John H. Wenzel, Postmaster at Ripley, Virginia to Colonel D. Frost, December 21, 1861

Source citation
"Attack on Ripley, VA," in Frank Moore, ed.,  The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc. (New York: G.P.Putnam, 1862), III: 486.
Author (from)
Wenzel, John H.
Recipient (to)
Frost, D.
Type
Letter
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Transcription adapted from The Rebellion Record (1862), edited by Frank Moore
Adapted by John Osborne, Dickinson College
Transcription date
The following transcript has been adapted from The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events, with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, Etc. (1862).

Jackson County Court House, VA. December 21, 1861. 

Colonel D. Frost:

Sir: On the night of the 19th the Moccasin Rangers came into Ripley and took all the United States arms and ammunition that Dr. Chase had here recruiting for the Tenth regiment, (J. Boheve's,) robbed the post-office of all its contents and all my clothing but what I had on my back, and a box of clothing for the soldiers, and took from J. L. Armstrong's store a considerable amount. I wish you would see if we could have a force to protect us here; if we can't we will have to let all go in this county, and all Union men will have to leave. The Rangers have all been driven in here from Calhoun, Gilmer, Wirt, and Roane, on to the head of the right-hand fork of Sandy Big Run and the left-hand fork of Mill Creek. When they came into town Dr. Chase took his men and went to Cottageville, and the arms he left he locked up in the jail. They took an axe and picked the lock and took them. Chase had gathered up all the arms in the country of different persons. There was but one or two guns in the place, and one of them I had with me. We are in a bad way here.

Yours, respectfully,
John H. Wetzel

In Jackson County, Virginia, Confederate irregulars raid the town of Ripley and rob the post office
Ripley, VA
How to Cite This Page: "John H. Wenzel, Postmaster at Ripley, Virginia to Colonel D. Frost, December 21, 1861," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/38518.