Gazette and sentinel., 1861-06-15

LINCOLN OurRAGEs / WESTERN VIZ
GIyIA.-The Wheeling Intclligenccr, an
intensely Black Republican sheet, has
the following account of runianly deeds
by the Yankee invaders of Western
Virginia. Referring to their arrival at
Mansington, the lntelligencer proceeds:
Hardly had the soldiers been there
five minutes I'LL they had arrested and
under guard as many Seccssionists,
namely: a tavern keeper, named Wells;
Mr.. Knots, a merchant; Charles Mat
thews, superintendent on that section Of
the b. & o. Il. r.; DIR. Grant, defeated
secession candidate for the Legislature,
and one SnodgrasS, a constable. These
men all seemed to expect nothing short
OF execution right ON the spot. They
were arraigned before Col. Kelly, who
released Wells, Knots and Grant on
their taking the oath of fidelity, but re-
tanned Matthews and SnodgrasS.
The trains soon after moved on down
10 the first burned bridge, where the
men diSembarked and paradcd in a mea-
dow. Col. Kelley then detailed six
companies and started for Pennington,
some three miles below, from which it
was said the men who burnt the bridges
had come, and where it vas reported
some fifty armed secession troops were
stationed Meanwhile the remainder of
the troops stacked arms, after throwing
out pickctS and scouts OH the %neighbor-
my hills, with orders to bring in any
persons they might find. In less than
ten minutes after their arrival they
brought in six, some Of whom, it was
positively asserted by some Union men
from the country around, were accessa-
~ 10 the destruction OF the bridges.
Squads of men continued to go out IN
different directions, and 10 bring IN prl-
soncrs, until they must have had ut
least a dozen under guard at once.
Several Of Them were released after an
examination by the officers, bat at least
six or eight were retained until the re-
turn Of Col. Kelley. 1t vas rather ex-
citing to see the scouts, or Snake
Hunters as they style themselves, on
Il trail. As certainly as they wOnld spy
a man anywhere in sight, a squad Of
them would seize their guns and start
after him on run, and before very long
would bring him in; for they were sure
of their game if they got eyes on it.
The prisoners were all treated with the
utmost courtesy, but nevertheless some
of them looked terribly frightened.
In the evening the companies return
cd from Pennington, bringing with
them several prisoners, aud reporting
that their scouts had killed one Seces-
sionist and wounded another. When
they got to Pennington they found it
almost deserted, the Secessionists hav.
ing got wind of their approach. Find
ing the town deserted, Col. Kelley or.
dered his men to scour the woods sur,
rounding it, and it was not long till they
had unearthed several of the fugitives,
most of whom they captured The men
who were shot were running from their
pursuers, who called out to them to sur
render. Not needing this, they were
told they would be shot unless they did
No attention was paid to the command
and several shots were fred, killing one
instantly and wounding another.
| have not learned at this writing
what was done with the prisoners. The
impression in camp was that they would
be tried by a c~ourt-martial. Agains
some of them there is very strong posi-
tive evidence that they set fire to thu
bridges. '" Df~
SCRAP or HIsToRY.-During the Revo
| intionarr /, Eop T.fa ya+ta bainor :,