The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-05
WEST VIRGINIA AND THE WAR.

Her Claims before COnEress-.-RepOFt
Ofthe senate Committee ON Military
AHhIrs--.Icr reimbursement He
commented.
Tho following report of the United
states Senate Committee ON Military
Affairs, together with the bill recon-
mended by the committee, was read on
the 27th OF March aud ordered to be
printed. We subjoin n copy of each
Just as they rench us from the hands of
the printer ut Washington:
The Committee on Military Affairs
and the NIlitiu, to whom was referred
the Joint resolution of the Legislature
oil Vest Virginia, adopted February II,
1866, ITO secure an appropriation by
Congress for the payment OF certain
military Claims created in that State
during the war" have hHd the same un-
der consideration, and beg leave TO re-
port:
Tint from nm examination of official
documents and vouchers, together with
the statement of Governor Arthur j.
foreman and Adjutant General Petr-
point, 1t appears that the state OF West
Virginia did incur liabilities in defend-
ing that Stnte against the rebels and
guerrllas during the rebellion, as fol-
lows:
For moneys paid to Independent ,, :.
companies........,.. S2lSseS Il
For m nsae q -. Fay 1915 Il
For ,a,HiaiS while IN s err sg5l IS
For subslsting and equipping vol
s sa'sss Of 5f the Gniisd siSIes s l.5e2 10
FOR militia IiiiSs While p OesO IS
Totai.................................. 86s.5s 81
The necessity for the foregoing eX-
penditures mny be briefly stated:
The first cluss above mentioned were
independent companies, numbering
from twenty-five TO seventy-five men,
with one commissioned officer, organ
lied in the border counties of the State,
with instructions and orders TO cooper
nte MS far as practicable with the United
States forces, and 10 keep down and
suppress lRwless bands OF guerrillns or
partisan rangers, then continually in
testing such counties, under authority
OF the so-called confederate govern
ment, for purposes of plumber and con-
scription. The services rendered by
these companies We're of great vnlue
and Importance to the United States
troops stationed near the border, acting,
ms they did, as scouts and guides
through the mountains, and in furnish
ing Information of the operations and
movements OF tho enemy in their front.
Being citizens and residents OF the
country in which they were required to
operate, they were much more efficient
for the purposes mentioned than the
United States troops could have been.
During the existence of these organiEa-
tions many favorable notices OF, their
services were received from military
commanders within the department.
The duty performed by them was ofthe
most nr1uous and dangerous character,
and they were only paid for the time
actually on duty.
sia mentioned Is for
services rendered by the militin of the
State when called into actual service,
The principal portion is for services
rendered by six companies in tho south
western portion of the State, organized
by authority OF Gov. Peirpoint, under
tho restored government ofNirgiuiR; in
1862 These companies were in the SER
vice continuously for nearly nine
months, supplied with arms aud ans
mnnition, but furnishing their own
clothing ind subsistence, They were
for the greater part OF the time under
the command and subject to the orders
of Brigadier General Julius White,
then commanding the district of East
kentucky, and other officers in the
United States service in that district.
OF these companies, Gen. White makes
the following Endorsement upon their
muster and pay-rolls: Il had frequent
and valuable services from these COM
pauies, and believe the time charged
upon these rolls has been fairly and
honestly estimated, and ought 10 be
pnid.u This Endorsement is also con-
Cured in by Hon. Laban I. Moore, aud
by Col. John L. zeiGler, late OF the5th
Virginia infantry volunteers. The re-
maining portion of this class is for SER
vices rendered by the militia for short
er periods, and were called out, usually,
at tho suggestion of department and
district commanders to net in concert
with the United States troops IN main-
taiuinS peace against guerrillas aud in
repelling hostile invasion.
or the necessity for the services of the
independent companies and militia
mentioned. IL may BE said TO have been
absolute. West Virginia was a border
State, and her territory a matter OF con-
inual controversy from the commenee-