Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-06


Affairs ia the Rebel Capital, as Given
by n Lady who has Resided in TINT City
for the iasi 1--WE Years.
The following account Of the condition Of
things in Richmond has been obtained by one
Of otir reporters from a highly intelligent lady.
She left Richmond on Tuesday, the 18th ult.,
and arrived in New York on Tuesday the 49,
She is a woman of highly respectable family
the Sister of a gen leman well known in that
community, both as lawyer and Ludge,
and the information which she gives may be
relied upon as authentic in every particular
While residing in Richmond she had ample
opportunity to see and hear much that was
transpiring around her, and, though at heart
staunch Union woman, she was compelled
by the force of circumstance, during her two
years sojaurn in rebellion, TO smother her
feelings and keep her tongue as quiet as posi-
ble AT the time of the breaking out of the
rebellion her husband was doing prosperous
mercantile business in that city, but he vas
soon after pressed into the Confederate service
as common soldier, and since that time she
has been left TO manage his affairs as best she
could. by great excrton on her part, She
contlycd TO keep the business going for Few
months, but at the time the Southern Capital
was removed to Richmond, she found that
everything was in auch state of confusion
and chaos that at great sacrifice, she dis.
| posed of what stock she could and with all
the funds which 1t was possible to save from
| the general wreck, she determined to make
| her Sayto her native city, New York. But
this was more easily contemplated than &C
complished Noperson. Of whatever age sex
or condition, was permitted to leave for New
York, without special permit from be highest
authority, viz, JEFF DAVIS and no permits to
leave the State were given, under any conSide.
ration, if as in her case, the party applying
was suspected OF sympathIzing with the North.
From that time until now she has been con.
Stamtly endeavoring. by every means in her
power, to find some way whereby she would
be enabled to leave the city in which she had
suffered ,verything but DEATH and where she
had sacrificed nearly all that renders life cndur-
able. Being on tOrms Of intimacy with many
Of the first ladies IN the city Of Richmond shr
frequently expressed to them since the com
mence,ntnt Of warm weather, her desire to 60
10 some watering place, for a few weeks tor
the benefit Of her health, and it was only by
this plan, that she has ut last succeeded
in getting released from rebeldom. In
company with three other ladies, two Of
wben had friends in Ralt,,uore and the other
resided in Annapolis she was al last pcrmitted
to leave the city. The party came down to
llarrisons Landing under lag OF truce
After much suffering and hardship, which lasted
for about five days. she at length found her
self amonc some oG her Union friends in B.l,i
more. and from there she ,oop after proceeded
ON 10 tbis civ
This lady has ciyen rs an account of the
condition or thin,S in Richmond NJ she knew
them to be from actual lnsnecii,n There were
never 81 many bunan brinps in that civ he
fore AS when she left but n great nroportion
Of those within the limits of tn. town are sick
and wounded soldiers. The hoSpj,als NAV be
counted by hundreds She has been in the
dali, habit, for months past. Of going 10 minis.
ter TO the Sick and wounded Au the ladies' in
the CITY did this--the wealthy and hiph born.
the ponr and lovly all seemed to try Thcir Mt.
m)st to alleviate the suff,r,drs of the CopE.d.
erate soldier Our informant sa Va she p.,formed
her labors from motives of pity for the poor
fellows: but If she had been rossessed OF no
feeling, of humanity for them. she thinks she
woud have done something as n matter OF
p,Alcy: inas,nuch as if apy woman was found
10 belukewarm in The cause. she was immcdi.
a,ely suspected and closely watched H.-'
Such is the extremi Y in which all classes of
pcope are placed. that no considerations except
the rr,at one o, life and death are of any mo.
menI. This is the one grand aIl.absolbinr
thought -" How shall We proonr our lives
until our enemies are overcouc." Business
matters are not thought Of exccpt so far
as they tcrd 10 the solution of this problem.
Famine is staring them in the face and disease
in lhe form of n slow fever of The typhoid
character. is wasting tho army and carrying off
daily scores Of soldiers aud others IN the c,v.
The army in and about The capta has been
for The las, two months upop halfra,ions. and
n slrb, Of tbe forms of The halCfed half clad
,oldlery is as she represents il n uitiable and
Disgusting snec,acle No attention whatever
has for mon,hs been maid 10 the sanitary con.
! Ition of the c,ty. The habits of portion Of
;ne soldiers are filthy to the last degree, and
soap and water are. in most instances, stran.
gers not to be introduced or tolerated in the
1 camps. and too often in the hospitals. Added
, to ,i,js. there has been. for long time past,
! A scarcity of proyendcr for the mules and
horses connected with the army. Owing 10
their Al fed condition the tamished brutes very
often dron dawn in their tracks from sheer OK
hanst;on Wherever they fall they are per.
4 mitt,d to die and decay No attempt rs made
10 remove them-no efforts used TO cleanse the
y sIrce,s or that loatbsome mass Of decaying
Il matter. which thus rapidly accumulates.
Tho whole atmosphere in and around the
d cty, she represents as highly charged will