Alfred Madison Barbour

Alfred Madison Barbour (April 17, 1829 – April 4, 1866)  was a prominent American lawyer, delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention, and a major in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Barbour is best known for his role as Superintendent of the Harpers Ferry Armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia) during John Brown's raid.

Early life
Barbour was born on April 17, 1829 in Culpeper County, Virginia. He was the son of John S. Barbour, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 15th congressional district, and his wife Ella A. Byrne.

Barbour attended the University of Virginia and Harvard University's Harvard Law School.

Government service
Following his completion of law school, Barbour served as a pre-war legislator in Virginia. In January 1859, he was appointed as the Superintendent at the federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). He served there until 1861 and the beginning of the American Civil War. In October 1859, abolitionist John Brown raided the arsenal in order to steal weapons in an attempt to start an armed rebellion by slaves. The raid was successful in capturing the arsenal, but ultimately failed. Along with his brother James Barbour, Barbour was a delegate to the 1861 Virginia secession convention.

American Civil War
During the American Civil War, Barbour served in the Confederate States Army as a quartermaster. Barbour served as an aid to both Joseph E. Johnston and Leonidas Polk. As quartermaster, Barbour served in Montgomery, Alabama and Meridian, Mississippi. Jubal Anderson Early disliked Barbour, who termed him "not energetic or efficient."

Death
Alfred Madison Barbour died on April 4, 1866 in Montgomery, Alabama and was interred at Fairview Cemetery in Culpeper in Culpeper County, Virginia.