Hartford (CT) Daily Courant, "Slave Stampede in Kentucky," November 4, 1863

SLAVE STAMPEDE IN KENTUCKY. – The Nashville Union of the 27th says:

            “A very respectable slaveholder from Kentucky informs us that, within three weeks past, a change seems to have come over the negroes in the southern counties of that Sate, and large numbers of them are sunning off. He says that over 150 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 proportion 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 selfish course of the pro-slavery bigots at Louisville and Frankfort.”