| General Superintendent's Office |
| Seaboard & Roanoke Rail Road Company |
| Portsmouth, Va. {May
9,} 186{2} {Date based on date Norfolk was taken} |
| |
| My dearest Father,
{Moncure Robinson, internationally known RR
engineer and an early President of the Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac RR; lived in the Philadelphia during the War} |
| |
| Not knowing how long our
forces might be able to hold Norfolk I wrote hurriedly to Mother &
yourself. In the midst of the most pressing duties I hope as opportunity
offers to complete this more detailed letter. For sometime passed I have
been stationed at Suffolk aide de camp to Maj. Gen. Loring, giving
however ample attention to the road. On Thursday night, May 2d, I was in
Norfolk & received from General Hugar an order direct from the Secty of
War detailing me on special duty connected with the Rail road. My
suspicions of what was to be the policy of the Administration were at
once aroused from my knowledge of the views entertained by Gen.
Randolph. He & the Secty of the Navy came to Norfolk the next day, when
I learned of the intention to abandon the two towns & I was placed in
charge of this movement of stores, etc., by rail from Portsmouth. I will
therefore be one of the last to leave. Knowing that much of the
Company's property would be seized by the
United States troops & perhaps totally destroyed before the stockholders
resident in the U. States would be able to interfere for its
preservation, I have shipped all that could be moved, with of course the
engines and cars to Raleigh under Mr. Pendleton's care. Much that is
valuable will however of necessity remain under the care of Ball & Hand.
The "Selden" will I think be also left. |
| Of the details of the books,
funds, etc., of the company you will continue to operate the road so far
as it may be possible to do so. My own effects are disposed of as
follows: Ball has my books on engineering & my drawings; Mr. Wallace has
several letters my private ledger & papers connected with my private
business transactions. In my ledger you will notice no mention of any
property belonging to you save that transferred by you to me last August
& this is noted therein as belonging to me & added to what I held
previous to the date upon which you made the transfer. Mrs. Newton of
the Atlantic Hotel has kindly consented to occupy my rooms to preserve
the property therein; There may be several things there that will prove
of interest to Mother & yourself especially a few books & pictures. |
| Mr. Walke has likewise an
ambrotype that I had taken yesterday for my mother. The Agents of the
road left behind are good men & have been faithful to the Company: I
have asked Lapith Smith to hand you a letter in which not knowing that I
would write this I mention his devotion to you & yours. |
| Whilst on this subject I
cannot refrain from noticing Mr. Walke's kindness to myself & the boys &
the unvarying interest he has expressed for you, in contradiction to
which has been the conduct of Mr. Tazewell Taylor, an inquisitive
talkative impertinent busy body & one who has done much to do to you all
the injury in his power for the sake of siding with popular clamor
against you. During the period of my struggles to preserve your property
from Sequestration Mr. Taylor instead of offering me his aid, did much
to impede me; he laid bare to the community the condition of your
affairs, imputed wrong selfish motives to me, & became a violent
advocate of the Sequestration law. Without entering into further detail
I hope you & he may never again cross each other's thresholds & should
he claim your friendship in any way I beg that you will show him this
letter. |
| For the future I can say
nothing. I have health strength two good horses, $500 in my pocket,
$5000 with Mr. Myers in Richmond and a dividend of two per cent lately
declared by the Fredericksburg road {Richmond,
Fredericksburg & Potomac RR}, a good servant, plenty of blankets
& clothing & a good set of camp equipage just drawn from the Government.
I shall look after what will be left of the Company's property & hold
the position of official aide de camp with the rank of Captain in the
Army to Maj. Gen. Loring. The Secty of War has offered me a commission
in the engineers. If the commission has the same rank as that now held
by me, I will accept it, as the Secty of War promises to continue me
with the General. I will I hope be able to continue the care of the
boys. Henry is in the Petersburg Rifles 12th Va. Reg. & Willy & Cary are
in Co. A 6th Va. Regt. All of them are in splendid condition & are well
provided with everything they need. Leigh went off very strangely &
joined the Richmond Howitzers & does not reply to my letters, he is
however well. |
| I have made my will leaving
all that stands in my name, as well as all that the Confiscation law
gives to me to Mr. Myers & at his death to Willy, as I could leave
nothing to your or yours by law; either of them will re-transfer to you
at the termination of the war should the law then give them title to it;
otherwise, of course the Confiscation law of the Confed. would have no
power & your title would be unimpaired. The only property then likely to
be affected is that standing in my name should the United States be
successful. |
| Willy Myers is volunteer aid
to Gen. Loring & thus we are thrown much together. |
| With regard to the disposition
I have made of your indebtedness it is as follows: the Fredericksburg
Company have agreed to receive your stock value at its value at the time
you became indebted to them. Your other creditors have not yet been
heard from. The transfers have not yet been made to the Fredg. Company
but it is understood with them & a resolution of their Board has been
passed to ratify the agreement. |
| Mr. Myers & Mr. Morson have
been my attorneys, Mr. Myers acting for me as if I was his son; he has
my certificates of stock, will & other important papers. |
| Aunt Octave's family are very
well, Hally & Wise are with them in Richmond. Philip has been at
Goldsboro volunteer aid to Gen. Anderson. Grandma does not appear to
have changed in the least since you saw her; she takes great interest in
the war & is decidedly the best posted member of the family. She is at
Mr. Shield's. Uncle John's family have caused me uneasiness; Bennett
commands a company under Gen. Johnston whilst Jeff is member of an
artillery company in Magruder's command. I proposed to Uncle John that I
would buy a farm in North Carolina if he would settle his family there.
He put it of and now it is too late. Gen. Randolph however believes that
Albemarle is now much safer than it has been. |
| A sketch of my life since
seeing you will probably interest you and I will try to give it. On my
return from Phila. I made the transfers you directed. Soon the
Sequestration law was passed affecting not only your property but that
transferred to me. On what constitutes an alien enemy I undertook a
vigorous defence of the case but was most disagreeably placed from the
remarks made around me by these wretched Portsmouth people who aided by
Wilson endeavored to get a bill passed authorizing the town to buy
Sequestrated stock. Wilson got on a high horse; I had no power but
quietly abided my time doing my best with the road. Mr. Walke was in
fever heat - Wilson in his glory, Mr. Daniel & Cousin Wirt worried. Not
trusting to the courts for a decision in your favor & knowing that that
might be injurious to you at the North, I went before Congress then in
secret session. Mr. Macfarland aided me all that he could, but he had
not much influence. I exerted myself with the Mississippi, Texas &
Missouri delegations, with a warm cooperator in the person of Judge
Brooke of Mississippi an old friend of Mother's in her younger days in
Clark & finding that much prejustice existed against those who remained
at the North I determined to place matters if possible in such shape in
any event & accordingly introduced by proxy (Gen. Waul of Texas) a bill
declaring all transfers prior to Aug. 31st valid & another passing to
loyal decedents of parties living in the North the property of such
persons. The bills passed almost in the language in which I had drawn
them up. I was again in power. Suite had been instituted against the Bay
Line & against Messrs. Vickers Kelso & others whose proxies I held as
being alien enemies from being interested with the Bay line which was
engaged in carrying troops & to aid the United States. Mr. Myers &
Morson undertake the defence of the individuals in this suit at my
instance & are to be paid if successful & if my course is approved by
the parties whom I undertake to defend at 5 percent on the value of the
property saved. Mr. Taylor had in charge the defence of the Bay Line &
the claims of the Seaboard Co. against it; I had Mr. Morson added as
counsel to this suit. None of these cases have as yet been decided On
finding ourselves reinstalled in power, Cousin Wirt saw Wilson & told
him his bill with regard to the town of Portsmouth had to be withdrawn.
It was done & with a tight rein that gentleman has been since then
easily managed. Should matters ever become settled he must not be
re-elected. Policy led me to do it at our last meeting. Our meeting came
off; Norfolk & Portsmouth raised a row & tried to put in their own
Board. Mr. James Alfred Jones was brought down to represent that of
Fredsb. road & to argue points. Of course we elected Mr. Myers Cousin
Wirt and myself. Wm. E. Taylor & Tazwell Taylor were the principle
parties to give trouble. They declared that everything had been cocked &
primed before hand. (I would have been very foolish if it had not been)
& promised to give trouble in the future. To make sure of the control a
resolution was passed authorizing the Board to purchase all Sequestrated
stock when sold. Since then everything has been working admirably. |
| In Richmond I used all the
influence I could bring to bear to defeat the Sequestration bill when
brought up for amendment so far as relates to those Northern men not
inimical to the South, then to preserve natives of the South and women
but all that I could do was to procure the passage of a bill that would
save you. |
| So far as I have been engaged
in the struggle is as follows: I had long felt with my attachment to
Virginia & as the State from which we are all sprung & with all my
cousins in the service that so far as I could without neglecting
materially the interests entrusted to me I should be in the army. I
accepted an invitation from Gen. Wise as aide de camp & joined him at
Nag's Head opposite Roanoke Island. For two weeks we had a charming time
although the General was ill. Occupying a nice cottage on a hill
overlooking the ocean & Albemarle Sound with a French cook who had
supplied himself with all sorts of delicacies we kept open house to the
officers of the Brigade. The weather was charming & our mess delightful.
One morning (Friday) the enemy's fleet were reported approaching on the
opposite side of Roanoke. Soon gun after gun gave notice that the attack
had commenced on Pork Point battery -- at 9 o'clock Gen. Wise called me
to his bed & ordered me to examine if the sound (three miles wide was
fordable). I set to work discovered a ford except for a distance of
about 100 yds & reported at 3 o'clock. At 4 o'clock I was ordered to
Roanoke to examine the condition of affairs. At this time scarcely a
second's time elapsed without the explosion of a shell. On arriving at
the Island I found that Pork Point was holding out although considerably
torn, with the small loss of one killed & 4 wounded. As night came on
although the fire had considerably slackened the sight was magnificent,
the explosion of the guns, the bursting of the shells formed a scene
that I had often read of but had never witnessed & one that I will not
easily forget. I then proceeded to the breastwork where the infantry
were stationed for the purpose of seeing Col. Shaw commanding. Col. Shaw
was not by any means suited to his position. The island had been totally
neglected by the War Department & what batteries there were, instead of
being placed at the marshes, were above Ashby's Landing allowing the
enemy to land with ease. |
| On arriving at the breastwork
I found the troops in front around their lines & in a drenching rain.
Jennings held the left flank on a marsh with 130 men composing a
battalion of his company & poor Coles'. 480 Va. troops lined the
breastwork supporting three pieces of artillery only one of which had
proper sized ammunition. 500 N. Carolinians armed with flint locks were
in the rear. I talked with Coles, he seemed to be anxious for the
anticipated battle, but not cheerful. I think he had a premonition that
he would be killed; he & Wise, however, ate heartily of some bread &
meat that I had in my sack. I met Col. Shaw & said to him that I feared
a flank movement of the enemy through the marsh on the left. This he
declared to be impossible & I left to make my report to send over re-inforcement
& ammunition which I promised by 11:30 the next day & my own company if
my orders were unchanged. Whilst standing with Wise we heard the report
of a gun a few hundred yards off & soon one of our pickets ran up &
exhibited a fine rifle just taken from a Yankee picket whom he had shot.
We thus learned that the enemy who had landed at Ashby's under cover of
their gun boats had thrown out pickets to within a short distance of our
lines. I returned to Nag's Head & reported to Gen. Wise at 11 o'clock.
He was thoroughly exhausted. At 11 o'clock the next day after seeing the
troops and ammunition off, I started for Roanoke. The musketry had been
severe from 9 o'clock. Upon nearing the Island the fire had sensibly
slacked & I commenced meeting stragglers in all sorts of boats who told
many wonderful stories of the fight all however agreeing to the fact
that we had lost the day. I soon me some men whom I recognized as
belonging to Coles' company & from them I learned the true history of
the battle & of their Captain's death. Of our troops not over 800 men
were engaged. The enemy commenced the attack by throwing out a regiment
of skirmishers to their right into the woods bordering the swamp. Three
regiments advanced up the road from Ashby's & held their own well but
were twice repulsed by the artillery and in disorder: a six pound smooth
bore commanded by a son of Dr. Selden of Norfolk played much execution
until he was shot. For some time the enemy were so quiet that it was
hoped they had been finally repulsed. Soon however it was discovered
that they had flanked our position with two regiments by passing through
the swamp which Shaw had declared to me to be impossible & having killed
Coles & Wise, had forced their companies back, at the same time that a
regiment of Zouaves supported by three following closely charged the
little breastwork then without ammunition for the artillery & most of
the muskets unloaded, completely disorganizing our troops & reducing the
fight to a mere skirmish between squads. At this time I was on the point
of landing when I discovered the Federal flag over a little redout on
the east side of the island & the shores filled with Yankee troops. I
picked up all the stragglers I could & returned to Nag's Head. The force
that had been landed in the morning at the upper end of the island about
800 strong were surrounded by 20,000 of the enemy & taken prisoners. |
| Upon arriving at Nag's Head I
found Gen. Wise dressed. He was carried to a wagon. I remained to ship
what we could & to destroy the balance & that night through a cold rain
brought up the retreat to Powell's Point & from there to the N. Carolina
end of the Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal. From this Point Maj. Duffield &
I were sent in charge of a "flag of truce." My interview with Burnside
and his officers was pleasant & although it was against my wish that it
should be conducted on any other than what the most distant civility
required, such attention & courtesy were shown that without going beyond
the limits of being gentlemanly I was compelled to receive it.
Consequently we dined with their officers & they supped with us. Our
prisoners were kindly treated & we inaugurated the exchange since
ratified by Gen. Wool and Gen. Cobb. I was with Burnside about 24 hours.
I saw & talked much with George Humphries. The bodies of Cole, Wise &
Seldon were placed on board of our boat with all due respect. I never
saw a more affecting scene than when Gen. Wise looked at the body of his
on by the light of some sentries the night of our return. All the bodies
looked very natural. All of Cole's effects and the bullet that killed
him are in the possession of his friends in Albemarle. He was engaged to
Miss Fairfax at the time of his death & learn she has felt if severely. |
| At Canal Bridge as we were
evacuating our position there the enemy's gun boats threw a few shells
among us without damage. Our final position was at Great Bridge where I
remained a week with a Mrs. Parker who had known Mother in former days.
I think her maiden name was Mary Jackson & that she was the daughter of
a clergyman in Winchester. |
| I then joined Gen. Randolph at
Suffolk where I remained quietly occupying my time principally with my
road. |
| I have just left Willy and
Cary. Enclosed find letter for their mother. The enemy are within 4
miles of Norfolk & I have only time to add to both Mother & yourself all
that my affection for you both would prompt me & trust that it may not
be long until we all meet happy & well. |
| God bless you both, |
| Jno M Robinson
{Captain & AQM} |