Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood
November 9, 1862

CAMP SOMMERVILLE, VA., November 12, 1862.

Brigadier-General Crook, Commanding Kanawha Division:

SIR: I herewith submit a report of my expedition into Greenbriar [sic] County.

On the ninth instant, proceeding agreeably to orders, I bivouacked three miles beyond Gauley River; on the morning I marched all day without interruption, but learned that Gen. Jenkins with two thousand five hundred men, in addition to Col. Dunn's force, occupied the country before me, stationed as follows: Col. Dunn's command between Lewisburgh [sic] and Frankfort; the Fourteenth regular Virginia cavalry at Williamsburgh [sic]; one regiment cavalry at Meadow Bluffs, pasturing horses, with a battalion of four hundred cavalry on the wilderness road as guard; a small force at White Sulphur, and Gen. Jenkins with the remainder of his command on Muddy Creek, eight miles from Lewisburgh [sic].

I, however, pushed forward until within three miles of Williamsburgh [sic], where I came upon a wagon train belonging to General Jenkin's command. They were encamped for the night, intending to load with wheat the following day. I surrounded and captured the whole, consisting of prisoners and property as follows: Nine prisoners, namely, J. L. Evans, captain and acting assistant commissary; Wm. L. Evans, wagon-master; two wagoners[sic], (enlisted men;) three wagoners [sic], (citizens;) two negro wagoners [sic], and two citizens who were pressed and interested with the grain.

The property taken was as follows: Seven wagons, twenty-three horses, four mules, and twenty-four set of harness. After setting fire to and destroying the wagons and the grain, with the building it was stored in, I set out on my return, meeting Capt. Smith with his command on Cherry River, ten miles from Gauley River ford.

I arrived in this camp with the above prisoners and property at five o'clock P.M. on the eleventh instant. I found the roads very bad, impassable for wagons. Grain was very scarce; could procure but two feeds for my horse while I was gone. The grain destroyed was about two hundred and fifty-six bushels of wheat.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. W. Gilmore,
Captain Commanding Kanawha Division.

P.S.:One of the citizens taken, Thomas C. McClintock, has heretofore taken the oath, and is the man who bought up the wheat.
G. W. G.

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