Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-09-29

From the Chicago Times, 2sih ultl
Last Sunday morning must have been the inaugural
ton OF a dayof tremendous excitement IN Memphis-
The vigilant Washburne, absorbed in the ardneus mu
Gcipal duties whose execution be has taken from the
civil authorities, and perhaps engaged In perectng
soma new and ingenious scheme of warfare similar to
that OF protecting railroad trains with citizens and
gunboats and batteries with women and children, was
not prepared for any such audscous movement that
performed BY the rebel cattle litter, Forrest Had the
demonstration been confined to in which unarmed
tratorous secessontcizens had taken position
mica to tie interests of the African the reelection
of Lincoln, it would have found him prepared he would
have been ready for it, whether it occurred at daylight
midnight OF 80 early even the night before. But
Forrest came with men and guns sabres ratified fierce
~ against the bony steeds ridden BY unkemp
rufans; they were, upon the whole, fierce, yelling,
goddess crowd, TO whom deeds of blood were 80 familiar
the taste OF corn bread poor whisky. Such men
Washburne had not calculated upon. They found him
unprepared--they found him asleep.
-"Dreamng of the hour
When rebs, their knees in suppliance bent,
Sho0ld tremble at his power"
and candor compes to add this great man only saved
himself to his country and the glorious OF Lin
coins re election by the most vigorous running on rec
ord.
he lay calmly sumbering, dreaming perchancs Of new
schemes of warfare of new arrests and fresh victories
contumacious citizens when the breathless Colo
mel Starr burst into his and
"Yelled with white lips
The foe they come they come ~
Awakened thus rudely the great Gen. Washburne, may
OF Memphis the inventor of the antguerila system
Of raroadng, thrust bis night capped head through the
window, took one glance the ragged horsemau thun
derng up the street. and hen through the back door
"broke" for the distant fort |! Ac chased by his
hounds, Or quarter nag under the combined influence of
whip and spur and fierce of rider made such
time as Washbarne between that friendly back door
and the distant fort Probably the acutest angle
by tall or shirt under the pressure OF strong
bretza and tremendous speed, achieved by w ash
burne on this memorable morning of the holy Sab
cath.
Much do we hope, for the sake of modesty, th&t no
Memphis maiden or matron, awakened by the swift
patter OF bare feet upon the pavement induced to
gaze through the lattice. Let it be hoped that the
route between the back door and fort free from
curious eyes as the street along which once rode the
beautiful Lady Godiva and that no timid soul was
shocked by seeing through the grey msts of mornng
the fierce rush OF that unearthy, painting figure whose
white garment 1uttered to the like streamer
from masthead when the vessel moves swiftly in the
face of the wind
What vast and sudden demand there was that
morning among loyalists " for back doors Hur-
burt followed the example of his worthy confrere
Washburne, and took one !; General Buckland had
pressing need Of one, and took it-so did scores o
| Others Everything that morning in Memphis tina
had back door to it was in demand. Everybody tooI
one Back doors valuable to loyalists thar
holes to rats when fierce terriers abroad They
priced by loyal gentlemen of that city than wou
have been share in a heavy cotton speculation,
weghty advance of bIackmal, or the discovery of IA
sun of gold which could be turned over to the secre
service fund" The man who had back door tina
morning was supremely fortunate! the man who hae
none was wretched.
Let some enterprisng Spectator at once forward {
cargo of back doors to Memphis. Let government il
order to provide for future contingencies another sud
den demand issue back doors to all general officers Ii
Memphis. Colonies should have one; brgadifrs, two
Let
stored in military depots and be kept for futur
use.