October 7, 1862
Rowlesburg, Va., Oct. 6, 1862.
Editors Intelligencer:
Last night we had our periodical scare. About 5 P. M. a small company of men discovered themselves on the mountain to the southward, and just after dark they commenced tampering with the pickets on the Tucker road. The alarm was given and everything seemed to promise fair for a fight.
Capt. Jarboe with his company and Lt. Carrico with a detachment of Capt. Hall's company were quickly on the ground and made diligent search but no enemy could be found. The villains were heard splashing through the river and by the bright moonlight were seen to disappear into the woods from the opposite bank. Of course pursuit was out of the question. No sane man would follow an enemy of unknown strength into such a jungle at midnight.
Rowlesburg is an important point. It is the Harper's Ferry of West Virginia.:The latter place is almost the exact physical prototype of the former. The river bridge and the trestles may well tempt the vandalism of the rebels for their loss would be almost irreparable. That they understand this is evident from their frequent attempts to destroy them.
Frank W. P.
Timeline of West Virginia: Civil War and Statehood: October 1862