"I destroyed all my notes and journal—from the time I arrived in Flat Rock [North Carolina]—during a raid upon Richmond in 1863.* Afterward—I tried to fill up the gap from memory."
*While the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, was fought to the north, detachments of U.S. Maj. Gen. George Stoneman's cavalry rode within several miles of Richmond on May 3-4, 1863, in an effort to cut communication lines.
Showing posts with label 1862. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1862. Show all posts
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
9 July 1862,
Columbia, South Carolina
"Table talk today:
This war was undertaken by us to shake off the yoke of foreign invaders. So we consider our cause righteous. The Yankees, since the war has begun, have discovered it is to free the slaves they are fighting—so their cause is noble. They also expect to make the war pay. Yankees do not undertake anything that does not pay. They think we belong to them. We have been good milk cows. Milked by the tariff, or skimmed. We let them have all of our hard earnings. We bore the ban of slavery. They got the money. Cotton pays everybody who handles it, sells it, manufactures it, &c&c—rarely pays the men who make it. Secondhand, they received the wages of slavery. They grew rich, we grew poor. Receiver is as bad as the thief. That applies to us, too—we received these savages they stole from Africa and brought to us in their slave ships. Like the Egyptians, if they let us go, it must be across a red sea of blood."
This war was undertaken by us to shake off the yoke of foreign invaders. So we consider our cause righteous. The Yankees, since the war has begun, have discovered it is to free the slaves they are fighting—so their cause is noble. They also expect to make the war pay. Yankees do not undertake anything that does not pay. They think we belong to them. We have been good milk cows. Milked by the tariff, or skimmed. We let them have all of our hard earnings. We bore the ban of slavery. They got the money. Cotton pays everybody who handles it, sells it, manufactures it, &c&c—rarely pays the men who make it. Secondhand, they received the wages of slavery. They grew rich, we grew poor. Receiver is as bad as the thief. That applies to us, too—we received these savages they stole from Africa and brought to us in their slave ships. Like the Egyptians, if they let us go, it must be across a red sea of blood."
Monday, September 14, 2015
June 1862,
the war according to Mr Venable
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| Charles Scott Venable (1827-1900) |
"Mr Venable* don't mince matters. 'If we do not [strike] a blow—a blow that will be felt—it will be soon all up with us. The Southwest will be lost to us. We cannot afford to shilly-shally much longer.
'Thousands are enlisting on the other side in New Orleans. [Benjamin] Butler holds out inducements. To be sure, they are principally foreigners who want to escape starvation.
'Tennessee we may count as gone, since we abandoned her at Corinth, Fort Pillow, and Memphis. A man must be sent there—or it is all gone.'
In my heart I feel 'all is gone' now."
*Charles Scott Venable, a Virginian, was present at the bombardment of Fort Sumter in April 1861. At the time he was serving in the South Carolina militia. In Spring 1862 he joined Robert E. Lee's staff and remained with him to Appomattox Court House, earning the moniker "Faithful Old Venable" from Lee himself.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
June 1862,
regarding Thomas B. Huger
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| Thomas B. Huger (d. April 25, 1862) |
"Tom Huger* resigned his place in the U.S. Navy and come to us. The Iroquois was his ship in the old navy. They say as he stood in the rigging, after he was shot in the leg, his ship leading the attack upon the Iroquois &c&c, his old crew in the Iroquois cheered him. And when his body was borne in, the Federals took off their caps, in respect for his gallant conduct. When he was dying, Meta Huger said to him, 'An officer wants to see you. He is one of the enemy.'
'Let him come in. I have no enemies now.'
But when he heard the man's name:
'No, no. I do not want to see a Southern man who is now in Lincoln's navy.'
The officers of the U.S.N. attended his funeral."
*Thomas B. Huger served in the U.S. Navy for over 20 years before he resigned his commission in January 1861 after his native state of South Carolina seceded from the Union. He subsequently became a First Lieutenant in the Confederate Navy. He was mortally wounded while battling Federal Navy ships near Fort Jackson and Fort St Philip on the Mississippi River, and died the following day.
Friday, September 11, 2015
June 1862,
Gen. Winfield Scott (ret.) weighs in
"General Scott on Southern soldiers. He says we have élan, courage, woodcraft, consummate horsemanship, endurance of pain equal to the Indians, but that we will not submit to discipline. We will not take care of things or husband our resources. Where we are, there is waste and destruction. If it could all be done by one wild desperate dash, we would do it. But he does not think we can stand the long blank months between the acts—waiting! We can bear pain without a murmur, but we will not submit to be bored, &c&c&c.
Now for the other side. They can wait. They can bear discipline. They can endure forever—losses in battle nothing to them, resources in men and materials of war inexhaustible. And if they see fit they will fight to the bitter end.
Nice prospect for us—as comforting for us as the old man's croak at Mulberry, 'Bad times, worse coming.'
Old Mr Chesnut says, 'We could not have kept slavery here a day, but the powerful government of the U.S.A. protected it for us.'"
Now for the other side. They can wait. They can bear discipline. They can endure forever—losses in battle nothing to them, resources in men and materials of war inexhaustible. And if they see fit they will fight to the bitter end.
Nice prospect for us—as comforting for us as the old man's croak at Mulberry, 'Bad times, worse coming.'
Old Mr Chesnut says, 'We could not have kept slavery here a day, but the powerful government of the U.S.A. protected it for us.'"
June 1862,
the concerns of Molly
"Molly all in tears because I asked her if she were going to turn against me.
No, she would follow me to the ends of the earth—that is, she would if it warn't for her children. But this is the reason she was out. Jonathan is her father, and he is driver, headman of the colored people (she never says 'negroes'—the only 'nigger' is the devil—that's her idea). Overseer and Claiborne, head of the plows, connive to cheat master 'outin everything. Marster—the best marster the lord ever send.' So much lying, cheating, on a plantation—no wonder she came back outer sorts. 'Overseer's wife gotten so fat on yo' substance she can't git through the little gate—have to open the wagon gate for her. Sometimes of Sundays two hams is put on their table—de 'oman sho' to die of fat.'
So Molly and I are reconciled, and she is as good and as attentive as ever. All the same, she was awfully stuck up when she first came back."
No, she would follow me to the ends of the earth—that is, she would if it warn't for her children. But this is the reason she was out. Jonathan is her father, and he is driver, headman of the colored people (she never says 'negroes'—the only 'nigger' is the devil—that's her idea). Overseer and Claiborne, head of the plows, connive to cheat master 'outin everything. Marster—the best marster the lord ever send.' So much lying, cheating, on a plantation—no wonder she came back outer sorts. 'Overseer's wife gotten so fat on yo' substance she can't git through the little gate—have to open the wagon gate for her. Sometimes of Sundays two hams is put on their table—de 'oman sho' to die of fat.'
So Molly and I are reconciled, and she is as good and as attentive as ever. All the same, she was awfully stuck up when she first came back."
10 June 1862
"I see one new light breaking in upon the black question.
Even my [house slave] Molly speaks scornfully when she alludes to 'them white people.' She says there is salt enough on the plantation. Master had the [salt] sent to the coast, three days journey—'but we don't git enough. There is plenty of bread—and all the people has fine fat hogs, but you see our people n'usen to salt as much as they choose—and now they will grumble.'
When I told J.C. that Molly was full of airs since her late trip home, he made answer. 'Tell her to go to the devil—she or anybody else on the plantation who is dissatisfied. Let them go. It is bother enough to feed and clothe them now.'
It was a blow. When he went over to the plantation, he came back charmed with their loyalty to them—their affection for him&c&c&c."
Even my [house slave] Molly speaks scornfully when she alludes to 'them white people.' She says there is salt enough on the plantation. Master had the [salt] sent to the coast, three days journey—'but we don't git enough. There is plenty of bread—and all the people has fine fat hogs, but you see our people n'usen to salt as much as they choose—and now they will grumble.'
When I told J.C. that Molly was full of airs since her late trip home, he made answer. 'Tell her to go to the devil—she or anybody else on the plantation who is dissatisfied. Let them go. It is bother enough to feed and clothe them now.'
It was a blow. When he went over to the plantation, he came back charmed with their loyalty to them—their affection for him&c&c&c."
9 June 1862
"J.C. traced Stonewall's triumphal career on the map. He has defeated Frémont and taken all of his cannon. Now he is after Shields. The language of the telegram is vague—'Stonewall has taken plenty of prisoners.' Plenty, no doubt of it—enough to spare. We can't feed our own soldiers. How are we to feed prisoners?
A small fray at the Chickahominy. They tried to cross and did not make it out. They lost forty men—we lost two."
*Stonewall Jackson brought his brilliant Valley Campaign of Spring 1862 to a successful conclusion by defeating Frémont on June 8 and James Shields at Port Republic June 9.
A small fray at the Chickahominy. They tried to cross and did not make it out. They lost forty men—we lost two."
*Stonewall Jackson brought his brilliant Valley Campaign of Spring 1862 to a successful conclusion by defeating Frémont on June 8 and James Shields at Port Republic June 9.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
2 June 1862,
The Battle of Seven Pines
"A battle is said to be raging around Richmond.* I am at the Prestons'. ...
J.C. went off suddenly to Richmond, on business of the military department. It is always his luck to arrive in the nick of time and be present at a great battle....
Telegraph says Lee** and Davis both on the field. Enemy being repulsed.
Telegraph operator: 'Madam, our men are fighting.'
'Of course they are—what else is there for them to do now but fight?'
'But, Madam, the news is encouraging.'
Each army burying its dead. That looks like a drawn battle."
*The battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), was fought just five miles from Richmond on May 31 and June 1.
**On June 1, 1862, Robert E. Lee assumed field command of the Army of Northern Virginia for the first time.
J.C. went off suddenly to Richmond, on business of the military department. It is always his luck to arrive in the nick of time and be present at a great battle....
Telegraph says Lee** and Davis both on the field. Enemy being repulsed.
Telegraph operator: 'Madam, our men are fighting.'
'Of course they are—what else is there for them to do now but fight?'
'But, Madam, the news is encouraging.'
Each army burying its dead. That looks like a drawn battle."
*The battle of Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), was fought just five miles from Richmond on May 31 and June 1.
**On June 1, 1862, Robert E. Lee assumed field command of the Army of Northern Virginia for the first time.
Monday, September 7, 2015
27 April 1862,
New Orleans, the aftermath
"New Orleans gone—and with it the Confederacy. Are we not cut in two? That Mississippi ruins us if lost. The Confederacy done to death by the politicians. What wonder we are lost. Those wretched creatures the Congress and the legislature could never rise to the greatness of the occasion. They seem to think they were in a neighborhood squabble about precedence.
The soldiers have done their duty.
All honor to the Army. Statesmen busy as bees about their own places or their personal honor—too busy to see the enemy at a distance. With a microscope they were examining their own interest or their own wrongs, forgetting the interest of the people they represent. They were concocting newspaper paragraphs to injure the government. No matter how vital, nothing—nothing—can be kept from the enemy. They must publish themselves night and day and what they are doing, or the omniscient Buncombe will forget them.
This fall of New Orleans means utter ruin to the private fortunes of the Prestons. Mr P came from New Orleans so satisfied with Mansfield Lovell and the tremendous steam rams he saw there. While in New Orleans, Burnside offered Mr P five hundred thousand dollars, a debt due from him to Mr P, and he refused to take it.* He said the money was safer in Burnside's hand than in his. And so it may prove—ugly as the outlook is now. Burnside is wide awake. He is not a man to be caught napping."
*John S. Preston sold his extensive Louisiana sugar plantations to John Burnside, a New Orleans merchant, in 1857. These holdings helped make Burnside the greatest sugar planter in the state during the 1860s.
The soldiers have done their duty.
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| Panoramic view of New Orleans, 1862, Federal fleet at anchor in the river |
All honor to the Army. Statesmen busy as bees about their own places or their personal honor—too busy to see the enemy at a distance. With a microscope they were examining their own interest or their own wrongs, forgetting the interest of the people they represent. They were concocting newspaper paragraphs to injure the government. No matter how vital, nothing—nothing—can be kept from the enemy. They must publish themselves night and day and what they are doing, or the omniscient Buncombe will forget them.
This fall of New Orleans means utter ruin to the private fortunes of the Prestons. Mr P came from New Orleans so satisfied with Mansfield Lovell and the tremendous steam rams he saw there. While in New Orleans, Burnside offered Mr P five hundred thousand dollars, a debt due from him to Mr P, and he refused to take it.* He said the money was safer in Burnside's hand than in his. And so it may prove—ugly as the outlook is now. Burnside is wide awake. He is not a man to be caught napping."
*John S. Preston sold his extensive Louisiana sugar plantations to John Burnside, a New Orleans merchant, in 1857. These holdings helped make Burnside the greatest sugar planter in the state during the 1860s.
14 March 1862,
the subject of double standards
"There are no negro marital relations, or the want of them, half so shocking as Mormonism. And yet the U.S.A. makes no bones of receiving Mormons into her sacred heart.
Mr Venable said England held her hand over 'the malignant and the turbaned Turk' to save and protect him, slaves, seraglio, and all. But she rolls up the whites of her eyes at us. When slavery, bad as it is, is stepping out into freedom every moment through Christian civilization.
They do not grudge the Turk even his bag and Bosporus privileges. To a recalcitrant wife it is: 'Here yawns the sick. There yawns the sea'—&c.
And France, the bold, the brave, the ever free—she is not so tenderfoot in Algiers.
But then, 'you are another' argument is a shabby one.
'You see,' says Mary [Preston] sagaciously. 'We are white Christian descendants of Huguenots and Cavaliers, and they expect of us different conduct from mere Turks and Algerian pirates.'"
Mr Venable said England held her hand over 'the malignant and the turbaned Turk' to save and protect him, slaves, seraglio, and all. But she rolls up the whites of her eyes at us. When slavery, bad as it is, is stepping out into freedom every moment through Christian civilization.
They do not grudge the Turk even his bag and Bosporus privileges. To a recalcitrant wife it is: 'Here yawns the sick. There yawns the sea'—&c.
And France, the bold, the brave, the ever free—she is not so tenderfoot in Algiers.
But then, 'you are another' argument is a shabby one.
'You see,' says Mary [Preston] sagaciously. 'We are white Christian descendants of Huguenots and Cavaliers, and they expect of us different conduct from mere Turks and Algerian pirates.'"
Sunday, September 6, 2015
13 March 1862,
upon re-reading Uncle Tom's Cabin
"These negro women have a chance here women have nowhere else. They can redeem themselves. The 'impropers.' They can marry decently—and nothing is remembered against them, these colored ladies. It is not a nice topic, but Mrs [Harriet Beecher] Stowe revels in it. How delightfully pharisaic a feeling it must be, to rise superior and fancy we are so degraded as to defend and like to live with such degraded creatures around us. Such men as Legare [Legree] and his women.
The best way to take negroes to your heart is to get as far away from them as possible. As far as I can see, Southern women do all that missionaries could to prevent and alleviate the evils. The social evil has not been suppressed in England or New England, London or Boston. And they expect more virtue from a plantation African than they can practice with all their high moral surroundings—light, education, training, and supports....
There are true, graceful, beautiful mothers of angelic Evas—North as well as South, I daresay. The Northern men and women who came here have always been hardest, for they expect an African to work and behave as a white man. We do not....
Topsys I have known—but none that were beauties—or ill-used. Evas are mostly in the heaven of Mrs Stowe's imagination. People can't love things dirty, ugly, repulsive, simply because they ought, but they can be good to them—at a distance. You see, I cannot rise very high. I can only judge what I see."
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| Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, published 1851 in newspaper installments, then in 1852 as a two-volume book |
The best way to take negroes to your heart is to get as far away from them as possible. As far as I can see, Southern women do all that missionaries could to prevent and alleviate the evils. The social evil has not been suppressed in England or New England, London or Boston. And they expect more virtue from a plantation African than they can practice with all their high moral surroundings—light, education, training, and supports....
There are true, graceful, beautiful mothers of angelic Evas—North as well as South, I daresay. The Northern men and women who came here have always been hardest, for they expect an African to work and behave as a white man. We do not....
Topsys I have known—but none that were beauties—or ill-used. Evas are mostly in the heaven of Mrs Stowe's imagination. People can't love things dirty, ugly, repulsive, simply because they ought, but they can be good to them—at a distance. You see, I cannot rise very high. I can only judge what I see."
10 March 1862, Congaree House,
Columbia, South Carolina
"Second year. Confederate independence. I write daily for my own distractions. These memoirs pour servir may some future day afford dates, facts, and prove useful to more important people than I am. I do not wish to harm or to hurt anyone. If any scandalous stories creep in, they are easily burned. It is hard, in such a hurry as things are in, to separate wheat from chaff.
Now I have made my protest and written down my wishes. I can scribble on with a free will and free conscience."
Now I have made my protest and written down my wishes. I can scribble on with a free will and free conscience."
22 February 1862
"What a beautiful [day] for our Confederate president to be inaugurated.* God speed him. God help him. God save him."
*Mary Boykin Chesnut was in Columbia, South Carolina, while writing in her journal on that day. Meanwhile, in Richmond, Virginia, there was a heavy rainstorm for Jefferson Davis's inauguration as president of the permanent government of the Confederate States of America.
*Mary Boykin Chesnut was in Columbia, South Carolina, while writing in her journal on that day. Meanwhile, in Richmond, Virginia, there was a heavy rainstorm for Jefferson Davis's inauguration as president of the permanent government of the Confederate States of America.
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