Staunton Spectator

By the order of Maj. Gen. Lee, Maj. M. G. Harman, Commandant of this post, called into the service of the State the whole of the militia of Staunton, comprised in the Companies A and B. These Companies were received into the service of the State on Saturday last, and on Monday (yesterday) they proceeded to the election of the Officers, which resulted as follows:

In Company A,--Philip H. Trout, Captain; Moses Strickler, 1st Lieutenant; and Thomas P. Peyton, 2nd Lieutenant.

In Company B,--Rev. George B. Taylor, Captain; Hugh Connell, 1st Lieutenant; and James W. Crawford, 2nd Lieutenant.

The following are the non-commissioned officers of Company A.

Rich. Mauzy, Sr. Lieut.; George Harlan, 1st Sergeant; D. G. McGuffin, 2nd Sergt; Addison Fisher, 3rd Sergt; John Baum, 4th Sergt; L.B. Waller, 5th Sergt; Jno. B. Hoge, 1st Corporal; Yeizer Bickle, 2nd; Alex. Lobe, 3rd; Edwin Edmondson, 4th.

This call upon the militia of this place has created a great deal of excitement, as the citizens have been unable to see that there is any emergency demanding it. They think that there was no necessity for such a proceeding as that of calling out the militia en masse, and that it discriminates unjustly against the interests of this town which has already, with a population of 8000, sent three Companies into the service. They are not disinclined to do their duty, but demand that even-handed justice should be meted out to them.

We think that, as the chief purpose of calling out the militia of this place seems to be to guard the public stores and arms at this post, the militias of Companies A and B may console themselves with the hope that they will not be called into the field except in the event of some pressing necessity--in which event, no one would desire to remain at home.

Camp 3rd Brigade C.S.A.

Winchester, June 29, 1861

Mr. Editor:--A painful accident occurred in my Company last evening , which will naturally excite inquiry amongst our friends at home. I therefore will state the facts for the information of all who may feel interested.

The limber boxes of our guns have been filled with fixed ammunition for several weeks, carefully packed in tow. The priming tubes for firing the guns, filled with fulminating powder, are carried in a tray in the top of the box. By some means one of these tubes must have worked through an air-hole provided in the bottom of the tray, and lodged amongst the ammunition in the box below, where, I think, by the motion of the carriage on the field, it was ignited by friction and set fire to the tow packed in one end of the limber box containing 25 rounds of ammunition. We were drilling as usual last evening, and just as two of the guns were wheeling into battery out of a trot, the limber box of gun No. 4 exploded. There were thirty odd pounds of powder in it, tearing it to atoms, and throwing the fragments of wood and iron in every direction, some a hundred feet in the air. The cannoneers were all around the gun at the moment, and were nearly all thrown some distance upon the ground and against a fence. None were seriously hurt except gunner Samuel H. Coleman, who was nearest to the box, and was struck in the forehead by a fragment, which fractured his skull above the left eye, and produced a severe contusion on the other brow. Sam'l Clarke, James Teabo, Jos. Sharpe and Henry Thise were scorched in the face but not seriously, and Clarke had his left arm scorched about the elbow. It is miraculous that they were all not instantly killed. As it was, poor Coleman was the only serious sufferer. His injuries are very great--perhaps fatal, though he is perfectly rational, free from fever and comparatively comfortable this morning.

The explosion was purely accidental, and unaccountable by any other hypothesis than that I have given above.

The wheel horses were considerably burnt. Sandy Peace, the wheel drive, had all the hair on the back of his head singed off and his shirt blown to pieces, but was not hurt. Wm. Taylor was by Coleman's side, and was thrown with great violence against the fence and had his cap entirely carried away, but is not hurt. The burnt men will all be well in a few days. Coleman, if he survives, will be confined a long time.

This is the first serious casualty that has occurred in my command, and that has thrown a gloom over us all. No possible blame can attach to any one. A number of us, including Lieut. Balthis and myself, were within 20 steps, and amongst the flying fragments which fortunately missed us all. One ball flew across the entire battery to the other side of the field. We would all rather take the chances of a five hours' battle than of another such explosion. The damage to the gun will be repaired today.

In closing, I will take this first public of saying, as an act of justice to my boys, that a better company of men is no where to be found in the army . They have at all times behaved like gentlemen, and worked like horses. We have had a great deal of hard service, and I have yet to hear the first murmur of dissatisfaction. Such men, when the battle comes, I am sure, will "hurt" somebody or die in the effort.

J.D. Imboden, Capt.

Staunton Artillery