July 2, 1863
From Preston.:On yesterday Capt. Godwin, with 25 men of Company G, 6th Va. Infantry, and Capt. Parker, with one company of the 8th Va. Cavalry, encountered near Kingwood 31 of the rebel gang who attempted to leave Preston co. for Dixie, carrying with them all the horses they could steal. They succeeded in killing one of the gang, and wounding and capturing another. They captured all the horses, but the balance of the men escaped to the woods.
And yesterday [L]ieut. McDonald, with a squad of men from Company L, 8th Va. Infantry, attacked another gang of sixteen rebels near Evansville, in Preston co., and captured all their horses. The men succeeded in escaping to the hills.
We are told that nearly every man capable of bearing arms has turned out, and is giving aid to the soldiers in running down and capturing the infernal scoundrels who have always been a nuisance to the neighborhoods where they lived.
Give the loyal men good arms and plenty of ammunition, with liberty to fire at will, and they will do more towards clearing the country of these desperadoes than a whole regiment of soldiers, and at greatly less cost to the government.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: July 1863