An exciting day. This morning Mr. Eustis came over and told
Mr. Hooper that we ought to be ready to go at a moment's notice. For two weeks
we have been quite unprotected, and last night an attempt was made to pass the
pickets at Port Royal Ferry. A flat was seen coming. Our pickets challenged it,
and the negroes exclaimed, “Don't shoot, massa!” Then fifty men rose up in the
boat and fired into the guard, killing four of them. The others fled to Port
Royal, I believe, carrying dismay, and this morning all the ladies, cotton
agents, and civilians, except our men, embarked on the Ottawa and went down to
Hilton Head, Miss Walker among them. Our men, of the Commission, have
been bold enough. Little Taylor has shouldered his gun and he this morning went
to within four miles of the enemies’ lines. Ashly acted as guide to the scouts
and others have gone readily to the aid of the soldiery. Yet Mr. Pierce says
the soldiers are swearing at the “nigger lovers,” who have all gone — run away
at the first danger. Not a man has gone — not one.
There is quite a panic in Beaufort and several gunboats have
gone up to it, apparently to take away the commissary stores. It will then be
evacuated, and what will become of the poor negroes if the masters return! It
seems to me that this is a causeless panic.
We packed our trunks to-day according to Mr. Hooper's
orders, and we can run at any time, but leaving much behind us. I cannot bear
the thought of going while these poor people must stay — Aunt Bess, whose leg
is so bad; and some of the babies are ill now — they will suffer so in the
woods and marshes if they have to fly. While we were packing this morning,
Susannah, then Rina, came and asked anxiously about our going. I told them all
we knew — that we might have to go off, but would not if we could help it; that
our soldiers had all gone off to take Charleston and that Secesh might come
down to attack us, and then the gentlemen would insist upon our going. Mr.
Pierce came home about eleven, and he thinks we may remain. So we have composed
ourselves as best we can. The gentlemen are going to patrol to-night, but I am
more afraid of the exposure than of Secesh for them, and us too.
Mr. Pierce has gone to Beaufort again. Several gentlemen
were here to-day, Mr. Horton among them, who wanted to know if we were “going
to trust the Lord and keep our powder dry.” I want to have Mr. Pierce secure
half a dozen guns for each plantation, and then if Secesh come, call upon the
negroes to help us and stay. I am sure we shall be safe. I am entirely opposed
to our flying. If Mr. Pierce were not going North, this would be the case, I am
pretty sure, but he is determined to have us safe while he is gone. We have a
boat in readiness to set out by water, and the horses are kept fresh to take us
by land. One of them died to-day of poison plants, or colic, — one of the
handsome bays.
I have been in other excitement lately and feel almost ill
from it. But first about the alarm at Beaufort. It was so great that the
arsenal was open, and anybody wishing it could go in and get a gun. It appears
that the Pennsylvania regiment, or a guard of fifty, were stationed at Port
Royal Ferry, and on this alarm they ran, after firing, and burned the bridge
between themselves and the enemy. Their panic alarmed Beaufort. The ladies fled
to the gunboats and to Hilton Head. They will return to-morrow probably. All
Beaufort was in confusion. To-night all is safety and quiet there. We have had
quite a cosy evening here — Mr. Pierce, Mr. Hooper, Miss Winsor, and I.
SOURCE: Rupert Sargent Holland, Editor, Letters and
Diary of Laura M. Towne: Written from the Sea Islands of South Carolina
1862-1864, p. 63-5
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