Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1861-07-31

rs correspond 10 the Nils. lnere are son
times streams of water running thrOu!
the valleys and sometimes none, just as n
ture takes freak. There is seldo
springs to be found on the sides of the
$ hills, and it is often difficult on that a
count to get good water for the soldier
ed AT such times. when they come in sight
a stream, they rush Gown the bank like s
many cattle. returning again to the rank
as we move on. The hills are covere
with timber. of medium growth. and thic
under brush. giving fine security for tn
rebels. Many of these hills have neve
been explored, and to this day abound ii
wild game. Our boys frequently repOr
having seen wild deer while on picke
guard! The mineral resources of thes
hills would make the people wealthy, bu
they have no industry, or love for advance
ment If the people we're an enterprisins
class of Yankees, this country, hilly as il
I is, would be wealthy. They would build
railways along the streams, and by open
ing up the mining interests of the coun.
try, would make it both pOpulOus and rich.
The country is not bad for grazing. The
/; people are grossly ignorant. The most ig-
norant of our soldiers compare favorably
f with the best class of the people here
There is but little wealth, education or re-
fhement. The people dress in their home
spun suits, the ladies wearing the same
dress as our ancestors, as far back as the
revolution They seem to live in a little
world by themselves, with no ambition to
learn anything beyond. They are three
to one secession in this County. The town
of GlenVille is almost entirely deserted,
| and those houses which are occupied, are
principally occupied by women. their hus-
bands having fed with the rebel army
A ride in the country makes a sad impress
sion upon thoughtful mind. Six months
ago this country was prosperous as usual;
now 1t is one desOlate waste Two thirds
Ct the farm houses are deserted, while
grain Of all kinds is wasting in the fields.
We occasionally come to a house inhabited
by Union people. Here We see happy faces
and Kind of prosperity. But on inquir-
ing We find that the men have generally /
spent the summer in the woods, and. the
women tillIng the soil, and attending to /
the farm generally. At night carrying
food to the woods to their husbands, sons
and brothers. There has been the utmost
terrorism in this section. Men have been
impressed into the southern. army, and
compelled to fight against their country
and their eounty's flag. After being with
the army for time, and seeing some ia
Vorable opportunity, would escape and
come to our camp for protection Such in
stances are common. Even rebels who
have served in the rebel army have come
in and gave themselves up saying as an
apology that the matter was misrepresent-
ed to them. Most of them seem penitent,
and glad to escape with their lives. The ;
northern troops are grossly misrepresented
to the people. They are told that the
northern troops are pack of marauders,
coming to murder the men and plunder the
houses. While on the march, at our ap-
proach the men would fee to the woods, ,
and the women and children would ask for
protection at our hands. In many in
stances, hearing of our approach, the peO-
pie would remove their household goods to
some secret place in the woods, and desert
their houses altogether. When assured
that We came to protect not to destroy they
would hardly believe it, but approach us |
very much as one would approach a COM
pany-Of savage Indians from the forest,
after having been assured that they were
harmless This war viii produce better
feeling between the people of the North
and South fit is ever settled satisfacto- !.
rily. The peopleof the North and South
are comparative strangers. they do not
know each other, and It is the desire of !
ambitious politicians to prevent a closer
If we knew each other bet
ter, We should be on much better terms.
have thought at times thai 1t would
take great length of time to rout the q
rebels from Western Virginia, but the bat :
tie at Laurel Hill ends the contest this n
side Of the mountains. The rebels are d
destined to meet with terrible reverse. h
They relied upon the democracy of the =,
North but they now realize the fatal error. ),
They have discovered. too late however, q,
hat, though lacking patriotism themselves, T
he Northern Democracy had patriotism, h
md that too of the most genuine charac- l.
er. They are now trying to brace I'D ;.
lad cause, with no hope of success. The
oeople are beginning to see their folly q,
hey have discovered that they have been ;;
uped by their leaders They have per :.
ormed their masters labor, and all they 81
ave got in return. is houses made desc n
lte, by civil war-starvatiOn and ruin fo
sometimes pity them, but then the thought M
Sumter nerves me till pity even almost s.
'aves me Ignorance is dangerous ele- Y
lent in society. If the masses in the ne
outh had been educated We would never br
ave been engulfed in civil war. But the an
lssiOns of ignorant men are always liable to
be excited. :.
/ shall never be contentej till this re- uu
sllion is thoroughly rooted out. They c.
1Ue begun the fight, let as see the end wi
sterson Davis must be hung or driven ry
Ito exile. His vile feet must not be al w
WED to pOlute the sacred soil of the T. an
lted States. Every true soldier demands tn
: In fact every Southern leader in this frc
'belllon must suffer the same fate. We pr
emand 1t and We will have our demands co.
ltished. We are bound never to return m,
II the object of our mission is accom-. FRI
lished, then We are content to return a. ba
ain to the peaceful pursuits of life. ac
Last Sabbath l had the honor of taking tic
inner with the heroine of Western Vir- tn
mia. On the 4th of July last, with a
istol in one hand and the stars and stripes in
the other, she rode in the saddle through ur