July 29, 1863
Yesterday some ten or twelve deserters from the rebel army took the oath of allegiance before Capt. Thorpe and were discharged. The[y] came within our lines and voluntarily gave themselves up. They were badly clothed and said they wanted to go to the free States [to] obtain work. The most of them were Germans.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1863