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Regiment: 8th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Beaufort S.C. Feb 3d 1862
Dear Sister
It has been several days since I have
written to you so to day I will write you
a few lines partly to let you know that
I am almost well and partly to fulfill
an agreement I made in my last to describe
some of the manners and customes of the slaves
of South Carolina. Well I will begin by telling
you the war news last week our little gun boats
ran up the Savannah river and after thundering
away two or three days at old Ft. Pulaski came
to the conclusion to back up a little while.
The trouble is the Rebels have sank three old
hulks in the channel of the river and our big
boats can not get in. they say the Rebels had the
river stockaded and our little boats have been
at work pulling out the stockade and today the ground
trembles again with their thunder how they will
come out this time I know not but one thing I do
know that Savannah is a hard place to take for
Fort Pulaski is Bomb proof. and
[ ? ] is so
high above the bed of the stream that the boats
can have but little effect upon her and then
Ft Jackson again is Bomb proof making in all
rather a
[ ? ] but I dont dont but what thes
will
[ ? ] their day in after a while. some think
we will go on the main before long and come up in
the rear of Savannah and if we do we will see some
rough times for I dont doubt but there is 20 masked, and
sand Batteries between the Ferry and savannah.
I went to meeting last sunday in one of the bigest
Churches in Beaufort and heard a new preacher
from N.Y. it looked curious to see a large congre-
gation of soldiers and Negroes, and not a white woman
in the whole assembly. the nygers crowded in fill-
ing every nook and corner their black faces lit
up with a smile of joy at havening a chance to
meet in their masters splendid church with the
people they call their deliverers and not onely that
they knew our preacher would preach just what
they wanted to hear exactly. they all turn out every
sunday with their best clothes on some of the women
wear white Bonnets which makes their faces shine
like a new blacked boot and some with Hoops on
that would make the most extravegant of our mothers
girls store but all these extries they have got swill
[ ? ] has left the big house there was one
old Negro down on the Plantation where we were
encamped that was possessed of of the most common
sense of any slave I have ever seen. he was a shoe maker
by trade and has worked at this trade from the time he
was 12 years old and he is now about 70 years old he has
lived in Charleston Savannah & Beaufort he says he
was never whipped in his life and has his master
[ ? ]
$150 to “200 a year for his time ever since he learned
his trade, so you can recken at how mutch the
poor old fellow has
[ ? ] for his time which was
his own in the first place. we can not calculate it at
less than $9000. I used to go over to his little hut most
every night and hear him tell stories and especialy
about the war he will tell every particular of the
commencement of this raw. he says that while
the Rebels were Bombarding Ft Sumpter every body
both black & white were on the tiptoe of expectation
the slaves praying for Anderson and the whites
against him but he said the Rebels soon shut them
up and stopped their prior meeting entirely. for
they said they were praying against them and
it must be stopped but they have their mett
ings now unmolested and it is amasing to go to
their meetings and see them perform I will not
try to describe it here, but it more resembles play
ing snap and catch um in form than any thing
else I can think of just now the young Wenches all
say they are going to have a yankee boy for a man
you may expect to see one with me when I come
back and I have mad an agreement with Oscar
to bring him one, he thinks there will be such a
soreing in buying hair combs, and shoe blacking
tell Edgar if he wants one I think I can find one
just to his notion and by bringing a lot of them
they will come cheaper. If I should send any papers
some with pictures of negroes you need not
think is is
[ ? ] in the least for they are a
darned looking crew to make the best of them
but their blackness appears to be their onely sin
for they are kind generous Polite and most sublimely
ignorant but that is the heaty of slavery, so it will
not do to argue that point. it sonds quite like
home to hear the bells ringing for Church on
sunday, not over three months ago the Rebels
rang the same bells, and walked proudly into
the same Churches sat in the same seats, and
heard the Bible expounded from the same
pulpit that is non ocupied by what they call
the d – d yankees but also what changes war will
make and in what a short time but a few weeks
ago and this beautiful little town was alive with
people that have lived here, prehaps from their
youth and now where are they they have disappeared
men women and children all have gone and what
is were they were they were the upper crust the very
aristocracy of S.C. all that I can say for them is
honor the old star spangled banner and all is
well. now Celestia dont fore get to write once every
week and he shure and send your pictures give
my best wishes to my friends and accept my
sincere heartfelt brothers Love yourself.
Emma A. Cole
Wm Wheeler send his best respects to you
and our folks he is so lame from his sickness
that he can not use his hand to write at all.
tell Rowe to keep his shirt on for I am going to
write him a letter when I get some good news to
write give my regards to Amanda and tell her
to write if she will. I should be glad to get a
letter from her.
[One Envelope]
Mr Edgar Cole
The Hero of Lundy Lane
Woodland
Barry Co
Mich.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by S. C. Upham, 310 Chestnut St, Philadephia, in the Clerk’s officer of the
District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
