Lucy Chase, May 11, 1863

Portsmouth, Va., May 11th, 1863.

For a week we heard, without anxiety, the booming of the guns at Suffolk, and we begged to be allowed to remain on the Island (Craney Island), but the Doctor was decided, and General Viele and other officers urged the necessity of his sending us North. To that we demurred; but in spite of our unwillingness, we were kept for a week in durance vile at the Hygeia Hotel. We then returned to our work, though the authorities considered it unsafe so to do; and knowing we should soon be taken from the Island, we worked, for a week, ten or twelve hours a day; our pupils striving cheerfully all the while to keep pace with us. In that week, many to whom on Monday we gave their first writing lessons, learned to write me letters. Writing from memory, excited them amazingly, and writing “Newport News,” “Hampton,” and their other homes of refuge, was a delight to them. I don't tell you about my sister, but her work tells here all the while. We want primers — one thousand of them. Out of date books can be spared, I doubt not, from many Northern book stores. You desire us to make our wants known to you. Can you help us in this instance, and that speedily?

Dr. Brown has six hundred and forty-five negroes upon the farms which he directly superintends – from one to five hundred upon each farm. He still has forty farms. Of fourteen a third of the produce is confiscated, and of those he has no oversight. He himself is cultivating two thousand four hundred acres, with grain, vegetables, cotton and tobacco.

SOURCE: New-England Educational Commission for Freedmen, Extracts from Letters of Teachers and Superintendents of the New-England Educational Commission for Freedmen, Fourth Series, January 1, 1864, p. 11-2

Brigadier-General Thomas J. Jackson to Margaret Junkin Preston, October 23, 1861

Centreville, Oct. 23d, 1861.

My Dear Maggie, — I am much obliged for your kind letter of the 19th, and for the arrangement respecting Amy and Emma¹. Please have the kindness to go to Winny Buck's occasionally, and see that Amy is well cared for, and that not only she, but also Emma, is well clothed. I am under special obligations for the religious instruction that you have given Amy, and hope that it may be in your power to continue it. Remember me to her very kindly, on the first opportunity, and say that I hope she has rich heavenly consolation. This evening I expect our own pastor and Dr. McFarland. I will send some money by Dr. White for you to use as occasion may require for Amy and Emma, and I will so manage as to keep a supply in the Rockbridge Bank, or elsewhere, subject to your order.

I have this day received a letter from your dear husband at Craney Island. The letter has reference to his coming here, and I am anxiously expecting him, though am apprehensive that he will not reach here for a week or so yet.

I heard from A. a few days since; she was at her father's, and doing well. Give my kindest regards to Mrs. Cocke.

My oft-repeated prayer is for a speedy termination of the war, by an honorable and lasting peace. God has given us another glorious victory near Leesburg.

My prayer for you is that your path may be that of the just, which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Who would not be a Christian!

Your affectionate friend,

T. J. Jackson.

_______________

¹ Slaves owned by Jackson

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 129-30

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, March 28.

Affairs remain quiet so far, at least no news that can be communicated.

The rebels have been exceedingly busy about Pig Point and Craney Island for the last few days.  Steam tugs have been plying to and fro, and it is supposed the rebels are strengthening their fortifications all along from Craney Island to the Point. – They have also increased their forces in that vicinity, or for effect their camps have been advanced and long lines of tents can be seen along the shore.

Glasses are directed momentarily toward Craney Island on the lookout for the Merrimac, and every indication of smoke or steam in that direction is closely investigated by hundreds of eager eyes.

Gen. Hunter and staff arrived here yesterday en route to Port Royal, to take command of the army operations in that quarter.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, March 31, 1862, p. 1

Washington Correspondence

WASHINGOTN, May 15, 1862.

The appearance of the President in the field as commander, so far as he acted in that capacity at Norfolk, has delighted the soldiers hereabout exceedingly.  They think if he had had actual oversight and command during the weary months that have passed, that there would have been more business done, and they have faith in his practical good sense and ready judgment.  They attribute to him solely the movement upon Norfolk.  And in all this they are probably correct.  In the Norfolk matter they unquestionably are.  It was against the advice and decided judgment of Com. Goldsborough that the movement upon Sewell’s point and Craney Island, with a view to cleaning out the Merrimac and an approach upon Norfolk was made.  The story, apparently authentic, is that the Commodore declared that no scientific man would, under existing circumstances, venture an attack upon Sewell’s Point, and he was greatly exercised about the result of a collision with the Merrimac.  The president, however, allowing that science might all be with the Commodore, still insisted on shooting at the enemy’s works. And with what results the world knows.  I suppose there is no reasonable doubt but that a similar order, issued five or six months ago, would have been attended with the same results.  Still, the lesson and the stimulus imparted to our Navy by the Merrimac may have been worth to us more than all the consequences of an earlier capture of Norfolk, notwithstanding the mortification it caused us.

An effort is making to get Gen. Dix removed from command at Baltimore.  If all the reports from Union men there are true, he ought to be.  The spirit of his “shoot him on the spot” dispatch to New Orleans doubtless pointed him out as the man of proper firmness and energy to deal with the chafing and venomous rebels at Baltimore.  But they seem to have the power of “honey-fugling” him completely  The Union men there complain that he employs all his blandness and social arts to win the secessionists over to his side, feeling that the Union men are all right any how, and do not need consideration or particular favor at his hands.  They complain that rebels are treated with more kindness and consideration than loyal Union men, and that they have to bear the taunts without the means of retaliation and witness the treatment of rebels and the frequent discriminations in their favor with mortification.  I think there is at least more truth in this representation of the matter than there ought to be.  People from here visiting Baltimore, often confirm it, and express indignation at the way things are managed there.

But affairs are, unfortunately, conducted in a similar manner in most other places where our commanders have taken possession of rebel strongholds.  A native Southerner, now at Nashville, a man of unusual sagacity and correctness of observation who is assisting in the work of restoring Tennessee to the Union, in an official capacity, in a private letter that I lately received from him, makes a complaint of a similar nature there.  He says:

“Andrew Johnson has a carte blanche of power.  His will is law.  And yet Jefferson Davis has more authority to-day in the city of Nashville than Johnson.  You are incredulous.  I repeat it, with all the emphasis of which I am capable.  And in my judgment there is ample reason why this should be so.  Wherein lies the remedy?  The hand of the government must be laid heavily on the rebels. Rebel newspapers must be crushed.  Rebels must not be permitted to talk about the return of “our army.” – Expressions of disloyalty must be vigilantly watched and promptly punished.  But men are deterred from being loyal by the hissing threats that fill the atmosphere, that they will be punished when the rebel army returns.  Men continue to be disloyal, because it is safe to be so, let the war terminate as it may, and because it is unsafe to be loyal in certain contingencies.”

This last clause doubtless contains the true philosophy of the case.  It is understood here, however, that Gov. Johnson, who did relax for a time the vigorous treatment inaugurated at the outset in Tennessee, which resulted as my friend describes, has now returned to, and will hereafter pursue, without any let-up, the more vigorous and common sense policy at first proposed.

The council of old grannies and Jeremy Didler politicians, under the lead of Vallandigham, Crittenden, and Kellogg of Illinois having, as its first effect, failed to do anything except to enlarge the dimensions of the Lovejoy bill and insure a more vigorous effort to pass it – an effort which resulted in triumphant success, and while a shade of doubt hung over it in the position that it occupied previous to the “conservative” meeting to defeat it – has pretty much concluded that its mission is not so very clear and promising as was first believed, and the eminent, overshadowing, self sacrificing, enlarged love of country that prompted it will hardly be sufficient, under the circumstances, to carry on the enterprise longer than may be necessary to bury it with becoming decency.

IOWA.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 1

The President at Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, May 7. – President Lincoln arrived here this morning and spent the day with Gen. Wool. This afternoon he visited Newport News to see Gen. Mansfield and to have a clear view of the Merrimac, which has been lying off Craney Island all the afternoon for the purpose, no doubt, of preventing our gunboats from running up the James river. She made no attempt to come out.

The George Peabody arrived here from Hatteras to-day, and started immediately for New York. No News has transpired.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 10, 1862, p. 3

Surrender of Fort Pulaski

BALTIMORE, April 15.

The Savannah Republican of the 12th announces the unconditional surrender of Fort Pulaski, in the previous day. Seven large breaches were made in the walls by our batteries of Parrott guns at King’s Landing, and all the barbette guns on that side and three casemate guns were dismounted. – Three balls entered the magazine.

Col. Olmstead, the rebel commander, signaled the day previous to the surrender that our fire was so terrible that no human being could stand upon the parapet for even a minute.


FORT MONROE, April 14.

A flag of truce went up to Craney Island this p.m., and brought back two Norfolk papers. They were taken to headquarters and although containing the important information of the unconditional surrender of Fort Pulaski, an effort was made in accordance with the policy that prevails here, to keep even good news from the representatives of the press. I am, however, able to give you the substance of the glorious news published in the Savannah Republican. The Republican says substantially that it learns with deep regret that after a gallant defense against guns mostly superior, Fort Pulaski surrendered at 2 p.m. yesterday, the 11th.

Corporal Law, of the Pulaski Guards, who did not leave Fort Thunderbolt until after the flag was hauled down, brings the intelligence of the successful event. The surrender was unconditional.

Seven large breaches were made in the south wall by the Federal battery of eight Parrott guns, at Knight’s Landing.

All the barbette guns on that side were dismounted, and also three casemate guns, leaving but one gun bearing on that point. A clear breach was made in the magazine. The balls used were conical, and were propelled with such force that they went clear through the walls at nearly every fire. Col. Almsted [sic], who was in command, telegraphed the previous evening that no one could stand upon the ramparts for a single moment, and that over 1,000 large shells had exploded within the fort.

The Republican publishes the above as a postscript to a part of its edition and makes comments, nor gives any particulars as to the number of men and officers in the fort at the time of the surrender. It says however, none of it’s defenders were killed and but four wounded.

A Richmond paper contains and editorial exhibiting considerable fear for the safety of that city. It intimates that the Monitor may attack, and the Galena and all armored vessels might easily come up James river, and by their invulnerability and powerful guns, take and keep possession of the city. To prevent such a result it proposes that the channel of James river shall be obstructed by stone, which it says is abundant for the purpose and should be used at once.

The Merrimac has not come out, and nothing has been seen of her to-day. The tide has been low and this may have kept her in.

Early in the morning a rebel tug ran out from behind Sewall’s Point, but soon returned.

Later in the day there was a large fire in the woods on the Point, apparently from the burning of the brush, and gave rise to some speculations that the rebels were building a new battery there.

– Published in the Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 16, 1862, p. 1

From Fortress Monroe

Baltimore, April 9. – The Old Point boat has arrived. She left Ft. Monroe about eight o’clock last night.

The Merrimac is confidently expected with seven other gunboats on the first favorable day.

Weather cold and foggy.

The latest news from Yorktown by telegraph, 8th, is that everything is progressing satisfactorily. A battle is not expected within a day or two.

The American’s special correspondence says: The storm which arose Monday afternoon and continued through to-day doubtless prevented the Merrimac coming out as she intended. She is now looked for confidently as soon as the weather permits.

A gentleman who was on board the steamer Rancorous when she went up with a flag of truce on Monday, says the Merrimac was then lying off Craney Island. The Yorktown, Jamestown, Teazer [sic] and four steam tugs, were in company with her – all under steam. No particular change in the appearance of the Merrimac was noticed.

It was the impression of those on board the Rancorous that the whole fleet were on their way down when the flag of truce appeared.

The storm must have been severely felt in the army now advancing up the Peninsula deprived as they were to a great extent of shelter and tents, and exposed to a constant watchfulness in the face of the foe. Their discipline, none too good before, will be brought to a poor condition and the public must not be impatient in expecting early results in this direction.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Thursday, April 10, 1862