Volume 03 Page 0095

near future, this through no cause of my own, nor even the works of man.
During the month of May 1876 we experienced a very high Spring tide all
along our coast of Carolina. This gave us a break, or land slide at Gowrie
near the settlement on the Canal. The lumber for it, cost about $100 alone, and it
was finally secured. Nothing more of consequence occurred in May, the crop was
most promising in every respect, Mr Heyward wrote me in glowing terms, whilst
every thing indicated to us a bright happy future. I had spent all in my
possession upon the plantation and our lands were in very fine order. We
estimated our crop to be at the very lowest from 12,000 to 14000 bushels of
Market Rice, and as great care had been taken in the preparation of the
land and good seed had been bought for every acre planted I did not think
it unreasonable to look forward to near 40 bushels per acre. Even take
350 acres @ 35 bushels per acre would have been 12,250 bushels, a very low
calculation indeed. Before proceeding further, let me here mention that
every one, as far as known to me, thought it a very wise move on my part
to cultivate Gowrie myself. I did not go into the business blindly. My
1st Cousin James B. Heyward Esquire, a most fortunate planter since the War,
on Combahee, told me "Don't fear expenses the first year, put what you
"plant in good order, it will repay in time." Mr Daniel Heyward said
to me, in February 1876: "You must spend money on the place if you wish
"any yield, the entire land is sobbed. Dig down your ditches, and quarter drains,
"and I feel confident you'll feel the benefit of this outlay in 2 or 3 years"

Mr Wm Neyle Habersham, who married my wife's Sister, a man known
to us for years, and friend of my Father; He who has had to do with planters
all his life, and knows all about them, remarked to me: "Mr Manigault!
"so you are going to take hold of Gowrie? Yes! Sir (said I) Well! that is
"right, but remember Don't start with the idea that you can make money
"the first year, as this is impossible with the heavy outlays necessary, It
"will come in time. So do not be discouraged."

1876

16th June	the river at Augusta rose to	23 feet		Friday
17th June	the river at Augusta rose to	29 feet	8 inches	Saturday
18th June	the river at Augusta rose to	31 feet	9 inches	Sunday
19th June	the river at Augusta rose to	28 feet	4 inches	Monday

and then continues to fall. About this time also there had been very heavy local
rains along the Carolina coast, and the swamps near Savannah on the South
Carolina side were full of water. The back lands of the Savannah-river Rice
planters were more or less already submerged, through these local rains, and as
these lands are lower than the fields nearer the river it was impossible to
drain off this water, a swell being even now in the river. The plantations
upon the Carolina side were much injured by these local rains, but from this