South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-08-29

liant spirits never iived-two, Harman
and Baylor, were slain during the war,
and Harper died of disease contracted
in tic army. In company with these
gentlemen. he hast ened 10 the law Office
of Col. Baylor, locked out tho crowd.
aud intending to make clean breast
OF it. about the orders. However. ~
soon as the door was closed Harper
drew from his pocket telegram receiy.
ed au hour before, 10 this purport:
Call out oil the volunteers OF your
military district and proceed at once 20
Harper's Ferry and take possession of
the arsenal. See lmboden for details.
Signed, JonS LErCuEn. Goreraor.'
Gen. Harper eagerly inquired FOR all
the information lmboden could give him.
And within an hour Tho two companies
embarked-issued orders TO all the 9th.
or companies Of the Fifth Regiment. in
Augusta county, 10 follow next day.
Gen. Harper went down the Valley Iii.
rectly 10 Winchester, Gen. Hartman
took the cars and was in command till
the expedition reached Winchester, Sc
versl companies having joined IL on the
way. Tho trains bearing these troops
went By wnv Of Gor3onsville And Ma.
passas junction 20 Strasburg, reaching
the latter place early on the 18th, and
by night had marched eighteen miles 10
Winchester, where Gen. Harper had COLI
lccted cars enough TO convey them TO
Harper's Ferry that night. Tho Feder>
al commander u, that place hearing OF
the expedition, fred tho arsenal after
midnight and crossed the Potomac, so
that when the Virginians entered the
village about o'clock on the morning
OF the 10Th Of April, 1861, they found
that they were too late TO prevent Tho de.
sLruction OF from 5000 to IS, 900 stand
OF tho most approved arms that were
stored in The burning arsenal.
At Strawsburs. Capt. lmbodea being
without horses Tor his guns, sent TO al
the neighbor!u4 farms, and impressed
them from the stables, and from ploughs
in the lurrow, greatly TO the DISGUST OF
that peaceful and peace loving popua-
lion, Who then Little dreamed OF the
storm Of war SO soon TO sweep over those
very fields.
In explanation Of the promp,ness with
which these Stanton volunteer compa-
MES turned out in response TO telegraph
ic orders, it may bc stated that on the
evening Of the 10Th o! April 4 full meet.
ing of both companies Lad been held,
and Capt. Imboden was delee ated to 90
20 Richmond next day, 10th and
ascertain how soon they would probably
be needed, as war was then eminent, and
the men, representing almost every walk
In life, desired To set their houses in or
der, aGd !!c rcaiyt perform thc Citizeu'8
highest duty. Caps. Imbodtn reached
Richmond OH the 10TH and within an
hour or Two met Gov " ise "a herein
before stated when natter TOOL; The
course heretofore narrated. Before send
ing orders to Stauuton, Capt. Imbodcn
had autographed lis conviction that the
crisis had been reached in The coDvcn.
ton, and that oil had better make their
arrangements Instantly Tor any emer gen.
cy. This inform .tion went oGt from
stanton all over the county that after
noon, and. when followed by the orders
Of that night, brought out the whole
population. 4 fen weeks before Angus
Ia had voted more than six to one for
the Union cGndidateslor tic Convention.
y few weeks later her popular vote for
secession was within nine votes OF being
unanimous Sho furnished the FIRST
troops under arms in Virginia, and the
first military order 90 lake up arms was
given to ~ obeyed by her sons, ia AL tie
State, on the night Or April 18th, 1861.
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