Francis Warrington Dawson , born in London, May 20, 1840, was christened Austin John Reeks. His father and mother were reduced to near poverty by his father's financial speculations. Through the assistance of a widowed aunt, he got a good preparatory education, but he didn't go to college. He toured the continent as a youth, & before he was twenty he showed considerable promise as a playwright. He was fair complexioned, curly haired, and handsome.
He changed his name to Francis Warrington Dawson in late 1861, after deciding to emigrate to America to enter Confederate service. His choice of a name was influenced by his admiration of an uncle, William A. Dawson, an English army captain killed in India, whose widow had helped finance the youth's education.
With the assistance of A. Dudley Mann, Confederate agent in England, Dawson persuaded Captain Robert B. Pegram, commanding officer of the Confederate States steamer the Nashville, then at Southampton obtaining supplies for the South, to let him join the Nashville's crew as a common sailor. During the voyage from Southampton, to Beaufort, North Carolina, in Jan.-Feb., 1862, Dawson ingratiated himself with Pegram and other officers. Shortly after arriving in the South, Pegram had Dawson commissioned as a master's mate in the Confederate Navy. In the spring of 1862, Pegram was appointed to command the ironclad Louisiana, then nearing completion at New Orleans. He and Dawson started to New Orleans in April, but just before they reached their destination they learned of the fall of New Orleans and the destruction of the Louisiana.
Dawson was convinced that shortage of war vessels and surplus of personnel would make it difficult for him to see active service as a naval officer, so on his return to Richmond he attached himself as a volunteer to Purcell's battallion of field artillery commanded by Captain Willie B. Pegram, nephew of Robt. B. Pegram.
In the battle of Mechanicsville, June 26, 1862, while bravely serving as a member of the gun crew, he was wounded in the leg. Reports of his gallantry came to the attention of Mrs. G. W. Randolph, wife of the Confederate secretary of War, and a cousin of Robt. B. Pegram. Through the good offices of Robert Pegram and Mrs. Randolph and on the recommendation of Captain Willie Pegram, Dawson was commissioned first lieutenant of artillery and assigned to duty as an assistant ordnance officer on the staff of General James Longstreet. Just before the battle of Antietam he was captured and sent to Fort Delaware. After three weeks he was released on parole. He visited friends in the Petersburg area until he was exchanged late in November, 1862. He rejoined Longstreet's staff on December 6, 1862, at Fredericksburg.
I have been telling portions of the introduction of Reminiscences of Confederate Service, 1861-1865 by Francis W. Dawson, Edited by Bell I. Wiley, with an introduction, appendix and notes, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge and London, Copyright 1980 Louisiana State University Press, Second printing (October, 1985)
More to come later as he begins his memoirs.
PIE
It was in the autumn of 1861 that I made up my mind to go to the Southern States of America, and enter the Confederate Army. Looking back more than 20 years, I find it difficult, as the man of forty-two, to recall the exact feelings of the boy of twenty. I can say, however, that I had no expectation whatever of any gain, or advantage to myself. I had a sincere sympathy with the Southern people in their struggle for independence, and felt that it would be a pleasant thing to help them to secure their freedom. It was not expected, at that time, that the war would last many months, and my idea simply was to go there to the South, do my duty there as well as I might, and return home to England. I expected no reward and wanted none, and had no intention whatever of remaining permanently in the Southern States.
There were a lot of problems in obtaining accurate information as to the best way of reaching the seat of war in the South. I found I could possibly go by way of Nassau, N.P., but the expense was more than I care to incur, and the other mode of entering the Confederacy--by going to a Northern port and slipping through the lines--was truly troublesome, and was, besides, uncertain in its result. However, I was determined as only young men are, & just about this time the Confederate States steamer Nashville arrived at South Hampton. This vessel had been one of the regular steamerson the line between Charleston and New York, but was seized, I think, by Confederate authorities after hostilities began. It had been thought to send the Hon. James M. Mason and the Hon. John Slidell to represent the Confederate States in England and France respectively, and the Nashville was fitted out to take them to England. They changed their plan, unfortunately for them, and went in a small vessel to Havana, where they took the mail steamer Trent for St. Thomas. The Nashville trip was not abandoned , and under the command of Captain Robert B. Pegram, she ran the blockade at Charleston and reached Southampton in safety, capturing and destroying a fine American ship called the Harvey Birch along the way.
The Nashville's arrival at Southampton caused a considerable stir: those of Northern persuasion considered her a pirate ship, and her officers and crew were dubbed buccaneers. Some newspapers were for ordering out Captain Pegram and his crew for instant execution, there were other newspapers which were very friendly in tone. As I remember , it became necessary for Captain Pegram to write a letter to The Times in which he explained that, far from being a "pirate", he was a regularly commissioned officer of the Confederate States Navy and the Nashville , was a vessel of war of the Confederate States, entitled to the consideration that would be shown to the war vessel of any other Government. This view was taken by the English authorities, although, under the proclamation neutrality which the Queen had issued, the Nashville was not allowed to obtain any sort of equipment which could be conceived to be capable of use in war. No repairs were allowed to be made except such as would place the Nashville in the precise condition to which she was when she left Charleston.
It occurred to me that if I could in any way secure a passage to the South on the Nashville it'd be much better than trying to by way of Nassau or the Potomac.
After some haggling I got permission to travel and I was surprised to see how large a share of public attention was given to the Confederate vessel. The appearance of the Nashville : her size, her speed, and the probable plans of her commander were diligently canvassed by those traveling with me, and I was gratified to find that every one had a good opinion of the conduct and character of the officers and crew of the vessel.
Upon my arrival I went at once to the docks, and far in the distance saw a flag that was completely new and strange. As I drew near I found that it was flying from the peak of a large paddle-wheel steamer, painted black, and with more upper-works than I had been accustomed to see on sea-going vessels. The flag I had seen was the Stars and Bars of the Confederacy, and the vessel was the Nashville.
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This is an extremely interesting book. Dawson's observations of people that he served under are spot on. As I get into it further you'll a youth's observations turn quickly into a man's. This book was printed privately. (There were only 100 copies made, Charleston, S.C. THE NEWS AND COURIER BOOK PRESSES. 1882 Second printing, October 1985, it is also included in the Library of Southern civilization.
The various people that he served under is an education in itself and when he decided to make the South his home, he helped immensely in trying to rebuild the South.
PIE
To my irritation as I went aboard I found that Captain Pegram was in London. The officer on duty was very courteous and tended to be communicative, so I had a long talk with him. His name was Lt. John J. Ingraham, of Charleston, S. C. I learned he was a graduate of Annapolis, and it rather daunted me to find that one could not expect to attain the rank of officer in the Navy unless one had had the thorough training of a naval school, or practical education at sea.
Several days later I went down to Southampton again, and this time I saw Capt. Pegram. The dignity and kindness of his manner impressed me immediately, and I unbosomed myself to him without reserve. I should mention here that he'd been in the Navy for 25-30 years when Virginia seceded from the Union, and instantly resigned his commission to share the fortunes of his native State.
He had already gained recognition in his profession, and I have seen the sword of honor presented to him by the State of Virginia in recognition of his gallantry in an engagement with pirates in the Chinese Seas. On the golden scabbard of this sword his name and rank are engraved, with this simple but eloquent inscription:
"The State of Virginia to a devoted son."
PIE