Volume 03 Page 0032

measured in the Thresher as Seed Rice for the Crop of 1863, = 1030 Bushels.
The Harvest having been quite early, and there having been nearly one month of
very warm weather after the rice was cut, we had gathered 500 Bushels of
"Second Growth Rice" & would have collected more had we the time. There was also several Months provisions of Corn and Cow peas on the place.

At the Camp we had 500 Bushels first quality Rice, brought there for safe keeping, and 250 Bushels Corn.

During the Summer of 1862, many Negroes died on the various Savannah River
Plantations from a somewhat singular disease. They would suddenly swell
in every part of the body, and in five or six days the Case would invariably
prove fatal. We lost two Prime Hands (the only two) from this disease, but
it was more fatal on other plantations, and I was told that Mr. Hugh Rose lost 13. This Disease was supposed to have been caused by the continual
eating of Rice (it being almost impossible to procure Corn) and that too
more than likely when not sufficiently cooked, knowing the lazy character of
the Negro, and with little or no salt. No Planter could afford to purchase
Corn ($33 @ $4 per Bush_ of he had not it on the place & none was to be had
in Savannah; whilst the ordinary articles of food, and given out at every Allowance,
such as Bacon, Molasses, and Tobacco were totally out of the question.
Thus does the Negro, to some extent, experience his share of privation during
the continuance of this War. Fish too which abound in Savannah River,
and which in times of Peace are caught in large numbers by the Negroes
were now allowed to remain unmolested in their native element. Fish
Hooks are not to be bought. The Overseer and Myself have taken all of the
bullets from the fish-nets we could find and moulded them into bullets
for our pistols, whilst it is impossible to purchase Yarn of any Kind for a
net either in Charleston, Savannah, or Augusta. Such being the case only
after the second year of the War. I am thinking what will it be year
after year as the Struggle progresses; for I must confess there are not the
least indications of forthcoming Peace as yet, & the hatred between the two
contending Parties seems to be more and more profound. The Confederate States
have waged this War, with the determination to bear against all and every
privation; Cut off from the intercourse with foreign Nations, it is most
remarkable how we are developing our own resources, & battling thus far
as well as can be expected with a most powerful Enemy.

Another peculiarity noticed during the Summer of 1862 upon the Savannah River