WEST VIRGINIA
ADJUTANT GENERALS' PAPERS

Union Regiments
1861-1865
Ar382

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10th West Virginia Infantry
(Field and Staff, Companies A - K, Unassigned/Recruits)
Box 17, Folder 1

Transcription

Dear Sir,
I wrote to you ten days ago asking information in regard to the progress of the regiments that are in process of formation beyond the Seventh in order that I might determine in regard to my future action. I have spent a good deal of time and money (having been constantly engaged since I saw you) in travelling, getting up meetings, addressing the people and endeavoring to awake them to a sense of the duties that patriotism and a proper estimation of our free institutions imposes upon them in the present terrible crisis in our countrie's history. My labours have been attended with some success. I can have about five companies mustered into the service within two weeks from this time. I have two companies in Upshur that I had made arrangements with Lieut. Whitson (who has been appointed by Gen Rosecrans my mustering officer) to have mustered in last week but he was called by business to Wheeling and deferred it until his return. I had a squad mustered in at Weston last week which will be raised to a company I think within two weeks - I have a company in process of formation in Barbour which I have no doubt will be ready in ten days or less. I have a company in Doddridge that I supose to be nearly ready from the last account I had from it. I expect to organize a company from Braxton & Clay. I have men at work in Wood & Tyler who say they will succeed. I also have a company under way in this County. I have no doubt I could ultimately succeed in raising a regiment but I am anxious to be in the service and am unable to spend the time and money that it would require to raise a regiment by my own unaided exertions. I would therefore like to combine with some other person and form a regiment. I would prefer a pure Virginia regiment and therefore enquired of you in reference to the advancement of the different regiments that are in process of formation. Mr. Frost suggested to me that I might unite with Mr. Boggess of Roane.

I have written to Gen. Constable of Athens O. and will be obliged to you for any information that you may be able to give me that will forward my object. I have just seen Mr. Wiant from Gilmer who gives me a melancholy picture of the state of things there. There has been a great deal done amiss there by the military forces that have been sent there and a great deal left undone that will be bound to be done before they can have peace, quietness, and security in Gilmer. I have thought that if it meets you approbation I will as soon as I can get four companies mustered in organize a battalion and be detailed to Glenville inasmuch as I think I know just what will have to be done there to bring peace and quietness to that county. If this strikes you favorably you will please have twenty men placed at my disposal immediately that I may have certain individuals who are disturbers of the peace in that county arrested. They are now at home and may be taken at unawares but after a force shall have been sent into the county they could not be caught. Mr. Wiant will call on you and from him you can learn fully the condition of things there.

Please write at your earliest convenience and give me all the information you can, and instructions what to do.

Your friend
T. M. Harris

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TM Harris
Clarksburg
Oct 21st
Ansd by Me 22nd & Ansd to muster in 4 companies & would comm him Lt Col

Clarksburg Oct 25th/61
Gov. F H. Pierpoint,

Dear Sir
Yours of 23rd Inst was recd by me this morning.

In reply I would say your suggestions meet my approbation and are very satisfactory. I shall devote my attention now almost exclusively to the four companies that are nearest ready for service until I can have them mustered in which I think I can do before a great while.

I have just returned from Doddridge where there is a company pretty well advanced and which was commenced for my regiment but they have got in a number of men who will not agree to do anything but guard the R. R. and therefore they seek to form a connection with Col Wilkinson's regt but if they cannot get into that as a company they have agreed to attach themselves to my regt. Ephraim Bee has gone to Wheeling for them to see if he can get them into the 6th regt. If he can not they will apply to me to have them mustered in and they desire to be mustered in and detailed to the duty of guarding the R. R .in their own County for a while on account of the advantage that this position would give them for recruiting until the company is full. There is a man in that county Preston Randolph who does all he can against us. He voted it is true against the ordinance of Secession but he used his influence with others to get them to vote for it. He is an exceedingly busy man and is king over a large clan in Doddridge. He is continually denouncing the restored or Wheeling govt, and doing all he can to interfere with the success of those who are recruiting in that county. I herewith enclose you some certificates as specimens of his every day talk. My own opinion is that he ought to be removed from that county and held under arrest.

I got a captain of a cavalry company at Weston to undertake the expedition for which I asked twenty men.

Very Truly
Your friend
T. M. Harris

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TM Harris

Clarksburg Oct 29th/61
Gov. F. H. Pierpoint,

Dear Sir,
I have a squad of 26 men sworn in and doing duty under Capt Rowan of the first Va. Cavalry who is now commanding the post at Weston.

They are recruiting and when they shall have got all in that have engaged to come in within the next ten days will number about 50 men.

They are subsisted by the commissary there upon Capt Rowan's requisition.

If the company can be filled up with such material as they have got in thus far it will make a crack company. Their subsistence is charged to the 9th Va. I am anxious to have them placed in the best position they can be for filling up their company and to this end I would suggest that you have sent to the quarter master at Weston arms uniforms caps blankets shoes stockings shirts haversacks knapsacks etc for 100 men and then they will be able to provide for all the wants and comfort of their recruits as fast as they are sworn in. I would like to take a trip with them to Gilmer Co. on Thursday week where I think I should be able to have the company filled out so that it could organize.

Capt Tomlinson's Co. is now over the minimum Capt. Morgan's will very soon be up to the minimum I have a number of other companies progressing and hope to be able to muster into the service a battallion of four companies before a great while.

I am devoting my whole time to it.

Very Truly
Your friend
T. M. Harris
P.S. I would be glad if you would send to Buckhannon blankets clothing etc for Capts Tomlinson and Morgan's Companies T.M.H.

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T. M. Harris
Clarksburg Va
Oct 29th 1861
About his company wants arms, clothes etc

Parkersburg Nov 4th 1861
Gov. F. H. Pierpoint,

Dear Sir,
I have been canvassing this county during the past week, and find the prospect much improved since I was here before. It is true I have not succeeded as yet in having a company formed for my Regt. in Wood County but it has been because until recently the people were not awake to their duty, and because I was not authorized by you to extend the same facilities to those who undertook to raise companies for me that others have been who were engaged in recruiting Regiments. I fell in with a Captain King during my visit to the lower end of this county who was recruiting a company for the 10th Regt. and he was furnished with a recruiting commission under your authority by which he was authorized to swear in his recruits as soon as obtained and he said he was also authorized and prepared to clothe and arm them at once and provide for their subsistence. Now had I been authorized at the start to proceed in this way I doubt not I should by this time have had six or seven companies mustered into the service.

Why I was not I am unable to say. I entered upon this work in good faith at the solicitation of Gen Rosecrans who telegraphed to me inviting me to visit him at his Hed Quarters at Clarksburg and when I did so this was what he wanted with me and after canvassing the matter fully and assuring myself that I had both his good opinion and his good will I consented to engage in the work and by his advice made you a visit and thought I had your approbation and sanction in doing so. It is true your time was very much occupied during the time of my visit and I did not get an opportunity of conversing as fully with you on the subject as I desired but from what passed between us then and from our subsequent correspondence I thought the matter was rightly understood between us, and upon the strength of this I went to work at once and have laboured undefatigably from that time to the present. I have travelled over eight or ten counties and over some of them twice. I found the people every where lethargic not at all realizing the duty they owed to their country and their govt. I have spent my whole time in travelling and getting up meetings and addressing the people and have the most gratifying evidence that my labors have not been in vain. You have had no one engaged in recruiting who has done more towards awaking the people to a sense of the duty which they owe to their country in the present struggle than I have done. I now ask you to extend the same facilities to me in every respect that you have done to others. Give me authority to grant recruiting commissions to Captains and Lieutenants of companies and give orders to your Quartermasters every where to uniform, arm, subsist and provide for all the wants of recruits which these officers thus commissioned by me may recruit for the 9th Regt. and I have no doubt I can succeed. All I ask is a fair shake and as for the rest I will depend upon myself. But I have another complaint to make and that is this after I have with much labor and expence of time and money cultivated this field until it is about ready to yield a harvest you have commissioned a man to come into this field and reap the benefits of my labors. I allude to Mr. Rathbone and if he would but observe the honorable rules of gentlemanly conduct towards me I would not complain on the contrary he would be welcome as far as I am concerned to my success he might have, but I am sorry to say he does not observe these rules but is endeavoring to employ his money to buy up men who have been recruiting for me having offered as high as one hundred dollars to one of my men if he would transfer the result of his efforts to his Regt. instead of attaching his company to mine and himself and his runners have been fairly dogging this man to buy him off from me. Now if he is to be permitted to buy up the results of my labors I want to know it at once for he has a great deal more money than I have and if he has no more principle than to make his money supply his lack of brains popularity and business tact and is to be permitted to come this game over me the sooner I would retire from such a contest the better it would be for me. I understand he says money is no object to him and that he is willing to spend three or even five thousand dollars to get up a regiment so according to this if one hundred dollars will not buy a man he will increase it up to three or even five hundred. I cannot engage in this kind of a contest for the reason in the first place that I am not able to do it and in the second place if I were able I would not do it. I have a fair prospect now of success if I can have but a fair chance for it. I shall soon be able to muster a battallion into the service and have to the number of seven companies that I think are certain to succeed and I think the prospect is now good for filling out my Regt. I wish you to send recruiting commissions to this county as follows or authorize me to issue them VH Bukey Capt. Wm B. Paden 1st and Jas Barr 2nd Lieutenants for the 9th Regt. and issue orders for subsistence arms and clothing for their recruits and I shall soon have a company from this county.

I have no doubt that Wood County will yet yield two if not three companies more that she has yet done and I shall endeavor by the assistance of the leading union men here to make the acquaintance of suitable men to recruit for other companies as soon as the first shall have so far advanced as not to be embarrassed by their operations.

I want to know exactly the rule about recruiting commissions. Who grants them and what powers they confer. Capt King said he was empowered to swear men into the service and have them provided with everything. I would like to extend the same facilities at once to all that are working for my Regt, as well as to those I may hereafter engage. I would like to know whether a battallion will be entitled to a Surgeon. If so I want Dr Grant of Jane Lew appointed. I am sorry that circumstances have made it necessary to trouble you with so long a letter and hope for the future to be less tedious. I have written candidly and plainly and hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Please address me at Clarksburg.

Very Respectfully
Yours in great haste
T. M. Harris

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TM Harris
Parksbg
Nov 4th 61
Ansd 4th Nov 61
By HJS

Weston Nov 9th 1861
Gov. F. H. Pierpont,

Dear Sir,
I have just returned from Troy, in Gilmer Co., where I went to try to assist a Squad of boys that I had here in recruiting. I had a squad of 26 here, about whom I wrote to you the other day; I succeeded in getting their number up to 45, and will get 15 or 20 more from Gilmer as soon as we can get access to the whole people of the County, and there is now no doubt that this company can soon be got up to the minimum number for U. S. Service. As it now stands, they can organize by the election of a Lieutenant, and make requisitions for such things as they need, which will be a great improvement in their condition, as they are greatly in need of clothing etc. The calm which has prevailed in Gilmer for some time past, has proven deceptive, as I all the time feared that it would, and the county is now in possession of bands of lawless marauders, and robbers, who are robbing the union men of all their property, clothing, beds, bed clothing, even down to children's clothing, little shoes & stockings, and they have even gone so far as to take strings of beads off of the necks of little children. The union men are fleeing from their homes, and removing all the property that they can, and seeking anxiously for help in every quarter, but, unfortunately, there is no immediate help for them. There are no troops to spare from here; none from Clarksburg, and none from Parkersburg. There are three companies of the 3rd Virginia at Buckhannon, but there is no way of getting them ordered to Glenville, as telegraphic communication with Gen Rosecrans' Camp is cut off. The Hays's are at the head of these lawless bands. John E. Hays, and a certain Benjamin Haymond of Braxton have a camp in Gilmer of about one hundred men, and I understand they are augmenting their numbers by new recruits daily. They have already many of those men whose names are appended to that agreement amongst the citizens of Gilmer, which was published in the papers, in which they pledge to each other their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, that they will mutually aid each other in maintaining the peace and good order of society. They had determined that there should be no election on the new state proposition in the county, and no doubt would have prevented an election, had it not been that a part of a company of cavalry was sent out from here, the night before the election; they were not prepared for this, because they had not anticipated such a movement, and consequently had to permit an election to take place, but the secessionists all over the county began to announce that they would do their voting on the subsequent week; showing that they all knew what was on hands, and according to their promise, on the week subsequent to the election, they began to perpetuate these outrages.

They took four of the citizens of Glenville, and vicinity prisoners and held them for two or three days. They then swore them to be true to the Southern Confederacy, and not to take up arms against them, and discharged them, giving them a pass signed: "John E. Hays, Capt. Braxton and Gilmer Rangers." Haymond, with a squad of these men, had just previous stolen twelve horses from a returning train, near Jacksonville in this county, an account of which I gave you in my last. This week, he robbed an Irishman in the edge of this county, of four horses, killing the owner. John E. Hays swears that he intends to hold Gilmer. On Sunday last, Glenville was visited by a band, under a Capt. Peril from Roane Co., the company however, consisted principally of men from Calhoun, and some from Gilmer. They commenced robbing the town, but had scarcely commenced their work, when a company of Home guards from Troy, who had gone over to release the prisoners referred to above, came in on them and put a stop to their operations. H. H. Withers Esqr. shot their Capt. and Jno. Stalnaker shot his son, the ballance of the crowd ran off, leaving their horses, which were all captured and removed. No doubt these horses had all been taken from Union men. John E. Hays then started down the Kanawha into Calhoun for reinforcements. There are probably from four to six hundred men now at their command, and we understand they are expecting to be reinforced this week, or next, by a company of cavalry, under J. P. Fell, formerly of Glenville, but who has been within the Confederate lines all summer. His company was recruited, I understand, in Greenbriar and Monroe Counties, and acts at will, as an independent Company, receiving rations when in camp, but depending entirely upon robing for wages, and clothing.

It is very important that the government should speedily make its power to be felt in those rebel Counties, and that sufficient forces should be kept there, until the protection of law can be thrown around the citizens. Perry Hays of Calhoun plans, and directs, all the movements of these rebel forces, that have been raised, and organized, chiefly thro. his influence, and that of his brother, Jno. E. Hays; and it is their purpose to resist, to the very last extremity, the attempt to establish the power of the restored govt., or of the new state, in those counties, and any expedition that goes into those counties, and leaves without either killing or capturing those two men, will in the end, prove to have done more harm than good by going there, as it will only exasperate men who are already desperate, and cause them to undertake to avenge themselves with frantic madness.

They are building, I understand, substantial hewn log forts for their winter quarters, and if they are able to hold out against the govt. until spring, they will no doubt be largely reinforced from within the Confederate lines, by parties similar to that under Fell; when they will be able to extend their operations far beyond the limits of their present territory, and probably be able to make themselves a terror to this whole region of country.

I am very anxious to get myself in a position for going into the service, and when I do succeed, I desire to go right into the heart of this nest of rebellion, and there set down, and stay, until the contest is dicided, until the machinery of government is again put into operation there, county officers elected, and recognized by the people, and civil law again put into force. This can not be done for Calhoun, as a distinct and separate county. There are not enough of good loyal citizens there to reorganize govt. in that county. It will have to be set back to Gilmer, from which it ought never to have been taken. It will have to be sponged out, the act constituting it a county, repealed. And this is the less to be regretted, on account of the name. We shall not want any Calhoun or Ritchie Counties, in the State of Kanawha.

The act constituting the one should be repealed; the name of the other should be changed. I find I have been imposed upon some in reference to Capt. Tomlinson's Company. It was represented to me, as having a sufficient number to be mustered into U. S. Service. I got a mustering officer appointed, and sent him there, providing him with Rolls; he returned it to me, and I forwarded it to you with 67 names; since that they reported to me that they had raised their company up to 84, but I saw one of the company to day, who says that they have but 67. He says the company can be recruited up to the requisite number, in the country where it is stationed. They are hardy, and active mountain boys, first rate marks men, and are stationed in the right place, and likely to do good service against the guerillas. They have just caused two of them to bite the dust. I shall go up in a day or two, and inform myself all about the condition, prospects, and character, of this company. I shall also investigate the Jacksonville affair, which I mentioned to you in my last; and will then give you the facts. I am satisfied that I shall be able to raise this company up to a company for U. S. Service, but not in time to make it the 1st Company, as contemplated when I sent you the Rolls. Capt. Morgan, from what I can learn, will get his company up to the number first. I shall then go into Barbour, for the 4th Co and yet, may get one from Wood, before I get one up in Barbour. I expect to raise at least two companies in Wood, and I think I shall certainly get one from Harrison. Don't be discouraged because I get on slowly. When I commenced, there were a great many union men all over this county, and they all wanted the union preserved, and perpetuated; but they wanted that somebody else should do it. But few realized that it was their duty, to take a part in this glorious work. The people now are getting considerably waked up on the subject, and are beginning to realize their duty. If you can extend to me such facilities as I have indicated, in my last two letters, before this, I verily believe I can yet squeeze a Regt. out of the counties I have been operating in. I am waiting anxiously to hear from you.

Very Respectfully
Yours
T. M. Harris

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TM Harris
Ansd

Weston Nov. 14th, 1861
Gov. F. H. Pierpoint

Dear Sir
I find my company here up to about fifty. The boys need clothing very badly especially shoes overcoats & blankets. They also want arms. The nature of the service which they are to engage in makes it necessary that they should have arms of precision. They have all been accustomed to the rifle and are generally first rate marksmen. I hope you will be able to have them armed with the Minnie musket or the Enfield Rifle.

Troops who are going into a service where they will get a chance to shoot at men in masses can get along as well with the old smoothe bored musket as with any other arms, but these men who are to be employed scouting after and hunting up bands of guerillas ought to have rifled guns. My boys here are anxious to go out into Gilmer and station themselves a while at Troy a place that has been very much threatened by John E Hays and his party. They are confident that if they were well armed and equiped they could hold the place. The citizens of Troy and vicinity are very anxious to have them come and will render them all the aid they can in every way. They would there be in a good place for filling up their company as all the loyal people in Gilmer who can do so are now ready to take up arms. And whenever we can get full possession of Gilmer we can get some recruits from Calhoun. If you can have these boys clothed and armed at once I will let them go out to Troy for a week or two. Send clothing and arms enough for a full company and then they will be prepared to dress and arm their recruits as fast as they shall be obtained. Gen Rosecrans will order a company of Cavalry to Glenville right away so that it will be safe enough for my boys to go out there. This squad has elected Wm. D. Hall for their first Lieut. The election was superintended by Capt Rowan of the first Va Cavalry. The company reported on the Rolls I sent you as Capt Tomlinson's have not elected any officers. Lieut Whitson set down the officers as they were in the Home Guard organization. He did not hold an election.

Respectfully Yours &c T. M. Harris

I have just received a letter from V. H. Bukey. His volunteers are beginning to come in and he is boarding them at the tavern at his own expence. I can get some companies from Wood Co. if you will afford me facilities for so doing. I have written you two or three letters on this subject but have not heard a word from you in reply. I am at a loss to know the reason why you don't answer my letters. I took it for granted when I commenced that you wanted volunteers raised and would aid and facilitate the work by every means in your power. I am at a loss therefore to know why I should address a half a dozen letters to you on the same subject and get no reply. The work of raising a Regt, in this region will be found sufficiently tedious and difficult when every facility shall have been rendered that you have it in your power to render judge then how disheartening it must be when not only not any facilities are afforded but my letters receive from you no attention

Yet I have never faltered on account of any discouragement but have gone right straight along and shall continue to do so spending my time & my money in an effort to serve my country. I shall be glad to hear from you and to know that you have afforded to Mr. Bukey and those associated with him in the effort to get up a company at Parkersburg all the facilities which they need as I am sure from what I saw & heard whilst I was in Wood Co. that there can be two or three companies raised there if proper efforts are made and necessary facilities rendered.

Very Respectfully
Yours
T. M. Harris
PS I shall go to Braxton tomorrow. I think from what I have learned from citizens of Braxton that I can get up a company there at once T. M. H.

Clarksburg Nov. 26th, 1861.
To H. J. Samuels Adjt. Gen.

Since my last weekly return, I have no official notification of the condition of companies A. & B. I visited Co. B at Buckhannon on the day subsequent to making out my last return. Aided Mr. Farnsworth in dividing clothing etc. sent to him for the benefit of Companies A + B. They are now comfortably supplied with every article of clothing which they need except overcoats. Learned that Co. A had withdrawn two or three of a number that would entitle them to elect all their officers.

Also Co. B lacked but five or six men. Both thought they could be ready to organize fully by the time that the mustering officer should visit them which I expect him to do this week. My next weekly report will probably be based upon his return.

Co. C had 60 men. Was in great want of clothing etc. If you have not already done so I desire you should send the complete outfit for a Co. to the Quartermaster at Weston for their benefit. This would enable the company to fill up much faster.

I also desire that you should send a complete outfit for a company to N. H. Tafft Esqr. at Philippi for the use of a Co. I have forming there. I also desire that you should remand back to Capt Simons certain volunteers that have left him of which his certificate will inform you and order Lieut Wright Comdg. that post to have Capt Simons' men subsisted until he shall have a number that will entitle him to elect a Lieut. when Lieut. Wrights command can be relieved by Capt. Simons' Co. which will be ample for the charge of that post. If you can furnish an outfit to Mr. Tafft at once for the use of a Barbour Co. Company, there will soon be a Co. raised there. Please send also a complete outfit for a Company to the Quarter Master at Sutton for the use of a Braxton Co. Company and I will soon get up a Co. there. Also send him an order for their subsistence until they can be organized.

I hope supplies of clothing can be sent at once to Co. C at Weston if it has not been done Also arms (rifles or Minnie muskets if possible.) I am unable to say anything now in regard to the companies I have forming in Wood and Tyler.

Very Respectfully
Your obdt servant
T. M. Harris

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T. M. Harris

Weston Nov. 26t,h 1861
H. J. Samuels
Adjt. Gen Va.

Dear Sir
I find that my Co. C at this place have not as yet been supplied with clothing and arms.

The boys are very needy of clothing and are kept on severe duty in my absence by the commander of this post. Many of them are almost barefooted none of them have either overcoats or blankets. I hope their wants will be attended to without delay. They also want guns (good rifles).

All they ask is to be made comfortable and equipped for service. They are anxious to render service to their country.

My Companies A. B. and C. have all been mustered in Wm D. Hall has been elected 1st Lieut. of Co. C. I hope you will be able also to send outfits for companies in advance wherever I may desire it to be done as I shall not ask it to be done except where I may have the nucleus of a company and feel sure that a company may be raised. This will very much facilitate the getting up of companies.

I desire that an outfit for a Co. should be sent at once to N. H. Tafft, Esqr. of Philippi Barbour Co. Also the same to the Quarter Master at Sutton in Braxton Co. for the use of companies being got up by me.

I sent the Gov. a letter setting forth the facts in regard to the Jacksonville murders and asking him to correct his Proclamation which had been based upon information recd. in a letter from this place. I do not know who was the author of this letter but it evidently bears the earmarks of secession paternity. The information which it gave was false in many particulars and the parties implicated were not the right parties but in part. The boys Simons and Cunningham are volunteers in U. S. Service and so far as they were connected with the affair acted under the orders of their commander as they supposed. I see by the Intelligencer that they have been lodged in the jail of Upshur Co. My letter to the Gov. sets forth the real facts of the case which I was at pains to collect. I hope this outrage upon my boys who have nobly volunteered and are anxious to serve their country will be promptly corrected by the Gov. Pierson & Tomlinson are the guilty parties. It is due that a public explanation of this affair should appear in the Intelligencer.

Very Respectfully
T. M. Harris

Weston Dec. 6th 1861
Gov F. H. Pierpoint

Dear Sir,
I have just returned from the county of Braxton where I am endeavoring to get up a Co. of volunteers. I have a hope that I shall be able to get up a full Co. from the county of Braxton and that it will include many members who voted for the ordinance of secession and who have hitherto acted with the secessionists. The object of the present communication is to give you a correct idea of the state of things in Braxton to show you what has been done there and what is necessary to be done to restore the people of Braxton to loyalty. The people of Braxton are an illiterate people. When they had access to newspapers the Weston herald and the Barbour Jeffersonian were almost the only papers that had a circulation amongst them. The majority of the people took no papers at all but relied for political information and direction in political affairs upon certain leading men in the county who held the county offices or aspired to do so. These men betrayed the people; and many of them now see it. You may divide the citizens of Braxton into three classes. 1st men of some intelligence more or less who aspired to the offices of the county and to form the political sentiment of the county. These men are all willfully and wickedly disloyal. They misled and deluded the people at first and use all their influence to keep them deluded. It is not necessary to reason with this class they must be dealt with by a different process. 2nd that portion of the population that is indolent vicious and dishonest in addition to being ignorant. This class glories in the present disorganized state of society because it enables them to indulge their leading propensities to steal, rob, murder etc. This class in Braxton is unfortunately large in proportion to the whole population and neither reasoning nor kind treatment will do them any good until you shall have first established the supremacy of the laws over them. 3rd that class of the population who tho ignorant are yet honest & industrious and who have been misled and deluded and by a force of circumstances that has been brought to bear upon them have been brought into an attitude towards the govt. that they never intended to occupy; that of disloyalty. This is a pretty numerous class and can be reclaimed by reason and kind treatment and when this shall have been done Braxton will be a loyal county. In classifying above I left out the union men of the county who tho loyal are nevertheless generally ignorant, have not had a competent leader thus far and have but one man in their ranks in that Co. who has the natural endowments & qualifications intelligence etc to fit him for the task of guiding and directing matters wisely so as to bring about a favorable issue. The man referred to is Frank Boggs the Sheriff of the Co. and he has been held under suspicion by the union men of the county simply because he indulged a more liberal rational and conservative view of the proper policy to be pursued towards the honest but misguided portion of the population.

The men who have been employed in the reorganization of the county have been guided by a narrowminded and illiberal even a bigoted course have failed to properly represent to the people the true attitude of the government towards them and by their acts and declarations have tended not only to keep the whole of the disloyal portion of the people from ever becoming loyal but what is worse to array four fifths of the people in perpetual hostility against the other one fifth. The people of Braxton have had no mail facilities since last spring and have consequently had no means of informing themselves correctly or even at all in regard to the true condition of things in the country. They know nothing of the principles on which the govt of the state was restored by the Wheeling Convention nor of the policy, purposes or acts of said govt. The secessionists have labored to get up and to keep up the impression that the whole thing is a usurpation that it is illegal and not entitled to any consideration or respect at the hands of the people. That elections ordered by it are of no force and that the whole work of reorganizing govt. will have to be done over again.

Consequently the people regard their old county officers as the true and legal officers and those elected under your proclamation as usurpers. I talked with Mr. Shingleton who was the clerk of the county a very intelligent man and a true gentleman and found him entirely ignorant of our true political position and of the acts and purposes of the govt towards its citizens.

He had voted for the ordinance of secession but had voluntarily presented himself to the military authorities and took the oath of loyalty and was before being displaced from his office certainly entitled to have the test oath prescribed by the convention as the condition on which the officers of the Commonwealth should retain their offices presented to him.

It was not; neither was it presented to any other officer in the county and they were ignorant of the fact that they could hold their offices upon this condition. The man employed by you to superintend the reorganization of that county not only suppressed all the documents which you gave him but actually put out the statement that no men who had voted for the ordinance of secession would be allowed to vote or hold an office and the election was not advertised in three districts of the county. The whole thing was managed with reference to giving the control of all county matters to a small minority of the people who I am sorry to say are incompetent to their proper control and to keep the people ignorant of the fact that all who were willing to take the oath of loyalty were entitled to the priviliges rights and immunities of citizens.

I have here made grave charges I am aware but I hold myself ready to sustain them if required. The election in Braxton was practically held secretly and in a corner. This has had a very bad effect on the public mind there and is acting as a great barrier to the return of the people to their allegiance. I advised Mr. Boggs to go and see you and give you a detailed statement of facts. I do not know whether he has done so or not but I am clearly of the opinion that the election should be set aside and that the govt. should set itself right when it goes to the people to ask them to reorganize and establish civil authority and the force and efficacy of law; let them know that all who are willing to take upon them the obligation to be good and true citizens under the solemn sanction of an oath will be entitled to the rights of citizens and the protection of govt.

Very Respectfully
Yours etc
T. M. Harris

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T. M. Harris

Clarksburg Dec 12th/61
To H J Samuels
Adjt. Gen Va,

Dear Sir,
Since my last report I will say that in addition to the companies A. B. & C. already mustered in and rapidly filling up by continual accessions so that some of them are approximating the maximum number of a company I have commissioned N. G. Mondy of Upshur to raise a company from Randolph Upshur and the edge of Barbour place of rendezvous Philippi. I have also commissioned J. G. Waldo to raise a company from Lewis place of rendezvous Weston. I have also made arrangements to have a company raised in this county - place of rendezvous Clarksburg. I have not heard from Col. Simons who is engaged in recruiting a company in Barbour; but have reason to suppose that he must have a company nearly ready to muster in. I had a company commenced in Braxton by orderly Seargant J. L. Gould of Capt Philips Co. 3rd Va. He is a No. 1. young man and well calculated to raise and command a company. He had also an encouraging prospect for raising a company but as his detachment has been ordered away from Braxton his operations have been suspended I would suggest that the public service would be subserved by granting him a furlough to recruit a company. I have also given a commission to E. G. Day of Ritchie to raise a company from Ritchie and Pleasants but have not heard from him concerning his prospects. I have L. M. Marsh engaged in recruiting a company in Tyler but have no information of his success.

My companies A. B. and C. need arms very badly and as there is a prospect that their services will soon be in requisition to aid in breaking up the bands of guerillas that are infesting this region, I hope my suggestions made heretofore in relation to this subject will claim your early attention.

Very Respectfully
Your obdt servt
T. M. Harris

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T. M. Harris
Clarksburg Dec 12/61

Clarksburg Dec 19th/61
H. J. Samuels Adjt. Gen. Va.

Dear Sir,
I have not been able to learn anything in addition to what I have already reported in regard to the advancement of the companies now forming for my Regt.

I hope to meet my Quarter Master here this evening and be informed by him as to what he has been able to accomplish in getting the arms I desire for the companies already mustered in.

I desire to be mustered in at once and be permitted to take my Companies B. & C. as soon as they shall be armed to Glenville where I think I can render essential service in restoring order to the unfortunate county of Gilmer. I desire also to have a company of Cavalry placed at my disposal when I go there. If it is necessary for me to go any place to be mustered into the service please have the necessary order issued. I shall employ my Quarter Master in looking after the interests and wants of the companies I have in process of formation and hope soon to have several additional companies ready to muster in.
Please address me at Weston.

Very Respectfully
Your obdt servt
T. M. Harris Lt. Col.
10th Regt. Va. Vol. Infy

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T. M. Harris
Clarksburgh
Dec 19th

Clarksburg Dec 20th/61
H. J. Samuels
Adjt. Gen. Va.

Dear Sir,
Mr. Adams my Quarter Master has been here according to my request in order that he might acquaint himself of the wants of my regiment and of the means at hand at this place for supplying those wants. I suppose he ought to have been ordered here by yourself in order to entitle him to charge expenses of trip to the Govt. If so be so good as to issue such order of proper date as I think you will have no doubt of the necessity of his visit. Please instruct him what to do for L. M. Marsh of Tyler whose letter to you he handed me to day. I have no doubt there can be a company recruited in Tyler and it would be greatly facilitated by sending there clothing for a company at once. Mr. Marsh has a squad of fifteen or more and I have no doubt will undertake to subsist them himself at govt rates. I would like to have arrangements made for him to bring them into camp at whatever point in the county he may deem most favorable for recruiting a company and that he should be supplied with clothing at once. If I find that being furnished with these facilities he is not as efficient as he ought to be I will send a more efficient man to his assistance. I am hunting such men out and have the promise of one or two shortly who were in the three months service and have been highly recommended to me.

I would like to have Mr. Adams instructed also to furnish an outfit for a company at Philippi and also at Sutton. It is true there are as yet no companies organized at either place to make requisitions but there can be at both those places and it can be accomplished in less than half the time by sending clothing on at once. Capt. Howard who was appointed by Gen. Rosecrans to muster in my companies has left here.

I would be glad if you would ask the Gen. to appoint some one in his place and direct that I should be mustered into the service so that I may be able to muster in my companies as fast as they are ready; and that I may be in service and on pay as I am in circumstances that renders this very desirable.

There is also some very necessary service at this time in Gilmer Calhoun & Braxton Counties that I should like to be engaged in with the companies I have in the service. I will remain here until Monday next and will hope to hear from the Gen. on this matter.

Very Respectfully
T. M. Harris Lt. Col 10th Regt Va Vol. Infantry

Clarksburg Dec. 25th 1861
To H. J. Samuels
Adjt Gen. Va.

Dear Sir
Since my last report I have been waiting at this place in order to hasten forward the guns which I have been expecting for my companies that are in the service.

My correspondence being chiefly directed to Weston I am without certain information in regard to the progress of my work. I have been indirectly informed however that there is a company of 45 volunteers in Braxton Co. waiting to be mustered into the service, and that there is a second Co. in Upshur that is probably by this time entitled to organization.

I have learned that my second Co. in Lewis County is progressing favorably, and I have since my last report commissioned Mr. Geo. Reed of this county to raise a Harrison County Company. I have full confidence in the ultimate success of my regiment.

Very Respectfully
Your Obdt Servt
T. M. Harris
Lt. Col. 10th Regt. Va. Vol.

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T. M. Harris
Clarksburgh
Dec 25th

Clarksburg Dec 31st 1861
H.J. Samuels
Adjt. Gen. Va.

Dear Sir,
You said you would issue an order calling me to Wheeling corresponding with my first visit in order that I might present an ap for expenses for which you furnished me with blanks.

You will greatly oblige me by attending to this as I am growing short of funds. The order to correspond with my visit must be dated 10th Inst.

My Q. M. has been supplied with funds for Regimental expenses or Recruiting service. Consequently all that will be necessary will be your order for the visit.

Your early attention to this will greatly oblige

Your obdt. Servt.
T. M. Harris
Lt. Col. 10th Regt. Va. Vol.

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Col T. M. Harris
Dec 31st
Ansd

Clarksburg Dec 31st 1861
Gov. F. H. Pierpoint

Dear Sir,
You will have learned ere this reach you that the town of Sutton in Braxton Co has fallen into the hands of the rebels. The amt. of military stores which we had there I learn was small.

The town was held by one company of Cavalry belonging to the 1st Va. commanded by Capt. Rowan who unfortunately was absent and had been several days from his command. His first Lieut. was also absent. The Company under the command of the Second Lieut acted I am told with great coolness and bravery defending the town from behind fortifications erected by Col. Tyler of the Ohio 7th on his first driving the rebels from that county from half past 10 o'clock A.M. until 4 o'clock P.M. against a greatly superior force and only retiring when their ammunition was exhausted. They report that from the light which arose behind them on their retiring and which continued for some hours they have no doubt that the rebels burnt the town. They also report that they were pursued for several miles on their retreat towards Weston and that the two churches at the Flatwoods eight miles this side of Sutton which had been used during the fall by two companies belonging to the 3rd Va that were encamped at that place for some two or three months during the fall and that have but recently been ordered away from there were also burnt by the rebels in their pursuit.

All the accounts taken together and I have taken pains to collect information having conversed with a number of intelligent persons who were present at the time of and during the attack make it appear probable that the rebel forces engaged in the affair amounted to five hundred. They are reported as being uniformed and well armed. We lost none in killed; but there were two wounded, one a boy that belonged to a wagon train that had been pressed into the service from this county who was engaged hauling wood into the town at the time of the attack. He had a horse killed and was wounded in the hip rather severely I understand. The other belonged to the Cavalry Co. and has been brought in to this place and put in the hospital. Our forces on leaving had to leave behind there eight men six belonging to the 30th Ohio Col Jones who had been left by him in the hospital there and two belonging to Capt. Rowan's Co. who were all unable to come away.

The question now arises, whence did these rebel troops come? And how did they get in? They came from Meadow Bluffs in Pocahontas Co and came in in Squads probably packing subsistence with them and coming with the calculation of capturing all the provisions on hand at Sutton and then subsisting as much as possible off the country.

They consist of the refugees from all W. Va. (I imagine) who have been connected with Floyd's army and who upon his retiring have been turned loose to make a winter Campaign on their own hook in this region of country. They are under the lead and direction I have no doubt of Perry Hays, Jno. E Hays Ben Haymond, Robt. Ervine and other leading men from almost every county in W. Va. who on leaving their homes last Spring to join the rebel cause calculated confidently that they would be able to return triumphant in a short time and possess the land but having been disappointed in this and having been separated for a long time from their families and their property they have become desperate.

They have friends and sympathizers everywhere through this country who keep them constantly informed in regard to the number and position of our forces and they have no doubt come to the conclusion from the fact that those outposts have been left in charge of such small forces that the govt is so hard up for men that it is unable to hold and defend these posts and they seize upon this as a favorable opportunity to drive them out and destroy their quarters. They will probably burn Glenville as I was told more than a month ago that Jno. E. Hays swore that if I wintered any forces there I should winter them on the ashes of Glenville.

The last account I can get of the rebels in their pursuit of our forces was three miles beyond BullTown from here. They would probably endeavor to surprise the post at Weston having no doubt been informed that it was held by only one company of Cavalry. Col. Anisaut [Anisansel] has gone to meet them and will probably be able to drive them as he will be able if his requests by telegraph last night to Head Quarters were favorably responded to to bring together some four companies of infantry and four companies of Cavalry to oppose them.

I have written thus at length to show you the probabilities in regard to what we are going to have to encounter in this region of Country this winter in order that adequate provisions may be made to meet these returning refugee bands of marauders at every point whether they shall attempt to act in separate bounds or to concentrate. You may rely upon it that in regard to the real progress of the campaign in W. Va. the Snake of rebellion is merely scotched not killed and altho. Floyd's forces have retired some distance to winter we must remember that his army was made up of a wheel within a wheel and that in regard to its capability to do mischief in this region the inside wheel was the bigger of the two. I have reference to the large number of refugees it contained from every section of W. Va.

Some of these have been returning and taking the oath. This has been the case for some time past in every county, but I am persuaded that with most of them it is only that they may enjoy the opportunity to collect and transmit information and thus subserve the cause better than they could do by remaining in the army.

I am satisfied that a sound and safe policy would dictate the holding of them all as prisoners and that a much more strict surveillance should be kept to discover and cut off their means of intercommunication.

I would give you my views in regard to the number and disposition of forces that are needed for the protection of this region founded upon my knowledge of the geography of the country routes of travel men who are engaged as leaders in this warfare etc but my letter has already reached a length that needs an apology.

Very Respectfully
Your obdt. Servt.
T. M. Harris
Lt. Col .10th Regt. Va. Vol.

Incomplete letter
They said they could have got a number more if it could have been generally understood that Capt. Tomlinson was not to be their Capt.

After meeting dispersed one of the company steped forward and announced that all of the company who were in favor of not recognizing Capt. Tomlinson any longer as having a right to command the company would march three paces to the front when every man in the company steped promptly forwards

The company lack only eleven now of having the number that will enable them to organize fully in the U. S. Service. I learn since I came here that their clothing and blankets are here I feel sure that as soon as they receive everything in the way of clothing that is necessary to their comfort they will very soon fill up their numbers. I advised them to elect two Lieutenants to whom they would accord the sight to control the company until they could be legally organized which they did. Capt. Tomlinson started poste haste for Wheeling most likely to day to get himself commissioned as the Capt. Of the company and if such a thing could be effected by falsehood and misrepresentation I am sure he would succeed.

He kept me deceived in regard to his company until I went there myself and his misrepresentation to me caused me to represent to you what was not the fact, viz, that I had a full company there and another at this place. He is a drunkard a liar and a very profane and dishonest man. I telegraphed to you to have nothing to do with him until you should hear from me when the company comes to elect their officers he will not get one vote.

Very Truly
Yours etc.
T. M. Harris

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-1861-
Harris, T. M.

10th WV Infantry