McPherson's rule in Vicksburg
--Banishment of Ladies.--The Meridian (Miss) Charion says:‘ On New Year's day the Yankees consented to allow Person Fox, of Warren county, to open the Episcopal Church and have service, omitting the prayer for the President of the United States. --With this understanding the church was opened and a great number of the old citizens repaired there at the usual hour to attend divine service. As Mr. Fox was about entering the pulpit some Yankee officers admonished him, as he valued his life, not to omit the prayer for Lincoln, and the old gentleman; being at their mercy, in the course of the service prayed for the President of the United States, whereupon Miss Kate Barnett got up and walked out of the church, followed by her sister, Miss Ella Barnett. They had hardly reached the door when Miss Lillis Martin followed their example, and soon she was imitated by Mrs. Taylor and her sister, Miss Latham. This of course infuriated the Yankees, and two hours afterwards the Provost- Marshal informed the ladies that every one who left the church would be allowed forty-eight hours to leave town, and if caught there after that time they would be remanded to the county jail. The ladies, immediately prepared to leave and at the expiration of the time allowed every one of them was out of the lines. General McPherson canted printed placards to be posted through the city, warning the ladies of their banishment and the time given them to get away. We do not believe Butler's rule was much worse than the above. Certainly this piece of treachery excels anything we have recently seen put down to the credit of the Yankees.
’ Miss Kate and Miss Ella Barnett passed through this place on Monday night in company with their mother, who is taking them to Enterprise to remain for the present.
