March 13, 1863
Buffalo, March 6,
Editors Intelligencer:
Much inquiry is being made as to who that John Michael is that is making such powerful exertions to defeat the new State. For the information of the public I will say he is the same John who lives below Mannington, on Buffalo creek, and owns a mill and a distillery; the same John that caused the soldiers when they first came to Mannington to trouble and harrass [sic] Elias Blackshire and gave him much uneasiness without a cause the same man the secesh called Spavined John, that led the soldiers through the country to distress and harrass [sic] civil secesh citizens, and kept up a continual excitement by his unprincipled conduct.
He has turned over and gone with the traitors and is now abusing the Union party especially the New State men, branding them with abolitionism, declaring they are secesh if they vote for the New State. The secesh are making a tool of him to defeat it. This same man whom the secesh in '61 called Ringbone John is now their pet. He is the same gentleman who was made to skedaddle from Hessville last week for his treachery, favoring traitors and opposing the New State. Poor John S. C. and John M. are in the same row of stumps. It is their constitutional make, that what they undertake must be accomplished in a short time or they will turn round and try to defeat their own undertaking. We should not pin our faith to such uncertain stuff.
Observer.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: Undated: March 1863