Item 09-855: From W. S. Rosecrans, Brigadier General, Clarksburg, to Pierpont. "Gov Peirpoint [Francis H. Pierpont] 1861. By Telegraph from Clarksburg 17 1861. [Aug.] SB Reed has arrested us a secessionist who on being asked to take the oath of allegiance & fidelity to the govt of Va declined doing it the grounds I have taken in this matter are designed to protect mental reservations & deceptions hitherto practiced on me." On reverse: "If we are to have peace & law in Western Va men must acknowlidge its government those who are intelligent enough to understand this & will not do it are more or less dangerous & subject to such custody & surveillance as the public interest require. If he is satisfied to take that oath now I have no objections to his being released. WS Rosecrans Brig Genl USA 111D338pd", 1861/08/17

Item 09-855: From W. S. Rosecrans, Brigadier General, Clarksburg, to Pierpont. "Gov Peirpoint [Francis H. Pierpont] 1861. By Telegraph from Clarksburg 17 1861. [Aug.] SB Reed has arrested us a secessionist who on being asked to take the oath of allegiance & fidelity to the govt of Va declined doing it the grounds I have taken in this matter are designed to protect mental reservations & deceptions hitherto practiced on me." On reverse: "If we are to have peace & law in Western Va men must acknowlidge its government those who are intelligent enough to understand this & will not do it are more or less dangerous & subject to such custody & surveillance as the public interest require. If he is satisfied to take that oath now I have no objections to his being released. WS Rosecrans Brig Genl USA 111D338pd", 1861/08/17, Box: 9, Folder: 57. Francis Harrison Pierpont (1814-1899) Papers, A&M 0009. West Virginia and Regional History Center. https://archives.lib.wvu.edu/repositories/2/archival_objects/47302 Accessed May 05, 2024.