Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-02-25


assessment ofrebel sympathisers invest.
ern Virginia as being issued without au.
thotity. In defence Of his policy. Gen.
MilroE has ADDRESSED a letter to the Gen.
cralin ehief; from which. we rake the fol.
lowing extracts:
respectfully ask permission to submit
q few remarks relative to the circumstan-
ces which induced the issuing of the or
ders. Id have been in command in
West FIrginia since the SOtli Nav, 1861.
during that time 1 have had under nv
command, besides troopsfrom other states
seven regiments of West Virginia volun-
teer infantry, seven companies of West
virginia cavalry, and two full Nest Vir-
GINA batteries. OF course | could not
fail IN my position to learn much of the
views and feelings of the Union popuIa-
ton, largely in the majority,l of that
region, and of the atrocities which it hns
suffered at the bands of the rebel govern
ment at Richmond. s,1s6 - -.
That government has viewed the Union
citizens of West Virginia in the donhle
aspect of rebels against the Confederate
States Of America, and of the state of. Viz
ginla, and for that reason has regarded
and treated them as outlaws, not entitled
to the protection of the usages of civilized
warfare. Influenced by this view that
government has encouraged and patron
lied organizations in tina tregion various
~ known as mountain rangers, partizan
rangers. bushwhackers, and guerilla
bands of every description, composed of
men lenrolledin no regular army, and ac-
knowledging no fealty to the usages Of
war as practised by civilized nations
men acting from no impulse of public
duty, but instigated to action solely by
the bare motives of rapine and plumber.
To such an extent did these lawless
bands conduct their Expectations, under
the direct patronage of the government at
Richmond, that the country in many local
tiles was entirely deuuded of its more por-
tablea chattels, such as horses, cattle and
other live stock. Nor were their outraPes
confined TO mere plrndering. Murders Of
the most atrocious character were of daily
occurrence.
The Rev. --, Methodist preacher.
sixty years old, and Buzzard, his neigh.
Dor, citizens of Pocahoutas county. and
men Of irreproacha5le morality, were last
winter murdered in tbe;presence- of their
families by these lRwless bands. About
the same time Mr. Arthur, peacable and
uuoffeudipg farmer of Webster county, the
father of ten children, was also murdered
in the presence of his family by smother of
thess lawless bands, of which man,by,the
name of Cheining was the leader aud en-
gagged in the atrocity.
These men were murdered for no other
reason than that of an avowed devotion to
the preservation of the Union. succeed
ed in capturing Cheining, the murderer of
Ar1l,t1H ua ~
military commission, the murder clearly
proved. and the sentence of death pro-
uounced against him, but the Confederate
Government extended the agis of its pro.
lection over him, aud claimed for him the
rights OF prisoner of war. The above
are only samples of numerous Kindred oc-
currences.
Again, the rebellion found the inhabi-
ttauts of West Virginia divided ia opinion
upon the .mQmeutous issue which il sud.
denly forced upon them; rancorous hatred
between the contending parties, not I'M
Ike that which occurred between The
Wings and Tories OF the revolution. es-
tranged aud embittered them.
he,adherentslof the rebellion regarded
the crisis as presenting the question Wheth.
er they or the adherents of the Union were
to be the future proprietors of the country.
They, therefore, endeavored to exuel-the |
Union faction. To this end they aided
as infOrmers and guides to the 6auditti,
md also to detachments ofthe;regular ar
my of the Rebel Government in their raids |
against the Union population.
Such was the condition of affairs in |
Western Virginia when took command
there. It once occurred TO me that a great
advance towards the preservation of order
and public safety would be accomplished
If could make the policy of citizens of
rebel sentiments to discourage, instead of
encouraging these raids and outrages.
therefore avowed my intention ofcom-
pellipg rebelscitizeus aiding in their perpe-
tration to compensate the Union citizens
for their losses, and threatened them
with the teE tdlionis. In some instances
where the evidence of completely by non.
combatant rebel citizens was reasonably
certain compelled compensation by as.
sessment. This course. had the deshe ed
Influence. 4.lltss5tas = s.ss#5.55f+. tt.5s \
Ifelt justi6edin its adoption from the
consideration that the violence of the times
having expelled the civil tribunals from
the land the military authorities were to
some extent responsible for the preserya-
ton of public order aud justice. In my
desire to preserve order within the limits
of my command, Isometimes made threats,
the execution of whiChVI dii not intend
During my whole administration in West
Virginia have not been accessory to
single death except in battle, or TO the
Turning of single house. have not pun.
isbed or molested anT citizen on account
of his political opinions.
| To sustain me in these assertions APP
lpeal with confidence to every honorable
man at all acquainted with the facts.
Twas educated to the profession of arms,
and have endeavored to commit no act,
eithsr on or of the battlefield, that Would
tarnish my reputation'fas soldier. The
many officers Of the rebel army who have
fallen into my hands cannot do otherwise
than bear testimony that have extended TO
them the, full benefit Of the usages of war
| as lpractised by. civilized nations.