More about the Heroism of Young Varner.
April 17, 1863
Glenville, Gilmer County, W.V.
April 4, 1863.
Editors Intelligencer:
As bravery and heroism in all ages and countries has been eulogized, and the names of the heroes and heroines placed on the scroll of fame, it is but an act of justice that I here record an event which has just transpired in this vicinity, in which the actors have won an impressible fame.
On Thursday the 2d inst., a noted guerrilla thief and marauder, William Wilson of Ritchie county, in company with another bushwhacker, came to the house of the widow Varner, and took her son, Lee Varner, a young man about 20 years of age, prisoner, and stole several articles of clothing, about $6 in money, and 2 horses, and also captured Adam E. Gluck, a son of Mr. C. Gluck, on Sand Fork of the Little Kanawha river, about 8 miles from this place. After securing the above persons and articles, they started off, and coming to the house of Mr. John Varner, one of them remained out of doors to take care of young Gluck and the horses. While Wilson entered the house to secure more booty, permitting young Mr. Varner to go in the house with him. It should here be stated that they also secured two rifle guns at Mrs. Varners, one of which they permitted Gluck to hold while Wilson was in the house. Young Varner's sister had accompanied her brother from home when they started with him, and had concealed her brother's revolver beneath her clothing, and had came with him with the determination to and him to escape it possible. And while Wilson was pillaging the house she contrived to band her brother the revolver, unnoticed by the robber, and he (Varner) immediately commenced firing on his enemy. The first shot wounded him slightly in the shoulders, which caused him to cry out with pain, and turning round, attempted to draw his revolver, when another well directed shot penetrated his heart, when he rushed out of the house and fell dead in the yard.
Hearing the firing in the house, young Gluck fired his rifle upon the other rebel, without effect, who took to his heels and made his escape, leaving all property they had stolen in the hands of the victors, the two brave youths and the no less brave girl. It is useless to comment on this affair, it speaks for itself. Such bravery as this exhibited by two beardless youths, and a frail girl, is sufficient to immortalize their names through coming centuries, and entitle them to the eulogium of the orators of Greece or Rome.
James.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: April 1863