Roeder's Store
A store in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, built in 1858 for Roeder, a confectioner who also owned the adjacent Whitehall Tavern. The graffiti has not been permanently uncovered; it was made temporarily visible and photographed and transcribed by the National Park Service.
"For two months, the boys of [72nd Pennsylvania Volunteers] Company G cooled their heels in the abandoned homes of Harpers Ferry. In Frederick A. Roeder's store on Potomac Street, 1st Lieutenant Victor Hagerman and eight of his enlisted men filled their empty hours by decorating the plaster walls. The firemen of Philadelphia left messages for the Confederacy.
Perhaps the most graphic drawn by Private Michael Smith showing the "last of Poor jeff Davis". Smith was 19 years old when he enrolled and listed his occupation as "Gentleman."
Lt. Hagerman, perhaps in honor of their French Zouave association. wrote after his name "de Maulhouse France, Mora aux truhels," roughly translated as, "of Maulhouse France, death to the [traitors?]." Someone among the group was an artist, gracing the second floor walls with portraits of a man and woman, Jeff Davis on a horse, and an elegant rendition of the American flag. Another simply wrote in large letters across the wall. "LEAP FROG LEAP TO HELL"
Other signers of the garret walls from Company C mcluded Private/Corporal Benjamin Harris, who declared ''Death to Traitors." Private James Dougherty, Private James Starr, Pnvate Samuel Floyd, Private James Breckenridge, Private Josiah Dicsey (listed as Isaiah Dixey in enrollment records) and Private John Henk."
