The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-25
Affairs in Wayne County.
Civil law set at Defiance and civil
Officers mObbeGl aud Beateu---E' Com
SerVatism" " Illustrated.
p CAssvILLE, WAYNE Co., w. VA, Z
March 23d. 1856.

To the Governor Of The State Of Vest Vir-
-g gtntG: S HOT EH
DEAR SIR AFTER respects, wish to
call your Immediate attention to some
facts, as follows: Sometime last
Spring you commissioned me as mo-
tary public, and / was sworn and gave
bond as the law directs. am also as
SCISSOR of the I'd district of Wayne coun-
ty. live and keep my office in Cass-
vile; and it is with extreme difficulty
and under great danger and hard
threats that I am getting along. My
entire neighborhood is rebel with the
exception of old Squire Bartram and
his BOYS, one ofNwhom is our high
Sheriff and another Capt. David Bar
tram our deputy Sheriff. -efs -
have forborne for long time call
ing for men and arms, thinking the
rebels would quiet down; but sir, we
cannot execute the civil law unless
something is done. We have been
beaten by mobs and shot at on the
streets and dared to help ourselves.
They say they can't have power, and
we sha'nt have it.
Now, Governor, ] suggest and abso-
lutely insist that n company of one
hundred volunteer militia be raised for
our protection. The rebels say If you
call out the militia, they will be in the
majority but we do not want more than
ly quiet except around Cassville. "A
commander and company is not neces-
sary for the enforcement of civil law in
the lower end of the county. lin your
Judgment you see fit to commission
and arm men, l would suggest that
William Shannon be commissioned
Captain. He is an honorable and up.
right man and knows something of
both civil and military matters. Fur
ther, that David Frasher be commis-
stoned as Lieutenant, to be stationed
at Cassville. We must have from 25 to
90 men here in Cassville, or else we
must get out of here. This is the land
down Tug river. Those big buck reb-
els come down in time Of high
water sometimes by dozens from Logan
county and from Pike county, KY,
with their navies revolversl buckled
around them, hurrahing "for JEFF.
Davis" cursing the Government, ours
ing Union men, and then we have to
get out.
Sir, I frequently see men come in
here who are indicted for murder in
Kentucky, defying everybody. Not
more than eight miles from here, as
some of the Home Guards were on
their way home from being paid off
company of rebels fell on them and
beat and abused them severely, calling
the sparty 'd-d abolitionists," and
swore they would not submit to our
laws. A few days ago they gathered
in here and raised a riot with our
Sheriff. and fell on him with clubs and
weights and tried to kill him and his
brother. His brother ran into my
house for protection. They stoned my
window out, knocked two panels out
of my door and nearly Killed my little
child.
If you see fit to protect us send the
men can be raised in a few days. Send
full instructions and special orders!
You may send arms if you think pro-
per, for there will be no doubt about re-
cruiting the men Immediately. We
have plenty of guns here which belong
to the State that can be gathered up.
This company should be armed with re-
voIvers instead of guns. refer you to
Major Brown, [Col. CAV. Brown, @.
NJ. General the man who came here
and paid the home guards. He formed
some acquaintance with me when he
was here, also with Shannon andLteut.
Frasher. Yours, with respect,
JOHN w. Holt.
We the undersigned do certify the
within to contain the truth, and petition
the Governor to commission the within
named men and arm and equip com
pany for the enforcement of civil law
in this place forthwith. Given under
our hands this oath OF March. 1866, at
Cassville, in Wayne county, West Viz
ginia.
(Signed,) JOHN W. HOLT,
@ DAVID BARTRANf,