The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-12
The Vicksburg Ladies-What q
Soldier Thinks of Them.

EDITOR HAwK-EYE:- am just in from
a call on some Vicksburg ladies, and am
sort of intoxicated with the adventure. An
intoxicated man, you know, becomes gar
ulous and noisy, and this is my excuse for
forcing on you and your readers my garru-
lily and nonsense, for have no other re-
course, every one in camp being asleep but
myself.
I will talk of the Vicksburg ladies in
particular, (for 1 have no communication
with those inside the Confederacy), chroni-
cling, as far as I am able, impartial facts
how they act, how they look, how they
talk, &c.
Whe I say that the ladies of vicksburg
are human. 1 will be stating nothing in
credible. They possess, in most respects1
those feminine traits that characterize tie
sex everywhere. They talk to you and
look at you, very much in the old way you
are accustomed to. AS regards the males
of this subjugated city, they may be said
to be conquered; the hardships and priva-
tons this rebellion has subjected them to,
have ''dried them up" and to-day they are
much better men and more loyal citizens
than Northern Copperheads. They say
but little, and that little is OF what they
have suffered. They earnestly long for
peace. The same cannot be said OF the
women-they talk necessarily, and always
declare for the Southern COnfederacy. The
they are interesting. They have too much
of a ghostly look, that characterizes their
liege lords, to be beautiful. Northern
man would rarely be fascinated with one
at first sight, but as soon as she speaks, the
charm is on. They talk like very-joy-
birds, sometimes with sense and sometimes
without it, They are terribly bitter against
cept present company" | told one was
born in New England. She, even then,
denied that 1 was a Yankee-I was West
ern man, because l belonged to the West
ern troops. They are great admirers of
bravery, and speak often of their own
deeds Of daring. During the siege and
while we were Smelling the city, they wo'd
sometimes remain in their houses in pre-
ference to retiring to the ''caves. Some lost
their lives in consequence.
When you are introduced to Vicksburg
lady, she rises from her seat, presents you
with dignified bow, and then you are ac-
quainted. Even at the first meeting they
will talk of matrimony. Said one to me
my cousin is going to marry Federal
Doctor. Isn't It Dreadful" ooh, yes,
dreadful for the Doctor" said L. She gave
me asober, searching look, laughed, and
it passed for a joke. She had said to me
before: "Do you think you can ever con-
quer a people SO terribly in earnest as we?''
l had clinching argument now. "We
will conquer you, said 1, sin just this
way" She gave laugh of assent, and we
were both friends. 81 fear" said she,
''that the lack of social intercourse between
the North and South, has been the means,
in the hands of politicians, of making us
bitter enemies, and overwhelming the
South in ruin" l told her if they would
all become as good philosophers as she, we
would soon have peace.
1t is true that some Federal officers,
siuce the 4th ofJuly, have met, for the first
time, their particular stars" and have
actually proposed and been accepted;
but when matters take this serious com
plexion, the fair ones are secesh no longer.
Their rebel gongs, such as my Maryland
and 1.-THE Bonnie Blue Flag" they burn
Some, even, have burnt their songs with
out any valuable consideration, relying, /
suppose, ON the moral consideration Tor
their reward. Ifthey be honest, we may
bid them Gods speed; but / cannot help
thinking they are hasty, for man, IN