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Burning of the United States Arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, Va., April 18th, 1861

Burning of the United States Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, Va., April 18th, 1861(from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated History of the Civil War…, edited by Louis Shepheard Moat, Published by Mrs. Frank Leslie, New York, 1895)

“The arsenal at Harper’s Ferry contained a large quantity of machinery and arms, and was garrisoned by a small detachment of United States Rifles, under the command of Lieutenant Roger Jones. Having been apprised of the approach of an overwhelming force of Confederates, under instructions from the Governor of Virginia to seize the arsenal, Lieutenant Jones, in order to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy, set fire to the building, which was soon a mass of flames. Lieutenant Jones and his men then fled across the Potomac and reached Hagerstown about seven o’clock the next morning. The government highly commended the lieutenant for his, judicious conduct, and promoted him to the rank of captain.”

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