Harrisville

Harrisville. Confederate Raid. (Preface): On April 20, 1863, Confederate Gens. William E. "Grumble" Jones and John D. Imboden began a raid from Virginia through present-day West Virginia on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Taking separate routes, they later reported that they marched 1,100 miles, fought several engagements, captured 700 Federals, seized about 1,200 horses and 4,000 cattle, and burned 4 turnpike bridges, more than 20 railroad bridges, 2 trains, and 150,000 barrels of oil. Most bridges were soon repaired. Confederate losses were slight. By May 26, both commands had returned to Virginia's Shenandoah Valley., On May 6, 1863, Confederate Gen. William E. "Grumble" Jones led his wing of cavalrymen to Harrisville from Weston. Near the western end of town, his men exchanged shots with the Harrisville Home Guard, which then fled. The Home Guard maintained control of the town during the war and was composed of 75 older men and young boys. Jones's men captured many of its members as they fled but soon released them from custody. The fast-moving raiders did not wish to have prisoners encumber them., After the Confederates gained control of the town, they badly damaged the printing shop and Pierpoint's store, and wrecked the U.S. Post Office. They threw the postage stamps that the town's residents needed to mail letters and packages in the mud and trampled them. Jones and his men soon moved on to destroy Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tunnels and bridges, of which there were several in Ritchie County., The Harrisville Baptist Church minutes for May 9 referred to the incident: "Church failed to meet in consequences of a raid of Rebel Cavalry to the supposed number of 1,500 that entered Harrisville at noon on Thursday.", (Sidebar): The Confederates raided present-day West Virginia to recruit new troops, "collect" cattle and horses, and destroy railroad bridges and tunnels. At Cairo, in Richie County, Jones's men captured a Federal garrison based there to guard the railroad. The stations along the railroad were centers of community. The Pennsboro Depot, constructed at an earlier station site in 1883, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.