Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-02-14
Correspondence Of the Chroniolel
Echoes from Western Missouri.


On the 10th of Nov. last, 1 babe adieu
to the far-famed and romantic scenery on
the Upper Mississippi, lin the land of elm
dian NotorietY," or, as the Poet Longfel-
low would express it, in the land of the
Dacotahs, where dwells the beautiful
Minnehaha, or Laughing Waters.
At the head navigation, st. Paul, l took
fine steamer for Lacrosse. Truly moth
ing can surpaSs the grandeur you witness
in passing the numerous little Islands all
through the many small lakes Of the up
per Mississippi. Here took the central
Wis. & Mil R. R., to Milwaukee, from
thence to Chicago, where being in the
north western department., Twas ordered
to report and receive my commission
from the A. NJ society at New York, to
renew my labors among the Freedmen at
Warrensburg, No Spent two days here
waiting for the Missionary Teachers to
meet from different sections of the coun-
ty, and likewise receive their commits
sions and letters of instruction, &c.
At O'Clock, P. NJ, on the second day,
twelve ladies with Supt. of Freedmen's
Bureau at Yicksburg, were call aboard"
for st. Louis, from whence all except my
self were to proceed down the river to
different points. -
Some had just enlisted into the hard
ships, pIivations and trials incident to
this self-sacrifcIng cause, land experience
only can describe them.) Others ike
myself had been spending their vacations
in cool, sslubrious climate, for the pur-
pose of recruiting health and renewing
their physical strength. .s,-5 ...-
When we took the omnibus at st. L
to cross the Father of Waters it caused
sport among the drivers to see the Supt.
counting his crew of ladies, as he inVaria-
bly, did, when ever we had occasion to
change in any way, to see that none of US
were lost.
The next day took the cars for Jeffer-
son city where had purposed to spend a
few days with Mrs. NJ. and daughter. sis
ter Missionaries at that place. Spent the
first day in the colored school, where
wish all could witness the exhibition that
/ did, it certainly could not fail to silence
the cavils of those opposed to the educa'
ton of the Anglo-African race, on the
ground that they have not capacity for
learning. .f -.+-.... -...,...., .- =.
Also spent half day at Gov. Fletch-
ers, from thence visited the same Peni-
tentiary where a few years ago, George
Thompson, James Burr and Alansoh
Work, students of Oberlin, o. for aiding,
abbetting and enticing slaves, were sen
fenced to twelve years imprisonment, and
the identical place where three years ago,
for teaching the ignorant and despised
their A. B. c., 1, too would have been
hand cuffed and placed therein. As ]
witnessed the many rebels and bush
whackers at their daily toll. for their dis
loyal deeds, ahl exclaimed 1, how the
tables have turned, surely, Vengeance
is mine, will repay, saith the Lord" I"
When 1 reached my old post at W,
l found the small pox prevailing to such
an extent that all the schools were closed.
Soon as possible was vaccinated, and
commenced with eight or nine that had
recovered from the same. 'All is WelP'
now, and 1 have large hourishing school.
There is a minister sent by the A. NJ. so
ciety from 0berlin, O., for the purpose of
organizing a Congregational Church here
Ia thing totally unheard of in this State
one year ago,) who has night school for
the adults. On every Friday evening,
both schools meet and listen to an adj
uTSSS lTOu SOlu6 ACyd1 pCI5Ou AAOA VIC
North, for l assure you, that same old
spirit of rebellion is only subdued here
outwardly, and dwelleth within, the same
as ever, the outward flames sre extin-
guished, but the Goals still glow.
But to change the subject, was great
ly amused at the description Col. Asper
gave in your paper, of Missouri, and can
not divine what his motive could have
been in thus representing it to be only a
little lower than the garden of Eden
For certainly the native Missourians
are all decidedly ignorant, desperately
selfish, treacherous, unsociable, (for the
want of sufficient knoWledge) and with
all abominsbly filthy. I would like to
ask if he ever stopped at any of the Ho-
tells, especially at Jefferson city. Every
thing from the largest to the smallest ar
ticles are sold at an exorbitant price, so
that no one without at least a small bank
need expect to remain here long in a half
comfortable condition. Of the indolehce
of the inhabitants, their shabby barns,
old dilapidated houses, filthy streets,
miserable fences, will speak for them
selves. The women sit, smoke and dip,
the men smoke, and drink whisky. Four
months more ends my tarry herein forev-
er and ever. c. A. R. BRIGGS.