General John Imboden

[gjpratt]

I am looking for advice on two relatively recent biographies of John Imboden. Is one significantly better? do they complement each other? Strengths, weaknesses, etc.

Defender of the Valley, by Harold R. Woodward, Jr. (1996)
Brigadier General John Imboden: Confederate Commander in the Shenandoah, by Spencer C. Tucker (2002)

And while I am at it, is there any book devoted to the Jones/Imboden raid of WV in 1863 besides Darrell Collins work published in 2007? The best account I have read so far is in James G. Ballard's 2017 biography of Grumble Jones but its emphasis is on Jones' part.

 

[Pollaco]

Just guessing but Imboden may have written about himself in the "Century Magazine's Battles and Leaders" series. He wrote several articles for them after the war.

 

[W Charles Young]

Deleted

 

[DaveBrt]

I am looking for advice on two relatively recent biographies of John Imboden. Is one significantly better? do they complement each other? Strengths, weaknesses, etc.

Defender of the Valley, by Harold R. Woodward, Jr. (1996)
Brigadier General John Imboden: Confederate Commander in the Shenandoah, by Spencer C. Tucker (2002)

And while I am at it, is there any book devoted to the Jones/Imboden raid of WV in 1863 besides Darrell Collins work published in 2007? The best account I have read so far is in James G. Ballard's 2017 biography of Grumble Jones but its emphasis is on Jones' part.

Tucker proved that he was a lazy researcher who jumped to conclusions (wrong ones) rather than finish his research.

Jackson captured the Virginia section of the B&O RR in June 1861. Part of his haul was 70 locomotives and some 300 cars. Richmond later sent QM Agent Thomas R. Sharp (later Capt., QM, CSA) to haul some of this rolling stock south, over country roads, pulled by teams of up to 40 horses, to put them on the Manassas Gap RR for Confederate use. Because of people like Tucker, I wrote the book (Locomotives Up the Turnpike, available from me for $25, post paid).

I quote from my book:
"Spencer Tucker's 2003 Brigadier General James D. Imboden: Confederate Commander in the Shenandoah attacks the story head-on, attempting to debunk the story by pointing out that everything we know about the incident comes from a mention by Imboden in an article he wrote for the Century Magazine. Readers will find Imboden's description of the story in the book published from the Century articles–Battles & Leaders of the Civil War, Volume I, p. 122. Tucker boldly states that there is very little evidence that the event ever happened. He claims that there are no official documents from either the Union or the Confederate side that refer to the event. Further, the records of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad do not indicate such happened and not a single newspaper in the South reported this important Southern "victory." He claimed that it was not mentioned in any diaries, memories or letters surviving from the period: It is difficult to see what motive Imboden might have had for conjuring up this story … but there is simply no proof of the event having transpired."

On my web site are transcriptions of 523 of those documents that provide the proof that Tucker says does not exist. These are 13 OR documents, 378 documents from the National Archives, 6 from diaries of people who saw or participated in the Haul, 49 from Confederate newspapers, 40 from Union newspapers, 9 from B&O documents (including their annual reports), 7 from Tredegar records, 1 each from the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR, Virginia Central RR, the Confederate Railroad Bureau archives, an entry in Dabney's bio of Jackson (c 1864), an entry in Joe Johnston's memoirs, and 18 other sources -- all but 7 were published/created during the war.

I would not trust anything that Tucker wrote.

 

[gjpratt]

Thank you for this valuable insight @DaveBrt Just the sort I was hoping to receive.

 

[W Charles Young]

I wrote the book (Locomotives Up the Turnpike, available from me for $25, post paid).

So how do I get a copy of your book? Very interested.

 

[DaveBrt]

So how do I get a copy of your book? Very interested.

PM me please.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Thought John Imboden experienced limited success commanding an irregular mounted brigade during the war.

Although Imboden had no formal military training, in early '63 he was promoted to B-G and thereafter commanded a brigade of irregular cavalry.

In April-May, he led a joint mounted raid with 'Grumble' Jones into western Virginia and captured a large quantity of horses and livestock.

During the Gettysburg Campaign, Imboden's brigade performed largely guard and escort duties in the rear. Imboden earned Lee's praise during the Confederate retreat, by organizing a successful defense of a wagon train against Union cavalry attacks.

Imboden's brigade would carry out further raids into West Virginia culminating in a successful small scale engagement at Charles Town near the end of '63.

At the Battle of New Market (May 15, '64), Imboden commanded an unattached cavalry brigade as part of Breckinridge's small makeshift division that defeated a significantly larger Federal force led by Franz Sigel.

Notably (I thought), when Imboden and his brigade were assigned to the cavalry division of Early's Second Corps during the Valley Campaigns of '64, thought Early made some interesting assertions about Imboden and his command over this period. Typically perhaps, Early griped with Imboden. He constantly complained, much to Imboden's resentment, that the latter's irregular brigade was inefficient, disorganized, undisciplined and unreliable. The dispute almost led to the convening of a court of inquiry, but Lee intervened to settle tensions beforehand. Towards the end of this campaign, Imboden became ill with typhoid fever and he left active cavalry service, never to return to any field command. (Imboden would subsequently head a series of prison camps in the deep South throughout 1865 until the end of the war.)

After reviewing his field history, and being inclined to accept Early's claims, thought Imboden was a mediocre performing irregular cavalry commander of limited leadership ability. Am somewhat surprised that Imboden's record could inspire at least two recent biographies.

 

[ETNConfederate]

Early's cavalry was, in terms of both geography and quality, in the middle. Neither the "beau sabreur" like Stuart in the East, nor "put the skeer on 'em and keep 'em skeert" like the force of nature men call Bedford Forrest on the Mississippi and West Tennessee prairie.

I often wonder why it never occurred to Valley cavalry to follow the Forrest model, dump the cavalry tactics manuals, and just use the horses for transportation to battle...

 

[Choatecav]

A few years back, some friends and I flew up to the area to tour some of the lesser discussed engagements. One of our tour guides, Steve French, had written a book in 2008, "Imboden's Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign." I picked up a copy and was very pleased with the info contained and detailed descriptions.
Have you read it?

 

[gjpratt]

A few years back, some friends and I flew up to the area to tour some of the lesser discussed engagements. One of our tour guides, Steve French, had written a book in 2008, "Imboden's Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign." I picked up a copy and was very pleased with the info contained and detailed descriptions.
Have you read it?

It's now on my list. Thanks for the tip.

 

[LCYingling3rd]

Tucker proved that he was a lazy researcher who jumped to conclusions (wrong ones) rather than finish his research.

Jackson captured the Virginia section of the B&O RR in June 1861. Part of his haul was 70 locomotives and some 300 cars. Richmond later sent QM Agent Thomas R. Sharp (later Capt., QM, CSA) to haul some of this rolling stock south, over country roads, pulled by teams of up to 40 horses, to put them on the Manassas Gap RR for Confederate use. Because of people like Tucker, I wrote the book (Locomotives Up the Turnpike, available from me for $25, post paid).

I quote from my book:
"Spencer Tucker's 2003 Brigadier General James D. Imboden: Confederate Commander in the Shenandoah attacks the story head-on, attempting to debunk the story by pointing out that everything we know about the incident comes from a mention by Imboden in an article he wrote for the Century Magazine. Readers will find Imboden's description of the story in the book published from the Century articles–Battles & Leaders of the Civil War, Volume I, p. 122. Tucker boldly states that there is very little evidence that the event ever happened. He claims that there are no official documents from either the Union or the Confederate side that refer to the event. Further, the records of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad do not indicate such happened and not a single newspaper in the South reported this important Southern "victory." He claimed that it was not mentioned in any diaries, memories or letters surviving from the period: It is difficult to see what motive Imboden might have had for conjuring up this story … but there is simply no proof of the event having transpired."

On my web site are transcriptions of 523 of those documents that provide the proof that Tucker says does not exist. These are 13 OR documents, 378 documents from the National Archives, 6 from diaries of people who saw or participated in the Haul, 49 from Confederate newspapers, 40 from Union newspapers, 9 from B&O documents (including their annual reports), 7 from Tredegar records, 1 each from the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac RR, Virginia Central RR, the Confederate Railroad Bureau archives, an entry in Dabney's bio of Jackson (c 1864), an entry in Joe Johnston's memoirs, and 18 other sources -- all but 7 were published/created during the war.

I would not trust anything that Tucker wrote.

I really enjoyed your book! I was born in Baltimore and got interested in the B&O there. My mother was from Martinsburg, WV and I toured both Roundhouses there (As you know, one burned down in 1990 and there is an effort to preserve what remains). Your research was wonderful and you told the story extremely well!! Thank you for putting all questions about the incident to bed!

 

[LCYingling3rd]

deleted

 

[LCYingling3rd]

I am looking for advice on two relatively recent biographies of John Imboden. Is one significantly better? do they complement each other? Strengths, weaknesses, etc.

Defender of the Valley, by Harold R. Woodward, Jr. (1996)
Brigadier General John Imboden: Confederate Commander in the Shenandoah, by Spencer C. Tucker (2002)

And while I am at it, is there any book devoted to the Jones/Imboden raid of WV in 1863 besides Darrell Collins work published in 2007? The best account I have read so far is in James G. Ballard's 2017 biography of Grumble Jones but its emphasis is on Jones' part.

Hello, I don't have anything specific on Imboden or the "Jones/Imboden Raid" for you. I do know that Steve French wrote, "Imboden's Brigade in the Gettysburg Campaign" and he could be a resource for you.

John Imboden was from Staunton, VA and when Ed Ayers was teaching at the University of Virginia he directed the development of the online digital resource called "The Valley of the Shadow" focusing on the histories of Staunton and Chambersburg, PA. The site is loaded with letters, diaries, newspaper reports and all sorts of other records. Imboden's early history is in there. It could be a resource for you?

The Valley of the Shadow

Explore the lives of people swept up in the great American dramas of slavery, war, and emancipation. The two communities, one in the North and one in the South, experienced every national challenge from secession through Reconstruction during the era of the American Civil War.

valley.newamericanhistory.org

It is a fun site to explore. I has a lot of records in one place.

 

[gjpratt]

Great tip! Thank you @LCYingling3rd

You may remember I have a relative who was very close to one of Imboden's younger brothers and was an officer in the 18th VA of Imboden's regiment.

It's now on my list. Thanks for the tip.

It's Friday and I couldn't resist. Book ordered from ABE and on its way to me. Thanks again.

 

[elmira64]

As noted above Steve French's book is very informative. He also authored a 64 page monograph.
The Jones-Imboden Raid Against the B & O Railroad at Rowelsburg, Virginia April 1863.
I believe it is still available at The Blue and Grey Education Society.
My avatar is the flag of Co. H 18th Regiment Virginia Cavalry / Imboden's Brigade.
Three of my 4th g.granduncles originally enlisted in Co. D 62nd Regiment Virginia Mounted Infantry.
A portion of the 62nd later formed the 18th, the brothers were all members of Co. H.

 

[gjpratt]

As noted above Steve French's book is very informative. He also authored a 64 page monograph.
The Jones-Imboden Raid Against the B & O Railroad at Rowelsburg, Virginia April 1863.
I believe it is still available at The Blue and Grey Education Society.
My avatar is the flag of Co. H 18th Regiment Virginia Cavalry / Imboden's Brigade.
Three of my 4th g.granduncles originally enlisted in Co. D 62nd Regiment Virginia Mounted Infantry.
A portion of the 62nd later formed the 18th, the brothers were all members of Co. H.

We are off and running! My relative is G. Julian Pratt, Lieutenant, Co. H, 18th Virginia Cavalry. He became captain when Frank Imboden, his messmate, was captured between the fences at Bonnie Doone during the Battle of Piedmont. My avatar is his post-war home in Waynesboro.

 

[gjpratt]

P.S. I think the flag came from Capt. Pratt.

 

[elmira64]

P.S. I think the flag came from Capt. Pratt.

Indeed it did. You may find this interesting. A claim generated by G.Julian Pratt on behalf of my
g.uncle Hezekiah Williams, for a horse kia near Bunker Hill. Note location is listed as Virginia.
West Virginia was not recognized by the Confederacy. I read somewhere that after the war, Gen.
Imboden claimed Co.H was one of the best companies in the regiment.
Happy to make your acquaintance.

 

[Elliot Crumblemuffin]

I'm really enjoying the discussion and book recommendations regarding General Imboden . I always thought he had a very tough job withdrawing the wagons and troops from Gettysburg , and he did a pretty good job (IMHO, of course). I admire him for that. I wouldn't want that stress