User:GreenMeansGo/Martinsburg railway strike of 1877

July 18
On July 18 at 7:30 AM, the Matthew's light guards arrived in the city from Wheeling. They numbered 36 men and were commanded by Captain Miller. A crowd of several hundred met them at the station, including 200 to 300 strikers who filled the platform. Civil authorities and the military commanders met with officers of the rail company. The troops remained in the car for fear that their presence would heighten tensions, until 4:00 PM when they were marched to the courthouse where they were to quartered. Six leaders of the strikers met with Captain Miller in his quarters in one of the train cars, where he assured them his orders were to ensure that rail traffic resumed, and he intended to carry them out.

At 8:00 PM, the town counsel held a meeting and adopted a resolution calling on all citizens to maintain peace and order, and that all bars and saloon in the city were to be closed. At 11:00 PM, Acting Governor, Colonel Deiaplame received word that 120 men from Fort McHenry and another 270 troops from Washington DC, had been dispatched to Martinsburg.

July 19
The soldiers from Fort McHenry under the command of General French arrived at 6:30 AM. By 9:00 the soldiers were quartered and the city was quiet. Justice Wilen stepped before the crowd and read a proclamation:

"In the name of the laws of the State of West Virginia, all persons here present riotously, tumultiously and unlawfully assembled, immediately and peacefully to disperse to their habitations, or to their lawful habitations or residences upon all pains or penalties of the law."