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Child of the Rebellion: West Virginia Sesquicentennial
Civil War Union Militia Correspondence


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


Militia Box 03, Folder 9

West Virginia Archives and History