old neighborhood, and there to be able to accomplish
something. This is but a stand-still experience, compared to our
wishes. The people advance in spite of it. I believe almost the only
real good I've done was to partially protect these people for three
days from the soldiers.

FROM H. W.

_March 5._ C. came home at night with the news that the First South
Carolina Volunteers started on an expedition[117] to-day which Colonel
Higginson considers of very great importance, which will have very
great results, or from which they will probably never return. Also
that drafting has begun in Beaufort by Hunter's orders.

General Saxton has _passed his word_ to the people here that they
shall not be forced into the army--I don't see what is to be the
upshot of it--they will lose all confidence in us. Anywhere but here!
Saxton himself gave Colonel Montgomery[118] leave to draft in Florida
and Key West, but he had no need to--more recruits offered than he
could bring away with him. I don't wish to find fault with my
commanding general, but I have yet to be shown the first thing Hunter
has done which I consider wise or fine. Saxton has had to go down
more than once and persuade him not to execute his orders.

In the following letter the reference to Mrs. Wolcott and
McClellan has to do with that visit to Boston of the deposed
general which was made such a triumphal progress for him by
the conservatives of the town. The reference to Hallowell,
who had a commission in the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts, the
first colored regiment raised by a state government, is
interesting as further evidence of the prejudice against
negro troops.

_March 6._ C. brought me last night a long letter from S. descriptive
of Mrs. Wolcott's party, McClellan, the fashions, and Hallowell's
feeling at the position in which he places himself in going into a
negro regiment. I wish he could see Colonel Higginson and his, but a
Northern black regiment will be a very different thing from a Southern
one--the men will have the vices of civilization from which these are
free. Colonel Higginson is an enthusiast, but I do not see that he
exaggerates or states anything but facts.

Then follow specimens of the conversation of Robert and
Rose, with which may be put here two others, really of later
date.

"Miss Hayiut, that your home?" Robert asked me this morning, looking
at some colored pictures of the Crystal Palace