HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF THE OHIO,
Cincinnati, May 26,
1861.
To the Union Men of Western Virginia:
VIRGINIANS: The General Government has long enough endured
the machinations of a few factious rebels in your midst. Armed traitors have in
vain endeavored to deter you from expressing your loyalty at the polls. Having
failed in this infamous attempt to deprive you of the exercise of your dearest
rights, they now seek to inaugurate a reign of terror, and thus force you to
yield to their schemes, and submit to the yoke of the traitorous conspiracy
dignified by the name of Southern Confederacy.
They are destroying the property of citizens of your State
and ruining your magnificent railways. The General Government has heretofore
carefully abstained from sending troops across the Ohio, or even from posting
them along its banks, although frequently urged by many of your prominent
citizens to do so. I determined to await the result of the late election,
desirous that no one might be able to say that the slightest effort had been
made from this side to influence the free expression of your opinion, although
the many agencies brought to bear upon you by the rebels were well known.
You have now shown, under the most adverse circumstances,
that the great mass of the people of Western Virginia are true and loyal to
that beneficent Government under which we and our fathers have lived so long.
As soon as the result of the election was known the traitors commenced their
work of destruction. The General Government cannot close its ears to the demand
you have made for assistance. I have ordered troops to cross the river. They come
as your friends and brothers – as enemies only to the armed rebels who are
preying upon you. Your homes, your families, and your property are safe under
our protection. All your rights shall be religiously respected.
Notwithstanding all that has been said by the traitors to
induce you to believe that our advent among you will be signalized by
interference with your slaves understand one thing clearly – not only will we
abstain from all such interference, but we will, on the contrary, with an iron
hand, crush any attempt at insurrection on their part. Now that we are in your
midst, I call upon you to fly to arms and support the General Government.
Sever the connection that binds you to traitors. Proclaim to
the world that the faith and loyalty so long boasted by the Old Dominion are
still preserved in Western Virginia, and that you remain true to the Stars and
Stripes.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General,
Commanding.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
2 (Serial No. 2), p. 48-9
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