Today, we continue with Rosamond Warren Gibson’s recollections of her time in New Orleans during the American Civil War:
“We reached New Orleans on March 29th, and found that friends had secured a delightful little house for us in the Rue Conti, run by a madame and her daughter. The rooms were filled with flowers, and a delicious breakfast greeted us. Our visit was a curious and interesting one, as the city was filled with Northern officers and their wives, and the few Southern women remaining there drew aside their skirts as we passed. Governor N. P. Banks (formerly Governor of Massachusetts, but at that time Military Commander of New Orleans) was the reigning king, and Admiral Farragut the hero. One evening we went to a large reception at the Governor’s where I was introduced to the Admiral and walked about on his arm. When I begged him to give us a gunboat to go home by the Mississippi River, as our passage through the Gulf had been such a horrid one, he said, “Oh yes, you can have two. Just ask Admiral Palmer,” (James S. Palmer) who was a friend of Mr. Hammond’s. As the pilot of one boat arrived next day with the top of his head shot off by sharp-shooters, we decided we had better stick to the Gulf! There were many of our friends there from Boston, and others who were in and out all day long, bringing flowers and news of the fighting up the river. In the evenings we sat talking and singing with the windows open."
