Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-17
A Complaint from the FiEteenth he.
Biment. 'eHt
! slnl l9oNEw OREBK, Dec. Is, 1862: Y

Rlunent. 20 FlTIf
slh' goo NEw OREBK, Dec. Is, 1862:
Editors Iatelusneer';: 7i'o9s se' 5elas73'
Through your columns allow us to ad-
dress the public few lines. Long and
patiently have the men of the Fifteenth
waited for new arms, their patience and
forbearances have as yet produced uoth-
ing. Shortly before we were ordered to
leave Camp Wiley old altered muskets-
relics of the war Of ndepeudeuce--were
furnished us, with the assurance that they
would soon be replaced by the Enfield or
Springfield rife, This had been the case
with all Virginia regiments. We marched
out as obedient and honorable soldiers de
termined if our services were needed to 20
to the field armed or ularmed as the case
might be. For time we expected our new
guns daily but they came not Our officers
made every possible exertiou, promises
based on hope were obtained-the latter
ihusive-the former Of course worthless.
( That t7s are igorthyi of good GrRls is not
doubted by any who have seen and known
the condition of the sticks with which We
are so splendidly, armed. 4a -fl 81, ...5,
Our regiment is not full-can that be
reason? Some of the yogers know that
one company was taken from it and attach
ed TO another regiment, notwithstanding
the protest Of officers and men. 1s -.
The payment Of bounty stopped-the re-
bel army was in Naryland-tbe public did
not know whether the battle of Antietam
was victory or defeat-all the euthu-
siasm that so foFwa rded recruiting bad SUBJ
sided the Fifteenth was left a regiment
minus one company, where it vet stands
We have ever been required TO do the duty
of a full regiment. That the regiment is
not full is no fault of ours. Because ten
companies are required to orgahiZe regi-
ment It does not follow that seven, eight,
or nine companies should be poorly armed.
| One of the Ohio regiments at this sta
tion received new arms last Week. Repress-
ing our envy, we could could but admire
the nobleh confidential manner 10 which
they carried them. They POSSESSED that
feeling of confidence that the unarmed
| We demand as a right that VIC be fur
uished with tie best of arms. We have
no weapon Of offense or defense save the
nusket! certainly It should not be worth
less Odrlives, liberties, honor, aud the
rising glory of the new star West Virginia
I depends upon our arms and our conduct on
the field of battle. We ask those who have
positions Of influence, win they mot give
our cause hearing aud use every honora.
BILE meaus to secure for us new and effec-
tive arms at orce. To our loyal brethreu
Of West NitgtpiR, we would say forsaks ls
not, ibpt.e cease not your olHm0u on our be-
half until We are equipped and armed as
| tsOldiers.,u ,xdEa1IIsAU
Should We be called to- meet the rebels
to morrow. We would go cherfnlly and
brayely, though fully aware that We would
be mere sacrifice IN the cause. OF liberty
and Union, and that Il would be affordipg
the Souther butternnts an Opportunity. 81
destroying without danger to themselves, a
regiment Of their most noted and detested
enemies of loyal West virEfnians. asi
~ eia'"ft 1855 an' MANY VOLUNTEERS.