I’ve been reading the history of Ocean Springs Mississippi U.S.A.

The town where my Slave ancestors were held in bondage.

On February 11th, 1864, the Army of the North landed and eventually

freed the Slaves there including my great-great grandmother ‘Tempy’.

The ‘New Orleans Weekly Times’ March 18, 1864:

“On Tuesday, February 11th, the gunboats, USS Narcissus and the USS Cowslip,

went on an expedition up the Back Bay of Biloxi

in command of Lieutenant Commander W.F. Fitzhugh.

At 10 o'clock A.M. they put to port at Ocean Springs.”

Family history sez Union troops entered the town. No stories of fighting.

After some days the U.S. Army commander read a proclamation on the Courthouse steps.

He declared all ‘Bondsmen’ within the township and surrounding areas were:

“...Forthwith Emancipated.”

~My family was free.~