within the States which claim to have seceded, as yet belonging to the Government of the United States, as much as they did before the supposed secession. Whatever else I may do for the purpose, I shall not attempt to collect the duties and imposts by any armed invasion of any part of the country; not meaning by this, however, that I may not land a force deemed necessary to relieve a fort upon the border of the country. From the fact that I have quoted a part of the inaugural address, it must not be inferred that I repudiate any other part, the whole of which I reaffirm, except so far as what I now say of the mails may be regarded as a modification." This answer, however, was sufficiently firm to convince the Virginian commissioners that the President had determined to exercise his proper authority in the suppression of rebellion. Their return to Richmond with this response served to precipitate the action of the Convention, and accordingly it passed, in secret session, on the 17th of April, an April ordinance of secession, conditional, 17. however, upon its ratification by a majority of the votes of the people of the State on the fourth Thursday in the ensuing month of May. The secession leaders of Virginia, however, in their impatience to rebel, could not await the deliberate course of law, and began at once a series of hostile acts, soon to result in open war against the Federal authority. Letcher, the Governor of Virginia, April issued a proclamation in which he 17. recognized the independence of the seceded States, declaring that they have, "by authority of their people, solemnly rescued the powers granted by them to the United States, and have framed a constitution and organized a government for themselves, to which the people of those States are yielding willing obedience, and have so notified the President of the United States by all the formalities incident to such action, and thereby become to the United States a separate, independent, and foreign power." At the same time he thought proper order all armed volunteer regiments or companies within the State forthwith to hold themselves in readiness for immediate orders." 66 Before the people of the State, however, had an opportunity of expressing their will as legally provided by the acts of the Virginia Legislature and Convention, Governor Letcher commenced to wage war against the United States. He ordered the main entrance of the harbor of Norfolk to be obstructed by the sinking of small boats, to prevent communication with the Federal navyyard at that port, which he had evidently determined to seize on the first occasion favorable to his purpose, as will be developed in the course of this narrative. His first attempt, however, was to capture the United States arsenal and armory at Harper's Ferry. This town, now so memorable, is in Jefferson Co., Virginia. It is situated on the Potomac River, just where the Shenandoah enters, and the two streams united pass through the Blue Ridge. The town originally A FORCE MARCHES. clustered about the base of a hill, but is gradually rising up its steep sides, and some scattered hamlets and houses have already reached the table-land on the summit, nearly four hundred feet above the water. The ridge on either side of the gap through which the Potomac, united with the Shenandoah, forces its way, rises in steep and bare cliffs to an elevation of twelve hundred feet or more, the simple grandeur of which, contrasting with the picturesque beauty of the lesser and cultivated heights, gives to the surrounding scenery of Harper's Ferry the most impressive effect. Thomas Jefferson said that it was "one of the most stupendous scenes in nature, and well worth a voyage across the Atlantic to witness." The town contains a population of about ten thousand, and has become of considerable trading importance as the point of junction of the Baltimore and Ohio and the Winchester and Potomac railways. A bridge of nine hundred feet in length connects it with the opposite shore of Maryland. The main business of the place is manufacturing. It has one of the largest mills in the United States for grinding flour. Additional importance was given to the town by the establishment there of the Federal arsenal and armory. Ninety thousand stand of arms were ordinarily stored in the dépots, and the work-shops were capable of producing twenty-five thousand annually. The place had already acquired an unhappy association with our sectional quarrels, by the invasion of John Brown, 175 who, at the head of twenty-two men, had taken possession of the town and strove to excite the negroes of Virginia to insurrection. It has again repeatedly become a scene of commotion and conflict during this civil war. The Governor of Virginia was eager to possess himself of the arsenal and armory, and thus supply his secession allies with the means of carrying on the war against the United States, which he contemplated. He accordingly sent April secret orders to Charleston, the is. county seat of Jefferson, to muster a force for the purpose of seizing the Federal property at Harper's Ferry. Some three thousand men had been summoned, but only two hundred and fifty, in consequence of the suddenness of the call, mustered at Halltown, the rendezvous half way between the county town and Harper's Ferry, and about four miles from each place. Here they remained until night, that they might have the cover of darkness for their intended act of violence against the laws of the United States. The force having been formed, consisting of a small body of infantry, termed the Jefferson Battalion, commanded April by a Captain Allen, one piece of ar- 18. tillery, and a squad of "Fauquier" cavalry, under a Captain Ashby, marched, at about eight o'clock in the night of the very day on which the order had been received from Richmond. "The troops marched," says one who was with them, "in silence, and about a mile from the starting-point the column was challenged by sentries posted in the road. They halted, loaded with ball-cartridge, and advanced with fixed bayonets until they reached the brow of the hill overlooking the town and at the outskirts of the village of Bolivar. Here the advance was again challenged, and the column halted. As these sentries were known to be employes of the armories, and as it was thought probable from the temper manifested during the day that the whole body of workmen had united with the Government troops, thus giving them four hundred effective men, with full preparation and choice of position, it was thought proper to send a flag into the town to ascertain how matters stood. An influential gentleman accompanying the troops, of fered his services to execute this delicate duty, and to dissuade the citizens, if possible, from taking part in the contest. From after-knowledge it was ascertained that this precaution was unnecessary, as the mass of the inhabitants were loyal to the soil where they lived, and such as might have entertained different sentiments were silenced by the reports of the imposing force which was supposed to be at hand. "While the Virginia officers were in consultation, there was seen in the direction of the armory a flash, accompanied by a report like the discharge of a cannon, followed by a number of other flashes in quick succession, and then the sky and surrounding mountains were lighted with the steady glare of ascending flames. Captain Ashby, with his squad, immediately rode down into the town, and in a short time returned with the report that the troops had fired the public buildings and retreated across the Potomac bridge, taking the mountain road toward Carlisle Barracks, in Pennsylvania. "On our way down we met a long line of men, women, and boys, carrying loads of muskets, bayonets, and other military equipments. The streets at the confluence of the two rivers were brilliantly illuminated by the flames from the old arsenal, which burned like a furnace. The inclosure around these buildings was covered with splintered glass, which had been blown out by the explosion of the powder-train. A few arm-boxes, open and empty, lay near the entrance; but nearly all the muskets in this building, fifteen thousand, as stated, were destroyed. "Of the armory buildings on Potomac Street, one large work-shop was in a light blaze, and two others on fire. Alarmed by the first explosions, the citizens hesitated to approach the workshops, and warned the Virginia troops not to do so, supposing them to be mined; but presently becoming reassured on that subject, they went to work with the engines, extinguished some of the fires, and prevented their extension to the town and railroad bridges." The plans of the secessionists had been anticipated and their designs thwarted by the Federal commander and his little force at Harper's Ferry. The Federal garrison consisted of a detachment of United States Rifles, amounting to about forty in number, BURNING OF HARPER'S FERRY ARSENAL. 177 under the command of Lieutenant Roger men to work in making prepara- April Jones. This officer had been notified tions for the destruction of the 17. some days previously by the Govern- public property, should it prove necesment at Washington of the danger which sary. With swords the soldiers cut up April threatened his post. On the 17th the planks and other timber to supply 17. of April, before the march of the wood for firing the buildings. The Virginians, he learned from various mattresses were ripped up, their consources that the attack was to be made tents emptied out, and then filled with on the succeeding day. The militia of powder. This was all done inside of the town of Harper's Ferry, although the arsenals and armories, to conceal the they professed loyalty, were either purpose from the people of the town, alarmed at the rumors of an approach- whose loyalty was suspected, and who, ing force, or unwilling to oppose it, and if they should discover it, might rise consequently disbanded. The workmen and prevent it. The arms, some fifteen employed at the arsenal and armory thousand stand, were now collected and showed symptoms, if not of disaffection, piled together, and the chipped wood and at least of great uneasiness. Every mattresses filled with powder were so hour brought with it fresh rumors, more placed that the guns and the buildings or less exaggerated, of the advancing might all be destroyed together in one secessionists. The railroad was in their common explosion and conflagration. power, and a special train, bearing On the next night, having received April armed men, was known to be hurrying "positive and reliable information 18, forward. Troops, amounting to two that twenty-five hundred or three thouthousand in number, were reported to sand State troops would reach Harper's have gathered from Winchester, Charles- Ferry in two hours from Winchester, ton, and other neighboring points, and and that the troops from Halltown, into be marching to Harper's Ferry. creased to three hundred, were advancing, and even at that time-a few minutes after ten o'clock-within twenty minutes' march of the Ferry," Lieutenant Jones gave the order to apply the torch. The windows and doors of the buildings had been opened so that the flames could have free sway, and when all was ready, the fires were started in the carpenter's shop, and the trains leading to the powder ignited. This done, the Lieutenant marched out his men and began a rapid retreat. In three minutes after, the buildings of the arsenal Lieutenant Jones, conscious of the purpose of this movement, and unable, with his meagre garrison of forty men in a country believed to be hostile, to defend his post, determined to destroy the arsenal and armory, lest their important works and valuable supplies of arms should fall into the possession of those who were undoubtedly determined to use them in waging war against the Federal Government. Early in the evening of the 17th of April, accordingly, the Lieutenant set his and the carpenter's shop were in a "com- ceedings to the United States Governplete blaze." The fire alarmed the town, and its excited populace pursued Lieutenant Jones and his men, coming upon them just as they had reached the bridge, for the purpose of escaping across. The crowd pressed forward, crying vengeance upon them for having set fire to the buildings. Jones wheeled his men, and facing the multitude declared, unless they dispersed, he would fire upon them. The intimidated throng shrunk back, and Jones took the occasion to continue his retreat and take to the woods, followed, however, by several shots, which fortunately were without effect. He now hurried northward, his way being lighted up by the blazing buildings. The explosion took place almost as soon as he got beyond the town, and he flattered himself that the destruction of the arsenal and armory had been complete. Hurriedly marching all night across streams and bogs, he reached HagersApril town in safety on the next morn19. ing, at seven o'clock, and thence pursued his way to Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, where, confident of being among a loyal people, he could stop to refresh his wayworn men, who had marched all night and eaten nothing since they left Harper's Ferry. Four of his little garrison, however, were missing, and it was feared that they had been captured, or perhaps slain. From Chambersburg Lieutenant Jones proceeded with his men to Carlisle BarApril racks, a Federal post, whence he 20. dispatched a report of his pro ment. "Secretary of War." This was soon followed by another more important, but less justifiable destruction of public property in Virginia. It will be recollected that Governor Letcher had already ordered the main entrance of the harbor of Norfolk to be obstructed by the sinking of small boats. Seven vessels had been sunk at the mouth of the Elizabeth River, the only channel of communication between the sea and the Gosport navy-yard. The obvious object of this was to hem in that important naval station, so that by preventing the egress of the United States vessels there, or the ingress of |