Augusta County: "Lee's High Estimate of General Imboden," by Unknown, 1921

Summary: A piece praising General Imboden of Augusta, with letters from General Lee to Imboden to support the positive portrayal

LEE'S HIGH ESTIMATE OF GENERAL IMBODEN.

[The death of General Imboden in 1895 brought out this editorial tribute in a paper of Staunton, Va., his home town. It was sent to the VETERAN by H. T. Shank, of North River, Va., who served in McClanahan's Battery of Horse Artillery under Imboden and fired the first shot in the capture of Charlestown, W. Va. He was also in all the movements referred to in this tribute.]

In the flight of thirty years, this generation has lost much of the distinguished service rendered by Brigadier General John D. Imboden to the Army of Northern Virginia. He was a born fighter, and his movements on the field were marked by the ability of an experienced commander, though their author was reared to the pursuits of a civilian. There were few officers in that army to whom General Lee trusted more critical duties or to whom and of whom he more frequently expressed his approval. His recent death recalls those deeds, and the fact that he was an Augusta County man and that a large body of the men who so gallantly served under him were from our county, makes it a pleasant duty to recall that approval. The following two letters, which we take from the Confederate Records, are instances of it:

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VA.,
October 23, 1863.

"Brig. Gen. J. D. Imboden, Commanding, Etc.-General: Your letter of the 19th inst., reporting the capture of the enemy's force at Charlestown, has been received. The movement was well conceived and executed in a manner that reflects great credit upon yourself and the officers and men of your command, to whom I desire to express my appreciation of the brave and valuable service they have rendered. Very respectfully,

"Your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General."

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY of NORTHERN VA.,
October 23, 1863.

"Gen. S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector-General, Richmond, Va.,

"When the movement of the army from the Rapidan commenced, General Imboden was instructed to advance down the Valley and guard the gaps of the mountains on our left. This duty was well performed by that officer and on the 18th inst., he marched upon Charlestown and succeeded, by a well concerted plan, in surrounding all their stores and transportation. Only a few escaped to Harper's Ferry. The enemy advanced from that place in superior numbers to attack General Imboden, who retired, bringing off his prisoners and captured property, his command suffering very little loss and inflicting some damage upon the pursuing columns.

"In the course of the operations 2,436 prisoners were captured, including 41 commissioned officers. Of the above number, 434 were taken by General Imboden.

"A more complete account, with a statement of our loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, will be forwarded as soon as the necessary official reports shall have been received.

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
"R. E. LEE, General."

But perhaps no higher tribute was paid to General Imboden's courage and skill than that involved in the fact that after the disaster at Gettysburg, General Lee assigned him an important part in protecting the Confederate rear on the retreat of the army into Virginia. The following is an extract from General Lee's official report, showing how that trust was executed:

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VA.,
July 31, 1863.

"Gen. S. Cooper, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va.:

"General Imboden, in pursuance of the instructions previously referred to, had been actively engaged on the left of General Ewell during the progress of the latter into Maryland. He had driven off the forces guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, destroying all the important bridges on that route from Cumberland to Martinsburg, and seriously damaged the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. He subsequently took position at Hancock, and, after the arrival of Longstreet and Hill at Chambersburg, was directed to march by way of McConnellsburg to that place.

"Part of our train moved by the road through Fairfield, and the rest by way of Cashtown, guarded by General Imboden. In passing through the mountains in advance of the column, the great length of the trains exposed them to attack by the enemy's cavalry, which captured a number of wagons and ambulances, but they succeeded in reaching Williamsport without serious loss.

"They were attacked at that place on the 6th by the enemy's cavalry, which was gallantly repulsed by General Imboden. The attacking force was subsequently encountered and driven off by General Stuart and pursued for several miles in the direction of Boonsborough."

Those who are familiar with the history of General Imboden's command during the long years of the war can safely say that the work it did so well could have been intrusted to no braver men and no better commander.

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Bibliographic Information: Source copy consulted: Confederate Veteran, Vol. 29, p. 420-421, 1921