Duke University Libraries 
 
 Petition protes 
 Conf Pam #727 
 
DOC. No. LIU. 
 
 PETITIOISJ^ 
 
 PROTESTING AliAlNST 
 
 ENROLLING AS MILITIA 
 
 TOLDNTEERS IW IM SERf 
 
 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
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 littp://www.archive.org/details/petitionprotestiOOrich 
 
Doc. No. 53. 
 
 PETITION. 
 
 Whereas the legislature of Virginia has now under consideration a bill enrolling as mi- 
 litia, and for draft, all the volunteers now in service ; said draft to be niado on or before tho 
 1st day of April i8(5'2, while tho several terms of service of these volunteers expire from 
 one to three mouths later : 
 
 And whereas volunteer companies cannot be organized with loss than GS men, while 
 most of the companies now in service have their numbers so diminished by disease and 
 death, that their strength falls far short of the requirement of the law, rcuderiug it impos- 
 sible for them to re-enlist under their present organizations ; and being deprived by their 
 duties now, and the provisions of said bill, from hereafter increasing their numbers to tho 
 required quota, thereby making their voluntary re-enlistment, even without the threat 
 hanging ov<;r them, almost if not quite impossible: 
 
 And whereas said bill expressly declares that there shall in no respect, as to standing, 
 rank, honor or oth(;rwise, be known any difference bctvveeu men who enlist willingly, and 
 those who are driven by force into their country's service ; while in addition to this, tho 
 militia drafted officers (whose commissions must antedate those of tried and experienced 
 officers who may be reappointed when their present terms of service shall expire) will, in all 
 cases where volunteers and drafted men serve together, outrank these officers of tried and 
 acknowledged ability : 
 
 And whereas, finally, the express intention of said bill seems to be to ignore the patriotism 
 and self-sacrifice of the 70,000 Virginians now in the field, and to withhold from them the 
 gratitude to which they are entitled : 
 
 We, the undersigned, volunteers now in the field, beg leave to protest against the passage 
 of so unjust and tyrannical a law. 
 
 We furthermore declare, that while renewing our pledge of devotion to the caitse in which 
 we are engaged, we will not, in the event of such an enactment by our state legislature, 
 serve under the flag of Virginia, but will enlist under a banner where patriotism is valued' 
 self-sacrifice appreciated, and services acknowledged. 
 
 The flag of our Confederacy, bathed in the blood of patriots, and consecrated by their 
 devotion, has never yet been dishonored. Under it we will fight as Virginians — expatriated 
 Vi<^inians, if it must be — never as militia. 
 
 T. W. Davis. Levi C. Wheat. 
 
 Geo. H. Caperton. Jos. A. Jones. 
 
 R. C. Wilson. Grigg T. Cundliff. 
 
 F. Harris. Jas. H. Pollard. 
 
 Jno. P. Dawson. John Wilson. 
 
 [Signatures continued on next page.] 
 
Doc. No. 53. 
 
 Jesse Irvine. 
 Frank Scott. 
 Alex. L. Halscy. 
 Stephen P. Halsey. 
 Jcrc. A. Hunter. 
 A. N. IJurton. 
 Thomas McFall. 
 Edward P. Wilkcrson. 
 William N. Pcno. 
 E. K. Talbott. 
 John A. Bigbic. 
 George W. Turjiin. 
 D. L. Jenkins. 
 ThoH. W. Nclscn, M. D. 
 Samuel C. Hurt. 
 Jesse Hare Head. 
 Jno. A. Nelson, M. D. 
 A. J. Almond, M. D. 
 C. H. Almond. 
 Thos. S. West. 
 Samuel C. Pollard. 
 T. H. Howard. 
 
 Jos. W. Hatcher. 
 Jos. B. Joplin. 
 Jno. F. Hurt. 
 John M. Pollard. 
 J. K. Bower. 
 Wm. O. Wilkcrson. 
 Hardapfc Bridge."?. 
 Wm. F. Wingfield. 
 Sam'l L. Hagcrmon. 
 Minnis C. Gibbs. 
 Benjamin A. Ferrel. 
 John J. Ferrel. 
 L. H. Wood. 
 Abner N. Hatcher. 
 Jerome; A. Hunter. 
 K. B. Dooloy. 
 Jno. B. Irvine. 
 Francis T. Meriwether. 
 G. D. Meriwether. 
 R. A. Hunter. 
 Corbin Wilkes. 
 Jno. S. Kasoy. 
 
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