Newberne, N. C. Jany 15th '65

Dear Sarah—

I suppose Mr Kimball reported us as having left Roanoke, he going easterly, we going south. At half past one, seventh-day morning we heard a voice at our window saying, "Hurry up, hurry up, boat will be off in ten minutes." We had been cautioned by Mr Kimball on six day evening to be ready for a sudden warning and so we threw ourselves, in our day-light dress, upon the bed, and at the first call were ready to run. A young soldier boy from Boston was our escort. We met Mr. K. at the wharf, and saw him leave in the canal-boat. We found the cabin crowded with coarse men, and so went directly upon the open deck, where, upon settees, we passed the night, right under the sky, with a piercing wind blowing upon us. Our kind little artillery-boy forced his blanket and rubber-cloth upon us, pulled my hood over my head, and said, with a fatherly air, "Coverup your head, cover up your head." He came frequently to see us," and, toward morning, was persuaded to take his rubber-cloth. When day came on, we kept our eyes on the sea-gulls, who favored us, for many miles, with their flighty company. Bird-life never before seemed half so lovely to us. Up and down, away and near, high and low, in sunlight and shadow, burning and flashing in the distance like the most brilliant gem, and again blotting the white clouds with its blackness. While we sat smiling at one chatty bird who would make companions of us, a sweet, smiling lady, graceful slipped up to us (our only fellow lady passenger) and said a few careless words, and smilingly tripped away again. Later when we saw her below, we learned (by inquiry) from her that she was a refugee from Plymouth. She lost her house and her all at the time of our recent taking of Plymouth. The tears stood in her eyes while she talked about it; but she controlled herself sublimely. "My sister and I are not keeping house in Newberne," she said, "because we have nothing to keep house with,'' and the tears came again, but she looked a queen, all the while. Have I mentioned that several of our fellow passengers from Norfolk were on their way to Newbern to obtain the bodies of frds who died of the Yellow fever? All along in our journey we meet with sad traces of it, and everywhere we find refugees from Plymouth.

It was nearly eight oclock when we reached Newbern. A colored man into whose hands we placed ourselves took us to the wrong house, and left us. But a gallant youth led us to Miss Freson's door. She greeted me with great cordiality, and expressed great regret at thy absence. At the breakfast table, this morning I met Mr. Briggs. Mrs. Gould the matron here is the wife of Mr Gould who died at Roanoke Isd with yellow fever, and the mother of the little boy whose leg was badly wounded by a torpedo some months ago; and whose story went the rounds of so many papers. Some of the teachers charm us, and about them all I will tell you, after we return. We had classes in the Sunday School this morning, and went from there to the colored camp across the river. We visited several families, were courteously entertained by the officers in three forts, visited a large receiving camp for white refugees, and passed an hour with Mrs Croome (the lady who was burned out by rebels on an island not far from here) who, under the Sanitary Commission is carefully guarding the miserable creatures. She has between one and two hundred under her care. We went into her nicely appointed school-room, where she gave a Christmas dinner to the whole community, and where she had a Christmas tree. She said she had enjoyed her life with the Contrabands much more than with the whites. She said they learn more readily, and are much more grateful. We tried to see some snuff-dipping. We caught one little sick child rubbing her teeth (or dipping) with soot from the chimney. Many of the people were fine looking, sprightly and courteous. At one of the forts I asked the Capt in command what he thought of Butler at Wilmington. "I think he took too much Porter," he said, adding "He'll be again."

Miss Pearson, a beautiful girl from Boston, was engaged to one of the gentlemen who died with the Fever. She told me that of eighteen gentlemen who used to visit the teachers last winter, ten died of the fever. Capt James and his wife are at Moorehead City. We shall try to find them there. We saw Miss Bell from New Bedford this morning. (The one who designed opening schools for the whites in Portsmouth). She is now teaching whites at Parkers Isd. She pronounces them very ungrateful, and says although she has long been working for them they will do nothing for her. She is about to give public readings here for their benefit. Miss Canedy is a very lovely, attractive person; a very great favorite with the teachers. Miss Warren (Roxbury's adopted) and her brother are in this family. Miss Freson and a few others have just opened the third teachers home, although they still "Mess" at Mrs Gould's table. There is general regret expressed at losing Mr Kimball's visit. Bare comforts are all the teachers find here. They have even been forced to live on contraband rations. Carpetless they are. I have sent Mrs Thomas a note, but have seen nothing of her. After our return from Beaufort we shall visit Fort Totten.

"I'm all the family I've got," one woman said to us this morning. Just my case, I thought. A good old woman said, '' Seems like you North folks would like to have us have some knowledge and some sense if you could put it into us. The North Carolina folks have kept us in the dark, but you folks want to put some light into us.'' We found an old man living in a very tidy little cabin (little, like all the cabins in the city of six hundred negroes) a veritable slab-town, with the size and dignity of Yorktown's Slab-town who keeps a "Pay School." He once had twenty scholars, but "Since you all came and opened free schools I've lost most of em. I taught myself," he said. "Picket it up by slant." His little grandson read with real elegance. He was a lovely looking child. Both grandfather and grandmother spoke in his praise. "Haint got no sauce about him," they said. "I've been trying to keep him away from these chere nigger children about town,'' the grandmother said. "My missis was English," she told us. "She gin me to my husband long before this yere come. I love her in the grave. I spec my master and missis in the grave. My missis tole me if I didn't get long here, to go to de Norf." "I was dragged up," one old man said. "Yes, it was dragged; They called it raised, but 'twasn't, 'twas dragged. I've got four children in Dixie, but I shouldn't know em if I should see em now, for my eye-sight aint good."

One woman, alluding to washing for the soldiers, said, "Sometimes the poor fellows don't get no money, and are ordered away, and cant pay, and I wouldn't blame em for nothin." Soldiers and teachers mourn Genl Butlers removal.

Lovingly
LUCY

I send the missletoe with its exquisite pearl berries.