Sentence:  Reverend Joshual Corder , a Baptist minister , gathered a few citizens of Southern sympathies , to <WSD>call</WSD> on Jones and plead with him to spare the structure ; he reasoned and argued , pointing out that Jones or other Confederate commanders would need it should troops pass that way in retreat . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to