(Private)
New Orleans, Oct. 8th, 1862.
Dear Sir: I
send you to-day, a map of lower Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, more
reliable and rare than any other, hoping an occasional reference to it will be
of service to you. The numerous bayous in this part of the country, are
navigable for small, and some of them, for large vessels.
The destination of the expedition (Gen'l. Weitzel's Brigade)
up the River, spoken of in my last letter, is either Donelsonville [sic1]
or Plaquemine. From either of these places, bayous lead to the head of Berwick’s
Bay, as you see by the map. As I am informed, the design is to take possession,
by boats, of what is called (on the map) Lake Chestimache (Berwick's Bay), and of the Bayou leading therefrom to
Plaquemine or Donelsonville, thus enclosing a large and rich country, filled
with sugar and cotton. The expedition is expected to start in ten or fifteen
days, but I believe its object is commercial rather than military.
Berwick is eighty miles from here, connected with New
Orleans by the Opelousas Railroad, and is in the Collection District of Teche.
I would suggest that whenever you think proper to open the port of Teche, I can
give you great assistance, and if you attach it to this District, 1 can save
you much trouble by a Deputy Collector there, and establishing (under your
authority) a branch of this Custom House at that point. Large quantities of
cotton and sugar remain in that country. I have excellent officers, numerous
boats, etc., and should be willing to assume this additional responsibility, if
the interests of the Government would be advanced thereby. I would add also
that when the port of Mobile is to be opened, I can give you great assistance
from this point.
The proclamation of the President is received here, but I
have not learned in what spirit it is regarded, except that it is endorsed by
the best Union men.
A necessary result of the proclamation, is the organizing
and arming of the colored population throughout the South — and for the following reasons —
1st. On account of the assistance they will render the Gov't
against the rebels.
2nd. For their own protection against their former masters.
3rd. For the purpose of restraining and controlling them,
also [as ?] they may be dangerous to friend and foe alike. One individual can
control 50,000 disciplined men, but cannot control a mob of fifty.
The colored Brigade progresses and prospers. Recruits come
in faster than they can be provided for. It is the present intention to
organize six Regiments at least. Two are full and the third nearly. The 1st.
Reg't. received their arms lately, and I have seen them drill. They are fine
men and 1 believe the Reg't. will be equal to any in this Department. They
learn more quickly than white soldiers, and will certainly fight, when the
proper time comes. You will receive from me by this same mail a private letter
concerning trade with the enemy, to which I earnestly call your attention.
_______________
* The proper spelling is Donaldsonville.
SOURCE: Diary and correspondence of Salmon P. Chase, Annual
Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol.
2, p. 318-9
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