Printed by The Mountain Echo, Keyser, W.Va.
During the summer of 1975 this writer had the opportunity of addressing this same reunion at Scherr for which Mr. Idleman had prepared this history sketch so long ago. Our central theme was that as we approach the Bicentennial year, this community like thousands across our great nation, has much of importance that needs to be remembered. Perhaps the designation seemed flowery, but we called the community a cross roads of America. Mr. Idleman mentioned many of the things makes it so.
First, Countless migrants to the promise of the American Frontier used two thoroughfares that passed through the settlement. The older was known as McCulloh�s Packhorse trail, a traders route that dates back early into the 18th century. The other is the renowned Morgantown road, which wound through and over the mountains to the Monongahela River town, which now is the location, our state university. From this terminus, settlers floated down the river to Pittsburgh and the Ohio River, then to the mighty Mississippi if their dreams were that distant.
One facet of this trade route that we have always found hard to believe is the amount of pig iron ingots of Grant County manufacture that were transported north by wagon until the drovers hit the National Road, now Route 40, heading West to the steel mills of Wheeling. Few today know of the local iron industry, but the foundry site near Falls is still clearly evident. An overland trek by heavily laden wagons to Wheeling must have been a time consuming and tiring task for the drivers involved, but local iron had a prominent place in the early development or our country.
Back to the Scherr community, the most fascinating page in its history for this writer is the Myerstown settlement since so much of it is now shrouded in mystery. We have written previously of the land agents who lured a group of unsuspecting German migrants to our area in 1843 with promised of rich farming land. Truly, the land was rich but too hilly and forested to be the farmer�s dream they had hoped for. From the simple beginnings in 1843, these migrants have through for years formed an important part of our area�s history.
The origin of the Idleman family in the United States of America was by Conrad Idleman (Eldelmann). He came from Baden, Germany about the year 1780. Dates handed down are in slight conflict. Apparently Conrad and his eldest child, Frances Daniel came first, leaving his wife and other children to make the crossing later. Although his wife�s given name is not available, her maiden name is Rush. The youngest child may have been born in the country.
It is believed that the family first settled in Forks Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, later moving to Hardy County, Virginia, and later to Grant County, West Virginia.
Daniel Francis Idleman, son of Francis Daniel Idleman, was born in 1817 and married Eve Cosner in 1817 born in 1822. Daniel was a farmer and mill owner at the mouth Cosner or Maysville Gap near the present store and residence of George B. Simmons. Part of the stonework of the mill dam can still be seen. Daniel died in 1855, survived by his wife and six children.
Eleven years after Daniel�s death Eve moved to Southern Iowa with four of her children. Barbara, her youngest daughter, had died and her son Simon, remained here.
Simon Peter Idleman was born in 1845 and married in 1868 to Sarah Lyon. They established the Idleman farm on Route 42 about � mile north of Brick Church of the Brethren on Looney�s or Luney�s Creek. Here they lived and raised their family.
We do not know who built the original four-room log cabin. This cabin had only a half story upstairs and a lean to kitchen.
In 1948 Charleton Browne and his wife, Dorothy (Idleman) Browne, (granddaughter of Simon P. Idleman) bought the home from the Simon Idleman heirs. Two years ago they remodeled the home by more or less building around the original structure. They live there at present time. This home was built on land to which the deed was signed by the governor of Virginia, Henry Lee in 1791. Dorothy Browne
South Mill Creek
Mrs. J. H. Greenwalt
Mrs. J. E. Judy and Mrs. Willard Judy and daughter, Jeanette visited Mr. and Mrs. John Greenwalt and family last Thursday afternoon. Also visiting in the Greenwalt home were Mr. and Mrs. Allen Greenwalt and children.
Mr. and Mrs. Jean Alexander visited Mr. and Mrs. Connie Alexander and family Saturday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. Okey Alt went to visit their son Vivan Alt and family in Newark, N. J.
Mr. and Mrs. John Greenwalt, Mrs. Bessie Greenwalt, Mrs. Phyllis Miller and boys, Mrs. Lillian Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Meadows were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Larry Meadows of Reeds Creek Sunday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Judy of Petersburg were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Linden cleaver Wednesday aftern0oon.
Mr. and Mrs. Connaly Alexander and children were visiting Mr. and Mrs. Connie Alexander Sunday evening.
The all-day sing at the South Mill Creek church of the Brethren will be held this Sunday, September 5. Everyone is welcome. Come and enjoy the good old gospel songs and bring a basket lunch.
We had a nice rain Friday evening fro which we are thankful
Monday morning we had 40-degree weather. It as cold with high winds.
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Williamsport:
In its inception Williamsport consisted of a gristmill, two stores, a post office, two blacksmith shops, a schoolhouse and four homes. A store was operated there by Joseph V. Williams and a Mr. Hack from October 22, 1847 to July 1849. Also, William Connell, T. M. Rotruck, H. Cassady and a Mr. Jones ran a store on the left of the beginning of County Route 5-2
Members of the Marshall family ran another store.
The Lyons Mill built in 1882 by John Day occupied much of Williamsport�s business efforts. The mill has been out of use since 1966
Williamsport
Squire Alt and the Eagle Roller Mills
Located at Williamsport, West Virginia
The Eagle Roller Mills, located at Williamsport, W.Va are producers of flour, meal, buckwheat, flour and feed. The mills are equipped with the best appliances for the producing of the best flour and feed that can be made. Its capacity is fifteen barrels a day with storage room for two thousand bushels of grain. On account of the construction of the plant and the nature of the power used, a minimum of labor is required. The power is furnished by a mountain stream and a twenty-six foot overshot wheel.
The owner and manager of these mills is Squire H. A. Alt. Squire Alt was born in Pendleton County, West Virginia, in 1868. He received his education at the public district schools and at the Shenandoah Normal College, Basic City, Va., and followed teaching for fifteen years having taught nine years in Pendleton County and six years in Grant County.
In 1904 he bought the Eagle Mills of J. S. McDonald and has since supplied the surrounding county with the very finest quality of flour and feed. About the same time that he took over the Eagle Mills, he was elected Justice of the Peace. Squire Alt is married and has a family of four children. He and his family reside at Williamsport.
Inter-Potomac Industrial Edition 1908
T. M. Rotruck
Merchant of Williamsport, West Virginia
About five years ago T. M. Rotruck bought the mercantile business of W. C. High at Williamsport, and from the beginning has made it, by his superior business ability, the leading store in the section. A general line of merchandise is handled and none but the best is to be found on his shelves. He makes a specialty of the world famous Seiz shoes. You will always find his store in excellent condition and with what you need in stock.
Mr. Rotruck is a native of Ohio but came to West Virginia in early life. Until 1900, he was engaged in farming at which time he bought D. W. Billmyer�s store at Martin, W.Va., and conducted a general mercantile business until 1902, when he sold his Martin store and bought his present stand. Shortly after coming to Williamsport he was appointed postmaster and has since served the people in that capacity. A Chesapeake &Potomac telephone is installed in his store and he can be found any minute in the day.
Inter-Potomac Industrial Edition 1908
County�s Last water-Powered Mill
24-foot Wheel Silent Now at Lyons Mill
Assembled in 1882 by John Day, the Lyons Mill operated 24 hours a day during World War II
The old Williamsport Mill is silent now. The water rushes over the fifty-foot fall while the wooden chute that used to divert it to turn the massive wheel has turned gray with age and begun to fall apart.
The present owners of the mill are Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Bonar.
Williamsport is one of the oldest towns in Grant County. Located near the Mineral County line on Patterson�s Creek, it was doubtless named for the Williams who lived nearby and were killed and quartered by the Indians led by Shawnee chief Killbuck.
At the turn of the century Williamsport had two general stores, a post office, the mill and a blacksmith shop. The general stores sold dress goods, household needs and candy.
During trapping season, furs were traded for supplies.
The Lyons Mill was built in Williamsport, W.Va. in 1882 by John Day. The wood that was used to build it was white p9ine purchased from McDonald by Acey Alt, who ran the mill until 1907. David Cassady then purchased the mill from Mr. Alt and operated it until his death. It was then purchased by David Lyon and his son, Arnold who named it Lyon�s Mill. They operated the mill until Charles Bonar, the present owner, purchased it from Arnold Lyon. The mill has been out of use since 1966.
Power Train
Power from the huge 24 foot wheel turned by water from the brook, is transported through the mill by a system of endless belts.
The mill sits on a lime marl band. Marl is very soft and the creek has worn away a lot of the marl leaving this bed for the water to fall.
The mill is built on four different levels with the firs tone directly on the marls bank upon which the building sits. Here are the wheels that transmit the power to the 24�water wheel to the drive shaft that powers the roller mill and to the belt and duct system that powers the roller mill and transports the grain throughout the mill. Although the water wheel moves very slowly, the inside gears reduce the distance traveled by getting smaller which increases the speed until the drive shaft hums when the mill is operating.
The ground flour has the offices, the roller mill, the receiving area for grain, and, at the present, the burr mill for corn.
The other levels and floors house the chutes for vertical transport of grain and the augers that move the grain horizontally.
The roller mill is powered by the water wheel and it can run around the clock. During World War II it was operated 24 hours a day and put out about 25 barrels of flour daily.
Problems of Running the Mill
Some of the problems that plague any worker in gain are insects. The mill was fumigated nightly when in operation. Rodents and coons try to get in all the time.
In recent years, union wages have increased labor costs in any manufacturing. Additional taxes including 70 cents a bushel on wheat are steep. Other requirements of the law include add ivies like bleach and vitamins. Required records take a lot of time.
As in all small businesses that must compete with automated plants, reports, labor costs, supplies and raw material are increasing problems. In 1966 the mill ceased operation.
It is still beautiful and is the last water-powered mill in the county.
-Reprint from County Roads-
Town founder Slain by Indians
Samuel Kercheval�s �History of the Valley of Virginia� describes the chilling detain the Indian slaying of former Williamsport resident Vincent Williams.
�Hearing of the approach of the Indians, he repaired with his neighbors to Fort Pleasant for security. After remaining here a few days, supposing their homes might be revisited with safety, Mr. Williams and seven others crossed the mountain for the purpose. They separated on reaching the creek (Patterson); and Mr. Williams went alone to his farm. Having tied his horse to a bush, he commenced salting his cattle, when seven Indians got between him and his horse, and demanded his surrender. Mr. Williams answered by a ball from his rifle, which killed one of the Indians, then retreated to his house, barricaded the door, and put his enemy at defiance. They fired at him at random through the door and windows, until the latter were filled with shot holes. For greater security, Mr. Williams got behind a hommony block in a corner, for which we would fire at his assailants through the cracks of the building, as opportunity offered. In this way he killed five out of the seven. The two remaining, resolved not to give up their prey, found it necessary to proceed more cautiously; and going to the least exposed side of the house, one was raised upon the shoulders of the other to an opening in the logs some distance above the level of Mr. Williams, who did not consequently observe the maneuver from which he fired, and shot Mr. Williams dead. The body was instantly quartered, and hung to the four corners of the building, and the head stuck upon a fence stake in front of the door. This brave man was the father of the venerable Edward Williams, the clerk of Hardy County court until the election in 1830 under the new constitution, when his advanced age compelled him to decline being a candidate.�
Grandson Skidmore Smith who married Susan Carr came to the farm now owned by Lottie Weimer, from Smith Mountain in Pendleton County between 1868 and 1870.
The house was built about 1890. He owned a large tract of land around the area. He was a minister, merchant, farmer and stockman.
Jefferson Scolds Disobedient Residents
(By Harold Garber)
Richmond, April 27th 1781
Old Garrett Van Meter (Van Meter of the old Fields vicinity was serving as the county lieutenant of Hampshire County. Keep in mind that this still some five years before the formation of Hardy County, and some 85 years before Grant County�s separation).
Sir:
I have directed Mr. Woodrow to furnish Money for the Bounty of the New Levies out of what was put into his hands for the removal of our Militia to Pittsburg. (Mr. Woodrow as at the time serving as a quartermaster of the Hampshire militia).
I am sorry such a Spirit of disobedience has shown itself in your County. It must be subdued. Laws made by common Consent must not be trampled on by individuals. It is very much the interest of the good to force the unworthy into their due share of Contributions to the Public Support, otherwise the burden on them will become oppressive indeed. We have no poser by the law of raising Calvary in the Counties generally, but on some similar Occasions we have recommended to the County Lieutenants who have the poser of forming their Militia Companies as they please to form into one Company such individuals of their Militia s will engage to mount and equip themselves and to serve as mounted infantry, & we give Commissions to the Officers in the ordinary stile. These may be used as effectually as Cavalry 7 men on horseback have been found the most certain instrument of public punishment.
Editor�s note: From earliest settlement of our area, it appears that Valley residents felt warfare As a matter of course should be fought from horseback. Distances were great between settlements in this sparsely populated area. As in the West in later generations, a man�s best friend was his horse. When wars occurred, infantry action was distasteful. This intense desire to be a "mounted� unit is clear here. Keep ever in mind that our most famous units of the Civil war eighty years later were still mounted�McNeill Rangers and companies under A. S. Scott, George Sheets, George Stump and William Harness.
(For the remainder of the letter, Jefferson becomes almost �cloak and dagger� in his enforcement techniques).
Their best way to perhaps is not to go against the mutineers when embodied which would bring on perhaps an open Rebellion or bloodshed most certainly but when they shall have dispersed to go and take time out of their Beds, singly and without Noise, or if they be not found the first time to go again 7 again so that they may never be able to remain in quiet at home. This is what I must recommend to you and therefore furnish the Bearers with the Commissions as you desire.
If you find this Service considerable you will be Course give the Individuals Credit for it as a Tour of Duty
Thomas Jefferson
************************************************************************Beloved �Miss Ida� one of county�s most outstanding women
The history of our area is much more than a chronological compilation of events. Often the most vital and interesting side of history is people. We share a biographical sketch of a beloved local lady who was well known to our county natives, but unknown to many who have come to our community in the past 24 years.
The subject of our study is Ida Maybelle Judy, more commonly known as �Miss Ida� to most who knew her well. We are indebted to the local B.P. W. for this column, which is only one of several studies being prepared by members of the organization as a bicentennial project. Nothing could be more appropriate than for this fine organization to highlight the careers and contributions of the women to the history and progress of Grant County. The author of this particular section is Mrs. Gail Snyder. As one who respects both careful research and good composition, we are indebted to both Mrs. Snyder and the Business and Professional Women for their permission to publish the sketch in its entirely.
�Ida Maybelle Judy was born in Grant County near Pansy, West Virginia on June 19th 1872. As a young child she had both the advantages and disadvantages of most other young children in those days. She attended a little log school near her home and chose as a close friend a girl named Myrtle Sites. Myrtle was a radiant Christian and the two became fond of each other and spent many happy hours together. Unfortunately Myrtle had poor health and died while still in her teens, but she had already influenced the spiritual bent of her friend Ida Judy. It was about this time that someone asked her what she would like to do in life. She replied, �If I were a man I would like to become a minister.� This person said, �You may be a minister, even though not a man.�
Ida took this seriously and went on to school. She went to Fairmont Normal, Shenandoah College and Bridgewater College receiving her degree from the latter institution. She attended Moody bible Institute and graduated from Moody, part of the requirements being personal work in slums, jails and city missions. She once said you had to have a consecrated nose to go into some of the places she visited as a Moody student. This was about the time that the world evangelist was on everybody�s mind and Moody Institute was quite new.
She was ordained in 1901 and was first assigned to Franklin charge. This also included the charge of Upper Tract. She later was assigned to t church at Westernport. While there she was burdened about the need for systematic Bible study and offered to establish a course in Shenandoah for not much more than the cost of her board. During the 14 years she was on the Shenandoah Faculty she taught Bible to scores of young preachers of United Brethren, Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and other denominations as well as several E. U. B. Conferences. At least one of her students became a Bishop and perhaps more. Many became trustees of our colleges. She declined marriage in order that she might give herself wholly to the cause to which her life was dedicated.
During and after her work as Bible teacher at Shenandoah she served briefly as pastor of the United Brethren Church in Dayton, Virginia. From 1927-1928 she served as pastor to Bayard. During her ministry there the church grew to its peak in attendance. From 1928-1932 she was pastor to the United Brethren Church in Petersburg. She nearly always recited her scripture and had an unusual memory for most of the Bible. She once said that Ecclesiastes was the only book in the Bible that she couldn�t memorize without some help. She kept this motto in her classroom: �few people die from overwork, It�s what we do when we don�t work that hurts us.�
She was not without some homemaking. Before going to Bayard where she knew the weather was cold, she pieced and knotted a comfort. She loved antiques, and collected and sold many. She took care of her mother until her death. Her brother E. L. had been working on a Grant County history for years so in her last years she helped him to complete it. She wrote several books of which were Soul, My Home Town, John Champ, and some briefer booklets��Kingsley Funk Student�, Highways and By ways of life�, Outline of Bible Course? And �The Red Fox.�
She ministered in various ways to the poor and underprivileged, conducted services at the jail and visited poor houses, holding services there and at least to one penitentiary at Moundsville.
Her favorite Bible verse was, �Acknowledge Him in all thy ways and He shall direct thy paths.� When visiting schools she often said � II timothy 2:15 and expected a reply from the children.
�Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman needeth not to be ashamed rightly divideth the word of truth.�
She was writing a book at the time of her death, which was never completed.
On January 8th 1952, she passed away after a short illness and is buried in the cemetery of Petersburg.
As we reflect on the foregoing account of nearly 80 years devoted in service to others, it seems appropriate to mention that Ida Judy demonstrated many of the traits that have made America great. We would almost guarantee that this noble lady had little to say about the equality of opportunity for women, but in her quiet but determined way she made many inroads into areas generally considered almost exclusively in the male domain.
First, in education she forged her way for beyond the level usually deemed appropriate for women. Secondly, equipped with her training she entered upon a career of service in the ministry. Even today this field lacks appropriate participation by women, but Miss Ida knew she had a contribution to make a pastoral service and she devoted many years of her life to it unhesitatingly.
Thirdly, her years as a college teacher, especially in the religious field, once again made her a pioneering spirit. Many Deans and Boards of Trustees would have been wary of such an innovation. It is to the credit of some of the leaders of her own denomination that Ida Judy was given the chance to mold minds and lives in Christian education.
________Mrs. Gail Snyder
The Manor One of County�s Most Historical Homes
THE MANOR a spacious complex containing some 30 buildings besides the main residence was recently selected for listing in the prestigious National Register of Historical Places. Owned and renovated by Mr. and Mrs. Roswell Alt. The Manor is located off of Rt. 42 north of Petersburg.
The Manor owned by Betty and Roswell Alt, has been selected for listing in the National Register of Historical Places, becoming Grant County�s second inclusion on the prestigious list. The Noah Snyder farm in Lahmansville qualified last year.
The National Register is the official list of the nation�s cultural resources worthy of preservation. The Manor, in making the elite list, was first nominated by a State Review Board whose membership included professionals in the fields of architecture, archaeology, history and other disciplines.
Once nominated, the sprawling farm complex located just north of Petersburg off of W. Va. 412 came under review and was approved by the National Park Service.
Although containing some 30 individual buildings. �The Manor� is the name chosen by the Alts to refer to the main home. Actually, all the land in this area was referred to as the South Branch Manor by Thomas Lord Fairfax who owned some six million acres in colonial Virginia.
Much of the land through the Potomac Valley was willed to Lord Fairfax� cousin, Denny Fairfax, upon the former�s death in the latter part of the eighteenth century. In 1794, Denny Fairfax conveyed several tracts of the property containing 54, 596 acres to John Marshall of Richmond, Va. (this is the same Marshall that became one of the nation�s outstanding Chief Justices of the Supreme Court.)
Marshall, in turn, conveyed several tracts of the property in the vicinity of Petersburg to Jesse Welton in 1801. Descendants of the Welton family retained the property until 1819 when it was sold to Peter Hutton. Hutton built the home now known as the Manor in 1830 for his son, Jesse. The Hutton family remained in possession of the property until 1910.
Since that time, The Manor has passed hands five times. The past owners included: Jacob P. Shobe, C. C. Martin, G. E. Layton, W. R. Ervin and K. Reid Dolly.
During the Civil War, one of the barns near the house was burned, as Jesse Hutton was a Southern sympathizer and slaveholder. Federal troops, garrisoned on Fort Hill (present site of the Memorial Hospital) frequently took pot shots at the Hutton residence. Mr. Alt has a hefty collection of mini-balls as souvenirs.
The Manor was a veritable small community where virtually every commodity of the day was manufactured on the farm�which accounts for the 30 buildings. Some of the single-=purpose dwellings include a carpenter�s shop, root cellar, still, tobacco house, cobbler shop, slave quarters, broom house, butcher shed, meat house, kitchen hose (where meals were prepared). Washhouse, grainery, sugar cabin and blacksmith shop.
All the buildings, both inside and out have been preserved just as they were over a hundred years ago. Most of the original implements remain that were utilized in the various activities.
The house remains a model of yesteryear with practically everything in its confines dating from the 1790-1830 period. The home is of red brick manufactured on the site.
Over 20 fireplaces are scattered throughout the complex with the butcher shed sporting a mammoth yawning of 10 feet in width.
On a knoll overlooking The Manor lays the family cemetery. Dating back to 1818, most of the tombstones inscriptions bear the names of Hutton and Welton. Slaves ere reputedly buried outside the cemetery�s wrought iron fence on the hillside but no markers remain as proof
Yesteryear in Grant County
Overeating fatal to cow
A fine Jersey cow belonging to J. N. McMullan died Wednesday from eating too much chop, which she got to by the door being left open accidentally.
January 15, 1897 Grant County Press
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Presbyterian Church Burned, Baker Building Harbor Deserters During the Civil War
The A. J. Welton Home
Pressed into service as a hospital during the War between the Stated, it continued its courtship with the medical profession by housing the Veach-Townsend Clinic.
Many of the present �day citizens in this section of the state of West Virginia do not realize the part played by this section in the War between the States. Most of the people in Petersburg are aware that there are a few things to remind them of the American conflict. A large percentage of the residents have made at least one visit to the embankments on Fort Hill, and the oldest residents have picked up mini balls as a reminder that war is always deadly.
The older element of our population is also aware that the Baker building at the corner of Virginia Avenue and Main Street was used to harbor deserters from the Rebel Army who were heading north. The handwriting on the wall that was scribbled by some of these soldiers is still legible and intact.
A third item that the elder residents recall when the Civil War is mentioned is the burning of the Presbyterian Church by the Federal troops. The church was then located in the present-day maple Hill cemetery. As associated item that brings that war closer to those of the present-day is a document concerning the old Presbyterian Church.
Such facts at the above can be gained by talking with the older residents or by visiting the places in question. However, there are many facts that even the older residents are not aware of. Such facts should be searched for and brought to light.
One of these facts is the part that Petersburg played in the Jones-Imboden Raid. This raid was one of the boldest and strongest in the history of the Confederacy. The air of the raid was simple; but the way was hard. The aim was to destroy all the bridges and tressles on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, from Oakland to Grafton, to defeat and capture Union forces at Beverly, Philippi and Buckhannon; and to overthrow the re-organized government of the, what was to be, State of West Virginia, with its center at Wheeling.
This plan was thought up by Brigadier General John D. Imboden. He thought that the audacity of this plan might enable the Confederacy to hold northwestern Virginia permanently.
Imboden was to take his troops in one direction; Brigadier General William E. Jones was to move his troops along another route. It is with Jones� troops that we are particularly concerned.
The time to leave for the raid was set for April 15, 1863. Jones waited at New Market, Va. Because of a threatened approach by the Federal troops, the raid was postponed until April 21. On that day Jones began to move, having already come to Harrisonburg on April 18. Only the higher officers knew where they were going or what they were going to do. It was not until they reached Lost River Valley that the directions of the raid was given.
During all of April 22 the rains came in torrents, and the roads became almost impassable. Due to these inconveniences, the troops did not reach Moorefield until Thursday, April 23�very late in the afternoon. They had planned to cross the South branch at this point but the river was too high. When they awoke the next morning the South Branch was out of its banks. The Confederates were fearful lest they must stay in Moorefield too long and lose the initiative of the raid; therefore, they decided to try to cross upstream.
All of the artillery and foot soldiers were sent back to the Shenandoah Valley, and the cavalry moved to Petersburg. The river here was high but the decision was made to cross. Because of the swiftness of the water, one man and several of the horses were lost.
After leaving Petersburg the cavalry met a hard fight with the Federal troops at Greenland Gap. After a conflict, however, the men under the command of Jones were able to continue their climbing of the Alleghenies. They marched all night and reached the North Branch of the Potomac the next morning.
This was but the route to the raid itself, since no contact had been made with the B&O. the rest of the raid, however, interesting as it may be to students of history, does not again touch this immediate section. The story of the entire raid is too long to be recounted here. It might be of interest to note, however, that because of this raid, cavalry became the chief unit to defense for the first time; and also that after this occurrence, the new state of West Virginia (which became a state two months after the beginning of the raid) was never subjected to an over all confederate invasion.