Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-08-28

and IN short time part of the mob with n
DIR. Gale, their apparent leader and instigator
who had barangued them in the streeo at
their head, made an attempt to enter the pas
sage and advance towards the stairs.
Orders were now given to fire from the win
dows and staircase. BY this fire DIR. Gale
was killed, and carried off by his companions
and followers Several were wounded in the
street The mob fled in every direction, car
rying with them the wounded, and the body
OF Er. Gale; but before they fed they fired
frequently into the house, where the marks Of
Their shot are to be seen, and a pistol aimed
at the breast of General Lee flashed, while
he was expostulating with the mob. One of
the defenders of the house, tEphraim Gaither)
was wounded at the time of the fire from the
street, but how or with what has not been
ascertained. He bled profusely, and had
CONFUSION in the morning while standing at
his post upon duty
This was the time for the gentlemen in the
house to make their escape-Could they have
seen that their enterprise had become imprac-
ticable, they might have made good their re-
treat But they judged otherwise. They
thought rather of their rights than of the pru-
dence of further effort to assert them, and
resolved still to defend the house, indulging
the hope too, that no further violence would
be attempted after this experience of its con
sequences, or that the civil authority would
effectually interpose.
The mob came very cautiously and almost
by stealth in front Of the house after the eifec-
tual fire. They still, however, remained in
the street and INCREASED their numbers gra-
dually, drum parading the streets to beat
UP recruits, and continued to throw stones in
front and back of the house-Between two
and three o'clock the military having been or
dered out, major Barney appeared in the
street at the head of small party of cavalry.
The mob again fled at his approach, crying
out as they heard the trampling Of horses,
:" the troop is coming the troop is coming"
Near the front of the house major Barney
halted and addressed them. On this they a.
gain returned He told them he was their
friend, their personal and political friend
that he was there to protect person and pro-
perty, to prevent violence, :" to secure the
party in the house," and that those in the
by what authority he came--He answered by
demanded sight of the order, which he con-
scented to show them, and for that purpose
went round the corner into an alley where
something in a low voice, on hearing which
the mob gave three cheers
What did he say to them This can be an
swered only from conjecture and from what
happened afterwards. Many Of the gentlemen
in the house judging from subsequent events,
believe that he communicated to the mob the
plan of assassination which was put into exc
cution and which they suppose to have been
then already formed with his knowledge and
participation. But this supposition would as
cribe to that officer degree of ferocious profit
gacy which ought not to be imputed to him
or any other man without the clearest proof
The subjoined extract from the Wing, ex-
plains Major Barney's conduct
"We regret that our COMMITTEES have not,
after so much pains and promise, stated some
particulars infinitely; particulars necessary
to be known--we mean the circumstances OF
the negotiation las it were) between Major
Barney and the populace. They agreed to
rest satisfied, If the murderers should be care
fully kept from escaping, and be surrendered
into the hands of the civil authority in other
words be committed to jail for trial To
THE FULFILMENT OF THIS WAS MAJOR BAR
NEY PLEDGED"
q His instructions were nevertheless for
the safety and honor of the gentlemen in the
house tA
There can be no question, he had orders
while he protected the house from further at
tack, to secure the party in it SO as to prevent
them from escaping, and to bring them to
trial for the deaths which had taken place or
were expected, and that he communicated
this part of his orders to the mob. This sup
position is favored by what he was heard to
say on his first approach--that she was there
to take possession and secure the party in the
house." And when the gentlemen distressing
his views in consequence of what they had OBJ
served, demanded an explanation, he assured
them that he had no orders or instructions