To Arms! To Arms!! Brave Men of the West!!...Avenge the Insulted Honor of Western Virginia...an Army Will Follow. Headquarters, Va. Forces, Staunton, [Virginia], 7 June 1861. 8 x 9 5/8 in. letterpress broadside. Signed in type by Major Commanding, M.G. Harman. Parrish & Willingham 4665.

An exceedingly scarce and very early Confederate recruitment broadside issued in the hotly divided territory of western Virginia. This example is signed in type by Major Michael G. Harman (1823-1877, alt. Harmon), who, before the war, owned an inn and operated a stageline in Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia, where he lived with his wife Caroline Stevenson Harman (1825-1903). At the outbreak of the war in April 1861, Harmon was appointed major and quartermaster for Staunton in the Confederate forces. It was in this position that he issued the broadside offered here, and at least four other variants issued between May 30th and June 7th (as identified by Parrish & Willingham: 4661, 4662, 4664, 4666). The variants slightly change the exhortation and who exactly is addressed, sometimes specifying men of nearby towns and counties. Two variants (both held by the Library of Congress), emphasize the issue of slavery: "Men of Virginia, to the rescue! Your soil has been invaded by your abolition foes...".

Although Staunton had a pro-Union newspaper (The Staunton Spectator), only 6 citizens voted against secession.

Major Harman's early and aggressive recruiting led to the organization of the 52nd Virginia Infantry, of which he was appointed lieutenant colonel. The regiment was assigned to General Early's Brigade, and by next spring Harman was elected colonel. The 52nd Virginia was hard fought through Jackson's Valley Campaign, especially at Antietam (Sharpsburg), where Colonel Harman commanded the regiment. Harman was listed as absent from October 1862, due to a wound received during the Battle of McDowell (Sitlington's HIll) earlier in May, missing the Battle of Fredericksburg. Although he returned in April 1863, he was forced to resign on 6 June 1863 due to disability. His regiment saw heavy action throughout the rest of the war including the Second Battle of Winchester, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, Third Winchester, the Siege of Petersburg, ultimately surrendering at Appomattox Court House.

Exceeding scarce example with only two known copies, held at the National Archives and the University of Virginia (Broadside 1861.V58). The other variations also remain scarce. Records indicate that no copies have ever sold at auction.

Condition: some losses to corners, slight separations along old folds.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Broadsides, Printing, Prints, Documents, Ephemera]