Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-12-31
Murtester 1allg SPY.
AM ENGL1sA TORYs SOUTH SIDE VIEWS.

writer is a strong friend of the rebel cause, and
gives the worst account of the north and tie
best OF the south that he can. He presents,
however an interesting and sometimes an
amusing picture. 1t is odd to hear him express
his conviction of the happiness of slaves,
founded upon the belief that most of the field
hande carry gold watches about with them,
and have from six hundred to seven hundred
dollars in bank. The rebellion has not crushed
out in the south certain talent tor beg uiiing
green Englishmen, which southern men have
been famous for since the days when the Lon
don Times was so unfortunate ms to publish
the celebrated Arrowsmith stories:-
THE SOUTHERN COUNTRY.
How we passed the federal cutposts il is
unnecessary to mention; suffice to say that
the first indication we had OF our approach 10
the secessonist army was finding bridge
by which we had hoped to cross the Green
river, in Kentucky, burnt down to the waters
edge, and the debris still smouldeiing on the
banks
The country people informed US that de-
tachment of southern troops had been encanlped
here for some days, and had "done the job at
the bridge yesterday" From the way in
which these good folks spoke OF the soldiers,
assuring us that they did no HARM but paid
for what they wanted in gold and silver, it was
quite plain that the allegiance OF our infornants
was not given 10 Mr.. Lncolns government,
and that we had fairly entered the forbidden
"insurrectionary states" Moreover we were
reminded that slight incident that property"
here has another meaning beside that to which
Blackstone has applied it.
Being obliged to stop for the night at the
cottage OF a supplemented primitive old col
pie, we were sitting round IL log fire in the
room, which formed our kitchen, parlur, aud
hosts bedroom, when q little back woody
headed urchin made his appearance, and began
dilIgent preparations for our supper Smart
lad HAT ma am. we remarked 10 our hostess
Yes, sirec, replied the Old lady. There's
not such another III all the country round.
gentleman offered me six hundred tor him last
week; but, dear me, 'twould break my heart
10 part with my boy. He gees with me to
meetin every Sunday--to mind my horse and
wagon"
Our party at the little inn broke up on the
arrival OF train, and we found Standing room
in i car crowded with soldiers. Few were
dressed in uniform, but all were well armed;
one beside us, moi bad sample of the rest,
lad breecll-loading carbine slung over bis
shoulder, two revolvers in one side Of his belt,
and bowie knife i'll the other. What a con.
trast these men presented 10 the soldiers we
had hitherto seen Determination and reck-
less daring marked every feature and ges-
ture.
"Do you think the Yankees are going to
whip US, sir! g. inquired our friend, looking
like Il walking internal machine
"Well, they have a fine army, and will do
their best think"
''Don't care, sir; they can't do it. II they
beat us in the field we'll take to the woods and
shoot them down like squirrels. Look here
sir (; see what they have done to me. | am Il
shoemaker by trade. They tried to arrest me
i'll Elizabethtown; l got away, but they took
my wife; so, by -, I'll take tive-and.
twenty Yankee scalps, or they shall have
mine u
Being disappointed in finding any of that
Union feeling i'll the south OF Kentucky OF
which we had heard much in New York,
we proceeded 10 Nashville, in Tennessee
More camps, more soldiers, more drilling
Men, women and children think OF nothing
but the war. Fathers of large families are ire
quenty seen serving in the ranks privates,
side by side with their cons. Ladies make
soldiers coats and trousers, Willie children
knit lheir stockings. Trade is, in Il great
measure, at a stand-still; but rte rapidny
with which the people, hitherto dependent
upon the forth for every manufacture Il article
however simple, are beginning to supply their
wants for themselves, receives at Nashville
curious exempliticatlon. A few weeks ago
boy discoveries a method of making percus-
sion caps, which the army was then much in
need OF. a factory was forthwith established
that now turns out some millions per week
Amongst the dangers which We had heard at
New York threatened the south, a re ;olt OF the
slave population was said TO lie the most i'm.
minent. Let us take, then, peep at a cotton
field ard see what likelihood there is of such
contingency.
On the bank of the Alabama river, which
winds its yellow course through dense woods
OF oak, ash, maple and pine, thickened with
tangled copse OF varied evergreens, lie some
OF the most fertile plantations OF the state.
One OF these we had the advantage OF visiting.
Its owner received us with all that hospitality
and unaffected 6onhomnie which invariably
distinguish a southern gentleman. Having
mounted couple of hacks, we started oft
through large pine-wood, and soon arrived
ar clearing" Of about two hundred acres
in extent, on most of which was growing an
average cotton crop. This was fair sample
of the rest of the plantation, which consisted
altogether of seven thousand acres. Riding
into the middle Of the field, we found ourselves
surrounded by about forty slaves, men, wo
men and children. engaged in picking"
NEGROES WITH GOLD WATCHES.
They were well dressed, aud seemed happy
and cheerful. Wishing to know v hat time Of
upon one OF the darkies by my side took out u
gold watch and informed me.
do your aborers generally wear gold
watches, sir z" inquired.
"a great many OF them have. Why, sir,
my negroes all have their cotton plots and gar
deus, and most OF them little orchards.
We found from their own testimony that
they are well ted, chi fly upon pork, corn, po-
tatoes, aud rice, carefully attended to when
sick, and on Sundays dress better than their
masters.
Many of them had six or seven hundred
dollars OF their own, which they either lend 10
the banks or hide it in the ground. In the hot
weather they begin work at six in the morn
ing, and go on till ten; they then go home till
about three, and when the sun declines, re-
turn to their work till six or seven. In the
cool weather they begin soon after daylight,
and rest for two or three hours in the middle
of the day.
We next visited the Station a street of
cottages in pine wood, where Mr.. Is
''tamily" reside. These we found clean and
comfortable. Two OF the men were sick, and
had been visited thai morning by a doctor in
the meantime they were looked after by the
nurses of the establishment, of whom there
were three to take care of the children and
invalids.
MATERIAL OF THE SOUTHERN ARMY.
But Conspicuous by their absence" were the
farmer boys--a body from which the best of
the northern army are recruited. In the
south, of course this class does not exist, the
whole of the field labor being carried on by
slaves. This industrial peculiarly, which
was considered by foreigners as the great
weakness OF the confedeTates, has hitherto
proved to them tower of strength. We
found in all tie states which we visited agri-