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no land cleared for grass or pasture so that riding over the country you are in the woods all the time. Furthermore there are a great many roads running in all directions, being nothing more than tracts made by cutting away the trees so that a wagon can get along. As I had never been in this part of the county before I found it very difficult to get along even in the day time but after dark I found it almost impossible. This was near the Tenn. River and I had to cross a great many creeks which emptied into the river -- Great many of the roads were changed on account of the water being so high that it was impossible to get along (We have no bridges) I got lost a number of times. It became very dark so that I could hardly tell whether I was in the road or not. Once in a while I would come to a log house and would be met by 19 big dogs. I would call up the inmates and get as good information as I could and push on. I crossed several creeks so deep that I was obliged too[sic] swim my horse -- At last I got to wandering about in the woods and could not find any road of any kind. I concluded that I would have to stay in the woods all night but made out to work out at last arriving at my destination about 10:00. I have taken up a good deal of room in telling of my trip but it will give you some idea of how we do things in Tenn. You wanted to know what the law abiding people here think will be the result of the present of affairs. The conservative