Also known as: Harpers Ferry Armory.
| Location | Harpers Ferry, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Role | National armory for shoulder arms |
| Fate | Burned in April 1861; machinery moved to Confederate use |
The lost armory
The Harpers Ferry Armory, at the junction of the Potomac and Shenandoah, was the second of the two United States national armories and, with Springfield, a principal maker of the nation's shoulder arms. Its position on the border made it an early casualty of the war.
As Virginia seceded in April 1861 the retreating Federal garrison set fire to the works, but much of the arms-making machinery was salvaged and carried south, where it helped equip Confederate armories at Richmond and Fayetteville.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- CivilWarArtillery.com research archive: manufacturer and arsenal references, manuals, and reports.