The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-11-13
Through the Cotton States.

namesaniessthey are mpanied with money.
Through the Cotton States.
It was delicious morning late IN Decem.
mer when l landed at Georgetown. The
little steamer Nina, ia cross between half
grown nautilus and full-grown tub,) which
few we eks later was enrolled as the first
man ofwar of the Confederate navy, then
s performed the carrying trade between the
two principal cities ofSouth Carolina. On
her, in company with sundry boxes, bases,
and other merchandise, l had embarked the
previous night at Charleston. Armed with
friendly invitation from an 'up-country'
planter, whom met while travelling, | had
started on tour Of observation through the
rice and turpentine districts which skirt the
Waccamaw river.
As our embryo war steamer rounded up
the long, low, reckerty dock, numbered breast
high with cotton, turpentine, and resin, not
white face was to be seen. A few half-clad
shiftless-looking negroes, lounging idly about
were the only portion of the population that
had gathered to witness our landing.
Are all the people dead p inquired of
one of them, thinking it strange that so i'm
portant an event as the arriva. of the Charles
ton packet should excite no greater interest
in SO quiet town. Not ded, massa,' he
replied, with knowing chuckle, 'but dey
gettin ready for fun'ral' what funeral ?
asked Dey gwine to shoot all de adolf
ton darkies at de Norf, and den have a
brack bnryin, he he! saying which, the
sable gentleman expanded the opening in
his countenance to an enormous extent,
doubtless at the brlliancy Of his own wit.
asked him to take my portmanteau, and
conduct me to the best hotel. He assented
with 'Yas, yas, massa, | show you where
all de big bugs stop : but at once turned to
sao,her darkey standing near accosted him
with, Here, jim, you lazy nigga, tote de
gemman's tings.'
why don't YOU take them yourself?' !
asked you will then get all the pay No,
no, massa dat nigga and me in partnership;
he do de work, and keep de change was
the grinning reply, which admirably illustra.
tes a popularity have observed to be uni
versal with the negro. When left to his
own discretion, he invariably goes into part
nership' with some one poorer tl.an himself,
Ao,, %,;x 81 ha fou uly ct,;rtyc oil
the labor he can.
The silent darkey and my portlnanteau in
the van, and the garrulous old negro guard
ing my flank, wended my way through the
principal street to the hotel. On the route
resumed the conversation -
so, uncle, you say the people here are
ngetting ready for black burying p
'Yas, massa, gw;ne to bury all dem MIS-
rable free ''niggas at the Norf.'
why, uncle,' inquired what will you
do that for p
why for. massa you AK why for he ex-
claimed in surprise.
4 don't KNOX, rejoin d, I'm a stranger
here
well, you see, massa, dem ab'litionist
niggas nd dare have been and 'lected on old
darky, dey call Uncle Abe, for President,
and old Abe he gwine to come down Souf,
and cut all de decent niggas troats. He'll
hab good time. he vice ! MY young massa's S
captin of ne sodgers, and he'll..catch de old
coon, and hang him up so high de crows
won't cotch him yas, he will : and the old
darkey's face opened till it looked like the
entrance to the Mammoth Cave. He, evil
IDENTIFY, had read the southern papers.
Depositing my luggage at the hotel, which
found on a side street-a delapidated, un-
painted wooden building, with female land
lord-I started out to explore the town, till
the hour for dinner. Retracing my steps in
the direction of the steamboat landing,
found the streets nearly deserted, although
twas the hour when the principal part Of
the days business is transacted. Soon
discovered the cause The militia Of the
place were out on parade. Preceded by q
colored band, playing national airs, which
thought in dolefll keeping with the occasion,
and followed by motley collection of ne
grocs of all sexes and ages, the company
was entering the principal street. As il
passed me, could Judge Of the prowess o.
the redoubtable captain, who. according te
Pompcy, is to hang the president so high
de crows won't cotch him.
He was harmless looking young man
with long, spindle legs, admirably fitted fol
running. he was not formidable in othcl
respects still there aoas a certain MARTA
air about an enormous saber which hung a
his side, and occasionally got entangied in
his neither integuments. and fiery, warlik'
look to the heavy tuft Of redish hair which
sprouted in bristling defiance from his upper
lip.
Ills company numbered about seventy
some with uniforms and some without, ant
bearing all sorts Of arms, from the old flint
lock musket to the modern revolving rife
They were, however. sturdy fellows, ant
looked as if they might do service at 'th
imminent deadly breech.' Their full rank
taken from population of less than fiv
hundred whites. told Enthusiastically the in
tense war feeling OF the community.
Georgetown is one OF the oldest towns il
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