1863 - A Union officer writes a letter home, reveling in how his regiment was humiliating Southern civilians and woul soon be stealing their property to "civilize, discipline and . . . educate the negro. by Winslow P. Spofford - 1863

Beaufort, South Carolina, 1863. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This 3-page letter was written on May 23, 1863, at Beaufort, South Carolina by Winslow P. Spofford, an officer assigned to the 11th Maine Infantry. Its mailing envelope bears a "Due 3" handstamp and an Old Point Comfort, Virginia transit postmark dated July 16th. In nice shape.

Beaufort was an antebellum summer retreat for wealthy South Carolina cotton and rice planters and by 1860 was one of the wealthiest towns in in the United States. After a combined Union Army and Navy force beat the Southern defenders at the Battle of Port Royal Sound in November of 1861, it became the first Confederate city to be occupied by the Union. Spofford's 11th Maine Infantry Regiment was one of the occupying units.

Spofford's letter reads in part:

"We are situated in the suburbs of this ancient town of the southern aristocracy, [and if its refugees were] to return to their former homes, their nerves and notions of exclusiveness would be severely shocked at seeing their lovely halls and beautiful groves . . . appropriated by 'Northern vandals' and chattel negroes . . . occupied by the 'greasy mechanic' soldiers, no southern urge would equal the heat of their burning anger. . ..

"We intend to occupy and enjoy all these forsaken establishments, so long as the former owners are in arms against our noble government, and when we evacuate we intend to sell all these possessions to help defray the expense to . . . civilize, discipline and educate the negro. . .. "

. Spofford did not survive the war.

(For more information, see Hill's The story of one regiment; the Eleventh Maine infantry volunteers in the war of the rebellion.)

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