St. Augustine in the Civil War p3

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St. Augustine in the Civil War p3
by Gil Wilson
1861-1865
ab urbe condita - 296 to 300

                                                      7th New Hampshire Infantry

The 7th New Hampshire Takes Over (Regimental History)
On September 3. 1862 the 7th New Hampshire took over from the 4th New Hampshire arriving on the Ben
Deford. Company F of the 4th held a dinner for them at the Market. The soldiers moved into the Fort and
the St. Francis Barracks. Captain J. S. Durgin was appointed the Provost Marshal. The mail was delivered
weekly or better. The pickets used the old McCarthy house, a half-mile north of the Fort as a base for
themselves. During the day the pickets would be stationed at the Fairbanks house a mile further out. About
half-mile north a little beyond the McCarthy house an earthwork was constructed with a bastion in which
was mounted an old howitzer. It was to serve as an alarm gun. A picket detail at this post consisted of a
sergeant and three men.

Every day people sought admittance to the city by the Jacksonville road and the Palatka road who were
refugees and deserters from the Confederate army.

The Catholic Church at that time had the Sisters of Mercy, Christian Brothers, and Father O'Briel.

A steamer left every week for Hilton Head, S.C. and sometimes more often. It served as a good opportunity
to send letters home.

The 7th built an army wharf in the bay. At the southern end of the city (across from the present Bay View)
was the parade ground which was used as a drill field.

Benjamin Carr (from Little's Regimental History)
The men will all remember old Carr we can never forget him who kept the hardware store and a little of
everything else In fact it was hard to name any article which he would acknowledge he did not have in
stock. He was very deaf and consequently very funny mistakes would occasionally occur If you wished to
purchase an article you would have to scream in his ear "How much for this Mr Carr?" His answer
invariably being "Two bits take it or leave it." Some of the men were in there one day and thought they
would name something he did not have in stock so they asked if he had any secondhand pulpits Carr was
equal to the occasion his reply being Yes yes got one up stairs had it this ten years. One morning
Lieutenant Fogg and two or three other officers chanced to be in his store when feeling a little more liberal
than usual he invited them into the back part of the store to take suthin. After filling their glasses Lieutenant
Fogg who was quite a wag raised his glass and said in a moderate tone looking at and directing his
conversation to Mr Carr. "Here's wishing you were in hell." Carr catching the word hell supposed he had
said " Here's to your health" and quickly and heartily responded "Same to yourself and all your family sir"
and Lieutenant Fogg never heard the last of that for many months. Had Mr Carr heard plainly every word
he could scarcely have made a more fitting response.

Joe Manucy and Antonio Bravo (from Little's Regimental History)
Sugar cane and mullet was what the men always declared the natives lived on almost exclusively. Many of
us will never forget our old friend Jo Manusa an old settler who had passed most of his life in this quaint old
city who had Spanish blood in his veins. He was invariably found at the barracks evenings with a large
basket of roe mullet and sweet lemonade that is fried fish and the mullet is one of the sweetest little fishes
known and a sort of lemonade made from limes. Sometimes for a change he had sweet potato pone and
cigars. Among other things sold us by the inhabitants we shall never forget the bottled sweet cider we used
to get at the little store of Antonio Bravo who was always getting the confidence of many of the men
because he had been an old line Whig. But the sweet cider! Perfect essence of weakness! Made of dried
apples bought at our commissary's which being soaked in water awhile the juice then pressed out
sweetened and bottled and named sweet cider. Shades of New England! But we drank it for the name only.

The cigars sold us by the natives were excellent for every citizen of Spanish origin residing in the extreme
South understands to a degree of perfection the art of manufacturing good cigars, and the selection and
production of the finest flavored tobacco. One evening we missed our old friend Manusa from his usual
trips to the barracks, with his basket of merchandise for he had almost become a fixture, and some of the
men went to his home which was not far from the barracks where they learned with sadness that his wife
had departed this life and left the old man to pull through his few remaining years with a helpless son for
whom he tenderly cared, and we aided the family all in our power in their hour of bereavement.

False Alarm (Regimental History)
On September 16 an alarm gun was heard at Fort Marion, causing all of the companies at the barracks to
double-quick to the fort, but upon investigation it proved to be an accidental discharge, and consequently a
false alarm...On the 22d, there was another alarm, which proved to be a gun fired for the purpose of
ascertaining how quickly the companies at the barracks could reach the fort.

Expel or not to Expel (see Attorney General Opinion on General Saxton's Power)
Hilton Head, S. C. September 23, 1862
Maj. W. P. Prentice
Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept of the South
Major: I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders received from Brigadier-General Brannan,
then commanding the Department of the South, I on the 16th instant left this place for St. Augustine, for the
purpose of preventing the execution of certain orders issued by Brig General Rufus Saxton, the
superintendent of the inhabitants of abandoned plantations in this department, by which Lieut. Col. O. T.
Beard, provost-marshal, was directed to expel from St. Augustine and send to Jacksonville all such of the
people of the city as should refuse to take the oath of allegiance to the government of the United States,
&c. I arrived at Fernandina, Fl, on Wednesday, the 17th instant, and learning that if I proceeded directly to
St. Augustine the steamer Burnside, with the expelled persons on board, might pass me in the night, I went
first to the mouth of the St. John's, for the purpose of awaiting her arrival. On Thursday morning she was
off the bar of the St. John's, with a large number of women and children on board. I immediately caused her
to return to St. Augustine and proceeded there myself.

On my arrival I caused all those persons who had been expelled or placed in arrest to be released, and
instructed the commandant of the post to permit no more arrests to be made by authority of General
Saxton.

I enclose a copy of General Saxton's instructions to Colonel Beard, a copy of a letter from General Saxton
to Colonel Putnam, Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers, whose regiment garrisons the post, and a list of
the names of the persons placed on board the Burnside.

Among the expelled persons were some who now desire to leave St. Augustine. In anticipation of the
expulsion they sold whatever property they possessed and converted their means into funds current in the
Southern States only. They now find themselves without the means of subsistence. In view of the fact that
many of them are already and others will soon become dependent on the Government for subsistence, I
respectfully recommend that such of them as may desire to do so be permitted to leave the city.
Alfred H. Terry,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

[The switch of power from General Hunter to General Brannon as commander of the Department of the
South allowed Brannon to countermand Saxton]

Picket Duty Could be Hazardous (New Hampshire Sentinel) September 25, 1862
A remarkable case of recovery from a gunshot wound in the abdomen, occurred recently at St. Augustine,
Fla. A soldier belonging to the New Hampshire 4th regiment, while out on picket duty was shot by a rebel
who was lurking about. a musket ball entered his abdomen, and passed entirely through his body, coming
out at the back. In its passage it went through the descending colon or large intestine and near one of the
kidneys. Although everyone supposed that he would die in a few hours he persisted that he would get well.
Dr. J. C. Eastman, the skillful surgeon, treated the wound, and though the orifices made in the intestines
are not closed up, he is quite comfortable, the bowels performing their functions properly. We understand
that Dr. Eastman will make a detailed report of this extraordinary case for publication in the medical
journals. (The newspaper should have noted that this was in Jacksonville not St. Augustine.)

Another False Alarm (Regimental History - October 5)
Near midnight, an alarm gun was fired from Fort Marion, caused by an alarm on the picket post on the
Jacksonville road, and all the companies responded to the long roll which was immediately sounded in all
the company quarters, and the six companies at the south end of the city went on a double-quick to the
fort. Upon investigation it was found that the pickets had fired at what they supposed to be mounted men,
but which proved to be some loose horses which were approaching the post in single file, and one horse
was found dead and another so badly wounded that he had to be killed.

Troops view of the town (Calvin Shedd Papers)
Oct 13th There are several pretty places near or in fact in Town as one would wish to see with Orange
Groves & shady Bowers that we read of at the North but never see. There is a Widow Anderson a N. H.
Woman has a pretty place Geraniums & most every plant & Flower that take so much care grow the year
round in her Garden & anywhere they take pains to have them.....

The Citizens liked the 4th first rate for they used to abuse the Niggers & let the whites do just as they
pleased, let them pass out in the lines pretty much as they liked when the 7th came here everything is
changed Abbot & Put just made the Men & Women take the Oath of Allegiance or go outside the Lines it
made an awful Growl but it was no use they had to take it quite a number of the women had to go their
Husbands being in the Rebel Army they were Rebel too & had to leave I don't think there is a real hearty
Union man in Town they take the Oath for convenience sake so they can stay at home.
Calvin Shield Papers 2nd Lieut 7th New Hampshire Infantry

Meeting at the Presbyterian Church
Around October 1862 the Presbyterian Church was used for a meeting of the locals. Col French stared with
a prayer. Then he and Billings made speeches to the people urging them to take the oath of allegiance
voluntarily to the government. If they did not take the oath they would be required to leave the city.

Accidents
One morning while the first sergeant of Company I Charles C McPherson was calling out his guard detail in
the fort previous to attending guard mounting one of the men. Private Edwin Scanlan familiarly known
throughout the regiment as Goose was seriously wounded by the accidental discharge of a musket in the
hands of another private Onslow F McPherson who was known among the men of the regiment as
Buttermilk. It was occasioned by the most absurd carelessness in attempting to clean his gun while it was
loaded. It was a very narrow escape from death for Private Scanlan rendering him unfit for further military
duty and about a year afterwards he was discharged from the service on account of this wound.

Yankee Atrocities in Florida. (Charleston Mercury)
The Savannah papers contain the particulars of the recent doings of the Yankees at St. Augustine, Florida,
as related by a lady, who, with her family of five little children, was recently banished from that place. She
gives an account of the Yankee atrocities towards the people of St. Augustine, and of the hardships she
had to encounter in her efforts to reach her home in Savannah.

In the early part of September a meeting of the citizens of St. Augustine, male and female, from the age of
fourteen years and upwards, was ordered, by Gen. Saxon, to assemble at the Presbyterian Church. The
meeting being assembled at the appointed time, Col. Beard, of the Provost Guard, opened his address as
follows: "I do not know whether to address you (alluding to the ladies present), as ladies or women, as all
Broadway crinolined women are called ladies!" It was soon ascertained, from the speaker's remarks, that
the object of the meeting was to have the oath of allegiance to the United States administered. A guard
was stationed at the door to prevent any from leaving. Those who refused to take the oath were required
to go in the galleries--some two to three hundred men, women and children. The others were furnished
with certificates and allowed to depart. Those from the galleries were then called down to receive, as Col.
Beard termed it, their "benediction." They were forced to register their names, together with the number of
their respective residences. This having been gone through with, he told them that when he was ready he
would give all the women and children among them who had relatives in the Confederacy "a free ride
across the lines."

He then gave orders to the guard to permit the ladies to pass to their homes. Their residences were duly
labeled, and about a week after the meeting, wagons were sent for their baggage, and these banished
people were taken on board a transport. The steamer left for the St. John's river with some fifty families--
about 150 women and children huddled together, without a bed to rest on, or any accommodations
whatever, and kept two and a half days outside without food or water save what they took with them, and in
their sea sickness were refused even water to drink. Fearing to enter the St. John's, as our informant
supposes, they were taken back to St. Augustine, and when near that place it was ascertained that the
vessel was leaking badly, having some four feet of water in the hold. It was supposed on board that the
negros [sic] had attempted to scuttle the vessel in order to drown the "Secesh."

Our informant, who was among the sufferers, having been furnished a pass which had been some time
previously promised here, was placed with her young charge and her baggage in a cart and taken across
the country to the St. John's River. The cart having broken down several times on the way, they were
forced to walk and seek shelter in a negro cabin, with nothing but the naked floor to sleep upon--their feet
and limbs sore and bruised, and their dresses torn by briers. Arriving at St. John's, they were taken across
to a small boat, where they procured another cart and reached the railroad at Trail Ridge. They were, after
severe suffering, some ten days in their trouble to get to our lines.--Taking the railroad, they came by way
of Lake City, and reached this city, to the great joy of themselves and their friends, Saturday last.

Gen. Mitchell sent notice from Hilton Head to St. Augustine, previous to her leaving, that he would send a
boat to that place and take all the ladies who had refused to take the oath to Jacksonville.

She states that the poor of St. Augustine are regularly furnished by the Federals with rations; but it was
reported they intended soon to stop the supply. The troops are respectful to the ladies in passing them in
the streets, and are very orderly. . . . No articles of silver or gold will be allowed to leave St. Augustine in
the baggage of those who are sent away, which is regularly searched, in order to prevent them getting into
the hands of Confederates to be coined into money. Groceries of all kinds are selling at very low figures,
for gold or silver only. She saw no paper currency in circulation.

CHARLESTON MERCURY, October 16, 1862, p. 1, c. 4

2nd Lieut Calvin Shields talks about St. Augustine (October 12, 1862)
The Citizens liked the 4th first rate for they used to abuse the Niggers & let the whites do just as they
pleased, let them pass out in the lines pretty much as they liked when the 7th came here everything is
changed Abbot & Put just made the Men & Women take the Oath of Allegiance or go outside the Lines it
made an awful Growl but it was no use they had to take it quite a number of the women had to go their
Husbands being in the Rebel Army they were Rebel too & had to leave I don't think there is a real hearty
Union man in Town they take the Oath for convenience sake so they can stay at home.

Captain Dickison's Account of October 1862
A small scouting party was sent from Palatka in the direction of St. Augustine, where they captured 1
lieutenant, 2 non-commissioned officers and 2 privates. Information being received that the Federal troops
were in the habit of visiting at the Fairbank place, about one and a half miles from St. Augustine, Captain
Dickison crossed the San Sebastian river early in October, 1862, and proceeded to the point where it was
expected the enemy would appear. They did not come out in usual force or at the usual time. Six
companies, about 350 strong, had crossed the San Sebastian river four miles below the point at which our
forces had crossed, to capture our wagon train and cut off the escape of our forces. A detachment of our
command held them in check until the train was drawn off, when Captain Dickison came up with his
detachment and captured their rear guard of 1 officer and 26 men. The enemy held their position for
several hours, then fell back in the direction of St. Augustine,

An Accidental Death (November 27, 1862) - Calvin Shedd Letters
This morning we had a sad accident here at the Fort culpably careless one of the Guards forgetting for a
moment that his Piece was loaded in a playful manner raised it as if to fire & at the same time gave the
command ready, aim, fire & he did fire & hit one of his comrades in the left Breast the Ball passing through
his left Lung within one 1 1/2 inches of his Heart, then passing through another man's wrist & hit another
man's Gun glancing from that to the Breast of a Corporal without injury as the ball was spent. The man shot
through is not expected to live although he is at the time of writing all the Parties belong to God.

Schools for the Freedmen
Dec 5th, 1862
"Many of the women make great efforts to learn to read, and meet with a good degree of success. Indeed,
some learn very rapidly, and it is very pleasing to witness their delight at their progress, especially when
they find they can commence reading their Bibles.

We are not at all of the opinion maintained by some of our acquaintances, that it is useless to attempt to
teach the adults; and we think our experience here justifies our belief; for if they do not learn quite as
quickly as the children, they make much greater efforts, which very nearly compensates. One woman who
could read quite well, told us she had learnt entirely by watching and listening while the children of the
family were being taught, and questioning them after the lesson was over, never having received an hour's
regular instruction until we came."

Miss C. D. Connant, St Augustine FL (from the Freedmen's Journal)

Deserters (Calvin Shedd December 5, 1862)
...there is nothing new here to disturb the usual routine of Garrison Life; most every day discharged or
deserting Rebels come in & take the Oath. They look bad Dirty with poor & ragged Clothes. Our men I think
would mutiny if they were as badly off as the Rebels they are armed with old muskets or shotguns & very
poor at that. They tell all manner of stories about the War which are not very reliable.

Judge Putnam Returns (Calvin Shedd Dec 7, 1862)
This morning a Rebel Capt & Judge came to the Pickets with a Flag of Truce, wanting to be let into the
Town; the Judges Family live here & the Col let him in but not the Capt. I don't see it in letting the Judge in,
Straggling Soldiers come in and take the Oath most every day. I understand the Judge (Putnam) leaves
tomorrow after attending to the wants of his Wife & the rest of the Family. We the Republicans in the Regt
feel that the President is getting on the right track in superseding McClellan, & hope Burnside push matters
with a will and in accordance with his well known Energy. I am ashamed to say it, but there are a great many
men in the Regt who only ask that the war end be it never so disgraceful to the North their sorry is from
morning to night D__n the Niggers & Black Republicans. The Democratic Party is the same willfully ignorant
Bull Headed Bags of Wind everywhere.

Deserters (Regimental History)
On December 13th two men, Horace M. Prescott of Company C, and Ephraim Pettingill, of Company E,
deserted from the guard-house at the fort, and succeeded in escaping to the enemy. Prescott had formerly
been a sergeant of Company C, but for some reason had been reduced to the ranks, and was at this time
confined in the guard-house for forgery.

Federal Court Marshals make Deserters (Calvin Shedd December 14, 1862)
I don't know the day of the month. We had a new episode this morning. Horace Prescott of Co. C & Ephraim
Pettingill of Co. E deserted broke out of the Gd House about 7 1/2 last Eve, & Skedaddled for parts
unknown in Rebeldom. Prescott was under arrest for Forgery.

The Citizens had sold stuff to the Soldiers & taken Sutler Checks for Pay, & Prescott forged notes using the
Capts (of several Cos.) names; & exchanged them for these checks; he got some $50.00 worth of them he
was court-martialed two or three days ago but his sentence has not been promulgated yet; probably the
Ball & Chain was not an agreeable piece of Jewelry to wear so he left, I don't know the offence of Pettingill,
he is a reckless fellow, & I am glad they are out of the Regt, but if they get caught Death to them.

Col Putnam's Cavalry (White's Regimental History)
We cannot forget the detail made from the regiment armed mounted and drilled by Colonel Putnam as
cavalry the drill ground being up near the fort. Those twenty five men whom the colonel drilled will certainly
never forget and after he had them dispense with their saddles and practice bareback riding on their
horses for a few days they had the appearance to us of a set of old cripples. Nevertheless the colonel had
a squad for mounted service of which he might well feel proud.

                                                                  1863
Lieutenant Cate Private Oscar F. French and the sutler Samuel Riddell were captured by Captain Dickison
in January 10, 1863.

The capture of Lieutenant Cate would set off a tug of war between General Hunter and the Confederate
government that was upset over the arming of the ex-slaves.

February 2 the steamer Boston removed a group civilians who had been ordered outside the lines.

More Recruits for the Colored Regiment - January 17, 1863 The New South -The transport Boston
returned on Tuesday night from Fernandina and St. Augustine, bringing up nearly 200 negroes, a great
portion of whom are recruits for the 1st South Carolina Regiment. They were enlisted by Lieut. Colonel
Billings, who went to Florida for that purpose.

Married.- In the Cathedral at St. Augustine, (The New South, January 17, 1863) on the morning of
December 26th, Mr. Charles B. Penwick, Parser of the Cosmopolitan (a hospital ship), to Miss Angelita J.
Triay of Cardenas, Cuba.

We were not present at the nuptial ceremony of our worthy friend, but we understand that the building was
crowded by the elite of that ancient city, and that everything passed off in a happy manner, emblematic, we
hope, of a long life of pleasure and happiness.

Col Buffington and family returned (New York Herald) Feb 27, 1863
Colonel Buffington and family, who were brought away from St. Augustine by Mr. French a few days since,
have been returned by General Hunter to their home. Dr. Boynton, an old resident of St. Augustine, has
been appointed a commissioner to investigate the conduct of the inhabitants of the Ancient city, and is to
determine the disposition to be made of those whose residence there may be found inconsistent with the
public interest. He has been given full discretionary power to send to Hilton Head as prisoners or to
transport to the rebel lines such persons as he may deem proper, until Lieutenant Virgil H. Cate; who was
captured in the suburbs of the town a few weeks since, and who is now in close confinement in Charleston
jail, shall be released. He is also to decide to whom rations shall be issued.

More Banishments NATCHEZ DAILY COURIER, February 28, 1863, p. 2, c. 1
A dispatch received in this city, says the Savannah News, states that eighty-five women and children,
banished from St. Augustine by the Federal authorities, arrived at Lake City yesterday. A transport with the
balance of the citizens of St. Augustine who have fallen under the Yankee displeasure, is daily expected at
Jacksonville.

Attack on the Advanced Picket Guard
On March 9, 1863 an advanced picket guard 2 miles north of town was attacked by 80 horsemen under
Capt Dickinson. A Union sergeant and 4 men were captured. Commander Col Putnam was characterized by
soldier Joseph R. Hawley as "staid here too long and got too found of secesh (Ed: nickname and insult for
Confederates), let the people run in and out of the lines, socially went with secesh, didn't attend to
business generally but let all the good loyal people feel almost ostracized as old abolitionists used to."
Hawley to Charles Dudley Warner, 14 June 1863, (Letters of Hawley) E. C. F. Sanchez 50 years later
would describe Col. Putnam: "He was a kind-hearted true gentleman, a gallant officer who while he did his
whole duty as an officer did not domineer over or attempt to oppress the women and children. He was
afterwards killed at a battle at Fort Wagner, off Charleston on the 18th of July 1863, and many of the
people of St. Augustine were saddened and wept, because of his death."

March 19th near the Fairbanks house in St. Augustine Captain Dickinson's men attacked the advanced
pickets. In the follow-up Sergt Theodore S. Wentworth, and Privates Joseph Blanchets, Alonzo J Busher,
Jacob Folllansbee and Asa M Hurd all members of Company D were captured by Dickinson's men on the
Palatka road.

On March 28 Col Putnam and all companies but one left for an attack on Fort Wagner. Lieut.-Col Abbott
was placed in charge of the troops. The one company moved into the Fort. On the 15 of April Col. Putnam
and the five companies returned.

More on Skirmish (Calvin Shedd) March 11, 1863
Misfortunes never come singly the same day at noon Co,s F. B. & D. in comnd of Lt. Col. Abbott went over
the Bridge with orders to look up the Reb,s expecting to be gone 36 hours they took Rations according,
they returned at 2 the same night with a loss of 1 Segt & 4 men taken by the Reb,s & a gain of 3 Prisoners
two of which were released yesterday the other is a discharged Rebel Soldier he fired on our men & will be
sent to H. Head. This Segt & Men were of Co. D. & were sent as a patrol to a House at some distance, but
before arriving run on to a troop of Reb,s & surrendered without firing a gun, or attempting to save
themselves by flight, one of the Prisoners says, they surrendered while the Reb,s were 200 yds off, now
when these things are heard at home we shall be held in great estimation I reckon, for our valor; well, I
hope we may have a chance to show our hands and see if we are all cowards, if so the sooner it is known
the better.

More Union Deserters (Calvin Shedd) March 26, 1863
Two men of Co. G. Rolling & Reynolds deserted the other day while on Picket, Capt Leavitt with 6 or 7 men
on horses started in pursuit, and caught them about 20 miles out, & brought them back. They came up with
them at 11 at night, they supposed the Horsemen to be Reb Cavalry & stepped out into the road, & asked
them if they were the Patrol, [     ] Jacobs answered yes; upon which they said they were glad to see them;
but they soon found out their mistake & are now in the Gd House with a Ball & Chain on as candidates for
Court Martial, & will probably by elected to be shot as all Traitors ought to be.

More on Mrs. Smith
Letter from Headquarters 1863
From Lt Col Asst. Adjutant Gen'l to 10 Army Corps of Dept South
written to Mrs. Frances Webster
Mrs. Francis M. Webster
Geneva, Ontario County, NY

Madam: I am instructed by the Major General Commanding Dept. to acknowledge the receipt of your note
dated 9th inst. relative to the case of your mother, Mrs. Josie Smith, of St. Augustine Fla; and in reply to
acquaint you:

That there was not the slightest disposition on the part of the Officer Commanding St. Augustine to molest
or deport any of the peaceful, or non-combatant, residents of that place; until it was found, that, by the
abuse of your injudicious license of speech, defamatory of the government, serious difficulties were likely to
arise among the more ignorant and turbulent of the population; and until it had also been found, that
communication with the enemy, of a nature prejudicial to the public interests, was being kept up from within
the lines of St. Augustine. In this illegitimate correspondence it was found that Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Putnam and
others were involved, and the order for them to quit the lines & to live amongst those with who they
sympathized was thereupon issued.

Nevertheless, as a mark of respect, the only one he was at present with power of paying, to the
memory of your late gallant husband., Lt. Col. Webster, and also in deference to the memories of the
gallant Kirby Smith, who fell in Mexico, and that other Kirby Smith who more recently fell at Corinth, I am
instructed by the Major General Commanding to announce to you that Mrs. Smith will not be molested, nor
deported, and to issue orders accordingly to the Commanding Officer at St. Augustine

From Mrs. J Smith
April 2 1863 Thursday, April 2nd, this a dark dark day. At 4 o'clock this afternoon, my Sister Helen, Mrs.
Putnam, left her home. Her own happy comfortable home, expelled from it by order of Gen'l Hunter, Comd
S. Dept. because her husband is a Southern man. Called a secessionist. He has not born arms against the
Union, has not been in this place since before the Northern Troops were in possession, was absent in the
country when they came in -- She left in the steamer Neptune, Capt. destination Hilton Head, a prisoner,
escort Lieut. Davis 7th New Hampshire Vol. Altho I have been under orders myself for because I have a
son in The Confederate Army, Gen'l Kirby Smith on information of friends, and statement of physicians, I
am exempted permitted to remain on account of age. 77 years, infirmity and ill health. (In the end she was
not exempt. She was removed in May of 1863 and went to Savannah Georgia. Newspaper account of
removals)

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