John D. Imboden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John D. Imboden
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John Daniel Imboden
photo taken in the 1860s |
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| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Augusta County district |
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| In office December 3, 1855 – December 6, 1857 |
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| Preceded by | Absalom Koiner |
| Succeeded by | J. Marshall McCue |
| Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Augusta County district |
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| In office December 2, 1850 – December 4, 1853 |
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| Preceded by | Hugh W. Sheffey |
| Succeeded by | James H. Skinner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 16, 1823 Staunton, Augusta County, Virginia |
| Died | August 15, 1895 (aged 72) Damascus, Washington County, Virginia |
| Resting place | Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Branch/service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
John Daniel Imboden (February 16, 1823 – August 15, 1895) was an American lawyer and politician. He served in the Virginia state government. During the American Civil War, he became a Confederate army general. He led a special cavalry group. After the war, he went back to being a lawyer. He also became a writer and helped develop land, even starting the town of Damascus, Virginia.
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Early Life and Education
John Imboden was born near Staunton, Virginia. This area is in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. His father, George William Imboden, was a farmer. John was one of eleven children. His father had fought in the War of 1812.
John went to a private school called Staunton Academy. Later, from 1841 to 1842, he attended Washington College. He also studied law on his own.
Becoming a Lawyer and Politician
After college, Imboden worked as a teacher. He taught at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind in Staunton. He then passed the bar exam and became a lawyer in Virginia. He started a law firm with William Frazier.
In the 1850s, John Imboden owned enslaved people. This was common in Virginia at that time. He owned four enslaved people in 1850 and seven by 1860.
Voters in Augusta County chose Imboden to represent them. He became a delegate in the House of Delegates in 1850. He served several terms, helping to make laws for Virginia.
Joining the Military
In 1859, a man named John Brown led a raid at Harpers Ferry. This event worried many people in Virginia. In response, Imboden helped create a local army group called the Staunton Light Artillery. He even used his own money to help fund it.
His younger brother, George W. Imboden, also joined this group. John Imboden became a captain in the Virginia State Militia. This was despite not having formal military training.
The Civil War Begins
When Virginia decided to leave the United States, John Imboden became involved. He attended a meeting to plan the capture of the U.S. Army arsenal at Harpers Ferry. Imboden's artillery group helped surround the arsenal. The U.S. soldiers there were greatly outnumbered. They set fire to their buildings and left.
On July 1, 1861, Imboden's artillery group officially joined the Confederate States Army. He fought in the First Battle of Bull Run. During this battle, a loud artillery shot damaged his left eardrum. This caused him to become deaf in that ear.
He also fought with General Stonewall Jackson in the Valley Campaign. These battles included Cross Keys and Port Republic.
Leading Partisan Rangers
In September 1862, Imboden left the artillery. He started a new group of special soldiers called "partisan rangers." He was promoted to colonel of the 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry. In January 1863, he became a brigadier general.
Imboden and another general, William E. "Grumble" Jones, led a raid. This was called the Jones-Imboden Raid. They rode into northwestern Virginia. They destroyed parts of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. They also captured many horses and cattle. They even damaged oil fields. This raid covered about 400 miles in 37 days. However, it did not stop West Virginia from becoming a separate state.
Gettysburg and Later Battles
During the Gettysburg Campaign, Imboden's soldiers guarded the supply trains. These trains carried ammunition and supplies for General Robert E. Lee's army. They stayed in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
After the Battle of Gettysburg, the Confederate army retreated. Imboden was in charge of escorting wagon trains. These wagons carried thousands of wounded soldiers back to Virginia. On July 6, 1863, heavy rain caused the Potomac River to flood. This trapped Imboden's wagon train near Williamsport, Maryland.
He quickly put together a defense force. This included an artillery group and wounded soldiers who could still use their guns. This brave group fought off attacks from Union cavalry. They saved the important wagon train. General Robert E. Lee praised Imboden for his actions.
Imboden continued to fight in the Shenandoah Valley. He led a raid on Charles Town, West Virginia, in October 1863. He also helped defeat Union forces at the Battle of New Market in May 1864.
Later in 1864, Imboden became very sick with typhoid fever. He had to leave active military service. In 1865, he was in charge of prison camps in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. He was released from service in May 1865.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, Imboden moved to Richmond, Virginia. He started working as a lawyer again. He later moved to Abingdon, Virginia.
John Imboden was also very interested in developing Virginia's natural resources. He wanted to mine coal and iron. He wrote a book about Virginia's coal and iron resources in 1872. He even founded the town of Damascus, Virginia. This town became a big center for lumber.
He also helped promote Virginia at big events. In 1876, he was a commissioner for the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia. In 1893, he was a commissioner for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Imboden helped start coal mining in Wise County, Virginia. He convinced investors to begin operations there. One of the coal towns in Wise County, Imboden, is named after him.
Death and Family
John Daniel Imboden passed away in Damascus in 1895. He is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia. This cemetery has a special section for generals.
Imboden was married five times during his life. He had nine children in total. Five of his children were still alive when he died. His first wife was Eliza "Dice" Allen McCue. They built a house in Staunton called "Ingleside Cottage."
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