Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-23
The RAFTsMAn's JOURNAL.
A SPRINGFIELD MAN IN GEORGIA.
From the Springfield. Massachusetts, Republics

From the Springfield. Massachuset Republican
Mr. John D. Mcknight of Tilly, Haynes &
Co.'S. great clothing house in this city, return
ed few days since after two weeks absence,
having been to Georgia on business. He was
in Georgia, at Savannah and Macon, for only
week, and although confining himself to these
principal towns, he says no one who has not
been there can imagine the strict espionage
that exists over all strangers, no matter how
quietly they depot themselves. His name was
registered as from New York, that being safer
than to acknowledge residence in Massachu-
setts and yet the crowd would gather, even in
the leading hotel of Savannah, to discuss to-
gether over his name, to scrutinize him and
point him out, and to express, as well in words
as looks, their deep hostility to any one from
the North. At one time. in one of these
crowds words ran high, and he heard himself
called ssd-d Government coeIcer," sent TO
spy them out, and point out, at some future
time. the active leaders in secession. So ii
seems they duly consider the possibility of
future arraignment for high treason, aud the
need, therefore, of guarding against evidence
being got against them
At Macon his style of coat led people to
think that he a Yankee, and but for his
having friend there, who answered for him,
he might have been troubled. He was in Ma
con only day, and yet probably half the town
asked his friend who he was, and whether it
would be safe to let him remain. One thing
however, he was informed of, that he could
by no possibility be allowed to 90 further west
or into the interior. On the railroad train
there were sharp eyes upon him. and he felt at
every station the danger of arrest by local
Vigilance Committee. Indeed, he says, he
never in his life felt so lost, so constantly ap-
prehensive of cowardly attack, and so as if he
was among untamed savages. The looks,
speech and manners OF theGeorgians were wild.
They talked furiously. and all of the same ten
or-that they wanted s.no mpromise,' but
only the independence of the South and TO
whip the Yankee AbolitionistS. Trade was at
| a complete stand-stil in all except firearms,
and he heard man say he had bought the last
pistol to be had at any store in Savannah.
While he was in that city, Fort Pulaski was
taken, and the revenue cutter Dobbin seized.
The military were in constant motion. The
town was flooded with posters calling the
ssOwls,'' "Rattlesnakes," .sAlligators,' - ssEa-
gles," and other secret organizations, to be in
their ssnests" at certain hour. 1t was impos-
sible for him to get copies OF Savannah pa
pers. The hotel-keepers would not supply the
reading of them, but would even take them
away when got. On the steamer in which he
came to New York were some seventy passen-
gers, including all kinds OF people, and Nor
thern men who represented a residence in all
the Gulf States. There was never seen hap
pier set of men than that on the estate of
Georgia. as it steamed out of Savannah river.
Men whom he had heard in the city proclaim
ing as loudly as any for secession, and denoun-
cling Massachusetts, now lifted mp their voices
for very joy and there was hardly passenger
but now avowed a faith, the bare suspicion of
which would have won him halter but an
hour before. One man was Nova Scotan,
resident for years in Savannah, who was only a
few evenings before waited upon by the"Owls,''
one of his own employees heading the rufian-
ly gang. He saved his life by showing pluck
and loaded weapons, but he seized the earliest
moment to escape. Another was Northern
man, officer in the Savannah Blues, and it
would have been his turn next day to go to
Fort Pulaski but he fed without waiting to
settle up his affairs, and like the first named,
was glad to get off thus WE'LL The passengers
now began to relate the horrors they had seen
in their several localities. One had seen three
unoffending Northern men shot down like
dogs; and all agreed that the half had not
been told of the frenzy and madness of the
Southren people. Mr.. NJ Knight says he would
not go through another such week of terror and
espionage for five thousand dollars.