American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-02

Letter from a N. Orleans Rebel Lady.

GeIb6F IFOm q M Orl6dlS h6D6I Aduy :
The following letter, written by lady
distinguished in the literary world, and
addressed to her friend in Mobile, has
been kindly placed at our disposal for
publication. The pungent style of the
fair southerness is good humoredly sar-
castle, and evinces how much spirit and
endurance our country women manifest
under the most trying circumstances of
Yankee despotism
NEW oRLEANs, November, o. 1862.
DEAR FRIEND EDwIN:-Your little
note of last July came safely to hand, but
no opportunity has since presented itself
until now. We were glad to know that
you were not yet entirely starved out, ="
CUide Yankee accounts) butstillalive and
jubilant.
How is it, O, Hermit that thou canst
not manage to get US through a val nice,
long letter, full of Confederate news, &c :?
There are a million ways to cheat the
Yankees, and they are so invariably ver-
dant and soft, that every way is success
ful. have "sold' them with imperti-
nent and secesh acrostics at least half a
dozen times. / am not caught yet, and
don't intend to be. My last effort of the
kind but one caught me nice Yankee
beau, if had chosen to put him to SER
vice. 1t was published in New Eng
land paper The proprietor of the paper
Major -, happens to be in our city at
present strangely enough. He dropped
me note begging, politely, to be per-
mitted to become acquainted. But |
dropped him an answer, begging, polite
" to be excused, as had a constitutional
weakness which displayed itself in an
uncomfortable and deadly nausea at the
sight of Federal uniform He returned
answer that he didn't wear his uniform
only on Xxx occasions Gas they write on
flour barrels, that he had his own private
ideas in regard to the war, as well as my
self, and was open to even still further
enlightenment. Fearing just hereabouts
that this might be Yankee trick to catch
a Bird for Fort Jockson, | replied notfur-
ther to my gallant major, One thing,
however, Iwant to remark on here-the
perfect iufatuation Of these Federa's for
secesh women. How is it, if they hate
our brave men so much, that they melt
so-maiors, colonies, and generals-under
the glances of our Southern women p
There is not one of them, or, at east, but
few, that could not be turned wrong side
out, like an old glove, by any cute rebel
Of my sex; and let me assure you, that
the only salvation of some high in Office
here, has been the unbending pride and
purity of the Southern female character,
which cannot stoop to the semblance of
unbccoming friendship and familiarity,
even for the advancement of the cause
dearcstto our hearts.
We hearmuch Of thesuifering for food
and clothing in the Conlederacy Pro-
visions were exceedingly plentiful and
cheap here until some time back, when
the geurillas (more power to them) admin
istered peppering to one of their gun
boats, which rendered her a complete
seive, and made the Yankees rather shy
of the river for the nonce.
The star of negroism is still culmina-
ting with blazing brilliancy in this city.
We have now free schools for negroes in
all directions, underwhite teachers. They
also petition for the right of suffrage,
through the columns of the Era.
Let me know how you all are, and how
and what Hesperus is doing. How much
l would give to tell you some of my ad-
ventures since last we met
Oh, when shall We friends Old and tried,
Unite round oysters stewcd and fried,
As in those days without alloy.
When Donaldson c. ). made myjoyl
Yours, with friendly regard, MARY.