TWO DIARIES
From Middle St. John’s, Berkeley,
South Carolina, February-May, 1865
JOURNALS KEPT BY MISS SUSAN R. JERVEY AND MISS CHARLOTTE ST. J.
RAVENEL, AT NORTHAMPTON AND POOSHEE PLANTATIONS,
AND REMINISCENCES OF MRS. (WARING) HENAGAN
WITH TWO CONTEMPORARY REPORTS
FROM FEDERAL OFFICIALS
———
PUBLISHED BY THE ST. JOHN’S HUNTING CLUB
1921
Extract from the Minutes of the 121st Annual Meeting of the St. John’sHunting Club.
Wampee Plantation, July 4, 1921.
* * * * Prof. Yates Snowden exhibited carefully prepared copies ofdiaries kept by Miss Susan R. Jervey and Miss Charlotte St. J. Ravenelat Northampton and Pooshee plantations, respectively, during the monthsof February, March and April, 1865. Our women were then unprotected saveby a few old men and boys, and Middle St. John’s was frequently raidedby roving bands of negro soldiers, mainly by the 55th Mass. Regiment.Professor Snowden suggested that a committee be appointed to considerthe propriety and devise means for publishing these authentic records ofthe sufferings and fortitude of our kinswomen during those times, and tomake a report at the next annual meeting.
After an animated discussion by President T. P. Ravenel, J. St. ClairWhite, H. R. Dwight and others, Capt. Sam’l G. Stoney moved that theclub proceed to publish the diaries forthwith, using such funds as wereavailable in the treasury, and that the members of the club subscribeindividually enough to make up the deficit.
The President appointed Capt. Sam’l G. Stoney, J. St. Clair White andProf. Yates Snowden a committee to edit the diaries, add explanatoryfoot notes, and make a suitable contract with some publishing house for300 copies of the pamphlet. * * * *
(Sgd.) HENRY R. DWIGHT,
Secretary.
EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL, KEPT BY MISS SUSAN R. JERVEY, AT NORTHAMPTONPLANTATION.[1]
Thursday night February 16th. Such awful news came to us that just asthe table was laid and everything ready for us to enjoy our supperFather[2] decided not to wait, but ordered the horses to be harnessed tothe carriage, and we started on our fearful journey from Cedar Grove,[3]not even taking time to carry anything with us; our terror on the roadimagining we heard the Yankees’ guns across the swamp. We reachedNorthampton about 10:00 o’clock. After a quiet night, we found many ofthe terrifying rumors false. Mother spent the next day at Cedar Grove,packing up and moving our more valuable goods here.
Saturday February 18th. Nothing certain about Columbia. Father andRene[4] who had gone to hunt up James’s[5] company at Santee, returnedthis morning not having found the Marion Artillery. The dear old city(is) to be given up tonight at 12:00 o’clock; our army is falling back.
Sunday February 19th. The most un-Sunday feeling Sunday I have everpast. Father and Rene started for St.