Miss Olivia Floyd

As we have learned previously, Port Tobacco was a hotbed of activity during the Civil War. One can only imagine how certain people must have been constantly watching over their shoulders as they plotted and schemed to further their cause. We have discussed George Atzerodt and Rose Greenhow. These two found themselves under suspicion and out right accused of conspiracy and espionage.

Miss Olivia Floyd was another unlikely Confederate spy. She was an heir to the mansion of Rose Hill and was living there during the War. Her brother was a Confederate soldier who was killed in 1863. Additionally, one account states that she had broken her back as a child and was crippled for the rest of her life.

She was already a smuggler of messages headed south and would conceal them in a wooden boat model made by her brother. In the winter of 1864, a group of Confederate soldiers raided St. Alban’s, Vermont and escaped to Canada with their horses, money, and lives. They were then arrested by Canadian authorities and Union officials sought their extradition for trial on charges of being spies. Their lives depended on proving that they were commissioned officers of the Confederate Army acting on official orders. A message started south requesting the commissions of the men. It passed from Southern sympathizers, from Canada to Maryland, and eventually to Miss Floyd.

Miss Floyd had successfully concealed the important note in a pair of brass andirons in her parlor which were missed by Union soldiers. One had even propped his foot up on the very same andiron by the fire. After they had left, she put the note in her hair and carried it to the signal station at Popes Creek where it had been sent to Richmond. The result was the soldiers on trial in Canada received copies of their commissions in time to save them.
Another interesting note about Olivia Floyd is that she claims to have seen the spirit of The Blue Dog (remember last week’s blog?). She died December 8, 1905 and is buried at St. Ignatius Church at Chapel Point.

In loving remembrance

Of

ANNIE OLIVIA FLOYD

Daughter of the Late

DAVID L. & SARAH SEMMES FLOYD

July 2, 1826

Dec 8, 1905

Carmelite Nuns of Port Tobacco

Prior to the American Revolution, a woman who was called by God to the Catholic faith, had to travel to Europe and enter a monastary. In 1790, Father Ignatius Matthews wrote to his sister, Mother Bernardina Matthews. "Now is your time to found in this country, for peace is declared and religion is free." She arrived with four other nuns and founded the Carmalite Nuns of Port Tobacco. Upon arrival, they first stayed at Chandler's Hope, but soon found this location unacceptable. Apparently, Port Tobacco wasn't quiet enough for the nuns. They were given land just north of town at a place called Durham.

By 1830, the buildings were falling into decay and the nuns were called to Baltimore and Mt. Carmel was sold to Edward Sanders. One hundred years later, in 1935, the land was purchased by the Archbishop and a group called the Restorers of Mt. Carmel was formed. In 1954, a new brick chapel was constructed and the nuns returned in 1976. The monestary is located directly across from the campus of The College of Southern Maryland.

I'd like to take a moment to introduce everyone to the new web site for Grave Concerns. Please stop and visit: http://www.historicalgraveconcerns.com/ The site is in its infancy and will grow often with new material to see. A big thanks to April for all her help with this web site!

The Underground Railroad was Neither Underground Nor a Railroad, Discuss.

So today's post is not a story about what I do know about Port Tobacco but rather a statement of something that I do not understand about Port Tobacco. Maybe one of our staff members or readers (any Historic Preservation people from Charles County reading this today?) can enlighten me on this point.

I am not a fan of "Underground Railroad Archaeology" because it seems like nobody really knows what constitutes evidence of the Underground Railroad. Houses with "secret doorways" and "underground tunnels" are common "Underground Railroad Sites" but these features could have served any smuggling purpose or could just be architectural anomalies.

Recently, I was called out to a home near Binghamton because someone found an archaeological site and some bones while digging under their patio. There, under the patio, was the first floor of a historic structure, complete with a doorway. They had no idea that it existed until then. But, I digress.

In my research I have found that the St. Ignatius Church, right down Chapel Point Road from Port Tobacco, has such an underground tunnel that may or may not be part of the Underground Railroad. And, even more surprising to me, the Port Tobacco Courthouse is listed on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

With all the Confederate activity that went on in Port Tobacco, I find this to be an unlikely place for escaped slaves to have been ferried through. Can anyone tell me what the story is behind the courthouse listing?

-April