The National tribune., 1901-03-14

teresting chapter of the Secret Service his
tory of the rebellion. The antagonlstlt
position Of the two sections of Virginia
demanded early consideration and prompt
action on the part of the Federal GOV
ernment both in protecting the loyal peo'
pie in the western section and of preserv-
ing that territory to the Union. Within
the borders of this Commonwealth there
existed two elements, directly opposed to
each other, and both equally pronounced
in the declaration of political opinions.
The lines of demarkation between these
diverse communities were the Allegheny
Mountains, which extended through the
very middle of the State from northeast
to southwest, and divided her territory
into two parts, slightly unequal IN size
and different in typographical features
and personal characteristics of the people
From the nature of its earlier settle
ment and by reason of climate, soil and
situation. Eastern Virginia remained the
region of large plantations, with heavy
slave population, and of profitable agrleul-
ture, especially in the production of to-
hacco. West Virginia. on the contrary,
having been first settled by hunters, pio-
neers. lHmbermen and miners, possessed
little in common with her more wealthy
and aristocratic neighborS beyond the
mountains. They made their homes IN
the wilds. and among the rocky forma-
tions. under which was hidden the wealth
this western country became the seat of a
busy manufacturing industry. with n di-
versifed agriculture for local consump-
ton. while the east was largely given up
10 the production of great staples for ex-
port.
The slave interest also entered largely
into the creation and continuance of this
antagonistic feeling. According to a CEN
sus, which had been recently taken, it
was ascertained that Eastern Virginia
held all but few thousands. 1t was not
a matter of surprise, therefore, that Sc
cesSiOnism should be rampant in the east,
and that a Union sentiment should almost
universally prevail in the west. As the
institution of slavery was more or less the
cause of the war, here, as In other parts
of the South. secession reared its most
formidable front where the slave interest
predominated, and treason was more alert
in the centerS of accumulated wealth and
family pride, whose foundations were laid
by the suffering and foil of the African
bondsmen. The war had been waged to
defend the Divine institution" and it
was scarcely TO be expected that such
cause would be valiantly champioBed by
men whose sclf-reliance and personal in
dependence had endeared to them the
rights of free and honorable manhood.
When the Convention of Virginia met
to consider the question of secession, the
slaye-holding dignitaries were somewhat
startled by the logical but novel, declara-
fion of one of the western members, that
''the right of revolution can be. exercised
as well by portion Of the citizens of a
State against their State Government, as
it can be exercised by the whole people
Of State against their Federal Govern
ment." This was followed by another,
more pointed and revolutionary, that any
change in the relation Virginia now sus-
tains to the Federal Government, against
fbn KvicbaG Of n lla mi ~
of her people. would be sufficient to JUS
tify them in changing their relation to the
State Government by separating them
selves from that section of the State that
had thus wantonly disregarded their in
terestsA and defed their will"
The convention, however denying the
!, pertineney of this logic, passed its secret
ordinance of secession on April II, 1861,
and within a week popular movements
were ON foot in the various towns and
Counties of Western Virginia to effect a
division of the State. The people united
in unanimous protest against the ef-
forts of the slaye-holding aristocrats to
carry them into cotton confederacy, and
q determination to .1secede from seces-
sion" was manifested everywhere The
loyal determination was rapidly followed
by popular organization; an appeal for as
sistance was made TO the Government at
Washington, which promised them coun-
tenance and support. and Oh May 13 dele
gates from % counties of West Virginia
met At Wheeling TO devise such action
as would enable them TO fully and finally
repudiate the reasonable revolt Of East
Virginia.
Many circumstances favored fheir posi-.
tion. The State of Ohio, Immediately ad-
joining. was organizing her military force
of volunteers, and Western Virginia was,
not long after, attached to the Depart
I0ent of the Ohio, under command Of Gen
hpfV tfa FIaf y..In Of
and other events, had operated TO keep
the Western troops on the Ohio line. and
the Unionists Of West Virginia found a
protecting military force at once in their
immediate vicinity, with q commanding
officer who was instructed to give them
every encouragement and support
Meanwhile. Gov. Letcher, OF Virginia.
Ignoring the attitude assumed by the peo-
pie Of the West had issued his procama-
tiOn chilling for the organization Of the
State Militia. and including Western Vir-
ginia in the call.
Prompted by spirit OF arrogance or
oyer-conhdence, he at an early day dis
patched officers TO that locality to collect
and organize the militia of Western Vir-
elnia. Owing to the sparsity OF the pop
tlation, and the hilly and mountainous sit
nation of the country. there were but two
principal localities or lines of travel where
a concentration of forces could be best eff
fected-One Of these being the line of the
Baltimore q Ohio Railroad, and the other
the valley OF the Great Kanawha River
In these districts Gov. Letcher sent his
recruiting agents, but they soon returned
reports OF i very discOuraging character
The rebel emissIries found the feeling
very bitter: that Union organizations ex-
isted in most Of the counties, and that
while fragments of rebel companies were
here and there spriHging up, il was very
evident that no local force sufficient to
hold the country would respond to the
Confederate appeal, while the close prox-
unity Of Union forces at several points
along the Ohio pointed to short tenure
of Confederate authority.
This information was not at MI cheer
ing to tire rebel Governor OF the State.
and he determined TO maintain his author
ity in the disaifected districts with armed
forces from the eastern portion OF the
State. To accomplish this he detailed a
few available companies from StauntOn to
march toward Beverly, from which point
they could menace and oyerawe the town
Of Grafton, the junction of the main
stem OF the Baltimore s. Ohio Railroad,
with its branches extending to Parkers-
burg and Wheeling. The inhabitants
showed more alacrity. however, to take
up arms for the Government than for Gov
Letcher or Gen. Lee. A Union Western
Virginia regiment, under the command of
Col. Kelley, begaa TO gather recruits rap
idly at Wheeling while the rebel camps
between Beverly and Grafton were com
paratiyely deserted. and Col Porterfield
who had been sent under orders OF Gov.
Ietcher, found his efforts at recruiting de-
cidedly unsuccessful.