John G. Nicolay, The Outbreak of Rebellion

“ [95] element. They took possession of the armories, have the arms and ammunition, and I therefore think it prudent to decline (for the present) responding affirmatively to the requisition made by President Lincoln for four regiments of infantry.”

Unfortunately the disaster at Baltimore did not come single-handed. At the picturesque little town of Harper's Ferry, where the Potomac River flows through one of the gateways in the Blue Ridge, the United States had an extensive armory, containing much valuable machinery for the manufacture of rifles and muskets, originally located there because of the convenient and cheap water-power which the river affords. The town was famous as the scene of John Brown's invasion and capture. The seizure of this place with its works and its supposed strategical importance was an essential item in the conspiracy. A small company of regulars had been guarding it since January. One of General Scott's first orders was to have a volunteer regiment detached to reinforce it, a precaution which could not be taken earlier because of the want of troops. With the quick secession of Virginia, however, the proposed help came too late. Governor Letcher pushed forward his State forces to menace the place with such haste, that, on the night of April 18th, Lieutenant Jones set fire to the establishment and withdrew his sixty men through Maryland into Pennsylvania. The Rebels immediately took possession, and though the fire had done much damage, the principal part of the machinery was rescued by them and afterward sent to Richmond. As already mentioned, a rebel camp was immediately established, and its force in a few days augmented to two thousand four hundred men-doubtless with a view to join rebellious Maryland in a descent upon Washington.

Serious as was the loss of Harper's Ferry, a sacrifice of infinitely greater proportions almost immediately followed.