Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-02-19
WHOLE NO. 236S.
The Geography Of RebeIlion.

1t would be interesting to study the
Geography of the Rebellion; to trace its
progress and develOpment-the lines which
its bloody path describe upon the map OF
the country. 1t would be found that. ike
other storms, it depended upon certain
conditions of the atmosphere, moved in
certain determined circles, and obeyed
certain elementary laws. 1t would 10
found that it begun in the cities, and by
the shores of the sea; that it followed the
course of the ocean coast and the rivers;
that il progressed in the wake of steam
boats, and followed the windings of bays
and estuaries; that it stuck to the low
lands and the marshes; that it worked It's
way slowly and doubtfully into the inte-
rior, and has obtained even yet but pre-
carious foothold in the more pastoral re-
gions of the South. 1t would be found
that the points first tainted were Charles
ton and Sayannah-places commanding
both the sea and river; that the disease
followed up the streams Of South Carroll
ma and Georgia, attacked Mobile, New
Orleans and Galveston, worked its way up
the Alabama and Mississippi rivers, struck
at all the larger towns, tainting evenCairo
and other places in Southern Illinois, and
meeting its first check at St. Louis.
Another suggestive fact would be do
veloped: 1t would be found that the Re
belliOn had its beginning where Slavery
was the strongest; that its intensity was
measured by the density of that great so
cial curse; that as the proportion of slaves
diminished, it grew weak; and that in
those places where chattelism constituted
Z mere fraction Of the population it was
resisted, and is resisted still. Beaufort,
where the slaves outnumbered the whites
FIVE to one, was the nursing place of Trea-
son; Eastern Tennessee, where free men
are the rule and slaves the exception, re-
mains loyal!
And in this curious phenomenon lies
our chief hope for the salvation of the
7 ::::::5n. A large proportion of the terri
tory of the seeded States IS comparative
ly untainted by Slavery. A region Of
country-constituting what may be term
ed the Highlands of the South'-a re-
gion of country comprised Of the ridges
and slopes of the Allegheny and Cumber-
land Mountains, together with their vari-
Gus spurs and projections-a region Of
country which has had no part or parcel
in this Rebellion, but has on the other
hand, given indubitable evidence of 10y
alty-may, if once thoroughly penetrated
by our armies, be converted into an i'm
portant auxiliary Of the loyal cause
Western Virginia IS already emaneipated
from the tyranny of Secession. Eastern
Tennessee is waiting TO receive our troops
with open arms. The mountains Of Geor-
gia, of Alabama, of North, and even So1th
Carolina, to some feeble extent, at least,
are attached to the old flag. The South
is almost bisected by this mountainous
belt Of semi-loyalty. From the Eastern
base of the Alleghanies and Cumberland,
to Montgomery or CharlestOn-to Savan-
nah or Hilton's Heads not very long
distance. BY occupying Eastern Tennes-
see, stimulating the mountaiuers of Geor-
gia and North Carolina, and possessing
Nashville-the Rebellion would be broken
in two-its head would be severed from
its trunk.
This mountainous region comprises an
area of eighty-five thousand square miles
an area more than double that of New
Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Mass-
achusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire
combinedl And yet all this vast country
has done nothing to abet, but has done
much to resist, the rebellion.
1t viii be curious to note how small an
item Slavery is in the sum total Of the
population. In the thirty-eight counties
of Western Virginia, out Of population
of 2S3, ,796, there are only is, $40 slaves
InSOuthwestern Virginia-a region reach
ing into the Cumberland Mountains-
there are only 5000 slaves to &c, 200 FREQ
men-or ten freemen to one ehattel In
the Eastern Highlands of Kentucky the
disparity Ia still greater; while in Eastern
Tennessee, the Free element IS over
whelming.
And yet there are those who tell Us
that Slavery is not the quickening spirit
of this rebellion.-ABa1y Erssi1tg ,jossTzGi-