Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-09-10

must have greatly drained their resour-
ces What their present condition may
be | know not; but, at that time, from
Raleigh to the mountains, | neither saw
nor heard of any one being in
need Of the common necessaries
of life. Had such been the case,
! think they would not have been
backward in informing us, for our people
never feared us, b1t many blamed us for
what they considered their unnecessary
losses, by the army holding out after all
hopes of successful finale had van
ished For liberality they cannot be
compared to Tennessee, and, in my
opinion, South Carolina is alone her
equal. In these two States the approach
Of our army was not the signal for a
general hiding of eatables, and nice
pie-making, with paint brushing, at the
liberal price of dollar each. No,
these people did not make money their
god They would never even dream of
taking our last quarter for a canteen of
Indifferent water. All were welcome
who dared strike for the South-even a
Mississippian. An advance into Ten
nessee was always hailed with joyous
acclamations. The very word Tennessee
would awaken pleasant memories, and
thousands could imagine they again felt
the genuine grip as they were being
conducted with hearty welcome to a
bounteous table, and in their minds
eye could see themselves surrounded
by eager, attentive. listeners, whose
eyes would moisten or fash as the
boys in turn related hardships endured,
battles lost, or victories won. Yes, in
Tennessee we met hearts that beat in
unison with our own and lovely women,
who dared openly welcome " their boys
in gray, regardless of the result, although
they knew not but the following day
would fnd them homeless, Reader, you
will excuse this depression, for the i'm
pulse to render this deserving tribute of
respect to kind people, for whose gen
erosity | and thousands of halffamished
soldiers have good cause to be ever
thankful, was irresistible, / will now
reunite the broken chain of unity, and
endeavor to keep it entire to the end.
|
" Higher " civilization appears to have
the same antipathy to tie mountains
that the snakes have to Ireland-appa-
rently it cannot exist there. In the level
country that have described the ladies
are pretty intelligent and modest
modesty being, in my opinion, very
commendable quality; but am sorry to
say it is o scarce article among these
fair mountaineers To satisfy you of
the truthfulness of this statement,
think / can give you q few
convincing proofs. As Major Ryan and
myself were riding along, little in ad'
vance of the main body, we came upon
some half dozen females seated upon
log, waiting to see the folks" pass. As
we approached the group noticed their
heads incline toward the centre, as
though in consultation. When we ar
rived opposite, young and comely girl
walked up to me and coolly asked for a
"chaw of tobaccer." Having some, l
handed it to her. She took what con-
.iderod large bite for young lady,
thanked me and handed back the piece.
We moved on, but had only got short
distance when I heard the same voice
hallooing, 20, Mister" Inquiring what
was wanted, she informed me that Sis
ter Sal would like a chaw" / halted,
handed her the piece and told her that
herself and "Sal " could have it. She
again thanked me and went tripping
back, apparently delighted. AS her
companions displayed no surprise at this
conduct, l concluded it was a customary
thing to levy "black mail" After riding
a few miles VIC arrived at believe, the
French Broad river. Several stragglers
had already reached it, and were rest
ing beneath its shade. Being little
surprised at strsgglers waiting for the
main body this early in the day, and the
river fordable, we halted and inquired
the cause. They said they could not
cross the river without undressing We
asked why they did not undress then and
cross ? The answer was an extended
index finger, directed at the bushes on
the opposite side of the road, which, du-
ring the conversation, we had not noticed,
and there collected in the shade was a
number of ladies, waiting to See the
"folks" cross. The majority of our
men had been educated TO respect fe-
male under all circumstances. l have
sometimes thought this respect was car
ried unnecessarily far, but perhaps ]
was mistaken. Although our men had
fearlessly rushed fotoards ready batteries,
they we're afraid to rush from this one.
Being single men, slightly bashful, and |
long unaccustomed 10 the society Of la |
dies, we did not care to enlighten them
on the delicate subject, which little re-
Election on their part would have con-
vinced them was absolutely necessary.