Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-09-18

wider. / noticed this more particular,
between here and Gauley Bridge. Their
the hills are very high, and rise almos
from the river bank. As We left Gaule,
for this place the hills began to reced
from the river till a very fine valley wa
opened to the view. 1 saw some Of the
finest farms on the bank of the river tina
l have ever seen. The surface of tn,
ground is slightly undulating-suficiently
so for draining, and also to relieve it of tn,
monotony which is always incident to {
level country.
This is a very wealthy valley. Build
ings for the manufacture of salt, line the
road for a distance of twelve miles out o.
this place, while in the same distance there
are numerous founderies The valley i:
rich in minerals. All that is necessary i:
to improve the navigation of the river, OIL
construct a rail road. The people here
seem to have little or no energy. They
are sufficiently wealthy themselves, and dc
not seem to care to open up the interest.
of this country, or permit others to do it
There appears to exist a perfect monopoly
which must be crushed out, before the re-
sources Of the country can be fully devel.
hoped; and this can never be until they are
I'D of slavery. l am becoming more and
more convinced Of the perfect impractical
bility of the institution of slavery, saying
nothing about its inherent wickedness. l
think it has been fully demonstrated that q
people never can prosper, who base their
chances of prosperity upon the number and
character of human beings they may OWL.
The masters become so dependant upon
their slaves, hat after a while they almost
upon them to furnish brains. Dor,
rowed brains seldom accomplish much,
The slaves, copying after their masters,
soon become INDECENT, and only work when
compelled to by force. 1 am satisfied more
than ever, that slavery is a bitter curse to
any people. Western Virginia has many
advantages even over Ohio, and yet she is
permitted to grow up to a wilderness, for
the want of a well directed energy in her
people.
The %citizcns Of this place are alp3st all
on the southern side of the question.
Some Of them have even haastcd of it, but
such persons have irTariably been arrested
and sent to Columbus, Ohio. We can
manage to put up with Secession opinions,
but the public expression Of them is more
than we can silently acquieace in. Col
Guthrie, the commandant of the post, sent
a squad Of three rebels to Ohio. Among
them was one Of the most influential and
wealthy citizens of the village. He will
there learn the advantages to be derived
from free institutions. He may miss bis
'tniggsrs" but he can employ a little yam
kee" to wait on him for a small sum.
Yesterday We buried one Of the members
of the lst Kentucky Regiment, with militia.
~ honors. A funeral in camp is very sol
emil. The deceased was a private, and
therefore was only entitled to a corporals
guard to do the honors. Members of the
companies wishing to take part in the GER
emony, fall in Immediately after this guard;
then follow the non-commissioned officers
according to rank; then commissioned Off
GERS, and afterwards, staff officers. We
marched in solemn silence to appropriate
music, gradually ascending a hill, covered
with beautiful trees, till We arrived at its
summit. Here the grave had been made,
in orc Of natures l%ovliest spots. The
place commands 4 view Of the Elk and
Kanawha rivers, also the village ofCharlcs-
ton. On arriving at the grave, We listened
to the Episcopal burial service, after which
the coffin was lowered, and three volleys
"a guns fired. The procession was a
gain formed, this time the officers in front,
and We marched back to our camp in quick
time. Our march to and from the place
Of burial presented a striking contrast. In
the first, due solemnity was observed,-in
the latter, the laugh and jest went through
the ranks. Every one at the instant the
coffin was lowered, seemed to forget the IA
ture of the occasion. The deceased had no
kin present to take part in this last cere-
mony. No mother, brother or sister, to
soOthc and comfort him in his last trying
hour;-rough hands wiped the death damp
from his brow. Amongst the crowd Of
soldiers at the grave, l noticed a female ;
she was on horse back, and it seemed to
me, from the smiles visible on her coun-
~tenanee, that she came more from curiosity
than from charity. To me it looked like
a cold mockery Of death. We have had
most beautiful weather for some time,
which to US is doubly pleasant from the
fact that it has rained almost constantly
for a month! past.
We have received a number Of Warren
papers since we cane into the valley Of
the KauaTha. You cannot imagine with
what interest we read them. l am in
hopes we will be permitted to visit Ohio
soil once more.
~ . --a 81 a.