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’s Hunting Club. Wampee Plantation, July 4, 1921. * * * * Prof. Yates Snowden exhibited carefully prepared copies of diaries kept by Miss Susan R. Jervey and Miss Charlotte St. J. Ravenel at Northampton and Pooshee plantations, respectively, during the months of February, March and April, 1865. Our women were then unprotected save by a few old men and boys, and Middle St. John’s was frequently raided by roving bands of negro soldiers, mainly by the 55th Mass. Regiment. Professor Snowden suggested that a committee be appointed to consider the propriety and devise means for publishing these authentic records of the sufferings and fortitude of our kinswomen during those times, and to make a report at the next annual meeting. After an animated discussion by President T. P. Ravenel, J. St. Clair White, H. R. Dwight and others, Capt. Sam’l G. Stoney moved that the club proceed to publish the diaries forthwith, using such funds as were available in the treasury, and that the members of the club subscribe individually enough to make up the deficit. The President appointed Capt. Sam’l G. Stoney, J. St. Clair White and Prof. Yates Snowden a committee to edit the diaries, add explanatory foot notes, and make a suitable contract with some publishing house for 300 copies of the pamphlet. * * * * (Sgd.) HENRY R. DWIGHT, Secretary. EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL, KEPT BY MISS SUSAN R. JERVEY, AT NORTHAMPTON PLANTATION.[1] Thursday night February 16th. Such awful news came to us that just as the table was laid and everything ready for us to enjoy our supper Father[2] decided not to wait, but ordered the horses to be harnessed to the 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 road imagining we heard the Yankees’ guns across the swamp. We reached Northampton about 10:00 o’clock. After a quiet night, we found many of the 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 and Rene[4] who had gone to hunt up James’s[5] company at Santee, returned this 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.