on april 17, 1861, virginia seceded from the union. at this point the arsenal became a prime military target. the governor of virginia planned to take the valuable armory for the south. he knew that no southern arsenal could match the quality of the arms being produced at harpers ferry. he sent his militia to take the arsenal before the union army could send enough troops to hold it. when the virginia militia was four miles away, army lieutenant roger jones sent an urgent message to washington, dc explaining the danger they were in and to send them thousands of troops to defend harpers ferry. when he received no reply he decided he had to act. on the night of april 18, 1861, jones ordered his men to set fire to the arsenal and the over 15,000 muskets and all the ammunition stored there. then they quickly retreated across the bridge to maryland. but the approaching virginia militia put out the flames. they were able to save 4,000 muskets and all the machinery. the confederates held the armory for the next three months. during this time they transported the machinery to the confederate armory at fayetteville, north carolina. then the confederates set fire to the buildings when they retreated in july. the armory was destroyed and never rebuilt.