The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-05-07
THE GATE CITY.
SATURDAY, NAY I.

oA4O4AOAA1 MA tssf
rRoM o. :. CueasrAEH COnMHss
SION IN T8NN1DoE9s
KnoxvrIds, April Is. Il
EprroR GATE CtrY Permit -
through your columns 70 inform tbs
friends of the Iowa missionaries of their
ME arrival 1t their respective fields Of
labor. Tho morning Of the 9th Of April
the steamer Lucy Bertrsm bore them
from that noble State to the field hospi-
tale of the South. six in number, namely:
Nm. Cowgirl, Of Iowa City, Miss Hogan,
Of Muscatine, Miss Shelton, of Blrling.
ton, Ars. Conrad and sisters Sada and |
Mary Hsnford, of Keokuk, sent out by |
the u. S. Christian Commission. They |
had long felt there was something nobler |
in life than merely It's power to please, |
and they determined to seek that emo |
bling element, though they must deny
themselves many passing joy, or Scale |
hills OF difficulty, or tread the thorny |
pathway. They were willing to be happy, |
but not at the sacrifice of principle; not
in living life of inglorious ease while |
thousand of our country's noble defenders |
we're suffering for that which their hands
could administer. And none can tell
how deep was the emotion that stirred our
souls as We gazed perhaps for the last
time on that dear old "Estes," which un.
der the able supervision of Surgeons
Taylor and CIeaver had been 10 the Sisters
such pleasant home for nearly two years,
: rof the swelling Of the heart as we watch.
ed that groop of loved ones on the shore
waving their sad goodbye, as the restless
waves bore US down the stream After
few hours at St. Louis We took passage
on the Louisville. for Nashville. The
boat however, was detained till Friday
noon. Our trip proved deligh tful one
Being the only ladies on board and hav-
ing gentlemanly and agreeable clerk
We felt quite At home; and being great
admirers of nature, with the satisfaction
of feeling we we're not idly seeking self
qualification, our enjoyment was complete.
Everything to our unsophisticated eyes
was new and strange, and full Of deep,
deep interest-more SO on account of the
recent history connected with the country
through which we were passing At
Cairo We saw little of wars desolation.
Paducah and Smithland We passed after
dark, which prevented US seeing much
more than the beautiful signal lights oil
various colors from the gun boats guarding
the mouths Of the Cumberland and Ten.
nessee rivers; but We were quite repaid
the next day, BY being permitted to spend
some hours at Fort Donelsou. A return
ing Captain went ashore and procured
passes for us; and the commanding Officer
took great pains to conduct US all oye
the grounds, and give every necessary ex
PLANTATION and We felt we had formed .
very imperfect idea of the Fort. As VI
stood upon that sacred ground-made &
by the blood of SO many noble defender,
Of our country and liberty-our Thoughts
involuntarily turned TO you, bereaves
mothers. sisters and wives, whose live
have been darkened-whose hcarthstone
have been made desoIate hone,
have gone out in dark despair, By tha
terribly grand and victorious struggle
What matters it whether victory or fIory
crowned that majestic contest? All! ",
hear the noble patriot exclaim, "'Ti
sweet for ones country to die!" Aud t,
you who went forth in youthful manhood
vigorous, strong, erect and full of hope
and have returned from that field o
strife deformed. disabled, hopes blighted
to be life sufferer for your country, GU
hearts ferventiy exclaim: God be merci
full; God bless you!
The scenery on the Cumberland rive
Is charming. We spent most of the da
Monday In the pilot house. bathing on
souls in an ocean of delight amid TIL
grandeur of the everlasting hills-its mass
I've rocks, aud groves Of cedar; the mi
iletoe bough, and flowery banks, inter
spersed. for variety, with little incidents
such as steamboat race, horse fallin,
overheard, etc.
On Tuesday. at Nashville, we found
carriage ready to convey us to the u. s
Christian Commission rooms. and we re-
luctantly bid farewell to the Louisville
feeling that We we're again leaving HON
and friends, SO much had it's innates--es
peclally MIR. Sylvester, the clerk-adde,
to the pleasure of the journey BY ever
kindness and attention, that our pratefn
hearts could find no expressions adeouat,
to its demand; but he nobly remarked
he was "only too glad to be able to do anv
thing for ladies engaged in such work.
The building occupied by the Christia,
Commission is large and elegant. IN
property Of a rebel, superintended By th
general director Of this department, Rev
smith, brother in-law to Rev. Thatcher
OF heoKuk: Here We found about Eft,
delegates detained by Sherman's late o.
der, that no citizen should pass 10 a,
front. The General trusts in puppovasr
but Mrs. Wittenmyer called on him ~,
not only secured passes for us, but n
some of the delegates. Could the peonl
OF Iowa, with an unprejudiced mind. t.L
even our trip South with her. and mot
her modest, christian department and 1.
almost superhuman energy, resolu,;o,
and business qualifications, thew vo ,,J,
not only love and reverence. bnt voni,
be proud Of her. "'''
We were two DAYS 10 Nashville -,
visited some of the places sc ;nt.s -.
among them the State Cani,ol vb;oh go ss'
over Eve million SCI hnrd,sd .ho oa ~
dollars, and is situated on nm an;asa s'
nearly two hund..l u0nc