The news & observer., 1905-11-05

Lodge, has fourteen edltlonS 10 ltS
credit.
A valuable and Delightful Wartime
Book That Ought to Be Repub-
Iished.
Some years ago 1 expressed in
this paper, a strong wish that several
of the scarce books treating of the
early history OF the State should be
republished, and especially Lawson's
History. l was much gratified when a
little later, through Colonel Olds' ini-
tiative this quaint and really valuable
book was made accessible to all in q
reprint.
There is a contemporary war pub
lication.-a book born amid the very
smoke of battle-now getting scarce,
that ought by all means to be reprint
ed. 1t is short, all too short, and
could be easily reprinted in one of our
Sunday papers. 1t is Col. Freemantles S
''Three Months in the Southern
States" being a diary kept during
April May and June, 1858.
Lieutenant-Colonel Freemantle was
an English officer of the world fa-
nous Cold Stream Guards, who young,
adventurous and athirst for knowledge
at first-hand, came to view the Confed-
eracy from the inside. To avoid break
ing the Federal blockade laws or reg
ulations, he came in through Mexico,
landing in Brownsville, Tex. By dint
of much trial and no little risk, he
came through the Wilds of the state
to Alleytown, where he reached the
railroad for Houston. Here he pro-
ceeded by rail to Galveston. At Gal
weston he attended a dance, given by
Colonel Manly. of North Carolina,
dancing an American cotillion, as he
terms it. with Mrs. Manly. He was
much pleased with the Manlys.
After meeting Generals Magruder
and Kirby Smith in Texas. he made
his way down the Washita River after
some delay caused by a Federal ex-
pedition, which was finally driven
back. Finally he succeeded in cross
ing the overfiown Mississippi at Nat
chez, in a small boat rowed by
negro
Prevented from entering Vicksburg
ssoy Grant, who had just then drawn
around this lines of seize, he, after
endless troubles and adventures, made
his way to General Joseph Johnston S
army, after coming near being hung
as a spy in Jackson, Miss, in fact too
near to please even young ana ven
turesome Englishman.
Remaining with Johnston, of whom
he expresses a high opinion as
soldier for several days, and constant
ly serenaded by the roar of the Fed
eral artillery reducing Vicksburg, he,
by means of stage and railroad maze
his way to Mobile.
Here, after many courtesies from
General Maury, he went, via. Mont
gomery and Chattanooga, to General
Braggs army at Shelbyvillc, Tenn,
on the same train with Generals POLK,
Hardee and the expatrlated Vallan-
digham. Here he remained long
enough to be in several skirmishes as
a spectator at close range, and then
went via Atlanta and Augusta TO
Charleston. At Augusta he met Col
oneI Rains. OF the energy and skill
of this officer, without whose genius
in manufacturing powder and muni-
tions the Confederacy would hardly
been able to give respectable ac-
count of itself as belligerent, he
speaks in high praise.
Charleston with it's many forts and
batteries interested him vastly, though
he is careful here, and everywhere, TO
include no details which might be or
advantage to the enemy. He met
Beauregard, with whom he seems not
to have been greatly impressed, re-
garding him as rather an egotist. He
records that the Generals hair was
rapidly whitening, though opinion at
Charleston was doubtful as to Wheth-
er it was caused by the cares of his
office or the strictness of the block
ade, which cut off articles of the
toilet.
he worn, shabby condition of Col
oneI Freemantles clothes forced him
TO decline party invitations In Charles
ton but he was several times dined
by the ranking officers. At one excel
Il ,i{ hn
cuisine as the best refutation of the
Harper's Weekly cartoon which repre-
sented him as SO hungry that he was
casting greedy eyes at the leather in
a pair of old boots.
Leaving Charleston and noting the
many handsome laden blockade run
ners at Wilmington, N. c., he went, via
Weldon, where he changed cars and
had a terrible fight in the crowded car
for a seat, to Richmond, arriving June
18th. 1863 The capital of the Con-
federacy had naturally an English
look, and pleased him.
OF President Davis. by whom he
was accorded an interview, he formed
a verv high opinion, not only of his
charm and culture, but of his ability
to fill the high and onerous position
as the head of weak power pat
thing for life with a strong. Among
the things that he notes are the cap
tured Federal figs. Among these pre-
tentious banners were two captured
at different battles from the same reg
iment. And, alas, for Federal Veraclty,
among the victories emblazoned on the
second was the battle in whlch the
first flag had been captured-Fair
Oaks.
Provided with letters of introduc-
ton to Lee and to Longstreet he went
by rail to Culpepper and took horse to
overtake the Confederate army when
was rapidly advancing on the great
Gettysburg campaign. His mount was
a poor one, but by riding and lead
ing he came UP with the army and
went with it on its ill-starred mission,
cumming with the Confederate off,