Gallery-Newspaper Articles
Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal, May 21, 1863, describing the female prisoners in custody in Wheeling, including the infamous Mary Jane Green.
Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal, May 21, 1861, describing the case of Dr. Caldwell of Greenbrier County, supposed Unionist candidate for the state legislature and his runaway slaves.
Norfolk Post, Oct. 14, 1865, describes discontent in Jefferson County
Arrest of Gov. Pierpont on a complaint by Judge George W. Thompson of Wheelingfor false imprisonment, August of 1863.
Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal, Oct. 17, 1861, describing civil unrest in Braxton County.Although the Journal here takes a pious attitude towards the Richmond Enquire's story, the Journal's own description of the death of John Augustine Washington is just as gleeful.
New York Daily Tribune, July 13, 1861, describing the unrest in Eli Thayer's colony of Ceredo
in Wayne County. The writer states that the majority against secession on May 23rd was "obtained by careful and discreet management...and the votes cannot be relied upon."
The Abingdon Virginian, June 19, 1863, description of the Jones-Imboden Raid by Warren M. Hopkins ofGen. Jones' staff.
The Abingdon Virginian, June 5, 1863, describing the retaliation by Gen. Roberts (U.S.) tocitizens of Weston and Lewis County after the Jones-Imboden raid.
Dr. William Jenkins, brother of the late Brig. Gen. Albert G. Jenkins, indicted for treason by theCabell County court, article from the Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal, April 13, 1865.
Marriage of Belle Boyd to Lt. Hardinge, Daily National Republican Sept. 8, 1864
Article from the Gallipolis [Ohio] Journal, Feb. 18, 1864, expressing concern over the lifting of
restrictions on river traffic on the Ohio River and rebel depredations from West Virginia.
Gallipolis (Ohio) Journal, March 3, 1865, article on the conditions of Eli Thayer's colony of Mass.farmers in Wayne County at the end of the war.
Staunton (Va.) Spectator Dec. 30, 1862, on arrests in Hampshire County
Sept. 26, 1861 article from the Belmont Chronicle (St. Clairsville, OH) on the number of Ohioans joining Union regiments credited to WV and KY.
Staunton Spectator, Jan. 14, 1862, story of state senator Bolivar Christian of Augusta County urging the General Assembly to form a committee to co-ordinate with the Confederate government for the defense of West Virginia, whose volunteers have been transferred to other areas in the south while their own counties have been left defenseless.
Western Virginia Defenceless.
When we had a large force operating in Western Virginia during the Fall months, in consequence of an unusually wet season, the roads were almost impassible. In consequence of this fact It was found impossible to transport supplies in sufficient quantities from Jackson's River Depot to maintain such a large force so far from our Depot of supplies. As it was supposed that as the Winter season advanced the roads would become even worse than they had been in the Fall, and as it was thought that the rigor of the season and the condition of the roads would prevent the enemy from attempting a campaign in that section of the State, our forces were withdrawn from Western Virginia that they might be used more efficiently elsewhere. As the weather has been more favorable and the roads in a better condition than at any time during the Fall, the belief that the Winter season and the bad condition of the roads would furnish sufficient protection to the loyal counties in that section of the State has proven to be fallacious.The result has been that, since the withdrawal of the troops, the citizens of the loyal and patriotic counties of the West have been in a perfectly defenceless condition, liable at any time to be overrun by the enemy, and to have their property destroyed or stolen, and their homes rendered desolate. Though probably the greater portion of the forces of the enemy which have been operating in Western Virginia have been sent to invade, plunder and destroy, in other parts of the Confederacy, yet some have been left at the Mouth of Gauley; some at Fayetteville, the county seat of Fayette; some at Summersville, the county seat of Nicholas;some at Sutton, the county seat of Braxton; some at Valley Mountain, and some at other places in Western Virginia—a sufficient number to do a great deal of mischief and to keep the defenceless loyal citizens in continual anxiety and alarm. The recent raids of the enemy in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties attest this fact. As nearly all the troops who volunteered in Western Virginia have been taken from their homes, which are now daily threatened with invasion, and have been sent to other fields, North, East, West and South, the people feel that they have been badly treated, and their murmurings and complaints, if not loud and long, are deep and heart-felt. They feel that it is wrong to take their arms from them, as has been done, and to take all of their own volunteers, and to withdraw the forces and leave them to cruel mercies of a ruthless foe. If their own volunteers would be allowed to remain to defend their own section, their homes, altars at firesides, they would not ask any additional forces as they believe that with them they can succesfully defend themselves, if not drive the enemy across the Ohio River. To leave these loyal people in such a helpless and defenceless condition would have the very worst possible effect. It should be remembered that the enemy are not only making military demonstrations in that section of the State, but that they also claim civil jurisdiction. They have recently proclaimed, by conventional edict, that the counties ofGreenbrier, Monroe, Pocahontas, Mercer, & McDowell are unconditionally annexed to the "State of Western Virginia," governed by Pierpont. This is the very section of the State from which our forces have been withdrawn —thus aiding Lincoln and Pierpont to accomplish their diabolical purposes. We are pleased to know that the attention of the proper authorities has been called to the unfortunate condition ot affairs in that section of our State, and that some steps have been taken looking to the protection of the loyal counties now threatened by the enemy. Col. Alex. W. Reynolds, a native of Greenbrier county, a former U. S. officer, and a brave and gallant man, has been appointed to the command in that section with authority to raise a Brigade. We hope the people will readily, promptly and cheerfully respond to the call hewill make them to rally to the defence of their hemes and the honor of their State. Col. Jackson's reg't,(22d) composed of volunteers from the Western part of the State, has been sent to Lewisburg. The 8th Virginia Cavalry Regiment commanded by Col. Walter H. Jenifer, of Maryland, has been ordered to Mercer county. We are gratified to see that onr immediate representative in the Senate of Virginia—Bolivar Christian, Esq,—has called the attention of the Legislature to the undefended condition of Western Virginia. His resolution will be found in another column.
Gallipolis (OH) Journal, June 26, 1862, orders issued by Union army to citizens of Jackson County to obey the Union government in Wheeling, and the consequences of resistance or support of guerrilla activities.
Interesting article from the Cleveland "Morning Leader", June 4, 1861, detailing secession sentiment in the Kanawha Valley following the Union invasion of May 26.Cleveland Morning Leader, June 4, 1861"South Western Virginia"...A gentleman of the highest respectability and intelligence was in the city yesterday, having been compelled for the sake of peace and safety to leave the region of the Great Kanawha, for his known Union sentiments and Yankee proclivities. He has lived at Charleston, the county seat of Kanawha county, which town is situated at the junction of Elk and Kanawha rivers, about sixty miles from the mouth of the latter at Mr. Pleasant, and about one hundred miles south east from Wheeling...The situation of affairs there at this time is peculiar. The county gave 1400 for Union the other day, and yet the Unionists are daily in danger of insult, and even personal injury. Outside of the town people, the greater part of the population are "poor whites", whose only ambition and interest is to be a good shot, to be able to drink down a pint of raw whiskey, and to have enough "hog and hominy" to eat. They are an impressionable class, who will follow any energetic leader, whichever side he may be on. The trouble now is that the Union men who have ability to lead the cause are now discouraged-or rather intimidated-by the influence surrounding them. There were at the time of the President's Proclamation, two good companies of militia in Charleston. These have both been mustered into State service, although a part of their members were Union men. The advance of the Ohio troops at Wheeling has exasperated the secessionists, and by means of the four hundred State troops now collected at Charleston, they keep the Union men under. One great dead weight upon all expression of approval of the course of the government is the State pride of which we have before spoken, and which disposes the possessor of the feeling to resent any real or fancied insult to the State. The common people, who are not well informed enough to know the plan of the administration, or to understand it if they did, are easily moved by this feeling, and under the influence of their leaders, are bitterly hostile to the presence of any foreign troops. This disaffection is by no means lessened by the fact that the blockade upon their ports upon the Ohio stops all provisions, &c, except whiskey, of which an unlimited amount is received and imbibed. And while under the influence of such stimulants, the secessionists are but too ready to enforce the State law making it treason to speak against the action of the Richmond Convention or the Legislature.
The prospect before the Union men here is very dark. They know that the Administration could do no less than it has done, and yet they fear the results in their section. They are not safe either in their property or lives, and anxiously await the development of the hour."
"Justice to West Virginia", Richmond Enquirer, January 13, 1863. Article written by a group of West Virginia military and political leadersexplaining the complicated issue of western Virginia, its loyalty to Virginia and the sacrifices and commitments made by its people.