_Sunday morning, Oct. 5._ The President's proclamation[60] does not
seem to have made a great deal of stir anywhere. Here the people don't
take the slightest interest in it. They have been free already for
nearly a year, as far as they could see, and have so little
comprehension about the magnitude of our country and are so supremely
selfish that you can't beat it into their heads that any one else is
to be provided for beyond St. Helena Island. After telling them of the
proclamation and its probable effects, they all ask if they would be
given up to their masters in case South Carolina comes back to the
Union. I tell them there is little chance of such a thing, but a
strong probability that there will be a long, bloody war, and that
they ought to prepare to do their share of the fighting. I can't get
one man to come up and drill yet. They say they would like to have
guns to shoot with, but are afraid of being sent off into the "big
fight," though willing to fight any one who comes onto this island to
molest them. Of course their defense would amount to nothing unless
they were organized and drilled. I do not, however, feel any
uneasiness about the rebels coming here. If they came at all they
would attack our forces at Beaufort or Hilton Head, where I am
confident they would be whipped. Refugees continue to come in from the
mainland every week. They all agree in saying that there are no troops
left about here but boys, and that it would be an easy matter to take
Charleston now.
I am anxious to get the winter clothing here before next pay-day, so
the people may buy it in preference to the trash they see in the shops
at Beaufort, etc. Nothing is heard of our money yet. Some say that
General Saxton will probably bring it. I only wish he would come; his
picket-guard at St. Helena amuses itself hunting cattle on the Fripp
Point Plantation. As I have no positive proof against them I can't do
anything but watch the cattle to prevent a repetition of it.
_October 7._ I received on Sunday a copy of President Lincoln's
proclamation. I now feel more than ever the importance of our mission
here, not so much for the sake of the few hundreds under my own eyes
as for the sake of the success of the experiment we are now trying. It
is, you know, a question even with our good President whether negroes
can be made available as free laborers on this soil. I, for one,
believe they can, and I am more than ever in earnest to show it, for
the importance of this question is greater than ever, now that we are
so near a general crash of the whole social fabric in the Southern
States. I don't think the old masters will ever be successful in
employing the blacks, but I do believe that Yankees can be.
Our people are picking the cotton very industriously, and though they
have only about one third of last year's crop to gather, they are
determined to make the most of it, and allow none to waste. It is
interesting to see how much more economical of food they are this
year than formerly. Every family now feels the responsibility of
providing food for itself. The same rule should be followed with all
tools. I would make the men pay a low price for every tool they want
to use, and pay wages enough to enable them to do so.[61]
_Oct. 8._ I succeeded day before yesterday in getting thirteen of the
young men on this plantation to come up and drill, but they did not
come again yesterday. I don't believe there is sufficient zeal among
them to enable them to go through the tedious routine of drill with
any regularity, unless held together by some stronger motive than now
exists. I find them rather stupid. About half didn't know which their
right foot was, and kept facing to the left when I told them to face
to the right. They seemed to enjoy it, however.