Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-08-01
Inside History Of Augustus Part in the
Secession of Virginia.

Secession Of Virginia.
THE sTAUNTON ARTILLERY-ITs MOVE
MENT ON HARPER's FERRY UNDER
CAPT. IMBoDEN-JoHN A. nARMAN-
JOHN B. BALDwIN's COURSE IN THE
SECESSION CONVENTION.
A graphic correspondent OF the
Richmond s'Intelligencer" from whose rec
elections we begin at this point gives that
paper some interesting "reminiscences of the
events of secession, and with such minute
ness as would be used by one who was an
actor himself in the occurrences described.
The account is very interesting and full OF
familiar Staunton and Augusta names and
we therefore copy the following part of it.
I'D. Imboden, then Capt. Imboden, OF
Stanton, desired to have the brass
pieces sent to his company, and applied fer
them to Gen. Richardson, The AdJutant-
General of tie State. He refused the ap-
pllcatlon of Capt. Imbuden. who then ap-
pealed to Gov. Wise. GOV. Wise over
ruled the decision of Gen Richardson, on
condition that Capt. Imboden and his
company would furnish horses for the bat
tery, with harness and every accoutre-
ment. and that he would have them
trained regularly for artillery service.
Having obtained the guns, the Captain re-
turned to the office of the Governor to
thank him for them, and when he did so,
the Governor replied: 'You could not
have obtained them, sir, but for the conf
dence have in you and your men to keep
them in perfect order-ready for service
and all ask in return is that whenever L
call for these guns, and order you AMI your
men to come with them, you will obey the
call, whether l be in Or out Of Office, or
the call be private or official" Capt. I'M
boden promised that he would lacquer
his guns, build them a shelter, drill his
men, and train his horses, and obey the
call of the Governor whenever made on
him Governor or not GOVERNOR" and he
thus took the guns to Staunton. This oc-
Cured in the year 1859. Gen. Wise went
out of Office in January, 1860. and
THE SECESSION CONVENTION ASSEMBLED
EARLY IN 1861.
During its sessions, committee Of TWEEN
ty-one was appointed to report upon the
best measures of avoiding the war, if pos
sible, and Of defending the State in case
war should be inevitable, and to consider
especially the proper action of the Con-
vention in any probable emergency. Some
of the ablest men of the body were selec-
ted to compose that committee. The OPP
ponents of secession had large majority
| in the convention, and it's president, Mr..
Janney, appointed sixteen friends of peace
and compromise to five for resistance and
secession. Robert Y. Conrad, of Freder-
| lex, was the chairman of the committee,
and the chief debaters on the part OF the
majority were Scott, of Fau4uier; Bald
| win, of Augusta; Bane, of Halifax; Pres,.
l. ton, of Montgomery, and Mcfarland, OF
Richmond city; and on the part OF the
minority, Wise, then of Princess Anne
The other four of the minority were for
secession, and were content to take no
part in the discussion. After many weeks
of very trying debate, principally partici-
pated in by Robert E. Scott and J. b.
Brldwin on the one side, and FL. A. Wise
on the other; and after the Committee,
BY VOTE OF THIRTEEN TO EIGHT, HAD
REJECTED THE PROJECT OF MIR.
WISE TO TAKE STAND OF SOME
WHAT ARMED NEUTRALITY
between the Federal powers of Washing
ton city and the Confederate powers at
Montgomery, and to fight IN the Union
against the invasion of either by the other,
and to prevent the troops of either from
crossing the territory of Virginia; and
when 1t had become manifest that the
people in the State were becoming impa-
tient at the delay of action by the Con-
vention, Gov. Wise, worn down by over
working and anxiety, and despairing Of
any fair adjustment or prompt action,
was walking from the Committee, the sit
tings of which were held in the Mechanics
Hall, on Bank street, and met Capt. j. D.
Imboden, on the pavement, near Tenth,
on Bank street, next the Capitol Square.
After a pleasant usual salute, e1-Gov.
| Wise spoke to Gen. Imboden of his impa-
| thence at the delay of the Convention, and
of the dark prospect of events, and said,
"Do you remember, sir, what passed be-
tween you and me, when [ was governor,
at the moment VIII n you thanked me for
the order permitting you to have two brass
| feld-pieces for your company of artillery
at Staunton?'' Capt. Imboden replied,
Eyes. 1 do, sir" and repeated what has
already been related-that he was bound
to obey the call Of Mr.. Wise for those
| guns whenever made. Gov. Wise then
said: s'What was joke then, is earnest
now. [ want those guns with which to
| aid in the immediate capture Of the Uni
| ted States arsenal at Harper'S Ferry; can
they be had with all the men you can
raiser" Capt. Imboden replied: "They
| can, and. if you say so. the men shall be
raised, and the arsenal shall be taken. :"
Gov. Wise then inquired: "What boys, re-
| liable and brave, are in town." Capt.
| Imboden named several, and promised to
| look Immediately for others, and Gov.
Wise then told him to notify as many such
| as he could find in the city to meet him at
| the Exchange Hotel at about 4 O'Clock
P. M.
AT THE HOUR NAMED CAPT. IMBoDEN
HAD ASSEMBLED, IN A ROOM ON THE
FIRST FLOOR OF THIS HOTEL,
on the passage to the left of the entrance
as you go in, Oliver Funston, Richard
Ashby, Turner Ashby, John S. Barbour,
| Alfred Barbour, John A. Hartman, and j.
D. Imboden, who were joined by Coy.
Wise. Gov. Wise stated to them the OBJ
ject of calling them together. Turner
| Ashby asked what was proposed. Gov.
was some official, Of semblance of official
authority to make the movement, and
proposed the appointment Of committee
of three to wait on Gov. Letcher, and to
ascertain whether he would support, or
ceuntenance, at least an attempt to secure
| the arms and munitions of war at Harper'S
Ferry. The proposition was at once
| adopted, and j. D. Imboden, Oliver Fun
stem, and Alfred Barbour were appointed
the committee, and the committee waited
for their report about an hour, when they
returned, and reported briefly that Gov.
Letcher declined to entertain or consider
the matter, as he was under some informal
pledge not to do or promote any hostile
action against the United States without
first apprising the Convention and confer
ring with it. Gov. Wise then said: "Well
gentlemen, you have heard the report;
are you willing and ready to act on your
own responsibility ?'' The meeting unan-
imouslY voted to act without official au-
thority, and Turner Ashby, addressing
| Gov. Wise, said: "You have once been
Governor of Virginia, and we will take
orders from you, sir, as if you were now