Happy - for she seemed delighted
at what she had heard, and which then I had not. She said she 'did not
quite know - it was for the South.' I replied that such news hardly
could be happy for both sides, and, unless the news were peace,
was unhappy for all the world. She did not quite agree - and then told
me the tidings. But what a strange effect in such a little ship-
confined community!
"The Southern people collected together in delight - the Northern in
anger and disgust. The former predicted an early possession of
Washington for the Palmetto flag; the latter talked of raising half-a-
million of men, and 'crushing out' the South, right amain; while, as in
any disaster, there is always someone to be blamed, many of the
Northern men laid all the responsibility upon the 'lawyer-generals' and
'store-keeping-colonels,' who had assumed commands for which they were
never fit. It is a sad, unhappy quarrel!
"But I must describe our circle to you. First, I should tell you that I
have the honor to sit at the Captain's table, and on his left hand - a
Miss Ewart sitting on his right. Our set consists of the Captain,
Judkins - the right and left-hand passengers as aforesaid - Col.
