The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-05-20
During Civil War, Confederates Burned B. o. Shops
And Attempted to Destroy Bloomington Bridge


81 point where that railroad starts
+bo descent of the Alleganies, two
miles west of Piedmont, was built IN
1e51 and has contributed largely to
tbe development of a broad section OF
West Virginia and Maryland.
# was, however, during the War Be-
tween the States that Bloomington
Rridpe became a span of great impor-
lance; coveted by both North and
sonth and in constant danger OF being
destroyed. Though bit of cement
covers up many of the old scars, even
tho holes made in the abutments by
7yould-be wreckers, memories and
marks of the battle fought in the
reighborhood of the bridge have not
bpen erased, and are told in story and
song bv a few who fought and others
who suffered from the fighting.
The strongly garrisoned Federal
forts at New Creek (now Keyser), and
Federal forces throughout the South
Branch and Shenandoah Valleys, were
largely dependent upon the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad for the transporting
Of supplies and soldiers from the West.
T. was a part of the Confederate
scheme in Western Virginia (West
yirginia) to obtain friendly control OF
the road. This would greatly cripple
+be Federal Government and aid the
Confederacy. With this in mind, Cen
eral Lee, within six days after he was
appointed Commander-in-Chief of the
Virginia armies, gave orders that the
neaceful business of the road was not
to be interferred with, and that all
officers under his command were Ito
obtain the cooperation of the officers
of the railroad and afford them every
assistance" But, when it became evil
dent that Western Virginia was under
Federal Control, and that the officers
of the road were not friendly to Sc
cession, Governor Letcher of Virginia,
instead. insisted that the road ought
to be destroyed. He said, "The Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad has been
positive nuisance to this State from
the opening of the war till the present
time, and unless the management shall
hereafter be in friendly hands, and
the government under which it exists
be a part of our Confederacy, it must
he abated. If it should be permanently
destroyed, we must assure our people
of some other communication with the
sea board" And from that time until
the close of the war, the road became
a target for Confederate attacks.
Numerous small bridges had been
DESTROYED, bridge number 81, near
New Creek, the Patterson's Greek and
North Branch bridges, and the South
Branch bridge near Romney; but the
important job of destroying Bloom
ington bridge, and the burning OF the
machine shops at Piedmont, was as
signed to Captain John Hanson Nc
Neill, and the intrepid Rangers whose
names were "Fire brands" to Federal
generals, but "Saviours of Mercy" to
the South Branch valley and Potomac
valleys.
Captain Mcneil, with sixty-one
Cavalry set out from the Shenandoah
valley for this purpose, on May s.
1864. Leaving Old Fields, in Hardy
county soon after dark, they Travelled
all night taking coven in the deep
woods between Patterson's Creek and
Mill Run during the day. The second
night they made their way through
Knobley mountain, by DOLLS Gap, and
over narrow path to the top OF Allie
gany mountains on the Northwestern
turnpike, crossed the pike and follow
ing the Elk Garden road short dis
lance to the intersection Of the road
leading to Piedmont and Bloomington,
reaching Bloomington at day-break
on the morning of May 6, (1S6N.
Corfederates Stop Train
Scarcely had they reached the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad at Blooming
ton when a train loaded with horses
was passing. Captain McNeill ordered
it stopped, but the engineer threw
open the throttle and ran through at
full speed. The Captain of the Ran
gers was not accustomed to having
his orders disobeyed and was furious
at seeing this prize escape. He was
more successful, however, with the
engineer of the train going east which
soon followed. The train was stopped
and the engineer ordered to detach the
engine, and to take Lieutenant Dolan
and two others on it to Piedmont, two
miles distance, with flag Of truce to
demand the surrender of the guard.
All telegraph wires were hastily
cut; and Captain John T. Peerce with
ten men (Charles Wilkins, John
Lynn, George w. Allen, VIM. Pool,
Benjamine Woodring, George Little,
James W. Crawford, John Overman,
Wayne Cosner, and Peter Divieman)
We're left to guard the bridge and
l.. Ill rrVI1I q