The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-02-07
For the Western Democrat.
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL
Through the North into The Confederate lines
BY A LADY.
LENoIR. N. C.. Jan 25. 1865.

LENoIR, N C., Jan 25, 1865.
! Mr. FRIEND: You requested me to give you az
account tote Of cur travels since leaving Ken
tucky until our arrival at present home. This
l fear would be hercuiean task, but knowing
| your kind anxiety in all that relates to us, viii
briefly sketch the most prominent incidents of oui
journey. You already acquainted, to some
extent, with our misfortunes in Kentucky since
the-war began, particularly from the time Of leav-
ing CoviDgton the border for the interior Of the
State, but you can never know the thousand petty
annoyances to which subjected by the
Federal authorities, who prosecuted in lieu of
the gray-haired father and young brother who fed
from their despotsm, uniting their fate with that
of the Confederacy Of freenen.
Finding life almost ntoerable under the sur
velllance of Yankee detectives, we applied for a
pass into Confederate lines by letter to General
Burbridge, and we're informed that such could be
granted only by the President, application to be
made personne. So leaving old Kentucky with
its many true hearts, thousands throbbng as
warmly for Southern RIG hts as our own, We. pro-
ceeded to Cincinnati and from thence on the
"crest line" to Baltimore via Pittsburg and Har-
rlsburg. AT Baltimore met friends of the
secret league of sisterhood whose mission it is to
for the wants of noble suffering prisoners,
and manifold are the comforts dispersed by their
busy hands God bless the Maryland women,
gether visited the beautiful Greenmount Gem
etery, and stood by the graves of many of our
martyr heroes whose bodies removed from the
battle field of Gettysburg mnge their ashes with
the dust of "the old land" Flowers and cnging
myrtes wreathe the last resting place of those few
fortunate that the red burial of an enemy's battle
field was not theirs and that Maryand's daughters
weep for the brave who sleep swestly here latter
life's f,ful fever"
From Baltimore proceeded to Washington,
and thanks to the intrigue Of friend, "a favorite
with officials gained the entree iuto the presence
of his most royal majesty Abraham Lincoln
There being many applicants before US, We had
opportunity for observing the demeanor Of this
President There is not one ray of human kind,
in this man face, trace of the being made
''tittle lower than the angels" No dignity, no
courtesy in his addressan aspect wholly repulsive,
a bufoon, 'royal jester of nation's woes"
A fearful mother, imploring for sons life,
turned away with brutal jest and denial; grey,
haired father and weeping sister, pleading for
and brother to be removed from hospitals com
fortless walls that affections hand night tend them,
were treated with this same monstrous levity. God
help America
Our request was peremptorily refused with the
assurance that he (the President bad sympathy
with US or our kind. It may be Of party,
(Southern sympathizers1 or of our sex-the latter
would be quite in keeping with his bearing toward
ladies, He essayed few feeble jokes for
benefit, but as We not being of the enlightened
shoGdy, didn't take he desisted in great disgust
at our obtuseness Leaving the desecrated TIRES
hold of the "White House," we returned to Baiti
more, not discouraged, oh! no, a woman
SO? When she will, she will, and there's end
ont Consulting with our friends in Baltimore,
we first appealed to Mrs. Lincoln, as country
women, to assist by her influence with Stanton
This being unsuccessful. resolved to make one
more request to the Federal authorities and if that
failed to the bloc kade in spite of Mrs Parting
toms "bumble shells"
Leaving Baltimore with manya parting thought
for the sleepers at Greenmount and its sad, noble
women, we proceeded to Charleston, West Vir-
ginia, and with the assistance of several ci derdnt
Union men, requested permit to pass through
the lines at Gauley Bridge, (many had done this
after refusal at Washington, never mentioning
previous applications, but were again refused
Nothing daunted we took lodging with an estima-
bic lady, who, although aunt Of Gen. Grant, is
an enthusiastic rebel Eight weeks we spent in
this beautiful little Kanswha Valley, surrounded
by the Lincoln hireings, who watched suspi-
ciously at first, but we hoodwinked them by our
contented manner. Then fortune favored us Gen.
Crook was left in command of this department,
and our hostess, favorite, procured us the long
wished for pass. Leaving Kanawha Valley with
many pleasant memories of new y made friends,
with kind, responsible driver and some lady
friends, we took conveyance in little travelling
wagon for Dixie.
Lieut. Gov Jacobs, of our State, being banished
from home by Burbridge, made oRe Of our party,
and truly Bonaparte crossing the Alps had less
need of fame than odr brave little band climbing
Big and Little Sewell mountains in the month OF
December, 1861. Along this route to Lewisburg,
Va, can be seen the ravages Of wars desolation;
the road is strewn with the bleaching bones of
horses and mules, the light soil barely covering
the human forms that fatigue and starvation laid
there in that terrible Hunters raid through West
ern Virginia.
Our arrival at Wytheville was at quite an M
propitious time After Gen. Gillem's raid ard the
evacuation of this little town by our forces, you
NAV imagine our dismay at finding ourselves again
surrounded by Yankees. The force Of the enemy
being very considerable, our little band Was forced
to withdraw You have heard of Major JohDson's
handsome ruse, of this we were witnesses, aud
thanks to this brave officer large amount of the
ordnance stores we're saved. Five minutes had
scarcely elapsed from the time of the "force of
four" leaving town till the streets filled with
bowling, shrieking Yankees, who Immediately
commenced their work of destruction Of public
buildings The Presbyterian Church, not two
hundred yards from our boarding house, contained
the ammunition, powder and guns, first floor,
L