Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-08-28
Whole No. 69f.

their own friends--all which trouble he mighs
have saved himself IL he pleased, by remount-
ing his horse, and dispensing the mob which
fed at his first approach.
This state of things continued till about six
o'clock, A. NJ when Mr.. johnson, the mavor.
arrived from the country whittier messenrers
had been dispatched for him by those out Of
the house, and Brigadier General Stricken.
who commands the militia of the town, app
pcared before the door and commenced par
ley with the party within. Being admitted
into the house, they represented to the party
defending, the irritation which prevailed in
the town, the evaporation Of the public mind.
and the impossibility Of maintaining the de.
fence against the force which would soon come
In aid Of the attack. The mayor asked for
and addressed Mr. Hanson, with warmth and
great agitation. Spoke Of civil war, saying
sre are impressed NTH the belief that a cirI
scar is inepitable, and 4 consider this par
ty thing, and the commencement Of IL. lie
complained also of the governments being
implicated in the dispute between parties and
the paper, and added such opposition must
or will be noticed. To all which Mr. Hanson
replied that he would not enter into political
dispute with the mayor, that he had right
to defend his house which was his castle, and
competent to the protection Of both, that it
was the mayors duty to dispense the mob
The mayor and general Stricken then declared
their own inability to project the party in the
house while there, and proposed that thcy
should surrender themselves into the hands Of
the civil authority, and be taken to the public
Jail as place Of safety, promising an effec-
tual escort on the way, to be composed Of
Mr.. Hansons own friends, in town If he pleas
ed, and also an effectual guard at the jail till
they could be released on bail.
To this many of the party, particularly Mr..
Hanson, strongly objected. He was indig-
nant at the proposal to 60 to jail--sto jail,
| said he, for what for protecting my person
and property against mob who assailed both
for three hours without being fired upon when
we could have killed numbers Of them it 10
your duty to dispense the mob, and If you can
| not dispense them, you cannot protect Us TO
! Jail or after we are in iailn Mr.. Hanson then,
after the mayor and general went into the
front room to converse with general Lee, ex-
horted his friends never to surrender, declar-
| ing that no reliance could be placed on the as
| surances of such men, who were his bitter e.
nemies, and who, however willing they might
be, were unable to afford effectual protection,
as was proved by their inability to disperse
the mob then assembled before the house
He repeated over and over, that If they sur
rendered they would all be sacrificed, and from
his knowledge Of the men they had to deal
with, particularly John Montgomery who had
just before passed into the room, he expected
they would all be given up to be massacred
either on the way to Jail or in the Jail" Mr..
Hanson then stated his objections to the May
or and General Stricken, who in answer gave
the most solemn assurances on their faith as
officers, and their honor as men, to afford the
promised protection, or die in the attempt
General Stricken assured them on his honor
that he would never quit them while there
was danger, and if they were attacked he
would rescue or fall with them: these assu-
RANGES were repeated frequently with the most
solemn asseverations and appeals to God Mr.
Hanson having said something to his friends
in regard to the house and furniture, pledge
was instantly given by the mayer to leave
guard to defend both. General Lee, and o.
Their gentlemen attempted to get better terms
of capitulation, such as marching out with
arms in their hands to assist in protecting
themselves, and riding on, their horses among
the cavalry, and in carriages. The mayor
and general went out to see if the mob would
consent to any other terms. While gone, Mr..
Hanson made two propositions to different
gentlemen of his party, the one to hold The
mayor and brigadier general as hostages for
their safety, and the other, offering to giUs
himself up to the mob scho woald then be APP
peassd, repeating his belief that every man
would be sacrificed if they surrendered.
When the mayor and general Stricken re-
turned they informed the party in the house
that no other terms could be obtained from
the mob than those first proposed, and urged
their immediate acceptance, declaring that q
delay of FIVE minutes might be fatal Mr..
Hanson still vehemently opposed surrendering,
and said he had noting to say to the mob, but