July 27, 1861
Great Excitement at Martinsville, Va.
NEW MARTINSVILLE, Wetzel co., Va.,
July 23, 1861.
Editors Intelligencer: Our usually quiet village was thrown into a high state of excitement on last Sunday evening, owing to a rumor which prevailed in this and adjacent counties, that the notorious traitor L. S. Hall, with 800 guerrillas, was marching toward this place, with the intention of destroying it. Our defenceless situation is well known; suffice it to say that we were without arms of any description, with the exception of a few rifles. We organized a home guard about a week since and applied for arms, but have not yet received them. Our Ohio friends came nobly to our relief. Capt. Allen, of the Bar[n]esville Company, offered his services with that of about 300 men. We received from our friends in Sardis 40 stand of arms, with the assurance that Monroe county would furnish 1,000 men in the morning. Early in the morning the Sardis company, numbering about 100, came up. The Rough and Readies, Capt. J. H. Morgan, numbering about 60, came in double quick, reaching here about daylight. The Mohawks, a company of cavalry commanded by Capt. Morgan, reached here about noon, having traveled about 25 miles. A report reached us that a regiment of Indiana Volunteers had offered their aid, and the Sunfish packet Ingomar kept steam up all night ready to convey troops when called on. A cavalry company, numbering about 75, came to the river. The people between here and Moundsville were all arming for the coming strife. This rumor, however, unfortunately proved to be a hoax. To our friends in Ohio we would take this method to return our sincere thanks for their prompt attention in an hour of peril and trouble. We return to them our special thanks for their gallant conduct and behavior.
Yours, &c., M. H.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1861