Cleveland (OH) Daily Herald, "Slave Stampede in Kentucky," October 31, 1863

Slave Stampede in Kentucky. – A very respectable slaveholder from Kentucky informs us that, within three weeks past, a change seems to have come over the spirit of the negroes’ dreams in the Southern counties of that State, and large numbers of them are running off. He says that over one hundred and fifty have escaped from one county, and the trouble is increasing. In spite of the enormous prices which the great Kentucky staple, tobacco, is bringing slaves have depreciated greatly in value. A very large portion of the slave-owners say that slavery is hopelessly destroyed, and that they are willing to acquiesce in any disposition which may be made of the slaves. This sentiment is rapidly spreading among the people. The Union men are almost unanimously opposed to the factious and sellers course of the pro-slavery bigots at the Louisville and Frankfort. – Nashville Union