. . . reconstruction in North Carolina. Letters from the Burnside expedition speak of
the Union demonstrations made at every point on the main land explored by our
troops. Among the documents captured at
Roanoke was a letter from Jeff Davis to Com. Lynch, strongly urging “the
importance of suppressing the Union sentiment existing among the people on
these Sounds without a moment’s delay, a growing danger springing up in
different sections of the Confederacy which will soon, if not put down, give us
more trouble than the northern foe.” The
danger foreseen by Davis has already grown beyond his ability to suppress
it. A letter from Edenton, N. C., says –
“The authorities said the city was all Union, and that if we
could protect the people in these counties we would have all the support the
Government could desire, not only in Edenton, but throughout the entire
State. They said that they had not taken
up arms against the Union, or suffered any fortifications to be erected about
or near the city, or menaced the Government in any manner whatever. On the contrary, they organized a Union
company at the commencement of the rebellion, and continued to keep it up until
a late day, when they were finally obliged to take a neutral position in order
to save their lives and property from the vengeance of the Virginia
rebels. The county it appears is Union,
two to one; as also are the eastern counties of the State, we are informed by
the people, though they dare not openly express their sentiments. It is truly an affecting scene to see with
what reverence these oppressed Union people looked upon the stars and
stripes. I saw a group of men at
Elizabeth city weeping under its ample folds, relating how much they had
suffered since they had been deprived of its protection, kissing their hands at
the proud emblem as they took their departure, wishing that their eyes might never
again be insulted by the sight of the piratical flag of the rebellion. I have been informed by many prominent Union
men that just as soon as our forces can assure the people of this section of
our ability to afford them permanent protection, that not only will we see at
least two-thirds of the people arraying themselves openly on the side of the
Union, but any number will volunteer to fight for the old flag.”
– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye,
Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 2
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