The former State, thus placed on the frontier and exposed to invasion,
began to prepare for a resolute defense. Volunteers were ordered to be
enrolled and held in readiness in every part of the State. Colonel
Robert E. Lee, having resigned his commission in the United States
cavalry, was on April 22d nominated and confirmed by the State
Convention of Virginia as "Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval
forces of the Commonwealth."
Already the Northern officer in charge had evacuated Harper's Ferry,
after having attempted to destroy the public buildings there. His report
says: "I gave the order to apply the torch. In three minutes or less,
both of the arsenal buildings, containing nearly fifteen thousand stand
of arms, together with the carpenter's shop, which was at the upper end
of a long and connected series of workshops of the armory proper, were
in a blaze. There is every reason for believing the destruction was
complete." Mr. Simon Cameron, the Secretary of War, on April 22d replied
to this report in these words: "I am directed by the President of the
United States to communicate to you, and through you to the officers and
men under your command at Harper's Ferry Armory, the approbation of the
Government of your and their judicious conduct there, and to tender you
and them the thanks of the Government for the same." At the same time
the ship-yard at Norfolk was abandoned after an attempt to destroy it.
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