Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 4.
Frank Moore, Ed.

Doc. 74.-a peaceful expedition to Port Royal.

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Departure of Missionaries.

the, first missionary expedition to propagate industry, religion, and education among the contrabands at Hilton Head, as well as to encourage agriculture and like useful measures, sailed from New-York City March third, 1862. It is composed of some sixty persons, about fifteen of whom are ladies. Mr. Edward L. Pierce, the Government agent, in charge of the plantations and contrabands at Port Royal, is to be the directing genius of this association; and from the experience he has already gained, the selection of that gentleman for the position is considered very judicious. The duty of the men, who include persons of about every trade and business, will be to take charge of the abandoned estates of the chivalry, and to direct the labors of the negroes, who are to be employed in such agricultural pursuits as the cultivation of cotton and the raising of necessary vegetables for the use of the army. The ladies go with the intention of establishing an industrial school, under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr. French, of this city. Among the ladies we should mention the name of Mrs. Harlan, wife of the United States Senator from Iowa. [228]

The following is a list of the names of those who proceed to Port Royal as active participants in the operations of the society:

Washington and Philadelphia.
Walter R. Johnson,	Miss Mary Donalson,
Miss Susan Walker.
New-York.
N. R. Johnson,	J. W. Brinkerhoff,
Geo. B. Peck,	Theodore Holt,
Harvey Hyde,	Edmund Price,
John L. Lathrop,	D. F. Cooper,
Robert N. Smith,	J. W. Macomber,
F. H. Cowdeny,	J. P. Greves,
Albert Norton,	J. T. Ashley,
Geo. C. Fox,	Jas. Hoy,
Jas. D. Strong,	David Fitch,
John H. Brown,	Lyman Knowlton,
Albert Belamy,	Miss Hannah Curtis,
Mrs. M. O. Quoiff,	Miss M. Albright,
Mrs. Nicholson,	Mrs. Jane Harlan,
Miss Doxy,	Miss R. Patton.
Boston.
E. W. Hooper,	E. S. Philbrick,
Wm. C. Gannett,	Geo. H. Blake,
J. E. Zachos,	Dr. A. J. Wakefield,
Jas. F. Sisson,	Isaac W. Cole,
J. W. R. Hill,	Jas. H. Palmer,
D. F. Thorpe,	David Mack,
T. Edwin Ruggles,	J. M. F. Howard,
F. E. Barnard,	Dr. Jas. Waldock,
Richard Soule, Jr.,	Leonard Wesson,
Dr. C. H. Brown,	Wm. E. Peck,
James E. Taylor,	Frederick A. Eustis,
Daniel Bowe,	Wm. S. Clarke,
Samuel D. Phillips,	Jules L. DeCroix,
Geo. M. Wells,	Mrs. Elizabeth B. Hale,
Miss Mena Hale,	Miss E. H. Winsor.
Miss M. A. Waldeck,

It will thus be seen that the persons composing the expedition do not come from one locality, but hail from Washington, New-York, Boston, Philadelphia, and other places. Some go as volunteers, but the bulk proceed under the auspices of the National Freedman's Relief Association of this city, and the Educational Commission in Boston. Each member was obliged to take the following oath of allegiance before being finally accepted:

I,----,----, do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign; that I will bear true and faithful allegiance and loyalty to the same, any allegiance, resolution, or law of any State convention to the contrary notwithstanding. And further, that I do this with a full determination and pledge to perform it, without any mental reservation whatever; and further, that I will faithfully perform all the duties which may be required of me by law. So help me God.

The Atlantic, which conveys the expedition, takes out with her a large cargo, consisting of army stores, agricultural implements, seeds, clothing, sewing-machines, and numerous contributions toward the success of the object.