The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-09-11
WESTERN VIRGlSIA-THE HORRORS
OF GUERRILLA WARFARE.

Weston, Va, Aug. l9
Our men have become eXasperated al the
assass;hations which have been committed upon
the road hence TO SItton and beyond. that il is al
most impossible to bold them within military
rules. They are determined 10 commence a re-
,alia,ion which shall at least iHterpose check
Heretofore they have been restrained by the Of
6cers; but their comrades have been killed or
wounded by concesled enemess at almost every
rod of the road. Ii is not strange. therefore,
that they should ieei ike avengins them. Two
or three days ago, Canes company, Fifth Regi
who We're engaged in guarding the telegraph
workmen, took an old man named Stout, and
two sons prisoners They had been the terror
OF the Union men throughout the neighborhood,
and good evidence had been lodged against them
them that they belonged to one Of the guerrilla
bands
On Saturday, somehow, the guns OF some of
the privates happened 10 60 off; they happened
TO be loaded with buck and ball, and the Stouts,
unfortunately, happened to stand right in the
range Of the muzzle, and the old man and one
sou happened to be killed, and the other hap
pened to be dangerously wounded. Under what
peculiar circumstances they met their deserts,
my informant, who passed their graves while the
family were removing their bodies for bur al
nearer home, did not choose to relate, but jury
would render verdict of ''justifable hemicide"
or visitation of God"
1t is horrible warfare but what we are to
do: If We take to ride out into the country, some
concealed enemy cracks away at our bodies or
heads with squirrel gun." and if we escape
it is because the aim is bad, or the mountain
height too great for fatal execution Every man
who has yet been killed or wounded along the
woods beyond US has been shot from an elev alton.
The Overhanging rocks and hills afford breast
works more secure than any which could be erec-
ted by the hand of man, while our volunteers
are exposed to open roads or closely walled pas
ses. Count the bristles upon the back OF a hog
| and you may form some idea of the almost i'm.
penetrable hill-sides between which our troops
are compelled to march, exposed to a murderous
fire from both sides. An open foe can always
be met with equal weapons, but our brave vol
unteers, ignorant of the country, fight against
odds through the hills, ravines and passes OF
Western Virginia. They trudge along unmOlest.
ing, and are shot down in their tracks. They
seek the enemy, and find scarcely footprint
| A company Uf the Twenty third Regiment
went to Glenville, with Government train, with
orders to make a detour via Bulltown, and scour
the country. When four miles from BulltOwn,
the rear guard was fred into from an overhang-
ing rock. The only evidence of the proximity
of an enemy was the report of their guns, the
smoke OF the powder, and the rattling of the
balls. Not human being beyond the Union
troops was to be seen. Three men were woun-
ded-one behind the ear, another in the back,
and the third in the leg. Every shot ranged
downward. The boys instantly charged up the
Hill. The fash of the powder showed where the
shots came from, but half hours search re-
vealved no enemy. They bad fired ard fed
through the bride paths.
I The wounded men were brought here for
treatment, and are in good condition. This af.
ternoon the company returned, bringing with
them one prisoner Capt. Keith notorious
through this section as commanding a company
of mountain guerrillas. He looks as though he
could shoot a man down for difference of opinion
and then ask blessing upon bis acts. He will
undoubtedly, be sent to Columbus, a chief sinner
among a thousand
+ The Twenty third regiment have now ir
charge here eleven prisoners, who have beer
brought in by detachments sent out for them in
various localities. Most of them are obstinate
Seceshe-s, who look upon our Northern Abo
litiOnists az excellent food for pow der. They
ale kindly treated, and furnished with the san'
rAtiOns as our own soldiers. Some of then
would take the oath, and shoot the first UnioI
man they found in the mountains.