In the Beginning was Fortress Monroe, VaThe first mission field to open (August, 1861) to the American Missionary Association and other groups was at Fortress Monroe in Virginia where General Butler had declared that the slaves escaping to his lines were contraband of war. This opened the floodgates of slaves who would risk their lives and the lives of their families for freedom. Chaplain P Franklin Jones of the 1st New York Volunteers sent a letter to the New York YMCA requesting help for an educational and aid mission. This letter was passed on to the American Missionary Association (see Mission to the Freed Contrabands at Fortress Monroe) and (see notes from Fortress Monroe American Missionary.) The American Missionary Association sent its first missionary to the freedmen onSeptember 3, 1861 - Rev. L. C. Lockwood. On September 17, 1861 the first teacher was Mrs. Mary Peake a free person of light color who had received her education in Alexandria while it was part of the District of Columbia. She taught in the brown cottage adjoining the Chesapeake Female Seminary (a former school for whites). The school was eventually moved to ex President Tyler's summer home. On February 22, 1862 Mrs. Peake became the first teacher to die at her post. (Letter from Mary Smith Peake to S S Jocelyn) (Letter from Mrs. Mary Vangh about Mary S. Peake's education) (See Rev. L. C. Lockwood 1871 Report on early years)

Fortress Monroe was also the training ground for Edward Pierce. He wrote in great detail in an