Southern heroes;

Front matter

Book p-

'iC^

Gop}TightN".

Preface

In presenting this volume to the public, the writer would say that he has been only one o£ many who have for a long time realized the importance of preserving, in book form, a record of certain facts concerning the sufferings of Friends in the South, during the war of 1861-65. Others have begun the work, but from various causes they have thus far failed to complete it.

As years have passed, the opportunities for gaining reliable information have become less and less favorable, on account of the death of some of those who, " for conscience toward God, endured grief, suffering wrongfully." To delay longer would make the task of writing such a book still more difficult. \,

This work has therefore been undertaken with the desire to preserve for coming generations this portion of a hitherto unwritten history.

To all those who have so kindly aided in the preparation of the manuscript, the writer would hereby express his appreciation and gratitude ; and it is his hope that the deeply interesting nature of the subject may induce the critical reader to pass lightly over the numerous defects which may be discovered in the work.

PREFACE.

Above all, he desires that the book may be an instrument in the hand of God to convince the minds of many of the reasonableness of peace and the unrighteousness of war.

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Peaceable reign of Christ. — Slowness of Christians to accept Christ's teachings. — Early Christians. — Non-resistants in all ages. — Charles V. of Germany saw its foolishness. — George Fox teaching peace ; remarkable effect. — Imprisoned.— Pall Mall Gazette's opinion of him. — His followers everywhere have maintained the doctrine. — Whitefield. — Mason and Slidell taken from British vessel.— Liability of war. — Friends' petitions for peace. — Acknowledgment of A. Lincoln. — Speeches at Peace Congress at Chicago. — Hugh Price Hughes' opinion of the Friends. — Behring Sea trouble. — Five Christian nations have had 75 wars in 80 years. — More than two hundred controversies settled by arbitration. — Opinions of Prince Albert, General Grant, General Lee. — Interview of Generals Scott and Lee at AVashington. — Number killed and wounded in war of '61. — Secretary's report of cost of war of '61. — Edward L. Fox's return of prize money. — Lukens Iron and Steel Company. — Exjjenditures of different countries for education and war. — Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting's minute. — European countries' burden. — Krupp Gun ; cost and expense of firing ; destructive power. — Other recent inventions. — Cost to United States in 1893 on account of war measures. — Pensions. — Military training. — Boys' brigades . . . 1-23

CHAPTER IL

Arrival of Friends in America. — Sent back to England. — Returned witli others. — Established churches from North Carolina to Georgia. — Settlement of Rliode Island, Pennsylvania and Carolina by Friends. — Landing of William viii ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

Penn. — Ilis peaceful government. — Duponceaii's address in 1821. — Henry Phillips, first Friend settled in Carolina. — Williant Edmondson, first Friend preacher in Carolina. — Appearance of his congregations. — John Archdale appointed Governor. — His letter to George Fox concerning improved condition of Indians. — Prophetic spirit of Friend ministers. — Mahlon Hockett preaching.

— Joseph Hoag's two visions concerning civil war. — Abolition of slavery. — Eli Jones' speech in Maine legislature 24-39

Chapter III

Founders of the Government expected slavery to be abolished. — Opinion of Washington, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Madison. — Population of Virginia compared with New York. — North Carolina and Massachusetts. — Charleston once an importing city. — Southern States' early advantages. — Small number of Southern slaveholders. — Attention given to politics. — Offices in government largely filled by them. — Small renumeration for labor in the South. — Slaves' contempt for poor whites. — Free schools not advocated by slaveholders. — Dangerous to speak against slavery. — Jesse Whalen banished.

— Daniel AVorth imprisoned. — Slaves forbidden to read.

— Preachers taught they had no souls. — U. S. laws framed for slaveholders. — Northern men liable to imprisonment for aiding slaves. — Col. Uteley fined in the United States courts. — " The Philanthropist." — First abolition society, 1785. — First anti-slavery society, 1833.

— Society for gradual emancipation, 18G3. — Slaveholders form a manumission and colonization society. — Fi'iends withdrew. — Virginia legislature favors it. — American Colonization Society formed in Washington. — INIanagers all slaveholders. — Popidar, North and South. — Formed colony in Africa. — Negroes kidnapped there. — Schoolteacher sells children. — 8000 slaves promised in four months at Moravia. — Appropriations of United States, Maryland and Vii-ginia, for the society's use. — Wilberforce deceived. — AA'illiam Allen's opinion concerning it.

— Op])osod to abolition society. — Liberation of slaves by Friends. — Prophetic voice of preachers warning Friends

to fiec the judgments of the Almighty 40-68

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. ix

Chapter IV

Stringent laws against slaves. — Laws in Washington. — Wasliington one of the greatest slave markets. — Slave-factory of Franklin and Arinfield. — Loss of the "Big Comet " with 160 slaves. — Northern men not all abolitionists. — Persecntion of George Thompson. — Garrison mobbed and imprisoned. — Anti-slavery society in Haverhill. — Attempt to mob Mr. May and John G. Whittier. Attempt to establish colored school in New Haven. — Teacher imprisoned. — Office of the " Philantlu-ojiist " in Cincinnati ransacked. — Mott sisters. — Josephine Griffith. — Laura Haviland. — Kentucky kidnappers offer $3000 for her head. — Stealing colored people from Raisin Valley, Mich. — Thomas Garret. — Bold delivery of captives. — Shrewd management in liberating a colored woman. — Fined !$3000. — John Fairchild. — Shipping slaves from Washington and Baltimore. — Narrow escapes.

— Liberated slaves from every Southern State. — Finally shot. — Fear of negro insurrection by southern whites. — Reign of terror at Natchez. — Negroes whipped and hung every Saturday. — Large amounts offered for their freedom. • — Case of Eliza Garner. — Attempt to kill her child.

— Tried in Cincinnati, but given back to her owner, and taken south. — Jumps overboard and drowns her babe , 69-94

Chapter V

Levi Coffin. — Early home. — Coffles of slaves. — Carolina corn-husking. — First slave freed by. — Removal West.

— Underground railroad. — His house a union station. — Threatened with hanging and shooting. — Largest company of fugitives entertained by him. — Flight of slaves through the cornfield. — Pursued and some shot. — Cared for. — Sent on their way. — - Continued pursuit. — Safely hidden. — Man came to help Levi Coffin fight. — Origin of the term "Underground Railroad." — Tried. — Evidence of slaves not accepted. — Case dismissed. — Colored Jim.

— Thousands of refugees landed in Canada. — First paper published advocating free - labor goods. — John Woolman's journal. — Read by Levi Coffin. — Abstains from using product of slave-labor. — Opens in Cincinnati

X ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

free-labor goods store. — Emancipation proclamation ruins Untlergroiuul Railroad. — Levi Coffin visits England, Scotland and France. — Large and successful meetings.

— Rapid advancement of freed people. — Death of Levi Coffin 95-116

Chapter VI

Location of Friends in the South. — Order of churcli government. — Friends North and South divided only by geographical lines. — No Friends voted for secession. — Popular votes in North Carolina against it. — Influence of Friends prevents passage of a law requiring every citizen above 16 years of age to renounce all allegiance to tlie United States. — Minute of North Carolina Yearly Meeting. — Committee of Friends visits the Confederate Congress. — Passage of law exempting Friends and Dunkards from service. — Ishani Cox willing to fight single-handed all the true Friends in the Northern army. — Abraliam Lincoln and others of his cabinet descendants of Friends. — Called " the Quaker war-cabinet." — Secretary Stanton's proposition to relieve Friends. — Conference of the yearly meetings' committees in Baltimore. — Account given by Francis T. King. — Visit of Eliza P. Gnrney to Abraham Lincoln. — Her letter. — His reply. — Elizabeth L. Comstock's service. — Her appeal from army chaplains to Abraham Lincoln. — His authority obtained for whatever service she desired. — Request to pray for him . — Death three days after 117-138

CHAPTER VII. Confederate Government's act relating to non-combatants

— Minutes of North Carolina Yearly Meeting relative thereto. — Great temptation to purchase religious liberty.

— Severe test to which Friends were put. — Parties attemping to leave arrested and brouglit back. — Many hardships undergone by those endeavoring to escape. — Many besides Friends hiding in caves and woods. — Passage of conscript law. -^ Formation of companies of home guards.

— Friends much reduced by emigration. — Those left mostly in rural districts. — Many did not approve severe treatment of non-combatants. — Governor Worth's letter.

— Experience of Jesse Buckner. — Experience of a nouk

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. xi

combatant Methodist liberated by efEorts of Friends.— Minnte of North Carolina Yearly Meeting . . . 139-153

Chapter VIII

Southern prisons. — Those responsible for their management passed away. — Most if not all met violent death. — Letter from T. H. Mann. — J. H. Winder declared he killed more Yankees in prison than the army did in battle.

— Shooting by Wirz of prisoners. — G. N. Gidney's terrible experience. — Reports of Southern officials relative to condition of prison and hospitals. — Description of Salisbury prison. — No wish to cast unjust reflections. — Prison guards composed largely of boys, careless of human life. Order of Gen. Winder concerning the murder of helpless prisoners. — Men put in dead-house while they were livino-. — An instance. — Rude way of handling bodies. — Kind of food given the prisoners. — Vermin cover the ground. — Efforts to dig tunnels. — Escaped men caught by bloodhounds. — Official reports of Wirz. — Wickedness among the prisoners. — Organization of police force.

— Hanging of culprits. — Order of Wirz to shoot prisoners. — Salisbury cemetery 154-177

Chapter IX

Holly Spring neighborhood. — Description of meeting-house and o-raveyard. — All men between 18 and 35 ordered to appear at the court-house. — Generation after generation taught principles of peace. — Some of the Friends answered the call ; stated their objections to war. — Told the army was no place for religion. —First draft. — Some Friends included. — Some went West. — Their guide captured and shot. — Forty-three names given of Friends drafted from this place. — Proposed to serve the Prince of Peace and not the god of war. — Laws of nations violated in arresting those who had been furnished substitutes. — 17 year old boy's experience. — The "Bull Pen," where they punished old men and women. — One mother hung. — Levi Cox. —United States postmaster. — Gideon Macon taken to the army. — Refuses to take a gun, or place as cook. — Bucked down. — Process described. — Army retreats. — Orders to hang him. — Yankees appear. — Hurried on. — Luprisoned at Petersburg. — J. J. Allen's xii ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

experience. — Southern pulpits used for war purposes. — Ahijah Macon conscripted. — Efforts of schoolmate to get him released. — Convinced that he would be released by death. — Directions as to his own burial. — Taken to the army. — Only cane-seed ineal to eat. — Died in the hospital. — Isaiah Macon, remarkably sensitive. — Captured by home guard. — Not allowed to sec his wife and children. — In the battle of Winchester. — Put into front to stop bullets. — Men shot all around him. — Took no part in battle. — Taken prisoner. — Died in Point Lookout prison 178-194

Chapter X

Arrest of Hinshaw brothers and Barker brothers. — Hurried march, 32 miles, to railroad station. — Thomas Hinshaw's wife follows with food and clothing. — She cares for the farm. Men packed in freight-cars like cattle. — No food or drink for 34 hours. — Would not accept military equipments or clothing. — Offered release upon payment of §500. — Plead religious liberty. — Freedom to obey Christ should not be purchased with money. — Would suffer cheerfully the penalty. — Lieutenant determined to break them in. — Soldiers ordered to run them through. — Tied behind wagon. — Must help load fodder or be pitched into the river. — Welcomed back by the men of their company.

— Tried to get them to run away. — A furlough granted for fifteen days. — Efforts made to have them pay the tax and not return. — Great trial, but they went back. — No military duty ever required. — Regiment engaged at Gettysburg. — All officers of the regiment above the lieutenant killed. — Repeatedly ordered to tlie front. — Made up their minds not to go unless guarded. — Taken prisoners. — Solomon Frazier arrested. — Taken to Salisbury prison. — Would not act as guard. — Bucked down. — Suspended by hands. — Heavy piece of wood tied around his neck. — Pierced with bayonet. — Gagged with bayonet.

— Raised upon a cross in imitation of Christ. — In a barrel shirt. — Must now take a gun or die. — Kept prisoner imtil surrender of Salisbury. — Jesse Milton Blair. — Taken to army near Petersburg. — Given coarse cornbread and sorghum molasses. — Refuses a gun. — Soldier ordered to knock him down. — Refuses to march in drill.

k

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. xui

— Pierced with bayonet. — Hung up by his thumbs for two hours. — Given one hundred lashes on bare back. — Strap fastened around his neck and hung to the limb of a tree. — Becomes unconscious. — Taken to hospital. — Visited by Joseph Hockett. — Retreat of Lee's army. — Return home. — Marlborough meeting. — Arrest of members. — Letter from S. W. Loflin, and J. A. Hill. — Loflin's persecution. — Kept from sleep 36 hours. — Pierced with bayonets. — Court-martialed. — Sentence of death.

— Army summoned. — Soldiers detailed. — Prayed for them. — Soldiers refuse to shoot. — Sent to Windsor hospital. — Long illness and death 195-213

CHAPTER XL

Back Creek neighborhood. — Deep River. — Meeting-house described. — Amusing story. — Experience of Jones brothers. — Original discharge from Confederate army. — Deep Creek neighborhood. — Letter of Isham Cox. — Lewis Caudle in battle. — New Garden meeting. — Isaac Harvey ; discouraged ; takes a gun ; disowned by the Church. — One of the first killed in battle. — Only instance of the kind. — Spring meeting. — John Newlin's six sons. — Error in exemption laws. — Four Woody brothers' experience. — Three Hobson brothers attempt to go West. — Arrested by sheriff. — Start again. — Taken to the army, — Mahlon Thompson and Joshua Kemp ; cross the mountains. — Arrested by army officers.

— Taken to battle at Fredericksburg. — Assist the wounded. — Cane Creek. — Joseph Dixon, a Friend elder.

— Attempt to hang him. — Prays for his enemies. — Robbed and released. — Hanging of Micajah Mc- Pherson. — Murder of Joseph Dixon's son. — Account of Joseph Dixon's last day on earth 214-230

CHAPTER XIL

William B. Hockett. — Conscripted. — Returned home. — Vision. — Wife's encouragement. — Taken to Greensboro.

— Said Christianity and war as far apart as Heaven and Hell. — Quotations from diary. — Assigned to 21st North Carolina. — Before Colonel Kirkland. — Refuses to pay out. — Refuses a gun. — Asked whether he would rather be shot that night or the next morning. — Chooses neither.

xiv ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

— Sent to the wagon yard. — Refuses to take a soldier's place. — Reported to the Colonel. — Copy of prayer written that night. — Taken out to be shot. — Soldiers detailed. — Prayed, " Father, forgive them." — Men could not shoot. — Attempt to make him carry a gun, and walk in drill. — Officer's attempt to ride over him. —

— Horse will not step on him. — Struck on the head with gun. — Soldiers ordered to run him through. — Gun placed against his back. — Soldier will not shoot. — Left by the roadside. — Walks into camp with gun tied to him. — Battle of Gettysburg. — Refuses to cook or carry water. — Cares for sick Dunkard who will not fight. — Terrible scenes of battle. — Taken prisoner. — Placed in Fort Delaware. — Visited by Robert Pearsall Smith and others. — Paper prepared for government authorities. — Extracts from journal. — Liberated by order of Secretary of War. — Among Philadelphia Friends. — Sent West. — Retui'ns to North Carolina. — Found, as had been promised, all well 231-253

CHAPTER XIII.

Himelius and Jesse Hockett. — Conscripted. — Ordered to take a gun or accept work. — Declined on account of religious scruples. — Told they may embrace such religion as they please when the war is over. — Sent to prison. — Sent home. — Again conscripted. — Refuse to take gun or walk in drill. — Soldiers run bayonets through their clothing. — Sent to Kinston. — Bible discussion. — Refused food or drink until they obeyed Gen. Ransom's orders. — Give up food brought from home. — H. M. Hockett's account of their experience. — Argument with preachers. — Remarkably preserved. — Need of any earthly thing little felt. — Plot to release them. — Ransom's sentence revoked by Governor Vance. — Letters written by H. M. Hockett to his wife and father. — General Daniel proposes to place them where they will serve as breastworks to stop bullets. — General Daniel soon killed in battle. — Made to march the streets of Kinston with logs tied to them. — II. M. Hockett tried by court-martial. — Offered a lawyer. — Pleads his own case. — Visits from Friend ministers. — Called with others to receive sentence. — Some branded with hot iron. — He

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. xv

sentenced to six months' hard labor, bound with ball and chain. — Officers recommend clemency. — Jefferson Davis declines to sign recommendation. — Jesse Hockett cruelly pierced with bayonets. — Taken to Fort Caswell. — Colonel Jones very kind. — Manacled with chain attached to heavy ball. — Much interest in the Christian prisoner. — Religious discussion with soldiers and officers. — Kindness of officers and men. — Not required to do any work.

— Sent back to Wilmington. — Sleeps with his guard. — Placed behind the iron doors in Wilmington. — Brother Jesse brought to him from Kinston. — Kindness of Major Sparrow. — Sent to Goldsboro. — Visited by wife and son.

— Given liberty of the city. — Prison seems like mission fields. — Discharged. — Women plough the fields, and support the families 254-285

CHAPTER XIV.

Centre meeting. — Members arrested. — None made to fight. — Springfield meeting. — First Bible School. — Only one continued during the war. — School enrolled three hundred. — A. U- Tomlinson & Sons' Tannery and Shoe Factory keep many men out of army. — Friends sent to Salisbury prison. — F. S. Blair conscripted when only 17 years old. — Friends' horses taken while riding from meeting. — Persons liable to arrest for unguarded speech.

— Rufus P. King. — Conscripted. — Attached to Pettigrew's brigade. — Under Captain Jennings. — Sickness and death of Captain Jennings. — Rufus's care of him.

— Return home. — Converted. — Joined the Methodist Church. — Conscientious scruples against fighting. — Detailed as nurse. — At Gettysburg. — Prayer for dying lieutenant. — Night spent in trying to relieve the wounded and dying upon the battle-field. — Next day's terrible work. — Wounded and dying by the roadside. — Captured. — Imprisoned at Point Lookout. — Closed many eyes in death. — Sent by ship to Savannah. — Again taken from home. — Returned to camp. — Way being opened, he went over to the Yankees. — Would not swear.

— Passed outside of the army. — Found a home at Mill Creek, Indiana. — Taken to a Bible School. — Learned to read. — Received into Friends' Church. — Sent to school.

— Recorded as minister. — Travels in different lauds 286-298 xvi ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XV.

Tennessee. — A few Fi'iends remaiiiiug. — All refusing to be registered ordered treated as deserters. — Of 1000 men iu Blunt County only 20 appeared for registration.

— In Green County about 20 Friends subject to conscription. — Five paid gold. — Account of James F. Beals.

— Cave discovered by J. Beals. — Made habitable. — Fourteen Friends secreted. — Kept for nearly a year. — Some escape West, some captured. — A boy of 19 years dwelt in a cave of his own making. — Friendsville. — William Forster's grave. — William J. Hackney. — Arranged to secrete men in cave near his house. — 50 men soon hidden in it. — Started on tlie Underground Railroad West. — Cave again filled. — Over 2000 men thus cared for. — Under suspicion. — General Burnside wishes to appoint William Hackney a staff officer. — Would receive no remuneration for his service to the government.

— Confiscation of property of Union sympathizers. — Case of AVilliam Morgan. — Attempt to shoot Riley T. Lee. — Soldiers destroy poor woman's property. — Lost Creek meeting. — Soldiers destroy building and library.

— Women compelled to cook for them. — Property taken without recompense 299-315

CHAPTER XVI.

Tilghman Ross Vestal unwilling to shed blood. — Conscripted. — Sent home. — Again conscripted. — Among his relatives prominent Friends. — Letter from Major Venable. — Letter from T. R. Vestal to John B. Crenshaw. — Sentenced to be punished until he bear arms. — Said he was a Christian and could not fight. — Knocked down repeatedly. — Given in charge of another officer. — Pierced with a bayonet 17 times. — Sent to Richmond. — Imprisoned. — Sent to Salisburj'. — Terribly beaten for trying to remove vermin from liis own person. — Liberated by intervention of Friends. — Account quoted from " Nashville Banner " by Brigadier-General Maney . . 316-326

CHAPTER XVII.

Virginia. — Friends' meetings established. — No more welcome than in Boston. — Extravagant stories believed. —

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. xvii

Copy of an act for the suppression of the Quakers. — Nothing prevents them from coming. — By patient suffering conquer unrighteous laws. — Large tracts of land taken by Friends. — Become slaveholders. — In 1817 all Virginia Friends free their slaves. — Large emigration of Friends. — Winchester. — Washington's headquarters. — Banishment of Philadelphia Friends to Winchester. — General Morgan. — Afraid in time of battle. — Winchester taken by the contending forces 76 times. — All men between 16 and 60 out to fight the Yankees. — Robert Griffith and Governor Halliday. — Aaron Griffith's letter taken from the mail. — Made cause of complaint. — He imprisoned. — Mill robbed. — Factory robbed. — Machinery taken away. — Liberated by Southern officer. — House frequently visited by soldiers. — Doors barred. — Attempt to obtain entrance by claiming to be Friends. — Old-fashioned meeting-house, overlooking Shenandoah Valley. — Quarterly meeting. — John Scott preaching. — Battle going on the same time. — Terrible shock of battle. ■ — Francis T. King present. — Congregation quiet.

— Two days' journey to get around the army. — Friend Griffith could not return for over three months. — Futile attempt to take his sister's horse.- — Jesse Wright's house frequently shot over by both armies. — Officers and men of both armies entertained there. — His sons escape. — Jesse Wright passes picket lines to care for the dead.

— On his return arrested and put in jail. — Remained three days. — Joseph M. Jolliffe. — His vote only one cast for Lincoln in Frederick County. — Left home. — Attempt of wife and children to flee with retreating army. — Return home. — Battle fought around their house. — None of the family hurt. — Dreadful scenes. — Friend Jolliffe before General Early. — Released and admonished to pray for the Confederacy. — General Breckinridge's headquarters in Jolliffe's yard. — Elizabeth Comstock and other Friends visit General Sheridan 327-344

CHAPTER XVIII.

Small meetings in Virginia. — Nathaniel Crenshaw liberates many slaves. — John B. Crenshaw's time given to assisting unfortunates. — Assists North Carolina Yearly Meeting's committees. — He edits the " Southern Friend."

XX ANALYTICAL CONTENTS.

ernment. — General Sherman's estimate of damage. — William Cox. — Battle of Bentonsville watched from windows. — Women and children under beds. — Bullets rained upon the house. — Accounts given by wife and daughter. — Isaac Cox visited by soldiers. — Robbed.

— Visit of soldiers to L. J. Moore's. — Sausage man astride a horse. — Everything taken. — Jesse HoUowell.

— His wife instructs aristocratic neighbors in the art of carding, spinning and weaving. — Men and women shoemakers. — End of the war near. — Slaveholders think their property safer in Friends' houses. — Soldiers know no difference. — Robbed of horses, buggies and everything. — Description by his son. — United States issues rations to citizens. — Visited by Friends from Baltimore Association. — Account of their arrival. — Time of surrender of the Confederate forces 415-427

CHAPTER XXIII.

Purpose of this Book. — Visit to Southern battle-fields. — Awfulness of war seen. — Description of Fredericksburg. — St. Mary's Heights. — Confederate and Federal cemeteries. — 12,000 graves marked " unknown." — Five bloody battles. — George Whitefield's curse on Fredericksburg. — Remarkable fulfillment. — London " Times' " account of the battle of Fredericksburg. — Account as given by the Richmond " Examiner." — The Irish brigade.

— Number of Union men lost. — Discouraging outlook. — Stone River. — "Fighting Joe" Hooker takes command.

— Army defeated at Chancellorsville. — Abraham Lincoln greatly distressed. — Meade takes command. — Officers refuse to take their men into action at Mine Run. — Battle of the Wilderness. — Deadly hand-to-hand conflict.

— No cavalry, no artillery. — No victory for either side.

— 70 men claim the promise of God in Psalm xci. 7.

— All spared. — Spottsylvania, most deadly and fiercest battle of the war. — Grant goes South and Fredericksburg rests from the sound of battle. — Dreadfid loss at Cold Harbor. — Soldiers refuse to renew the attack. — Com parison of Esdraelon with the plain below St. Mary's Heights. — The curse of King David on the plain of Esdraelon 428-442

ANALYTICAL CONTENTS. xxi

CHAPTER XXIV.

Francis T. King. — His conversion. — Business Life. — Peace principles. — Retires from business. — Philanthropist. ^- Influence among officials. — Advice against Maryland's secession. — Excitement in the city. — Passing of troops to Washington. — First bloodshed. — Quiet gathering of Friends to worship. — Frequently visits Washington. — Visit to Point Lookout prison. — Excellent condition of same. — Liability of the South being abandoned by Friends. — Keeps himself informed as to this condition. — Conceived the idea of helping them at home. — Organization of Baltimore Association. — Letter to John B. Crenshaw. — Friends North and South not divided. — Condition and location of Friends' meetings.

— Visited by John Scott and Joseph Moore. — Joseph Moore appointed as superintendent for Baltimore Association. — Friends' boarding-school continued through the war. — Normal school started. — Visited by Governor. — Work of repairing old schoolhouses and building new. — Travels of superintendent. — More attention given to coloi'ed children than white. — Professor Moore called to presidency of Earlhara College. — Allen Jay appointed in his place. — Institutes and conferences held. — Much attention given to Bible schools. — Minutes from the records of Baltimore meetings. — Appeal for aid liberally responded to. — First Normal School ever held in North Carolina. — Model farm. — Growth of the schools. — Large sums spent. — Schools and colleges still being maintained. — Increase of membership in North Carolina.

— Number of meeting-houses built. — Better condition of farms. — Per cent of population who can read and write largely increased. — Interest in education more general.

— Guilford College. — Normal School becomes a State institution. — Friends no longer a dependent body. — Aid

in missionary and general church work 443-480

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Friends' Meeting-House at New Garden, N. C. Erected in

1791 Frontispiece.

Dr. Nereus Mendenhall 118

John Carter

ISHAM Cox

John B. Crenshaw

Allen U. Tomlinson J

A Friends' Meeting "of the olden time" . . . 214

William B. Hockett 232

H. M. Hockett 254

EuFus P. King 290

Francis T. Kino 448

Introduction

The annals of Christianity contain numberless instances of cruel persecution heroically and patiently endured, but it is doubtful if any of these in any age have been more striking and painfully instructive than those recorded in the pages of this book. To most of us, persecution on account of loyalty to Christian principle, at least in its more cruel physical aspects, seems to belong to a far-away past age, or to dark and barbarous countries. We should refuse to believe the stories of inhuman treatment recorded in the chapters of " Southern Heroes," if the evidence were not so overwhelming. How is it possible that such things can have happened here in a country which has made civil and religious liberty its boast for a century ? The account must be wrong, we are tempted to say. It must have been long ago and in some other country that these dreadful deeds were done. No ; they were done here, within the memory of livino- men. The witnesses are so numerous that no one can doubt. Some of the sufferers still live and bear in their bodies the " marks " of the fearful ordeal.