Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-10-15

NEw YoRK, Oct. ii, 1862.
dit0rs Wheeling InteNigencer


Editors Wheeling Lnteuigeneer
Ia the present, when so much transpires
and claims your attention, you will pardon
me, hope, for presumiug upon your mo-
tice with few suggestions.
Since the time had the pleasure Of
meeting you in this city we have to regret
that the unhappy condition of your State
has not improved, but that thousands of
yeur once happy and prosperous people
have been torn from their homes by rebel
authority and compelled to serve as con-
scripts in the ranks af their enemies What
misery and suffering, uncomfortable to us,
must be the lot of those thus bereft of faith
er's, or husbands, or a brothers care
more terrible then death itself. What ter.
rOrs must haunt them by night and alarm
them by day. Such are truly "the children
of misfortune" and the victims of this wick
ed and cursed rebellion. An affecting
scene was recently told TO me by gentle
man who visited the 'fyalley Of Virginia"
last summer and travelled through several
counties. AS the army of Gen. Banks adj
yaneed from Winchester. this gentleman
on one occasion. left the main army with
small party TO reconnoiter on the
right. AS night overlook them they
came in sight of small cottage,
where they thought it prudent to stop and
learn the feelings of the occupants. They
knocked at the door, and an old man with.
in raised a window, supposing them to be
rebels, and inquired. WbRtl have you
come again2 Have you not already taken
i from me my two sons Have you not rob-
bed me of everythiug2 What COW in the
name of heaven do you want7 Who are
4 you2 Do you now come to take my life
If so, aui ready. mo, was the answer,
we are your friends, not enemies. We
have come to protect you. not to rob or
harm you, Banks army is only few miles
from here and We belong to it."
II The good old loyal man FASTENED to the
door to give them welcome, but the good
news was too much for his feeble strength,
and as he opened the door he fell PROSTATE
II before them. They raised him up, and
soon his wife and daughter Joined them !;
the fires were lighted and our Yankee boys
unloaded their haversacks, when the old
man, his wife and daughter all wept for
Joy. Nothing was found in the house but
about haLfd 6ushst of corn meal. Our friends
returned the next day TO the army and sent
them supplies. But, alas three weeks from
that time Il guerrilla band were informed
by Teighbor of the loyalty of :he old man,
and he WAS inbumanly and coWardly seized
and hung on tree before his oSR door, in
hepreseHee of his t0ife and daughter! Such
are the cruelties and atrocities that are be-
ing perpetrated within you vallies and
along your mountain sides almost daily
When we reflect that such terrible state
Oftbings really exists, what strong appeals
come home to every man, or should do so.
to make every effort as an individual, to
ameliorate the suffering of those who are
thus left heLpLess, destitute and alone, and
who must certainly perish from hunger and
giant unless help can be early extended to
them.
Having formerly enjoyed citizenship in
your State (as you are aWare) these refiec-
tons come to many minds with great
force and anxiety aud 1 trust, will be u
sufficient excuse for me to make in presum-
ing 10 offer a few suggestions, for early
consideration, and hope such action as
shall carry speedy help from all our loyal
States to the loyal citizens OF Virginia,
who, from no fault or want of patriotism on
thelriPSrt, have been made the victims of
rebel hordes, plunderers aud assassius.-
Placed, as your State has been, from the
commencement of the rebellion to the
present honr,, idbetween' two fires"
aud made the common. battle ground
east of the Ohio, of vast armies, it is
no wonder that many thousands OF
your, citizens, iviag alternately within
the lines Of the rebels, and our Union
forces should be reduced to want and
poverty. 1 therefore suggest that some
Organization beiimmediately undertaken,
of aboard of Commissioners, which might
be termed a aboard for Relief and Public
Assistance" whose special duty it shall
be 10 organize a"Conuty Board of Re-
lief" in every county where it may be pos
sible-sdch County Boards to report
weekly tho wants aud necessities in their
respective counties to the General Board.
Have all these facts collected as soon as
possible for Winter will soon be upon US,
and fear great suffering With it. 1.-THE
wants ofyour people are found greater, as
fear and believe they will be, than the
ability of your more fortunate citizens can
meet, feel certain that an appeal to the
benevolent citizens OF other loyal States,
not so unhappily situated, will meet with
a prompt and avilliay response, notwith-
standing the great donations that are made
by every town in the Northern States to
the Sanitary Commission, to the Hospitals,
and in many other ways, for the benefit of
the sick and wounded soldiers wherever
found. Very Respectfully Yours,
IRA HERsEX.
The First VIrRInia Regiment 81