Table
of Contents
Preface
& Introduction: by Anna Habersham Wright Smith
Prologue:
Elliott and Mackay family letters from Pendleton SC to
Beaufort SC and Savannah GA, 1835–1853
A
Sketch of the Life of Frederic Augustus Habersham
written for his three little children by their mother
Leila Elliott Habersham the summer of 1863
I 1831–1854:
Fred’s heritage, schooling, and clerkship in New York and Savannah—courtship
of Leila—death of Dr. Elliott and shift of summer base from Pendleton
to North Georgia—marriage of Andrew Low to Mary Cowper Stiles—yellow
fever—marriage of Fred and Leila in Savannah.
II 1855–Winter
1858:
Fred and Leila a part of Mrs. Elliott’s household—birth
of Ralph (later renamed Frederic Augustus Jr.)—Summerland—setting
up own home in Savannah—Georgia Hussars—happy family life.
III Spring
1858–1861:
Births of Charles and Margaret—Summerland—Habersham Christmas—death
of Stephen Elliott Habersham—marriage of sister Mary Stiles Elliott
and Robert Habersham Elliott.
IV 1861:
The War commences
Fred a lieutenant in the Georgia Hussars—Fort Pulaski—Skidaway
Island—Battle of Port Royal SC—family evacuates Savannah to
stay at Summerland.
V November
1861–June 1862: Savannah
Fred resigns job and joins Chatham Artillery—Skidaway Island—fall
of Fort Pulaski—death of Mrs. Robert Mackay—visit to Summerland—Fred’s
departure for Virginia.
VI Summer
1862: Richmond
Fred volunteers with Pulaski Guards (Read’s Battery Light Artillery)—maneuvers
around Richmond—in reserve.
VII September
1862: Maryland Campaign
March to Manassas—crossing the Potomac to Maryland—Battle
of Harper’s Ferry—Battle of Sharpsburg—Winchester.
VIII October
1862–February 1863: Savannah
Leila ill—Fred returns to Summerland—Engineer Corps in
Savannah—birth and death of their 4th child—Fred elected 2nd
lieutenant in Pulaski Guards and departs for Virginia.
IX Spring
1863: In camp at Fredericksburg
Richmond—Hanover’s Junction—increased responsibilities
in camp—Leila in Savannah learns Fred killed in battle.
X May 1863:
Chancellorsville
Fred’s brother Robert and cousin R.W.B. Elliott retrieve Fred’s
body—death of Stonewall Jackson—Fred’s funeral in Savannah—newspaper
reports of battle—the war goes on.
XI Summer
1863: Friends and Family
Condolences in Savannah—return to Summerland.
Epilogue:
Leila Habersham & her Family, 1863–1913
XII July–December
1863: Charleston Harbor
Brothers William and Percy Elliott at Battery Wagner—Percy as
aide to Lieut. Col. Stephen Elliott Jr. at Fort Sumter.
XIII January
1864–June 1865: On all fronts
Defense of Fort Sumter—Sherman’s march—fall of Savannah—Percy
rejoins Savannah Volunteer Guards—mortally wounded at Saylor’s
Creek—Phoebe Elliott’s visit to Lincoln Hospital.
XIV 1865–1870:
Brother John Mackay Elliott
John’s trek to Augusta from North Carolina—brother Ralph
rescued—return to Savannah—emigration to California.
XV 1865–1913:
The End of an Era
Summerland after Sherman—visit of Robert E. Lee to Savannah—marriages
of Mary Elliott to Joseph A. Huger Jr. and of Margaret Habersham to Butler
King Couper—Leila’s cooking school—deaths in Leila’s
family—end of coastal rice industry—death of Leila—Fred
Jr. in California.
Appendix
Genealogies:
Habersham, Elliott, Mackay families
Roster: The
Pulaski Guards
Compiled from Unit Roster of Georgia Confederate Soldiers (Fraser’s
Battery), newspaper articles, text of Sketch, and Census of Chatham County
for 1860.
List of Illustrations
and Photographs
Index |
