While reading the
Writing of Abraham Lincoln (1863-1865), I came across his order to repatriate the colored American settlers of Vache, San Domingo. That is, he ordered that they be brought back to this Country.
Curious, I googled Vache and San Domingo, and got the story. In part, I found -
In that year, 450 African Americans were recruited to settle on the Island of Vache, off the coast of present-day Haiti. Small pox and mismanagement by a white government-appointed manager contributed to the colony's failure. The transport ship dispatched by President Lincoln picked up only 368 survivors.and
You are directed to have a transport (either a steam or sailing vessel as may be deemed proper by the Quartermaster General) sent to the colored colony established by the United States at the Island of Vache, on the coast of San Domingo to bring back to this country such of the colonists there as desire to return. You will have the transport furnished with suitable supplies for that purpose, and detail an office of the Quartermaster's Department who, under special instructions to be given, shall have charge of the business. The colonists will be brought to Washington, unless otherwise hereafter directed and be employed and provided for at the camps for colored persons around that City. Those only will be brought from the island who desire to return, and their effects will be brought with them.
and
The colony fell into virtual abandonment by early October [sic 1863], although numerous conflicting accounts from the island left Washington uncertain about the fate of the settlers. Likely prodded by the president after months of inattention, Usher appointed his old law partner D.C. Donnohue as special agent to investigate the site for the government. Finding the settlers still clothed in the same ragged surplus Union army uniforms that had been given to them at their departure from Fortress Monroe, Donnohue proceeded to oversee a relief expedition to carry survivors back to the United States. All said, of the initial 453 named colonists some 292 remained on Vache and an additional 73 had fled to the Haitian mainland. The remainder succumbed to disease and starvation.And -
Kock (an investor in the project) closed with laborers on a 4-year contract for a wage of $0.16 per day, costs included. He printed special Gourde notes, upon which read the text Island of A'Vache [sic] and his own name, Bernard Kock. These were exchangeable for normal Haitian gourdes.See -
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.co...e=blogs&_r=0http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/di...D=3&psid=391and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Ele_%C3%A0_VacheSure would like to get one of those Vache "special Gourde notes"!
Bill
Posted 06/25/2014 4:27 pm
