Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-07-11
Statement of a Fugitive from East-
0Fn Virginia.

OEhT6HIILLGs VI JuuS AoSA'
Ressrs. Editors LnteiiiSeHeer -
Intended rs SCUM as l arrived at this
place, 10 give you an account of my digit
from the Valley of Virgins, the state OF
aff.irs there &c, but on account Of ILL
health have not yet done so.
On tue 18th of June every man in She
nRlduah comfy, who WAS enrolled in the
militia, was ordered to parade, and march
that same day to Winchester, "r some 9TH
err point that direction. As had re-
solved never to serve under that arCurSed
rebel Bag against the government. asked
and obtained permission to remain at
home until the next morning After Civ
ing few nasty directions TO my wlfe.and
packing up change OF clothes, started
about II o'clock ut night toward Western
Virginia, 10 company of one OF my neigh
bors, Eli Hottie. left wife behind me,
Hottie wife and eight child en-. We
travelled IS or eighty miles thFUu-h the
mountains, ayoiilng towns, villages and
public roads, sleeping an hour Or two when
worn out with fatigue on the ground. ar
irving in Piedmont on the night of she
2Ist, where we found the people in high
state of excitement and alarm on account
OF tined epre'lations committed by the re-
bells the night before, At New Gre, K, about
S miles below OH the railroad. From
Piedmont we came ON the cars tn Grafton,
in company with Capt. DaytOn's UuiOn
Guards II believe that is the nnrue) and
from the latter place We came to Wheeling,
unier the protection OF pass given US 10y
Gen. Morris.
II would lie utterly impossible to give q
correct idea of all we suffered while in the
mountains. Sometimes completely lost,
yet fearing to ask any questions ofthOss
whom we might meet. Sometimes p"rch-
ing with thirst, for the weather was tx
cessively bot, and s.fering with the most
intense pains fruD: lying on the ground
when our clothes wers dripping wet With
perspiratiOn. We were several times
questioned very closely but not otherwise
niOlested, although we passed within u
mile OF an encHInpment OF Eve or SIX hun
dred rebels. fact OF which We were iX-
nurhnt at the time.
The Valley of Virginia, when left, was
under joint reign of terrorism and Dies
p ,tism. all the men. Union men rs well
as secessioniSts, were ordered off to SER
vice, leaving the country, 30 far as relates
TO men. almost desulate. The wheat was
fast getting ripe, yet none except men
over furty-ive and boys under eight en-
were left behind TO harvest it. Though
there are in the Wiley comparatively few
slaves, they were d called By the women
and children. \ NUN ser hnu been arrest
ed AMI lodged in jail in our county on Ac-
count of threats made Icy them, and arms
being found in their possession.
There are many devoted. uncnmpromis-
ing Union men in the valley of Virginia,
but bring in The minority their treatment
Is almost incredible. In our county Uuiun
men " re forced TO vote for secession al
most at the point of the bayOnet. In
Woodstock IA company WIS ordered to pa
rade on the day of election. It did so,
keeping their arms stacked in the . ing
halls. Leading men proclaimed that if
any dared Vote tor UniUn they would be
shot down ut the polls. Printed notices
were to lie seen week before the election
warning men not to vote for Union under
peualty of heing treated as traitors to Yir-
giniH, and further Informing them that il
they did not vote at all they would he
treated likewise. a few of US did not vote,
for which we We're severely threntened.-
Many Union men voted for secession with
tears in their eyes. The above is no over
drawn picture; it is literally tuue-only
too true. Tue Union men though forced
into service nre determined MT to Eight -
They will desert, or he taken prisoners AS
fast us possible. They have long ago heen
prHying for the appearance of large Fed
eraI force in the Valley. / have henrl
men, farmers and others, often say that they
would gladly give all they have 10 cnntrtb-
ute to the support of the government
forces. But no mHn dare utter Union
sentiment If heard by Seressionist. But
why say any more can give you ia cor
rect idea of the wrctched state of affairs
therr when left. God grant that ere long
the stars and stripes-the glorious old aug
of our country, may again atnnt it's folds
in the breezes that watt over the mountains
and through the vallies of Virginia.
JAMES w. BARR