1862 May 20 Powhatan Hotel, Richmond

                        Powhatan Hotel  Richmond
                                     May 20 1862

Col. John D Imboden
                                   Dear Colonel
                                               I have been
busy to day endeavoring to get the Ranger
business straightened up  I find the offici-
als all desposed[sic]to hold to their pre-con=
ceived opinions, and not much dis=
posed to extend the rigidity of their rules.
Gov Letcher will not under any circum
stances consent to the transfer of the
Guerillias to the Ranger's alledging, that
he has no authority.  The most feasible
plan suggested is that the North-Western
men now in service be permitted to
go into the Ranger's.  Mr Russell says that
if the men themselves would present
a petition to the Govmt earnestly
requesting to be transferred that he and
others would at once back it up
with an earnest desire that the
petition be granted,--I will to-night
wrigtht[sic] to some of the men in the
31st & 25 and if it be their wish to
unite with us, we can prepare the

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petition and have our friends here
to urge it upon the administra-
tion.  Mr Russell will leave in the
morning for Halifax Co where he proposes
to leave his family with John R. Edmunds.
He desires me to say that he will do all
in his power to aid in raising the Regt.
and that if you need his assistance he
will meet you here at any time you
will either write to him or me
here,  I think if you will come
down the last of this week or the
first of next and beseige the Depart=
ment that more favorable terms for the
enlistment of the Rangers might be ob=
tained  No news here to-night excepting
that Heath & Marshall had a complete
victory over cox near Dublin Depot,
routing him totally, capturing numerous
prisoners and stores.  It is also said
that the enemy are slowly ad
vancing upon Johnson,
                       Very truly &c
                            W P Thompson

[Colonel W. P. Thompson, 18237-1896, of the 19th Virginia ?]

MSS 38-23