Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-08-28
Letter rom the South.
CUMBERLAND CRY, TENNESSEE,
August 18th, 1867.


August 18th, 1867.
Friend RitezeL:-Unless you understand
geography better than L do, you will be
at a loss to know where the above city Is
located; so l will tell you: 1t is on the
left bank Of the Cumberland river, TWEEN
ty-one miles below GAINESVILLE, and it is
the last point on said river that the Louis
vile and Memphis r. r strikes the same.
The city consists of a station house, with
store in one end of It, one other small
store and grocery and three OF four dwell
ing houses. Within nine miles of this
place, on the river, lives John Bell, at
the ruins Of his old iron works. Some
say he is very poor in purse and in health;
so much 50 hat he lives without servants,
and that his wife does the drudgery of the
house. This, however, 1 think is doubt
full, as the best of servant can be had for
from 10 cents TO Sl,00 per week. In this
place are also several dilapidated iron works
and Il few that are still in operation ;
amongst which, is the Rough and Ready
Furnace, owned by Joseph T. Johnston,
q wealthy slave holder of that arls-
tocratic town of GAINESVILLE. We visited
this place and remained a couple of days
under the hospitalitiss of Mr.. Johnston
and his estimable lady. | have no doubt
but that he is 8 true specimen of tho old
fashioned Southern slave holder, and he
now says he would not have slavery estab-
lished again if he could do it tomorrow ;
but he, like many others of the same
tribe whom 1 met, thinks that as they now
give up whipped, they should have the
right to vote as well as the negro, who he
claims as a general thing don't know how
or who TO vote for; and to satisfy us that
such was the case he cited a mere boy who
they took up aud elected to the Legislature
in an adjoining county, and another who
used to arrive oxen for him, and without
commonest kind of education or talent.
But enough of this.
The crops of all kinds look wellRnd are
going to be abundant. In this section ev-
rides on horse back. l seen 8
B%utternut gentleman and his skinny wife,
who had come twenty miles through the
hot sun TO trade at one of these stores
They carry old fashioned saddle. bags, an
article which many Of your younger read
ers never saw. Dry goods are spread on
he saddle, and the rider gets on TOP, groce-
put into the saddle-bags. But this
had a small looking glass, some Z
2y . inches, which they were at q loss how
% carry without breaking; but woman's
ertile brain came in play, by Mrs. But
,ernut depositing the same in the place in
which our Northern ladies carry so much
,otton. One of these one-horse store
was the most vindlctive and rabid
'ebels We came across; said among other
outrageous things, that if he had q hun
lred acres or more Of cotton to pick. he
would let it rot before he would employ
my darkey that voted for Brownlow.-
This chap boosted Of being a Confederate
'ticer, but by some means he managed to
,et 8 vote, to which he had no more right |
han you would have here. In fact, this
the most rabid, SecsSh county in the
state, and IN which they carried their
icket, Notwithstanding the negro voted
gainst them. p,
This, however, is q rich section. Eve
can be raised here that can be in
)hio, and much more prolific; and in Rd-
-ition, they raise the best tobacco, cotton
nd sweet potatoes, &c. The days are
bout as hot for weeks, as ours in Ohio in
he hottest days, but the nights here are
and pleasant; and a few miles back
rom the river, neither the song or bill of 1
moEqueto will disturb your slumber. 1t s
to be, and in fact they all say 1t is {
cry healthy Here, they eat water mel {
Ons, green corn and all kinds of fruit,
Without any unpleasant effects whatever.
In speaking about Nashville in my for
her letter, 1 said nothing about the many
of interest, such as College Hill,
nd other parts. The splendid suspension
across the Cumbeland here, is s
igher than your Court House The great s
or mineral spring, the water of
Thich is peddled every morning and even
around the streets, at 5 cents a glass.
nvalids resort 70 drink of the same, hut 1
ont like it. Near here, too, is the her
iitage, and many magnificent country
Eats, with costly sculptures, that might
e visited and described with interest; but
ne weather being so very hot, l must fore (,
o the pleasure f.;
Again 1 have used all my paper, and l !
lust quit. Yours, b. j. g. I