The Journal of Negro History, Volume 2, 1917

V >> Various >> The Journal of Negro History, Volume 2, 1917

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It was rumoured in the Fort that the negroes intended to storm
it, and for that reason had procured an English flag, which they
regarded as the symbol of freedom. I myself saw the flag in the
crowd, and nearing the flag-bearer after some difficulty, I asked
the young negro why he did not carry the Danish instead of the
English flag, to which he answered: "Any flag is good on such an
occasion." But on my speaking further he seemed visibly
embarrassed, and moved away among the crowd. About ten o'clock
a.m. a great noise was heard in the upper part of the town. Some
said it was the Governor-General, but it turned out to be the
Stadthauptmand of Christiansted, Oberst de Nully, and the
Governor-General's adjutant. The Oberst stepped out of the
carriage and spoke to the crowd, which was so dissatisfied that
the Governor-General had not come himself that they would not
listen to him. Suddenly there was a great movement among them,
and with repeated cries of "Moore!" "Moore!" they rushed down the
Strand-street. Here the infuriated mob commenced immediately to
plunder and destroy Merchant Moore's store and residence. Mr.
Moore himself sought refuge on board one of the vessels in the
harbour. The cause of this unexpected outbreak is said to have
been brought about by Mr. Moore's carelessly speaking to the
negroes, who understood that he would request the garrison of the
Fort to shoot them down. This would have been an easy matter, for
it was quite possible to sweep the street with a couple of field
guns from the water battery and the Fort gate; but the commander
of the Fort was besought not to fire for fear that in their
desire for revenge the negroes would burn down the town and
destroy every white person who might fall into their hands.
Besides, as the actually guilty ones were in Mr. Moore's house,
plundering, only innocent people who were in the street would
have been killed. Several sailors from the English vessels in the
harbour were now to be seen among the excited people, encouraging
them by words and actions. And particularly conspicuous upon the
wharf were several water casks belonging to these vessels, on
which was written in large letters--"Liberty." It is worthy of
remark, in contrast to these proceedings, that the free coloured
population did their utmost to prevent the negroes from breaking
into the houses and warehouses in the vicinity.

Most of the whites were now either on board the vessels or in
hiding. About this time a negro appeared upon the scene, who
seemed to be in command of the immense concourse of people which
filled the street. This was Buddhoe, or as he was called later
on, General Bourdeaux.

About three o'clock p.m., the Governor-General arrived,
accompanied by Kammerjunker Upper Court Assessor Rothe. The
General stepped out near the Fort, went in among the crowd and
declared the negroes to be free. He then requested Kammerjunker
Rothe, and as far as I can remember, Major Gyllich, the Brand
major, to see that the negroes left the town, which these
gentlemen soon accomplished.

Later on a detachment of troops arrived from Christiansted, and
at five o'clock p.m. the Governor-General returned to
Christiansted, after having ordered the cavalry, which had
recently arrived, to go back again. First Lieutenant v Holstein,
with two pieces of cannon and forth men, remained over night in
the Fort.

The brig-of-war "Ornen," Captain Irminger, arrived in the harbour
shortly before sunset. The night passed quietly enough, though
fires illuminated the hills of the north side. On Tuesday, the
4th of July, a number of negroes were seen on the road leading to
the North side, and it was feared that, should they enter the
town, it would doubtless result in bloodshed or incendiarism. In
order to prevent this, Major Gyllich rode out among them, and, by
repeated assurances that they were now free and would not be
brought back to slavery again, succeeded in inducing them to
return to their homes. At the same time he persuaded the negro
Buddhoe to accompany him to town, a wise move, for it was through
this negro's influence over them that order and quiet were
restored to this part of the island. In the meantime,
Kammerjunker Rothe arrived from Christiansted, whence he had
started in the morning with a number of printed copies of the
proclamation of freedom. Shortly after his arrival, three
expeditions were organised to make their contents known among the
negroes. Kammerjunker Rothe, the Vice-Brand major and a prominent
planter, went to Annally and Spring Garden, while Major Gyllich,
Buddhoe, or General Bourdeaux[398] and two of the most
respectable free coloured burghers went to the South side.

The company in which I found myself arrived first at estate "La
Grange." We had little difficulty in getting the negroes
together, who stood around our carriage as Kammerjunker Rothe
read out and explained the proclamation to them. Continuing our
road, we came to estate "Northside," where we met the owner and
his family who had remained there during the whole tumult. They
told us that during the forenoon of the same day, they had been
attacked by the negroes from the neighbouring estate of "Ham's
Bay," who under the pretext of wanting to take the overseer's
weapons from him, attempted to force the dwelling house. The
negroes of the estate defended them and prevented the intended
violence. From that place we went to "Ham's Bay," where we found
it difficult to collect the negroes, who had forced the owner and
his family to take flight in a fishing boat shortly before. After
having restored something like order among them, we returned to
Frederiksted.

The expedition in charge of Major Gyllich, after visiting twenty
odd estates reached as far as "La Reine." Mr. Beech read the
proclamation on each of them. On the road they learned that there
was a large gathering at estate "Slob," which had been doing a
great deal of plundering and destruction. Though Buddhoe declared
that he did not know the negroes on that part of the island, and
it was remarked that estate "Slob" was outside of West End
jurisdiction, Major Gyllich decided to go there, being under the
impression that he might prevent further troubles.

Going up the hill towards "Slob," they met a man named "Martin
King," chief of the "fleet," as they called this meeting. This
negro who was half drunk and riding a white horse, and who seemed
to be a leader among the crowd which they encountered, upon
understanding the object of the expedition, after a great deal of
outrageous and foolish talk yielded to the representations of the
Major, and by the influence he seemed to wield over the rest of
his comrades, was of great assistance in restoring order among
them. After visiting estates "La Reine" and "Mount Pleasant," the
major and his party returned to Frederiksted.

On Tuesday and Wednesday several planters with their families
came into town, and sought refuge on board the ships in the
harbour. The owner of the estate "Negro Bay," with twenty or
thirty other managers and overseers also came in, an error which
resulted in his estate being plundered. By this time prisoners
were being continually brought in. The negroes bringing them in
themselves. To this Buddhoe mainly contributed. On Thursday
morning at four o'clock a considerable force consisting of two
cannon, infantry and cavalry under the command of Captain v
Castonier left the town. In the meantime the Fort was garrisoned
from the brig-of-war. Though this expedition met with no
opposition, it served a good purpose, as from that time perfect
quiet and order were brought about.--TAYLOR, _Leaflets from the
Danish West Indies_, pp. 126-132.

VI

CHAMBERLAIN IRMINGER'S ACCOUNT OF THE INSURRECTION OF 1848

After a stay of several days in the island of St. Thomas,
Governor-General v Scholten sailed in the forenoon of the 2nd
July, 1848, for St. Croix, in the brig-of-war "Ornen," which I
commanded.

About four o'clock in the afternoon we anchored in Bassin
(Christiansted), suspecting nothing of the row which the negroes
intended to make. The General dined with me. At sunset he landed
in order to proceed to Buelowsminde, and as he heard that I
intended to have the ship painted, he invited me to pass the time
at his beautiful country seat.

About 10 o'clock, p.m. we retired to rest. The 3rd July, at
about two o'clock in the morning, I was awakened by the General's
servant with a request that I would come to the General as
quickly as possible. I immediately repaired to his presence and
found him already dressed. He then showed me a report from the
Chief Commander of the Fort in West End (Frederiksted), Capt. v
Castonier, which stated that the negroes were restless at that
part of the island--that bells were being rung on the
estates--and they were sounding the alarm on their shells
(conchshells).

When I had read the report, the Governor-General said: "What is
now to be done?" To this I answered that I thought the best thing
to do was to seek as quickly as possible to smother the
disturbance at its birth, because every minute now lost would
lend additional strength to the disturbers of the peace. It was
my impression that twenty to thirty armed men should immediately
be sent on horseback to West End in order to scatter the negroes
apart.

The Governor remarking that he could not dispose of such a force,
I replied that I did not think it would be so difficult to get
such a number of mounted militia collected from the nearest
estates.

In the meantime, the General's horses were saddled and we now
both rode, accompanied by a mounted servant, down to the
Government house in Bassin. The night was a starry one and the
weather exceedingly fine. We stopped now and then on the tops of
the different hills which we rode over to listen if we could not
hear the blowing of shells or any shouting. But all was hushed,
and we heard only the rustling of the cocoa-nut palm leaves moved
by the trade wind. As soon as we arrived in town, messages were
sent to Major v Falbe, who was Chief of the Fort in Bassin, Major
v Geillerup, who lived in the barracks, Oberst de Nully, Major
Keutsch and others. We now spoke of what was to be done. I still
maintained that action should be taken immediately and that if
the cavalry force which I had asked for could not be got, which I
could by no means admit, other military must immediately be sent
to West End. I furthermore said to the General that I would go on
board to let the men that could be dispensed with get ready to
land, and, at the same time, get the brig ready for sea so as to
be able to leave for West End by daybreak, if ordered. The
General requested me to remain a little longer in the Government
House so as to avoid making any disturbance in town where all was
still and quiet. The conference ended, I believe, in Major
Keutsch's coachman being sent towards West End for more
information as to how it stood with the island. It was now nearly
five o'clock in the morning. The time passed and nothing was
done. I believed I knew the negro character, and that the riot
could have been smothered at the beginning by decisive action.
Seeing that my presence at Government House was of no further
use, I told the General that I would now go on board, so that I
could get the brig ready for sea, and to send armed men on shore,
if required. This I did, and awaited the General's order.

To my surprise I received none whatsoever, and about eight
o'clock a.m. I again went on shore. There I was informed that
Oberst de Nully and Lieutenant v Meincke had been sent to West
End. I also found some soldiers drawn up and ready to set out,
though I afterwards learned, with orders not to go further than
King's Hill (an estate in the middle of the island.)
Interrogating the General as to whether the brig should not sail
to West End, I received the answer that she might be possibly
required in Bassin, and I would receive further orders.

In Bassin, everything was quiet, and I began to believe that the
whole affair did not mean much. Indeed, scarcely any one seemed
to have any knowledge of it. I then informed the General that
everything was ready as well for sea, as to send men ashore, and
should the General have anything to order, I could be found in
the Athenaeum; a reading room nearly opposite the Government
House. About one o'clock p.m., Lieutenant v Meincke arrived from
West End and reported the state of affairs. He brought at the
same time information that the negroes wanted to speak to the
Governor-General himself. General v Scholten had the horses
immediately put to, taking Kammerjunker Rothe with him into the
carriage to drive to Frederiksted. This man, from what I had
heard, had been always an advocate for the emancipation of the
negroes. Before the General drove off, I requested a decided
order from him as to whether I should remain lying in Bassin or
depart for West End. After some reflection, he gave me the order.
With this I left for that place.

On my arrival, and immediately after having anchored, the
"Ornen's" boats were armed, and I went ashore. The King's Wharf
was full of negroes, and everything was in disorder. Accompanied
by some of my armed men, I went to the Fort. By the entrance to
same, I met General v Scholten in his carriage; he was just ready
to drive back to Bassin. I reported my arrival, and asked for
orders. The General's answer was: "I have given Emancipation.
Remain here with the 'Ornen'."

This was the last order I received from him, and I did not see
him again before my arrival in Denmark in the following year.

In the Fort I spoke with Captain v Castonier, and shortly after,
I sent, according to agreement with him, an officer with about
fifty men as a reinforcement as well as for patroling. This
detachment remained ashore some time.

"By this time nearly all the estate negroes had left the town.
Still everything was in the greatest confusion. Town-Bailiff
Andresen's house and Police-Assistant Didrichsen's were entirely
wrecked by the negroes. A Mr. Moore's house and store had
suffered to the extent of 20,000 dollars. Several lesser excesses
had been committed, and armed negroes were seen off and on riding
through the streets at a gallop. Most of the whites had fled to
vessels lying in the harbour, of which the 'Johann Marie' had
over two hundred fugitives on board. On the night of our arrival,
fires illumined different parts of the island."[399]

As every thing was yet in the greatest confusion, and deeming it
of the utmost importance to bring about order,
Vice-Stadthauptmand F. v Scholten, the commander of the Fort,
Captain Castonier, Police-master Ogaard and myself, assembled,
and after due deliberation, issued the following order:--

"It is hereby made known, for the information of everyone
concerned, that in case the country people should come to
town in a riotous way and threaten to attack the Fort, or
otherwise to disturb the inhabitants, then, and in such
case, where more than ten people are collected together, the
Fort is ordered to fire upon them, as also his Majesty's
brig-of-war 'Ornen.' All peaceable inhabitants are therefore
desired not to interfere with the country people, but keep
out of their way.

"Frederiksted, 4th July, 1848.
"F. SCHOLTEN, C. IRMINGER, CASTONIER, OGAARD."

At the same time, the Proclamation of Emancipation that had been
sent to West End from Bassin was read out. It is as follows:--

1. All unfree in the Danish West India Islands are from
today free.

2. The estate negroes retain for three months from date the
use of the houses and provision grounds of which they have
hitherto been possessed.

3. Labour is in future to be paid for by agreement, but
allowance of food to cease.

4. The maintenance of the old and infirm, who are not able
to work, is, until further determined, to be furnished by
the late owners.

The General Government of the Danish West India Islands, St.
Croix, the 3rd July, 1848.

P. V SCHOLTEN.
(L. S.)

Still the greatest disorder reigned in the country, and there was
much plundering and destruction on the estates. In the meantime
many negroes showed that they themselves wished for peace and
order. So much so, that several of the originators of the
disturbances were caught and brought into the Fort by the
friendly-inclined negroes.

On the 5th July, the condition of the country being about the
same, and as several buildings, together with a large garden
planted with cocoa-nut trees near to the Fort, obscured the view
and prevented firing from the Fort in that direction, it was
found expedient to demolish them. This was soon effected by the
brig's indefatigable crew, so that we could now cover the North
side road from the Fort.

There were now forty or fifty men from the brig almost
continually in the Fort as a reinforcement. As it was then found
necessary to undertake military excursions inland to overawe the
negroes, and at the same time to secure the authors of the riot,
I took over on the 6th before daybreak the command of the Fort
and garrisoned it with the crew from the brig. At four a.m. all
the Royal infantry and artillery, together with the planters,
overseers, and managers of estates, marched off under the command
of Captain v Castonier. The latter force alone amounted to forty
horsemen, and from sixty to seventy foot.

At noon Art. Lieutenant Frank arrived from Bassin with a
detachment of militia cavalry. Immediately after, a report was
circulated that the Governor-General was dying, and on that
account a Provisional Government had been organized in Bassin. I
asked Lieutenant Frank if he knew anything about it, to which he
answered that shortly before he had left Bassin, he had seen the
General on the wharf.

Some time after Kammerjunker Rothe arrived in a boat from Bassin
and read aloud the following:--

"On account of the illness of the Governor-General, and with
his concurrence, have we, the undersigned, Govt. Councillor
Kunzen, Govt. Councillor Petersen, Kammerjunker
Landsoverrets Assessor Rothe, Justitsraad Lands-overrets
Assessor Foester, Justitsraad Police-master Frederiksen,
Kammar Assessor Arnesen, and Lawyer Bahneberg, assembled as
a Governing Commission, with full power to take all steps
necessary in the present disturbed condition to bring about
peace and order in the country.

"The command of the military will be taken over by Oberst P.
de Nully and Major A. v Falbe, who will confer with the
above-named commission if necessary.

St. Croix Christensted,
6th July, 1848.

"KUNZEN, C. B. PETERSEN, FOESTER, ROTHE, FREDERIKSEN, II.
L. ARNESEN, BAHNEBERG.

"CARL REIMERS."

As the two Royal Government Councillors, Kunzen and Petersen,
according to my ideas, could just as well have been in charge of
the Government with full powers, notwithstanding that the
Governor-General was sick, and there were even contradictory
reports as to the correctness of that. I, for my part, protested
against acknowledging this new Government until I was certain as
to how it had originated. At half past four o'clock p.m. the men
that had marched out in the morning returned with several of the
leaders of the rising, upon which I again handed over the Fort to
its commander.

Although the military which had returned had not met with any
opposition on their march, and the negroes on many estates had
shown that they wished for peace and order, there were yet many
of them who sought to excite the better part of the population.
For this reason, and in view of the necessity for action,
Vice-Stadthauptmand F. v Scholten, Major Gyllich, Capt, v
Castonier, Policemaster Ogaard, Lawyer Sarauw, and I were
unanimous in publishing the following:--

"As the Authorities here have received no answer from His
Excellency the Governor-General to the Reports forwarded to
him, nor any of the instructions requested, and having this
day learned that on account of illness he is not in a
condition to occupy himself with instructions, and as it is
moreover necessary during the present negro rebellion in
this jurisdiction to act immediately, we, the undersigned,
as the highest authority in the place, have assembled to act
until further.

"Frederiksted, 6th July, 1848.

"F. SCHOLTEN, C. IRMINGER, CASTONIER, GYLLICH, OGAARD,
SARAUW."

We then made known:--

"It is with the utmost satisfaction that the inhabitants of
this jurisdiction have learned that order and obedience to
the laws has commenced to be re-established, and as from
most evidence the hope can be entertained that regularity
and order will go hand and hand, it is hereby promulgated
that any person or persons opposing the authorities, or in
any other manner combining for illegal or violent purposes,
will be dealt with as rioters, and instantly shot. All
peaceable and well-disposed inhabitants are called upon to
assist the authorities in quelling disorder and apprehending
the rioters.

"Frederiksted, 6th July, 1848.

"F. SCHOLTEN, C. IRMINGER, CASTONIER, GYLLICH, OGAARD,
SARAUW."

As many of the refugees on board the vessels were still in dread
of the rioting negroes, and as there was some reason to suppose
that in their fear they would remove from the island, in order to
prevent them doing so, I forbade all ferrying with boats, from
nine o'clock in the evening till four o'clock in the morning,
which times were made known by a cannon shot from the brig.

On the 7th the military again marched out in different
directions. This had a good effect upon the negroes, and the
roads became once more safe for traffic. In the Fort there were
about one hundred rioters, of which the greater part had been
brought in by the friendly negroes from the estates. A portion of
the prisoners were taken on board the brig, and some distributed
among the merchant vessels. In the meantime an order was issued
to all parties concerned that they should within three days
deliver up all stolen goods and arms, as every one, who after
that time was found in possession of such, would be punished to
the utmost extent of the law.

On the 8th several carriages passed between Bassin and West End.
Everything was quiet and safe on the road. Refugees from the
vessels returned on shore to take up their residence to town.
Sugar was brought in from several estates for shipment, and as
everything now promised to go on smoothly, we who had assembled
as the highest authority in the place, handed over the charge of
affairs to the commander of the Fort and the policemaster.

At noon 220 men, auxiliary troops, arrived in Frederiksted; 360
were already in Christiansted. The Governor-General had asked for
the assistance from Porto Rico. As an instance of General
Prim's[400] customary activity it should be mentioned that this
fine body of men 580 all told, with cannon, and 30,000 cartridges
were got ready and put to sea five hours after he had received
the letter of the Governor-General. This prompt action and the
fact that the insurrection had been repressed in the eastern and
western parts of the island, contributed much to allay the fears
of the inhabitants, and to inspire confidence. On the 9th
Chamberlain Oxholm came to West End and took over the
Governor-General's affairs. In the meantime the country was
quiet, and the negroes had returned to work on a few of the
estates. By this time several of the rioters had been tried by
court-martial and shot.

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