The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-03-20
Letter from Soldicr-Travels Throngh
the Interior OF Missouri.


WE arc permitted to make the following extracts
from soldiers letter to gentleman in this place
1t is descriptive Of travels and incidents in Mis-
souri,:
ain travelling through Missouri as a soldier |
found many characteristics in the people which I
had not been Accustomed TO fud in Ohio The
dwellings, generally are of n rude class and the
people, although in country Astounding in rich
soil, forests, mines Hnd good climate, give eyi-
dent signs OF poverty. Only occasionally is to be
met the well furnished mansion of the rich planter
"There areevicn,ly two classes in Missouri the
Grstocrat, with lis wealth; and the poor man, with
his poverty. Throughout the State a schoolhouse
is not to be found, the people suppose, being too
poor to build and support thcu and the planter pre-
ferriug account of his pcsitiun to send his chill
dren TO the cities TO be educated | have not seen
schoolhousc in Missouri, although have marched
hundreds of miles over its soil But in places
where they might bc exp cted ure houses with the
suspicious superscription, "Grog," " "Groggcry."
These are lamcntabe facts.
at is natural for the people, raised from gcncr-
alton to generation in ignorance to be looked upon
by the planter, surrounded by his slaves and plan
tions MS the lower class OF society II is natural,
too, for them to be made the tools Of their ambitious
schemes. to be concntcdly ignorant and impovei-
lSllG0. TINS class OI pSoplS, from cuuClIhn, Is
made unwittinglv, to support and even tenacious
w. too the very institutions which bring them 10
the earth How well qualified are they to carry on
the guerrilla war, and how eagerly sought for and
obtained
every cabin that was passed contained only
women and children, the men having gone to fight
the battles of their masters. But every planter is
loud in the protestatons of his loyalty and OF his
willingness TO make great sacrifices for the support
of the government. They are so anxious to impress
this upon our marching armies, that they instruct
tbnir slaves To tell the soldiers that they good
Union men" But these sable children are not so
anxious to prove their masters loyalty. They feel
the great Injustice AMI wrongs that have been
bnoncd mn"n them. and d, not feel compelled to
swerve from the truth to shelter their traiorouS
deeds Their answer u the query Is your mas
ter n good Union mani Is, " MaSsa says II any
body asks YOU if | am a good Onoh man, tcl en-
YES, Massa is fust rate Union man; but believe
he's downright secesher.' Or again, MasSa is
a good Union man since you sogers come; but he
wasn't so fore dat time
at has been said that what Is in man when
he's sober will come out When ne utunh. one
dnv. as one Of the good Union men was riding over
his plantation, considerably intoxicated, he tound
au empty room of one of his negro houses taken
possession of for company hospital. he lmnle-
datelv ordered the sick 10 be removed ahI Said,
iIl-huinnredIv: I've been in the habit ot dlspus-
ing of nv property as pleased, and here you've
ia en- my fields for forts, cut down my trees ana
taken nv house for hospital, without ever saying
y word to me ahou. it. | cant ana won stnhu II.
But he lid stand -, ma mute 10 uidSl s'ihd
that he couldn't run over soldier as he touli uIs
slaves The same man owns iamly OF Slaves
that live in another room Of the same mouse the
hospital is in consisting ~ all niu "tll't-heauea
Grandmother her son and grndcml"teh. re-
n,,rlcA ono dav TO the old WOMAN that she WAS
getting old. yes said she, : Sc Pufty 0t0 sc
over a hundred wears; Sc seen ''Tner'i "Shihg-
tons army guin' nast our hcu,a IN LoWcezJ county
n their way to Richmond. was littlc SlrI tiien
= 4 I SlnI HOM k.It