Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 24.djvu/244

 Sontlm-it Hlxturinil Society Papers.

The Confederate Government moved the Harper's Ferry machin- ery from the rifle factory there to the Fayetteville arsenal and armory, together with thirty-five men, with their families, with Mr. Phillips Burkhart as master-armorer. The service of these skilled workmen was highly appreciated, as the work turned out by them was greatly needed by the troops in the field. About 500 splendid rifles were turned out monthly, with any amount of small-arm ammunition, and numbers of heavy-size gun-carriages for sea-coast defences, and many light artillery gun-carriages and caissons.

As this is a matter of history, as I understand it, it will not be amiss to give the names of these pioneers from Harper's Ferry, who left their homes and followed the Southern flag, and cast their lot with the Southern cause. They were patriots worthy of their names, and a roll of them should be preserved. There were six Englishmen, whose names I have been unable to get, who also deserve especial mention at my hands for similar service.

HARPER'S FERRY MEN.

James Merrick, John Hewett, Otho Hewett, William Martin, Wil- liam Copeland, Philip Schavman, William Nicholson, Tollect Duke, Louis Keyser, Joe Keyser, John Schilling, John Price, Timothy Harrington, Philip Burkhart, Joe Burkhart, McCloud Lewis, Jessie Graham, John Cord, Levi Decker, Thomas Boswell, Joe Boswell, V. Talley, J. E. P. Daingerfield, Jacob Sponcellor, Richard Clowe, Hamson Clowe, John Claspy, William Hewitt, and George W. Decker.

Sergeant Stephens deserves special mention at my hands. He was an old United States sergeant, and joined the Southern army at great peril. He was one of the most methodical and accurate ac- countants I ever knew wrote a beautiful hand-writing, was never sick, or lost a day during the four years he was in our service.

When Lieutenant-Colonel DeLagnel was returned to the field the command of the arsenal and armory devolved upon me for about two months until the arrival of Major F. L. Childs.

The following is a roll of the various officers who were at this post at various times during the war:

Major John C. Booth, Captain Charles P. Bolles (Captain Bolles had been employed on the coast survey by the United States Gov- ernment for many years previous to the war, and was a man of marked ability. Since the close of hostilities he has been employed