Company E on picket duty, false alarm at night, cattle in
canefield. Krause's mounted infantry rode out and ascertained the cause of the
alarm. Nothing of importance occurring after this, I have not thought it proper
to keep a minute daily account, but I will state something of what was going on
in the interim. Many negroes flocked in from the plantations bringing their
manners and customs with them, which gave infinite amusement to both officers
and men. And these they furnished in almost every variety so as to suit all
classes. In one house some old gray-headed patriarch would hold forth in a
religious discourse to a noisy and delighted audience. In another a prayer
meeting would be in progress. Further along might be heard the banjo and
fiddle, and the sable virgins of Africa could be seen “tripping the light
fantastic toe.” This last as may well be imagined formed the principal
attraction, and not infrequently these sable nymphs would be led off by a
partner in uniform. The contrabands increased so rapidly that something must be
done with them. Colonel Holcomb set about making a fort. This gave employment
to several hundred. General Butler conceived the idea of farming some of the
deserted plantations, so he employed agents to see to the work, and sent negroes
and their families to gather the cane and make it into sugar, paying them wages
and feeding them. This was a nice arrangement and opened the way for self
support to thousands that otherwise would be an expense to the government. As
for myself I found plenty to do, for Captain Solomon and my Second Lieutenant
were on the sick list most of the time with chills and fever contracted at Camp
Williams, and my First Lieutenant was on detached service with the mounted
infantry. This placed me in command of the company most of the time, and with
the duties of Orderly Sergeant and the books of the company to keep was quite
sufficient for one to do. But my officers were very kind to me, and I had all
the privileges of a commissioned officer. Besides this I had a nice comfortable
house built for myself, Lieutenant Gardner and Captain Solomon, the Captain
occupying one room and Lieutenant Gardner and myself the other. Thus things
went on quite harmoniously. During this time General Butler was superceeded by
General Banks in the Department of the Gulf.
SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from
a Soldier's Diary, p. 34-6
