George B. McClellan to Kanawha Valley, 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.

Ni otwithstanding all that has been said by the traitors to induce you to believe that our advent among you will be signalized by interferenco 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 youto 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. Bt McCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding.

Addressto the Soldiers of the Expedition.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Ohio, Cincinnati, May 26, 1861.

Sotprers: You are ordered to cross the frontier and enter upon the soil of Virginia. Your mission is to restore peace and confidence, to protect the majesty of the law, and to rescue our brethren from the grasp of armed traitors. You are to act in concert with the Virginia troops, and to support their advance. I place under the safeguard of your honor the persons and property of the Virginians. I know that you will respect their feelings and all their rights. Preserve the strictest discipline ; remember that each one of you holds in his keeping the honor of Ohio and of the Union.

If you are called upon to overcome armed opposition, I know that your courage is equal to the task; but remember that your only foes are the armed traitors, and show mercy even to them when they are in your power, for many of them are misguided. When under your protection the loyal men of Western Virginia have been enabled to organize and arm, they can protect themselves, and you can then return to your homes with the proud satisfaction of having preserved a gallant people

from destruction. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Department.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE Ohio, Cincinnati, May 30, 1861.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report the successful occupation of Grafton without the loss of a single life. My previous dispatches have informed you of the cireumstances under which the movement was undertaken and the orders given for carrying it into effect. The movement was greatly delayed by the necessity of repairing the burned bridges. I constantly advised Colonel Kelley to use great caution, and I am happy to say that he has been able to combine it with unusual energy. {

He promptly arrived at-the burned bridge; at once set a working party at preparing timber for repairs, moved an advanced guard forward to the very important bridge over the Monongahela, at Fairmont, and seized all the secessionists he could find. At 11 o’clock this morning he moved forward, and reached Grafton at 2.30 p.m. The secesSionists had evacuated the place before his arrival. ;

The colonel will pursue them on the Beverly road in the morning and endeavor to capture at least some arms that they sent away before they

4 BR R—VOL It retreated. I cannot commend too highly the prudence and energy displayed by Colonel Kelley in this movement. He has in every instance carried out his instructions, and has displayed very high military qualities. I beg to recommend to the General that he may be made a brigadier-general of the Virginia Volunteers.

It is a source of very great satisfaction to me that we have occupied Grafton without the sacrifice of a single life. Colonel Steedman’s advance from Parkersburg has not been so prompt as that of Colonel Kelley. He has met with thany difficulties on his route.

Iam happy to say that the movement has caused a very great increase of the Union feeling. Iam now organizing a movement on the valley of the Great Kanawha; will go there in person, and endeavor to capture the occupants of the secession camp at Buffalo, then occupy the Gauley Bridge, and return in time to direct such movements on Kentucky and Tennessee as may become necessary.

I will make a more detailed report when I receive Colonel Kelley’s full report.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,