Published for the Members and Friends IN THIS ISSUE: of the Harpers Ferry Civil War Historical Association Sesquicentennial Fall 2011 Event: Battle of Bolivar Heights Life on the Canal Border Town: Association Harpers Ferry in 1861 Celebrates 40 Years hen U. S. Army Lt. Roger Jones overall commander Robert E. Lee believed lit the fuses in the armory and Harpers Ferry was a key defensive posi- Warsenals on April 18, 1861—destroying tion. “As regards Harpers Ferry” he wrote, what he could not defend—war came to Harpers Ferry. The next day, an army led by “feather bed” and “corn stalk” militia officers began to fill the Virginia landscape. Farmers joined doctors as pri- vates. Teachers marched shoulder-to- shoulder with shoemakers. Laborers drilled daily with student scholars. Area citizen David Hunter Strother wrote these men were “earnest, eager, reckless fellows, marching with a free and vigorous step . . . most admirable material for a rebellion.” Although enthusiastic and ex- cited, the citizen soldiers lacked much needed discipline. The day after the arsenal explosion, Strother noted, “Confusion reigned supreme, ably seconded by whiskey.” Sent to the Ferry to bring order to the chaos was Colonel Thomas Jonathan Jackson. “its abandonment would be depressing to Ruins of the B&O Railroad Without delay, the former VMI instruc- the cause of the South.” General Johnston bridge at Harpers Ferry, June tor organized the recruits into regiments, be- disagreed. After surveying its geography 1861. (Library of Congress) gan rigorous daily drill, and—to the chagrin between two rivers and three heights, he of many soldiers—disposed of the whiskey. informed Lee, “I regard Harpers Ferry as He also dismantled the armory’s valuable untenable.” arms-making machinery and shipped it to Thus on June 13, three weeks after his The picture which appears Confederate factories further south. When arrival, Johnston ordered an evacuation. on our newsletter’s nameplate, Brigadier General Joseph E. Johnston ar- As the rebels departed, they set fire to the dating from 1803, is one of the rived as the higher-ranking post commander armory buildings and B&O railroad bridge. oldest prints of Harpers Ferry. Twenty years earlier, in 1783, on May 23, Jackson concentrated his ener- Two weeks later, the rifle factory and near- Thomas Jefferson had declared gies on turning the First Virginia Brigade est wagon bridges were all torched. Civilian that this view was “worth a into the effective force soon to be known as trade was severed; their economy destroyed. voyage across the Atlantic.” the “Stonewall Brigade.” All but a handful of families left town, many Because it stood at the gateway into the armory workers following the machinery strategic Shenandoah Valley, Virginia’s new continued on page 2  1 Armory Border Town: Harpers Ferry in 1861 impressed to move the wheat, and troops Superintendent Continued from Page 1 and artillery to protect the operation. Members south. “A dead calm reigned,” recalled In mid-October, Confederate authori- Jo (Kuhn) Curtis in resident Joseph Barry. “The stillness was ties received word that Federal troops had memory of Jim Kuhn rendered oppressive.” invaded Virginia, and were confiscating and Alexander and Mary Learning the Rebel position was aban- valuable grain. Colonel Murphy doned, the Union Army advanced. After quickly maneuvered his men into place for Brandywine, MD a brief occupation, the Federals prudently an attack. Dr. Robert Johnson re-deployed on the Maryland side of the On October 16, 1861, the second an- Harpers Ferry, WV Potomac. The first skirmish in Harpers niversary of John Brown’s Raid, the Cham- Ronald Jones Ferry happened on July 4, 1861. After the bers family was warned of the approaching Our Lady of Sorrows firing ceased, confectioner and loyal Union- Confederate threat. While seeking refuge School ist Frederick Roeder walked to “the Point” the family crossed paths with soldiers from Farmington, MI where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers Pennsylvania and Wisconsin on picket duty. Nancy Myers, in Honor of flow together. There, a ricocheting Union Passing by the pickets, 17-year-old Jennie Don Campbell bullet mistakenly hit him in the groin. Mor- Chambers warned them of the approaching Harpers Ferry, WV tally wounded, Roeder made his way back to Confederates. Refusing to pull back without Jim and Suzanne Silvia his house on High Street. There he died on orders, the Federals told Jennie to go ahead Taunton, MA & Harpers the back porch of his home, the town’s first but to signal them if the rebels appeared. Ferry, WV civilian casualty. She had only gone 25 yards when she saw In mid-August the Federals withdrew a company of Confederate cavalry on the to Frederick, Maryland, leaving behind one railroad tracks by the river. She turned and Paymaster Members corps to prevent the Southerners from cross- waved a warning to the Federal pickets. Cynthia Gayton ing the river, to protect the canal and fords Jennie’s mother Mary recalled, “Im- Harpers Ferry, WV in the vicinity, and to eliminate travel, com- mediately a volley of bullets whistled over Tony Horwitz munication, and trade between Maryland her head from the guns of the Confederate Vineyard Haven, MA and Virginia. During September and Octo- cavalry and the Union pickets returned the ber rifle shots often broke the silence and fire and ran. The Confederate cavalry came Master Armorer echoed from mountain to mountain. This dashing down the railroad after them.” The Members kept the citizens on edge. “Everything that Federal soldiers made their escape through Allison Alsdorf moved about the streets they shot at vindic- town and across the Potomac to Maryland. Harpers Ferry, WV tively,” wrote Joseph Barry. “The appearance Soon, Rebel artillery opened fire and the Kirk Bradley of even a mullein leaf swaying in the wind Union troops were under attack from both Sanford, NC elicited a volley.” School House Ridge to the west and Loud- Donald and Patricia One private business that survived the oun Heights to the south. Burgess outbreak of war was Herr’s Mill, located on Union commander Colonel John Geary Harpers Ferry, WV Virginius Island, an industrial area along quickly deployed to block the three princi- Rock Comstock the Shenandoah River. In August, Massa- pal routes toward the Ferry—leaning his left Vienna, VA chusetts troops had disabled it to prevent its on the Shenandoah, his center atop Bolivar Hon. and Mrs. Thomas use by Confederates. Now Abraham Herr, a Heights, and his right protecting the Po- Curtis and Family Union supporter, proposed Union soldiers tomac. Ashby’s men pressed forward, driving Baltimore, MD remove the wheat. Herr hoped to save his the bluecoats backward, until reaching the Peter Dessauer mill for future operation. The plan included outskirts of the village of Bolivar. The Rebel Harpers Ferry, WV a large boat for transport, local civilians cavalry, supported by Ashby’s infantry mili- Kim and Frank Edwards Edgewood, MD Laurence Freiheit This article combines material from the House on High Street” by John King; Berkeley Springs, WV Association’s soon-to-be released publica- “War on Their Doorstep” by David Fox; Rebecca Harriett tions Harpers Ferry Under Fire: A Border “A Patriot of Pennsylvania at Harpers Rocky Mount, VA Town in the by Dennis Ferry” by Tyler Gum; and “The Battle of continued on page 3 Frye, and The Harpers Ferry Anthology: Bolivar Heights” by Jeff Bowers. Civil War Era Stories by Park Rangers and Both of these publications will be Volunteers. Anthology stories include: “In available for sale at the Park Bookshop or Good Hands: Jackson’s New Recruits at by calling 304-535-6881. 2  Harpers Ferry” by Autumn Cook; “The Master Armorer Members (Cont’d) Bruce Kramer Baltimore, MD Gregory Light Fort Lupton, CO Anne A. Long Myersville, MD Cynthia K. Mason Baltimore, MD Linda Parks Washington, DC George Rutherford Ranson, WV Ed Wheeless and Chris Craig Harpers Ferry, WV

Recent Donations James R. Schatz, Jr. John Frye The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York, NY Mahoning Valley Civil War Roundtable, Boardman, OH

Union capture of abandoned Confederate cannon during the Battle of Bolivar Heights. (Sketch by Thomas Nast) tia and two cannon, charged three times— night, clearing that region of invaders. “increasing in impetuosity with each repeti- Despite all the bullets and cannonading, tion”—but were checked each time by the neither side suffered many casualties. During defenders from Wisconsin, Massachusetts, the night following the fight, Colonel Geary and Pennsylvania. visited the iron foundry at Shenandoah City A three hour stalemate ended at ap- (just upstream from Virginius Island), where proximately 11:00 a.m. when Federals ar- he ascertained it was “used by the rebels rived with reinforcements, seizing the Rebel for casting shot and shell of all kinds.” He flank along the Potomac edge of the line. promptly ordered the foundry burned that Seeing this as “the key to the success of the night. Two days later, Confederate cavalry action,” Colonel Geary ordered an attack disguised as civilians crept onto Virginius along his entire front. This forced a gradual Island and torched Herr’s Mill. Confederate withdrawal, during which the Approximately three weeks before Southerners left behind one cannon with a his first clash with the South, Geary had broken axle. By 1:30 p.m., the Federals were written to his wife about Harpers Ferry. “in possession of the heights from river to Where the Shenandoah and Potomac Riv- river.” Soon the colors of the 28th Pennsyl- ers converge “the waters seem to refuse to vania Volunteers was unfurled “on the soil commingle and become one. The clearness of Virginia, and planted on an eminence of and limpidity of the Potomac...the muddy- Bolivar Heights.” ness [sic] of the Shenandoah...I cannot help Geary claimed his “victory was com- thinking it resembles the condition of our plete.” Ashby, too, was pleased, as the U.S. country; the clear waters of the north refus- forces withdrew from Harpers Ferry that ing to mingle with those from the south.”  3 Civil War Sesquicentennial Special Event: “In the Shadows of John Brown: The 1861 Battle of Bolivar Heights” October 15-16, 2011 Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Artzner and Terry Leonino at 12:30 PM invites the public to attend “In the Shadow Sunday. Also on Sunday, visitors can hear of John Brown: The 1861 Battle of Bolivar Home Front Musicians: The Gallant 28th Heights,” 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, October NY, at 1:00 and 4:00 PM. 15-16, 2011. Family/youth activities include a tele- Two years to the day after John Brown’s graph station, scavenger hunt, battlefield Raid, Union and Confederate troops bivouac, and “Wonder Wall” which invites clashed on Bolivar Heights. Guided tours visitors to share their thoughts on the justi- and orientation talks on this battle will be fication of war for the freedom and equality offered throughout the weekend. There will of all Americans. be artillery and small arms firing demonstra- Commemorative items, books, and tions and Living History programs depicting music will be sold at the Harpers Ferry events leading up to the battle. The USPS Historical Association’s Sales Tent. HFHA will open a Cancellation Station Sunday at will also host author presentations and book 10:00 AM with opening remarks by Bolivar signings. See below for author information. Mayor Robert J. Hardy. For more information call 304-535- Music will be provided by The Wildcat 6029 or visit the Harpers Ferry National Band Saturday at 12:00 and 4:00 PM. Songs Historical Park website at www.nps.gov/hafe. of the Civil War will be performed by Greg

Local Authors to Speak at Sesquicentennial Event

West Virginia and the Civil War: Mountaineers at West Point. He has written several books are Always Free (The History Press, 2011) about the Civil War. The only state born as a result of the Civil Discussion and book signing, Harpers War, West Virginia was the most divided Ferry National Historical Park, Saturday, state in the nation. About forty thousand of October 15, 1:00 PM. its residents served in the combatant forc- es—about twenty thousand on each side. Trembling in the Balance: The Chesapeake & The Mountain State also saw its fair share of Ohio Canal During the Civil War (Blue Mus- battles, skirmishes, raids and guerrilla war- tang Press, 2011) HFHA member Timothy fare, with places like Harpers Ferry, Philippi Snyder’s new book is the story of a canal and Rich Mountain becoming household company’s struggle to operate a significant names in 1861. When the Commonwealth business enterprise in one of the nation’s of Virginia seceded from the Union on major theaters of war. Since the C&O April 17, 1861, leaders primarily from the Canal was located on Maryland’s southern northwestern region of the state began the border with Virginia, it experienced much political process that eventually led to the of the war firsthand. Due to the proximity creation of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. of the canal to so many conflicts, large and The book about these West Virginians small, this book includes a great amount of and their civil war was written by renowned detailed military history. The canal played Civil War historian Mark A. Snell. Snell a role in major battles, like Antietam and is the director of the George Tyler Moore Gettysburg, and in smaller conflicts, such as Center for the Study of the Civil War in Ball’s Bluff and ’s raids on Shepherdstown, West Virginia. He is a Dam Number 5. retired U.S. Army officer and a former assis- Snyder grew up near Williamsport, tant professor at the U.S. Military Academy Maryland, about a half mile from the canal. 4  continued on next page Life on the Canal by Suzanne Silvia

Many years ago, while out walking along is truly amazing. There is no traffic to be Lockhouse 22 on the C&O the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal towpath heard, no electric lights . . . only the soft Canal near Potomac and with my husband, an abandoned lock house sounds of the Potomac River and crickets historic Tobytown, Maryland. caught my eye. I immediately crossed the singing their songs. As I readied for bed (Courtesy Suzanne Silvia) dry canal bed—much to my husband’s consternation—and peered into the window. I wondered what the house thought, empty and seemingly for- gotten, waiting these long years . . . My interest was sparked. I wanted to know who lived there, what was life like for the family? Thus, began my journey to learn as much as possible about this bygone way of life. I read as much as I could on lock house families and the history of the canal. Every trip down South meant another stop along the canal. Howev- er, I still wanted to see and feel what the canaller’s life was like—to live it. Imagine my delight when I learned about the Canal Quarters program! This is a program in which guests can stay overnight in a lock house. Dif- ferent lock houses depict various eras of the canal. This program literally transports one back in time. Last October, my husband and I stayed at Pennyfield Lock. (#22) The house stands as it did in the 1840s. (by the light of a lantern) I heard the water Everything is authentic—the furniture, rushing into the canal. “So this is what life the dining, living and bedroom quarters, was like,” I marveled to myself. the paint scheme. Walking into the house What a wonderful program, and a won- is like walking through a portal into the derful opportunity to breathe, see, touch, past. A table is set up with vintage pho- hear, and live history. tographs, books on the canal, and articles For information about staying at a lock with firsthand accounts by those who lived house visit the C&O Canal Trust’s website: and worked on the canal. Sitting outdoors www.canaltrust.org/quarters. by the house during the nighttime hours

Continued from previous page His book began as his M.A. thesis and is the events that make the C&O Canal’s Civil culmination of over a decade of research War history so colorful and dramatic. It is and writing. He earned an M.A. degree in a rare and remarkable story, and Tim Snyder history from Shippensburg University and tells it more fully and expertly than anyone has published several articles on Maryland’s has before.” – Karen M. Gray, Ph.D., C&O history concerning the Underground Rail- Canal historian road, the Secession Crisis, and the Civil Discussion and book signing, Harpers War. Ferry National Historical Park, Saturday “This book is filled with fascinating and Sunday, October 15 and 16, 3:00 information on the people, places, and PM.  5 HFHA Celebrates 40 Years Right: NPS personnel and Thank you to all of the members and HFHA charter members old friends who joined us on June 4th Marsha Wassel and Dennis and 5th to help celebrate our 40th Frye recognize Debbie Anniversary. Members were treated to Piscitelli’s years of service several private tours and got to partici- with a signed Charley Harper pate in nineteenth century bread baking print, “Beach Birds”. and ice cream making demonstrations. (Quite a work out!) The Sunday picnic Below: Piscitelli receives a had a wonderful turnout and a few tears commissioned replica of the were shed as Executive Director Debbie original Park Bookshop sign Piscitelli was honored for her 30 years from HFHA president Jim Silvia and staff member Sue of selfless dedication to the Association Baker. (Courtesy Jim Wassel) and to Harpers Ferry National Histori- cal Park.

Congratulations to raffle winners Mark Elrod (collection of Civil War books), Adam Bowles (overnight stay at C&O Canal House), and Carol Gallant (limited edition Mort Kunstler Civil War print). Special thanks to all those who helped organize and execute this special event in- cluding: Sue Baker, Stephanie Sager, Wally Magaha, Melinda Day, Susan Journell, Dave Gilbert, John Frye, David Fox, Tyler Gum, Anne Long, and Jim and Suzanne Silvia.

Below Left: Mark Elrod claims his raffle prize. (Courtesy Jim Wassel)

Below Right: Member Bill Berry learns the art of nineteenth century bread baking.

6  Above: Board member Anne Long (left) with Ranger Guinevere Roper. (Courtesy Jim Wassel)

Right: Board member Dave Gilbert leads a waterpower tour of Virginius Island.

Harpers Ferry Historical Association Membership Application

❏ I wish to join the Harpers Ferry Historical Association (new member) ❏ I am not interested in receiving member ben- ❏ I wish to renew my membership (renewal) efits, but I would like to make a contribution in the amount of ______to aid the mission Please enroll me in the following member category (check one): of the Harpers Ferry Historical Association. ❏ $25 Armory Worker – Basic membership for a family household. Benefits include a newsletter subscription, a 15% discount on all ❏ I am a Charter Member and would like to bookshop purchases, a vinyl decal, and invitations to annual meeting make a donation of ______. and events. ❏ Check if this is a new address for you ❏ $25 Sarah Jane Foster – An alternative basic membership for edu- cators. Benefits include the above plus open house for teachers and discounts on programs for teachers. ______❏ $45 Millwright – For those members who are frequent visitors to Name the park. Benefits are the same as Armory Worker category plus a 12-month Harpers Ferry Park entrance pass. ______❏ $100 Master Armorer – A supporting membership category. In- Address cludes all benefits of the Millwright category plus aHarpers Ferry in ______the Civil War pictorial book, member recognition in our newsletter City State Zip and at our annual meeting, and a special tour. ❏ $250 Paymaster – For businesses, vendors or family donors who ______wish to contribute to the Association’s mission. Benefits include Telephone 15% discount on all bookshop purchases; a newsletter subscription; ______vinyl decal; invitations to annual meetings, events, and association- E-mail sponsored education programs; a 12-month park pass; Harpers Ferry in the Civil War pictorial book; recognition in newsletter and at an- Please clip and mail to: nual meeting; special tour; and additional membership card. Harpers Ferry Historical Association P.O. Box 197 ❏ $500 Armory Superintendent – For supporters (individual and Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 corporate) who wish to perpetuate Association and Park education

programs. Benefits include 15% discount on all bookshop purchases; Toll-free: 1-800-821-5206 a newsletter subscription; vinyl decals; invitations to annual meet- Phone: (304) 535-6881 ing, events, and education programs; Harpers Ferry in the Civil War Fax: (304) 535-6749 pictorial book; recognition in the newsletter and at annual meeting; Email: [email protected] special tour; an Amercia the Beautiful pass (for use in all parks) for individuals; and a display plaque for businesses.

 7 The Harpers Ferry Historical Harpers Ferry Historical Association Non-Profit Organization Association operates the Na- Post Office Box 197 U.S. Postage tional Park Bookshop in Lower Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 PAID Town Harpers Ferry. Profits Harpers Ferry, WV from sales are returned to the 25425 park to support interpretive­ and Permit No. 12 educational programs to enhance your visit. You are invited to join this unique organization and be a part of Harpers Ferry’s special family. For more information call (304) 535-6881, send e-mail to [email protected], or visit our website at www. harpersferryhistory.org.

ARPERS FERRY istorical Association

Executive Director Deborah K. Piscitelli 2011 Schedule of Events Editor Cathy Baldau These events are made possible through the December 3-4 Graphic Designer efforts of park staff, NPS volunteers, living Captain Flagg’s US Quarter Dave Gilbert history groups, and the Harpers Ferry His- Board of Directors torical Association. For more information Master City: Prospects of Peace James Silvia, President call 304-535-6029 or visit the Harpers Ferry 1864 George Rutherford, Vice National Historical Park website at www. 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Lower Town. Join President nps.gov/hafe. over 175 living history volunteers as they Dave Gilbert, Secretary help present park visitors with a unique Wayne Welty, Treasurer Kirk Davis October 29-30 window into the magnitude and scope of Carol Gallant Captain Flagg’s 1864 US Quartermaster city. David Guiney Under Fire: The Battle of Jim Jenkins Harpers Ferry 1862 Anne Long 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bolivar Heights Carol Polkinghorn Battlefield. Join the members of the Balti- Suzanne Silvia more Light Artillery as they demonstrate the might and intimidation of field artillery. Firing demonstrations at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 PM. The Harpers Ferry Historical Asso- November 5-6 ciation is now on Facebook! Search Roeder’s Tavern Cider Making Facebook for “Harpers Ferry Historical Association”. Like our page to receive 1860 notifications of upcoming park special 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Lower Town. Join events, bookshop news, and related living history rangers and volunteers for park information. cider-making demonstration and fall food preservation. 8 