|
Gen. Polk at Memphis 1. and it came to pass that Leonidas determined to have his Head-quarters at Memphis along with Gideon. 2. And he sent a messenger to Memphis, to tell Gideon that he was approaching, and would be in the city on the morrow. 3. The did Gideon rejoice, for he had known Leonidas many years. And he prepared a room for him at the Gayosa, and ordered them of the inn to prepare a sumptuous dinner. 4. Then went Gideon out to the Depot of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and waited for the coming of Leonidas 5. An behold the cars came and brought Leonidas, and he was no more in Pontifical robes, but was arrayed as a Major-General. 6. He wore epauletts on his shoulders. and a sash round his waist, and the sword of Jefferson hung at his side. 7. And Gideon fell on his neck and embraced him, And he gave him a pomegranate, and an orange, and some wine, and the two entered a hack, and drove to the Gayosa. 8. Now, a great army from Tennessee, and Mississippi and from Louisiana, and Alabama, had come together at Union city, a small town in Tennessee. 9. For Abraham had sent an army to Cairo in the tribe of Illinois, it being the point at which the Mississippi and Ohio rivers come together. 10. During all these days, the tribe of Kentucky had taken no part in the strife between the North and the South, but claimed to be neutral, inclining neither to the one side nor to the other. 11. And there was a city in Kentucky, on the Mississippi river, called Columbus, which the Federals and, also, the Confederates, desired to occupy, as it was a key to West Tennessee. 12. But the Governor of Kentucky sent his order unto all the world, and especially into all Kentucky, commanding all belligerents whether Federals or Confederates, 13. To keep off the sacred soil of Kentucky, or otherwise he would punish them. 14. Jefferson sent word unto Leonidas and Gideon not to invade Kentucky until the Federals did, and then to march forward and seize Columbus. 15. And not many days thereafter, Federal troops marched into Louisville, which is a city in Kentucky, and took possession thereof. 16. And when Leonidas heard thereof, he marched his forces into Columbus, and placed a garrison there. 17. And he fortified the place with a great wall and a wide ditch, and he planted many great guns upon the bank of the river. 18. An Leonidas gathered a great army at Columbus, and much corn, and bacon, and all the implements of war, and they sent out to all the people greeting, to fear nothing, that Leonidas could hold Columbus against all the world.
|
|
Hard Times in Dixie 1. In as much as Abraham's ships had compassed all the land, no goods could be brought into Dixie, 2. So many things which the people were accustomed to have, became exceedingly scarce, and demanded a great price. 3. For, as there are almost no manufactures in the South, and no goods could come unto them from the North, the people began to be in want. 4. Then were there many who cared for the country, but only for themselves, whom the people call speculators, and they bought up flour and meal, and salt and things of that kind; 5. And sold these things unto the people, at rates immensely dear, so that those who were poor could not buy; 6. And many there were that suffered greatly because of the price of food, and of the great scarcity of corn. 7. Schools were discontinued, many churches were abandoned, and men card not to speak of anything save the great war and its stirring events. 8. The women of the South took great interest in matters pertaining to the war. They formed societies, and mad garments for the Southern soldiers, and baked cakes, and boiled hams, and sent many comforts to those who were in camp. 9. In the city of Memphis, the ladies fitted up a great house with beds, and carpets, and chairs, and invited all the soldiers that were sick, to come to that house. 10. And the ladies waited upon them, and gave them medicine, and food, and spoke kindly to them; 11. And when they recovered from sickness, they returned to the army blessing the memory of the ladies of Memphis; 12. And some there were that dies, and the ladies wept at their bedside, and followed them to that narrow home prepared for all living. 13. And many of those that recovered their strength, would have died, but for the kindness of these benevolent ladies. 14. Their great house was called "The Southern Mothers' Home," but it is now called "The Irving Prison." 15. As it was in Memphis, so was it in the North,- wives, daughters, sisters, and mothers, continued day and night to labor, to clothe and comfort those who were dear to them, and who were serving their country in the tented field. 16. And thus time rolled on, and this war progressed; a war of brothers fighting over the graves of their departed sires.
|
|
Commissioners Sent to Europe 1. About this time it came to pass, that there went forth a rumor through all the land, that England and France were about to acknowledge the Independence of the South. 2. When Jefferson heard this, he called together his wise men, and advised with them, whether he should not send discreet men to London and Paris, to urge those great powers to recognition. 3. And all the wise men advised Jefferson to do that thing; and he chose two men of great discretion, and he commissioned them to go to the Court of St. James, and also to the Court of Napoleon, and do all in their power to procure favor. 4. One of these Commissioners was Mason of Virginia, and the other was Slidell of Louisiana. 5. Now, these two Commissioners had to cross the ocean, but, all the ports in the South being blockaded, it was difficult for them to get out to sea. 6. But they ran the blockade, and arrived at Havana, a city of Cuba, surnamed "the gem of the ocean." 7. And it came to pass, that there was a British vessel at Cuba, bound for the land of Albion, and the Confederate Commissioners engaged their passage on that vessel. 8. And the vessel sailed from Cuba, and went out on the wide and deep sea, and was sailing toward the old world, with the flag of old England, streaming from her mast-head. 9. But certain messengers had gone to Abraham, and told him that Mason and Slidell had run the blockade, and were on their way across the ocean; 10. And Abraham sent word to the captains of vessels, and commanded them to watch every place on the sea, where any Confederate ship might pass, and to seize these Commissioners, and to cast them into prison; 11. Moreover, Abraham promised unto him who should take them, a gold chain, and to sit at his table, and to drink buttermilk out of his cup. 12. Then went out all the Captains of steamships, and the Commissioners of steam-tugs, and Commodores, and Admirals, and they covered the sea looking for the Confederate Commissioners; 13. And Commodore Wilkes lifted up his eyes, and beheld a ship sailing to the eastward. 14. And he pursued her, and overtook her, and demanded that the Confederate Commissioners should be surrendered to him. 15. But the Captain declared that they were passengers in his ship, and under the protection of the British flag, and he was loth to give them up; 16. But Commodore Wilkes could not be appeased, and took both Mason and Slidell, and brought them to New York, and cast them into prison. 17. When the British ship reached England, and the Captain had told what Commodore Wilkes had done, John Bull was angry, and the British lion began to rear. 18. For the people of England loved their flag, and were sore vexed because its rights had not been respected. 19. Then was Abraham alarmed lest he should have a war with England, and he communed with William, whose surname is Seward, and he told him what things had happened; 20. Now, William is a man of great cunning, and no man has ever been found, who could circumvent him; 21. And when William beheld that Abraham was troubled in spirit, and was ready to die, he was moved with compassion. 22. And he lifted up his voice, and spake kindly unto Abraham, and bade him not to fear. 23. Moreover, William said, we will send a letter to John Bull, and say that we did not authorize Commodore Wilkes to make the seizure, and then will his wrath be appeased. 24. And the saying pleased Abraham, and he released the two Commissioners, and sent a letter to the English Minister, saying, that the Government disavowed the act of Commodore Wilkes; 25. Then was John Bull reconciled, and grew merry over a bowl of punch, and smiled most graciously upon Abraham and his Cabinet.
|
|
Andrew Johnson and William Brownlow 1. Now as it is written in the eighth chapter of these Chronicles, Tennessee seceded along with Virginia and North Carolina. 2. Tennessee had long been known to love the South, and was regarded as acting with the Southern States in all important matters. 3. Her sons were brave and her daughters exceedingly fair and beautiful to look upon. 4. It was in Tennessee that Andrew, whose surname was "Old Hickory," dwelt, and his ashes are now resting beneath her soil. 5. It was in Tennessee that James, whose surname is Polk, had his habitation, and when he died he also was buried beneath her soil. 6. And Tennessee had become a great State. Her border extended from the mountains in the east, hard over against North Carolina, even unto the great Mississippi river. 7. Her chief cities were built of stone, and brick and marble; her farmers had grown rich upon the fat of the land, and her merchants were like unto princes. 8. And when Tennessee seceded from the Union, there were a few among her citizens that loved Abraham and the Republicans, and refused to secede with the State. 9. Among them was Andrew, whose surnames is Johnston, who dwelt in the Eastern part of the State, and he had been one of the Senators of Tennessee. 10. When he saw that Tennessee had seceded, he departed from her borders and went unto the land of Abraham, even unto the City of Washington. 11. And he abode there many months, and he gave advice to Abraham, and to William, and sought to overthrow Tennessee and the South. 12. Now the men of the South was angry with Andrew, and they cursed him in their hearts, and sought an opportunity to slay him. 13. And there was a man who dwelt in East Tennessee, in the city of Knoxville, and his name was William, and his surname was Brownlow. 14. And William was a prophet after the order of the Methodists, and he prophesied in all the regions round about Knoxville. 15. He had flocks, and herds, and cattle, and men- servants, and maid-servants. 16. Moreover, he was the editor of a paper called the "Knoxville Whig." He was a man valorous in speech, insomuch that he was called a "Fire-eater," which, being interpreted, means, "the fighting parson." 17. And he took the part of Andrew, and joined himself to Abraham and his party, and became and enemy to the South. 18. Then the men of the South took him and cast him into prison, and they pulled down his house, and spoiled his printing-office. 19. And William lifted up his voice and said unto them, Spare my life, I pray you. 20. Inasmuch as they did not wish to have blood upon their hands, they spared his life; 21. And they sent him to Abraham and William, and he abode at Washington.
|
|
Watch for FIVE more chapters next month! |
