Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-23

Within the last three Or four days the
subjec. Of home dctenses has engaged the
serious attention Of number OF our leading
citizens. The necessity Of taking some
steps to put the city in u condition to suc'
cessfully resist II cavalry raid, such as re-
Gently Overran so large Il portion Of the
interior, WINS formally brought to their at
tention last week by the commanding Gem
eral Of the department. Through Capt.
A. R Burlington, who WAS called to Pitts
burg for that purpose, General Brooks
made suggestions as to what be thought
were the proper aud necessary steps to be
taken by the city in the matter Of tortih'
cations. These suggestions were formal
" detailed to II meeting Of citizens at the
Mcclure House last Saturday night. That
meeting considerably increased, convened
again at the Grand Jury room Of the
Court House, yesterday morning at ten
o'clock, aud still further discussed, not on.
ly General Brooks suggestions, but all
other suggestions. The result oftheir de-
alterations was that committee OF two
citizens from each ward Of the city, and
Two from each election district Of the coun'
" were appointed to agree upon and report
hack to an adjourned meeting to be held
this evening, some organized plan for un-
dertaking the erection and perfection OF
line Of defense for the city. That COM
ulttse held meeting At four 10 the after
noon, at the Directors room, Of the N. l. NJ.
Bank, and there met Gen. Geo McCook who
has charge Of the counties in Ohio, included
within Gen. Brooks department. After
long discussion It was resolved to appoint
special committee TO confer with joint
committee of the two houses Of our legis'
laturs, and, through them, to request the
State to solicit loan from citizens Of fifty
thousand dollars, Tor purposes OF State de.
tense, the said loan to be expended under
the direction of Gen. Brooks, on account
OF the United States, III the work Of put
ting round the city chain Of protective
works, Accordingly, Messrs. a. ". Camp
bell, Robert CraugIe, +. ". Norton and
Gen. James $. Wheat we're appointed
committee to meet a joint committee from
the two houses Of the Legislature to-day.
The foregoing lisa brief summary OF the
action taken TINS far in II very important
natter-viz the defense Of the Capital OF
the New State from a sudden dash Of cav.
airy into It's limits, and the destruction Of
all its public property, state and national.
It must be very obvious to the common
est intelligence that some such step as this
Is absolutely necessary. Up to this time
the city has remained entirely exposed to
any raid, even the most incOnsiderable,
that might be attempted against It. Our
militia have been armed aud to some eE.
tent organized, but like all mere militiN
they are wholly unprepSred fer anything
save defensive war, and that only under
the most advantageous eircumStancea.--
Raw troops within Notifications can he
made, under good officers, almost rs efec.
tive as disciplined troops, because they
have simply to load aud FIRE, and not man.
euvre, aud their persons are well protected
from the Gre Of the enemy. The plan,
therefore, Ia to erect some distance east Of |
the city chain Of works which shall com.
mAnd all the approaches, and it is eStimA.
ted by the engineers that fifty thousand
dollars will do all that ia necessary to make
the city delensibIs against any such force
AO 10 likely to be sent on raid AglInst It.
The works will Of course, be of a simple
character, such as rife pits, Abattis, and
Eve or six artillery positions. The plan
adopted for raising the sum necessary to
build these works Ia, all things considered,
the readiest and most equitable one, The
labor Is TO be performed or account Of the
United States, just as It Was at Baltimore,
Washington, Louisville, ST. Lonia and 9th.
er prominent points. The proper method
to got the funds "a through tho States
asking an advance from It's citizens here on
behalf Of The General Government to be
expended under the direction Of the U. s.
officer commanding the department, to
BE- reimbursed BY the War Department.
Wa trust that the members OF the IegiSlA.
tut will mature The matter as speedily As
possible 10 their minds, As Il must he evi.
dent to them that II Is II matter OF no small
momsnt that 40 important point ms thOiE
Capitalize place Of their SeSSion-shs
dspo'iIoryIOf their archives and the sent Of
their Government should not be liable to a
sudden raid from \ s'esIthy band OF rebel
cavalry.
49,
TuE STATE ov WESr yrRGISA,