The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-07-17

told me he "yucssed | could not telegraph to
! Washington, write to the heads Of departments
there, or TO any body except through the regular
channel approved" and l could not write to
friends, "excepi through the Provost Marshals
Office and that | was permitted 20 pay my ex-
penses, but must remain within the limits OF
Savannah
With many thanks for the large liberty &C
corded SO graciously, bowed myself out, frst
having declined to get soldiers ratlons by appli
cation for them to this Government.
In this ce.dirion | remained for many weeks,
until, fortunately for me, General Birge relieved
him--who had it not in his power, however, to
remove the restrictions any further than to take
the detectives away of whom | heard, but did
not see But Gen Birgc permitted me to write
unrestrictedly to whom l pleased, and appeared
anxious, in the true spirit OF gentleman, to
offer all the couriesies be consistently could.
My baby caught the whoopiug- cough and
was i'll almost unto death for some days with
the fever which precedes the cough, and thep
she slowly declined. | did what | could to give
her fresh air but the beat intense, the
insects SO annoying, and two rooms such close
! quarters that she and | suffered much more
than hope you or yours will ever know by ex-
perlence,
: My most acute agony rose from the publica-
ton and republication in the Savannah Repub-
! fcan Of the shackling scene in Davis casemate
which to think of stops my hearts vibration -
1t vas pteous to hear the little children pay at
| their grace "that the Lord would g We father
something which be could eat, and keep him
strong, and bring him back to US with his good
senses, to his little children, for Christ's sake =
and nearly every day during the hardest, bit
tercst of his imprisonment, cur little child
Maggie had to quit the table to dry her tears
| 81, oh ~ hnr
position
[ believe, doctor, [ should have lost my
senses these seventies had been perscrvered in,
for | could neither cat nor sleep for week; but
opiaies. and the information of the change eff
tectcd by your advice, relieved me; and thanked
God nightly for your brave humanity. 1t is
easier to fight with a revolver than. to repeat
unpleasant truths to a hostile and untrammeled
power in the full indulgence of its cruel in
stincts. All honor to the brave men who fear
lessly did so
Though ate, slept and lived in my room,
rarely or never going out in the day, and only
walking out late at night with Robert for protec-
ton, could not keep my little ones so closely
confined Little Jeff and Billy went out Oh the
street to play, and there jeff. was constantly told
that he rich; that his father had stolen eight
millions" etc. Billy was taught to sing "We'il
him a reward when he did so; and he made such
good friends with the soldiers that the poor Child
seemed to forget great deal of his regard for
his father. The little thing finally told me one
day, You thinks Use somebody; 50 is you; so is
father but you is not; so is not any of us, but
me. | am Yankee every time" The rough
soldiers, doubtless, meant to be kind, but such
things wounded me to the quick. They took
him off and made him snatch apples off the stalls
if Robert lost sight of him.fcr a moment.
Finally, two women from Maine contemplated
whipping him because they found out that he
was his fathers son; but man more wise did
them SURPRISE" and took him off just in time to
avoid very painful scene to them well as to
me-. These things went on in the street-Erefer
only to the street teachngs-though these wo-
men were, with one other, dshonorable excep-
tions to the ladies in the house, until Captain
was ordered to Savannah on duty. He
brought with him person whom i heard was
his wife. As | never went into the parlor did
not see her, but my little son Jeff went accident
ly into the room one day, and interrupted con.
versation she INDUCING herseiin with one
of the negro walters, in which shy was laying
down "the proper policy to be pursued toward
Mr. Davis"
The servant having been brought up by lady,
felt very uncomfortable, and said MADAM there
told him his father was rogue, a liar an as
sassin, and that means murderer, boy; AID
hope he may be tied to stake and burned a lit
tie bit at time with light-wood knots God
forbid you should grow up a comfort to your
mother. Remember You can never be a gentle
man while this country lasts. Your father will
soon be hanged but that death is too quick"
The negro retired, mortified, and sent my
nurse to call little jeff; and so, with his little
face purple with modification, and wet with tears
from his streaming eyes, he came up to me, leav-
ing the pious and patriotic lady to find another
audience as congenial to her tastes as the first
had been.
| commended JefNs gentlemany conduct in
making no reply; cautioned him against ever
prosecuting distressing a woman or a friend,
if it took that shape; made application for per-
mission to 60 away to Augusta; was refused and
then prepared the children to 90 where they
would not such Indignantly patriotic and pro-
phetc females. Nothing however but the dread
OF mtruding into secret and sacred grief pre-
vented my writing poor Captain - svmpa--I
thetlc note, to condoIe with him upon the dis !
pensatlon of Providence under which, in the per
of his wife, he groaned.
Hourly scenes of violence were going on in the
street, and not reported between tie whites and
blacks. aud L felt that the childrcn's lives were
not safe. During General IS 1r.,in,e q me- !
G. sentinel leveled his gun at my little dauch- |
ter to shoot her for calling him ''uncle." could
mourn with hope if my children lived. but what
was to become of1ne if was deprived Of thema
So sent them off with many prayers and tears !
but confident the wisdom of the decision On
the ship understood man was very abusive in !
their hearing of Mr. Davis, when my faithful ser. !
want Robert endured with GREAT interest eth, !