Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-02-03
A CORRESPONDENCE.

1863, -Bug adler-J eneral II. H. MllIOy. Com
,nanding United States Forces Winchester,
Ta,-Sir-On the ltl inst, by my order, q
man named Traybom, exercising the office OF
Sheriff Of Barbour county, va, under the
nsnrped Government at Wheeling was arrest
ed and sent by me to the Governor, OF Virginia,
o. prisoner: [ have information which | deem
Dertactly reliable, that in consequence OF this
aarrost your troops stationed at philllppi lave
,nnwlerad bv shooting, Henry Wilson and
Henry Bowman, two unarmed and unreslst-
inc citizens. who were quietly at their homes,
and whose only alleged offence was failure, on
their part, TO comply with an order issued by
Won IN November last, requiring citizens to
1--WE YOUR troops information of the approach
IS Confederate troops [ am further Informed
that fifteen other citizens have been arrested
! and ordered to be shot, at the end OF til
teen DAYS. if Tray JON is not released and sent
home within that time Your Government
;naugurated and has perseyered III the practice,
unwarranted BY the usage OF civilized warfare,
ofauestipg and inn rlsonlng not only civil officers
but private non-com batants. citizens ofthe Con
. federatc States, hundreds Of whom, the boy Of
tender age to the decrepid old man, are now
incavelated in Camp Chase, johnson Island
. and elsewhere. My Government has protested
against this barbarous system OF arrestlng
men AID boys, and women, too, merely be-
cause they exercised the right of free opinion
and free speech: but in vain. | have, therefore,
ordered that within the limit Of the pretended
I State Of West Virginia, where | may be IN
command, [ will arrest and imprlson, as dan
gerous enemies to ny State and country, every
4 man can lay my hands upon who holds an
office under the unsurped State Government at
Wheeling, regarding such arrest as legitimate,
irrespective Of the acts Of your Government,
and as an absolutely necessary, justihable re-
taiatory act for the arrests made by your Gov
ernment And now notify you that Traybom
will net be returned within the fifteen days
mentioned, nor at any time, unless the Govern
or and other lawful certified authorities of the
State of Virginia shall order his discharge, and
if, upon further investigation, the fact Of the
murder Of Wilson and Bowman by your forces
is established, [ shall order the immediate
execution of two Of the prisoners Of highest
rank belonging to your command, captured by
my forces and whose names [ now enclose
to you, and if the fifteen citizens arrested in
Barbour, or any one or more Of them, are exc
cuted, wlilimmediately upon being assured
of that fact hang two Of yours for each one SO
executed tbs lives of these prisoners are in
your hands, they will, be held as hostages for
liberty and safety Of my fellow citizens who
are arrested and in your power.
Yours &C., J. D. IMBoDEN,
Colonel commanding, &C.
Names Of prisoners referred to in my letter of
this date to Gen. r. Fl. MiIroy:-
. Lieut.. Dawson, Co, K, First Virginia Caval-
r.
Sergeant Atkinson, CO. X, First Virginia
cavalry, and number Of pryates.
WINCHESTER, VA, Jan. y.
SlH-Iour communication. dated January
;zJth 1858, is received; am not. and have not
peen tor the last month, IN command Of any
oFces IN Western Virginia. I thecefore have