Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-14

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and fruitless assault was made by the
baffled foe. 1t was a day of glorious deeds
and of Federal victory.
Horrible Prosecutions of Union Men in
Kentucky.
Hon W. C. Grier, a member of the Ken
lucky Senate, and Union man, formerly
of Ravenna, Portage county, writes to the
editor of the Ravenna Democrat history
of the horrible prosecutions which he has
undergone. When we read such things
our blood boils within US, and, like Mr.
Grier, we are for "confscation, subjuga-
ton, determination, and hell and damna-
ton" of the rebels and all like Vallandig-
ham who defend their cause Read the
letter:
CINCINNATI, October s, 1862.
L. W. Hall, RdUsnna, Portage county Ohio:
DEAR SIR: In great distress of mind, l
will attempt to recount to you the misfor-
tunes and troubles have rann~'iy- i-~d 70
encounter in Kentucky. l am now re-
fugee. The torch of the incendlary rebel
- Lo0u put " my mills, my store and my
dwelling. All is consumed; the labor Of
twenty years is destroyed. On last Wednes-
day night the rebel cavalry of John H. Nor
gan, to the number of eight hundred, en-
camped within two miles of my place.
Through the whole night they were mo-
mentarily expected to come upon us.
Every person lett the road and hid in the
i l. c-
near her confinement, and my anxiety for
her kept me near my dwelling, but to allay
her fears for my safety had to appear to
be absent. Nothing occurred during the
night As the morning dawned, l went
further from my house, and took view
of the premises and the roads leading to
them. 1 could see no rebels, and deter
mined to see my wife, let the consequences
be what they might As 1 was near my
door, eight rebels suddenly appeared be-
fore me, with their guns presented to my
breast, and took me prisoner. Soon the
whole rebel band was upon me. Morgan
cursed the men for taking me prisoner,
saying that he had ordered them to shoot
me down upon sight. He then opened my
store door, and told his men to rife it of
everything they desired and then set fire
to it. l implored him not to do so, as it
was so near my dwelling that it would also
be consumed. / informed him of the con-
dition of my wife-for myself asked
nothing, but begged of him, in common
humanity, not to destroy my wife and little
children. lie answered, with fendish
oath, that he intended to burn everything
1 had-he would put fire to my house, and
burn my wife and children up in it-he
would wipe out the whole Abolition con-
cern. This threat was Gpplauded by many
of his men, who said they went in for kill
ing men, women and children. was then
placed upon horse, without n saddle, and
conducted me to the front Of their column,
and orders were given to shoot me down if
fired upon by bushwackers, as they styled
them. assured them they would be fired
upon if the people had any spirit, and l
believed they had. When they saw the con-
fagration of their homes, they would way
lay and fire upon them, even if their num-
Der was ten times greater. After firing my
property he oE9ga V 9gs 59ae Past bBs ms yo74 and
loyalty to your Abolition Government pret-
ty expensive, don't your"
of the men that took me prisoner removed
me from my position in front, and placed
me in his company, near the rear. Imme-
diately upon entering the woods, they
were fired upon. was surprised that
was not shot Morgan rode past and de-
manded the reason l was not shot as he
had ordered. They said they had not
heard the order. He told them if fred
upon again to shoot the prisoner. They
then amused themselves by pointing their
guns at me and saying they wished they
could hear gun, that they might have the
pleasure of shooting me. After some time
we were ordered to advance, and were soon
again fired upon. l heard the guns click
behind me, and felt sure that my end was
right near at hand. Their Captain, John
I. Williams, ordered them not to fre-that
il was cold blOoded murder. He said that
MS men had taken me prisoner, that he
was not yet mustered into the service, and
lid not belong to General Morgan's COM
nand, and would not obey him in this, but
would take me to West Liberty, and put
ne in jail till further orders. This was
some relief to me, you may be assured. !
Thus we proceeded for nearly twelve miles, |
ny friends, the bushlohaekers, emptying
saddle every few minutes, and my captOrs |
setting fire to every Union mans house as
hey went.
At last they commenced falling close
lround me- Ny guardian friend, the Cap
ain, said he could not save me any longer.
soon took advantage of the excitement
and jumped from his horse and
led to the woods, unobserved, and made
ny escape. reached where had been my
home at dark. found my wife had been
carried by some kind ladies to an unoccu-
2ied house, and physician was with her,
who said he would stay with her. 1t was
not more than twenty mibutes till Nor
yan's guerrillas were again upon me.
escaped through the fields to the woods,
making my way to Portsmouth, thirty five
niles, my nearest point of complete safety,
where I arrived next morning, without
'ood, sleep or rest. 1 Immediately came
o this city, where there was owing me
.bout seventy-hve dollars, with which
will purchase a Ballard rife and return to
he vicinity of my family, hide in the
woods and caves, and pick of every but
ernut see, until can get my family
lway to some place Of security, and then,
will not make peace with them.
Why is all this persecution Of me2 1t
s because 1 condemned this wicked re-
'ellion, urged a vigorous prosecution Of
his war, and in my place in the Senate Of
Kentucky, opposed the temorizing policy
,f my own party. For this I am burned
,ut and hunted out of Kentucky. am
low unequivocally for confscation, subju-
cation, determination and hell and dam
nation.
should like to hear from my old friends
n Portage county, none of whom have
orgotten. My address will be, for some
ime to come, Portsmouth, Ohio.
Yours, respectfully,
W. G. GRIER.
(An loyal papers please copy.)