<title type="main">S. Thomas Hauser to Thomas E. Bramlette

Falmouth. Pendleton County Ky- Oct 17th 1863 His Excly Thos E. Bramlett Govr of Ky

Sir. The murder of Maj: A. G. Wileman, of the 18th Regt Ky. Vol:, on the night of 5th inst, in this County, -- in atrocity, cruelty and aggrivation was such, that, it seems to me, the safety of Union and law abiding citizens; and, perhaps, specially, the security of our warworn officers and soldiers, upon their returns home, from our armies,- on forlough, -- sick, wounded or otherwise, to the bosom of their families, urgently and loudly call, upon every department of the Government (to the limits of the law) for the apprehention and conviction of the heartless and marouding murderers and robbers:- I therefore, take the privilege, under the provisions of the statute, as County Judge, to petition your excellency, to issue, as soon as convenience will permit, a prolclamation with a reward, for their arrest and apprehention. -- The murderers,- no doubt, every one of them, are now fleeing from justice: -- but, the events of the past, unmistakingly, proclaim, it is only, again to return, -- if unwhipped of justice, or undetered by retributive example, for fell purpose of perpetrating upon others,

like heinous crimes, -- so soon as this community relapses, into a supposed-security and heedless repose, as it unfortunately was, at the time Maj Wileman returned home, -- wounded from the field of battle, unarmed, -- confidingly relying for protection, upon the laws of his State, which he had just so nobly defended, and upon that sense of security and personal safety, inspired by his wounds, -- and by these promised him, in the midst of his stricken family and a loyal and grateful people

Respectfully Yours &c

S. Tho. Hauser

N B At an adjourned meeting at the Court house on this day, of a small portion of the citizens of the County, sixty seven inrolled themselves as part of a volunteer company under the militia law and your late proclamation; and no doubt but that in a few days, a company will be fully organized in this County -- All the people want, every where, under the present crises, is a knowledge of the law Militia Law: --

and it should be distributed in a pamphlet form, the crises as a matter of necessity, it seems to me, demands such distribution, For no man's life or property will be secure until the militia is in every County organized as required by the Govr proclamation and every County has a watchfull company volunteers The arms which I understand were sent here; part for the fraction of a company under the 20,000 requisition, here guarding the rail road Bridge, and part for a volunteer company under your late proclamation, came most opportune -- Our hearty thanks for them -- &C

S. T. H

Pendleton Co Reward $500, Murderers of A G. Wileman 20th Oct/63