Slides from Session 2 (PDF format)

Intimate Stories of an Extraordinary Year
Elizabeth Laney, Park Interpreter
Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site
September 03, 1865
As I compare my lot with many others,
I see only cause for thankfulness.
As to the future, if I could, I would scarce lift
the curtain. We are in God’s hands who alone
has brought about this wonderful state of
affairs and who only can unravel it.
Headlines from the Daily Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA 22 April 1865
The Surrender of General Lee’s Army
Lincoln Assassinated
Information about the surrender and copies of the
correspondence between Lee and Grant regarding
the surrender.
Reports from a Northern newspaper about the
assassination of President Lincoln and the wounding of
Secretary Seward and his son
The Battle of Columbus & the Fall of
Richmond
New York Money Market
Reports regarding some of the final battles of the war.
Celebrations on Wall Street following Lee’s
surrender as well as financial information.
“This news has been
rumored on the streets
here for some days.”
Lee’s Surrender
It took 13 days for news of this
event to be reported in the
Augusta paper.
Lincoln’s Assassination
LATE PAPERS AND NEWS – Any friends receiving papers or arriving with papers
or news from any places not now in full connection by mail, will oblige us
specially by reporting to the CHRONICLE & SENTINEL office, and will thus aid in
preventing exciting rumors.
THE SURRENDER OF GENERAL LEE AND HIS COMMAND – The Atlanta papers of
yesterday morning contain the full correspondence of General Lee’s surrender to
General Grant – The news has been rumored on the streets here for some days.
It took 7 days for news of this
event to be reported in the
Augusta paper.
The destruction of railroads,
bridges and telegraph lines
severely hampered efforts to
send news across the South in
1865.
The Capitulation of Gen. Lee
At Appomattox C. H. Gen. Lee found himself confronted by Grant. To offer
resistance he had but twenty-five thousand men, who were without food or
ammunition.
At this juncture of affairs he received a communication from Grant who
was well aware of the straits to which his great adversary was reduced. A
correspondence ensued which resulted in the capitulation of General Lee
and twelve thousand of his men. The remaining thirteen thousand were
sent off by Lee and ordered to report to General Johnston immediately, or
at Charlotte, N.C. within twenty days. The melancholy office of surrendering
the army was tendered to General Longstreet, but he declined, and General
Lee performed the graceless office with the elevated dignity of his grand
nature. He was immediately paroled and given liberty to go either North or
South. One report states that he proceeded to Richmond where his family
is: and another that he is at Greensboro, N.C.
On April 9th, 1865 General
Robert E. Lee surrendered
the Army of Northern
Virginia to General Ulysses
S. Grant at Appomattox
Court House.
The Battle of Columbus
The Macon Telegraph gives the annexed account of the battle of Columbus:
We have authentic information of the battle in front of Columbus on
Saturday afternoon and night, and the capture of the city.
At four o’clock on that morning the Yankee force, embracing six thousand
mounted infantry and cavalry, with two pieces of light artillery, passed
through Opelika, without scarcely making a halt. Taking the Columbus road,
their advance reached our picket line, about two miles from the city, about
two o’clock; a few musket shots drove them back… [They] continued at
irregular intervals, until night, when the battle opened furiously along the
whole line…
The enemy entered the town at half past nine o’clock.
No trains belonging to any railroad on this side were captured. The Opelika
road lost five engines and several cars, in consequence of their gauge
being narrow. We lost few stores, as nearly everything of consequence had
been removed.
April 16, 1865
Billed by Georgia as “the
last battle of the war
between the states.”
Last major battle of
“Wilson’s Raid,” a march led
by Gen. James Wilson and
intended to bring the
Confederacy to its knees by
destroying major supply
centers at Selma, Alabama
and Columbus, Georgia.
“The volume of business
was light and the
speculators hilarious. A
chorus of “hallelujahs” rent
the air in the gold room at
intervals. Hats were
knocked off in showers, and
one or two popular
members, of stout and
dignified appearance, were
bustled about by the good
humored crowd till they lost
their temper and
complexion, and were
thankful to reach the door.”
Abraham Lincoln was
assassinated on April 15th,
1865 at Ford’s Theater.
The Armistice
Fighting was still going on
even as news of the
armistice was being
forwarded to military
commanders.
Remarkable Longevity
Joseph Crele of Madison,
Wisconsin is reported to be
the oldest person alive.
A Devoted Servant
byuh
W. H. Atkinson
PVT Co D 14 SC INF
Confederate States Army
1824-1887
Hd. Qtrs. Army No. Va
10th April 1865
Gen Orders - No 9
After four years of Arduous service
marked by unsurpassed courage and
fortitude, the army of No. Va. Has been
compelled to yield to overwhelming
numbers and resources.
I need not tell the brave survivors of so
many hard fought battles, who have
remained steadfast to the last that I have
consented to the result from no distrust of
them.
But feeling that valor and devotion could
accomplish nothing that would
compensate for the loss that must have
attended the continuance of the contest I
determined to avoid the useless sacrifice
of those whose past services have
endeared them to their countrymen.
By the terms of the agreement officers &
men can return to their homes and remain
until exchanged: You will take with you
the satisfaction that proceeds from the
consciousness of duty faithfully performed
and I earnestly pray that a Merciful God
will extend to you his blessing and
protection. With an unceasing admiration
of your constancy and devotion to Your
Country, and a greatful remembrance of
your kind and generous Considerations
for my self, I bid you an Affectionate
farewell.
R. E. Lee
Issued by President Andrew Johnson on May 29, 1865 granting
amnesty (with a few exceptions) to those who supported the
Confederate States of America.
Whereas, Mrs. C. E. Hammond, of Edgefield District,
South Carolina, by taking part in the late rebellion
against the Government of the United States, has made
herself liable to heavy pains and penalties;
And whereas, the circumstances of her case render
her a proper object of Executive clemency:
Now, therefore, be it known, That I, Andrew Johnson,
President of the United States of America. In
consideration of the premises, divers other good and
sufficient reasons thereunto moving, do hereby grant to
the said Mrs. C. E. Hammond a full pardon and amnesty
for all offences by her committed, arising from
participation, direct or implied, in the said rebellion,
conditioned as follows:
1st. This pardon to be of no effect until the said Mrs. C.E.
Hammond shall take the oath prescribed in the
Proclamation of the President, dated May 29th, 1865.
2d. To be void and of no effect if the said Mrs. C.E.
Hammond shall hereafter, at any time, acquire any
property whatever in slaves, or make use of slave labor.
3d. That the said Mrs. C.E. Hammond first pay all costs
which may have accrued in any proceedings instituted
or pending against her person or property before the
date of the acceptance of this warrant.
4th. That the said Mrs. C.E. Hammond shall not, by virtue
of this warrant, claim any property or the proceeds of
any property that has been sold by the order,
judgement, or decree of a court under the confiscation
laws of the United States.
5th. That the said Mrs. C.E. Hammond shall notify the
Secretary of State, in writing, that she has received and
accepted the foregoing pardon.
Letter from Catherine Hammond to her
brother-in-law Marcus Hammond
September 03, 1865
“The boys are hopeful & very attentive to
business. The crop promises well. We have
not lost many negroes. I wish we could get
rid of many of the useless ones. 300 mouths
to feed is no small charge.
Meat & corn are both low…”
“I don’t know what course Cousin should
adopt to draw her money. At present there
is none in the Estate – but we have had to
go in debt for the expenses of the
plantation. Whatever is just and right will
be done – but it comes very hard on us to
pay money that never was any benefit to us
or to my dear Husband and at a time when
it is so hard to raise money. I have no right
to act in the matter and indeed know little
about it that I fear to speak of it at all.”
“I fear the work of the Convention touching Slavery – it is dead and I for one don’t want it back.”
South Carolina's 'Black Code'
An Act to establish and regulate the Domestic Relations of Persons of Colour, and to amend the law in relation to Paupers and
Vagrancy. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the
authority of the same, as follows:
Contracts for service.
XXXV. All persons of color who make contracts for service or labor, shall be known as servants, and those with whom they
contract, shall be known as masters.
Regulations of labor on farms.
XLV. On farms or in out-door service, the hours of labor, except on Sunday, shall be from sun-rise to sun-set, with a reasonable
interval for breakfast and dinner. Servants shall rise at the dawn in the morning, feed, water and care for the animals on the
farm, do the usual and needful work about the premises, prepare their meals for the day, if required by the master, and begin
the farm work or other work by sun-rise. The servant shall be careful of all the animals and property of his master, and
especially of the animals and implements used by him, shall protect the same from injury by other persons, and shall be
answerable for all property lost, destroyed or injured by his negligence, dishonesty or bad faith.
XLVI. All lost time, not caused by the act of the master, and all losses occasioned by neglect of his duties hereinbefore
prescribed, may be deducted from the wages of the servant; and food, nursing and other necessaries for the servant, whilst he
is absent from work on account of sickness or other cause, may also be deducted from his wages. Servants shall be quiet and
orderly in their quarters, at their work, and on the premises; shall extinguish their lights and fires, and retire to rest at
seasonable hours.
Elizabeth Hammond Eve
In the 1930’s Elizabeth “Betty” dictated a series of
notes about her life to one of her children. At
Redcliffe we refer simply to this 9-page typed
document as “Notes” by Elizabeth Hammond Eve.
“My only sister was nine years older than I.
And my three brothers older than she was.
So I was more like an only child and every
wish gratified. Until I was 14 years old and
went off to school, I found a present under
my father’s pillow every morning.”
“Term of ‘63 and ‘64, went to the Misses
Sedgewick’s High School in Augusta. Had a
French teacher. Term of 1864 and ‘65, to
Miss Safford in Beech Is. and kept up French
and music. Always had my horse or horses
and rode every day.”
1849 - 1941
In January of 1866 Betty and her
mother Catherine traveled to
New York to join her sister
Catty on a trip to Europe.
They lived in Paris throughout
1866 and returned near the end
of the year.
William Gilmore Simms
This collection, which
featured many of the wellknown poets of the day
including several of
Simms’s own poetic works,
was published in 1866 by
Richardson and Company
of New York as War Poetry of
the South.
 The Augusta Chronicle & Sentinel for December 26, 1865
 The enslaved communities of the Hammond Plantations
 Reconstruction communities of the Hammond Plantations
 The Beech Island Primary School
 The Black Codes, Work Contracts and Sharecropping
 An Appeal to Pharaoh