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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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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MONTHS IN THE SOUTHERN ***

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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 Immortalité. 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. Immortalité, 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 Immortalité, in her cutter, at 10
A.M., and crossed the bar in fine style. The cutter was steered by Mr
Johnston, the