January 5, 1865.—Our hospitals have all been ordered to Tennessee. I am highly delighted at this new move, as it shows that our army is still triumphant. The Foard has changed surgeons. Dr. Hughes had several of his ribs fractured by a fall from the cars, while in Montgomery, he has resigned until he recruits in health. Dr. de Yampert of Alabama has taken his place.
At a party a short time ago I met a friend, Mrs. Payne, who had just come from Enterprise, Mississippi. She was there at the time of Sherman’s raid. As we do not know the moment when we may be honored by a visit from the enemy, we were all eager to know how she had done, as she fared much better than many others. She informed us that when the enemy came into the town, they commenced firing promiscuously, and her little daughter, who was in the yard at the time, came very near being shot. About twenty-five of these marauders entered her house at one time. She had no one with her but the children. The sight of such a mob of lawless men filled her with dismay, but she did not lose her presence of mind, and tried to appear perfectly collected. She remarked to them that in such a crowd there must be at least one or two gentlemen, and if there were any among them, she called on them to come forward and protect her. After this speech she burst into tears. These two appeals were too much for even these vandals, and she thinks they looked ashamed of themselves, and one stepped forward, saying he would protect her. He remained with her while the others ransacked her house, from the garret to the cellar. They broke open her trunks, drawers, and pantries. She offered them her keys, but they laughed at her, saying they had no use for them. They took every little trinket that they came across, and did not even leave her scissors and thimble.
The vandals remained at Enterprise some four or five days, but she was not further molested by them, as she had the protection of one of the officers. He called on her, and offered her his aid, as she had been very kind to a young lady cousin of his some few years before. The cousin had requested him, in case of their meeting, to protect her.
This lady’s negroes all deserted her in her hour of trial, with the exception of one, and told the enemy about some valuables she had hid away. Nearly the whole town was laid in ashes, but it only shared the fate of every other town in Mississippi which the vandals visited. I am told that nearly every house in Okolona is leveled with the ground.
Mobile is gayer than over; it seems as if the people have become reckless. I am told that there was as much visiting on New Year’s day as there usually is in peace times. The city is filled with military, which is one cause of the gayety.
There is no necessity of our discussing war or politics (I mean the ladies), as we have an all-absorbing topic in the matter of dress and “something to eat” “How do you manage to live?” or, “What have you got to wear?” is the first question on meeting a friend, no matter where. The answer as to the eating is usually, “We live on peas, corn meal, and bacon.” These are the staples, and the rule; the exceptions are flour, tea, coffee, and sugar, and they are all at famine prices.
The scarcity of coffee seems to affect the spirits of the people more than any thingelse. I have noticed that some who did not touch it before the war, talk as gravely about its loss as if their very existence depended upon it, and indeed they are quite melancholy about it. It is amusing to see how seriously it is discussed. I have said jestingly that I do believe it will yet be the means of subjugating us. When invited any place, if we are certain of getting a cup of pure coffee, or even a cup of that which “cheers,” there is no sending “regrets” to that invitation.
The enemy have deprived us of one great luxury since taking possession of the bay; that is, oysters. They are not to be had, unless at an exorbitant price. With all this “starving,” people look well. I am told that there is less dyspepsia than was ever known before. The poor do not suffer as much as one would think. Work of all kinds seems to be plentiful, and the Supply Association is still in operation.
In the matter of dress we are pretty “hard up,” and if the war lasts much longer, I for one will have “nothing to wear.” We have a good many kinds of homespun for dresses; but it makes a very expensive dress. I have heard many say that they would rather have one good calico than three homespuns.
We have a very excellent home-made cloth for gentlemen’s clothing. I have seen some, made with a mixture of cow’s hair and cotton, which was really nice, and I am told that it is water-proof. I had no idea our people were so ingenious.
A friend showed me a nice pair of gloves she had made from the ravelings of scraps of silk, worked in with a little cotton. The same lady makes all the shoes worn by her household.
Dyeing old clothes is about the most fashionable thing done; those who can not afford to pay for it do it themselves. The materials used are to be found in the woods.
Gentlemen’s and ladies’ hats are made out of saw palmetto. The ladies braid it, and use it to trim their dresses, and it makes a very pretty trimming.
We have any amount of shoe establishments, and very nice boots and shoes are made in them. An excellent pair of ladies’ calf-skin bootees can be bought for one hundred dollars, and men’s are one hundred and fifty.
The gentlemen talk a good deal about the ladies dressing extravagantly, but I do not think they do so. We have learned the art of making “auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new.” All the rag-bags have been emptied, and dresses turned and cut into all kinds of shapes. Any and every thing is the fashion; nothing is lost. The old scraps of worsted and flannel are carefully unraveled, carded, and spun, for making capes and nubias. The fact is, it is a kind of disgrace to have plenty of clothes. If any one has on a new silk or calico dress, kid gloves, or any thing that is foreign, they have to give an account of how they came by it.
The Confederate oil is much improved; but we can only buy a very little at a time, as it becomes gummy by standing, and will not burn. Alabama abounds in coal, and yet we find it almost impossible to get any, and wood is from sixty to seventy dollars per cord.
There is nothing cheap. I sometimes think we will be charged for the light of heaven and the air we breathe. We expect after awhile to have to pay for merely asking for a sight of goods. Well, these are things that we can afford to laugh at, as we know they will not last forever.
I have been visiting in the suburbs, and really it is a sad sight to see how desolate every place is. The fine shrubbery, trees, and beautiful flower-gardens, once the boast of Mobile, are now laid waste by the military authorities in preparing for the defense of the city. Every tree, fruit and shade, has been demolished, and even rose-bushes have been destroyed. All houses near the intrenchments are ordered to be fired on the approach of the enemy.
We have excellent public schools, and, much to the gratification and surprise of many, they are still in operation. I was certain that the war would close them; but, as a rule, our citizens have been very energetic and liberal in money matters.
