From: pdunn@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Patrick L Dunn)
Subject: Text of 1861 mustering call--(West) Virginia
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 06:08:53 GMT

For those interested in taking a break from the burgeoning Blue-Gray flame war,
this old mustering call might be of interest.  It is for the mustering of
troops in 1861 in what became West Virginia.  I have had it for some time,
happened across it the other day, and thought it might make an interesting
post.  The text is verbatim.

(The paper that I have is a reproduction, of course).

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TO THE PEOPLE of the Kanawha Valley, embracing the following counties, viz:
Mason, Jackson, Putnam, Cabell, Wayne, Logan, Kanawha, Boone, Wyoming, Raleigh,
Fayette, Nicolas, and Clay: According to the following order, by the Governor
of Virginia:

                                     Executive Department, April 29, 1861.

     LIEUT. COL. McCAUSLAND:

     Sir: You will proceed at once to the Kanawha Valley and assume command of
the volunteer forces in that section, and organize and muster the same into the
service of the state; and as soon as they are formed into Battallions or
Regiments, report that fact to me, with the names of the company officers, the
number of men in each company, and the kind and quality of arms.

     Gen. Lee will give all necessary orders for your government in that
command.

                                   I am very respectfully,
                                   John Letcher

     I have arrived here to take command of the Department.  I have
instructions to call into the field ten companies, and one company of
artillery.  These troops will be encamped in the Kanawha Valley, near Buffalo,
Putnam Co.  They are intended for the protection of the Department; and I
appeal to the people of the border counties to abstain from anything which will
arouse ill feeling on either side of the Ohio river.  This Department is
organized by the proper authority in the state, and is provided with the credit
to sustain itself; but for complete success, I firmly rely on the freindly
disposition of the people therein.

     The volunteer companies of the counties of Mason, Jackson, and Putnam,
will rendezvous at BUFFALO, Putnam Co.

     The volunteer companies of the counties of Cabell, Wayne, and Logan, will
rendezvous at BARBOURSVILLE, Cabell county.

     The volunteer companies of the counties of Kanawha, Boone, Wyoming,
Raleigh, Fayette, Nicolas and Clay, will rendezvous at CHARLESTON, Kanawha
county.

     The Captain of the volunteer companies in the above counties will remain
at their respective drill grounds, until ordered to their rendezvous by the
Commandant of the Department.  So soon as preparation to receive them can be
made, the companies will be ordered to to their respective rendezvous, mustered
into the service of the state, and then ordered to the Camp of Instruction.  No
company will be mustered into the service unless it has at least 82 men.

     The Captains will see that each man is provided with a uniform, one
blanket, one haversack, one extra pair of shoes, two flannel shirts (to be worn
in place of the ordinary shirts), two pairs of drawers, four pairs of woolen
socks, four handkerchiefs, towels, one comb and brush and tooth-brush, two
pairs white gloves, one pair of rough pantaloons for fatigue duty, needles,
thread, wax, buttons, &c., in a small buckskin bag.  The whole (excepting the
blanket) will be placed in a bag, this bag will be placed on the blanket and
rolled up, and be secured to the back of each man by two straps.

                                   Lt. Col. JNO. McCAUSLAND,
                                   Commanding Dep't Ka. Valley.

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Patrick Dunn