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Augusta: Washington Hilleary and D. D. Morrall to John Letcher, August 7, 1861

Summary:
Having been accused of aiding Federal troops, Dr. Hilleary writes to Gov. Letcher and asks for a speedy hearing so that he might clear his name.

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To Excellency Governor John Letcher

August 7 ^th 1861

Staunton

Dear Sir

I was arrested and brought to this place by the order of Colonel Jackson a man [unclear: unnow] to me on a charge of conducting the Federal troops to the top of [unclear: Rich] Mountain the charge is false and I have called on Colonel Jackson to give me a Fair and honorable hearing on trial and [added: would] prove to him and the whole Confederacy that I am innocent of Such a charge and I will prove also that no man that claims to be a Southern man that has done more than I have to promote the cause of [added: the] South me and my Family sir I am [illeg.] the Federal troops and can you or any other man [unclear: then] For one moment that I would leave my home and all [added: to] the mercy of a [unclear: banded] Enemy and then [unclear: aide] them in the destruction of the army and my property and all that I had why sir it is preposterous to think of therefore I wish you would order Colonel Jackson to give me a hearing and let me acquit myself honorably and let the Falsehood fall on the one that

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the one that perpetrated it I have been here For nearly three week From my family and I am anxious to [added: go] back to them at the Springs I never left the army until the day of the battle and the retreat and brought From therr in a buggy Captain W Ervin he was very much crippled From a Fall in the camp and I carried him home near the warm Springs

I am not in prison but brought here and turned loose to run at camp but that do not S[illeg.] me I will not leave until I get Satisfaction I can prove my Standing in life and now Sixty Five years of a[illeg.] have faded different Stations of office in life and there has never been the least thing few of me before Your immediate attention to this will greatly oblige a Friend

D^r Washington Hilleary

Governor John Letcher ,
I am acquainted with D^r Hilliary, and I feel satisfied that he is a True Southern man, I saw him at Huttonsville, at the time of Colonel Scotts retreat with a sick man in his

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carriage, I also saw him at Greenbur with the same Gentleman, I [deleted: am] feel Confident and recommend that he should at once be released from arrest. -
Very Respectfully
D. D. Morrall