Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
May 11, 1861

From a gentleman who was at Morgantown on Saturday last, we learn that a Regimental parade of the troops of the county was held at that place on Saturday. The crowd was immense, and a thousand troops in line. The General, Burton Fairfax, and Col. Heck, both are secessionists. The Adjutant having formed the troops near the town Col. Heck advanced in front of the staff to take command. As he gave the word "Attention," the whole Regiment made a rush at him, shouting like a thousand enraged lions. He put spurs to his horse; the frightened horse of Gen. Fairfax fell with and threw him, but springing upon him again he rushed after the Colonel, a hundred yards behind him. The troops chased them into Morgantown. This was the end of the parade.

A meeting was then organized and was addressed by Mr. Willey, late delegate to the State Convention, and others. He told them, among other things, that every man should attend the coming election, take with him at least one voter, and show the county unanimous against secession. If Eastern Virginia chose to secede from the rest, they would organize a separate State and defend themselves. The General Government would assist them. On Monday a Union meeting was to be held at Fairmont, Marion County:but the Monongalians having refused to let Mr. Kidwell, secessionist Delegate from Marion, speak in Morgantown in retaliation the secessionists of Marion had proclaimed that Mr. Carlile should not speak there. On Sunday night the roads leading from Monongalia county to Fairmont were thronged with armed people, travelling in wagons, carriages and on horseback, on their way to Fairmont. At least a thousand Monongalians, it was supposed, would be on the ground, determined, as they said, by force of arms if necessary, to clear the way for their speaker.

In our judgement twere better to trifle with almost any other than the sturdy and strong willed inhabitants of the hills of Monongalia. Our informant adds that there were at least three hundred persons in Morgantown on Saturday, who at the word would have hung every secessionist in the county.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: May 1861