U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865
Last Slaveship "Wanderer" Had Connection to Jacksonville, Ga.
This article is compiled by Julian Williams.
In 1858, it looked as if the country would finally rid itself of the undesirable institution of slavery. A law had been passed to prohibit persons from bringing more slaves into the country. But not everyone intended to abide by the law. Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar, a misguided adventurer, seeking fortune, and apparently notoriety, became bent upon defying the courts. Thus, he set about making plans to bring yet another load of slaves to the shores of this country. The act would serve as a test case and would compel the courts to deal with the event. Lamar quickly rounded up a cohort, William Corrie, and purchased a schooner which was converted into a very fast slaveship. They named it "The Wanderer." Authorities became suspicious when they observed that very large water storage tanks were being installed on the ship. But the miscreants avoided further suspicion by leaving the ship basically as it was until they reached Africa. Once there, they quickly took the ship upriver and converted it into the ugly essence of a slave vessel. Shortly thereafter, they placed over 400 slaves aboard and brought them to Jekyll Island and dispatched them in many directions, by several modes of transportation, to various places in Georgia and South Carolina.
One of the last places, and it is believed by many to have been the last place, slaves from The Wanderer were found was Jacksonville, Georgia. In her "History of Telfair County", Floris Perkins Mann graphically paints the ugly picture of the way the slaves were held captive. She also recalls that some of the slaves remained in the county and carried the name Swain and Williams and their descendants to this day retain these names. Judge John McRae, who assisted in securing the slaves and taking them into safe custody from the slave runners, submitted a bill of charges for his services. It took him forty years to get the government to reimburse him for these services.
It is also interesting to note that one of the slaves from The Wanderer, turned up in South Carolina. His name was Lucius Williams. Was it mere coincidence, or was there some connection with the Jacksonville seizure of the slaves? In 1858, the young 24 year-old Sheriff of Telfair County was a man who would later become almost an icon against northern encroachment of lands and timber in post-Civil War times. In fact, he would become a folk hero, martyred in 1895 in the pine barrens war against the Dodge Company. His name was Lucius Williams. Sheriff Williams would have been on the scene that day the slaves were rescued at Jacksonville, then county seat of Telfair County. Did the slaves who took the name Williams get the name from this encounter with Lucius Williams? Was the slave Lucius Williams ever in contact with Sheriff Lucius Williams?
Another notable figure who was involved in the proceedings of retrieving The Wanderer slaves at Jacksonville, Georgia, was Colonel Henry R. Jackson, famous civic leader, politician, and lawyer from Savannah. For many years, Colonel Jackson wrote papers on the legal aspects of the situation and traveled about giving lectures on the proceedings. Years later, when his son, Captain Henry (Harry) Jackson, died he took over briefly the mission to which he was attached. And what was that endeavor? Believe it or not, the draining of the Okefenokee Swamp! In that day, it was thought that the draining of the swamp was the thing to do. So futile was the effort it came to be called "Jackson's Folly." Apparently, it was too much for Captain Jackson and the stressful experience probably contributed to his early demise.
Back to Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar. What happened to this upstart rebel? To begin with, he did not receive much punishment - a few days in house arrest and a small fine was about it. Political sentiment in 1858 was the same which led to the commencement of hostilities of civil war in 1861.
But, his family was embarrassed. He was given a commission as a lieutenant-colonel in some obscure outfit and sent to some obscure post on the Mississippi River. There he existed until he had a confrontation with some Yankee soldiers. What exactly happened is not known but the soldiers said he tried to draw a weapon and subsequently one of the soldiers killed him. Thus, the end of Charles Augustus Lafayette Lamar - the man who engineered bringing the last load of slaves to America, the last wagon believed taken into custody at Jacksonville, Georgia - now became famous, or infamous, for another last. He, by being killed , maybe unnecessarily, at war's end, and maybe a bit past that point, became the last casualty of the Civil War !
But, this story has a happy ending, thank goodness! The family of Ward Lee, a slave on The Wanderer, has retraced their roots and found that the very ship which transported their ancestor, was built near their home in Long Island. The family has prospered and a recent descendant has just completed his Masters degree in counseling and guidance. Two of his great-great granddaughters were the first African-American "Doublemint Twins" (that great chewing gum advertisment). Their story is an interesting one and points out the great conclusion that America is great because people have, time and again, risen, with the instilled Spirit, from the ashes of hurt, disappointment and setbacks of many kinds, to not only persevere, but to prevail and to contribute, each in his own way and in his own person, to the ever changing and progressing world of our Creator.
