January 10, 1862
Camp Hall, Troy, Gilmer Co.,
January 4th, 1862.
To All Whom it May Concern:
The country in West Virginia around the little Kanawha river, is in a very bad state, being entirely overflowed with secession bands, who are carrying on a perpetual guerilla warfare, killing innocent and Union loving people, and robbing and burning all Government property they can put their hands on. It was only a few nights ago, that Capt. Nutter's mill, in Ritchie county, was burned down by a band of secessionists belonging to that neighborhood.
Now if I may suggest a plan to put those rebellious acts down, it will be as follows: likewise it will help to put the war down. Let every connty [sic] in Western Virginia organize a militia force, if it only amounts to 200 men, also those counties that can do it, let them raise home guards, and take those soldiers who have volunteered for the defence of the Union. Let them go and push on the fighting. At the same time equip the companies both the soldiers and militia as soon as they are organized into companies and sworn in to defend the Union.
By these means our good Union and free country may be restored to its former state of prosperity and happiness.
A lover of the Union and a volunteer and defender of the Stars and Stripes.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: Undated: January 1862