Today I ran across something in H.E. Matheny's Wood County, WV, in Civil War Times, published in 1987 by Trans-Allegheny Books, Inc, Parkersburg. p. 285, he quoted from Thomas F. Wildes, REcord of the 116th Regiment Ohio Infantry Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion, pp. 21-24: "On Septmeber 22, 1862, Preisdent LIncoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation, 'That on the first day of 1863, all slaves. . . were to be free'. "Many officers resigned, declaring they would no logner serve in an aboliton war. Ohio had always been weak in its belief of slavery abolition and in the October election, many of the Northern States, including OHio, seemed to manifest their disapproval of the Proclamation. . . "The feeling ran so high, and discussion became so bitter and hostile in the Army of the Potomac that General McClellan issued orders forbidding discussion of the Proclamation. Other Army Commanders found it necessary to follow his example." I still don't know if this is the "President's late proclamation" or not. . . but maybe I am getting closer. Joy