[Civil War]: [Wilson, Samuel Douglas]: Dodge, Joshua Giddings:

[Archive of Civil War-Date Letters and Other Business Correspondence from Businessman and Abolitionist Joshua Giddings Dodge, with Important Content on Dodge's Freedmen's Bureau Activities]

[Mainly South Carolina, but also Massachusetts and Florida: 1863-1865]. Fifteen autograph letters, signed, totaling approximately fifty-six pages, and about 7,000 words. Original mailing folds, minor overall wear. Very good. Item #6112

An insightful collection of original correspondence from Joshua Giddings Dodge, written to his brother-in-law Samuel Douglas Wilson, with information on family business matters in the South, Civil War news, his postwar life in Iowa, and most importantly, Dodge's work with the Freedmen's Bureau in South Carolina. Joshua Giddings Dodge (1813-1904) was born and raised in Massachusetts, worked as a farmer in Illinois for awhile, then returned to Massachusetts to work as a gilder and dealer in fine art. At the age of just 19, Dodge met William Lloyd Garrison and shortly thereafter became an important figure in the Boston abolitionist movement, serving in leadership positions for the Middlesex, New England, and Massachusetts anti-slavery societies, as well as the Boston Vigilance Committee. During the Civil War, Dodge served as a superintendent in the Freedmen's Bureau in South Carolina and Florida, where he was also appointed as supervisor of Mitchelville, a town built for former slaves on Hilton Head Island. Following the war, Dodge farmed in Iowa for a while before returning to Massachusetts to live out his remaining years.

Dodge's critical work for African Americans in South Carolina is covered in some depth in five letters in the present collection, which also reveal his opportunistic business dealings in South Carolina and Florida. His earliest letter is dated November 8, 1863 from the Graham Plantation on Hilton Head. Here, Dodge discusses possible investment for himself and Wilson on Hilton Head should they wish to purchase the plantations for sale on the island. Dodge informs Wilson that "the Graham plantation contains 2000 acres appraised 4000 dolls & will be sold if no more than 2000 is bid, but not less." He also discusses the value of buildings and "pine land." Dodge then details a long selection of items he wants Wilson to send to him, noting that he "can always sell to the negroes what I dont want although the gov't does not allow me to make money out of them."

Dodge's next South Carolina letter here comes later on February 17, 1865. In fact, the final four of Dodge's South Carolina letters are dated between February 17 and April 21, 1865 and contain critical information on his work with the Freedmen's Bureau and his business activities in the South. His February 17 letter is datelined from Atwood on Hilton Head; here, Dodge discusses the fact that he has recently returned from Florida, as he worked for the Freedmen's Bureau there, too, during this period. He also advises against opening a family business in Savannah in light of the impact of General Sherman's activities there: "Shermans Army has left, in consequence that market is shattered & many are now suffering serious losses. Good I am told can be purchased for less there than here." Dodge discusses much about his business activities, namely land purchases recently made in Florida. He notes that "Negroes are now at work in our cotton field to which I shall turn my attention for a little." Dodge's letter of March 13 is the shortest here at two pages, and the first of two datelined "Office Supt. Freedmen;" in it, he follows up with Wilson on expected shipments to him on Hilton Head and again mentions Sherman: "Business grows dark here as SHerman with his great army recedes & the Sect. of War is changed. Think business in my office is more lively perhaps than in any other."

Dodge's last two letters from South Carolina are easily the most important and content-rich letters present here. His penultimate letter, dated March 27, is again datelined from the Freedmen's Bureau's Superintendent's Office. Dodge opens with detailed information on some sent letters that were apparently lost in the mails, noting that he had written previously to Wilson about various matters including a meeting with General Rufus Saxton in Savannah and "His offer of an Island on which to colonize negroes," as well as another letter where Dodge informed Wilson of the sale of their cotton plantation and "my appointment as Gen'l Superintendent of Freedmen." Dodge writes that he has his hands full with superintendent duties, and mentions that General Saxton has issued him a "free pass throughout the 'department of the South'" which he hopes to use more. Dodge concludes the letter with an important notice: "Today have been to Beaufort with Gen. Littlefield to see Saxton & get things fixed to our minds allowing me to be supervisor of Mitchelville as well as Superintendent of Hilton Head Is[land]." Mitchelville was a town created in 1862 for former slaves. Residents of Mitchelville supported themselves largely through manual labor for the Union Army, and eventually died out after northern authorities left during Reconstruction.

Dodge's final letter from South Carolina is dated April 21, 1865, and contains the most content regarding his duties for the Freedmen's Bureau. He writes: "My hands are full of various matters. The care of the negroes here & at Mitchelville requires much time. Held court for them at the latter place today calling to my aid as associate judges two of the negroes.... Since that adjournment have been riding about with Provost Marshall trying to secure justice for half dozen negroes who have been dispossessed of their lands." He also notes that he "purchased an entire island for 250 dolls" and deems it a great bargain; whether the island was purchased for personal enrichment or for the Freedmen's Bureau is unclear. Dodge then proceeds to discuss the "mixture of terribly sad & gloriously good news" received lately, namely the assassination of President Lincoln, the surrender of Lee and Johnson, and the capture of Mobile. He wishes that "For the latter, let us thank the Lord & Gen. Sherman. For the former invoke the wrath of the Almighty on the head of the Confederacy."

The present collection also includes two war-date letters from Dodge written from Florida during his brief sojourns there while working for the Freedmen's Bureau, but also pursuing his own business interests. His first letter is datelined from Fernandine, Florida on December 28, 1864, with an additional letter written in pink ink between the lines of the earlier letter and dated December 30. In this letter, Dodge relates to Wilson his attempts to purchase land in Florida for himself or the Atwood plantation. He also remarks on Fernandine: "It is a pretty town, built on an Is. & considered a healthy location. The winter weather here is charming. Much like what we had in N.Y. in Sept. Gardens here look green & flourishing. Some are planting while others are gathering the fruit of their planting in the fall. Green peas are now being picked from some & notice peach trees in blossom. Flowers also of various kinds are not scarce. Water fowl of different kinds are abundant & birds are met with wheresoever we journey." He thereafter provides a detailed description of Dungeoness [Dungeness] Castle on Cumberland Island, Georgia, which he had recently visited. One of the aspects of the castle he describes are "a long row of brick chimneys marking the spot where the slaves were quartered" and he also mentions the Butler Plantation: "But little distance from Cumberland is the island on which was situated the cotton plantation of Pierce Butler made famous a few years since by the Tribune's account of the auction sale of the slaves & still more so since by the published letters of his wife Fanny Kemble Butler." Dodge's December 30 letter, beginning on the third page here and written between the lines of the December 28 letter relates his reception of war news including Sherman's capture of Savannah, the "glorious victory" at Nashville, and the supposed death of Jefferson Davis.

Dodge's second letter from Florida emanates from St. Augustine about a month later, on January 20, 1865. He spends a great deal of the initial part of the letter expressing his sympathies and offering advice regarding a disastrous fire that happened at Wilson's premises in New York. He then swiftly turns to his recent experiences in St. Augustine, describing the area thusly: "The house is a very good one. Comfortable & pretty but not extravagant. The grounds surrounding however are charmingly beautiful. Within reach of my hand at the window where I sit hang large golden oranges which barrels of them may be seen hanging on the trees in various parts of the grounds. Other fruit bearing trees are in reach of my eyes such as lime lemon citron olive date pomegranate guava fig grape peach banana plum & others while flowering shrubs add beauty to the picture & fragrance to the atmosphere."

The collection also includes five earlier letters written between August 9 and September 13, 1863 when Dodge was still living in West Cambridge, Massachusetts. These letters provide fuller context and greater detail regarding the family's mercantile business in the South. Notably, in his first letter of August 27, 1863, Dodge comments on his later position in South Carolina: "Am expecting letter this morning from a Boston Committee assigning me a position as servant to the darkies in S.C. Probably superintendent of plantations. Shall keep you fully advised." In his next letter, Dodge comments on the impact of their business based on "whether Charleston is taken or not." In his last three letters, Dodge writes about the family turpentine business, Indian rubber, "Boston spirits," and other goods, commenting in his last letter that he plans to take to South Carolina "a lot of various trinkets, cheap kinds for the darky children which may be distributed from time to time to my advantage." He then remarks that his "mission south is of course but an experiment & may soon reach a termination...."

The final three letters in the archive were written by Dodge during his brief years as a farmer in Iowa. The first two letters are addressed from Dodge's residence in Grinnell, Iowa and written to Wilson in the summer of 1868. He writes about personal finance matters, harvesting "some 16 or 18 acres" of wheat, local railroad matters, his investments in South Carolina, and more. His final letter is also written from Grinnell, but addressed to Wilson's wife (and his own sister) Susan Wilson Dodge in December 1869. He discusses various family health, education, and business matters, and most notably mentions a recent situation regarding a family member's flirtation with women's suffrage: "Am greatly pleased at what you say of Auntie in relation to the Women's Rights meeting. Hope she will become a confirmed convert & identify herself with the movement, make acquaintance with its advocates & labors in its behalf."

An excellent archive containing vital information on Dodge's business activities (some might call them profiteering) amid his work for the Freedmen's Bureau in the South during the Civil War, with much to mine for further researchers.

Price: $5,500