WEST VIRGINIA
ADJUTANT GENERALS' PAPERS

Union Regiments
1861-1865
Ar382


10th West Virginia Infantry
(Field and Staff, Companies A - K, Unassigned/Recruits)
Box 17, Folder 7

Transcription


Grafton Feb 5th 62

Adjt Gen Samuels
If it is in your power to give my friend Sergt A W Barclay a commission in the VA service, you will confer a great favor on me. He is one of us by profession from Fayette Co Pa enlisted with Capt Hiers Cavl Co - as Sergt. He is a man every way competent to fill an office of Capt or Field Officer, a sober, intelligent Gentleman. Please attend to this if possible and consistent with your duty & oblige.

Your obt servt & old Friend
M Hall Lt Col

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A W Barclay
Lt in 10th Regt
Va Vols Inft
A W Barclay's
Recommendation


Winchester Va
April 8th 1863
Gov Pierpoint

Dear Sir,
You have always shown a truly devotional spirit to the troops of West Virginia, and as there is a great neglect at the Pay Department in Washington City, can you not do something for us? The 9th Va has not been paid for almost eight months and although we have been lately paid almost four months pay are now due us (due 10th + 12th) and an immediate prospects of a spring campaign where it will be entirely out of the question to pay us.

It is discouraging to have the troops thus used. I wish that you could send a messenger or aid to the City of Washington for the troops or for the West Virginia troops that are now here. Col Duval of the 9th has been on to the City but still no Pay Master, and the prospects are that none will come without a special request. I think your Aid Col ___ could bring the news that all of us would like to see.

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
M S Hall Lt. Col. 10th Va

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LT Col M. S. Hall
Winchester
April 8th 63


Head Quarters 10th W.V. V. I.
Beverly January 23rd 1864
Adj General Pierpoint

Sir,
Allow me to make a few statements to you concerning the commissioning of Sargent Major Ambrose as 2nd Lt of Company D, 10th Va. Regt. He is an old soldier, serving five years in the regular army and all through the Mexican War. He recruited one half of Company D with a full understanding that at its organization he was to be one of the commissioned officers. The reason why he was not, Lt Curran who then was a member of Rowans Cavalry may be able to tell you if he will. He was made orderly of that Company at that time. For some reason I never knew, afterward the Captain reduced him to the ranks. When our regiment came together in October 1862, Ambrose was made Sargent Major. The first vacancy thus occurred in the Regiment after he was made Sargent Major, I think was in Company E. Captain Murrin got up a petition signed by some of the Officers the Regiment to Col Harris asking that he would recommend Sargent Major Ambrose to be commissioned by the Gov 2nd Lt. Lt Curran signed it. Sargent Ambrose from the appointment of Sargent Major to the present day has been as good a soldier, as sober, and concerned ? himself as well as anyone in the Regiment. Do you think Col Harris would ask Gov Boreman to commission a drunkard? You certainly ought to know that he would not. Sargent Garrett is not free of the habit of talking a little now and then. Capt Murrin's & Lt Curran's act in asking Col Harris to recommend Ambrose more than a year ago does not show to good advantage just now. It has always been the policy of this Reg to promote the Sargents from the Company to which they belong and not from the Sargent Major. I say commission at once Sargent Major Ambrose as 2nd Lt of Co. D as recommended by Col Harris.

Very Respectfully Your obedient servant
M S Hall Lt Col 10th W. V. I.
PS I want you to show this to Lt Currin and see what he will say

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Beverly January 23rd 64
Lt. Col. M. S. Hall
Comdg 10th W. Va. Infy.
Recommends Sergt Maj Ambrose for 2nd Lt Co. D
Com issd Ansd


Beverly West Virginia
Feb 10th 64
To His Excellency A. I. Boreman
Governor West Virginia

Sir. - I desire to represent to you that the county of Pocohontas is not at present within the lines of the federal army - that it is occupied by a small rebel force in a very demoralized condition, but who are a great annoyance to the inhabitants even to those who politically are of the same faith. All parties both union and rebels pray to be delivered from this irregular, prowling, thieving set that are under the command of Captains Jacob Marshal and Hutton. Their lawlessness has been carried to such an extent that all of the Union people have been forced to leave and are now refugees within our lines. They are ready to defend their their firesides and their country but do not like to go into the federal Army. Many of them have been our scouts and know much of an irregular system of warfare. I would suggest that two companies of these refugees be organized at at once for the County of Pocohontas. Fifty in each company under Walter Allen and John Slaten. Both of these men are excellent scouts and brave as Ceasar. I am glad that I can refer you to the Adj General in regard to the latter and to Mr Samuel Young Senator from Pocohontas in regard to both of those men. I am confident that this force will keep this County in a perfectly quiet state. Slaten is now living with his family in Ritchie County. I do not know certainly that he would have the Captaincy of the Company. Will you please inform me in regard to the matter at as early a period as possible.

One more subject and I am done. It is in regard to Old Mathius White of this Co. No doubt but what he is a disloyal man but I do not know that he ever done anything to hurt us. All the U. S. property he had in his possission he came honestly by. I say let him out.

Hoping to hear soon from you I can ___.

Much respect Your Obedient Servant
M. S. Hall Lt. Col. 10th Va.

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Beverly W. Va.
Feb 10th 1864
Lt Col M S Hall
10th W Va Infy
Recommends Walter Allen and John Slaten for authority to raise Co scouts for Pocahontas County
Walter Allen authorized
Feb 16th 1864


Head Quarters 10th W Va Inft
Beverly W. Va. May 24th 1864
A. A. General Pierpoint

Sir,
It was the misfortune of the regiment during the month of September 1862 to have all the Regimental Books destroyed at Buckhannon by the Rebel General A. G. Jenkins. Ever since that time we have been making efforts to get new ones. Our Q. M. Lt. Adams has, I am sure made not less than a dozen applications & requisitions to those whose duty it was to furnish them. during this month. I made application to the Brigade Commander for them Col Wilkinson. He directed me to make out duplicate requisitions on the Q. M. at Clarksburg, Capt Dodge. I did so. Capt Dodge informs me that the Regimental Q. M. Lt Adams should make requisition on the Chief Q. M. of the Depot Capt Barrenger so it goes. This as I have stated before we have done times without number and I am going to make this last effort and may be no more. I'll see. Thinking of how we obtained them at first. I thought I would apply to the same source. viz. A. A. General of this State. I think A. A. G. Samuels furnished them for us. I have been quite particular in this stating the facts, with the hope that I can obtain your aid and assistance in our behalf; for a year and a half we have been keeping our records in little Company books & common A/C books ruled off. Our applications for books must to some of the A. Q. Ms been a bore, as they were so frequent.

Will you obtain for the 10th W. Va. & forward to us
One Regimental Morning Consolidated report Book
One Regimental Letter Book
One Regimental Index Book
One Regimental General Order Book

I will receipt to any one for these if I am in charge of the regiment. Please let me know at your Earliest Convenience for if you fail I intend to apply to Mr Lincoln for them.

Very respectfully your ob servant
M.S. Hall Lt Col
Comdg 10 W. Va.

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Beverly W. Va.
May 1864
Lieut Col M. S. Hall
10th West Va. Infy.
wants Regtl Books


Harpers Ferry Oct 3rd 64
Adjt Genl Pierpoint

Sir
Please send me a copy or duplicate commission as Lt Col of the 10th W. Va. Inf. I had mine captured at Martinsburg last July or at least I cannot find it. Also I wish you to inform me if all the counties that are preparing bonties in West Virginia are full. All the Officers of the N York, Pa, New Jersey and Mass regiments are being credited to their respective states and receivng the local bounty and I wish to find out what prospect there is for me in the little state of West Virginia. You understand me, that I want to be credited to the county after Ritchie that is paying the highest bounty. Of course I will be credited to my county - first if it is not full. After which then to the county that has the largest pile. I expect to leave here in a few days with my command for the front. It consists of about 3000 convalescents recruits bounty jumpers & deserters. I have been here just one week in organizing these odds & ends of creation.

I hope that you will find it convenient to forward at once my Duplicate commission and ____ regarding the quota of West Virginia. I know I owe you $10 but I have not been paid for seven months. I am strapped.

Yours Respectfully
M. S. Hall Lt Col 10th WV Vol Inf

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Harpers Ferry Oct 3rd 1864
M. S. Hall
10th W Va Infty
Asks for duplicate of his commission


HD Qrs 3rd Brigade Independent
Division, 24 Army Corps January 18th 1865
Adjutant General Pierpoint Sir- It appears that the men of the 10th West Virginia Vol who enlisted as "Veterans" last Feby and March received no certificate of their enlistments from the Commissary of Muster. Capt Frey (Now Lt Col Frey of the 28th O. V. I.) I desire to know if there are not records at your office from which can be obtained evidence to what counties they are credited and if some one at your city or office cannot be prepared to make up these certifications and get Lt Col Frey to sign them as I learn that he is again running a Provost Marshalship not at "Buckhannon" but Wheeling. It is impossible for us to send a person from here to attend to it at present, and if your convenient any way by which we could get those certificates with Lt Col Frey's name to these immediately we would be under great obligations to you. The men have never received a cent of local bounty for the want of these necessary papers. Now give us a lift in the direction of the "Dutch Gap Canal."

Also Please send commissions to Lieutenants Kuykendall & Moats for Captain and First Lieutenant. It is decided if a company cannot have but two officers they can have the two highest. Do first as you please in the matter. I think though that Lt Kuykendall should be Captain vice Captain Kuykendall killed and Moats 1st Lt vice LT Kuykendall promoted.

If though you promote Moats to Capt Lt K will remain the 1st LT. Lt Kuykendall deserving will indeed Resp the company quite straight and will cancel fun? . I hope that you will attend to this at once for the boys had but a few more months to serve and I say let them get as high as they can and especially if they deserve it.

Very Respectfully Your obt servt
M. S. Hall Lt. Col.
10 W. Va. Inf
P. S.All excitement here in regard to Fort Fisher. Two days past one hundred guns each day as a salute was fired. We all say Old Ben Butler too has gone up the _. I say good. Also we hear that Beurly left for parts unknown.
M. S. H.

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Hd. Qrs. 3rd Brig Ind. Div.
Jany 18th 1865
Hall M. S.
Lt. Col. 10th W. V. Infy
Regarding certificates of muster of veterans in the 10th W. V. Infy, also recommends some promotions.


Harrisville W. Va.
Feb 8th 1865

Adjt. Genl. Pierpoint
Will you be so good as to let me know the very day the 10th Reg Va. Inft. will be mustered out? It will be a great favour an appreciated by

Yours
Ellen S. Hall

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Harrisville W. Va.
Feb 8th 1865
Hall Ellen S.
Desires to know the day on which the 10th W. V. Infy will be mustered out


Hd Qrs 3rd Brigade Indept Division
24th Army Corps In the Field Feb 15th 1865
F. H. Pierpoint Adj General
State of West Virginia

Sir
I feel it my duty to represent to the Executive of the State of West Virginia the status of the 10th Regt West Virginia Vol Inft. You was aware that there was great irregularity in the recruiting, and mustering of this regiment; some of the companies were mustered no less than three times before the records were properly forwarded to the War Department and those companies that were fortunate enough to have the rolls of their first muster was promptly mustered out of the service as these rolls called for. This was the case of Company B which was mustered out on the last of December. On the 13th of March next Companies A. C. & D. will go out. In April E. G. & K. In May, F. J. + H. The regimental organization took place on the 20th of May. There will be some two hundred and fifty veterans and recruits at the expiration of the regimental organization. For the good of the service should not some steps be taken to have these troops promptly reorganized; or the regiment be refilled. All or nearly all the officers whose terms of service expire will go out with their command.

If nothing is done for these men they must by the 20th of May next be entirely without Officers. Who then will command them? I have seen so much of this neglect in reorganizing these regiments. I cannot refrain from asking that some prompt measures be taken to keep these good & faithful soldiers in an efficient condition. The 54th Pa's term of service expired in June last and not until the present week was their organization perfected. The 5 & 6 West Va Cavalry too shows the bad effect of delay. I cannot feel willing to see so good troops as the 10th neglected. Please write me when I can do if anything. I supposed all this though was in the hands of the Governor.

Very respectfully your obt servant
M. S. Hall Lt Col
Comdg. 3 Brigade etc

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Hd QRs 3rd Brig. Ind. Div.
Feb 15th 1865
Hall M. S.
Lt. Col. 10th W. V. Infy
Regarding the status of the 10th W. V. Infy


10th WV Infantry

West Virginia Archives and History