Head Quarters 4th Reg. & A.A.I.W.S.A.
Charleston Va Sept 2nd 1862
Col. Thomas Nutter
Comd'g 153rd Reg. Va, State. Militia
Sir,
You will at once order the Militia under your commanded to report armed and equipped as the law directs, without delay to these Head Quarters.
Send messengers immediately to the different companies, with orders to get as many men as they can together within a short time, and come in leaving orders for others to follow.
Let there be no unnecessary delay, as the men will be needed by tomorrow night in all probability.
Respectfully Your Obdt Servat.
W.H.H. Russell
Lieut. Col. Comd'g Regt.
Transcription by Brittani Lynch, undergraduate student enrolled in Dr. Billy Joe Peyton's Fall 2010 "Introduction to Public History" at West Virginia State University