Today the armies consolidated under Confederate General John Bell Hood are gathering in Dallas, Georgia, in preparation of receiving new orders. Despite the Rebels best efforts following the fall of Atlanta, the city is still firmly under Union control and Federal supply lines to Tennessee remain operational.
Meanwhile, in one of the odder battles of the war, the CSS Florida and US Wachusett bump into each other in the port city of Bahia, Brazil.
Yes, Brazil.
Ships from both North and South often ply the waters of other nations, for various reasons. The Confederate ship is in Bahia’s harbor for repairs.
Brazil is neutral in the American Civil War. In today’s action the U.S. naval vessel forces the Confederates to surrender. Taking possession of the enemy ship, the Federals tow the Florida out of the harbor, outrunning a Brazilian vessel which gives chase.
Afterwards, the Brazilian government demands that the United States return the Florida to the Confederacy, resulting in an international dispute that eventually fizzles out.
Back in the Confederacy, the Georgia Baptist Association convenes today in Columbia County and offers a resolution concerning slaves and marriage:
Nothing is more honorable to Dr. Henry Holcombe Tucker, the grandson of Dr. Holcombe, and to the Georgia Baptists, than their protest against all legal disregard of marital relations amongst slaves. At the meeting of the Georgia Association, held at Pine Grove, October 8th, 1864, Dr. Tucker offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted first by that body and afterward by various Associations in the State : ‘Resolved, That it is the firm belief and conviction of this body that the institution of marriage was ordained by Almighty God for the benefit of the whole human race, without regard to color; that it ought to be maintained in its original purity among all classes of people, in all countries and in all ages, till the end of time; and that, consequently, the law of Georgia, in its failure to recognize and protect this relationship between our slaves, is essentially defective and ought to be amended.’
Meanwhile, Rev. D. Will Gwin, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Griffin, Georgia, writes a letter to the Georgia Baptist Christian Index regarding his church, and vowing to resist the abolitionist enemy should they invade his town.
Griffin, GA., Oct 7th, 1864Dear Bro. Boykin.–I have been engaged for several months almost continuously with the Griffin Relief Committee. We have lifted, nursed, furnished bandages and medicines, fed, comforted and otherwise relieved, thousands of our noble soldiers. No one away from the army can imagine the good accomplished by the Relief Committees. My pastoral work has been neglected on this account. True, I have been at home a portion of my time, but was unfitted for pastoral visiting. But what Church ought to forbid its minister from laboring in such a field? Gratitude to our men and to our Government, love for our country, and, above all, Christianity, should prompt every minister to do something in this direction. There is a proverb, in effect, that the quickest way to reach a man’s heart is down his throat! Let Christians express sympathy by action–and there will be fewer infidels.–Let them provide the temporal wants–and their exhortations for the spiritual welfare of men will be adjudged honest and issue in success.Our Church is in a state of anxiety about “the situation.” Many have left. We have “two or three”–the “Corporal’s guard”–the inheritors of the promise. You who are, as yet, more highly favored, must remember us in your prayers. The enemy may reach our city. I will not believe it until I see it; but, if I should be caught, understand one thing, that I will not, by the grace of God helping me, take the oath under any circumstances. I am very sorry to hear many Christians say, that an oath taken under compulsion is not binding. But your consent is given at some point. You cannot compel a rational creature to do any thing. He yields at some point.–“But why not take the oath to save your life?” Is life dearer than honor or principle? Would not I surrender the very principle for which I am fighting? Would not I subscribe to cruelty, tyranny, robbery, rape, arson, murder and infidelity? Aye, more. Would not I insult and defy God by asking him to “help me” do this? It is my duty to ‘pray for my enemies–but not to conspire with them in crimes, it is my duty to love my enemies, their souls, but not their sins. Stephen prayed for his enemies, though he hated their conduct.–So did Jesus. On this point Christians must guard their feelings….Your Bro.,D. Will Gwin
Sources: Naval History and Heritage Command, “Capture of CSS Florida by US Wachusett, 7 October 1864,” Report of Commander Napoleon Collins, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Wachusett, of the seizure by that vessel of C.S.S. Florida, October 31, 1864 (link); Bahia Incident (link); “Minutes of the eightieth anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Association, held with Pine Grove Church, Columbia County, Georgia, October 7th, and 8th, 1864” (link) and (link); Christian Index, October 21, 1864
