Louisa Ky Dec 21 1862
His Excellency
J F Robinson
Sir

The Home Guards, of the Sandy Valley having exhausted all there private supplies in the service of there neighbourhoods they are compelled to disband and leave there homes, — or to go into some state or national organization wherby they can be supplied, and make a support for there needy families who have been reduced, to want by the Rebell thieves and

and the necessary absence of there husbands & bro[...]thers These men are anxious to serve there country, but much prefer serving both section and country together they believe as I think all the [...]well advised men of this country believes that the mountaineers are the soldiers who can best defend the mountains— They know every pass — they have traversed every valley — have ascended every hill they are familiar with all the haunts of the secessionist and acquainted with all there strategy. These men

with an efficient leader well mounted and equipped with good and could do more to protect this part of Kentucky from the predatory band bands which infest it than four times there number on foot; I am satisfied that if these men could get assurance that they would be left in this country so long as ^it is^ necessary to keep forces here, there can be a batallion — raised in an incredibly Short time, the men are now in companies, and all that is necessary is to have them mustered in tThe bearer of this Lut McBride who

bear's a letter from Col Zeigler commending his ability as an officer proposes to organize and, command the batallion he will give you further particulars

Yours Respectfully
Laban T Moore