March 29, 1862
A PROMINENT PRISONER. - Robert Turner, of Gilmer county, was brought to this city on Wednesday evening and put in the Atheneum as a prisoner. Turner was for many years a member of the Richmond legislature. When the rebellion broke out he went with the secession troops towards the South and has been in Richmond ever since. Not long ago he had a talk with Governor Letcher during which he told Letcher that he intended to come home. Letcher replied that he wouldn't blame Turner if he did. Accordingly Turner started and reached his home in Gilmer county some days ago. The Federal authorities there, however, choose to think that it was barely possible that be might have been sent out as a spy and so he was arrested and confined as aforesaid. He reports that there are only three members in the legislature from all of Western Virginia.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: March 1862