August 2, 1864
The Supervisors of the County will meet at the Court House at 10 o'clock this morning to consider the bounty question. We intimated yesterday that apprehensions were entertained that the Board would not probably comply with the request of the meeting held this night one week ago, and order a levy to provide three hundred dollars for volunteers. These apprehensions are not, we think, likely to be realized. We believe, from all that we could year yesterday, that the levy will be ordered, although not, perhaps, by a unanimous vote. It would be desirable to have a unanimous vote on so important a matter, if possible, but still a majority can just as rightfully and as authoritatively lay the levy6. It is probable that the question of back bounty will be separated from the main questions, which is to give three hundred dollars to each of the two hundred and forty men required under the late call. In this way the business will be facilitated. Some will no doubt vote for the bounty now required, who would not vote for it if it were made to include back bounty. We hope that the question will be thus divided and a disagreement prevented. The thing which we have now to look in the face and provide against is the present demand upon us. It can do no good to complicate this present necessity with any other question and thus cause both to fall to the ground.
That a bounty instead of a draft is the popular desire in this county, no one can doubt. If the question had to be voted on at the polls, it would carry overwhelmingly. Of this there can be no doubt. Those who are liable to the draft constitute as large majority of the voters of the county, and we know of few such who are not anxious that the levy should be made. It is natural that they should be thus anxious. Most of them, as a matter of course, can much better afford to pay taxes than to leave home and business, and were the taxes consequent on a levy to be double or triple as much as they will under any circumstances be, yet still would the majority vote for the levy, and for the reason given.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: August 1864