| Baltimore and Ohio Magazine |
| February, 1941, p. 3 |
| |
| Memorandum of the Operation of the Confederate Army
and the B. & O. R. R. Property at Martinsburg during the Civil War |
| William Edwards |
| Master Mechanic in the Machinery Department at
Martinsburg, Maryland |
| |
| Commencement of Destruction by the Confederates on
the Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road |
| Col. Allen moved from opposite
Williamsport, June 1, 1861, to Martinsburg, took cars for Harper's
Ferry, detailed Capt. Fletcher's Company on the rear end of the
train to burn Opequon Bridge. Being intoxicated, he was persuaded to
spare the bridge. On his arrival at Harper's Ferry, he was ordered
back by General Johnson to do his work, which had been left undone,
arriving at the bridge on Sunday morning, June 2nd. He burned the
bridge completely. |
| The Pillar Bridge at Martinsburg was
burned June 13th. (Jeff Davis, Thanksgiving Day.) Sleepy Creek
Bridge was burned June 3rd, 1861. |
| Myers and Specks Road-way bridge was
burned June 13th, 1861. General Jackson, with his command, arrived
in town June 19th, 1861, and detailed some 200 men on June 20th to
burn locomotive engines, 41 in number, and 383 freight cars by
piling wood and coal upon the engines. There were but 10 or 12
engines seriously damaged, but that was in consequence of not
letting water out of their boilers. |
| The American Flag belonging to the Shops
was taken out of the Office and was stretched over one of the
burning engines and would not burn and, ultimately, taken down and
torn to pieces, making Rebel flags of three stripes -- Red, White
and Red. |
| On the evening of June 20th, satisfied
with the destruction of the locomotives, the Rebs turned them over
to the Railroad Agent, who directed me to smother the fire down.
That night, at 12 o'clock, I was arrested by 25 troopers of horsemen
and taken to Col. Stewart's camp, some four miles from Town. I had
been reported by a man by the name of Jack Rigsby for interfering
with burning of locomotives. |
| General Jackson released me after
investigating the case. Next morning, the burning of cars was still
going on and continued for about three weeks. Fifty-seven hopper
cars were thrown over into the Opequon. A portion of them became a
solid mass of iron by being on fire when thrown over. Twenty-three
cars were run into the Tuscorora Creek near the Rattling Bridge.
Twelve hoppers and gondolas were thrown over the Pillar Bridge. |
| On August 18th, 1861, Thomas R. Sharp,
Supt. of Machinery for the Rebel Government, arrived with a body of
men to move as many locomotive engines as he wished. Also machinery
in shop and track iron were engaged in that work up to the first of
March, 1862. He succeeded in taking eight locomotives, all the
machinery and duplicate parts and rough castings at this shop. |
| Rebels Ashby and Stewart returned May
25th, 1862, and damaged the railroad slightly. String timbers and
ties of the truss work of the Opequon and Pillar Bridges were
burned. Some 3 or 4 box cars were robbed of their contents. The
other cars, 100, and all of the locomotives had been previously
removed to Cumberland and Baltimore, Md. There was no damage to
building or station or cars and engines and equipment that we left
in the yard. |
| Road destroyed by Rebels who arrived
Sept. 6th, 1862. Resumed operation and ran to Martinsburg Jan. 3rd,
1863. Company's Hotel and all shop buildings were burned October
19th, 1862. The Company's House was situated on the hillside
overlooking the railroad yard and occupied by the Master Mechanic
and his family. They were notified on Sunday, October 19th, to move
out on Monday morning and the house was burned Monday, October 20th,
1862. |
| Final destruction of Back Creek Bridge
was made June 27th, 1862. Cherry Run Bridge was thrown into the
river and two iron beams were broken June 27th. Confederates
returned again from camp July 1st, to burn the locomotives, were
effectually letting the water out of the boilers and prepared wood
to put in the furnaces, but before they put fire in on the morning
of July 2nd, they were called to arms, caused by General Patterson
crossing the Potomac with his army (U. S. A.). The town was
evacuated by the Rebels that evening. |
| This concludes the main memorandum of
Mr. Edwards, although among the papers in the old book is an old
envelope, scribbled on the back of which in what is apparently Mr.
Edwards' handwriting are some notes on later happenings around
Martinsburg in 1863-64, as follows: |
| Road repaired by Rebel Army, June 15,
1863. |
| Work resumed on Main Stem Bridges from
Cumberland to Opequon, more or less damaged by Imboden's men. |
| Martinsburg taken by Rebel force July 4,
1864. |
| Pillar Bridge at Martinsburg burned July
4, 1864. Rebuilt finished July 11, 1864. |
| Pillar Bridge, Agent's office and
Tonnage office burnt July 26, Tuesday, 1864, at 7 o'clock P. M. |
| Tracks in yard, Oil House and Blacksmith
shop destroyed July 26, 1864. Pillar Bridge rebuilt Sept. 26th, 1864
-- just 19 hours in rebuilding. |
| Main tracks completed September 27,
1864, at 10 o'clock P. M. |
| Cars passed over entire track in yard,
Sept. 27, 1864. |
| Train of Stock passed Martinsburg, 6
o'clock A. M., Sept. 28, 1864. |
| ***** |
| Thomas Sharp, referred to in Mr.
Edwards' memo as an officer of the Confederate Army active in the
destruction of B&O property during the war, was appointed master of
transportation, B&O. following the war. He served with great ability
and distinction. |
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