Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-20
Mrs. Fremont I'm Camp.

a correspondent of tue Cincinnati Gazette,
writing from Jefferson City, No., under date
of the 7ih inst, sayS: - r.-
There is one Individual in this camp whom
neither rain nor mud, nor cold. nor heat, can
suppress, and that is the irrepressible .sJes-
Sie." The other morning | waded out to
camp Lille, in this ili-iayored state of the
weather, without expecting any news, but by
way of escaping the dreary monotony of the
town. 1t was such day as ArabeIla Sophia
would have chosen to recline dreamily upon
the lounge before the fire, aud pour over the
dagger and pistol illustrated pages of the
"a most thrilling novel OF the age" or as Flora
Augusta would have thought it terrible to go
out in, and certain to give Der her death OF
cold.
But Jessie Benton Fremont is not made OF
snch stuff. In fact Old Bullion" didn't al
low such tender plants to grow up in his
house. He believed in women having cOnsti-
buttons, and he made her practical illustra-
ton of his doctrine.
If had been looking for her, 1 should have
gone to her quarters, some distance up on
the BILL expecting to find her comfortably
housed for the day. But as / stopped before
a fire in front of the Generals tent, who
should l see but the inevitable Jessie" in
side, seated at table, opposite her husband.
and in earnest consultation over the affairs of
the Western Department. while by her
side, sat her daughter, Miss Lille F., pa
tient and attentive listener.
After little, the business in hand having
been disposed of, they both came out, and
while the latter went into an adjoining tent
to warm herself by little army stove. the
former came up to our fire, and entered into
conversation with the company as freely aud
Familiarity as if she knew every one of us
Pretty soon she espied Frank Leslie's artist
sitting on a stump a little way up, with pen
Gil aud paper in hand. taking sketch of the
camp. Forthwith she posted up there and
Instituted an examination into his work. and
gossipped with him as she peered over his
shoulders, until another shower drove her in
to the tent where Miss +. had taken refuge,
and where she invited US, aud proceeded to
eXpatiate upon anything and every thing her
visitors had a mind to talk about, winding
up with sending for some refreshments in
Guiding bottle of Missouri Gatawba box
of which somebody had presented her.
This Incidental interview gave me an op-
pOrtunlty OF forming more reliable and def
mite impression concerning her, which, at
the risk of being thought little Jenkinish,
shall endeavor to convey to the readers of
the Gdzetie, TO many of whom "Jessien was
an object of special interest during the cam
paign of Sc, and in the changing fortunes of
the day may turn out to be again. As re-
marked in my last, she strikes one as rather
masculine in general appearance, but this
first impression Is very soon and entirely dis
sipated in conversation with her. There is
not classical feature about her, and yet her
face becomes interesting from the gentle, be-
nevolent, and pleasing expression which it
assumes in conversation. When lighted up,
1t is iuil Oi sprightliness, yivacity, and intel
llgence. Her manner Is soft, persuasive aud
insinuatiug, and her voice uncommonly mu-
steal. But her chief outward attraction is
her eyes, and she knows how to use them, as
most women do. [ said in my last l thought
they were grey, but in this l was mistaken.
They are brown. Eyes so expressive of every
emotion are rarely met with. They lend
warmth and fervor to, and adCrn and illus
trate, whatever she says. Indeed the play
of her eyes and features, the glow of her rud-
dy complexion, and the melody of her voice,
give the same effect to her conversation that
variations" do to piece Of music; and all
this despite her really being plain" look
ing woman when her countenance is in re-
pose. She has great tact and self-possession,
is ready, fluent, and unembarrassed in speech
and. without the least sacrifice of dignity, is
perfectly free from any sort of conventional
ty. The extent of her knowledge upon po-
litical and governmental affairs entities her
to be considered Statesl0oman of no ordinary
caliber. She would make a pretty formula
bic antagonist in a political discussion, and
as tenant of the White House could dis
pense politics and hospitalities, and preside
at state dinners, to better advantage, i'm
agine, than any lady who has figured therein
during our day. She enters very freely, ear
nestly, and uareservedly into an explanation
of, and vindieation of her husband against
the numerous charges and allegations of
which he is the subject. She is Virginian
by birth, and has the Southern brogue, if
may so express it, in greater perfection, and
renders it more pleasingly, than l have ever
observed in any one before. She is probably
about 40 years of age, and her years sit very
lightly upon her, at least with her bonnet on,
which may not be without its effects if my
previous ungallant superstition was correct,
that her hair is slightly silvered by the hand
of time. As / am not positively certain on
this delicate question, however, 1 would pre-
fer to have the reader give her the benefit of
the doubt.
Miss Lille F., (whom strict regard for
truth again makes me amenable to the charge
Of ungallantry in stating that she is nineteen
instead of seventeen,) may be described as
rather petite, of light complexion, blue gray"
eyes and fair hair. and, in ordinary parlance,
IS Every sweet girl" but exhibiting, at
east to casual observers, none of those mark
ID and original traits, and destinations of
mind and manner, that characterize her |
noIher.