The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-23
Letter from o Lady Of the Chris
fiam Commission.
NASHVILLE. Tenn, Apri.

look passage OH tuc Lucy L.,
for ST. Louis. We had been employed Dy
Mrs. Wittenmeyer, formerly Iowa SAM
tary Agent-but now an Agent OF the Chris-
tan Commission, as Missionaries IN the
Army of the Cumberland. A wild picture
of priyatiops and perils was presented US
by reluctant friends at home. But trust
ing in Him who has said "inasmucn as ye
have done it unto one Of the least OF tnese
my brethren, ye have done It unto me- We
went forth.
Nothing Of more interest than the usual
steamboat occurrences, TRANSFERRED until
on board the neat little passenger steamer
Louisville. we reached Cairo. 1here we
saw mounted guns, and gunb0at. After
looking at these with curious wonder.
meanwhile listening to homeward Douno
boat playing . national air, We were steam-
ing up the Ohio. Paducah. having recent
ly come into note, we were DESTROYS OF see
ING It: but to our great disappointment we
did not reach it until after dark. All that
could be seen was an array OF boats at the
wharf. and q row Of three story houses,
with the lights OF the village beyond. so
We had to content ourselves with the pro-
mise of landing next day at Fort Donaio-
son. At two o'clock Sabbath we mao 9
view Of it from the Pilot House-nrst the
old rebel works, then the new loll anu u sn
racks. Upon landing we went around the
Fort, accompanied by Mr.. Sylvester, clerk
of the steamer, some officers returning TO
their Regiments, and several other visitors.
We all took great interest in these enor-
NOUS guns. which had SO unerringly dealt
destruction upon the destroyers OF our
Union and our brave boys. But our curl
osity was most excited BY the guerrlIias,
which were confined in the prison-and TO
our establishment we found 3hem to be
mostly BOYS, from fifteen to twenty years
old. We spent several hours looking at
the place to which so many weeping eyes
in the North turn, as being the scene OF the
last hours of loved ones. Aye, Mothers!
we wished that you too might have the
privilege Of standing on ground made sa-
cred by the blood Of SO many patriots-that
you might hunt out the neglected gave OF
your darlings, and shed over them the
tears which now flow in solitude. But,
what matters it? God knoweth where they
lie, and guarded by his OmnipOtence they
SHALL rest in :peace, until they shall be
called where there is no more Of wars
OesOlation.
At little before shutdown, with good
appetite for supper, and boquet to adorn
the tea table, as well as some flowers to
press and send home-we returned to the
Louisville. The Cumberland river from
Fort Donaldson to Nashville is delightful.
We appreciated it all the more highly, for
having come from the North where vege-
tation had not started. The high bluffs,
covered with dark cedar and Towering
shrubs, interspersed with the brighter
green Of the different trees was charming.
ing intensely the calm day, the beautiful
scenery, and the pleasant little varieties,
such as steamboat race, the falling over
board Of horse, and then getting him on
again. Let me say to those who spoke dis
c0uragingly Of ladies travelling alone, that
SO kindly had we been cared for on board
the Louisville, that more of a homesick
feeling came over Us when leaving It than
when we left home. Do not frown! We
expected to write to you and see you again,
but our farewell to them was In all pro-
liability forever.
Nashville, Tennessee! / can hardly
realize that am really so far from home.
have spent the afternoon in the famous
State House, and to my unsophisicated
eyes it seems magnificent. ut Is solidly
founded on the everlasting limestone."--
The building Is in the form Of . parallelo-
gram, having four fronts. It is surround
ed by two terraces, one II feet, 8inches, the
other and lower one Is feet wide. The up
per terrace and entrances are approached
by broad fights Of stone steps. To try to
enter into a minute description would be
useless. AS the library and museum in
terested me most, shall speak Of them
volumes in the library, besides many box
es Of books unopened. We found the IL
brarian not only willing but anxious to
show us everything OF interest. He is q
mulattO-called Burnside from the close
resemblance he bears tothe General. Here
was collected associations from all parts of
the world. A mummy and an embalmed
Hindoo idol-a panther-skin coat formerly
belonging to Daniel Boone-a spear which
was used in the John Brown raid-Speci-
mems from the Mammoth Cave-various
Indian relics-a flag used in the Mexican
war, that cost 500 90, &C., &c. am told
it is three hundred and ninety-tive feet
from the ground to the top of the cupolo,
From the top Of this, after you become ac-
custOmed to what was to me Q dizzy hight,
you have an extended view, Of the country
about Nashville. The city seems to be en-
closed by q circle Of knobs, upon most Of
which cannons are planted. for its defense,
find now that my letter is getting too
long, and in truth were to tell all that in
terests our party should not reach the
end until morning. Permit me to say
however. that the Capitol has already cost
over Is, 7o0, 600 and is not complete. Every
thing here 10 military, earthworks have
been thrown up around the building, and
field pieces mounted on every side. The
suburbs OF the city are dotted with tents.
and the streets are crowded with soldiers.
The principal churches and business hous-
es have been seized for government USE
The house in which We are staying was q
large dwelling house, belonging to . veal
thy rebel. N0U it il the head0uarters Of
the Christian Commission, and is CONSTANT
~ crowded with lite employees. Sic Of us
occupy . room in which there are only five
single beds. The place IL plain and whole
some-)ust such % 1t ought to be, a. it il
Furnished ct the expense Of the commis-
sion. Tomorrow we take the hospital
train for Chattanooga. Mr.. Cowgirl Of
Iowa City, Miss Hogan OF Muscatine, and
l stop there, while Mrs. Conrad and her
two sisters the Misses Hanford Of Keokuk.
20 on to Knoxville. am told to-nioht
t That the sick are being removed nom Chat
tanooga to this place, on account Of an ex.
pected oottle near there. Should this occur
We may be called to pass through harrow
Ing scenes. Shall we not have the earnest
prayers Of Christians at home? Nav "
not feel assured that through ali peril, all
trlals and even death itself-we are sus-
tanned, by daily intsrcession in our behaif
~ our friends in Iowaf
iowa! With what pride I write tina
00mel YOu NhOu06 ano <ln s,~ns1n -nsS