Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/193

 Reunion of Virginia Division, A. N. V. Association. 187

proclamation ordering all armed volunteer regiments and companies within the State of Virginia to hold themselves in readiness for imme- diate service. This order had been somewhat anticipated, for the volunteer companies of Virginia had already been preparing for the inevitable war, and the Richmond Howitzers had been in barracks under the Spotswood Hotel a month before.*

On the iSth April, Lieutenant Roger Jones, of the United States army, commanding Harper's Ferry, reported to the Adjutant-Gen- eral in Washington that up to that time no assault or attempt to seize the government property had been made, but that there was decided evidence that the subject was in contemplation, and that at sundown that evening several companies of troops had assembled at Hall- town, about three or four miles off, on the road to Charlestown, with the intention of seizing the property, and that the last report was that he would be attacked that night ; that he had telegraphed to General Scott and the Adjutant -General, and that his determination was to destroy what he could not defend. The next day he reports from Chambersburg that shortly after lo o'clock the night before he destroyed the arsenal containing fifteen thousand stand of arms, had burned up the buildings proper, and under cover of night had with- drawn his command almost in the presence of twenty five hundred or three thousand troops. j

Prompt as Governor Letcher was to reply to Lincoln's demand for Virginia troops to be marched against her sister Southern States, the people and the militia of the State had been in advance of him. It happened in Virginia just as it had happened in South Carolina, that the people were in advance of their leaders. Before the Convention had passed the ordinance of secession Virginia troops were marching on Harper's Ferry and assembling at Norfolk. In response to Gov- ernor Letcher's proclamation to hold themselves in readiness for orders, a large part of the militia reported that they were already at Harper's Ferry. J

About 3 o'clock, Friday morning, 19th April, the Staunton Artil- lery, West Augusta Guards, Albemarle Rifles, Monticello Guards, Southern Guards, the Sons of Liberty from the University, Scott's and Parran's companies from Gordonsville and Barboursville, a com- pany from Louisa, the Orange Montpelier Guards, two Culpeper rifle

t Records War of Rebellion, Vol. 11, pp. 3-4. J Richmond Enquirer, April 24, 1861.
 * " History Richmond Howitzer Battalion," pamphlet No. 3, p. i.