Intelligent Contrabands
An almost daily incident of the Federal blockading fleet was the rescue from frail boats of negro slaves, officially reported by the Federals as “intelligent contrabands,” who at the risk of their lives deserted their owners and escaped to the Federal warships several miles from the beach. They numbered several hundred during the war, and I am informed that very few of them returned from the North, where many settled in their new-found freedom. Some of the more industrious prospered, but a larger proportion died from exposure to the rigorously cold winters of the North.
Specimens of the official reports of such cases follow:
“U.S.S. ‘Monticello,’
“Off Wilmington, N.C.,
“September 22, 1862.
“Sir: I beg leave to forward you the following information obtained from the within named persons, who came off to this vessel this morning:
“Frank Clinton, aged thirty-five years, belonging to Robert H. Cowan.
“Samuel Mince, aged twenty-three years, belonging to Mrs. Elizabeth Mints.
“Thomas Cowen, aged twenty-four years, belonging to Mrs. J.G. Wright.
“Charles Millett, aged twenty-eight years, belonging to Mrs. John Walker.
“James Brown, aged twenty-three years, belonging to John Brown.
“Horace Smith, aged twenty-two years, belonging to Mrs. William Smith.
“David Mallett, aged twenty-six years, belonging to Mrs. John Walker.
“The gunboat North Carolina is to be launched next Saturday and is to be clad with railroad iron down to the water’s edge. The sides of the boat are built angular, and the guns are to be mounted on a covered deck. The lower part of the hull is of pine and the upper of heavy oak. This vessel is to be fitted up by Mr. Benjamin Beery and the engine she is to have is to come out of the steamer Uncle Ben, formerly a tugboat. The contrabands state that they are sanguine of having her ready by the 10th of October, 1862. These contrabands are from in and about Wilmington city, and they all agree in stating that that city is completely entrenched and guns mounted at every half mile upon the works. From their account Cape Fear River has several batteries upon its banks. The first is called Camp Brown, two miles from the city, which is an earth and log work on the right-hand side going up the river, and mounts two guns; opposite to it are obstructions in the river, consisting of sunken cribs. The next fort below is called Mount Tirza and mounts two guns and is on the same side of the river. The next is Fort St. Philip, a large work, mounting sixteen guns, near Old Brunswick, on the left-hand side of the river going up. Opposite this last-named work the obstructions in the river are heavy piles with a narrow passageway through them. At this point the lightboat, which was taken from Frying Pan Shoals, is anchored inside the obstruction and mounts four guns. There is also a lightboat anchored inside Zeek’s Island, mounting a like number of guns. One of these contrabands is from Fayetteville, N. C., and states that they are making rifles and gun carriages up there, and also that they are building a large foundry and blacksmith’s shop. As fast as the arms are completed they are sent to Raleigh, North Carolina.
“These contrabands state that the rebels succeeded in getting out of the Modern Greece (which vessel was run ashore near New Inlet) six rifled cannon, which, from their description, I should judge to be Whitworth’s breech-loading guns; also 500 stand of arms and a large amount of powder and clothing, the last two in a damaged condition. One also states that the steamer Kate, before running into this port, was chased by a cruiser and threw overboard 10,000 stand of arms. This he is positive of, as one of the hands on board the Kate, a friend of his, told him so. From their accounts I judge that a regular and uninterrupted trade is kept up between Nassau, New Providence, and Shallotte Inlet, N.C., which inlet is about 20 miles to the westward of this place. Schooners are said to arrive here weekly, and, after discharging, take in cotton, turpentine, and rosin, and sail for Nassau with papers purporting that they sailed from the city of Wilmington. I would suggest that some means be taken to stop this trade, and I am,
“Very respectfully,
“Your obedient servant,
“D.L. Braine,
“Lieutenant-Commander.
“Commander G.H. Scott,
“Comdg. U.S.S. ‘Maratanza,’
“Off Western Bar, Cape Fear River.”
“U.S. Gunboat ‘Penobscot,’
“Off Cape Fear, N.C.,
“September 23, 1862.
“Sir: I have to inform you that seven contrabands came to this vessel this morning who gave their own and their masters’ names as follows:
“William, owned by S.G. Northrop, of Wilmington.
“Lewis, owned by Dr. McCrea, of Wilmington.
“Ben Greer, owned by P.K. Dickinson, of Wilmington.
“George, owned by T.D. Walker, of Wilmington.
“Virgil Richardson, owned by James Bradley.
“Abraham Richardson, owned by D.A.F. Flemming.
“No information of importance was elicited, except that the steamer Mariner, loaded with cotton, tobacco, and turpentine, was ready for sea and would make an early attempt to run the blockade of this port.
“I am, respectfully,
“Your obedient servant,
“J.M.B. Clitz,
“Commander.
“Commander G.H. Scott,
“Commanding U.S.S. ‘Maratanza,’
“And Senior Officer Present.”
“From William Robins, contraband, ship carpenter, who has been at work upon one of the rebel gunboats at Wilmington since July:
“1. There are two boats in process of construction; one at J.L. Cassidy & Sons, the other at Beery & Brothers. Captain Whitehead superintends the former and Mr. Williams the latter. Commander Muse has control of the whole. Both boats are built upon the same plan, 150 feet keel, 23 feet beam, 12 feet draft. They are to be iron-roofed like the Merrimac. The iron is to be made in Richmond and will be ready in four months. The engines are on board but not set. One of them is new, made at Richmond; the other was taken from the Uncle Ben. Propellers are about eight feet in diameter. The boats are pierced for eight guns, but will carry but three, which can be moved at ease. Guns are not yet ready. Boats would have been ready for launching in three weeks had not many of the workmen left. Some struck for more pay; some were fearful of yellow fever. Formerly ninety-five to one hundred were at work on each boat; now only thirty. Pay $2.50 to $3.
“2. Provisions scarce. Flour, $27; rice, 12½ cents; potatoes, $3.50 to $4; bacon, 50 cents; beef, 25 cents; meal, $2; butter, 85 cents to $1.
“3. There are no soldiers in Wilmington. Colonel Livingsthrop (Leventhorpe), with one regiment, is at Masonboro Sound. There are about 3,000 in all in this vicinity. Colonel Lamb is at Fort Fisher. Captain Dudley evacuated Zeek’s Island and is now at Fort Fisher.
“4. Friday last was set apart by President Davis as a day for thanksgiving and prayer for the victories before Richmond and in Maryland, as also for the capture of Harpers Ferry and Cincinnati, both of which were taken without the loss of a life.
“5. No vessel has run in or out of the port since the Modern Greece except the Kate. The Modern Greece had two shots through her boiler, and one through her donkey engine. Her cargo consisted of powder and arms and whisky. Much was taken out and much remains. Powder was all wet. They dried some of it. She had two heavy guns. She was a very fine steamer. They saved none of her machinery.
“The Kate ran in and out the main channel. The tug Mariner is now ready to run out, having 100 bales of cotton and 100 barrels of rosin. They say a schooner ran in at Little River Inlet not long ago. The Mariner is going to Nassau for salt.”
Information given by Colonel Shaw’s body servant:
“Thirty-five hundred troops (a large margin given) in and about Wilmington, including all the forts, under the command of General Leventhorpe. At present most of the soldiers have left Wilmington and moved down this way on account of yellow fever. There are about 800 at Fort Caswell, and about double the number at Fort Fisher. The troops are clothed, very dirty, but apparently are sufficiently fed. Provisions come to them from the country. They enlist from fourteen to fifty years of age. Many of the conscripts run away; 300 have deserted in one day. Have telegrams from Richmond, but they are in doubt about the entire correctness of such. Previous to the battles before Richmond the people were quite disheartened and were willing to give up the place; since, however, they are much encouraged, and a better feeling pervades. There are some Union men in W. Not any small craft at W. The two gunboats, not rams, are being completed; workmen from the army. One engine is new from Richmond; the other old from Uncle Ben, and each boat will mount three guns on a side; also one forward and one aft. The tug Mariner is prepared to run for Nassau. Has two guns; is loaded with cotton. Flour is $30 per barrel; whisky $15 a gallon; boots $20 a pair. Have grown some corn about W. this season. No business doing. Clerks all enlisted. The fort’s southwest breastworks were injured by the Otorara; no one killed. Beauregard at Charleston, and Lieut. Commander Flusser, who ought to have left out the ‘l’ in his name, said: ‘A “reliable contraband” who says he deserted from the enemy today and who represents himself as an officer’s servant, declares that he has heard of no boat building up this river; that he does not believe that there is one there; that one was some time since under construction at Tarboro, but that work on her has been discontinued,’ etc. I fear the ’reliable contraband’ was sent in by Messieurs les Secesh. I do not think anyone can outlie a North Carolina white, unless he be a North Carolina negro.”
Also there were occasional white deserters from Fort Fisher and from the out-lying Confederate camps or outposts. These were not named for obvious reasons, and they were described in the official reports as so ragged and so infested with vermin that they had to be immediately divested of their clothing, which was thrown overboard, and the deserters were clothed from the ships’ supply chests. As cleanliness is said to be next to godliness, it is manifest that these fellows were a very bad lot.