| From the Wilmington Journal |
| May 11, 1861 |
| |
| For the Journal |
| Wilmington, May 10th, 1861 |
| |
| Editors of the Journal, |
| It is extremely unpleasant to
find myself so misrepresented, as I am by an article in the Richmond
Examiner of a recent date, as to be compelled to ask a correction in
your paper today. The facts are as follows: |
| On the 6th inst. (Monday) in
compliance with a previous appointment to meet Col. C. O. Sanford, Supt.
P. R. R. {Petersburg RR}, I left Wilmington
on the morning train for Weldon. Amongst the passengers that day were
Lieut. J. Pembroke, late of the U. S. Navy, and now of the Confederate
States Navy, Messes. D. McRae and Hathaway -- all going beyond Weldon. |
| When the train reached
Enfield, we met the down day train, the conductor of which handed me a
telegram from the President, Mr. Ashe, requesting me to detain the train
I was on, so as to prevent a connection at Weldon, without giving any
reason for it. Having the appointment to keep with Mr. Sanford at
Weldon, and knowing he would most likely leave on the return train, I
concluded to leave the train at Halifax and detach the Engine, go on to
Weldon and send back for the train. I called Mr. McRae and Lieut. Jones
aside and showed them the telegram, and remarked, "I must go on with the
engine and leave the train." Lieut. Jones remarked he knew why the train
was detained. That no doubt an attack was to be made that day on the
Navy Yard at Gosport by way of Suffolk, and the passengers, of which he
was to have been one, would fall into the hands of the troops. |
| Messrs. McRae and Hathaway
were anxious to get on to Washington, and begged I would let them go on
the Engine with me. I consented to do so, and Lieut. Jones said he would
go with us, though he would remain that day at Weldon. We, on reaching
Weldon, found some excitement amongst a crowd of military and citizens,
who had opened a private telegram to Lieut. Jones from his
brother-in-law in Wilmington, saying he had better deliver up the
dispatches he had for the Federal Government. This was the first
intimation I had of any such dispatches. Lt. Jones was then surrounded,
and the dispatches demanded and they were given up, and as I thought,
the matter was at an end. I then tried to get a passage for Messrs.
McRae and Hathaway to Garysburg, where the Petersburg train was still
waiting. I would also have gone over myself to have had an interview
with Mr. Sanford who was there, but the train did not go in time, and I
went to take diner. While dining, a party of almost 200 soldiers came in
and arrested me. After a short time my friends, Col. Long, Mr. Lynch and
others, procured my release. A short time after another party arrested
me again, and the officer commanding released me. Mr. Jones and myself
had no further annoyance until about 8 1/2 o'clock, P. M., when I was
about leaving for Wilmington, when Lieut. Jones and myself were again
arrested -- at that moment a telegram from Major Whiting was received
directing my instant release from arrest. I then left Weldon. |
| Gov. Winslow and Hon. W. S.
Ashe {President, Wilmington Weldon RR}
I met on the up train that night, who were on their way to
procure our release. |
| I will remark in behalf of the
excited military that there was no one that I saw that knew me or
anything about me, but they thought the circumstances suspicious. |
| No violence was offered me,
nor did I apprehend any in reference to the cause of arrest. There will
be some Georgia volunteers who were angry, I was told, in consequence of
being left at Weldon, who made threats. |
| Respectfully |
| S. L. Fremont
{Superintendent, Wilmington & Weldon RR} |
|