[83] Thomas Chapman, Jr., "The Secession Election in Fairfax County, May 23, 1861", _Yearbook of the Historical Society of Fairfax County_, IV (1955) 50. [84] Robert Anderson, "The Administration of Justice in the Counties of Fairfax, Alexandria (Arlington) and the City of Alexandria (Part II)", _The Arlington Historical Magazine_, II (October 1962) 10-11. [85] Ordinance 67, passed by the Virginia Convention, 26 June, 1861, cited by Anderson, "Administration of Justice", p. 10. [86] Governor William Smith, "The Skirmish at Fairfax Court House", _The Fairfax County Centennial Commission_, (Vienna, Virginia: 1961) p. 4. Because of the confusion in the Confederate ranks, no officer took charge, and so Governor Smith ordered the Confederate troops to return the fire of the Federal soldiers. [87] The Fairfax Court House meeting, which took place in Gen. Beauregard's headquarters near the courthouse, has been the subject of controversy in the memoirs of those involved. See, for example, Jefferson Davis, _The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government_, (New York: Yoseloff, 1958), I, 368, 448-452, 464; Alfred Roman, _Military Operations of Gen. Beauregard_, (New York: Harper & Bros., 1884), I, 137-139. [88] _Washington Post_, April 10, 1921. [89] _Alexandria Gazette_ and _Fairfax News_, October 17, 1862. [90] Bruce Catton, _A Stillness at Appomatox_, (New York: Cardinal Giant Edition, Pocket Books, Inc., 1958), pp. 318-319. [91] Two items from the _Alexandria Gazette_ in July 1862 illustrate the problems regarding these records. The edition of July 12, 1862 printed a letter to the newspaper stating that records of Fairfax County had lately been found in Warrenton, having been removed there, it was supposed, by lawyers. The new sheriff of the County took possession of these records. The edition of July 23, 1862 reported that the new County Court of Fairfax held its July term in the Clerk's office, the courthouse not being in condition for that purpose, and that one of the court's actions was to order that application be made for a new seal, the old one not being found. [92] Fairfax County Court Minute Book, 1863-1867, p. 130. This order was entered November 25, 1864, and was rescinded by a subsequent order entered November 22, 1865. Minute Book, 1863-1867, p. 289. [93] The Unionists in northern and western Virginia met twice in conventions held at Wheeling. In May 1861 a convention of some 400 so-called delegates from the counties in these regions met to consider their stake in the State's constitutional crisis, but took no action since Virginia had not yet ratified the secession ordinance. A second convention at Wheeling was held in June 1861, and organized a Unionist government for the State which claimed the authority of the General Assembly (which it asserted had forfeited its authority by rebellion) and other constitutional officials. Francis H. Pierpont served as governor of this Unionist government of Virginia.