Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-04
THE WAR IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.


interesting CerresPondtncs-Th Threat 20
Hang Union ono ers-Lettsro Of a COnfed-
crate omoSr-Gcn. MIlrOy's Reply.
The following correspondence lately took
place between Con. Milroy, OF tho Federal, aud
Col. lmboden, of the Confederate army
HEADQ'Rs CONFEDERATE FoRCEs,
SHENANDOAH MOUNTAINS, Va, Jan. 20.
Brig. Cen. Y. II. -Hiirog, Commanding Z. S.
Forces, Winchester, Ia.
SIR; On the 18th inst, by my order, man
named Traybom. exer Using the Office Of sheriff
OF Barbour county, Va, under tho usurpcd gov
eminent at Wheeling, was arrested and sent
by me to the Governor Of Virginia, as pris.
onGr have information which l deem per
tectly reliable that, in consequence Of this ar
rest, your troops stationed at Phillippi have
murdered, by shooting, Henry Wilson and Hen
ry Bowman, two unArmGd and unresisting cit
liens, who were quietly at their homcs, and
whose only alleged offence was failure, on
their part, to comply with an order issued by
you In November last, requiring citizens to give
your troops information Of the approach OF
Confederate trOops. I am further Informed
that fifteen other citizens have boon arrested
and ordered to be shot, at the end OF fifteen
days, II Traybom 10 not released and sent home
within that time. Your Government inAugu-
rated and has pcrseyered in the practice, un-
warranted by the usage Of civilized warfare, Of
arrcstng aud imprlsoning not only civil Off
GERS, but private non -Combntants, citizens Of
the Confederate States, hundreds Of whom
from the boy of tender age to tho deCrCpid old
man, are now mcarCOrat0d in Camp Chase
Johnson's Island, and elsewhere.
My Government has protested against this
bHrbarous system OF arrcsting men and boys,
and woman, too, merely because they exercised
the right Of free opinion and free spouCh but
In vain. | have, therefore, ordered that within
the limits Of the pretended State of Western
Virginia, where may be In command, will
arrests and lnprison, as dangerous enemies to
my state aud country, every man can lay my
hands upon who holds an office under the
usurpod state government At Wheeling, re-
garding such arrest as legitimate, irrespective
OF the acts Of your Government, and as an alb
sOlutoy necessary, jrstidSble, retaliatory act
for the arrests made by your Government.
And | now notify you that TTaybOm will not
be returned within tho fifteen days mentioned,
nor al any time, unless the Governor and other
lawfully certified authorities of the State Of
Virginia shall order his discharge; and If, upon
further investigation, the faGts of tue murder
of Wilson and Bowman by your forces Is Cstab-
lished, | shall order the immediate execution
OF two of the prisoners Of highest rank belong
ing to your command, captured by my forces,
and whose names | now enclose to you; and II
the fifteen citizens arrested in Barbour, or any
more of them, are executed, will immediately,
upon being assured Of that fact, hang two Of
yours for each one 30 executed. The lives Of
these prisoners are in your hands; they will be
held az hostages for the liberty and safety OF
my fellow citizens who are arrested and in
your power Yours, &C., j. D. INBODEN,
Colonel Commanding, &c.