The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-24
The Journey Of = Detroit Lady q
Charleston, South Carolina.

Mrs. I. w. Ingersoll undertook jour.
ney, some weeks since, to Charleston, South
Carolina, for the purpose of taking neces.
sary clothing to her son, prisoner there,
and also contributions of her friends in
Michigan to other friends confined in
Charleston Jail. In letter to the Detroit
Free Press, she says of her trip to the South:
I should be wanting in gratitude if l
should withhold the present opportunity to
thus publicly assert that from the time / left
Fortress Monroe under flag of truce, until
I returned to our lines on my way home, I
met with the most kindly attentions and the
most generous sympathies from all parties,
with one exception, with whom came in
contact. At Norfolk I waited upon Gen.
Huger, for the purpose of obtaining bis an
thority to let me pass through the country
unmolested. He informed me that he
would with pleasure give me letter to
General Ripley at Charleston, and would
have it ready and bring it to the Atlantic
Hotel, where had put up. While at the
hotel the train for the South was about to
start, when his son, Lieutenant Huger
came to me and asked whether l had got
his fathers letter. Finding I had not he
Immediately wrote few lines to General
Ripley, and informed me that his fathers
letter should be forwarded by post to Gen.
Ripley by the next mail. Thus provided
for, l continued my journey to Charleston
via Petersburg, Virginia, and throughout
the route met with marked attention from
the conductors in seeing to my baggage
when there was change of cars, &c., being
about sixty hours in going from Norfolk to
Charleston.
At Charleston put up at the Charles
ton Hotel, arriving in the evening of the
30th of December. made no effort until
the morning to see General Ripley, who l
found was boarding at the same house. at
10 o'clock took carriage and was COM
conveyed to bis Office, near the ruins of the
late fire, and was ushered into an ante-room
thereof until messenger could take my
card and Lieutenant Huger's note to Cen
eral Ripley. The messenger brought back
word that the General would pay no atten-
tion to my application, and my heart SAM
within me. The messenger seemed to SYM
pathize with me in my affection knowing
that | had come great distance to see my
son.
returned to the hotel and waited until
could get an opportunity of meeting Gen.
eral Ripley rs he would be leaving the dim
ing room from dinner, be having been point
ed out to me by one of the attendants of
the house. / succeeded in moments in
terview with him, which resulted in the
most painful disappointment. His manner
was repulsive and naughty in the extreme,
and he would but hardly glance at Lieut..
Hnger's letter, and informed me if 1
had anything for the prisoners l should
take them to the Quartermaster's, and
very abruptly left me. Several of
the lady boarders overheard the brief
interview, and Immediately summoned their
husbands to go in quest of such aid as
would secure me meeting with my son at
the Jail. To these kind friends I owe a
world of gratitude for their solicitude and
generous assistance. One of them, Mr..
James McCarty, went to the Generals of,
flee and procured pass for me into the
Jail, and also brought to the hotel the min.
lister of the church, to whom l had letter.
In short, | was from that moment taken in
charge by the kindest and best of Christian
friends.
would rather have thrown veil over
the shortcomings of General Ripley, for he
was the only individual who caused me to
feel an utter restitution throughout the
whole of my journey.
would add that General Ripley las I
learned before left Charleston) is an Ohio
man, having married rich Southern lady
and that his strained zeal in the cause of
Southern rebellion is particularly noticed
and remarked of by those who proclaim
him unpopular in Charleston.