Affairs in the Kanawha valley : Sale of Salt.
October 9, 1862
--A letter in the Lynchburg Republican, from Charleston, Kanawha county, Va., dated the 2d instant, says Gen. Loring is still at that place. It adds:
The Yankees made a dash on Gen. Jenkins's command, a few days ago at Buffalo, supposing he was happing. The attack was make early in the morning by some 500 cavalry and infantry, while the valley was covered with fog. They approached close enough to be seen, when Gen J. let loose upon them with a howitzer, which scattered them like chaff. Our forces pursued them about 9 miles, but owing to the dense fog, thought it prudent to stop pursuit, for fear of falling into an ambush.--Recruiting is progressing very rapidly, many of the old infantry companies having been filled already, and cavalry companies forming without number.
It is reported that our cavalry have three steamboats blockaded at the mouth of the river, or near Guyandotte. The Yankees run them aground on the opposite side of the Ohio, where they now are, in consequence of the low stage of water, unable to get them loose, and our forces too small there to take them.
The Salt Works are doing a splendid business out here at present. Hundreds of wagons are loading and going east. There was a meeting of Saltmakers, a few days ago, for the purpose of establishing a uniform price for the article at 8 per bushel, when they have been glad to send it to Cincinnati and other river ports, heretofore, at from 20 to 25 cents, according to the state of the markets, and now refuse to let our Eastern people have it for less than $1. But I am happy to say that there was one man unwilling to go into this meeting, and his name was He has sold and continues to sell at 50 cents per bushel, saying be can afford to sell to the Southern Confederacy as cheap as to Yankees. Parties have been trying to buy all he has on hand and all he can make at his own price; but he understands them, and refuses to sell to speculators.
There is a great distinction made here by the citizens and merchants between Confederate money and U. S. enemy. Persons having anything to sell will dispose of it to you, always prefacing it with the remark, "if you pay me in U. S. money, or gold or silver, you can have it for so much (old prices,) but if I have to take Confederate money, I must have so much." generally from 200 to 400 percent. higher than they were selling the same goods to the Yankee soldiers. So much for the good feeling here for Southern soldiers.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: Undated October 1862