Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-04-17
For the Journa
-77H78s For the Journ
Personal Experiences In Lincoindom.


to make us out not only Secesh but bag one, told
them we were either JEFF Davis, Floyd jenkins,
did not know exactly which, but like the Snowman with
the lion and the dog they might take their choice
Wearied out at last, we fell asleep.
You have doubtless realized the confusion oil Ideas
incident to awakng for the first time after any great
change in your circumstances 1t was so with US. We
had been dreaming pleasantly of home, sweet home,
and tie first objects waking eyes behed were group
of sleepy meu trying to keep awake and pile of stack
ed muskets. 1t seconds before could take
it all in-the stern reality, however forced itself upon
u.s. We were visited by our friendly captain, who re-
moved to another tavern and gave US temporary use
of his room by and by we were visited by sort OF
extemporary and selfconsttuted committee of safety
Owing the prevalence of secession doctrines among
the welto-do and more respectable members OF the COM
munty the direction of affairs was under the control OF
very questionable parties assisted by the military
There was neither town county officers, and, con-
sequently no jurisdiction. The Judge Mr. Rice,)
Sheriff. and every officer downwards, had been declared
incompetent by Lincoln. and it was doubtless feared
that an election then would result In simply a
change of men, not principles The commissioners even
had fallen under the bar. We claimed the bent fit of the
existing state of anarchy to be either acquitted
moved to some competent jurisdiction. We were de-
MED this, and consequently, refused answering the H.
Vulnerable questions put to us-asserlng our innocence
of any crime against any aw-(for we could not find
out what accused Of could any one present
bring any knOWn charge against usl-that we were
British subject, lately from New York, and were
coal investigating trip up the Sandy. We stuck we'll
to the Goals, until they burnt fingers We gave
references to several Consuls, to Washington and to
Cincinnati but these fellows having the responsibility
of the entire country weighing upon their shoulders
used to the official yoke, we're not going to be hood
winked So we were adjudged gully of suspicion, and
returned to captivity in specially set apart
and with which had ample leisure to become &C
quained, for despite every protest, we were detained
closely guarded prisoner for nearly three weeks. The
three NIGHT md day
For about the first week the guest Of the l4h
Kentucky Regiment, not then fully organized, and
the special charge of our friend the Captain, and
after their removal to Louisa, rs miles up the Sandy
to be IN and Incorporated with Nelson's Brigade
we were turned over to the keeping of the Lincoln
| Home Guard, as motley set OF fellows you might
conveniently meet in a long days ride part of
the 18th Regiment, to 400 strong, under the leader
ship of a SotdtSGn Colonel Vincent had had the honor
OF being well chassed by the rebels at Pketon and now
there sharp for the Coonelcy of the reg
ment between this Vincent and fat, sefimportant
Louisa lawyer, called Loeb More The former was
acknowledged brave man, but unfortunately, an az
dent devOtee of "John Barley Corn, and drunk
at the late engagement that he could not be brought
up to tme,' whereas man Of law and fair proper
lions was accounted " very clever fellow" and, Of
course he elected. How well he justified the intel
Hgent choice OF these Lincoln feemen may be ascertain
ed at the time that Col More explains his STAN
pede from Louisa to Catesburg scared out of his wits
by Marshall and Floyd hanto for neither of them were
within thirty miles Of hero and his subsequent and
sudden retirement into the bosom of his family and the
peaceful secluSion of his gra eful village. His friends
averred that his business required his attention 1t
must have been immensely onerous in that highly
poplous and fertile region of rocks rivers and noun
tains however let that be as it may, when the choice
between patriotism and pocket the true Yankee can
have but one left him We, however, have the
best for believing that the Colonel dismissed
and government appontee from Lexington put in his
place. We best treated when under the charge of
the " Home Guard" tor two reasons ; frst they all
agreed that it shame for to be detained prs
oner if we were not guilty. andsecond, the town being
drained of soldiers, and the guard but very limit
ed body 10 numbers, their reefS few and far be-
tween-a watch sometimes extending over twelve
hours-whereas the military served but two to four.
These Home Guard gentry, however, did not work all
for love THEY, taking counsel with u.s. charged the
paternal government dollars per diem and three
dollars per noce besides eating at the same magnani-
nous partys expense. Some of them formed quite an
attachment to u.s. for we played euchre with them, and
treated them to the best the country afforded to w.t.
the genuine juice of that valuable cereal. Indian Corn
at fifteen cents per gallon and the very best Kentucky
mines, OF y ar imported Havana truck but home
manufactured aUseds, ct fifty cents per hundred No
wonder and little thanks to them, that after such pro-
dgal lberaity, favorite When with the
14th Kentucky We were treated very badly with
or two notable exceptions Sergeant Il and an
other man. They the coarsest most obscene,
bias hemous, filthy and drunken crew it calam
ity to be thrown in contact with set of desper-
ADDE'S, the of Tug Fork and that neighborhood.
1t is most notorious fact to every acquainted
with the disputed States and especially the rural
districts of Kentucky and by this include all out
side the large cities whose population is largely COM
posed of other than Southern born men, that all the best
men, with few exceptions, are found in opposition to
Lincoln, Ell her actively in the field passiveIy suffer-
ing at home in exile. All the worst men, including
many hardened criminals, are found blatant Union
savers and flag worshiparS and many of them for no
other reason than to avenge private quarres and to
cloak murder and robbery under semblance of patriot
ISM Ask any of our soldiers exes or refugees from
Kentucky and Westeaa Virginia, if we belle these re-
rions? We know what we aver, and can vouch their
answer will confirm the conclusion have arrived at.
There nave been more wanton outrages and coward
ly murders among the mountains OF these two States,
perpetrated under of law, than ought suffice
to damn a whole nation counenancng such atrocities.
We saw but little compared to what some have, and
yet our further progress will fully sanction the verdict
we have ven. But of this let your readers be the
Judges; we have desire to lorestall their seu-
tence.
We had no lack of company, for, notwithstanding
captain G-'s positive orders, every new guard
brought all of his friends to Secesh Some were
CIVIL most rude and all equally unwecome.
AS the tedious hours rolled slowly along passing into
weary days, and these merging into dreay cherries
weeks we had hard struggle to maintain reselu-
ton of not appearing aowncast Longer days we never
spent, for were not allowed any reading matter :;
not aloaved, say, because, although offered books
never got them. Some young ladies in the house
sent apples and the life of methodist preacher but
plead guilty to relshng the former best the latter
courtesy relig,ouly did best to read ponder
and inwardly digest, but such mental nourshment
neither sufficiently stimulating sedatve in our pc
culiar situation
We twice got the reading of an ancient Cincinnati
Times" remarkably veracious Sheet from which We
that Charleston s. been captured and that