Summary:
D. G. Duncan writes the Confederacy's first Secretary of War Leroy P. Walker in
April, 1861, on the situation in Maryland and northern Virginia. Duncan mentions
that a Federal force gathering at Chambersburg threatens Harper's Ferry,
complains about confused responses by Virginia militia, discusses the arrival of
Union troops in Maryland and Washington, D. C., and mentions refugees from
Maryland entering Virginia with their slaves.
L. P. WALKER:
RICHMOND,
April 29, 1861.
Maj. Patton, Virginia army, one of Harney's escort from Harper's Ferry, states that troops are being concentrated at Chambersburg, Pa., with a view, it is believed, of occupying the Maryland Heights, which command Harper's Ferry. That the force now there, estimated at 4,000, could not hold that point against 1,000 U. S. troops. There are too many militia generals issuing conflicting orders and creating confusion. Harney left for Washington. Hicks recommends neutrality. Many persons from Maryland taking refuge in Virginia with negroes. northern troops reach Washington in transports via Potomac. A member of New York Seventh Regt., at Governor Letcher's house, says many of that regiment refused to fight the South. This regiment never in any fight with Baltimoreans. A man named Boyd shot on the island at Washington by two men for expressing secession sentiments. Ex-president Tyler says Maryland is calling loudly for help. Send all the troops you can spare.
D. G. DUNCAN.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 51, Serial No. 108, Pages 51, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
