Three Months in the Southern States, April-June 1863

Three Months in the Southern States,?by Arthur J. L. (Lieut.-Col.) Fremantle

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April-June 1863, by Arthur J. L. (Lieut.-Col.) Fremantle This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Three Months in the Southern States, April-June 1863
Author: Arthur J. L. (Lieut.-Col.) Fremantle
Release Date: March 29, 2007 [EBook #20928]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS.]

THREE MONTHS
IN
THE SOUTHERN STATES
APRIL-JUNE 1863
BY
LIEUT.-COL. FREMANTLE
COLDSTREAM GUARDS
WITH PORTRAITS ENGRAVED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCLXIII
The Right of Translation is reserved

PORTRAITS.
PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS, Frontispiece
JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, Page 117
LIEUT.-GENERAL LEONIDAS POLK, 147
GENERAL G. T. BEAUREGARD, 196
LIEUT.-GENERAL JAMES LONGSTREET, 242
GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, 253

PREFACE.
At the outbreak of the American war, in common with many of my countrymen, I felt very indifferent as to which side might win; but if I had any bias, my sympathies were rather in favour of the North, on account of the dislike which an Englishman naturally feels at the idea of Slavery. But soon a sentiment of great admiration for the gallantry and determination of the Southerners, together with the unhappy contrast afforded by the foolish bullying conduct of the Northerners, caused a complete revulsion in my feelings, and I was unable to repress a strong wish to go to America and see something of this wonderful struggle.
Having successfully accomplished my design, I returned to England, and found amongst all my friends an extreme desire to know the truth of what was going on in the South; for, in consequence of the blockade, the truth can with difficulty be arrived at, as intelligence coming mainly through Northern sources is not believed; and, in fact, nowhere is the ignorance of what is passing in the South more profound than it is in the Northern States.
In consequence of a desire often expressed, I now publish the Diary which I endeavoured, as well as I could, to keep up day by day during my travels throughout the Confederate States. The latter portion of the Diary, which has reference to the battle of Gettysburg, has already appeared in 'Blackwood's Magazine;' and the interest with which it was received has encouraged me to publish the remainder.
I have not attempted to conceal any of the peculiarities or defects of the Southern people. Many persons will doubtless highly disapprove of some of their customs and habits in the wilder portion of the country; but I think no generous man, whatever may be his political opinions, can do otherwise than admire the courage, energy, and patriotism of the whole population, and the skill of its leaders, in this struggle against great odds. And I am also of opinion that many will agree with me in thinking that a people in which all ranks and both sexes display a unanimity and a heroism which can never have been surpassed in the history of the world, is destined, sooner or later, to become a great and independent nation.

THREE MONTHS
IN
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
APRIL, MAY, JUNE, 1863.
2d March 1863.--I left England in the royal mail steamer Atrato, and arrived at St Thomas on the 17th.
* * * * *
22d March.--Anchored at Havana at 6.15 A.M., where I fell in with my old friend, H.M.'s frigate Immortalit��. Captain Hancock not only volunteered to take me as his guest to Matamoros, but also to take a Texan merchant, whose acquaintance I had made in the Atrato. This gentleman's name is M'Carthy. He is of Irish birth--an excellent fellow, and a good companion; and when he understood my wish to see the "South," he had most good-naturedly volunteered to pilot me over part of the Texan deserts. I owe much to Captain Hancock's kindness.
* * * * *
23d March.--Left Havana in H.M.S. Immortalit��, at 11 A.M. Knocked off steam when outside the harbour.
* * * * *
1st April.--Anchored at 8.30 P.M., three miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo del Norte, which is, I believe, its more correct name, in the midst of about seventy merchant vessels.
* * * * *
2d April.--The Texan and I left the Immortalit��, in her cutter, at 10 A.M., and crossed the bar in fine style. The cutter was steered by Mr Johnston, the master, and having a fair wind, we passed in like a flash of lightning, and landed at the miserable village of Bagdad, on the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande.
The bar was luckily in capital order--3-1/2 feet of water, and smooth. It is often impassable for