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Confederate Military History, Vol. 5
CHAPTER I.

Fort Sumter, in the very mouth of the harbor, was in an unfinished state and without a garrison. On the night of the 26th of December, 1860, Maj. Robert Anderson dismantled Fort Moultrie and removed his command by boats over to Fort Sumter. The following account of the effect of this removal of Major Anderson upon the people, and the action of the government, is taken from Brevet Major-General Crawford’s “Genesis of the Civil War.” General Crawford was at the time on the medical staff and one of Anderson’s officers. His book is a clear and admirable narrative of the events of those most eventful days, and is written in the spirit of the utmost candor and fairness. In the conclusion of the chapter describing the removal, he says:

The fact of the evacuation of Fort Moultrie by Major Anderson was soon communicated to the authorities and people of Charleston, creating intense excitement. Crowds collected in streets and open places of the city, and loud and violent were the expressions of feeling against Major Anderson and his action … [The governor of the State was ready to act in accordance with the feeling displayed.] On the morning of the 27th, he dispatched his aide-de-camp, Col. Johnston Pettigrew, of the First South Carolina Rifles, to Major Anderson. He was accompanied by Maj. Ellison Capers, of his regiment. Arriving at Fort Sumter, Colonel Pettigrew sent a card inscribed, “Colonel Pettigrew, First Regiment Rifles, S.C. M., Aide-de-Camp to the Governor, Commissioner to Major Anderson. Ellison Capers, Major First Regiment Rifles, S.C. M.” . . . Colonel Pettigrew and his companion were ushered into the room. The feeling was reserved and formal, when, after declining seats, Colonel Pettigrew immediately opened his mission: “Major Anderson,” said he, “can I communicate with you now, sir, before these officers, on the subject for which I am here?” “Certainly, sir,” replied Major Anderson, “these are all my officers; I have no secrets from them, sir.” The commissioner then informed Major Anderson that he was directed to say to him that the governor was much surprised that he had reinforced “this work.” Major Anderson promptly responded that there had been no reinforcement of the work; that he had removed his command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, as he had a right to do, being in command of all the forts in the harbor. To this Colonel Pettigrew replied that when the present governor (Pickens) came into office, he found an understanding existing between the previous governor (Gist) and the President of the United States, by which all property Within the limits of the State was to remain as it was; that no reinforcements were to be sent here, particularly to this post; that there was to be no attempt made against the public property by the State, and that the status in the harbor should remain unchanged. He was directed also to say to Major Anderson that it had been hoped by the governor that a peaceful solution of the difficulties could. have been reached, and a resort to arms and bloodshed might have been avoided; but that the governor thought the action of Major Anderson had greatly complicated matters, and that he did not now see how bloodshed could be avoided; that he had desired and intended that the whole matter might be fought out politically and without the arbitration of the sword, but that now it was uncertain, if not impossible.

To this Major Anderson replied, that as far as any understanding between the President and the governor was concerned, he had not been informed; that he knew nothing of it; that he could get no information or positive orders from Washington, and that his position was threatened every night by the troops of the State. He was then asked by Major Capers, who accompanied Colonel Pettigrew, “How?” when he replied, “By sending out steamers armed and conveying troops on board ;” that these steamers passed the fort going north, and that he feared a landing on the island and the occupation of the sand-hills just north of the fort; that 100 riflemen on these hills, which commanded his fort, would make it impossible for his men to serve their guns; and that any man with a military head must see this. “To prevent this,” said he earnestly, “I removed on my own responsibility, my sole object being to prevent bloodshed.” Major Capers replied that the steamer was sent out for patrol purposes, and as much to prevent disorder among his own people as to ascertain whether any irregular attempt was being made to reinforce the fort, and that the idea of attacking him was never.. entertained by the little squad who patroled the harbor.

Major Anderson replied to this that he was wholly in the dark as to the intentions of the State troops, but that he had reason to believe that they meant to land and attack him from the north; that the desire of the governor to have the matter settled peacefully and without bloodshed was precisely his object in removing his command from Moultrie to Sumter; that he did it upon his own responsibility alone, because he considered that the safety of his command required it, as he had a right to do. “In this controversy,” said he, “between the North and the South, my sympathies are entirely with the South. These gentlemen,” said he (turning to the officers of the post who stood about him), “know it perfectly well.” Colonel Pettigrew replied, “Well, sir, however that may be, the governor of the State directs me to say to you courteously but peremptorily, to return to Fort Moultrie.” “Make my compliments to the governor (said Anderson) and say to him that I decline to accede to his request; I cannot and will not go back.” “Then, sir,” said Pettigrew, “my business is done,” when both officers, without further ceremony or leavetaking, left the fort.

Colonel Pettigrew and Major Capers returned to the city and made their report to the governor and council who were in session in the council chamber of the city hall. That afternoon Major Anderson raised the flag of his country over Sumter, and went vigorously to work mounting his guns and putting the fort in military order. The same afternoon the governor issued orders to Colonel Pettigrew, First regiment of rifles, and to Col. W. G. De Saussure, First regiment artillery, commanding them to take immediate possession of Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie. Neither fort was garrisoned, and the officers in charge, after making a verbal protest, left and went to Fort Sumter, and the Palmetto flag was raised over Moultrie and Pinckney. In the same manner the arsenal in Charleston was taken possession of by a detachment of the Seventeenth regiment, South Carolina militia, Col. John Cunningham, and Fort Johnson on James island, by Capt. Joseph Johnson, commanding the Charleston Riflemen. The governor also ordered a battery to be built for two 24-pounders on Morris island, bearing on Ship channel, and his order was speedily put into execution by Maj. P. F. Stevens, superintendent of the South Carolina military academy, with a detachment of the cadets, supported by the Vigilant Rifles, Captain Tupper. This battery was destined soon to fire the first gun of the war. In taking possession of the forts and the arsenal, every courtesy was shown the officers in charge, Captain Humphreys, commanding the arsenal, saluting his flag before surrendering the property.

Interview with Irene Williams, Rome, Mississippi, 1940

Irene Williams: Another very interesting thing in my early childhood was the Negro baptizing. All the candidates for baptism were standing on the bank of the pond over in Mr. Bailey’s pasture. Dressed in long white gowns with white caps on their heads ready to be buried in baptism. And the song as they were being led into the water by the minister was this:

Keep Your Lamp A Trimmed (download 1.3mb Mp3)

Oh, brother, keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Just like the light of God.

Oh, sister, keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Just like the light of God.

Oh, mourners, keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Just like the light of God.

Oh, sinners, keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Keep your lamp a trimmed and a burning.
Just like the light of God.

And another thing that I remember on the plantation that we hadn’t mentioned before was this churn song, ‘Little Emma,’ the baby’s nurse. After the baby was tucked in bed was often called into the kitchen to do the churning. And this is the song that she sang to the milk:

Come Butter Come (Download in Mp3 - 998kb)

Come butter come.
Mistess standing at the gate waiting for the butter cake to,
Come butter come.

Come butter come, Mistess awaiting.
Come butter come, Mistess awaiting.
Come butter come, the Mrs. awaiting.
Come butter come, the Mrs. awaiting.

Mrs. awaiting for the butter cake to,
Come butter come.

Come butter come.
Mrs. awaiting.
Mrs. Awaiting for the butter cake to,
Come butter come.

Mrs. awaiting.
Come butter come.
Mrs. awaiting.

And this chant would go on through until the churning was through. And the rich golden butter would come into a solid cake on the top of the milk.

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Source:

Call Number

master/afc/afc9999001/t4011A

Repository

Library of Congress, Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Washington, D.C. 20540

Digital Id

afc9999001-t4011a
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc9999001.t4011a

Former Texas slave, Billy McCrea sings Blow Cornie Blow, download the Mp3 file (1.6mb)

Billy says that Blow Cornie Blow was a song the slaves sang just before they went to work on the steamboats.

Blow Cornie Blow

I think I hear a the captain call me–blow cornie blow.
I think I hear the captain calling–blow cornie blow.

A blow cornie blow.
Blow cornie blow.
A blew it cold, loud and mournful.
Blow cornie blow.

I think I hear the captain [unintelligble] –blow cornie blow.
They carried lo-o-o-o-ong onto bend.
Blow cornie blow.
They soon will be to the landing corner.
Blow cornie blow.
De captain hand me down my [salary (?)].
Blow cornie blow.
Oh, blow boy and let them hear you.
Blow cornie blow.

Oh, blow loud and ??? .
Blow cornie blow.
Oh, blow loud just so he can hear you.
Blow cornie blow.
I think I hear the captain call you.
Blow cornie blow.

He also sings “Oh Dooley” - download Mp3 (1.5mb)

Walk dooley. Walk, talk and dooley.
Walk dooley. Walk, talk, dooley.
Walk dooley. Dooley is a–
Walk dooley. Oh, dooley.
Do walk. Dooley. Oh, dooley.
Walk dooley. Walk them and a talking.
Walk dooley. Walk them and a talk.

Do raz. Araz-raz. ??? dooley.
Walk dooley. ??? dooley.
Do raz. Araz-raz, hoe nigga. Hoe man.
Do raz. ???

Walk dooley, hoe down nigga.
Walk dooley, I am a good man.
Walk dooley, I can do ??? .
Walk dooley, walk, talk dooley.
Walk dooley, run along dooley.
Walk dooley, talk long dooley.
Walk dooley, stepping on dooley.
Walk dooley, dooley is a good thing.
Walk dooley, dooley let the hogs out.
Walk dooley, hoe nigga hoe me.
Walk dooley, hoe nigga hoe me.

Do raza I am ???
Do raza I could pull two men.
Do raza I could handle three men.

Walk dooley, I could whoop five men.
Walk dooley, dooley she’s a good gal.
Walk dooley, I could slap her husband.
Walk I slap Julia.
Walk sometime I slap Julia.
Walk sometime I slap her jaw.
Walk Julia is a good gal.
Walk when I slap Julia on the jaw.
Walk then she come to be a good girl.
Walk Julie–

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Source:

Call Number

AFS 3974A
LWO 4872, reel 264

Repository

Library of Congress, Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, Washington, D.C. 20540

Digital Id

afc9999001-3974a
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc9999001.3974a

To the tune of “ole Dan Tucker” former slave Bib Ledbetter singing. Just 11 seconds. Download the Mp3 (164mb) to listen.

Lyrics:

My Sam told me to pick a little cotton. My boy says don’t, the seeds all rotten. Get out off the way, old Dan Tucker, Come too late to get your supper.

Other songs with Bob singing:

• I’m Going Home (396k) Mp3
  [sings] I’m going home. I’m going home. I’m going home.

  I knowed that he’s coming soon as he got supper. At the white folk kitchen [laughs] I looking for him.

• Wash My Clothes (167k) Mp3
  No soap, no starch. Nobody, nobody to wash my clothes, nobody to wash my clothes.

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Digital Id afc9999001-t3992a
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc9999001.t3992a

Interview transcript

I Surrender — download the Mp3 (514mb) and listen to Wallace (former slave) singing it

Oh, let me come on i-in.
I surrender, and open the door.
Let me come in open up.
Yeah, let me come i-inn.
Oh, let me come i-i-i-innn.
I surrender, yes open the door, and let me come in.
I said baby don’t you cry, mothers and father are born to die.
I surrender [recording gets stuck].
Oh, let me come i-inn.
I surrender and open the door and let me come in.

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Interview with Wallace Quarterman, Fort Frederica, St. Simons Island, Georgia, June 1935

Digital Id

afc9999001-t0342a
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc9999001.t0342a