The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-09-04
MEMPHIS, Tenn, Aug. %, so

MEMPHIS, Tenn, Aug. 25, '62
NJ Dear FrieadS:-Your Joint letters of the
10th, were received about week ago, and were
elcome. Twas not surprised whenl recog,
nized the handwriting of R., as had been looking
for one for some time, from that quarter, but l
must confess U0S surprised, when found let
ter inside, from former schoolmate, latter
teacher, and now chief of the domestic department
With all due Difference to you, r., must say, to
sustain my character for truth and veracity, that
the letter in the feminine handwriting was deUour.
ed first. This. however. might have occurred from
my habitual gallantry.
AS you will see from the heading. we are still in
Memphis, the fountain head of secession, in the
West; and we are likely to remain here month
longer. The place is very pretty, being finely sit.
uted Oh the east bank Of the Mississippi, contain.
ing about 10000 inhabitants, and Astounding in
beautiful shade trees, and fine residences. 1t s,
also, as healthy place there is on the River,
being higher ard cooler than Cairo, and free from
the diseases peculiar to warm climates.
| The majority Of the inhabitants are Union in
sentiment, but where you find a person for Seces.
sion, he 'goes in for il Stromg!" We find the fe~
I
Union church, where they pray for our Govern
ment and its continuance, you will see few ladies.
At the Episcopal Church. on the contrary, where
the prayer for the President is omitted the bulk
of the congregation is composed of ladies' By the
amoet scornful swing of the dress and averted
head, which soldier everywhere, and almost in
variably meets, we can see that the sympathies of
the female portion of the community, are with the
South. 1t seems strange to sec SO few middle aged
men, attending church; there not being, generally,
holt a dozen in a housefull. The males are either
old men, Union soldiers young boys. This shows
that the greater part of the men away to the
wars. How natural then, that the women should
sympathize with the rebellion!
However, whenever any person exhibits too
strong an attachment to the cause of the rebels,
prompt justice is meted out to him. No one can
be, or is protected in his property, without first
having taken the oath of allegiance; those who re-
fuse to take the dose, are removed outside our
lines forbidden to return, under penalty Of being
taken for spies, and their property appropriated
to the use of the Government. Secessionists are
obliged to remain very quiet, and have not heard
of any cases of soldiers being insulted on our
streets, with but but one exception, and then the
person was shot down on the spot The soldier has
been tried by court martial, but will probably
be acquitted.
Several of our boys have lived in Memphis be-
fore they have fine times with their old friends
The refusal of President Lincoln to employ the ne
groes as soldiers by arming them, meets with uni
versal approval, as far as my observation extends
We want the negroes to dig and shovel earth and
fell timber and construct Notifications, az they
doing in this place. but for more reasons than one,
we do not want to see them in the ranks, fighting.
We have from 500 to 1000 working on the fortif-
cations around this city This is as it should be
and they ran he Of vastly more service in this way