The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-09-23
The War A gainst Women and Chill
,I dreD.

The Louisville Journal thus describes q
visit to the female military prison in that
| city:
On Saturday afternoon the military au-
thorities extended an invitation to us to
visit the female military prison, on the cor
At five O'Clock we were halted at the
gate opening into the enclosure by sentry
on duty at that post. Major Magruder,
commandant of the barracks, soon appear
ed, and furnished US safe conduct down
the walk leading to the airy building used
as prison. AS we assembled the steps
the first object that greeted our eyes was
child full of robust health, engaged at
play in the hall. Passing through the
lower apartments, the doors standing wide
open, we found, on an average, three dou-
BILE beds in each room, and seated around
and on the beds, engaged in sewing and
other occupations common to ladies, were
women-som with the bloom of eighteen
years upon their cheeks, and others ad-
vanced in years beyond the hey-day Of
life.
They greeted our entrance with marked
poli.eness, addressing the Major, who Wis
its the prison daily, in manner free from
restraint, and often with a smile. The
rooms were clean and airy. In every
room, bare headed, rosy-cheeked, dirty
faced children, full of innocent prattle of
childhood, were playing upon the floor,
kicking up their heels in the most aban-
doned manner. The apartments On the
second floor are not different from those
on the first. The windows were raised
and the air, laden with the fragrance of
fruit trees, swept softly through the case
mates.
A few of the prisoners were dressed
with marked tidiness, and spoke in cheer
full tones. Their bearing was such as to
impress the stranger that they were reared
in the halls of refinement. A majority
were very careless in regard to dress, and
their toilet was not calculated to make a
favorable impression. Some moved about
the building in sprightly manner, others
with their robes gathered negligently about
them, and with all the languor to be found
in the invalid or in the person prone to
yield to gloomy thoughts, and grow sad
and morose. They spoke with that free
dom which is sure index that no restraint
is placed upon their conversation. Ali had
relatives or dear friends in the Confederate
army.
For an hour we sat and listened to their
conversation, closely marking the accent
and manner of expression and, to speak
with all respect due the captives, it is our
candid opinion that but very few of the
inmates of the prison would be recognized
by an F. F. Y. as an equal in refinement
and in social position. The prisoners, at
leas: majority of them, are not of the
first families of the South. In two of the
rooms in the back part of the building,
sad sight was presented to view. On the
beds were stretched feeble forms, some
with faces pale and weary, others with
brows flushed with burning fever. One
lady in the prime of life, was convulsed
with circulating pain, and her faint moan
ing fell sadly upon the ear, telling how
deeply she suffered. On a low cot was
stretched a fair-haired boy, pale, very
pale, feeble and convalescent. A faint
smile wreathed his lips as we bent over
him, and kindly inquired show he felt to-
day." He answered, "better, much bet
ter"
Aside from these passages, the prison
was as cheerful as the most sanguine could
expect. The grounds surrounding the
house are spacious, and shaded with fruit
and ornamental trees. The prisoners are
allowed the full freedom of the grounds.
Army rations are furnished, yet prepared
in such manner as to render them palat-
able even to the delicate. The authorities
have profered to release all of the captives
north of the Ohio river, but they say that,
in accepting the conditions, they would
be thrown penniless and alone in land of
utter strangers, and it is better that they
should remain where they are. They ask
| to be permitted to return to their friends