. Clarence, 31, 59, 207, 319, 320.
+
+Fripp, Eddings, 207.
+
+Fripp, Eden, 31.
+
+Fripp, Edgar, plantation of, 68, 74 n.
+
+Fripp, Hamilton, 270;
+  plantation of, 230, 271;
+  sons of, 296.
+
+Fripp, Harriet, 22, 31.
+
+Fripp house in Beaufort, 196.
+
+Fripp, Captain John, 316, 326;
+  daughters of, 316, 326;
+  plantation of, 135, 172, 249, 324 n., 326, 329.
+
+Fripp, Juliana, 34.
+
+Fripp, Lynch, 34.
+
+Fripp, Captain Oliver, plantation of, 68, 137, 184.
+
+Fripp Point, 12, 30, 41, 43, 88, 92, 119, 123, 126, 127 n., 139, 172,
+  183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 191, 199, 200, 224, 239, 255, 258, 259,
+  263, 299, 301, 306, 324, 326, 331.
+
+Fripp, Sam, 34.
+
+Fripp, T. B., plantation of, 135, 171, 230, 321.
+
+Fripp, T. J., 204.
+
+Fripp, Washington, 31.
+
+Fripp, William, 12, 31, 59;
+  sons of, 12, 31.
+
+Fripp, Willie, 34.
+
+Frogmore, 205, 206, 300.
+
+Fuller, Rev. Robert, 314, 315.
+
+Fuller Place, 295, 324, 328.
+
+_Fulton_, The, 197.
+
+Funeral, negro child's, 65, 66, 67.
+
+
+K. G., 33.
+
+W. C. G., 3, 8, 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 32, 34, 40, 41, 61, 64, 65, 66, 88,
+  105, 116, 122, 125, 147, 161, 172, 186, 187, 189, 197, 204, 211-213,
+  224, 232, 238, 240, 246, 255, 259, 260, 265, 266, 268, 299, 300, 304,
+  305, 312, 333;
+  letters from, 11, 14, 20 n., 22, 32, 37 n., 43, 57, 84, 107, 115,
+  137, 154, 165, 167, 177, 183, 191, 197, 210, 222, 231, 241, 248, 254,
+  263, 267, 277 n., 283, 286, 288, 307, 308, 309.
+
+W. C. G., article by, in _North American Review_, 312.
+
+W. C. G., poem by, 66.
+
+
+Gage, Mrs., 132.
+
+Gang system, 58 n., 94, 108, 109, 112.
+
+George, 235, 331, 332.
+
+Georgia, 50, 136 n., 144, 153, 297, 301, 308.
+
+Georgia refugees, 293, 294, 295, 306, 307, 314.
+
+Gettysburg, battle of, 195.
+
+Gib, 315.
+
+Gillmore, Q. A., Brig.-Gen., 193, 194, 228, 233, 249, 321.
+
+Gordon, Captain, 290.
+
+Gordon, slave pirate, 225.
+
+Government, U. S., 1, 9, 10, 14, 17, 37 n., 53, 56 n., 57, 72, 78, 81,
+  86, 97, 98, 99, 102, 112, 113, 115, 117, 118, 137, 148, 149, 150,
+  151, 171, 174, 175, 177, 182, 185, 191, 208, 229, 231 n., 244, 245,
+  260, 266, 277, 282, 296, 308, 309, 311, 327 n.
+
+Grace, 126, 222, 225, 250, 303.
+
+Grahamville, S. C., 289.
+
+Grant, U. S., Lieut.-Gen., 324.
+
+Green, Jonas, 322.
+
+Green, Dr. S. A., 163.
+
+"Gun fire at Bay Point," 37 n., 79, 126, 209.
+
+
+H----, Col., 280, 281.
+
+F. H., 291, 298, 306, 309, 321, 324;
+  letters from, 291 n., 311, 313, 323, 328.
+
+Habersham, Mr., 308.
+
+Hacklis, 262, 263.
+
+Halleck, Henry W., Maj.-Gen., 122.
+
+Hall, Wm., 127, 150, 183, 184, 186, 196, 197, 201, 205, 216, 237, 252.
+
+Hallowell, Col. E. N., 196.
+
+Hallowell, Col. N. P., 168.
+
+Hamlet, 185.
+
+Hammond, Mr., 119, 156, 193.
+
+Hardy, Alpheus, 248.
+
+Harriet, 34.
+
+Harrison, Mr., 262.
+
+Harry, 16, 162.
+
+Hartwell, Col. A. S., 290.
+
+Hayti, 84.
+
+Hazard, Mr., 271.
+
+Henry, 127, 206, 207, 226.
+
+_Herald_, Boston, 124.
+
+Hester, 140, 141, 142, 214, 217, 251.
+
+Higginson, Col. T. W., 104 n., 106 n., 124, 129, 130, 131, 133 n., 134,
+  153, 164, 167, 168, 195, 225, 240.
+
+Hilton Head, 5, 6, 9, 13, 37 n., 40, 41, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 53, 57,
+  71, 73, 77, 79, 83, 84, 86, 87, 92, 94, 97, 98, 107, 114, 118, 125,
+  126, 150, 175, 182, 194, 195, 229, 235, 261, 279, 280, 281, 319.
+
+Honey Hill, S. C., 289 n.
+
+Hooper, Captain E. W., 3, 9, 16, 19, 49, 50, 93, 105, 111, 124, 175,
+  187, 188, 197, 198, 306.
+
+Hope Place, 81, 82, 171.
+
+_Horace_, The, 297.
+
+Horse-buying, 301, 302.
+
+Howard, O. O., Maj.-Gen., 297, 298, 299, 305, 317, 318.
+
+Hoyt, Capt., 186, 189.
+
+Hull, Mr., 116, 117, 172.
+
+Hunn, Mr. J., 171, 244, 251.
+
+Hunter, David, Maj.-Gen., 37 n., 38, 39, 40, 42, 48, 50, 62, 63, 86,
+  89, 100, 103, 104, 108 n., 115, 133 n., 154, 155, 156, 159 n., 162,
+  163 n., 165, 167, 172, 173, 175, 182, 187, 188, 190.
+
+Hunter Regiment, 62, 96, 104, 106.
+
+Hunting Island, 78, 238, 279.
+
+Hunting, Dr., 239.
+
+Hurd, Augustus, 3.
+
+
+Indemnity, for slave-owners, 319 n.
+
+_Independent_, The, 265.
+
+Irish, compared with negroes, 11, 15, 18, 22, 56, 75.
+
+Isaac, 82, 239.
+
+
+Jack, 125, 126, 299.
+
+Jackson, Mr., 301.
+
+Jacksonboro', 196.
+
+Jacksonville, Fla., 167.
+
+James, Capt., 106.
+
+James, G. W., Adjt., 196.
+
+January, 153, 181, 239, 315.
+
+Jenkins, Dr., plantation of, 108 n., 116.
+
+Jenkins, Mary, plantation of, 233, 247, 296.
+
+Jim, 78, 79, 90, 239.
+
+Jimmy, 239.
+
+Joe, 20, 23, 39, 40, 41, 46, 52, 60, 61, 100, 106, 122, 123, 141 n.
+
+John, 87, 257, 258.
+
+John, Major, 260, 299, 300, 319.
+
+Johnson, Andrew, 317, 318.
+
+Jonas, 239.
+
+Joseph, 255.
+
+Josh, 188.
+
+_Journal of Music_, The Boston, 30.
+
+_Journal_, Providence, 248 n.
+
+Judd, Mr., Gen. Supt. of Port Royal Island, 94, 129, 132.
+
+Judy, 141, 154, 243, 272.
+
+Juliana, 233.
+
+July, 95.
+
+June, 136, 195.
+
+
+Katrine, 145.
+
+Katy, 212, 299.
+
+Katy, at Frogmore, 206.
+
+Keller, Lewis, 279.
+
+_Kelley_, The, 279.
+
+Kellum, Capt, 322.
+
+Kemble, Fanny, 271, 272.
+
+_Kingfisher_, The, 176, 185 n., 204, 212 n.
+
+
+L----, John, 152, 162.
+
+Ladies Island, 8, 9, 19 n., 54, 72, 109, 116, 117, 118, 172, 223 n.,
+  240, 311.
+
+Land-sales, 109 n., 111, 117, 120, 135, 137, 140, 141, 147, 148, 151,
+  152, 154, 155, 159, 165, 170, 171, 172, 177, 229, 230, 231, 243, 244,
+  245, 246, 247, 248, 254, 265, 266, 277, 312, 315, 320, 327.
+
+Land's End, 119, 135, 153 n., 155, 161, 162, 174 n., 182, 194.
+
+Lee, Mr., paymaster, U. S., 100, 110.
+
+Lee, R. E., Gen., 310.
+
+Lester, 65.
+
+Lewis, 192.
+
+Lewis, Dio, 160.
+
+Lieutenant, of 104th Pa. Vols., 200, 201, 202.
+
+Limus, 37, 77, 221, 226, 228.
+
+Lincoln, Abraham, 48, 50 n., 62, 63, 86, 91, 92, 96, 97, 98, 129, 230,
+  243, 245, 258, 263, 310.
+
+Littlefield, Milton S., Col., 282.
+
+_London News_, The, 168.
+
+Louisa, 35, 138, 144, 146, 299.
+
+L'Ouverture, Toussaint, 104 n.
+
+
+McClellan, George B., Maj.-Gen., 168.
+
+McKee's plantation, 46.
+
+McKim, Lucy, 30 n.
+
+McTureous Plantation, 76, 77, 78, 79, 171, 229, 230, 312, 323, 330.
+
+Mack, David, 3.
+
+Maria, nurse, 126, 209.
+
+Maria, seamster, 271.
+
+_Market for manufactures, A new_, 219.
+
+Marriage of negroes, 95, 103, 104, 125, 126, 144.
+
+Martha, 88, 330.
+
+Mary, 61, 216.
+
+Mary Ann, 95.
+
+Massachusetts Vols.,
+  24th Regt., 153, 154, 156, 162;
+  54th Regt., 168, 194, 196, 198;
+  55th Regt., 226, 288, 289, 290 n.
+
+May, 303.
+
+_Mayflower_, The, 71.
+
+_Melville_, The, 306, 307.
+
+Methodism, 124, 163, 221.
+
+Mike, 185, 255, 256, 311, 332.
+
+Miller, 212, 239.
+
+Mily, nurse, 26, 59, 136.
+
+Minda, 127, 146, 243.
+
+Mission House, 129.
+
+Mitchel, Ormsby M., Maj.-Gen., 86, 94, 105, 108 n.
+
+_Mohegan_, The, 225.
+
+Moll, 201, 299.
+
+Monah, 331.
+
+Monday, "Useless," 262.
+
+Monroe, Fortress, 290.
+
+Montgomery, Col., 167, 185, 189.
+
+Morgan Island, 203, 233, 270, 295, 296, 306.
+
+Morris Island, 195, 196, 289.
+
+Mulberry Hill, 80, 81, 135, 172, 322, 324.
+
+Murray, Ellen, 329.
+
+
+N. R. & W., Firm of, 324, 326, 329.
+
+Nancy, 138, 212.
+
+Nancy, old, 222, 234.
+
+Nat, 77, 95, 139.
+
+_Nation_, The New York, 26 n., 319-321.
+
+National Union Convention, 261 n.
+
+_Negro Burying Ground, The_, 66.
+
+Negroes of Sea Islands,
+  characteristics of, 11, 15, 21, 22, 23, 25, 75, 76, 81, 99, 109, 116,
+    122, 138, 144, 171, 177, 214, 215, 241, 315, 328;
+  compared with Irish, 11, 15, 18, 22, 56, 75;
+  compared with negroes elsewhere, 11, 15, 89, 97, 288;
+  condition of, in 1862, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 51, 70, 181, 307;
+  contracts with, 262, 263;
+  cotton-gins destroyed by, 102 n., 109, 181;
+  dishonesty of, 126, 136, 227, 241, 242, 256, 269, 287, 310, 311, 313,
+    320, 322, 323, 324, 328;
+  food of, 53, 62, 73, 93, 120;
+  future of, 317, 318, 334;
+  gratuities to, 14, 33, 34, 44, 47, 51, 52, 53, 58, 80, 88, 94, 148,
+    150, 165, 166, 179, 191, 208, 246, 276, 277, 302 n., 309, 334;
+  health of, 15, 105, 213;
+  hostility of army officers to, 74, 85, 101, 164;
+  industry of, 11, 37 n., 48, 55, 111, 156, 175, 181, 182, 208, 209,
+    212, 222;
+  independence of, 208, 260, 275;
+  intelligence of, 21, 60, 63, 74, 76, 90, 93, 97, 112, 166, 168, 169,
+    174, 241;
+  intemperance of, 15, 225, 229, 327;
+  as land-owners (see also Land-sales), 272, 276, 312, 315, 323, 326;
+  language of, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 35, 36, 90, 123, 157, 160, 218;
+  marriage of, 95, 103, 104, 125, 126, 144;
+  names of, 36, 52, 209;
+  petition of, 258-261, 263, 264;
+  religion of, 15, 20, 21, 26, 27, 36, 44, 61, 65, 66, 67, 145, 146,
+    193, 235, 268;
+  singing of, 19, 28, 29, 30, 134, 253, 292, 293, 328;
+  as soldiers, 42, 43, 63, 89, 91, 93, 96, 97, 100, 102, 103, 104, 108,
+    136, 153, 164, 168, 184;
+  treatment of, by masters, 31, 32, 36, 206, 207;
+  wages of, 45, 56, 57, 75, 85, 91, 92, 99, 100, 110, 111, 112, 139,
+    147, 148, 222, 234, 244, 245, 246, 250, 251, 258, 260, 264, 265,
+    266 n., 267, 294, 295, 300, 301, 303, 304.
+
+Nero, 236.
+
+New Orleans, 62, 325.
+
+_New South, The_, 173.
+
+New York Vols.,
+  19th Regt., 13;
+  48th, 197;
+  79th, 39.
+
+Nile, songs on the, 28.
+
+Noble, 271.
+
+_North American Review_, The, 312.
+
+North Carolina Army, 150, 153 n., 161.
+
+Nubia, 11, 15.
+
+
+Oakland, 171.
+
+Oaks, The, 69, 83, 93, 127 n., 150, 171, 320.
+
+Ogeechee River, 309.
+
+Oliver, Dr., 328.
+
+Olmstead, Frederick Law, 265 n.
+
+Otter Island, 47, 159.
+
+
+Paige, Mr., 235, 236.
+
+Palmer, Mr., 79, 81, 82.
+
+Paris, 81, 82.
+
+Parker, Rev. Mr., 268, 269.
+
+Paxton, Capt., 197.
+
+Peg, 212.
+
+Peggy, Old, 43, 44.
+
+Penn Normal, Industrial, and Agricultural School, 16 n., 298, 329, 334.
+
+Pennsylvania Volunteers,
+  Roundhead Regt., 51;
+  104th Regt., 200.
+
+Peter, Uncle, 26, 36, 46, 120, 185.
+
+Peter, on Frogmore, 206.
+
+Petition of negroes, 258-261, 263, 264.
+
+Petra, 304.
+
+Philadelphia, 47, 51, 53, 104.
+
+Philbrick, Edward S., 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 28, 31 n., 36, 37, 39, 40,
+  41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 69, 75, 76, 83, 85, 97,
+  99, 105, 120, 121, 125, 127 n., 135, 137, 139, 146, 150, 152, 158,
+  160, 165, 170, 171, 172, 176, 177, 180, 184, 186, 187, 189, 190, 191,
+  201 n., 203 n., 205, 212, 216, 218, 219, 220, 229, 240, 249, 250,
+  251, 254, 255, 256, 258, 259, 260, 261, 264 n., 265, 284, 291 n.,
+  312, 324, 329, 331, 332.
+  Letters from, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 53, 62, 86, 88, 91, 92,
+    93, 94, 100, 101, 105, 107, 116, 122, 124, 132 n., 135, 140, 180,
+    185, 187, 205, 218, 219, 220, 221, 224, 229, 231, 232, 234, 235,
+    236, 237, 239, 240, 243, 247, 248 n., 249, 250, 256, 257, 264, 265,
+    266, 272, 280, 290, 291, 294, 299, 301, 302 n., 304, 306, 310, 315,
+    316, 317, 325.
+
+Philbrick, Mrs. E. S., 3, 4, 10, 11, 16, 19, 20, 23, 25, 33, 41, 44,
+  46, 51, 58, 59, 61, 65, 73, 82, 150, 154, 161, 170, 183, 191, 216.
+
+Phillips, Rev. Mr., 103, 115, 244, 269.
+
+Phillis, 95, 186, 212.
+
+Phoebe, 103.
+
+Pierce, E. L., 3, 4, 7, 8, 16, 19, 37, 38, 42, 45 n., 49, 50, 54, 64,
+  68, 69, 70.
+
+Pine Grove Plantation, 12, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 26, 31, 51, 59, 60, 75,
+  88, 95, 102, 103, 109, 120, 123, 126, 127 n., 136, 141, 152, 172,
+  173, 183, 184, 185, 186, 191, 210, 231, 234, 262, 270, 271, 301, 328,
+  330, 331.
+
+Plantation Commission, 201 n., 210, 228, 269, 270, 286, 313, 323.
+
+"Plantation Bitters," 310.
+
+_Planter_, The, 45, 46, 47, 51, 63, 268 n.
+
+Pocotaligo, 290, 302, 305.
+
+Pompey, 207, 239, 250, 251, 257, 258, 260, 261, 266, 299, 300.
+
+"Poor Rosy," 30.
+
+Pope, Mr., 327.
+
+Pope's plantation, 19, 50, 195.
+
+Port Royal, 1, 4 n., 28, 70, 119, 190, 191, 225, 226 n., 229, 278, 280,
+  285, 290, 299, 329, 331 n.
+
+Port Royal Bar, 5.
+
+Port Royal Experiment, 92, 98, 118, 119, 170, 172, 180, 218, 219, 240,
+  241.
+
+Port Royal Ferry, 297, 302, 304.
+
+Port Royal Island, 6, 69, 97, 118, 119 n., 128, 194, 304.
+
+_Post_, The N. Y. Evening, 248, 265, 277.
+
+Potter, Edward E., Brig.-Gen., 158, 159, 160.
+
+Preemption system, 229, 230, 244, 245, 248, 254, 266, 318.
+
+Prices, war-time, 47.
+
+Primus, 183, 186, 188, 189, 190, 301, 302, 332.
+
+Prisoners, exchange of, 198, 199.
+
+Pritchard, 78, 79, 171, 311.
+
+Pritchard's Island, 171.
+
+Pulaski, Fort, 43, 87.
+
+
+T. E. R., 122, 125, 135, 141, 145, 172, 186, 193, 229, 233, 243, 244,
+  246, 284, 313;
+  letters from, 285, 310, 314, 320, 326, 328.
+
+"R.'s," 128, 228, 232, 280, 289, 298, 300, 322.
+
+R., Miss, 141, 145, 232.
+
+Rand, Capt., 198.
+
+Ranty, 58, 103, 135, 136.
+
+Raphael, 160.
+
+Rations to negroes, 34, 80, 94, 150, 246, 302 n., 309;
+  to whites, 10, 20, 23, 32, 72, 114, 146.
+
+Readville, 161.
+
+Rebel raids, 233, 270, 279, 296, 306.
+
+Red tape, 72, 75, 85, 86, 190, 191, 285.
+
+Reed, Joe, superintendent, 116.
+
+Refugees.
+  See Edisto Refugees and Georgia Refugees.
+
+Republican party, 328.
+
+Rhodes, J. F., _History of the United States_, 194.
+
+Rice, Lt.-Col., 282, 283.
+
+Richard, 211.
+
+Richmond, 199, 310.
+
+Ripley, Fort, 47.
+
+Rivers, Sergeant Prince, 104, 130, 131.
+
+Road, 209.
+
+Robert, 76, 141, 142, 158, 168, 207, 214, 225, 232, 252, 253, 259,
+  286, 332.
+
+Robert, old, 269, 302 n.
+
+Rodwell, 286.
+
+Rose, Alex's daughter, 86, 87, 95.
+
+Rose, 141, 142, 145, 152, 156, 159, 160, 161, 168, 213, 214, 215, 216,
+  217, 218, 226, 243, 250, 251, 252, 259, 271, 278, 285, 287, 292, 331.
+
+Rosetta, 88.
+
+Russel, Cabot, 199.
+
+Russell, Dr. LeBaron, 117, 118, 153.
+
+
+S----, Col., 258.
+
+S----, Mr., cotton-agent, 12, 14, 33, 42, 44, 55, 102.
+
+S----, postmaster at Beaufort, 152.
+
+St. Croix, 132.
+
+St. Helena Island, 6, 10, 16, 19 n., 36, 74 n., 78, 79, 91, 94, 96,
+  109, 115, 118, 119, 127, 135, 182, 187, 188, 199, 205, 223 n.,
+  266 n., 279, 285, 288, 294, 310, 314, 319, 320.
+
+St. Helena Sound, 10.
+
+St. Helena Village, 30, 68, 72, 201, 329.
+
+St. John's River, 167.
+
+St. Mary's, 107.
+
+St. Mary's River, 153.
+
+St. Simon's Island, 136, 144, 271.
+
+Sally, Aunt, 192.
+
+Sam (Uncle), 34, 61, 65, 66, 95, 106, 141, 145, 146, 158, 159, 205,
+  235, 252, 253.
+
+Sammy, 119, 120.
+
+Samson, 144.
+
+Sancho, 188.
+
+Sanitary Fair, N. Y., 247.
+
+Sarah, of C. Pt., 125, 126.
+
+Sarah, 330.
+
+Sarah, Flora's, 331.
+
+Savannah, 289, 290, 296, 302, 308, 309, 310.
+
+"Saxby," Gen., 130, 150.
+
+Saxton, J. A., 265, 276.
+
+Saxton, Maj.-Gen. Rufus, 48, 57, 69, 83, 84, 86, 92, 93 n., 94, 96,
+  97, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 115, 116, 117,
+  118, 122, 124, 125, 129, 130, 132, 139, 150, 151, 152, 156, 159 n.,
+  165, 167, 168, 171, 172, 173, 175, 187, 188, 190, 193, 194, 198, 201,
+  202, 211, 213, 229, 230, 231, 239, 240, 243, 244, 245, 254, 257 n.,
+  262, 285, 298, 299, 305, 306, 307, 308, 312, 319, 321, 324, 325.
+
+Schools, 16 n., 20, 21, 24, 32, 43, 59, 60, 149, 152, 159, 180, 208,
+  273, 298, 321, 334.
+
+School Farm, 165 n.
+
+Scylla, 302 n.
+
+Sea Islands, 42, 45 n., 70 n., 71, 89, 90, 128, 221, 254 n., 257, 299,
+  307, 319, 321, 334.
+
+Sea Side Road, 76, 171.
+
+"Secesh," 43, 44, 51, 61, 72, 97, 113, 185, 252, 260, 264, 270, 305,
+  311, 314.
+
+"Secesh children," 271.
+
+Seed-cotton, 109 n., 236, 320.
+
+"Shares," 327.
+
+Sharper, 183.
+
+Shaw, Col. R. G., 194, 196, 197, 199.
+
+Shell Road, 297.
+
+Sherman, W. T., Maj.-Gen., 289, 290, 293, 298, 301, 304, 307, 308.
+
+Shop, 24, 33, 46, 57, 92, 142, 157, 158, 159, 185, 190, 219, 220, 233,
+  264, 273, 279, 280, 281, 321.
+
+Shout, 26, 27, 34, 292, 293.
+
+Siah, 34, 119, 199, 221, 222, 224, 260, 266.
+
+Sickles, D. E., Maj.-Gen., 321.
+
+Sim, 36.
+
+Simon, 185.
+
+Sinclair, Mr., 332.
+
+Sinclair, Mrs., 332.
+
+Sinnet, 222.
+
+_Slave Songs of the United States_, 28, 328 n.
+
+Slip-potato crop. See Sweet potato crop.
+
+Small, Robert, 268.
+
+Small-pox, 251-253.
+
+Smallwood, Mr., 313, 314.
+
+Smith, Judge, tax-commissioner, 230, 245.
+
+Smith, Judge, Special Agent, 258, 259, 260.
+
+Smith Plantation, 17, 128.
+
+Soldiers, 38, 39, 92, 94, 118, 119, 155, 199-202.
+
+Soule, Capt. C. C., 89, 289.
+
+Soule, Richard, Jr., 3, 37, 74, 78, 79, 105, 150, 169, 200, 203, 205,
+  211, 213, 223, 225, 258, 259, 261, 263, 269, 280, 283, 289, 290, 321,
+  323, 326, 332;
+  letters from, 309, 312, 315, 322, 324.
+
+Soule, Mrs. R., 289, 332.
+
+South Carolina, 50, 53 n., 91, 267, 290, 291, 311, 321.
+
+South Carolina Vols.,
+  1st, 102, 104 n., 106, 107, 115, 124, 128, 129, 130, 133, 134, 136,
+    153, 154, 167, 225, 236, 268, 282;
+    officers of, 106, 124, 129, 132, 133, 240, 268;
+  2d, 167, 185;
+    officers of, 188, 189.
+
+Stanton, E. M., Secretary of War, 48, 133 n., 298, 299, 305.
+
+Stevens, Hazard, 38, 39.
+
+Stevens, Brig.-Gen. Isaac I., 47.
+
+Stevenson, Thomas G., Brig.-Gen., 162, 163, 164.
+
+Stickney, Judge, 132.
+
+Stone-cotton, 109, 236.
+
+Store.
+  See Shop.
+
+Strappan, 217.
+
+Strong, Lt.-Col., 282.
+
+Sumner, Arthur, 68, 156, 161, 163.
+
+Sumter, Fort, 46, 47, 51.
+
+Superintendence, system of, 101, 117, 137, 147, 167, 228, 272.
+
+Superintendent, typical day of, 76-82.
+
+Superintendents, duties of, 86;
+  meetings of, 101, 108, 117, 197.
+
+Susan, 23, 43, 141.
+
+Sutton, Corp. Robert, 131.
+
+Sweet potato crop, 105, 106, 111.
+
+
+Tamah, 163.
+
+Task, 45 n.
+
+Tax-commissioners, 109, 117, 129 n., 165, 231, 248, 254, 255, 258,
+  259, 320.
+
+Thanksgiving Day,
+  1863, 232;
+  1864, 288, 289
+
+Thomas, 224.
+
+Thompson, Capt. Thomas, 186, 188, 189.
+
+Thorpe, Mr., 143, 217.
+
+Tilly, 304.
+
+Tim, 139, 208, 222.
+
+_Times_, The New York, 69.
+
+Tira, 36.
+
+"Titles," 36, 52.
+
+Titus, 252.
+
+"Tobey," Captain, 97.
+
+Toby, 87, 95.
+
+Tom, 30, 31, 59, 61.
+
+"Tom, Uncle," 61.
+
+Tomlinson, Reuben, 222, 224, 251, 258, 259, 261, 262, 263, 302 n.,
+  305, 306, 307, 319, 321;
+  letters from, 223, 228, 250.
+
+Tony, driver, 79, 80, 82, 120, 199, 239, 301.
+
+Towne, Laura E., founder of Penn School, 16, 49, 293, 294, 298, 319,
+  329.
+
+Towne, Mr., 323.
+
+Treasury Department, 1, 280, 281.
+
+Treasury, Secretary of, 70 n., 247, 281.
+
+_Tribune_, The New York, 62, 235, 236, 265.
+
+
+Union Store, 312, 314, 322.
+
+United States Colored Troops,
+  21st Reg't., 282 n.;
+  33d Reg't. See S. C. Vols., 1st Reg't.
+
+
+Vaughn, Mrs., 288.
+
+Venus, 304.
+
+Vicksburg, 195.
+
+
+C. P. W., 70, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 138, 139, 141, 143, 144, 146,
+  152, 153, 157, 159, 160, 167, 168, 171, 172, 176, 177, 180, 182, 183,
+  184, 189, 190, 193, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 205, 208,
+  210, 211, 213, 214, 216, 220, 222, 225, 228, 230, 234, 239, 250, 255,
+  256, 259, 262, 263, 267, 268, 279, 285, 286, 289, 291 n., 292, 293,
+  303, 309, 331, 332;
+  letters from, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 84, 86, 90, 93, 94, 96, 105 n.,
+    106, 111, 114, 115, 120, 146, 152, 154, 170, 171, 172, 190, 209,
+    226, 279, 282, 286, 293, 297.
+
+H. W., 10, 16, 22, 34, 75, 120, 184, 278, 279, 286, 309, 331 n.;
+  letters from, 16, 21, 22, 25, 30, 34, 35, 36, 43, 44, 45, 46, 49,
+    51, 52, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, 119, 121, 122, 124, 125, 127,
+    128, 133 n., 138, 139, 140, 141, 144, 149, 150, 152, 153, 154, 155,
+    157, 158, 160, 161, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 173 n., 174 n., 176,
+    180, 182, 184, 185, 186, 189, 191, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 199,
+    204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 210, 211, 213, 215, 216, 217, 218, 222,
+    224, 226, 229, 230, 232, 234, 237, 240, 250, 251, 252, 253, 258,
+    259, 262, 263, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 285, 287, 288, 289, 292,
+    293, 298, 329.
+
+W----, Miss, 49.
+
+_Wabash_, 225.
+
+Wagner, Fort, assault on, 196.
+
+Wakefield, Dr., 41, 45, 51, 196.
+
+War Department, 159 n.
+
+War, Secretary of, 48, 133 n., 298, 299, 305.
+
+Ward, Captain, 328, 331.
+
+Walker, Fort, 5, 37, 61.
+
+Washington, 122 n., 151, 165, 240, 243, 254, 260, 280, 281, 326.
+
+Waters, Mr., 301, 324, 330.
+
+Waters, Mrs., 330.
+
+Wells, George, 172, 197, 203, 204, 232, 233, 236, 247, 270, 295, 296,
+  306.
+
+Wells, Mrs. Geo., 270.
+
+Westcott, Dr., 213.
+
+White, William, 323.
+
+White Place, 236.
+
+Whitredge, Alonso, 195.
+
+Whitredge, John, 195.
+
+Whittier, J. G., 133.
+
+"Widow Bedotte," 192.
+
+Will, 235.
+
+Wil'by, 41, 43, 61, 123.
+
+Williams, C. F., 134, 141, 193, 306, 310, 315, 322, 324, 325.
+
+Williams, Mrs., 141, 143.
+
+Williams, F. J., 251, 257.
+
+Williams, Capt., 311.
+
+Williamsburg, battle of, 62.
+
+Wolcott, Mrs. J. Huntington, 168.
+
+
+York, Mr., 299, 300, 306, 310, 322.
+
+York, Polite, 13, 36, 37, 58, 123, 141, 152.
+
+
+Zachos, Mr., 130.
+
+
+
+
+      *      *      *      *      *
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+Inconsistencies in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, and grammar
+are due to the dialects and preferences of the various letter writers.
+
+The following corrections have been made from the original:
+
+Page 61: Charleson changed to Charleston (cents in Charleston).
+
+Page 64: sufficent changed to sufficient (sufficient intelligence).
+
+Page 76: The illustrated symbol was originally on the line of text
+following the words: rude portal.
+
+Page 79: assisttant changed to assistant (Mr. Soule's assistant).
+
+Pages 103, 342: Phoebe had an oe ligature in the original book.
+
+Page 158: itle changed to title (The title had an immense effect).
+
+Page 237: The illustrated symbol was originally on the line of text
+following the words: Coffin trademark.
+
+
+
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