[Diary] February 27.
They tell me that my name — L. Towne — on so many boxes of herring, barrels of molasses, and hogsheads of pork made great inquiry as to who this large consignee could be. When some of the officers in Beaufort heard it was a lady, they drew a picture of a tall, rawboned woman, sitting on a hogshead of molasses. When one of the officers was introduced to me in school, he said, “Is it possible that this is Miss Towne? I thought she was very tall and thin.”
[Diary] February 25.
Rosie, Will, Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick, Charles Ware, Ellen, Nelly, and I rode to the ferry, took the Bythewood and crew and rowed down to Camp Saxton, taking Quaker back to his regiment and getting him excused for absence without leave. When we arrived, Colonel Higginson was just drilling his men. Had a nice long talk with him, and with Colonel Montgomery, of Kansas, who walked with Ellen and me to the cypress swamp. Colonel Montgomery seems to me like a fiery westerner, full of fight and with sufficient confidence in himself. He told us about how he had been sent by General Hunter or General Saxton to recruit in Florida, and how he was ill-treated and scowled at by the officers of the steamer he was in. He wanted to have his men landed at Smith’s plantation, but the captain of the boat ignored his request and kept on up to Beaufort. Meantime, General Hunter and General Saxton had both gone to Smith’s to see the new men. When the steamer went past they were astonished, and General Saxton rode up to Beaufort to see why it was so. When he learned the reason, he put the steamer under Colonel Montgomery’s orders, and the reluctant officers had to obey him whom they had so slighted.
Rowed home by moonlight.
[Diary] February 24.
Hurrah! Jubilee! Lands are to be set apart for the people so that they cannot be oppressed, or driven to work for speculators, or ejected from their homesteads. Orders to the superintendents to number the people by families.
[Diary] February 12.
The New York regiment called “Les Enfants Perdus” were landed on this island, and they are doing all sorts of mischief. They take the people’s chickens, shoot and carry off their pigs, and when the people defend their property, they shoot the men and insult the women. They have burned a row of houses near Lands End, because, when stealing a man’s pigs, he fired upon them from his window. They met Mr. Sumner and presented a pistol at him when he ordered them off his plantation. They threatened to mob Mr. Hammond for trying to protect his people.
[Diary] February 3.
Many of the superintendents — those expecting to hold land under Mr. Philbrick — signed the petition. Mr. Ruggles and others have refused.
[Diary] February 2.
Mr. Philbrick is so angry at the stoppage of the sales of lands. He wants his now and he is going to buy largely, saying that it is to prevent the lands falling into the hands of those who will take advantage of the people. He says he will sell again to the people as soon as he finds it for their interest. He says he will sell at cost. I believe be is going to petition that the Island of St. Helena be sold at once, and he wants all the superintendents to sign.
The negro companies under Higginson have fought well in Florida — four wounded. Captain Clifton killed. The soldiers — white ones — set fire to St. Mary’s. Three colored men were taken prisoners, and Higginson says if the rebels hang them he will hang two whites for every one of them.
[Diary] Sunday, February 1.
General Saxton and Captain Hooper were over to church and to the Oaks to dine. General Saxton takes a gloomy view of our holding these islands. General Seymour says they must be held. General Saxton is much opposed to the sale of the land to speculators. He thinks they ought to be preempted by the people, or else so divided and sold that the people can buy, and not be left a prey to greedy speculators and large landholders. He thinks matters are being, injuriously to the people’s interests, hurried forward in favor of purchasers. He is much troubled and grieved about it. I suggested that Hunter should stop the sale. General Saxton caught at the idea. He went to Hilton Head yesterday and the sales are stopped as a military necessity. General Hunter wants to know first where he shall put refugees who come every day, and where he shall get timber for Government uses after the lands are sold; whence, too, will come supplies for his army.
The Oaks, Sunday, February 8, 1863.
I have not yet spent any of the money. I think I may want to buy, or lease land with it. If the sales had been conducted as at first proposed, there would have been splendid speculations here, but the speculators found that out, and the best men here, General Saxton and others, sent word to Washington about it, and so the sale has been postponed, or, as another rumor says, Congress has decided that the land shall be bid in by Government unless it is bought for three-fourths of its estimated value. That will cut out all speculators. The house on this place cost about twelve thousand dollars, and there are five hundred acres belonging to The Oaks, of good cotton land mostly (cotton selling at $1.65 per pound), and yet it was thought the place would sell for less than one hundred dollars. All that fun is spoiled now, however, for the estimated value of the land of The Oaks in the tax-tables is $2000, and the bidding-in price $1500 — too much to be risked in these times. Whether the superintendents will be retained under the new leasing plan or not is a great question. I think it quite likely not. W. is disgusted just now with the people, because they have not worked and will not work enough; but what inducement they have to work, no one can see. They have not been paid for their work since September, and they begin to believe that Government never means to pay any more. It will take some management to get them to do the fencing W. wants done, willingly at least. They do not see the use of fences. Wherever the soldiers go they take the rails for firewood, and this is rather discouraging to the workmen who cut them upon a “promise to pay” merely.
There has been a rumor that no more letters were to go North till after the great doings at Charleston, but that order has not come yet. If a long time goes by without your hearing, you may suppose that the mails are stopped.
[Diary] January 4.
A grand celebration at the church. The children sang, “Sound the loud timbrel,” and “Oh, none in all.”
General Saxton, General Seymour, Mr. Milne, Mr. Williams, Mr. Harrison, and Mr. French addressed the people. They all dined here, I sitting at table opposite to Mr. Soule, having General Saxton on my right hand, General Seymour on my left. The dinner passed pleasantly, when some spirit prompted me to bring in General McClellan, when the two generals opposite each other blazed up, General Seymour being an admirer of McClellan and General Saxton saying a few noble, outspoken words against his pro-slavery principles. He spoke brave, true words about freedom for the blacks. General Seymour did not agree with him. This malapropos subject came near causing a little disagreeable stiffness. Soon after dinner all went home. General Seymour seems to be full of impulse and fire, but too much impressed by a residence of former years in Charleston in favor of the “chivalry.”
[Diary] Saturday, January 3, 1863.
General Saxton and Captain Hooper here to-night, and Mr. Sumner too. In the black regiment a deserter was shot by the guard while trying to escape.
Follow on facebook
RSS
email
