Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-03
Nashville. Tenn. jan a. Q. 1867 .'N
Extracts from the Diary of a COnfed-
crate Prisoner.


Every little act Of petty tyranny which
a vicious mind could invent has been eK-
ercised over the citizens Of st. Louis, vet
they have defed all things in maintaining
their allegiance to the South. When a
Confederate officer was so fortunate as to
be paroled in the city, his official insignia
was bis passport into the highest circles Of
society. He was regarded as the represent
tatiYe of Southern sentiment, and a priso-
ncr for its sake. The ladies, in their en-
thusiasm for the cause they loved, would
soon rob him Of every button on his coat,
TO keep as a memorial Of their devotion 10
the South. They would then sew on the
buttons Of the Missouri State Guard.
When the ladies Of ST. Louis would meet a
United States officer upon the sidewalks,
they would draw their skirts aside to pre-
vent being touched by thela This mu (
have been narrowing 20 the feelings of the
United States officers, and must have made
them feel that a cause is not sacred which
commands not woman's blessings
An old class-mate aud friend Of former
years, after learning i was prisoner in
The city, petitioned Gen. Halleck TO grant
me parole, but we were ordered TO Camp
Chase before the petition was acted upon,
and we left the city of generous women to
find prison home in the interior Of a State
whose women had learned 10 loathe in
my early years. When we were ordered
from the steamer TO the depot all was hur-
ry and hustle. The distance was n halt
mile, and my health was very feeble. Ny
baggage consisted of heavy trunk and
uarraral al 10
my trunk this long distance or leave tito
be pillaged by thieves. As my finances
had dwindled down 10 the pitiful sum of
twenty-five cents, Of course / could not
think of leaving my clothing. SO as I'M
pleasant as the task was, took my heavy
trunk on my shoulders and started 10 the
depot. A more toilsome trip never had
From exhaustion, | was compelled to put
my trunk down several times and, like a
Wayworn pilgrim, foOtsorc with travel, sigh
at the thought Of other and better days
Never was an Olympic racer more rejoiced
TO reach the goal, than | was TO get TO the
cars.
have mentioned before that my finances
had grown by degrees beautifully small,
and that was not able 10 do business on a
cash basis. ] felt the importance Of that
lone quarter; all its companions had left
and gone and it rested lovingly in my
purse among paper yalueless in this lati-
tude. Being very hungry, that lone quar-
ter called up before me in tempting array,
sundry pies and apples to appease my hun
ger. He who steals my purse now, will
steal trash. Soon after getting in the cara,
a generous-iaced gentleman stepped up
near the cars and asked if Lieut. - was
in. A friend seated near the window told
him ] was, and at the same time backoned
me TO come TO the window. | went TO the
windoE and was met very cordially by a
gentleman whom / recognized as Mr.. John
j. Holiday, the brother of my old friend,
S. II. Holiday, who had petitioned for my
parole. He informed me that he had only
learned few moments before that | was
90 leave for Camp Chase, and that he had
called 10 make my acquaintance, and in
quire Of my necessities He remarked he
had not been to his Office that morning,
and hence only had ten dollars, which he
handed me, at the same time regretting
that he did not have more 10 offer me. He
requested me 10 write him after reaching
prison, and he would furnish me as much
money as ] should need. l was almost
speechless under his great kindness. i
opened my lank, lean purse, and folded
away the bill, and Croesus with all his
wealth never felt richer. Two days and
weeks Of sleepless travel brought us to Coz
lumbus, Ohio, where we disembarked for
Camp lhase, distant five miles from the
city. We were compelled TO travel that dis
lance on foot. The curious and impairment
gaze Of a large crowd was upon Us as we
marched through the city. Even in this
city Of abolitionists and fanatics We could
occasionally find one whose sympathies
were with our cause. BE il spoken 90 the
everlasting praise Of women, that there are
even in this hated latitude, women who
pray for our success. In the city Of Co
lumbus theabolition press is furious because
of the kind attentions shown by the ladies
10 few paroled prisoners. From this sym
patty on the part OF the women, we argue
that there Is a supposed Southern sentiment
even in this Sodom Of fanaticisn. Women
generally reflect the political sentiments of
their husbands Whenever we find a cause
heartily espoused by the women, be assured
that 1t Is but the result Of the husband S
teachings. The men dare not open then
mouths publicly in favor Of the South, as
the bastile is ever before their eyes but in
the West they have as vet no Fort Lafayette |
for women