‘The battle of the handkerchiefs.’
We are indebted to the Hon. W. H. Seymour for the following very interesting story:There was a great stir and intense excitement at one time during General Banks' administration. A number of ‘Rebels’ were to leave for the “Confederacy. ” Their friends, amounting to some 20,000 persons, women and children principally, wended their way down to the levee to see them off and to take their last farewell. Such a quantity of women frightened the officials; they were exasperated at their waving of handkerchiefs, their loud calling to their friends, and their going on to vessels in the vicinity. Order were given to “Stand back,” but no heed was given; the bayonets were pointed at the ladies, but they were not to be scared. A lady ran across to get a nearer view. An officer seized her by the arm, but she escaped, leaving a scarf in his possession. At last the military received orders to do its duty. The affair was called the “Pocket handkerchief war,” and has been put in verse, which is quite comical.
