A further word of explanation may be needed as to the part of the volume describing the journey of Mr. Chief-Justice Chase. After the inauguration of President Johnson, Mr. Chase determined to visit the Southern cities, to learn as much as possible, from actual observation, of the true condition of the country. The Secretary of the Treasury was then about to send a revenue cutter to the New Orleans station, and on board of her a special agent, charged with the duty of examining the agencies, and carrying into effect the directions of the Department in the several South Atlantic and Gulf ports. He tendered the use of this vessel to the Chief-Justice, and orders were issued by the President and the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, to the officers in the naval, military, and civil services to afford him all facilities that their respective duties would allow. It was under these circumstances that the Chief-Justice made his Southern journey. He had the best opportunities of information, and communicated his views, from time to time, to the President. As a member of the party on board the cutter, I thus enjoyed considerable, though, in some respects, more limited opportunities of observation. * * * * * A small portion of the material in the following pages has previously appeared in the journal with which I was connected, but it has all been rewritten. W. R. LIBRARY OF THE HOUSE, } Washington, May, 1866. } CONTENTS. PAGE. PREFACE. iii CHAPTER I. Why, and How the Trip was Made. 9 CHAPTER II. A School of Unadulterated Negroes—An Ancient Virginia Town under the Dispensation of Sutlers. 13 CHAPTER III. “Beauties of the Sea”—First Views of Cracker Unionism. 21 CHAPTER IV. Newbern and Beaufort—Black and White. 28 CHAPTER V. Fort Fisher. 37 CHAPTER VI. Wilmington—Unionism—Blockade Running—Destitution—Negro Talk—Land Sales. 42 CHAPTER VII. Charleston Harbor—Could Sumter have been Stormed—Negroes and Poor Whites. 57 CHAPTER VIII. Charleston, Now and Four Years Ago. 65