"Our party of matrons had their shot at those saints and martyrs and patriots, the imprisoned Greenhow and Phillips.
Those poor souls are guarded night and day. It is a hideous tale, what they tell of their suffering.
Mrs Lee punned upon the odd expression 'Ladies of their age being confined.'
These old Washington habitués say Mrs Greenhow had herself confined and persecuted, that we might trust her the more. She sees we distrust her after all. The Manassas men swear she was our good angel.
And the Washington women say: up to the highest bidder, always. And they have the money on us.
Women who come before the public are in a bad box now. False hair is taken off and searched for papers. Pistols are sought for [under] 'cotillions renversés.' Bustles are 'suspect.' All manner of things, they say, come over the border under the huge hoops now worn. So they are ruthlessly torn off. Not legs but arms are looked for under hoops. And sad to say, found. Then women are used as detectives and searchers to see that no men come over in petticoats.
So the poor creatures coming this way are humiliated to the deepest degree. I think these times make all women feel their humiliation in the affairs of the world. . . . Women can only stay at home, and every paper reminds us that women are to be violated, ravished, and all manner of humiliation.
To men—glory, honor, praise, and power—if they are patriots.
To women—daughters of Eve—punishment comes still in some shape, do what they will."
