The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
LATEST FROM BREATHITT.

The boys have converted the Court House into
quite comfortable quarters and are about as lively
set you will find anywhere. 1t is now eight O'Clock
at night and, having partaken of good supper they
amusing themselves in various ways. Some are
engaged in conversation playing cards. and
a choir led by Frank Hutchinson. of the McCreary
Guards, is giving some old time songs, such as
"Massa's in dc Cold, Cold Ground "Old Black joe
and my Old Cabin Home" They are really good
singers and it gives pleasure to listen to them
found in the Court House patent armchair that is
just the thing to write on. light candle. then
melt some OF it on the table part of the chair and
stick end of the candle in hot talow. When it
cools have first rate light and am fixed for work.
The chair sits right at the foot of the judges stand.
Sad commands good view of the whole room.
have but objection the boys, and that is they
are the nosiest set OF fellows / 1t would
take Jerry Littes gang and forty others just like it
to reduce Camp Taylor to a comparative state OF
quietude and the only relief to be found from the
terrible din is to work while the boys asleep. I
presume it would take another civil to break the
boys of this habit hence there is not much prospect
OF change during the Breathtt campaign.
COMPLIMENT TO CAPTAIN TAYLOR.
Captain Taylor having done his whole duty to the
men the march to Jackson they complimented him
to-day by naming the camp after him. He is an ex-
celent officer and is not only respected but wellked
by every member of the command Lieutenant Buck
commands like veteran. Lieutenant Thompson
moves about with the quiet air OF an old soldier and
does his duty admirably WELL Lieutenant Swigert
provides the eatables, and is at work all the time.
Last night and to-day the weather was very cold.
but the has at last begun to shine on u.s. and that
is enough to fill all with joy after enduring much
rain and snow. The people say the men who came
here before were not the best soldiers they ever
saw They say those who are here conduct
themselves in a different manner altogether to the
Others and they are much pleased with their appear
and manners. They say many OF those who
here in 1874 would contract for things to be sent
to the quarters be paid for there, and that the
last OF it. Captain Taylor's men pay promptly for
everything they get. This morning Lieutenant
Swigert left horse for Mount Sterling, where he
goes to make arrangements for additional supplies
and to attend to other matters connected with mill
tary affairs. Jackson has the appearance of regular
military station and there is but little business being
transacted. 1t reminds OF the little towns that
overrun by the soldiers OF both armies during
the There are two stores open, but they have
only limited supply OF goods. The county could
not be in y much more deporable situation.
A REIGN TERROR.
A reign of terror prevails, and most Of the good
citizens keep away. fearing they will be assassnated
The different factions undoubtedly watching each
other closely and ready to take advantage of the
smallest exhibition of weakness. l venture to say
that Breathitt county to-day is the worst place to
live in in the United States. and no human tongue
tell how the people are going to extricae them
we arrived here forty fifty people were assembled
to the soldiers march in Since then the streets
have been almost deserted by men in citizens dress
heard one of the Little party say to-day that he
wished they would declare martial law in the county
and not stop until peace was permanently made He
said some OF the men who belonged to his party de-
served punishment as bad as anybody and he hoped
it would be meted out to them.
None of Bill Strong's particular followers have
yet made their appearance but Judge Linden, the
newly elected County Judge, told me to-day that
Strong would come III before long. From what
have heard believe it is the intention Of some par
ties to watch the road and waylay him and his party
when they start to town. There will be no shooting
in town. but would not be surprised at any moment
to hear Of other murders in the county. The read
here cannot imagine what bitter feelings exist be-
tween the factors. and it does seem that neither
party will be satisfied with anything but more blood.
ovERAwED by A FEW MEN.
few men have simply overawed the peaceablc
and law abiding citizens. and they are permitted to
day chock full Of apple brandy and he made it lively
for while. man by the name Of Markham, who is
a sympathizer Of Strong, met Jerry this evening and
started to say something to him. Jerry stepped up
to Markham and very coolly knocked him down with
his fist. Markham got up and went away without
saying word or Offering any resistance. The two
stores were Immediately closed by the proprietors,
but no other difficulty occurred. Yesterday evening
as passed along the street saw two men engaging
IN q war of words. One OF them said, Ibid you say
1 stole your pistol p The other made some reply
and whipped out long hnife and brandished it
Overwhelmingly in his antagonists face but they sepa
rated without coming to blows. Two men got into
q difficulty o short time before that, when one
of them knocked the other "hees over appetite" a.
the soldiers say who witnessed the lick Ii the SOL
diers had not been here 1t is more than probable that
each Of these difficulties would have resulted in
bloodshed. Several of the natives drunk tonight
and to use slang phrase. seem to be spelling for
fight. They have got SO used to violence and blood
shed they do not think anything OF jerking out pis
toll and blazing away at tor the least kind OF
insult and in many cases they shoot at man just to
him run. was entertained last night for two or
three hours by three young men narrating some of
the incidents that have happened here in the past few
years. Incidents OF men being shot ut III the dark
and often hit arc too numerous to mention. and it
a n ri fha nnn nft hnaA
who have been hit with rocks and bricks.
Not word had been heard here from Judge Ran
dali The people unanimous III the opinion that
if he does not hold court while the soldiers here
he never will hold one. When he here before q
man drew a murderous looking knife the
Judges breast and said, Damn you, would Just
as cut your heart out as not. What is best to
be done it is hard anybody say but action
should be taken by the Governor and without any
very great delay either.
There has been disposition on the part of some
persons to treat the Breathtt county trouble rs
somewhat of joke but the time has gone by for that
.ed-handcd murder stalks forth in broad daylight
over the Breathit hills and through the Valleys and
nearly every man you meet might almost be termed
a walking arsenal. Men strap their huge pistols
around them and do not attempt to conceal the fact
that they carry them constantly.
EVERYBODY ARMED.
Everybody is provided with the most improved
brands OF revolvers and rifles, and people know
better how to use them. 1t is a common thing for
men brag about the men they have killed and about
those they intend killing. An old lady told last
night that she would rather start out on foot and
take nothing Will her out the clotneS on X,
and hunt place where people live in peace. than to
endure what she has in the past few years. Her
house. she says, has been red into time and again,
and for many nights she has remained in state of
terror, expecting every moment TO hear bullets
crashing through the windows, doors and weather.
boarding. Her house is already full Of bullet holes,
aud the strife continues she will have to stop them
up TO keep out the cold. say in all SERIOUSNESS that
am not writing to create sensation but simply
giving statement of affairs that really exist hera
would rather live the Western plains and take the
chances OF being scalped by Sitting Dull ts. to live
in Breathitt county ut the present time. Governor
Mccreary will not perform the duty he owes to the
State until he brings about different state
OF affairs here. at least makes very
determined effort to do II it requires q
regiment of soldiers to accomplish the desirable end
they ought to be mustered in and sent here. There
is one thing certain and that is it is going TO be
more trouble than the Governor dreams of to stop
the continued flow of blood and make Breathitt
county place where men can so about their daily
avocations without the grim spectre Of death staring
them all the time in the face.
A RAILROAD THE COUNTRY.
I hold to the opinion expressed in a former letter
that the Improvement of the kentucky River and
the building of n railroad through this region will
IA tay ward rslesfuuu the urip NJ