Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-14


The Princeton IN. J.) Standard has a
letter from niece Of Rev. Dr. Il. j. Breck-
inridge of Kentucky, dated Lexington, KY. q,
July %, 1862. The Standard introduces it
as follows:
DR.. Breckinridge was at his country seat
about seven miles from Lexington, and, as
| Morgan's Cavalry were expected to make
q raid on Lexington, DIR. b. urged his female
his place for security They did so. One
day, while DIR. b. had gone to town expect
ing to return atslx o'clock in the evening,
compauy Of mounted Texan Rangers an.
peared at his residence and planted guard
around it, several armed men having made
repeated inquiries as to the hour when Dr.
Il. was expected TO return from town. Sever
al efforts were made by the family to apprise
DIR. B. Of the danger that awaited his re-
! turn, but the messengers were all intercept
ed by the pickets except one, who, by ma
king q wide circuit succeeded in reaching
the road ON which DIR. b. was returning Just
in time to prevent him from riding into the
lines of his lOod-thirsty robbers.
Providence thuA delivered this valuable
Union man, whose services have been so
eminently useful to the National cause in
Kentucky and elsewhere, from the violent
han1s of his enemies and the enemies of
his country, who sought to murder him, or
at least to drag him into captivity worse
than death. Let God be praised for this
deliverance.
a man who has been so inspired by God
with courage, wisdom, patriotism, and in
trepid loyalty is especially under the watch
ful care of God, who orders all his steps,
and delivers him from his enemies. This
cowardly attempt to seize private citizen
"a venerable clergyman-has aroused the
Kentucky blood, and, as might be expected,
the fendish banditti. which have invaded
loyal State, with rapine and murder, are
compelled to flee for their lives before the
hot pursuit of the citizen soldicry.
Perhaps DR.. Breckenridge has done all
for his country that he can do, except to die
for it. He certainly has done much and
it the Union cause now demands the sacri-
fee of his life, he is doubtless ready to offer
it. But we trust that this mighty counselor
this bold defender of the Union-this
man so richly endowed with Christian
courage, sagacity and wisdom, may be
spared to the country, at least while the
storm is beating upon it,
The letter, which was hurriedly written
by niece, who was at the time in the
family of DR.. b., will be read with interest
EXTRACT FROM THE LETTER.
When came home from the hospital on
Saturday morning ! heard the first news of
Morgan's approach. He was near Lebanon,
and the people here were in perfect panic.
Our last regiment had gone day or two be
| fore, and fearing that troops could not reach
here from over the river, the Home Guards
were collected and thrown out on the Dan
vile road, as pickets, Morgan's approach
being in that direction, and some OF our poor
fellows from the hospital were put under
arms, in case of an immediate attack All
over the town guns and pistols were snap,
ping through that day and night, everybody
loading and getting ready for the worst, and
we did the same, turning the parlor into an
armory, for the determination was, if moth
ing else could keep the guerrillas out, tc
shoot from the houses at them. The mex
day Uncle Robert came into town, ant
urged and insisted that We, women anC
children, should 90 out to his farm, which
was place Of perfect safety, in the opposite
direction to that by which Morgan. was com
! ing, and leave the gentlemen free to joil
to Home Guards, and close the house If the!
chose. ..-.
I wanted to stay in town for | had kint
of instinct we should not be any safer in tn,
country, and then it would be so dreadful
to wait and watch aud wonder, and perhap
hear the firing in town, and have no new
how the battle was going on; but we wer
over persuaded, and started off on Sunda,
evening, a train of carriages, full of refu
gees. some of whom had come forty miles
fiyipg for their lives, to take refuge in Lex
ington, where they thought there were sol
diers and safety, many Of them the wive
and mothers of Union men for whom Nor
) gan had peculiar hatred for their activit
and influence, and had threatened them, a
he did Uncle Robert, with hanging as 500
as he caught them. The night passe
quietly, but was in no humor for sleep
, and SO stood picket for the rest. There
something terrible to me in being rouse
, from sound sleep by an alarm, and whe
there is any danger am more comf0rtahl
sitting up and listening, even if they di
laugh at me next morning. was sthankfr
! before all was over that had learned I
= = keep awake.
Il The next morning Uncle Robert insiste
. on going into town, stating, in answer 10 OF
. fears, that there was no danger, and that
. would be out at six in tho evening. W
were not very united family, for anon
us had come out some Secessionists, col
nected with us by certain ties and in dang,
i of some unpleasant scenes in town, as all IL
& Union men were much reused, and mar
houses were searched for arms, &C., but I
m mention was made of our opinions now
q Early in the afternoon man come and as
\. ed when Uncle Robert would come fro
,s town, and servant suspecting nothing, to
i. him. Soon atterward thr, other men cam
i. ali armed, asking the same thing and th
time our answer was very vague We d
m. not know, he might not (which was tru
: come at ALL There was evidently somethil
wrong. 1t could not have been many mi
utes after this that as | was sitting on d
o.. porch, looking through the trees at the b
sst distant hills, and thinking Of you all, Al
ii wondering when these stormy times wou
q. q. be over, and should see you again on
q more, il was as | was sitting so that W
ID aroused by hearing the servants calling,
Il each other to "look look ~ and then tn
- ali came running round the house, calling
me Is they went past, and ran down the
Nv in front Of me, and pointing up the 70
~ At that lay In full view some hundled yart
4 and then lost itself in the woods, ! look
"' "" a :. .1,,.oJ and oa xghat never sh