Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-25


hundred and twenty odd Regiments, that
swell the columns Of the "Grand Army of
the Republic"
II impossible to associate or converse
much with the intelligent part Of the citi-
zens of Kentucky without being impressed
with the belief thtt great change is ta-
king place in public sentiment upon the
subject Of slavery. There are but few Abo-
Gtionists here, that is, thorc are but few
persons who would be willing to see the
slaves set free and made He eqVohs of phite
mea-the idea Of Aboitionisrh as represen
ted by thepfo. Slavery press of the North
and the Secession press Of the South-but
the great body Of the loyal men of Ken.
tueky, who arc the wealthy and influential
class, and many Of thom large slave. owners,
i--are Of tho opinion that there never will
he permanent peace to the country. until
the "pubbc mipd rests IN the belieE that siqu-
ery MS POLITICAL INSTITUTION is in a state
of ertiction." ..... |
A very prominent citizen of the State,
who lives near the Southern border, at pres.
ent an aid on Gen. Jackson's staff said to
me day or two ago, 81 am an hereditary
slave owner, have been all my life slave
holder, and am opposed to Abolitionism las
above dcscribed) but tell you, sir, from
my knowledge OF the institution and the
manner in which IL has been usod as n po-
litical hobby, this country never will have
lasting peace until the institution Of slavery
as political power, is whipped out" "Sir,"
said he, "the shareholders are many of
them good Union men, and the negroes are
better of in slavery tllati they would be If
they were free, but the designing doma-
rogues Of the South have made use Of the
institution to prejudice the ignorant here
just as they have at the North, and they
really believe that the extinction Of il would
result in negro equality and amalgamation,
with all the horrid and revolving imaqin-
inrs connected Herewith and no argument
will avail to convince them that their
daughters viii not be compelled to marry
or associate with their negro slaves as soon
as they shall be freed Out Of this ignor.
ance, this prejudice, this misrepresentation
Of facts, has grown this huge rebellion. -
The institution Of slavery Is at the bottom
Of it, and, although it is not the actual
cause, it is the pretext and has been made
the medium through which traitors have
poisoned the minds of tho ignorant masses,
and we have rebellion as the result, and we
say let the pretext perish with the result. ="
But, to tho order to march" above re-
ferrcd to and the result Of what we supposed
to be ION to Richmond" movement.
At 81 A. NJ, we were aroused by the
sound Of the revielle, and proceeded at
once to get our breakfast and pack up our
traps-two days rations having been pre-
viously cooked and put in the haversacks,
and one hundred rounds ammunition pro-
vided, as directed in the order. The Regi-
ment was formed in line at o'clock, and
shortly afterwards moved in the direction of
Louisville, on the Louisville and Bardstown
pike, until we arrived at tho junction Of
Broadway and the pike. We went down
Broadway some distance, and were halted
in the middle of the street and kept stand
ing there in the hot sun until near O clock,
when the Brigade was drawn up in line, at
open ORDER and shortly afterwards General
jackson and staff rode down their front at
canter, stopping occasionally to gather up
q boquet thrown to him by the ladies, until
he had rode the whole length of the line.
The brigade was then thrown by platoon
into column and moved down Broadway to
18th st., down 18th to Main st., up Main
st. to the Bardstown pike and out the Bards-
town pike towards our old camp, distance
Of eight or nine miles, through crowded,
dirty streets, the weather oppressively hot,
marching in close column, cifhom being
permitted TO hah fora single nlon,eats s rest.
1t was not strange that tho men, overcome
by the heat and exhausted by fatigue, fell
out by scores, unable to stand up or move
any further forward. We arrived in oamp
at about 4 o'clock in tho evening with
remnant Of our brigade-less than one. fourth
Of it, the rest of it having stopped by the
waysde, in worse condition than we
would have been after week properly con.
ducied marching
What all this was for, we have not been
able to learn, and with our limited capacity
are unable to imagine, unless it was to
gratify the inordinate vanity of mushroom
Generals and tickle the fancy of the thous.
ands of able-bodied, professed Union men
who lined the sidewalks Of the streets al we
passed through them, evidently we'll pleased
with our solid columns, and the sight Of the
glittering bayonots carried by the strong
arms Of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois troops
for the protection Of their city and their
property, whilst they were permitted to
enjoy tho comforts of home, Us If in the
midst Of peace and security.
Our Regiment marched through town in
good order, and came into camp in better
order, as far as we have been able to learn,
than any other Regiment in the brigade.
The officers OF tke Rao;o,art tooL Al