From Mrs. Lyon’s Diary
Paducah, Ky., Dec. 12, 1862.—I met Captain Woodman, with Mrs. Ruger and Mrs. Bowerman, as I was looking for an omnibus in Chicago. Both the ladies are young brides, and quite pleasant. We all went up yesterday to examine the fort. It is a very strong fortification. It commands the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. They fired a blank cartridge in honor of our visit. It was a thirty-four pounder. I could scarcely hear anything for some time after.
There is a rumor here that the rebels (6,000) are near Fort Donelson and preparing to attack the fort, and that they have sent to Fort Henry for reinforcements. There are two ladies here waiting to go to Fort Donelson. The last boat load that went up took along firearms to defend themselves, as the boat might be fired into or captured. It is not a pleasant idea. We saw here for the first time well-dressed Southern ladies chewing tobacco and spitting behind the backlog.
