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Union Orders and Reports and Letters-- Louisiana Page 2 |
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Major-General HUNTER,
Commanding Department of the South:
GENERAL: It seems important to advise you of the scenes transpirating yesterday in the execution of your order for the collection and transportation of the able-bodied colored men form the islands to Hilton Head. The colored people became suspicious of the presence of the companies of soldiers detailed for the service, who were marching through the islands during the night. Some thought the rebels were coming and stood guard at the creeks. The next morning (yesterday) they went to the fields, some, however, seeking the woods. They were taken from fields without being allowed to go to their houses even to get a jacket, this, however, in some cases, being gone for by the wife. The inevitableness of the order made many resigned, but there was sadness in all. As those on this plantation were called in form the fields, the soldiers, under orders, and while on the steps of my headquarters, loaded their guns, so that the negroes might see what would take place in case they attempted to get away. This was done in the presence of the ladies here. Wives and children embraced the husband and father thus taken away, they knew not where, and whom, as they said, they should never see again. On some plantations the wailing and screaming were loud and the women threw themselves in despair on the ground. On some plantations the people took to the woods and were hunted up by the soldiers. The school at Eustis was a scene of confusion, the children crying, and it was found of no use to carry it on. The superintendents aided in the execution of the order with moral influence and physical assistance, some of them walking many miles in the night to guide the soldiers, but they all express great sorrow at what has been done and feel that the hold which they had been slowly and carefully getting on their people has been loosened. They told the negroes that General Hunter was their friend and meant well by the, and his orders must be obeyed, but they disavowed responsibility for the act. The soldiers, it is due to them to say, concerning the summary manner in which they were called upon to act, and the speed required of them, conducted themselves with as little harshness as could
Such was yesterday; and it was a sad day with these simple- hearted and family-loving people, and I doubt if the recruiting service in this country has ever been attended with such scenes before. I pray you for the kindest attentions (and I know you will give them) to those who have gone to Hilton Head, and for the immediate return of all who are not disposed to bear arms, in order that the suspense of those who have gone and of those who have remained may be relieved. I shall go to Hilton Head to- morrow (Wednesday) to visit them.
Your obedient servant,
EDWARD L. PIERCE,
Special Agent Treasury Department
War of the Rebellion: Serial 083 Page 0927 Chapter LIII. EXPEDITION TO BAYOU GRAND CAILLOU, LA.
Thibodeaux, La., November 30 1864.
CAPTAIN: I am sorry to be obliged to report to you the capture of Captains Moore and Stevenson and Lieutenant Jordan, with 1 sergeant and 6 men of the Sixteenth Indiana Mounted Infantry, at the mouth of
Page 0928
------ After he had been gone a few days i heard by rumor that Captain Moore, his officers and men, had seized a quantity of Louisiana rum and were on a drunken spree, committing various depredations, and that one of his men had attempted to rape a mulatto girl and had shot and killed her for resisting. -----
War of the Rebellion: Serial 083 Page 0932 LOUISIANA AND THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI. Chapter LIII.
Numbers 3. Report of Sergt. John Simms, Company E, Sixteenth Indiana Infantry.
THIBODEAUX, LA., November 28, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with instructions from the general commanding the district, I have the honor to submit the following report of the doings of the scouting party under the command of Captain Moore, so far as the same has come to my knowledge
Page 0933
-----About noon of the 21st a Mr. Patton Pelton (I believe was his name), who resided on a plantation about five miles from our camp, came to our quarters and reported that a soldier had shot and killed a little girl and had fired at a negro man on his plantation. I immediately took two men of my company and proceeded to the place, where I found a mulatto girl, about twelve or thirteen years old, lying dead in a field. She had evidently been killed by a pistol-ball, which had entered the forehead and passed entirely through the head. I learned from the negro man, who was near, that the girl had been shot by a drunken soldier, who had first fired at one of the men and then had shot and killed the girl.
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