North Carolina Runaway Slave Observations

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/1/2017

A wonderfully written Union nurse's letter, 10pp. 4to. & 2pp. oblong 12mo., written by Con C. Badger, 6th New Hampshire Vols., Roanoke Island, N. C., June 4, 1862 to his mother concerning the spotted opinion of a North Carolina plantation owner on the freedom of slaves, in very small part: "…I am still doing all the duties of an asst. Surgeon for when Dr. Tracy returned…Dr. Cooper, the asst. Surgeon was ordered to the brigade hospital…it only pays me 7 dollars more a month than an ordinary solider, but I have a tent to myself…& am treated by both officers & men with…respect as tho I had my commission in my pocket…my reputation in this regiment as a physician is all a young man could desire…if I could get a commission during this war I might try for an appointment in the regular army afterwards…as for the war we soldiers…the majority of the men…are sick of the business & anxious to return to their families…another portion like the army life as well as any other & to them it a matter of indifference whether the war last 3 years or 30. As for the officers it is profitable business…for salaries varying from 150 upwards they are willing to defend the Stars & Stripes, fight for the Union, carry freedom to the poor nigger….so long as glory is to be had cheap & the danger is not great…speaking of the niggers. What disposition do you Northerners intend making of them. We haven't a great many of them compared to the other stations on this coast, but if you can find any occupation for 741 of them in Gilmanton…Genl. Burnside would be glad to accommodate you. We have got that number on this island under our protection which means we feed, clothe & shelter them…in return [we] receive the approval of our conscience. What Bosh…this welcoming these black rascals simply because it will annoy those whom we suppose are our enemies…all the niggers unit in swearing that "massa one damned rebel". Of course, nig. knows. If he don't who does…I went one day over to the mainland with Capt. Baum, a native with whom I boarded. After we got there…he had to go off…I was too weak to go…I didn't like the idea of being left alone…getting tired of lounging on the beach I overhauled my revolvers & started towards the "interior". After going thro. the woods a quarter of a mile…keeping a bright lookout for secesh…I came to a plantation on which rice & cotton…were growing…& came suddenly upon the farm house …in the door yard playing…were five of the longest heeled, brightest & blackest little specimens of humanity I ever saw. Ten black diamonds in pearl settings could not flash more brilliantly than their eyes did when I opened the gate…they were off like a flock of partridges. I went round to the leeward door…& found an old lady busily spinning. As I was quite pale & tired & had on a clean shirt & white collar…I did not look quite so dangerous…as I generally do…the old lady bid me good evening…invited me in…asked me "had I been sick" & sent Venus about 7 years old & as black as the ace of spades to tell the Capt. that there was a stranger in the house. The old man soon came hobbling in & greeted me cordially. Offered me a glass of their native wine…produced pipes after which we had a pleasant chat…the old man was quite intelligent for these regions…& seemed quite conversant with the habits & opinions of Northern men. [He] had served in the last war in which he lost an eye & had a bayonet thrust throe. his thigh crippling him for life-was a Union man "as long…as there was use in being Union in North Carolina." He reckoned there wasn't much Union feeling in the state. About the niggers he said. "You folks haven't acted wisely about our slaves. I know you don't want to liberate all the niggers cos you wouldn't know what to do with them, but I cant make my folks [slaves] believe so for our niggers…runaway & you take care of them. You don't come over & take them, but you encourage them to do so by feeding & clothing them. The other day because a few White men undertook to stop a gang of slaves from stealing one of their schooners & running away…got into a fight in which 4 or 5 niggers were killed. On the testimony of those who escaped you sent up an armed force & arrested these men & threatened to hang them for murder. The people of N. C. will never be good Union men until some other course is taken about their slaves." I thought the old man's views were sensible [and] after another glass of wine I returned to the boat the old man accompanying me…I have given you a lengthy account…that you might form an idea of the opinions of the people in this neighborhood…I have had a good opportunity to ascertain the views of these men on Hatteras as well as here & I can safely say I haven't seen but three Union men on both islands & they were all spies in our employ…to be trusted as far as one could sling a bull by the tail…I'll tell you a conversation I had with an officer whom we arrested at Elizabeth city. He was taken prisoner when we took the island…we found him standing on the corner of a street watching our troops. A nigger told the Col. that the was a recruiting officer…after six weeks confinement was discharged for want of proof that he had violated his parole…your aft. son, Con…direct as before "Roanoke Island, N. C…6th Regt. N. H. Vols." Published in Brenda C. McKean's 2011 book entitled: "Blood & War at my Doorstep. North Carolina Citizens in the War of the Rebellion." Referenced in McKean's book as part of a private collection. VG to near fine

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