| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Bakerton — A.P. Hill’s March — “Not a moment too soon” — Antietam Campaign 1862 |
| | About two o’clock in the afternoon of September 17, 1862, Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill’s 3,000-man division began crossing the Potomac River at Boteler’s Ford about two miles northwest of here, en route to the battle raging at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. Two days earlier, Stonewall Jackson had captured Harpers Ferry. When Jackson’s command was ordered to rejoin Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in Maryland, Hill’s division remained behind to parole Federal prisoners and . . . — Map (db m1955) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Bolivar — Pre Civil War Spring House |
| | According to local legend, the North came here to get water during the day and the South at night. Restored in 2002 — Map (db m19066) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — "Beallair" |
| | Colonel Lewis Washington, who lived here, was one of the hostages captured by John Brown in 1859 in his raid on Harpers Ferry. When captured, Brown wore a sword, once owned by George Washington, taken from this home. (1 Mi. N.). — Map (db m12066) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — "Blakeley" |
| | Home of General Washington's grandnephew, John Augustine Washington, who later became the owner of Mount Vernon. "Blakeley", built about 1820, was partially burned a few years later and then rebuilt in it present form. (1 1/2 Mi.W.) — Map (db m12640) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — "Claymont Court" |
| | Bushrod Corbin Washington, grandnephew of General George Washington, built this home in 1820. It was destroyed by fire, 1838, and rebuilt. Later it was the home of Frank R. Stockton, novelist, who here wrote his last book. (2 Mi. SW) — Map (db m12636) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — 1983 — Cedar Lawn |
| | 1½ mi. S is 1825 home of John T. A. Washington, a great nephew of the 1st president. Land part of “Harewood” plot of Sam’l Washington, a brother of George. Original site of 1780 home “Berry Hill.” — Map (db m1912) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Charles Town |
| | Founded in 1786 by Charles Washington, brother of the President. Here John Brown was tried and convicted of treason. Home of W. L. Wilson, Postmaster General, 1896, who here started the first rural free delivery in America.
— Map (db m1650) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Charles Town Post Office — Jefferson County Jail |
| | On the site of this Post Office stood the Jefferson County Jail where John Brown and his fellow prisoners were confined after their raid on Harpers Ferry in October 1859.
After court trial John Brown was taken from the Jail here to his death on the gallows December the Second in the year 1859.
From the Post Office in Charles Town, West Virginia, was started the first Rural Free Delivery service in the United States, under Postmaster-General Wm. L. Wilson, October the First, 1896. — Map (db m2027) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Charles Washington's Town |
| | You now stand in the center of a town that is almost as old as the United States, laid out on 80 acres of Washington lands in 1786 - four years before the First President took office. Charles Washington, youngest of the five brothers of the General, spent most of his life as a successful businessman in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In the fall of 1780, 42-year-old Charles moved here, bringing his family west of the Blue Ridge, and building a new log home he called Happy Retreat on lands he had . . . — Map (db m12600) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Colonel Charles Washington |
| | Exitus Acta Probat. 1738–1799. In Memory of Colonel Charles Washington, brother of General George Washington and founder of Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1786. The four corner lots at Washington and George Streets were donated by him for the public Buildings for use of the County and Town. — Map (db m2029) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Explore the Washington Heritage Trail / Afoot in Historic Charles Town |
| | Side A Explore the Washington Heritage Trail George Washington knew the portion of the Shenandoah Valley that forms West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle well. The Washington Heritage Trail lets you drive the scenic backroads that join Charles Town to Bath, the popular 18th century resort town now called Berkeley Springs. The scenery and historic homes along the byway show you what the First President saw the many times he rode horseback on his way west to take the waters. Follow the . . . — Map (db m12596) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Freedom's Call (New Marker) |
| | Grave of Robert Rutherford, member of committee which in 1775 replied to orders of Lord Dunmore for Virginians to join British army or be held as rebels. This defiance was a gauntlet hurled at Dunmore's feet. (1 1/2 Mi. NE) — Map (db m12630) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Freedom's Call (Original Marker) |
| | Grave of Robert Rutherford, member of committee which in 1775 replied to orders of Lord Dunmore for Virginians to join British army or be held as rebels. This defiance was a gauntlet hurled at Dunmore's feet. (1 1/2 Mi. N. E.) — Map (db m12624) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Happy Retreat |
| | Now called Mordington, home of Colonel Charles Washington, founder of Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia). His brother General George Washington often visited him here. Colonel Washington died in September 1799. He and his wife Mildred are buried on the estate. — Map (db m12070) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Harewood |
| | Erected in 1771. The home of Colonel Samuel Washington, County Lieutenant. His brother General George Washington visited here and General Lafayette and Luis Phillipe of France were entertained here. In this house James Madison and Dolly Payne Todd were married. Samuel Washington died in 1781 and is buried in the grave yard south of the house. — Map (db m1914) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Jefferson County / State of Virginia |
| | (East Facing Side):
Jefferson County Formed in 1801 from Berkeley. Named for Thomas Jefferson. Home of Generals Gates, Drake, and Charles Lee. Here four companies of Washington’s men organized. Shepherdstown was strongly urged as a seat of the National Capital. (West Facing Side): State of Virginia Named for Queen Elizabeth the Virgin Queen of England. Site of the first permanent English settlement in America, 1607. One of the 13 original colonies. The Old Dominion is . . . — Map (db m1949) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Jefferson County Courthouse — Where John Brown Was Tried |
| | In this courthouse, John Brown, the abolitionist, was tried and found guilty of treason, conspiracy and murder. He was hanged four blocks from here on December 2, 1859. •
Visitors are Welcome. — Map (db m1742) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — John Brown Scaffold |
| | Within these grounds a short distance east of this marker is the site of the scaffold on which John Brown, leader of the Harpers Ferry raid, was executed December the Second, 1859. — Map (db m12603) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — John Thomas Marker — of Star Lodge #1, Charles Town |
| | Erected by Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia, Free and Accepted Masons, Incorporated In tribute to John Thomas Marker of Star Lodge #1, Charles Town First Most Worshipful Grand Master 1881 The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of West Virginia Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons now Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of West Virginia, Free and Accepted Masons, Inc.).
Dedicated this 27th day of June 2002 Annual Grand Communication
David K. Lee Most . . . — Map (db m10645) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Martin R. Delany |
| | Free African-American, born 1812 in Charles Town. Died 1885. Ability to read forced family to move to PA in 1822. Studied medicine and attended Harvard in 1850. Published Mystery, first black newspaper west of Allegh. 1843-47, & co-edited North Star with Frederick Douglass to promote and aid abolitionist cause. Comm. major, highest ranking African-American field officer in Union Army, in 1865. — Map (db m12639) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Martin Robinson Delany |
| | Erected in tribute to Martin Robinson Delany
Born free May 6, 1812 Lawrence and North Streets Charles Town, VA (W VA) Son of Samuel Delay (slave) and Patti Peace Delany (free) grandson of African prince Prince Hall Mason physician, scientist, inventor, African explorer, newspaper publisher & editor, author, trial justice; Major in Union Army first and highest ranked Black field officer during Civil War appointed by President Abraham Lincoln Honorable E.M. Stanton, Secretary of War, . . . — Map (db m12646) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — New Central Restaurant |
| | Washington Hall, the building in which this restaurant is located, was destroyed by fire started by Union soldiers in the Civil War. It was restored by the people of Charles Town in 1874. The first floor was used as a market house from the time the original building was erected in 1806. The site for the building was donated by Charles Washington, a brother of the first President, who owned the land on which Charles Town was built. — Map (db m2028) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Old Stone House / Star Lodge No. 1 |
| | Old Stone House
Star Lodge No. 1 and Queen of the Valley Lodge No. 1558, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, two African-American fraternal organizations, bought Old Stone House in 1885. Star Lodge sole owner since 1927. One of oldest extant buildings in town, built early 1790s on land Charles Washington sold to John Locke; family owned until 1878. Listed on National Register, 2000.
Star Lodge No. 1
Star Lodge No. 1, Free and Accepted Masons was chartered in 1877 by the . . . — Map (db m24678) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Peter Burr House |
| | Built in 1751 by Peter Burr, cousin of Aaron Burr, on a grant of 480 acres from Lord Fairfax. The house is one of the state's oldest frame structures. It is a fine example of a mid-18th century Virginia family homestead which traces its origins to English yeoman home construction of the Elizabethan period. Sold in 1798 by Peter's son, the house was repurchased by the family in 1878. — Map (db m12644) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Richwood Hall |
| | The original brick house was built on land owned by Lawrence Augustine Washington, the son of Samuel Washington, George’s brother. The present mansion-house, in an excellent state of preservation, was built about 1825. During the battle of Cameron’s Depot, Aug. 21, 1864, Confederate General Jubal A. Early placed his cannon near the house and formed his battle lines north and south of this point. — Map (db m1885) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Ruins of St. George’s Chapel |
| | This chapel was built by devout people of (then) Frederick Parish. Frederick County, Virginia joined Col. Robert Worthington in completing it in 1769. It was first called the English Church, then Berkeley Church, then Norborne Chapel, as the parish was Norborne, 1770–1815. The Rev. Daniel Sturgis was its first minister of record 1771–1785. The Washington, Nourse, Davenport and Throckmorton families worshiped here. — Map (db m2026) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Two Treason Trials |
| | Jefferson County's Most Famous Trial
In the room immediately behind this wall, the abolitionist John Brown and five of his raiders were tried for treason against the state of Virginia, murder and inciting slaves to rebel. Brown had led 21 men to seize the federal arsenal and armory at Harpers Ferry on the night of October 16, 1859 to start an insurrection to topple slavery. Fifteen people died before the raiders were taken.
Treason Trials in Charles Town - Again
Sixty three years . . . — Map (db m21767) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Charles Town — Washington's Land |
| | The "Bullskin" or Rock Hall Tract, the first land owned by George Washington in West Virginia, was surveyed by him Nov. 24, 1750. Bought from Captain Rutherford, it became a part of Washington's 2,233-acre tract in this area. — Map (db m12633) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Franklintown — West Virginia / Virginia |
| | South Facing Side: West Virginia (Jefferson County). “The Mountain State”—western part of the Commonwealth of Virginia until June 20, 1863. Settled by the Germans and Scotch-Irish. It became a line of defense between the English and French during the French and Indian War. 1754–1763. North Facing Side: Virginia. Named for Queen Elizabeth the Virgin Queen of England. Site of the first permanent English settlement, 1607, in America. One of the 13 . . . — Map (db m1783) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — The Fate of Harpers Ferry was sealed. |
| | A.P. Hill After an exhausting night of dragging 20 cannon along the river and up the ravines to this site on Chambers (Murphy) Farm, General A.P. Hill and his 3,500 men sprang their trap on the unsuspecting Union army. Before dawn on the last day of the battle, the Confederates aimed their cannon at the Union line, only 1,000 yards away. When the morning fog lifted Hill signaled his artillerymen to open fire. Startled but alert, the Federals vigorously returned the fire. But an hour later . . . — Map (db m5894) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Dangerous Position |
| | On the dark, moonless night of September 14, 1862, 100 men from the 126th New York Regiment established a skirmish line here. These men were new to the war, having only been in uniform for a few short weeks. After surviving a terrifying afternoon of relentless Confederate artillery fire, these young men were thrust into a dangerous and vulnerable position on the front line. If the Confederates wanted to attack this location, this was a good time to do it. "On Sunday evening, the second day . . . — Map (db m5397) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Government Factory Town |
| | Harpers Ferry owed its existence principally to the United States armory, which began producing small arms here in 1801. At its height, this factory produced more than 10,000 weapons a year and employed 400 workers. The armory affected the everyday lives of its workers, both inside and outside the workplace, until its destruction in 1861 during the opening days of the Civil War. To learn about the armory's efforts on behalf of its workforce, walk this short trail along the Shenandoah River . . . — Map (db m18793) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Government Factory Town No Longer |
| | The destruction of the armory in 1861, followed by four years of Civil War, devastated Harpers Ferry's economy. Attempts at revitalization included a brewery erected here in 1895. When West Virginia enacted prohibition in 1914, the brewery converted to a bottling works for sodas and spring water. The 1942 flood destroyed this last remaining industry in Harpers Ferry. — Map (db m18798) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Moving Symbol |
| | In it really began the Civil War. Here was lighted the torch of liberty for all America… For you this is the most hallowed shrine in this country. Henry McDonald, Storer College president The foundations in front of you mark a temporary site of John Brown’s Fort, from 1895 to 1909. Originally located in Harpers Ferry, the fort was moved four times in 75 years. Entrepreneurs dismantled it and then rebuilt it on location at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. After the exhibition, . . . — Map (db m8318) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Perfect Heap of Ruins |
| | Standing here on the night of April 18, 1861, you would have seen billowing smoke as fire raged in the armory workshops upstream. Virginia had just seceded from the United States and Virginia militiamen were advancing on the armory. Vastly outnumbered and unable to defend the armory, U.S. soldiers "set fire to the Carpenter shop & grinding mill, Stocking shop, & the 2 arsenals" leaving the buildings in a "perfect heap of ruins," wrote a local resident. Arriving after the Federals retreated and . . . — Map (db m20520) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Position Strong by Nature |
| | In 1862 Union Colonel Dixon Miles thought that the ridge in front of you, Bolivar Heights, was the perfect place to defend Harpers Ferry. However, in September of '62, Colonel Miles and 14,000 Union soldiers found themselves surrounded by 24,000 Confederates led by "Stonewall" Jackson. From the Confederate position behind you on School House Ridge, one of Jackson's officers described Bolivar Heights as "a position strong by nature." Jackson agreed. He had no time for a siege and did not want to . . . — Map (db m5395) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Union Predicament |
| | "Do all you can to annoy the rebels should they advance on you...You will not abandon Harpers Ferry without defending it to the last extremity." Maj. Gen. John G. Wool, USA Telegraph message to Col. Dixon S. Miles, USA September 7, 1862 The first large-scale Federal occupation of Harpers Ferry began in February 1862. Despite the destruction of the armory and arsenal the previous year, Harpers Ferry remained important in protecting Union communication and supply lines and in . . . — Map (db m5389) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — A Union Predicament |
| | "Do all you can to annoy the rebels should they advance on you...You will not abandon Harpers Ferry without defending it to the last extremity." Maj. Gen. John G. Wool, USA Telegraph message to Col. Dixon S. Miles, USA September 7, 1862 The first large-scale Federal occupation of Harpers Ferry began in February 1862. Despite the destruction of the armory and arsenal the previous year, Harpers Ferry remained important in protecting Union communication and supply lines and in . . . — Map (db m19005) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Area History |
| | On April 18, 1861 Confederate volunteers occupied these heights. The threat prompted Lt. Roger Jones, in command at Harpers Ferry, to set fire to the armory and arsenal buildings destroying thousands of muskets needed by the Confederacy. — Map (db m5866) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — 5 — Armory Grounds — Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry |
| | The United States Armory was the main reason Lewis came to Harpers Ferry. He needed dependable weapons and supplies to succeed on his mission. The quality of the armorers' handiwork would also mean the difference between life and death for Lewis and his men. In 1803, the armory consisted of ten buildings. Their foundations are upstream and underneath the existing railroad embankment. — Map (db m20481) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Armory Paymaster's Residence |
| | Rank has its privileges. The paymaster, second in command at the armory, enjoyed an unobstructed view of the factory grounds and water gap from the substantial brick dwelling erected here about 1800. Soot and noise disrupted the scene with the arrival of the Winchester and Potomac Railroad through the paymaster's front yard in 1836. The paymaster moved to new, elegant quarters on the hill overlooking the river gap. The government then leased the old structure to armory workers. — Map (db m18664) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Armory Workers |
| | Expanding armory operations in the opening decades of the 19th century resulted in overcrowded and unhealthy living conditions for workers. Families shared inadequate, unventilated housing, while single men slept in the workshops. To alleviate the housing shortage, armory superintendent James Stubblefield allowed workers to erect dwellings, at their own expense, on public lands along the Shenandoah River, "being the only disposable level ground at the armory." In the late 1820s and 1830s, the . . . — Map (db m18797) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Arsenal Square |
| | Two brick arsenal buildings, which once housed about 100,000 weapons produced at the Harpers Ferry Armory, occupied these grounds. Capture of the firearms was the objective of John Brown’s 1859 raid. Eighteen months after Brown’s attack, the Civil War erupted. When Virginia militia advanced on the town on April 18, 1861, an outnumbered Federal garrison burned the arsenal and evacuated the town. The buildings and nearly 15,000 guns were destroyed. — Map (db m12969) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Assessing the Obstacle |
| | Never had "Stonewall" Jackson faced a stronger enemy position. Arriving here on Schoolhouse Ridge on the first day of the battle, Jackson scanned Bolivar Heights (the lower ridge in front of you) and saw a dangerous enemy - 7,000 Union infantry and dozens of cannon stretched across the ridge, ready for battle. He realized a frontal assault would be deadly. After securing Schoolhouse Ridge with his artillery and 14,000 infantry, Jackson labored to open communications with his officers on . . . — Map (db m7843) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Battle of Harpers Ferry — Union Stronghold |
| | (Upper panel): Battle of Harpers Ferry Invasion rocked the United States during the second year of the American Civil War. In September 1862 Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched his army into Maryland - the North. Lee's first target became Harpers Ferry. He ordered "Stonewall" Jackson to make the attack. Here Jackson overcame great obstacles, defeating the Union during a three-day battle and forcing the largest surrender of U.S. troops during the Civil War. His victory at . . . — Map (db m5350) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Battle of Harpers Ferry / Jackson Arrives |
| | (Upper Panel): Battle of Harpers Ferry Invasion rocked the United States during the second year of the American Civil War. In September 1862 Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched his army into Maryland - the North. Lee's first target became Harpers Ferry. He ordered "Stonewall" Jackson to make the attack. Here Jackson overcame the great obstacles, defeating the Union during a three-day battle and forcing the largest surrender of U.S. troops during the Civil War. His victory at . . . — Map (db m23320) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Bolivar Heights Trail |
| | Union and Confederate soldiers transformed these fields into campgrounds full of dingy tents, smoky campfires and boiling kettles during the Civil War. Shouting officers drilled their troops until Bolivar's grass was trampled into precision parade grounds. Cannon shells shrieked during two battles here. Later, somber faces watched comrades' coffins lowered into Bolivar's disturbed soil. Follow this trail to discover the story of Bolivar Heights and some of the people who walked along . . . — Map (db m5319) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Bolivar Methodist Church |
| | This church built in early 1840s was occupied by both Union and Confederate troops for military purposes during Civil War. — Map (db m2943) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Butcher Shop and Boarding House |
| | Factory officials believed a ready supply of meat for the community was "decidedly advantageous to the interests of the armory." As a result, the armory permitted local businessman Philip Coons to erect a large butcher shop and smoke-house, as well as a substantial stone boarding house, here on government land in the mid-1820s. When the U.S. purchased the buildings in 1863, the boarding house became workers' housing, while Coons continued to lease the butcher shop. — Map (db m18792) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — By the aid of these machines... |
| | Beneath your feet lie the foundations of the Smith and Forging Shop. The largest building in the armory, it reflected changing methods of manufacturing. In the armory's early days, gun making was slow and labor intensive. Armorers worked in small workshops handcrafting one gun at a time. Then in 1819, while working in Harpers Ferry, inventor John Hall developed machine-made weapons with interchangeable parts. He boasted that "one boy by the aid of these machines can perform more work than ten . . . — Map (db m23444) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — No. 1 — Capture of Harpers Ferry — No. 1 |
| | September 15, 1862 No. 1On September 10, 1862 General R. E. Lee Commanding the Army of Northern Virginia then at Frederick Md. set three columns in motion to capture Harper’s Ferry. Maj. Gen L. McLaws with his own Division and that of Maj. Gen. R. H. Anderson, marched through Middletown and Brownsville Pass into Pleasant Valley. On the 12th, the Brigades of Kershaw and Barksdale ascended Maryland Heights by Solomon’s Gap, moved along the crest and, at nightfall were checked by the Union . . . — Map (db m2579) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — No. 2 — Capture of Harpers Ferry — No. 2 |
| | September 15, 1862 No. 2 Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, with his own Division and those of Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill and R. S. Ewell, left Frederick on the morning of September 10 and passing through Middletown and Boonsboro crossed the Potomac at Williamsport, 21 miles north of this. On the afternoon of the 11th, Hill’s Division took the direct road to Martinsburg and bivouacked near it. Jackson’s and Ewell’s Divisions marched to North Mountain Depot on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad seven . . . — Map (db m2728) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — No. 3 — Capture of Harpers Ferry — No. 3 |
| | September 15, 1862 No. 3 Col. Dixon S. Miles, Second U. S. Infantry, commanded the Union forces at Harpers Ferry. After Gen. White joined from Martinsburg, September 12 and Col. Ford from Maryland Heights on the 13th, Miles had about 14,200 men. On the morning of the 14th, the greater part of this force was in position on Bolivar Heights 15/8 miles west, its right resting on the Potomac, its left near the Shenandoah; Artillery distributed on the line. Artillery and a small force of . . . — Map (db m2914) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — No. 4 — Capture of Harpers Ferry — No. 4 |
| | September 15, 1862 No. 4 In the afternoon of the 14th Jackson's Division advanced its left, seized commanding ground near the Potomac and established Artillery upon it. Hill's Division moved from Halltown obliquely to the right until it struck the Shenandoah, then pushed along the river; the advance, after some sharp skirmishing late in the night gained high ground upon which were placed five Batteries. Commanding the left rear of the Union line. Ewell's Division advanced through Halltown . . . — Map (db m2921) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — No. 5 — Capture of Harpers Ferry — No. 5 |
| | September 15, 1862 No. 5 Capture of Harpers Ferry September 15, 1862 No. 5 At daylight, September 15, three Batteries of Jackson's Division delivered a severe fire against the right of the Bolivar Heights defense. Ewell's Batteries opened from School House Hill in front. Hill's five Batteries on ground commanding the left of the line and the 10 guns across the Shenandoah poured an accurate enfilade fire upon the left and rear of Miles' defenses. The Artillery on Loudoun Heights and . . . — Map (db m2922) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Casualties of Time |
| | Over two dozen armory workers' dwellings, ranging from modest frame cottages to substantial stone and brick houses, once fronted Shenandoah and Hamilton streets. The wood houses disappeared around mid-century, victims of fire and demolition. The government sold the remaining dwellings in 1852 to armory employees and others in an effort to secure a stable, land-owning workforce. Buildings along the Shenandoah River proved extremely vulnerable to flooding. During the devastating 1870 flood, all . . . — Map (db m18799) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Casualties of War |
| | "...We enter the barren wast of Bolivar Heights...a windswept deserted moorland...except its populous graveyard." James E. Taylor, war correspondent Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper August 10, 1864 Military discipline for desertion seldom resulted in execution during the Civil War. But in the last months of the war, two Union deserters suffered this fate on Bolivar Heights. William Loge, convicted of "being a deserter ... bushwhacker, murderer and assassin," was hanged . . . — Map (db m5355) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Closing the Doors |
| | Resting with his troops in Frederick, Maryland, 20 miles northeast of here, Confederate General Robert E. Lee had hoped the Union garrison at Harpers Ferry would abandon its post when he invaded the North. They did not. Lee decided to attack. He divided his army into four columns, sending three to seize the three mountains overlooking Harpers Ferry. On the first day of the battle, the Confederates captured Loudoun Heights, south of the Shenandoah River. North of the Potomac, Union forces . . . — Map (db m5351) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Confederate Victory |
| | "The Rebels were all around us and our only refuge was the open canopy of heaven." Sgt. Charles E. Smith 32nd Ohio Infantry September 14, 1862 Thousands of Federal soldiers huddled in ravines on Bolivar Heights to escape the Confederate shells of September 14, 1862. By evening, the Federals were demoralized. Pvt. Louis B. Hull of the 60th Ohio Infantry wrote in his diary at sunset: "All seem to think that we will have to surrender or be cut to pieces." By 8:00 a.m. on . . . — Map (db m5387) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Confederate Victory |
| | "The Rebels were all around us and our only refuge was the open canopy of heaven." Sgt. Charles E. Smith 32nd Ohio Infantry September 14, 1862 Thousands of Federal soldiers huddled in ravines on Bolivar Heights to escape the Confederate shells of September 14, 1862. By evening, the Federals were demoralized. Pvt. Louis B. Hull of the 60th Ohio Infantry wrote in his diary at sunset: "All seem to think that we will have to surrender or be cut to pieces." By 8:00 a.m. on . . . — Map (db m19006) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Confederates Converge |
| | Confederate General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North hinged on eliminating the Harpers Ferry garrison. To do so Lee devised Special Orders 191. He divided his force of 40,000 into four parts. Three columns marched from near Frederick, Maryland, 22 miles northeast of here, to seize the three mountains surrounding Harpers Ferry. The fourth moved north and west toward Hagerstown. Following victory at Harpers Ferry, Lee intended to reunite his army and continue the invasion into . . . — Map (db m7839) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Cotton Mill |
| | Once the largest building on Virginius Island, this 1848 four-story brick structure sported steam heat and gas lighting and boasted the latest machinery for making "yard-wide sheeting and shirting at less than Baltimore prices." The cotton mill operated under various owners until just prior to the Civil War. After the war, the new partnership of Child & McCreight converted the factory into a flour mill. Business at the flour mill lagged. Production was first disrupted by the 1870 flood. The . . . — Map (db m18812) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Daring Escapes |
| | The boat ramp in front of you was the site of two daring escapes in the Battle of Harpers Ferry. Under the cover of darkness, 1,400 Union cavalrymen fled on horseback down the ramp. crossing a pontoon bridge into Maryland on September 14, 1862. The next day Confederates captured the remaining 12,500 Union soldiers. Among them were free black laborers, working for Union Colonel William Trimble's regiment.
Here at this ramp Confederate soldiers began dragging the free black laborers away. . . . — Map (db m20532) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Destined for Antietam |
| | Text of the marker is arranged to illustrate the movements of the Confederate Army during the Antietam Campaign of 1862: September 10, 1862 from Frederick, Maryland Confederate commander Lee sends part of his army to capture Harpers Ferry, while he waits in Maryland to advance on Pennsylvania. Jackson September 13 Maryland Heights, MD Confederates force Union soldiers off Maryland Heights. September 13 Jackson arrives here on Schoolhouse Ridge, surrounding the Union . . . — Map (db m7865) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Early Travel |
| | Situated in a gap of the Blue Ridge Mountains and at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers, Harpers Ferry, from its beginning, functioned as a natural avenue of transportation. The first mode of travel consisted of a primitive ferry established in 1733 by Peter Stephens. Stephens sold his business to Robert Harper in 1747, and Harper and others carried settlers and supplies across the waters until 1824 when a bridge constructed across the Potomac made ferryboat operations . . . — Map (db m12058) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Facing the Enemy |
| | Union Commander Dixon Miles knew the Confederates were coming. His cavalry reported the Southern troops advancing from three different directions. Ordered to "hold Harpers Ferry until the last extremity." Miles divided his forces to retain Maryland Heights - the highest mountain - and to defend Bolivar Heights - the longest ridge. As Miles watched "Stonewall" Jackson's 14,000 men spread across Schoolhouse Ridge, word arrived that Miles's soldiers had lost the fight for Maryland Heights. Bolivar . . . — Map (db m5322) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Fake Attack - September 14th |
| | "Stonewall" Jackson understood the principle of military deception. On the second evening of the battle, he used deception here. To lure the Union attention away from the south end of Bolivar Heights, Jackson faked an attack against the north end of the heights in front of you. Using darkness to disguise the deceit, the Stonewall Division marched forward from near this location, creating a commotion that successfully distracted the Federals from Jackson's real advance, one mile to the south. . . . — Map (db m7866) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Federal Armory |
| | In an effort to increase the number of small arms for defense of the United States, George Washington established a Federal armory here in 1794. The rivers provided power for the machinery; surrounding mountains provided iron ore for gun barrels and hardwoods for charcoal and gun stocks. In 60 years, the armory manufactured more than 500,000 muskets, rifles, and rifle-muskets. At its peak in 1850, the armory employed over 400 workers. In 1861, Southern forces transported the captured armory . . . — Map (db m12964) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — First Major Action |
| | On Sept. 13, 1862 Stonewall Jackson’s forces approaching from the west were shelled by 2 Union artillery guns under Col. Miles from this position. On Sept. 14, Gen. A.P. Hill outflanked these Union troops while Jackson swept past this location. Col. Miles surrendered over 11,000 men and valuable military stores on Sept. 15. He was killed by a stray shot. — Map (db m5856) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Five Rounds into the Darkness |
| | The 115th New York Regiment, young and inexperienced, formed a skirmish line here. When gunfire erupted on their left during the night, the men of the 115th must have felt the rush of adrenaline through their veins. Dander was headed in their direction. There was not time to think. For all they knew, a full-scale attack had begun and they were protected only by the darkness. "Sharp musketry began on our extreme left, it came rapidly toward us and soon we to were blazing away. We fired five . . . — Map (db m7816) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Floods |
| | Waterpower built this town, and the power of the water eventually destroyed it. The destruction of the Federal Armory during the Civil War began the town's decline. Many people who had left Harpers Ferry during the war did return, only to be driven away again - and this time permanently - by the devastating flood of 1870 and those that soon followed. Harpers Ferry never fully recovered. — Map (db m12982) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Fortifying Bolivar Heights |
| | "...the heights became dotted with tents, and at night...the neighboring hills were aglow with hundreds of watchfires..." Joseph Barry, Harpers Ferry resident October 1862 After the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, General Lee withdrew his Confederate army back into Virginia. Instead of pursuing Lee, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan reoccupied the Harpers Ferry area with nearly 60,000 soldiers. While McClellan paused to reorganize and re-equip his army, President . . . — Map (db m5367) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Found Underground |
| | The ground around you hides the remains of the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry. Beneath the surface archeologists discovered walls, floors, pipes, and the base of a massive 90-foot chimney. As the team slowly and painstakingly excavated small pits throughout the site, the uncovered over 28,000 artifacts - some in almost pristine condition - providing a glimpse into the past. Artifacts found her include (clockwise): a bone-handled toothbrush, and apothecary's weight, a carved pipe bowl, a file . . . — Map (db m21124) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — From Skirmish Line to Burial Ground |
| | Some of the Union infantrymen who defended this ground on the night of September 14th returned the next day. Even though the Confederate strategy had won the battle for Harpers Ferry, and these Union soldiers were part of the largest surrender of United States troops in American history, these particular soldiers had unfinished business here. "Went to the foot of the hill to bury Disbrow, was shot in the head the knight before. Sad time. We buried him with overcoat and blanket wrapped . . . — Map (db m5398) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Gun Position #6 |
| | This gun protected the south end of the fort and was positioned to fire on flank movements. An outside picket trench, which can be seen ahead of the main embankment, protected the artillery crew. — Map (db m5879) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Harper Cemetery |
| | Passing through this region in 1747, Robert Harper — a Pennsylvania architect contracted to build a Quaker church in the Shenandoah Valley — was so impressed by the beauty of this place and the water-power potential of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers that he settled here and founded Harpers Ferry.
When Harper died in 1782, there were only three houses in the town. Optimistic about the community's potential for growth, however, Harper had set aside this 4-acre cemetery. . . . — Map (db m10203) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Harper House |
| | From this vantage point, a succession of early residents watched Harpers Ferry grow from a tiny village into a thriving industrial community. In 1775, town founder Robert Harper chose this hillside for his family home because it lay safely above the flood line, commanded a spectacular view, and offered unlimited native stone for building. Harper never resided here, however, because he died before the building's completion. The Harper House is the oldest surviving structure in Harpers Ferry. . . . — Map (db m18753) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — 7 — Harper House Tavern — Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry |
| | The Harpers House was near the end of a 20-year run as the only tavern in Harpers Ferry when Lewis arrived. Thomas Jefferson may have been among the first guests to stay here in 1783. If Lewis rented a room in 1803, he was among the last travelers to seek shelter here. — Map (db m18754) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Harpers Ferry — Prize of War |
| | “It may be said with truth that no spot in the United States experienced more of the horrors of war.” – Joseph Barry, Harpers Ferry resident Trapped on the border between North and South, Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times during the Civil War. Because of its position on the Potomac River—an international boundary for four years from 1861 to 1865—the town’s industries were destroyed, its buildings were abandoned, its mountains were raped, and the . . . — Map (db m23188) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Harpers Ferry / John Brown’s Fort |
| | (West Facing Side): Harpers Ferry Named for Robert Harper, who settled here in 1747 and operated ferry. Site purchased for Federal arsenal and armory in 1796. John Hall first used interchangeable gun parts here. Travel route thru Blue Ridge gap, and river, canal, and railroad connections added growth. John Brown's raid and Civil War brought national attention. Post-war site of Storer College for blacks, and National Park, created in 1944. (East Facing Side): John Brown's . . . — Map (db m2940) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park |
| | (First Panel): Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is the story of... Industrial Development and the production of weapons at the Harpers Ferry armory. John Brown's Raid and his attempt to end slavery. The Civil War with Union and Confederate armies fighting over this border area for four years. Black History from slavery to Storer College - chartered to educate men and women of all races, it became one of the first institutions of higher learning for Black Americans. Explore . . . — Map (db m19008) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Hayward Shepherd |
| | On the night of October 16, 1859, Heyward Shepherd, and industrious and respected Colored freeman, was mortally wounded by John Brown's raiders in pursuance of his duties as an employee of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. He became the first victim of this attempted insurrection.
This boulder is erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans as a memorial to Heyward Shepherd, exemplifying the character and faithfulness of thousands of Negroes who, . . . — Map (db m10482) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Head Gates and Inner Basin |
| | These brick-lined archways, or "head gates," built around 1850, once controlled much of the island's waterpower. From here, a "wing dam" extended across the Shenandoah River, funneling water through the arches and into the inner basin. A gate at the opening of each arch controlled the flow. After passing through the head gates, the water was stored in the inner basin until dispersed via raceways and tunnels to the mills and factories. Over time, silt and sand accumulated and eventually filled the basin. — Map (db m18949) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — High Street in 1886 |
| | (Photo of High Street in 1886) — Map (db m18787) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Historic Heights |
| | Surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains at the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers, Harpers Ferry thrived as an industrial community during the first half of the 19th century. By 1860, nearly 3,000 residents lived in the Harpers Ferry area and its Federal armory produced more than 10,000 weapons per year. Defending Harpers Ferry proved strategically important to both North and South when the civil war erupted in 1861. To occupy and defend this border area, a military . . . — Map (db m5316) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — History in the Mountains |
| | "I will pledge myself that there is not a spot in the United States which combines more or greater requisites...."
George Washington May 5, 1798 Harpers Ferry's history and geography have influenced each other for more than 250 years. Early settlers crossed these mountains and operated ferries across the rivers. George Washington, impressed with the area's natural resources, convinced Congress to establish a U.S. armory and arsenal here. The Potomac and Shenandoah . . . — Map (db m12065) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Holy Ground |
| | Here on the scene of John Brown’s martyrdom we reconsecrate ourselves, our honor, our property to the final emancipation of the race which John Brown died to make free… Thank God for John Brown!... and all the hallowed dead who died for freedom! W.E.B. Du Bois, Niagara Movement general secretary and NAACP founding member On August 17, 1906, members of the Niagara Movement walked silently past where you are standing. One of the first modern civil rights organizations in America, the . . . — Map (db m8316) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Home Becomes Battlefield |
| | The Civil War affected not only the soldiers who fought but the families whose homes and towns became battlefields. Edmund H. Chambers bought this farm in 1848 and lived here with his family until the Civil War. Although Chambers was a loyal Unionist, the Union confiscated his farm in 1862, forcing the family from their home. The U.S. Army arranged for an appraisal of the farm in the event of damage. At the war’s end Chambers found the property destroyed and filed a claim demanding restitution. . . . — Map (db m5885) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — 6 — Home of Joseph Perkins — Armory Superintendent — Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry |
| | Armory Superintendent Joseph Perkins lived in a converted warehouse on this spot from 1801-1806. The day Lewis arrived, March 16, 1803, he hand-delivered a letter from the Secretary of War directing Perkins to provide "arms & iron work... with the least possible delay." Lewis may have stayed here while he was in Harpers Ferry. — Map (db m18804) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — 1 — Home of Samuel Annin — Armory Paymaster — Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry |
| | The U.S. Armory Paymaster's house stood here. Completed in 1802 as a home for the armory's senior administrator, this building was probably the best house in town when Meriwether Lewis arrived in 1803. Lewis may have stayed here and he certainly accounted for his supplies with Paymaster Samuel Annin. — Map (db m18662) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — House Ruins |
| | An island entrepreneur or owner likely resided in this 2 1/2-story house which once stood on this foundation. Owners and workers both resided on the island. Other dwellings included four large 2-story structures, five 2-story brick tenements, and five 1 1/2-story wooden cottages. The 1850 census reveals about 200 people living on Virginius Island. Only ruins remain of their homes. — Map (db m18951) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Infantry Positions |
| | Infantry troops occupied positions along these fortifications. The low height of the earth embankment at this location permitted the defending troops easy passage to and from the abatis without exposure. — Map (db m5878) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Island Access |
| | Bridges spanning the canal, like the one to your left, provided access from the island to the mainland for residents and factory workers. During floods, they were paths to safety. To delay departure could spell disaster, as in 1870, when swiftly rising water swept away all avenues to higher ground. — Map (db m18987) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Island Mills |
| | Sounds of turning mill wheels and workers filling bags with freshly ground flour once filled the air here. The foundation of Island Mills, one of the earliest (1824) industries on the island, lies before you. Each fall the railroad brought wheat here from the Potomac and Shenandoah valleys to be ground into flour, packed into barrels, and shipped east to Baltimore. Fire destroyed the original mill in 1839. Construction of a larger 3 1/2-story stone building followed the next year on the same . . . — Map (db m18983) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Jefferson County / State of Maryland |
| | (East Facing Side): Jefferson County Formed in 1801 from Berkeley. Named for Thomas Jefferson. Home of Generals Gates, Drake, and Charles Lee. Here four companies of Washington's men organized. Shepherdstown was strongly urged as the seat of the National Capital. (West Facing Side): State of Maryland Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, the wife of Charles I, who gave a royal charter to Cecil Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, in 1632. First settlement at St. Mary's City in . . . — Map (db m2947) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — Jefferson Rock |
| | "On your right comes up the Shenandoah, having ranged along the foot of the mountain a hundred miles to seek a vent. On your left approaches the Patowmac [Potomac], in quest of a passage also. In the moment of their junction they rush together against the mountain, rend it asunder, and pass off to the sea....This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic." This is how Thomas Jefferson described the view from here during a visit to Harpers Ferry in 1783. Around 1860, the U.S. armory . . . — Map (db m10662) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — 8 — Jefferson Rock — Meriwether Lewis at Harpers Ferry |
| | Twenty years before Lewis came to town, his mentor, Thomas Jefferson, wrote about the view from this rock. Jefferson's comments on the landscape were published in Notes on the State of Virginia. That book provided a model for Lewis as he recorded his observations of the west. As Lewis gathered supplies here, did he follow in the footsteps of his mentor and take in this view? — Map (db m18791) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — John Brown |
| | Here John Brown aimed at human slavery a blow that woke a guilty nation. With him fought seven slaves and sons of slaves. Over his crucified corpse marched 200,000 black soldiers and 4,000,000 freedmen singing “John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave but his soul goes marching on!” In gratitude this tablet is erected the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People May 21, 1932 — Map (db m12952) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — John Brown Fort |
| | Here is a building with a curious past. Since its construction in 1848, it has been vandalized, dismantled, and moved four times - all because of its fame as John Brown's stronghold. The Fort's "Movements" 1848 Built as fire-engine house for U.S. Armory. 1859 Serves as stronghold for John Brown and his raiders. 1861-1865 Escapes destruction during the Civil War (only armory building to do so), but it is vandalized by souvenir-hunting Union and Confederate soldiers and later travelers. . . . — Map (db m4420) |
| West Virginia (Jefferson County), Harpers Ferry — John Brown Monument |
| | Commemorated here is the original location of the "John Brown Fort"--the Federal Armory's fire engine house where abolitionist John Brown and his raiders were captured by the U.S. Marines on October 18, 1859. If you look to the south, you will see the Fort about 150 feet from here. The Fort was first moved in 1891 and its original foundation covered by the railroad in 1892. — Map (db m10900) |
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