As far as Meadow Bluff, 15 miles from
Lewisburg, the country is interspersed by
beautiful & well cultivated farms.
The country up to the above point is
lime stone & peculiar for its grazing
properties. West of that place Mountain
upon Mountain surrounds you in every
direction. Comparatively little land is
cultivated. The inhabitants generally
are a hand-to-mouth people, illiterate,
ignorant, wimple, with no society,
little communication with cities &
towns. Generally they are honest &
well-meaning. Nearly all east of
Gauley River are loyal to the State, or
remain quiet, believing in the maxim
of Ovid "In medio tutisseums ibis."
Several were arrested who certainly gave
aid & comfort to the enemy & sent to Lewis-
burg. Others fled to their Northern
friends in whose embrace they were
doubtless safer than in the hands of
their offended Southern Brethren.
As I anticipated, I found the whole
country incensed with Wise, who they
insist deserted them without cause & left
them to ^'the' mercy of the ruthless invader.
One common opinion prevails about
Gen. Floyd viz-that he is emphatically
the man for the place & times. He pleased
old & young -- was viewed as their liberator
& protector. What the future may dis-
cover, I know not, but my earnest hope is,
that this feeling towards him may
remain unaltered & unchanged.
"In medio tutisseums" = You will be safest in the middle
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