Four Years in Rebel Capitals | Page 2

If this be treason, make the most of it!"
The sole object kept in view was to paint honestly the inner life of the
South; the general tone of her people, under strain and privation
unparalleled; the gradual changes of society and character in the
struggling nation--in a clear, unshaded outline of things as they were.
Should this volume at all succeed in giving this; should it uproot one
false impression, to plant a single true one in its place, then has it fully
equaled the aspiration of

THE AUTHOR.
MOBILE, ALA., June 25, 1890.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
--The Forehead of the Storm 11-20
Washington City in 1861. Her two Social Circles. Was she a new
Sodom? Lobbyists and Diplomats. Eve of the Storm. Echo from
Charleston Harbor. A Dinner and a Ball. Popular Views of the
Situation. Buchanan's Policy and the "Peace Congress". Separation a
Certainty. Preparations for the Hejira. Precautions for Lincoln's
Inauguration. Off for Dixie.
CHAPTER II.
--The Cradle of the Confederacy 21-29
Through Richmond, the Carolinas and Georgia. Wayside Notes. The
Masses Willing but Unprepared. Where were the Leaders? The First
Capital. A New Flag. Hotels and their Patrons. Jefferson Davis. The
Man and the Government. Social Matters. The Curbstone Congress.
Early Views of the Struggle. A Notable "Mess."
CHAPTER III.
--Congress and Cabinet 30-35
Bloodless Revolution. Glances at the Congress. Its Personnel and its
Work. Party Hacks in Place. Wind vs. Work. What People said of the
Solons. The New Cabinet. Heads of Departments Sketched. The

President's Advisers. Popular Opinion. The First Gun at Sumter.
CHAPTER IV.
--"The Awakening of the Lion ." 36-41
Sumter's Effect on Public Feeling. Would There be a Long War--or any?
Organizing an Army. The Will of the People. How Women Worked.
The Camps a Novel Show. Mr. Davis handles Congress. His Energy
and Industry. Society and the Strangers. Joy over Virginia's Secession.
CHAPTER V.
--A Southern River Boat Race 42-48
An Alabama Steamer. General Van Dorn. What River Travel is. A
Calliope and its Master. Banter for a Race. Excitement of all on Board.
A Close Shave. Neck and Neck. How a Race is Won. A Unique Toast.
CHAPTER VI.
--Boat Life Afloat and Aground 49-53
Time-killers on the River. Negro Boat-hands. Cotton Loading from
Slides. Overboard! "Fighting the Tiger". Hard Aground! Delay and
Depression. Admiral Raphael Semmes. News of the Baltimore Riot.
Speculation as to its Results.
CHAPTER VII.
--Mobile, the Gulf City 54-58
Echo from Maryland. Alabama's Preparation. Mobile's Crack Corps.
John Forsyth on the Peace Commissioners. Mobile Society.
Pleasure-lovers and Their Pleasures. A Victim of the Tiger. Two Moral
Axioms.

CHAPTER VIII--New
Orleans, the Crescent City 59-68
Location and Commercial Importance. Old Methods of Business.
Relations of Planter and Factor. A typical Brokerage House. Secure
Reliance on European Recognition and the Kingship of Cotton. Yellow
Jack and his Treatment. French Town and America. Hotels of the day.
Home Society and "The Heathen". Social Customs. Creole Women's
Taste. Cuffee and Cant. Early Regiments and Crack Companies. Judges
of Wine. A Champion Diner.
CHAPTER IX.
--A Change of Base 69-74
The Pensacola Army. Review by President Davis. Orders for Virginia.
Breaking Camp on the Gulf. The Start of the Zouaves. They Capture a
Train and a City. Pursuit and Recapture. The Riot and its Lesson. Early
Ideas of Discipline.
CHAPTER X.
--En Route for the Border 75-83
Decision to Move the Capital. Lax Precautions. The New York
"Tribune" Dispatch. Montgomery Murmurs. Troops en route, and their
Feelings. The Government on Wheels. Kingsville Misnomer. Profanity
and Diplomacy. Grimes' Brother-in-law. With the C.S. Mail-bags.
CHAPTER XI.
--On to Richmond 84-92
A Typical Southron. Sentiment in the Ranks. Glimpse of the new
Capital. The Inflowing Caravans. Hotels and Boarding-houses. City
and Surroundings. A Southern Poet. A Warning in Statuary. Hollywood

Cemetery. The Tredegar Works. Their Importance in the War. 'T'other
Consarn!
CHAPTER XII.
--Settling to the Real Work 93-101
Regulars of the States. Virginia Sentiment. Unanimity of Purpose. Lee
and Johnston. Esprit de Corps. Centering on Virginia. Varied Types of
Different States. The Marylanders at the South. Mixed Equipments and
"Properties". Doubtful Points. Norfolk to Manassas. Where the Battle
Ground would be. Missouri's First Move.
CHAPTER XIII.
--The Leaders and the Led 102-110
General Lee comes to the Front. Mr. Davis' Labors and Responsibilities.
His Personal Popularity. Social Feeling at the new Capital. "Pawnee
Sunday" Panic. Richmond Society. An After-dinner Object Lesson.
How Good Blood did not Lie. Western Virginia. Society's Pets go to
the Front. "The Brave at Home."
CHAPTER XIV.
--The Baptism of Blood 111-121
The First War Bulletin. How Richmond received It. Practical Result of
Bethel. Earnest Work in Government Bureaux. Thunder from a Clear
Sky. Shadows follow Rich Mountain. Carthago delenda! Popular
Comparison of Fighting Qualities. The "On-to-Richmond!" Clangor.
The Southern Pulse. "Beware of Johnston's Retreats!" Bull