Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-02-01
Tze Neither Of e UafOm Prisoner Visits
Charleston.


From the Detroit Free Pressl
I read in this mornings Free Press an item
announcing my return from Charleston, whittier
I had gone for the purpose OF taking necessary
clothing for my son, as well as contributions
from friends in Michigan to several other pris-
onsgs confined in tbs Charleston jAl.
! wish TO correct Misrepresentation which
might grow out Of a statement in that item, thas
l was obliged 10 conceal the money which I
took to some Of the prisoners.
Money was concealed in some of the clothing
forH arded in my charge, bat / was not aware Of
it when it was sent, nor would it have been at
ell necessary to conceal it. / wish to resort to
no undcrhand means Of conveying things to our
friends in Charleston, but meant that everything
which did should be open to the s]tTictest scru-
tiny.
would be wanting in gratitude if 1 should
withheld the resent0pp0Ttlnity 10 thus publicly.
assert thst, from tie time I left Fortress Monroe,
under the flag Of truce, until returned 10 our
lines. on my way home, l met with the most
kindly attentions aud the most geutlemanly sym
pEthieS from all parties with one exceptiou)
with whom ] came in contact. At Norfolk l
waited upon Gen. HUSeT, for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning his authority 10 let me pass through the
country uumolssted- He informed ne that he
would with pleasure give me letter TO Gen.
Ripley, at Charleston, and would have il ready
and bring it to the Atlantic Hotel, where I had
put up. While az the hotel, the train for the
South was about 70 start, when bis son, Lieut..
Huger, came to me- and asked me whether I got
his fathers letter. Finding I had not, he i'm
mediately wrote Z few lines 20 Gen. Ripley. and
informed me that his fathers letter should be
forwarded by post to Gen. Ripley by the next
mail. Thus provided for, I continued my jour
ncy 10 Charleston, via Petersburg, Virginia, and
! -I-,,.L-v+ th. -,n4. 7 MT nth --.-l,I oFta-
ton h0m the conductors in seeing 70 my bag
gage when there was change of ears, etc, being
about sixty hours in going from Norfolk to
Charleston.
At Charleston I pat up at tho Charleston Ho-
tel, arriving in the evening Of the 36th Of De
cember. / made no effort until the morning to
see Gen. Ripley, who I found was boarding at
the same house. At ten O'Clock / took a car
| rage and was conveyed to his Office, near the
uains Of the late fire, and WAS ushered into On
ante-room thereof, until & messenger could take
| my card and Lieut.. HugeTs note to Gen Ripley.
The messenger brought back word that the
general would pay no attention TO my applica-
ton, and my heart sank within me. The mes
seuger seemed to symp0thize with me in my
affection, knowing | bad come a great distance
to see my son.
returned 30 the hotel and waited until I
| could get an opportunity Of meeting General
| Ripley as he would be leaving the dining room
| from dinner, be having been pointed out to me
/ BY one Of the attendants Of the house. | sue
ceeded in a moments interview with him, which
| resulted in the most pFintul disappointment.
His manner was r~epulsive and naughty in the
extreme, and be wovld but barely glance at
Lieut.. Huger's letter, and informed me if l hal
anything for the prisoners I should lake them to
the q-uaTtermagter's department, and very sOrupt-
" LETT me-. Several Of the lady boaTders overheard
the brief interview, and Immediately summoned
their husbands to 90 in quest Of such did as
would secure me a meeting with my son at the
iail. To these kind friends l owe a word of graf
itude for their assistance. One Of them, Mr..
James McCarty, went TO tbs -nerals Office, and
procured a pass for me into The Jail, and also
brought to me the minister Of the church, to
whom I had a letter. In short, [ was from that
moment taken in charge by the kindest and
best Christian friends,
/ would rather have thrown a veil over the
shortcomings of Gen. Ripley, far he was ths
only individual who caused me to ieel an after
des.itution throuehous che whole Of my Journey.
Nor would 7 now speak OF my journey thus
pubIf-ly, were it not that I would correct the
J 4Hsapprehension into which your statements
might lead some persons.
j would add that Gen. Ripley las / learned
before [ left ChaTiestoD) is an Chic man, having
married q rich southern lady and that his
| strained zeal in the cause of the southern rebel
lion is particularly noticed and remarked of by
those who proclaim him unpopular in Charles
ton. MRS. l. W. lNGERoOLL.
DETROIT. January 5, 1862.