The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-09-13
Our Military Correspondence.

O"A uAlltaly NOIi iSSpOuueUCe.
GAULKY BRIDGE, Va, Aug. 90, 1861.
EDITOR DEMoCRAr AS have a little
leisure time on account OF indisposition,
thought would take advantage Of il 10
write TO the Democrat was sent here
because L was voted OH the sick list, and
therefore unfit to igh:, and quite as unfit
10 run. Our Regiment were at Cross
Lanes, near Summerville. / left there
last Sunday, and arrived here Monday
morning.
The Gauley River runs near Cross
Lanes. and it is magnificent stream
The water is not as clear ana pure as that
of the Elk, but the scenery is much finer.
The rocks at some points rise abruptly to
the height OF rs or 100 feet, perhaps, and
then shelve over, ,fol ming immense arches.
In this way, in many places The road is
Ecmmed in on the one side, while on the
Other the waters Of the river m owe rapidly
by. The river is nowhere shallow
enough, or the current sufficiently slow,
10 admit Of It's being fordcd. The inhab.
itants are compelled 10 resort to Aatboats,
which they fix with oars, and are capable
Of holding from twenty 10 thirty persons.
We destroyed all these boats on the en-.
tire line Of the river, SO that, II the enemy
come IN too large force. we can keep
them in check at these ferries.
This place contains a dozen or less
houses, built almost on the waters edge,
with very high hills for a background. -
In military point Of view. this is very
advantageous position, but it is totally
worthless for any other purpose. Atthis
point, the Gauley River unites with the
New River, forming what is known as the
true Kanawha. The valley is very mar.
row. simply wide enough TO admit Of the
passage Of the waters Of the river. The
hills are covered with dense growth Of
small timber and underbrush. The laurel
grows in abundance, and so thick that ii
is next to impossible to get through it in
many places.
The people, as general thing, are very
poor and very ignorant, living in log
houses, and surrounded by barren hills.
There arc few slaves in this immediate
neighborhood, as the people are too poor
10 own them. Where am stopping they
have an abundance OF them, and OF all
eolors, sizes and ages. One little girl is
much whittier than | have been since join
ing the army, snd her hair is as straight
and pretty as that of any girl of ten years
that have ever seen. Size is an inter-
esting little creature. She attends TO lit
lie matters as sprighlly aud as handily as
girls Of sixteen.
Slavery is a terrible thing in any point
OF view. 1t is one Of those national caam.
tiles which we almost dreaa 10 consider.
The evils which grow out Of il are innu-
merable, while nothing of good quality
can come from it. apprehend that, be-
fore we get through this war, many an
interesting as we'll as vexed question will
arise, on account Of this institution
Slavery is the cause of the war. Then,
We at once ask, why not remove the
cause? ] do not wish you to understand
me as advocating the abolition Of Slavery,
but only say the question must arise.
and then it will be high time TO discuss it.
II this rebellion is not the means of abol-
ishing Slavery. it will so cripple i: that II
never will be digni6ed with the name Of a