Mill Point, Pocahontas County, Va.,
June 10, 1861.
President Jefferson Davis:
Dear Sir: Having the best interests of our country at heart, and having taken an active part in the welfare of this county from the first appearance of danger to the present hour, I feel confident you will hear me. While I have no doubt of the success of the South in casting off the Northern yoke ultimately, I must say that this is the last appeal from me, at least for the protection of this section—this county and Greenbrier—that I ever expect to make, and I very much fear that it is already too late for you to prevent our being overrun to some extent, perhaps totally. Our interests have no doubt been cared for, but there has been too little energy at work, and the view has been a short-sighted one. Three weeks since it would have been quite an easy matter to have taken possession of all Western Virginia, except Wheeling, and perhaps that also; but now it is very doubtful if twenty thousand of the best-armed men we have in the State will do it. The few troops we have had out there have had no other effect than to gather in a still stronger force of the enemy, and they are doing their best to carry off and destroy everything upon which a large army can subsist, having entire control of all the railroads and almost the whole country. If not driven back soon, we have no hope of anything being left to support our army now or hereafter, and you will find it next to impossible to take provisions for an effective force a distance of one hundred or one hundred and fifty miles, on common road wagons, from the Central Railroad. Two weeks since this thing was not half so gloomy. In less than two more we shall be overrun, unless there is a far greater force than we have any knowledge of being sent us. The enemy is now within a few hours’ march of our county lines. We have no force at all beyond Huttonsville, and a great part of it far this side—some on the Parkersburg and some on the Marline Bottom roads. Our force all told is not more than from twelve hundred to two thousand. The last account we had from them was on the 7th. They were not more than half armed, and had not ammunition sufficient for more than one round to the man. I sent fifty miles to Covington, and only got seventy-five pounds of powder, but no lead. We have got some fifty pounds of old lead pipe, &c., which we sent on this morning, with powder. I wish I could tell your our situation.
Our county is loyal to the South; only thirteen votes against secession; population less than four thousand. We laid a war levy of $15,000. Have sent out four volunteers companies, and in all nearly five hundred soldiers out of about six hundred and fifty militia. There are not men sufficient left to raise our troops or save our harvests. We have urged our governor time after time, again to grant us arms, ammunition, and men. Our wants are this hour still further than ever from being supplied. Last night at 11 o’clock we started a special messenger to the governor or yourself, which is the fourth time we have done so. The enemy still advancing, our danger increasing, our arms and men nearly all gone from the county, no ammunition nor hopes of getting any in time, to stay the enemy, we have done all that we can do up to this hour. Will you help us? Can you help us in time? One short week, and I fear it will be too late. Many of our best families have their carriages in readiness to move; many more are having their wagons prepared. All that can go I fear will soon on the move. Then woe to those who are left. Nothing but destruction awaits our houses and barns. Our waving fields of grain and grass, our thousands of cattle, they will soon possess. On my own grass I have from one hundred and fifty to two hundred head of good beef cattle. I have no hope of anything being saved unless you can send on a large force at once.
It seems there has been no one capable of managing the business out northwest. They have suffered themselves to be routed and robbed of everything, or nearly so, and stripped of ammunition and clothes. Provisions could still be had in the Randolph Valley if the enemy were removed. One of our officers told me on yesterday that there was no question but an army of twenty-five thousand men could provisioned for a considerable length of time out there. Many large farmers would willingly give all they have. The coming harvest is promising, and will soon be ripe.
Our enemies declare they are determined to take Pocahontas and Greenbrier. This our officers told me this morning, and this will take them to the top of the Allenghany Mountains.
I have now, Mr. President, in a homely manner, tried to tell you a few stubborn facts, and it does seem to me that our case is a hard one. I have three sons in the Army. Two of them came home from the West for this purpose. I have spent all my time for more than a month past trying to aid, and took one trip to Richmond, and now I am done writing. I will take my rifle, shot-gun, pistol, and cutlass, relying upon the God of battles, and go to meet the enemy.
Ask Colonel Paul McNeil, in Convention, if you doubt one assertion.
Respectfully, yours,
JOHN H. RUCKMAN.