The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-05-05
Charleston as it is (and ought
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b. The following letter from respectable
citizen of Charleston, S. Co., Union man,
to Q gentleman of Philadslphia, gives a
faithful account ofrthe city, as it was Feb
,ruary 22d. 1864. The statement can be de-
pended upon as accurate and impartial.
We publish it literally as written, omitting
only names and private matters.-Ed
ITess. n3 gtaat - Tr.aer4 Z .I--#
A great change has come over the city
since you left. The population is almost
entirely above Wentworth street--hardly
soul below Market street The po st Office
is at the corner Of King and Ann streets !;
the banks at the west end of Cannon street;
the military headquarters in John street,
and above that point. The lower part Of
the town is given over to Gimore's shells.
Below Wentworth street are fourteen paral-
lei streets, including the most valuable Of
the public buildings stores, and private
houses. Cannon street is almost suburban
The deserted portion Of the city, from
which the bombardment mas driven the few
inhabitants who remain, occupies about
three square miles-.Ed. The Press Prob.
ABLY over five hundred houses have been
struck in that part Of the town. Your old
room in the upper story had shell explode
in it. The prices of living are, in our cur
rency, enormous. Hotels charge from $l2
to $40 a day, and the cheapest boarding
house is SO a day. At present rates. it
costs me about 5000 month. Beefis sell
ling at So a pound corn whiskeyT $50 to
'$75 4 gallon y oak wood at $50 cord.
You can therefore imagine the pleasures Of
housekeeping al these rates A barrel ofsal-
mon from Wilmington cost me s4o5, and l
bought box OF herring, which used to
Cost sesenty.five cents, today, for $50.
'--z has lain in a hiding-place for some
months to AVOID conscription. He does
not dare to do even as :he ovls-go out Of
nights. Once he was the victim Of mis-
placed confidence; hewent to Wilmington
to try and get chance out; he was nabbed,
enrolled, and only escaped by jumping from
the cars and taking to the woods. Finally,
after enduring incredible hardships, and
walking seventy-fve miles in thirty three
hours. he got back tot place Of hiding in
Wilmington whence he returned here. AMI
is now psrda, where only intimate friends
can fnd him. Dsserters throng the woods
and swamps all over the country; the reb-
els hunt them as they do negroes, with
dogs he saw twenty-two brought
|. the other day, tied two and two, who
had been caught by hounds, Two others
were shot in attempting to escape.
Our condition is as bad as it eau be-
The despotisn is as bad as it can be, though
curses loud and deep are uttered against
the Government by many men who were
sscessionist. There is very large sprink-
ing OF Union men here. II is quits doubt
ful If there is not a mljority in, Charleston
pho are for the Uaioa. The town is very
much changed. Scarcely anybody believes
that slavery can live much longer. The
thing is about up. IfAs Eieralists mass
The spring, eampaign ,ohdt i. ought to bs,
The people ,oitl cry "saoIgA."a "aS g.
Congress has just passed alaw compel.
hing the funding Of Confsaerates notes in
four per cent Bonds, before April 1, o,
penalty Of paying 9 tax Of S3s per cent.
on the notes after that date. and if they are
not fupdel BY January l, 1885, they. are to
be taxed 100 per cant. This is reputation
with a venssancs. Then . tax of five per
cent, on everything aid, to ths delights Of
our situation,
Young ladies il yon have got beau to