Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-04-21
An Important Order from Brig, Gen.
s.s..sssas51s-3.l n q n :
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, MIDDLE
DEpLRFNRNT BUCK II NNoN Va. ApriIs d a S6S!f

De kGO0oEtbS
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE. MIDDLE
DEPARTNRNT, BUCKHANNoN, Va, April d lS6S.J
TO THE LOYAL CITIZENS or uPsHuR, IEWIs,
BARRoUR, RANDOLPH, BRGNToNt AND GIL
MIR COUNTIES. az
Clear proof has been received at these
headquarters that attempts will be made
by the rebels aud sympathizers, scattered
through your towns and counties, to or
ganize system of brigandage, rapine,
theft and plumber against the loyal people
of the new State of Western Virginia, and
for the destruction ofthe railroads, bridges,
aud the property of the United States.
Gov. Letcher is the instigator ofsthe planys
aud his programme, as ascertained by his
Instructions that have been captured, is to
scatter through your ueighborhood the
young men whose homes are with You
destroy your property, steal your horses,
Eaud then assemble At places to be agreed
upon. where organization into companies
| is to be made, aud in that strength TO move
rapidly through your least frequeuted
imouhtAin passes and reads, to do the work
of pillage aud destruction planned in ex-
ecutive council at Richmond.
| This system of brigaudage is so general
in its character, and receiving Executive
sanction at Richmond, rises in the degree
of its atrocily above merctless piracy on
the high seas, and all parties engaged in it
are equally outlawed by the rules of civil
ICED war among all nations,
In view of these small dangers and the
annoyance TO the peaceful and loyal lciti-
gems of your counties, and to defeat and
punish the infamous designs of Governor
Letcher, recommend through every
county have named, the Organization Of
Union Leagues for defense aud offense,
if necessary, against the brigands who
may attempt this plan of land piracy
in Western Virginia. These Leagues,
should embrace every good and loy-
al citizen of your counties. They
should adopt rules for instant communica-
ton and assembling together when there is
danger. They should communicate infor-
nation at once to the nearest military com.
manders of the movement of the guerrillas
and other enemies: they should arrest all
persons arriving among them known to be
rebels, coming from the enenlv's lines, or
going toward them, and send them to the
nearest military commands; they should
keep under notice the rebels and sympa.
thIzers of rebellion, who, living under the
protection of the laws OF your new, State
and the United States, basely betray both
and covertly serve our enemies. Such
traitors, far more ignoble and base than
those in open rebellion, are entitled to no
sympathy, nor should mercy be shown to
them if caught in overt acts Of treason.
Beyond general Union Leagues in each
county, l recommend Vigilance Commit.
tees in every town aud considerable neigh
borhood, of all the enterprisinp Young
men. They should see that no rebel is at
any time absent from his home or farm, and
that his horses, cattle and other property
are not moved. a4 81
Fellow citizeas, need not tell you that,
scattered as you are over large counties,
and without organization and accord, you
are weak, exposed to danger, both in your
person and property. You have been
taught this fact by sad experience. But it
is possible that you are not aware of your
strength and power, organized and acting
in concert. This idea constrains me to
urge upon you organization aud vigilance
for your own security-for the good OF
your new State and the General Govern
ment.
You will. be a host united, and acting OF
a determined will TO defend your homes.
your new State and the Union, YOU will be
stronger than armies with banners and the
thunder of artillery. E1s9t
IT'S not the nature of man to be Neutral
or an idle spectator of this crisis. The
man who says he takes no part in a strup-
gle to save his country, threatened by ejpb,
millions oftraitors, is dead to loyalty or a
rebel Of heart. He is our worst enemy
watch him. Compel him to go where his
heart is, but where his craven legs refuse
to carry. him. There he can do Won no
harm. Here he covertly plots a towards
mischief, and in the dark executes the
towards mission of information and intel
ligence to our enemies. Drive such men.
or rather such counterfeits of men, from
among you'll In this there is nothing hard
or unmerciful, the precept is of divine
origin, that twho sows to the wind shall
reap whirlwind." - a.
4 err B. s. RoBERrs, 2a
Brigadier General Commandtng.
49, 7.iTf m! 'E-f-f T!i'.e'