Coalsmouth
Kanawha Co
West Va
Gov AI Boreman
Dear sir I Dispached [sic] to you on the 13 and have had nothing from you. My men cannot Stay at home after volunteering in the Co. I obtained Rations for this month. We kneed [sic] Clothing and have no place to quarter I have stoped [sic] Recruiting untill [sic] I can obtain these .
If My men are in the States Siurse and have drawn clothing & can I by you Secure for them Exemption from the Draft, in March.
I would now have some prisoners But have no place to keep them. They would be subject the Law as Robers [sic] Thieves etc. but we have no justice to act. It is said by the officers at Charleston, that the justiceses [sic] Elect. Must. give bond in $5000.00 and they will not qualify. if this is the Law we are without a bounty Court .
Thieves are skulking around us and we cannot arrest them because we cannot guard and feed them and have and have not the officers to prosicute [sic] them. nor can I now have a man sworn in to the Co for want of an officer.
I wish to be doing something and want to do right, and having no phasition [sic] I must as fare [sic] as I can take care of my men and preserve theyer [sic] helth. [sic] I wish to secure comefertable [sic] quarters and do not wish to disturb any one more than is right. A small Store Room, belonging to a vile Rebel and in which there is a Rebel-School now being taught, or one of the Taverns owned and occupyed [sic] by VileRebels is all the Rooms that we could obtain. We stop now with private familys [sic] and will untill [sic] we have Room Blankets and over coats.
I will send my Rolls as I cannot git [sic] any more men Sworn untill [sic] some change is made.
I have the honor to be as ever youre most obedient
Servant R Brooks
Jan 22 1864
Transcription by Jack Stephenson, undergraduate student enrolled in Dr. Billy Joe Peyton's Fall 2010 "Introduction to Public History" at West Virginia State University