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
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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. * * * *