| From the Vicksburg Whig |
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| March 31, 1863 |
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| A Visit to Mobile |
| We played a flying visit to Mobile last
week, impelled by business. In the days of "peace and plenty?
there was more pleasure in taking a jaunt to this city, but now no
severe punishment can be inflicted on and no severer punishment can be
withstood on a poor mortal than to compel him to take a trip from
Vicksburg to Mobile by Rail Road. Leaving Vicksburg at noon, {on
the Southern (of Mississippi) RR} with gloomy forebodings, there
being considerable doubt in our mind whether or not we would reach
Meridian without our bones, we continued on at a slow rate, and
finally reached Meridian at Six o'clock the following morning. The
train was always filed with "Confederate Representatives" of
every imaginable rank and appearance, most of whom appeared to be on
Government Business, and getting a seat is next to impossible, unless
our watch the door of the car, when opened, and as to sleeping, That
is the impossible thing. You may assume a recumbent position, but
sleeping is out of the question. A moderate breakfast served up at
Meridian, for which the traveler pays a Dollar and a Half, and thanks
"his stars" at being able to "fill up" the inner
man even at the extravagant price. The train on the Mobile & Ohio
Rail Road starts at Nine and we find the decrease in traveling company
hardly perceptible. On they continue to come until the passage which
divides the seats on either side is jammed with men, who are
continually pushing to and fro, hoping that, at the next Station, some
one will get off and the will be able to obtain a seat. A "Ladies
Car" is always attached to every train, and those who are
fortunate enough to be acquainted with any of the Guard or the
Conductor, can procure a comfortable seat here. Of course we pressed
in through the courtesy of a friend, and here our trouble would have
ended but for the numerous juveniles, in swaddling bands, who were
dotted about in different parts of the car, and who continued to make
an almost incessant music that neither pleased our ear nor tickled our
fancy. The train reaches Mobile at Eight in the evening, and a few
minutes ride in a "Cab" brings the traveler to comfortable
quarters at the "Battle House." ***** After spending a day
in Mobile we started home again, ***** and reached The Gibraltar of
the South in safety, notwithstanding the numerous assertions that a
train could not go through on the Southern Rail Road without an
accident of some kind happening. We are glad to be able to say that
this Road is undergoing a through repair, and in a short time people
may travel on it with perfect safety once more. |
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