What a lot of Southerners don't realize is that West Virginians had no choice about statehood. The "delegates" in Wheeling were no more elected to their positions than Castro and his partisans were in the hills around Havana. I think historians are about the laziest breed of intellectuals ever. They only quote each other in succeeding generations of books repeating the most egregious and insipid innacuracies in new publications. I have a lot of admiration for Waitman T. Willey, one of the primary movers of West Virginia statehood. He once said, to the great indignation of his fellow delagates, "Gentlemen, I fear we are three-times traitors."
A full 20% of the "delegates" to Wheeling were Northerners, and the first three Governors of "West Virginia", Boreman, Farnsworth, and Stevenson, were from New York and Pennsylvania. The high numbers of Union recruits from Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia and Maryland were actually from neighboring Northern states. The Moore Center in Shepherdstown did a study of the 1st West Virginia Volunteers and found that 68% of them were from the North and were not West Virginians.

I often search Ebay for original West Virginia war material. I did not win this letter, but I saved the seller's transcription, which the readers of this board might find moving. Her comments on the the new officers appointed at Martinsburg being "our next trouble" is prophetic.

Middleway [WV] July 25th /61

Dear Sisters, That I have not written sooner has been owing to various causes, one of which has been the irregularity of the mails, as last letter did not reach me for a month it then found me on a sick bed.- the state of suspense in which we have been kept for months, the not hearing from our children, and things of like nature have seemed to disqualify me for writing, we have been expecting Newman for a month, he has not come and we do not hear from him, the latest account we had was from Lieutenant Lake of Alabama, he said he had been out delivering patriotic addresses; he had written to us that the Huntsville guards, and North Alabamians were at H. F. [Harpers Ferry].

I had the saddened pleasure of seeing Edward twice, once he took breakfast with his uncle, I was not well enough to go down.- he had been one of our piquets [pickets] the night previous. as to "our opinion", if you had heard me talking to Gen. Lanford, and Col. Arden and others of the Northern Army, who were on our portico, you would certainly know it. I told them we believed in States rights, that our Noble old State was sovereign and independent, that no one had a right on our territory without our consent and said to Col. Arden you have no right this side of Mason's and Dixon's line.- I told Gen. Lanford we believed that Seward’s "irrepressible conflict" was upon us, though he wholly disavowed it and said it was only to preserve the Union, to another I said, there could be no Union without affection and confidence, people could not be whipped into Union. The great Southern army passed through this place on the
16th of June which was Sabbath, they passed quietly and as it was said the enemy was then advancing I did not feel that it was a desecration of the day. we had several officers of that army with us, and some at our table. they were expecting a battle a few miles from this place on the following day. but fortunately it did not take place.- on the 17th Inst. the Northern army passed through here, they were nearly all day passing and we conversed with many of them, late in the evening some were here from Wisconsin, they spoke of their zeal for the Union bringing them here. they were then on their way to Charlestown. I told them they would march their army into Charlestown, frighten the women and children, and then it would be heralded through the North as a great victory.-one of them smiled. The great Battle, - is of course now the theme, you perhaps know more of this than we do, I would like much to hear from Captain Yancey's company.- we saw several of them when they were in this neighborhood. we have heard of some who went from this region who were killed, how sad; - this horrid war- and yet as to fear, I have not felt it. though at times we seemed to be in great danger. If H. W. Beecher, could be in sight of the cornfield at Bloomingdale, what an admerable tent he would find, take care Eva.

The appearance of the Northern Army was very formidable and imposing- much more so than ours, but they have found that the battle is not always to the strong. will they still push things to the extremes.- they thought Western Va. was secure to them when they were here, and since then their western Gov. has appointed Civil officers at Martinsburg, this I fear is to be our next trouble. I have not been sewing for the soldiers, though many of the ladies here have been. I succeeded in getting bread baked for Col. Stuart's Cavalry after they were cut off from the Martinsburg bakeries- there were several barrels of flour baked for them in this place, the last of which went to their camp near Winchester. I think Edward was one of the guard.

The paper of yesterday tells us that the Federal Army is to remain at Harpers Ferry, and that there may yet be a battle at Winchester.- we had hoped they had crossed the Potomac but it appears we are not to get rid of them so easily. Mr. Hank unites with me in love to all the family. he has been very much occupied with his garden this summer, and has the praise of having the finest one in the place. - he expects soon to have roasting ears. This is a fine fertile region, the greatest defeat is want of fruit, whether the land is too rich, or what is the cause I do not know but the people say apples and peaches cannot be cultivated with any success. - we had strawberries, and raspberries in the garden. when you read this letter you will please let Eva read it-I received her letter yesterday.

Tell Bernie when he learns to write, he must write me a letter.- I want to hear from Willie and Mary too. I expect Mother's patriotism of '76 is quite revived, as she is going to knit for the soldiers. I would be very glad to see you all but my health is so poor, home seems to be the best place for me now. I didn't tell you of the apparent danger we were in the day the Northern army passed through here, they were expecting an attack from Gen. Johnson and had selected a battle ground and pointed their guns so as to have swept this place if this had occurred.- but we have been mercifully preserved.- and I have sometimes wondered that my mind had been so calm through it all.- but the Lord reigneth, and can keep those in peace who trust in him.

Your affectionate Sister,

L. P. Hank