Letters From Port Royal
1862
Arrival of the “missionaries” at Port Royal.—The household at Pine Grove.—First impressions of the blacks.—General Hunter’s attempt to recruit a negro regiment.—The Planter episode.—The labor situation.—Establishment at Coffin’s Point.—Hunter’s proclamation of freedom.—Details of plantation work.—Lincoln’s preliminary proclamation of emancipation.—Unwillingness of the negroes even to drill.—General Saxton’s efforts to raise a negro regiment.—The cotton crop of 1862.—Mr. Philbrick’s plans for buying plantations.