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Amid the roar of cannon and in the smoke of battle, the first Republican newspaper published in Virginia made its appearance in the little town of Hampton, in March, 1865. Its editor, Col. D. B. White, had served as colonel of the 88th Regiment New York Volunteers, then serving before Richmond, in Gen. Butler's army of the James. At that time Hampton contained among its ruins and ashes about 5000 people,—contrabands, refugees and soldiers, nearly all of whom were negroes.

The advent of The True Southerner (the name of the new venture) was attended with great success. The names of more than three thousand persons, paying ten dollars in advance, made up its list of subscribers; and Colonel White's pen enlightened them on the movements of Grant's and Lee's armies, as they advanced upon or retreated from the beleaguered city, Richmond, the rebel's capital. It was published weekly, printed on a Franklin hand-press in a building often rocked by the heavy ordnance at Fortress Monroe, three miles away.

In 1855, Col. Joseph T. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, whose connection with The True Southerner we shall hereafter mention, was graduated from the schools of New Bedford, Mass. After graduating, he went in August of the same year, as steersman on board the ship Seconet, of Mattapoisett, for a three year's whaling voyage in the Pacific Ocean. His stay was prolonged, and mixed with thrilling events until 1862.

While building a trestle on the Valparaiso and Santiago railroad, he heard of the Rebellion, and immediately took passage on the Bio-Bio, arriving in New York the following August, and sailed thence in the bark Indian Belle for New Orleans, La., with government stores. At New Orleans he