| From the Southern Confederacy (Atlanta,
Ga.) |
| |
| June 10, 1862 |
| |
| Editorial Correspondence |
| Gatoso House |
| Memphis, May 31 |
| |
| I left Mobile at 4 o'clock, P.
M., on the 29th, by the Mobile & Ohio R. R., which runs
northwardly nearly parallel with the Tombigbee river, through a poor
piney woods country. The road is in excellent running order, and we
arrived at Meridian, 134 miles, by 12 o'clock. Here a change of cars
lost me my agreeable compagnon du voyage, "Nick," who
was looking up his lost goods. A run of 168 miles brought me to
Jackson, the Capitol of Mississippi, which I reached at 8 A. M., the
30th -- stopped at the "Confederate House," a new, large,
well furnished, and well kept Hotel, near the Railroad Depot. Here I
found Dr. Simmons and Mr. Hunnicutt, where they have been for several
months, nursing their freight. Gen. Lovell's family, and many
other notables, are at this Hotel. |
| I remained here during the
day. At 6 P. M., I took the train for Grenada, where we arrived at 1
this morning; and from there I reached this place at 8 A. M. |
| After breakfast I went out on
Front Row to look after some business matters. The first incident that
attracted my attention, was the burning of about 100 bales of cotton,
that had been ferreted out from its hiding place by the Government
Agent, who is determined to deprive Federal sympathizers of the luxury
of trading with Yankees. |
| The next sight was about a
dozen men raising a Confederate flag on an old political pole that
stood on the bluff. It was certainly deferred to a late hour -- just
before the city is expected to fall into the hands of the enemy. |
| In crossing Front to Main
street, I observed a long train of cars, laden with valuable
machinery, which was being moved to Grenada. Here I got a cab and
drove to the Memphis & Charleston R. R. depot -- got there just in
time to see Col. Sam. Tate, the President, and all his railroad
officials take the last train, with the remainder of all movement
valuables. This road lost some 60 cars and 7 locomotives, just below
Corinth. By some mistake, a railroad bridge was burned on the Mobile
& Ohio Road, which cut off these cars, laden with commissary
stores, arms, soldiers' trunks, baggage, &c., when they all had to
be burned. |
| The enemy is now in possession
at Corinth -- Beauregard having fallen back, as I intimated he would
in my last ??? so the enemy can have full possession of the M. &
C. R. R. from here to Bridgeport, as soon as they see fit to take it.
This is a sad thought. There are a great many "military
necessities." |
| Memphis is dry and dusty;
stores at least half closed up; but few goods of any kind in those
that are open; no cotton, no sugar, no molasses any where to be seen. |
| It was determined some weeks
since to burn all the cotton and groceries liable to fall into the
hands of the enemy, and preparation was made to do so. Subsequently
the order was modified, and the Government Agents were ordered to
seize and ship into the interior all sugar and molasses that were in
danger, an account of which was to be kept, and the owners to be paid
for the same at a uniform price. The objects in view were,
first, to keep it out of the enemy's hands, and next, to convey these
useful articles to points where they are greatly needed, and there to
exchange them for flour and provisions for the army. Of the wisdom of
this measure, I may say something at another time. For the present, I
merely give the facts. This seizing extends all the way down to
Vicksburg, Jackson and Meridian; so those who have spent so much time,
money and sleepless nights looking after and trying to save their
groceries will be no better off than those cool philosophers, who,
like the widow on the eve of her second marriage, after careful
reflection, made up her mind to take things as they came. |
| ***** |
| G. W. A. |
|