Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-01-30
! Month with the Rebels.


[Coped ii m Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine of Deem
her, 1861 for the Petersburg Daily Express
About the middle Of last September we found orr.
selves at New York, with few weeks holiday in hand
The stay there was impossible. We had "done" the
Hudson; visited the theatres lat all of which, BY the
BY the English character vulgarzed and held up TO
ridicue society "out of town." Broadway given
up 10 the tender mercles of rregulars" dressed eve
ry variety of costume suggestive rather OF the army
transporting meodrama than OF one enlisted to serve
under the banner that "makes tyranny tremble"
The New York Herald, paper which all Americans
read most abuse and believe, daily recounted in
glowing terms exciting details of great battles fought
where generally one man was reported to have been
killed, and two slightly wounded the side OF the
Federas while large bodies of the Confederates were
daily made to bite the dust.
Another newspaper depicted the miseres which the
Southern army encountering from pestilence FAM
ne and rags. third assured its readers that strong
Union feeling was growing up in the South. fourth
authorized to state, upon the authority OF "rea
bic gentleman" that the "arch traitor jeff Davis
had "realy been dead some weeks; while friend of
informed morning after breakfast that be
had gone the trouble of counting the number of the
enemy killed since the OF the war; and
found it to be- according to leading Journal 100000
Ga the other hand we learnt that Lexington had fall
that the Rebel army was nearer to the capitol than
it two months previously that Kentucky was al
most lost that Missouri had passed ordinance of
secession and that President Davis was in excellent
health. We therefore determined Judge for ourselves
what the condition of things really in tie land Of
Dixie"
Having been informed that crossing the lines at Wash,
rgton was out of the question, we applied for pass
Where roll Missouri and Oho's food,
Beneath the umbrage of eternal wood"
hoping should obtain access to the South through
Kentucky. 10 dsmay, when the precious passports
arrived, found upon them the following endorsement
strongly smelling of Fort Lafayette
IMPAIRMENT oE STATE,
WASHINGTON, 18th Sept, 1861. {
1t s expected the bearer will not enter any insurrec
tionary State.
w. Fl. SEWARD,
Secretary of State
WINFIELD SCOTT"
We therefore returned the documents whence they came
How passed the Federal euposts it is unnecessa-
ry to mention suffice to say, that the first indication
had OF approach to the SecesSionist army was
fading bridge by which we had hoped to cross the
Green River in Kentucky, burnt down to the waters
edge, and the debris still smoudering the banks
The country people informed us that detachment of
Southern troops had been encampd here for days.
and had done the job at the bridge yesterday From
the way in whchhese good folks spoke OF the soldiers
assuring us that they did HARM but<paid for what
they wanted in gold and silver it quite plain that
the allegiance OF inOrmants not given to Mr..
Lncolns Government and that we had fairly entered
the forbidden irsurrectionary States" Moreover we
reminded by slight incident that here "property
has another meaning beside that to which Blackstone
has applied it.
Being obliged to stop for the night at1he cottage of
SIM leminded primitive old couple we were sitting
round logfre in the room which formed our Kitchen
parlor and hosts bedroom, when little black wooly
headed urchn made his appearance and began digent
preparations for supper. Smart lad that ma am
we remarked to our hostess. Yes, sree, replied the
old lady. /" Wouldn't take 700 dollars for my boy
There's not such another in all the country round
gentleman offered me 600 for him last week but dear
me, 'twoud break my heart to part with my boy. He
goes with me to meetin every Sunday-to mind my
horse and wagon
Having reached station on the Louisville and Nash
vile line, found the regular trains stopped, and the
track altogether devoted to soldiers and munitions of
delay, therefore, of several hours eDsued, which
we past most agreeaby at small hotel in the company
of several gentlemen oil Kentucky whose opinions made
it necessary for them to proceed south in order avoid
arrest, and who for days previously had suffered
considerable privations in eudng the grasp of the Fed
eral authorities.
This State the eldest daughter of Virginia" presen
ted to the stranger Interesting and the same time
painful spectacle Her people, generally esteemed the
bravest In the Unlon strongly attached the national
flag, refused at first to secede, although considerable
number of her most distinguished statesmen openly
avowed their sympathy for the Confederate Government
subsequently her neutrality recognized by the
thorItles at Washington which the Confederates say
was afterwards violated by the Nortb-and the North
declare was broken by the COntederates However that
may be- she is armed to the teeth forts crown her
|
her dense oak forests. In and around Louisville large
army of Union soldiers quartered Freedom of
speech there at end and arrests reported in the
newspapers every morning.
At Bowling Green, a little to the South, there is
great Confederate camp, commanded by gallant Gen
eral, who certainly possesses the undivided affection OF
his soldiers 10 the West another large corps threatens
Paducah; while General Zoicoffer in the east, is
CANNING an army to oppose any movement that may be
made from Frankfort. The forces of these three COM
manders are daily increasing, and the arbitrary acts
done at Louisville, Eizabethtown and elsewhere have
served greatly to swell the ranks.
| Yet Kentucky is not altogether Secessionist Her
legislature is still strong for the Union Whole coun
ties are the same. Distinguished men, opposed to the
Government still adhere to the stars and stripes The
mature and honored Judgment of the venerable Crtten
den is yet against the rebels but where are More
head, Buckner, Preston Breckenridge?
Our party at the little inn broke up on the arrival of
train and we found standing room in car crowded
with soldiers. Few were dressed in uniform but all
were well armed one beside US, not bad sample of
the rest, had breech loading carbine sung over bis
shoulder, two revovers in side of his bet and
bowie knife in the other. What contrast these men
presented to the soldiers we had hitherto seen Deter
mnatlon and reckless daring marked everg feature and
gesture.
"Do you think the Yankees are going to whip u.s.
r." inquired our friend, looking like walking in
| fernal machine.
Well, they have fine army, and will do their best
| l think !'
Don't care, sir they can't do it. If they beat US
10 the heid, we'll take to the woods and shoot them
down like squirrels" Look here sir see what they
have cone to me- / am shoemaker by trade They
tried to arrest me in Elizabethtown got away but
they took my wife ; so, by - I'll take five and
twenty Yankee scalps, Or they shall have mine" u
Being disappointed in finding any of that Union
feeling in the south of Kentucky of which we had heard