April 19, 1862
Correspondence.
The Yankees in Western Virginia.
Monroe County, Va., April 11, 1862.
Rumor is again rife that the Yankees are, or have been, in Monroe county, near Pack's Ferry. Rumor had the number from 75 to 600 upon this side of New river. The most reliable report is that 75 crossed over the river and came to a church in that neighborhood, while 300 were encamped on the river side a few miles distant. They robbed a good many of our people; took some prisoners : amongst the number named was a Mr. Candcraft, who had been arrested by the Confederates some time since and discharged. It is said the Yankees discharged him. Also, three Messrs. Pack and a Mr. Coles. It is said that the Hutchinsons, who lived in the farms settlement, and whose loyalty to the State has been suspected, went over to the Yankees, with a Mr. Lewis Crawford and a Mr. Smith. Smith is a son of a local Methodist preacher, who is under indictment, I believe, for treason.
It is also said that a man by the name of Wheeler, who had a brother killed a few years ago by one Buckler or Buckland, has joined the Yankees, is a captain, and on last Sunday went to Buckland's with a posse of men, took him out and hung him, left him hanging until Monday, when they took him down and buried him. Buckland was tried for the killing of Wheeler, found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to five years imprisonment in the Penitentiary. He served two years of the time, and was then pardoned. A great many thought at the time of the trial that Buckland ought to have been acquitted. The militia are gathering at their different places of rendezvous in goodly numbers. One of the recusant ones, who utterly refused to go, and swore he would die before he would go, drew a knife upon the guard who went for him, when the guard fired upon him, breaking his leg about the knee joint. His leg will have to be amputated : a sad warning to all others of his disposition.
We do hope that the Government will see to it that Monroe and Greenbrier are not overrun by the Yankees. It is rumored that the Yankees stole 300 head of cattle belonging to our army in Greenbrier county.
Our Court met yesterday to transact business in connection with the proclamation of the President to establish martial law in this county. We hope that when this law is carried out the Union men will be hunted up and treated as they deserve. Some of our people are removing their slaves and other valuable moveable property to what they think greater places of security. I believe that most of our men, old and young, will stand their ground and fight the Yankees, which is the better plan, as I conceive. It is well enough, however, to secure what property we can that might benefit a Yankee, and what we cannot secure destroy.
Monroe.
Monroe County, Va., April 14, 1862.
Rumor has it that the Yankees are reinforcing. Three thousand are said to be at Col. Tompkins's, this side of Gauley Bridge, and two thousand at Fayetteville. The Pierpoint Government having included Monroe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas, and Mercer, in their new State, it is said the Yankees are to send a force sufficient to subjugate us. After they get possession of these counties then they will take a vote of the people whether they will belong to the new State or to the old.--Of course the vote will be taken, if taken at all, by the voters being compelled by the force of arms to go to the polls. We do hope something will be done for us by the Government before it be too late.
It seems strange that our cavalry, who are stationed at Princeton, permitted the Yankees to come into Monroe. They have been stationed in that region all the winter.
I was mistaken in my former communication in stating that a man named Cales had been taken prisoner. He went to the Yankees of his own accord, and; in company with some more Union men, led the enemy into Monroe. There are a good many traitors in this county, and why they are suffered to go at large I am unable to say. It is high time they were made to leave for a more congenial atmosphere. Monroe.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: April 1862