CHAPTER XLVI.
SOUTH AMERICAN EXPEDITION.
A Southern Tour. Visit to Baltimore and Washington. - The Desolations of War as Visible in Richmond, Columbia, and Charlotte -A Race with a Federal Officer at Charleston. - Meeting with old Friends at Atlanta. A Surprise for one of them. Travelling over my old Campaigning Ground. The forlorn Appearance of Things in New Orleans. Emigration Projects. I make some Investigation into them and decide to go to South America for the Purpose of looking at the Country, and reporting to my Friends. The Venezuelan Expedition and its Projector. I suspect that it is a mere Speculation, but conclude to accompany it. My third Marriage. I endeavor to persuade my Husband to seek a Home in the Far- West, but on his Refusal, sail with him for Venezuela. Forty-nine Persons packed in a small Schooner with no Conveniences, and with scanty Provisions. A horrible Voyage. Sighting the Mouth of the River Orinoco.
FTER the departure of my brother and his family, I started for the South. My first stopping-place was Baltimore, where I met many old friends, who expressed themselves as very glad to see me again, but who represented the condition of things at the South as most deplorable. What I learned from them made me more than ever resolved to continue my journey; for, although the
war was over, I was still anxious to do something, so
far as my power extended, for the Southern people. I accordingly announced my intention of making a tour through the late Confederacy, for the purpose of seeing for myself exactly what the situation really was ; but preferred first to go to Washington, with a view of consulting certain persons there.
I was advised, in the strongest manner, not to visit Washington at this time, and was assured that it would be a very perilous thing to do. Naturally a little obstinate and self-willed, the opposition of my friends only made me the more desirous of carrying out my original intention, no matter what
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