Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
August 11, 1862

In pursuance to previous notice, a large and enthusiastic meeting of the citizens of Lewis county met at the Court House, on Monday, Aug. 11th, to take into consideration the best method of encouraging speedy volunteering.

The meeting was called to order. Dr. Jas. A. Hall, on motion, was called to the chair.

B. Jackson, R. B. Hall, Captain Moffat, Henry Stembeck, Jno. Preston, A. D. Peterson, David Lowe and others, Vice Presidents.

Messrs. F. M. Chalfant, Gen. George A. Jackson and William Dunnington, Secretaries.

A Committee was then appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, as follows, to wit:

E. Felty, H. Daugherty, Dr. Barnes, Jos. Wilkinson, and Robert Clark.

In the absence of the Committee our Representative in Congress, Hon. J. B. Blair, was introduced to the large, attentive audience in a few pertinent and well timed remarks, by the President, Dr. Hall. Mr. Blair gave us an account of his stewardship in a masterly manner; dealing some heavy blows at John S. Carlile. Time and space will not permit me to give his speech in length, which was truly brilliant and full of patriotism.

On conclusion of Mr. Blair's address, the Little Giant, Daniel Farnsworth, of sister Upsher [sic], was called to the stand mid hearty cheers of the immense throng. For one hour, did he hold the mighty mass as if spell bound by his vivid flashes of wit and humor and sarcasm. In the conclusion of his speech the Committee reported the following preamble and resolutions, which was unanimously adopted amid applause.

Whereas, By Congress giving power, the President by proclamation calls for an addition force of 300,000 men for active and immediate service in the field to crush this unholy and unnatural rebellion, every dictate of patriotism, love of country, love of our firesides, love of humanity and prosperity, demands mighty sacrifices at our hands, which we willingly make for the cause of our country in this the dark hour of its existence. The dark arm of treason assails it with a herculean power; we must and will come up nobly and willingly to our country's call; millions of treasure may be spent, thousands of lives may be sacrificed, by "duty calls, 'tis ours to obey."

Resolved, 1. That we regard the dismemberment of our Union as an event not to be contemplated in any contingency whatever, and now deliberately and solemnly declared rather than witness our country's downfall, or the independence of the so-called Southern Confederacy, we would prosecute the present war until we and all that is dear us shall have perished with our possessions.

2. That there being among us those of decided secession proclivities, means should be used to test their loyalty, and those that refuse their unqualified adhesion to the Union should be placed under restraint or compelled to go beyond our lines, and we respectfully ask of the commander of this post to carry our these resolutions.

3. That we pledge ourselves to make ample pecuniary provisions for those citizens who have already, and may respond to the President's July call for volunteers during the war; and we earnestly request the County Court, now in session, to issue summonses to the body of Magistrates of this county to convene at the Court House at as early day as possible, to lay a levy sufficient to pay the family or nearest relation $40 for each recruit.

4. That a committee of five be appointed by the president of this meeting to confer with the Court now in session, and lay before them the resolution asking for an appropriation, and urge upon them the necessity of immediate action.

5. That we must become a new State in the Union, and that we view it as a paramount question to which all others, except the safety and preservation of the Union, must give way. That the thanks of this meeting are due and are hereby tendered to Hon. W. T. Willey, Hon. B. F. Wade, Hon. Wm. G. Brown, J. B. Blair and K. V. Whaley, and others who labored so assiduously in our behalf for the admission of West Virginia in the Union as a new State.

6. That we condemn in unmeasured terms the course of John S. Carlile, both in and out of the halls of Congress. He by his votes in the Senate has misrepresented his constituents, is unworthy of their confidence and support, and to-day we find him, one of the firm of vile traitors of Vallandigham, Voorhies & Co., endeavoring to divide and distract the Union sentiment in the loyal States, thus impeding the stupendous work of crushing this unholy rebellion. Therefore we deem it our simple duty merely to endorse his sentiment, as uttered in his speech at Wheeling, July 25th: "That a representative who has not the confidence of his constituents is unfit to serve them longer," therefore we ask him to resign the position he now holds as U.S. Senator, as we are fully convinced that he is not sound on the great and vital questions, The Union and the new State.

7. That we endorse the bill as passed by the Senate admitting West Virginia into the Union as a new State, and will use our utmost endeavors to influence the lower House of Congress to admit us at an early date next session.

8. That we hail with delight the recent order directing the immediate draft of a large additional force, as cheering evidence that the war henceforth will be vigorously prosecuted to the end; and we pledge ourselves to sustain the Government in its vig[missing] declare he alone is a true patriot to his country who stands by the President in this trying hour.

9. That in the persons of our able and talented representatives in the halls of Congress, the Hon. W. T. Willey and Hon. J. B. Blair, we have the men for the crisis.:Their assiduous labors in behalf of West Virginia, both in and out of Congress, demands from us our everlasting gratitude, and we here propose three rousing cheers and a tiger (which were given with a hearty good will) for these noble and true patriots.

10. The time has now arrived when action, not words, are demanded at our hands. The notorious rebel, John D. Imboden, at the head of a large guerrilla band, is now on our border, threatening to destroy our property, murder and carry away captive our people, it behooves us all to be up and doing; and we here declare that all destruction visited upon us by this hellish band, licensed by the so-called Southern Confederacy, by the Gods shall be revisited upon secession sympathizers in our midst. Then, to them, we say beware.:Show by your works you do not countenance guerrilla warfare.

F. M. Chalfant, Ch'm.
E. Felty,
Dr. Barnes,
Gen. G. A. Jackson,
H. Daugherty, Esq.,
Joseph Wilkinson,
Robert Clark.

On motion, it was ordered that the proceedings of this meeting be published in the Wheeling, Parkersburg and Clarksburg papers.

On motion, three groans were given for the traitor John S. Carlile. The meeting then adjourned mid three times 3 cheers for the Union.

Truly, Mr. Editor, the 11th of Aug. was a day long to be remembered by the good people of old Lewis. Volunteering went on briskly throughout the whole day. One company was nearly if not fully filled.:Three others on the way with flattering prospects for completion.

Tell the Governor old Lewis will respond nobly to his call. It was a noble sight to see the aged father leading his only son to our country's standard with tears, such only as a patriot can shed, and words that only a true patriot can utter. "Take all but leave me my country!" Such, Mr. Editor, is the spirit of old Lewis.

Bitter, bitter, indeed, are our people on Carlile. At one time we loved him, but oh! how changed! Curses loud and deep are heard upon every corner against him. Alas John Sam, shifting as the sea sands, one day we expect to hear of him as Governor of Hayti

Yours,
Lewis.

Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: August 1862