The following letter was written by 52 year-old Rev. Henry G. Stewart (1811-1871), a native of Vermont employed as a clergyman in Warwick, Kent county, Rhode Island, on the cusp of the Civil War. He was married to Ardelia Bailey Day in 1841 and had several children one of whom—Sarah (b. 1846) added a post script to this letter. He wrote the letter to his older brother, Harvey Stewart (1798-1868), a farmer in Clarendon, Rutland county, Vermont.

In his letter Henry refers to the Rhode Island Association for Freedman that was established in early February 1864 (predating the Freedmen’s Bureau by almost a year) of which he anticipated serving as a general agent upon his return from a trip to the Mississippi river valley to visit the Freemen’s (Contraband) Camps sited there. Some of the best accounts of the condition of these Contraband Camps was captured in a piece by E. C. Collins, the Secretary of the Friends Association of Philadelphia; see—1863-64: Condition of Contraband Camps.

Henry also refers to the 14th Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Regiment (Colored) that was mustered into service at Providence in late August 1863 for three years service. They were later designated the 8th US Colored Heavy Artillery, and then again to the 11th US Colored Heavy Artillery. They spent some time garrisoning a fort on Matagorda Island, Texas.

Transcription

Providence [Rhode Island]
March 28th 1864

My dear Brother,

Your last came duly to hand and I have only time to say a few words in reply. Tomorrow I expect to start for New Orleans direct, by transport from Newport, with the 14th Rhode Island [Heavy Artillery] Regt. (Colored). I go with them as far as New Orleans, from whence they will go to Texas and I shall go up the Mississippi river to visit the different camps of the Freedmen on its banks between New Orleans and St. Louis. I expect to be absent eight or ten weeks and will write you again on my return, and perhaps while I am on my tour, I go as a delegate of the Christian Commission, not for, and as General Agent of the Rhode Island Association for Freedmen in whose behalf I expect to labor in Rhode Island and vicinity after my return. My pay is $75 per month and expenses paid.

We are all very well at present. Sarah has recovered from her severe sickness excepting strength. There is nothing of special interest with us. Yours truly, — H. G. Stewart

[to] Harvey Stewart, Esqr.

P. S. Dear Uncle, I have had some pictures taken for our friends in Vermont. Since I have lost my hair by the fever as a “natural curiosity”—enclosed is one for your family. Your affectionate niece—Sarah