Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-13
KENTUCKY AND KrxTuCk1Azs.

CANP WIoKLIEPR, KY, Jan. 8, 1862.
EDITORS LEADER: FrOm.my early boyhood
the history of Kentucky, I" The Garden
State of the West" with its traditions and
adventures, so fascinating 70 the young, has
possessed 3 strange interest to me. The
traditions concerning the early conflicts Of
the savage tribes from the North aud South,
for the possession of these rich hunting
lands, together with the struggles of the
settlers on the "dark and bloody grounds"
invest its history with a singular charm for
adventure-lOving youth. Often have read
with breathless interest Of the daring ez-
ploits and hsir-breadth escapes Of Boone
and KentOn, little thinking that 50 short
time would see me, with gun and knapsack
on my back, trading this Utopia of the
childish story-teller. But here I am,
"shoolmsster abroad in this out-of-ths-
way place, where not schOOl-hOuse ap=
pears to delight the eye of en- ex-Peda-
gogue-
"0thello's occupations gone"
Ihave heard much of "southern chivalry,"
snd Of the hOt-blOOdod and heroic inhabi-
tsnts of the Sunny South" It has been
my good fortune to meet with the species
that Gourishes in this latitude, and nstu-
rally feel an anxiety to know whether or
not it is the Simon pure,
"Yeli7e Kentuckian" is e great institu=
ton. speak now of those with whom
have come in contact-evidently the poorer
class. He is lank, slab-sided specimen Of
humanity, and is emphstisally " Union
man"-as long as Union troops are in the
vicinity. He "reckons" that he had better
'keep shut" of political parties; talks about
bright smart lot" or "good sprinkle" of
any thing; and thinks there must be 'tright
smart of folks where all these soldiers came
from" He drives either 3 team Of mules
usually as contrary as Balaam's ass-or
yoke Of cattle. IN either esse he rides one
so as to be in 8 convenient position for
\ guiding his handsome roadsters. The hap
| py proprietor Of these long-eared animals
! always has music with him. ] have
l read of the fall OF the walls of Jericho at the
sound of the rams horn; Of the eackling of
the geese that sroused the Roman watch
man on the Tarpeian rock OF the
Boding ben-shie's scream
echoing through the valleys Of the High
landers; and of the uneaFthly outcry Of an
unseen spectral host around the frog ponds
of the Land of Steady Habits;-but no re-
cital of the occurrence Of dread sounds ever
impressed me like the everlasting bray with
which these brutes make night hideous.
! 81 u
the campl The poor beast must be in dis
tress. ! shall retire tonight convinced Of
the great periority Of travelling facilities in
the Northern States.
southerners may laugh at Yankees and
their shingle-whittling propensities, and
talk snesFingly about wooden uutmegs,
wooden oats, and oastgirop axes; but never
theless the fact is patent that in this part
Of the land, blessed with the peculiar in
stitution," there is needed q fright smart
sprinkle" Of Yankee enterprise. Every
thing is strikingly in contrast with the
thriving appearance Of things on the West
ern Reserve. If the HpoEeEs that be y
would permit the mechanics in the 4lst
Ohio to build churches and sShool-housesl
and then detaeh several hundred seheol-
teachers from among those in the regiment
this Southern country would become Sec
Onu We8tefn GeBerEo "IlBub quick
By the way, our regiment did not allow
New Years eve TO pass without an illumi-
nation. The camp was moved to tract o.
rolling ground wooded with oaks. The dried
leaves, with which the ground was thickly
covered, took fire from the camp fres, snG
all the evening the scene was magnificent
A long line Of fire swept over The hills
looking like monster Wide Awake process
{ sion, A strong west wind swept through
the Iea6ess branches Of the oaks, with
wsilinQ sound like that heard in Autumn
J During the night the wind changed an,
3 drove the danes down towards the encamp
ment. The GlsepinE tenants Of the tent