From Memphis — a noble woman.
A letter from
Memphis says:
‘
We now see the blue jackets of our hated foe.--On the levee are strewn their tents, ‘"thick as the eaves of Vallambrosa,"’ and scowling over all lie their dark gunboats, like huge hissing serpents, tainting the waters of our noble
Mississippi.
The Irving Block, where we were formerly wont to meet and minister to the wants of our sick and wounded, is now used as a prison house to incarcerate those, who are dear to us; we have trodden its chambers but once since they have been thus used; we went to visit a friend, an old gentleman, who had been arrested at his home in one of our neighboring towns, and brought hither for trial, on the sole charge, so far as I could learn, of kindness to our soldiers.
In those desecrated halls we looked on a scene we shall never forget; we gazed on that old man, with his undaunted eye — on the brutal soldiery, with their gleaming weapons, who surrounded him, and the drama of the
French revolution rose before our eyes — the memorable words of
Madam Roland rushed to our lips, ‘"Oh, Liberty!
what crimes have been committed in thy name! "’
On last Sunday the military authorities took possession of and held diving services on the Second Presbyterian Church
Dr. Grundy, pastor.--They ensconced themselves in genuine military style, marching in amid strains of martial music, and ‘"re-occupying"’ the unresisting pews, the musical department ‘"re- taking"’ the choir gallery, and the preacher ‘"re-possessing"’ the pulpit.
After these recoveries, a hymn being adapted to a ‘"national"’ tune, was performed to the immense satisfaction of the
Union savers.
The reverend Yankee divine, we learn, read a profound essay on
good manners to his soldier auditors, upon two-thirds of whom, our informant tells us, it produced a peculiarly soporific effect, which was only dispelled by the ‘"sounding fife and pealing drum"’ at the close of the services.
None of our substantial citizens were present on this interesting occasion, and the respectable number of
five forlorn, cadaverous-looking females, evidently of the lower classes, represented the
Union feeling of the other sex!
In this connection it is scarcely necessary for me to say there is no Union sentiment among the ladies of intelligence and refinement in our city, and I know of but one or two among those who claim to be of the
elite whose insatiable love of admiration has induced them to slake it at any fount, and to grasp the hand red with the blood of kindred and friends.
I hear of a little episode in
Gen. Grant's iron rule at
Memphis, narrated to me by a refugee from that city, which every true Southron cannot fail to enjoy, as illustrating the undaunted spirit of our people.
Gen. McDowell, of
Bull Run notoriety, has a sister residing in
Memphis, the estimable lady of
Col. B. A. Massey, whose strong Southern proclivities, by the way, have rendered him quite conspicuous since the commencement of the war. It appears that
McDowell wrote a letter to her sometime after the occupation of
Memphis, and enclosed it to
Gen. Grant, with the request that he should deliver it in person.
Accordingly, a week or two since, he repaired to the residence of
Mrs. Massey on this mission, and after introducing himself and conversing with her a few minutes, observing that no doubt his room was preferred to his company, he rose from his seat with the view of completing his mission and leaving.
‘"I have, madam,"’ he said, ‘"a letter from your brother,
Gen. McDowell, which he requested me to hand you,"’ and he pulled the document from his pocket and proffered it to
Mrs. Massey.
‘"I beg your pardon, General,"’ she coolly and dispassionately replied, ‘"I once had a brother,
Charles McDowell, but I have never known the
General."’ --Saying which, she bowed so rigidly polite to
Grant that he returned the unaccepted epistle to his pocket, and soon found his way back to headquarters, it is thought, ‘"a wiser, if not a better man."’ Shubbed in this severe manner by a lady from whom he least expected it, this tyrant will soon learn to appreciate the feeling with which Southern people to the manor born regard himself and his invading cohorts.--
Correspondence Mobile Tribune. ’
