"Our Norfolk Correspondence, The Christian Recorder, Oct. 8, 1864, p. 1 · Freedmen's Bureau Project

Title

"Our Norfolk Correspondence, The Christian Recorder, Oct. 8, 1864, p. 1

Date

10-08-1864

Description

This article in The Christian Recorder (the newspaper of the African Methodist Episcopal Church), "Sallie" reports from Norfolk, Virginia on the terrible scene presented by the arrival of a steamer carrying wounded U.S.C.T. soldiers. She also reports that teacher Edmonia Highgate has departed for her home in Syracuse, N.Y., having suffered an "aberration of the mind." She adds that "no teacher will be more universally missed than Ms. H."

References

Edmonia Highgate

Source

Center for Research Libraries

Transcript

OUR NORFOLK CORRESPONDENCE .

THE WOUNDED COLORED SOLDIERS.

MR. EDITOR: - About half-past seven o'clock this evening information reached us that the steamer George Washington had arrived at Portsmouth from the front, having a large number of the wounded colored soldiers on board, among whom was Sergt. Major T.R. Hawkins, of the 6th U.S.C.T.
A party of us prepared and went over, and on arriving at the boat, found the reports concerning them not exaggerated. The groans and screams of some of the poor fellows, who were being moved on stretchers to the ambulances, were truly heart-rending. Some of them were wounded in the leg, some in the arm, others in the body, while many were suffering from a multiplicity of wounds. One poor man had both eyes shot out.
Sergeant H. is dreadfully wounded in three places: the shoulder, thigh, and foot. His cheerfulness amidst all his suffering is remarkable. - He converses in his usually vivacious strains, and when being removed, although he must have endured the most intense pain, yet not so much as a moan escaped him. A friend of his said, "Tom, this is dreadful; you had better gone with me." His reply was, "I am glad I was in this battle, I would not have missed it for any thing."
I regret to have to announce the demise of another of our teachers at Hampton, Miss Day. Yesterday Miss E.G. Highgate left here for her home in Syracuse, N.Y., in care of Miss C.C. Duncan, being afflicted with that terrible malady, "aberration of mind." There is no teacher who will be more universally missed than Miss H. - Her efficiency in the missionary field has been proved in numberless instances. Our laborers are falling rapidly in the field.
An order has been issued by Brig. Gen. Shepley, appointing Capt. J. Brown and Prof. W.H. Woodbury, as superintendents "of the colored schools of this military district, in the State of Virginia, south of James River." With two such superintendents our cause will not suffer; for all who know them, believe them to be "the right man in the right place."
And now, Mr. Editor, before I close, let me beg that our Northern friends will not forget our poor soldiers, but will do what they can toward sending nourishment and other comforts to them.
The ladies of the several Soldiers' Relief Associations of this city and Portsmouth, are doing what their limited means will allow, and we ask you to lend us a helping hand in this the hour of need.
Truly yours,
SALLIE.