Mary Ames

From a New England Woman's Diary in Dixie in 1865: (Large Print) Mary Ames

Publisher Marketing: MISS WARE, of Cambridge, came to Springfield to visit Mrs. Farrar. The story of her experiences with the colored people in the South was so interesting that my friend Emily Bliss and I became enthusiastic to follow her example. We went to Boston, saw the chief of the Freedmen's Bureau, were examined, and enrolled as teachers. We were ordered to leave at once for Hilton Head, and report to Mr. Dodge, the agent there. Our families ridiculed our going and tried to stop us, prophesying our return in less than a month. We made our preparations, which were not elaborate, --a chair, a plate, knife, fork and spoon; cup and saucer, blanket, sheets and pillow-cases, and sacking for a bed of hay or straw to be found wherever we should be situated, and we added some crackers, tea, and a teapot. We sailed from New York on the steamer Fulton, May 1, 1865, and after a pleasant sail reached Hilton Head on the morning of the fourth day. We landed after breakfast, and walked to the place where we took the oath of allegiance to the United States. We called upon Mr. Dodge, and found with him five or six teachers. We were not cordially received, and evidently were not wanted, and were advised to proceed to Charleston and report to Mr. Redpath, who was in charge of the Freedmen's Bureau there.