South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-29
The Movement on Harpers
Ferry.

How the SisBotoa Troops were Ordered to the
Fropt--the Military Of Augusta mrs, in the
field.
The South,ra hteHiyeacer has recent.
~ been publishing interesting war re-
miuiscences. Week before last it gave
an account OF the scene in the conven-
ton. when the important step of war
Was determined, and last week the mar.
rative is continued descriptive of the cir
cumstances under which the Augusta
troops first took the field. 1t will prove
entertaining reading to many OF our
subscribers and is as follows :--Staun,
ton Virgiaiaa
After the adjournment of the meeting
vt the exchange. Capt, lmbodeu. in COM
pany with Col. Fountain, drove 10 the
Governor Mansion and found Gov
Letcher in the act of going TO bed, when
Capt. Imhoden said TO him: We'll,
sir, We have organized the movement TO
take harper's Ferry. Gov. Wise is at
the head of it. and have called to in
form you Of the fact and to request that
The very moment you feel free to assume
the responsibility OF giving military or
ders that you sanction this as $, ate
movement, for whilst VIC have made up
our minds 20 take the arsenal and Sc
cure the arms at HGrpcr's Ferry, we
may, and probably will. have fight, and
1t would not be pleasant if any of us
should fall into the hands of the United
States TO be swung up TO tree rs VOL
untecr insurgents. J intend YOU shall
know our purpose, &belicve you will back
us - soon as you can The Governor
smiled and said: | suppose If you sue
coed none of you will be hung. You
shall hear from mo tomorrow Under
standing the Governor really 10 APP
prove tAe movement. because he had
given an order 20 Capt. Imboden late In
the evening for two hundred rounds Of
sl1-pounder fixed ammunition. which
had been sent 60 the depot OF the cen
trail railroad, and also 90 stands OF En-
field rifles. which Capt Imboden was
entrusted with TO take TO n Martinsburg
company, organized, but not armed, the
Captain babe him good night with full
confidence that sicJat oro'ers would follow
next day. BY the way, the two hundrcd
rounds Of fixed ammunition was issued
for target practice" the order read
On leaving the Governors, Capt. I'm
boden proceeded 20 the telegraph Office,
and sent a message 10 Staun;oI order
ing his company, The stanton Artil.
lcry," 20 he prepared 60 march ~ anv
time the mex. day (ApIil iIth) 10 aid
in the capture Of Portsmouth Navy
yard, and 20 scad forward their guns
20 GOldOnsyi.iO by attaching fats 10
the morning passenger Drain from StauH-
ton. lie also telegrgphcG 20 Col. VIM.
= II. Baylor, commanding the Fifth
Virginia Volunteers urging him TO call
them out, or, as least, The West Au.
gusta GuarGs"-a magnificent company
Of Infantry Ut Stanton, previously
commanded by Col. Baylor as captain,
and which was, IN fact, the nucleus
around which the Fifth Regiment was
formed anG afterW ards SO distinguished
AS part Of the "Stcnewall Brigade"
Capt Imboden left Richmond for
Staunton carly on the morning OF the
18th lie Lad indicated Portsmouth
Navv-vard as The objective point in his
dispatch, fearing that the wires might
leak and excite movement from Wash.
inston, TO defend Harper's Ferry. The
prccaution was necessary for one of his
coadjutors abiding imprudently TO their
enterprise on the train, the next morn.
ing passenger made the effort TO tele-
graph TO Washington, but bis dispatch
was intercepted. Great excitement
was causcd ct Stanton when Capt. I'm.
bodcn's kilograms were made public on
The morning OF The 17th. The Staun-
ton Artillery, four guns and "The
West Augusta Guard were in readiness
20 march bY noon Thousands OF people
flocked 20 town TO see them Off Scores
Of young men volunteered 20 join the
Artillery and is roll was run mp during
the day from about so 20 40 men. 9th.
ers were then refused, and they Joined
the Guards The cannon went forward
under q detachment early in tho day
just east OF the Blue Ridge Tunnel tie
rain had caused o heavy slide. and sew
er1l hours were lost awaiting The w.
train 10 which The guns were transferred
in the afternoon, and switched Of The
track 90 await the train With the fuii
company which was expected along CO.
ward ni1bt. Some one at Stanton
questioned the legality o. the orders.
Geo. ". lubo'e en-. afterwards Che Col
ono, OF tic eighteenth Virginia Cavalry,
Co lget She apprehcnsi5u- OF 'hc doubt
iu-, teicyrarhol i., brother Capt limbo.
Zen, % Goraousv.le, 20 know ST. lho
orders came from Che Governor. John
4. Hartman, who vas on thc train heard
TIE message boy il.liriug Tor Capt.