Spencer Roan County. West. Va
Sept 7_1864
Agetent[sic]. Generel[sic]. Sir
I have to apologise[sic] for not reporting in July Times have been and are still quiet[sic] squally here at one time they threatened so strong that I despactched[sic] to Charleston for help and got one hundred of the [illegible] ablest va Cavelry[sic] they swept through the country took some prisoners and woundid[sic] some and got 3 of there[sic] own men woundid[sic] two of there[sic] woundid[sic] are here with us
Rebel Capt Knotts came in here To Recruit a Battalion of cavelry[sic] for the Rebel service he had gotten severel[sic] recruits and stealing a good many horses his men was secreted by there[sic] sesesh[sic] friends until[sic] they could get a lot of sufficient size and then they take back through the mountains his force was to[sic] much for me to go in his midst so I scatered[sic] my men in small squads and watched there[sic] paths one squad had the luck to catch the Capt Knotts himself and I sent him through to the forces at Charleston
They are now in Camp at Camp Jarvis about 25 miles, where 2 com of the 9th West, va, was camped last winter They [illegible] at at this time some 60 or 70 besides there[sic] scouts which they have out stealing horses I think they have in all about one hundred and 25 or 30 as some go out others come in as a geneal thing they travel through the woods in squads gather up the horses of a neighbourhood[sic] and put back to camp when a sufficient number is collected they send them back through the mountains, Last Sunday the 4 of Sept a squad of my men came up with four garillas[sic] mounted on fore[sic] stolen horses my men fiered[sic] on them nocked[sic] one of[sic] and woundid[sic] 2 more they got one of there[sic] horses which they have stolen from a poor widow woman which I gave up to the woman no Union property is safe here they shoot without halting they have robed[sic] a good many houses and plundered in abundance take anything they want to subsist on it is reported here to day that they are gathering up cattle to drive back I am doing all that I can to hold them in check but times look quite squally we may come out better than we expect at present there has been a good many came in here and took the oath I am filling up my company as fast as I can yours
with respect
Hiram, Chapman capt
Transcription by Jeffrie Carroll, undergraduate student enrolled in Dr. Billy Joe Peyton's Fall 2010 "Introduction to Public History" at West Virginia State University