February 11, 1863, The New York Herald
Our Key West Correspondence.
KEY WEST, Jan. 29, 1863.
Warning
The following article contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today.
However, the article is provided unedited for its historical content and context.
The niggers have had today a grand celebration in honor of obtaining their freedom, by virtue of the President’s proclamation, in which Key West was not excepted, but Norfolk and New Orleans were. The celebration consisted first of a parade, and ended with a grand dinner at the barracoons. The parade was the great feature of the day. It consisted of about two hundred and fifty niggers, of all sizes, ages and complexions, marching in columns of twos, with proper officers. They were commanded by “Sandy,” a venerable nigger of huge proportions, formerly the property of Mr. Baldwin, of this place. It was matter of doubt for some time before Mr. Baldwin left Key West – save the oldest inhabitant – if he belonged to Sandy or Sandy belonged to him. Sandy today evidently felt his importance. He was attired in a full suit of black, with a sash and rosette on his breast of enormous size and of the most gaudy colors; he has suspended to his side a cavalry sabre and wore an army fatigue cap. His martial bearing and the resemblance of his foot to that of a scrubbing brush, with his leg for a handle, were remarked on every side. All conceivable costumes could have been found in the procession, and all shades of color, from the light straw, showing only a slight of the tar brush, to the blackest ebony. As the procession moved through the streets it was flanked on either side by a crowd of wenches, dressed in their best attire and presenting the appearance of a walking rainbow, and the number of nigger children in advance of and following the procession showed the African race to be largely on the increase. As they marched on, cheers were given, over and over again, for Mr. Ferguson, Captain Curtis and the other prominent abolitionists of Key West, and they finally brought up at the Baptist church, where services were performed. The darkeys were not unmolested in their march. They were pelted with stones on several parts of the route; basins of dirty water were emptied on their devoted heads; several were knocked down, and the American flag, with which they were marching, was taken from them and the staff broken over the head of the bearer. No serious outbreak occurred; but there would have been had not the provost guard been out in force. Not one person among those who have heretofore borne the reputation of being disloyal interfered in any manner with the celebration. The dinner, I understand, gives every promise of being a grand affair; but, not being one of those favored with an invitation, I shall have to imagine all that will be said and done on the occasion. It is a most fortunate occurrence for all concerned, but especially for the whitewashed niggers – i.e., abolitionists – that the thermometer today was as low as fifty-two degrees – six degrees lower than it has previously been this winter. Had it been an ordinarily hot day the atmosphere in the neighborhood of the procession and within the barracoons would have been unbearable.
The United States bark Gemsbok arrived today from Turtle Harbor. By her we learn that Admiral Wilkes has ordered all the vessels from there to this point, considering them in too exposed a position, with two rebel pirates afloat. They will all be here in a day or two. I have information today that a few days since an English built steamer appeared off Turtle Harbor, answering the description of the Alabama, with the exception that she appeared to have houses on deck. These might or might not have been houses. Semmes may have disguised his vessel in hopes of deceiving some of our smaller cruisers. She had the English flag flying, and after remaining a little while departed. At the time of the appearance of this vessel Admiral Wilkes, in his flagship, the Wachusett, and the Oneida, steam sloop of war, were both in Turtle Harbor; but neither got under weigh to see who the stranger was, the Admiral not deeming her a suspicious character. The person who gave me this information is neither a master’s mate nor a captain’s clerk, but one who knows what he is talking about and capable of forming an opinion regarding maritime affairs. He says that he firmly believes it was the Alabama disguised, and nothing can persuade him to the contrary.
The norther has subsided. While it lasted it was the severest we have had this year. The weather was unusually cold, so much so that fires were not uncomfortable. The United States steamer Hendrik Hudson sailed this afternoon for Tampa Bay, and the transport ship I. I. Southard for New York. The steamer Reanie was to have left this evening for Havana, for the mails; but she broke down shortly before starting, and now we have nothing to go for the mails.
We hear by the Octorara that the steamer Quincy, that left here a few days since for New York, has been ashore twice on the reefs. The last time she grounded on Ajax reef, near the wreck of the ship Sparkling Sea, and was towed off by the Octorara. The Captain Richardson who ran the Memnon Sanford ashore, and who afterwards commanded the Swan on her trip to the wreck of the Sparkling Sea, was acting as coast pilot of the Quincy, and evinces a fondness for the beach that will in future prevent his being employed as coast pilot of government transports.
Singular to relate, we have had no naval disasters to record since the Northern Light sailed. There has been enough for one month, however, and I am in hopes that for the balance of the year the boot may be upon the other leg. We are daily expecting news from the westward, and hope to hear of the recapture of Galveston.