FORT MOULTRIE, S.C., Jan. 4, 1846.
My Dear Brother: I
had to go to North Carolina on a wedding tour at Christmas time, and as soon as
I got back I went to a plantation, not very far off, to spend the New Year. I
am pretty well acquainted with all the rich people round about, and have from
them enough invitations for the balance of the winter. It is a great relief
occasionally to slip off from our monotonous drill and duty to ramble among the
green and noble live oaks—the most magnificent evergreen in our forest. Then
again, the planters have plenty to eat and drink, and can, without seeming
inconvenience, entertain any number of straggling acquaintances. When we expect
any assemblage large enough to dance, we take along four or five musicians from
our band, which makes us doubly welcome during the Christmas holidays. The
people here were not a little alarmed about war, for it would at once crush
their prosperous rice and cotton trade—the only articles of trade here.
Moreover, the English, in case of war, would doubtless do all they could to
make the slaves rise and would supply them with the necessary arms and
ammunition to make them really formidable. I have never seen the least sign of
disaffection on the part of the negroes, and have seen them in the cotton field
and rice ditches, met them hunting at all hours of day and on the road at
night, without anything but "How d'ye, Massa? Please give me some
bac." However, it is easy, no doubt, to make them believe they can own the
fields and houses they now see, and to excite them to resort to means that
would even astonish their provokers; but I have heard but one or two who in
conversation would admit even such danger in case of war; but all admit that
the price of negroes would so fall as inevitably to destroy such as would be
compelled to sell such property, such as estates to be divided among
children, etc. There would be no difficulty in taking Charleston—our fort is weak
and has only about 100 men—it is not ditched or strengthened in such a way as
to defy an assault. A new fort is being built in the channel which, when done,
will be very strong, but its walls are as yet barely out of water. The
Charlestonians have such confidence in Mr. Calhoun, who is decidedly opposed to
war, that since his arrival they have no apprehension. All here think that such
resolutions as Mr. Hannigan introduced in the Senate, and such speeches as were
made by Allen and Cass will cause immediate war for which no preparations are
in progress, or even contemplated. If war takes place, I shall do all I can to
better my future and rank, but if it slides by, as other rumors have, I must
remain contented with my present commission. . . .
SOURCE: Rachel
Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between
General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, pp. 29-30
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