Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-10-29
From the Toronto Leader.


A Plaint from Canada.
RESPECTED SIR: In slancng over the Globe yester-
day morning. letter addressed to Earl Russell,
headed Southern Outrages upon British Sub ects.'-
l. as Canadian born and q British subject, feel con-
strained to show you OF the atrocities perperaed
on such subjects by Federal authorities. | widow,
and for the last twenty-five years resident OF the State
of Louisiana, and since the opening OF this my
person and property have been respected by the Con-
federate authorities and also the person and property
of other British subj j1cts who lived in my Immediate
neighborhood | lett my home the 25th OF last
January, for Missouri, to pay visit to the only living
relative of my fathers name. | received a passport
from the British consul James McGee, of Mobile, and
through the kindness of the Confederate officers
ceved escort to go through the lines, which did
nnmoested. took a boat at Memphis and went TO
Missouri. Two weeks afterwards my relation died and
| returned TO st. Louis On my way back to my home
the British consul at that city, E. Wilkins, furnished
me with passport. Through the desire OF some par
tcuar friends carried few letters, purely family let
ters-conveying no information whatever with regard
to the thought it unnecessary to show them to
any officials so / procured conveyance and pass,
20 go through the Federal lines into the Confederacy
This was the 18th day of March | proceeded to
the picket lineo and was arrested there by United
States detective taken by him to the provost marshas
Office, where received the most abusive language from
that official and he then sent me to the house of Mrs
Brown to be searched l token up stairs to room
where there were five Il can't call them ladles
one being negro her daughter stood at the bureau
with loaded pistol, and said she would blow my re-
bel brains out il moved inch. She then despoied
of all my garments, tearing and ripping them Oil
After undressing me in this manner l begged her,
for the sake of humanity, to let me put on
nv undergarments before she took down my hair,
| but tc this ste merely laugh he'd and slapped and
pushed around in this state OF nudity before the
other females and alter they had enjoyed my confu-
aon enough they allowed to put my tern clothes.
was sent back the provost marshal and from thence
to prison.> What suffered for twenty four hours
would feel ashamed to put on paper was kept three
months under strict guard and subjected to every lndi
nitv that mortal flesh could bear and live tried every
means to communicate with the British Consul at sh-
vile and ST. Louis but my letters were intercepted at
| Cairo by order of the Federal authorities had a
neck trial on the 1st of April, by military commission,
and received my sentence on the 3Oth OF May, which
| was four months solitary coDnnement IN mlntary
| prison at Alton.
Duling my stay in Memphis | guarded by
twelve bayonets night and day. The atrocities COM
mitted on British subjects in that prison would bggar
all descriptions suffice it to say that We were subject
ed to every ndgnity of obscene language called reb
els, id Britshers, aDd everything else that was
bad There were twenty four British subjects beside
myself con6oed in that loathsome place. some Of them
| without charge against them. Through the instru
mentality of friend l came up the river, was
enabled TO communicate with the British consul ct ST.
Louis, who kindly obtained my release though ban
| shment.
The Federal authorities stole everything had in
the way of clothing, money or jewels-t had 5000 IN
greenbacks, $l4O in gold and silver, and $250O in
Confederate money-and banished me to Canada from
my home and children, and although in my native land
l am as much prisoner as if l were in OF theil
basties. I don't think there is aggravated case il
| Confederate annals mine. Thus you q widow
and British subject Is not spared by the hirengs
Lincolns domnions.
am at the Queens hotel, and anybody doubling
the Eeracity of this statement can caT, and I viii
show them conclusive evidence as to- the truth of it
With many thanks to yourself for the kind notice O
my case in yesterday paper, subscribe myself Will
much gratitude,
MARY NICHOLSON.
TORONTO, September 25, 1863:
The Elections in this State for Representatives t.