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


their fears Yet notwithstanding all these
untayorable circumstances, q number did ap-
pear, which is stated by some to have been
sixty and by others, not more than thirty
| Colonel Sterrett was at the head Of this frag
ment of his regiment Captain Samuel Ster
! rett who commands one of the companies,
was also at his post. So was Major Richard
X Heath. The other officers who appeared
are not recollected.
! The Brigadier General himself, after his
solemn pledge of his word and honour as an
officer and man, in the presence OF God, did
| slot appear. He was not seen with the troops,
| and If seen in the streets at all, it was In his
common dress with rattan in his hand -
He no rhere shs1red himself as the com
mandsr Of The militia, made no call in per
| son on the troops, or the citizens to rally
round him, but contented himself with bare
ly doing what was required of him, according
| to the strict letter, by ordering out a psht OF
! the militia, and rendered that order futile and
nugatory, or worse, by combining it with an
order to come without efft,ctual arms.
| This part Of his order was however dsobey-
ed by many, il not all of the militia, who
| came out-Resolved not to be exposed to
massacre by this unaccountable conduct of
| their General, they furnished themselves, as
we'll as they could, with ball cartridges.
| Ia the afternoon, while the troops were or
dered out and while they were assembling
MIR. Johnson, Mayor, went to the Jail, accom-
panied by Mr. Hargrove, Register of the City,
and together with Gen. Stricken, Judge Job
| Smith, Mr.. Wilson, magistrate Mr.. Calhoun,
Brigadc INSPECTOR visited the gentlemen In
the Jail, to inform them of the efforts that
were making, (, would be made for their
protection. They renewed their solemn as
surancss of protection, and told the party to
rest satisfied. as the military would 30 out IN
very short time, when there would be no
danger ofan attack upon the Jail A Butcher
! by the name of .NnmnG, AMI two others, un-
derstood to be prominent in the mob, entered
| the room in company with the Mayor and
remained after him. While tae interview
| between the Mayor, General, &c. and the
gentlemen continued. this butcher was en-
ployed in observing and most attcntively re-
marking their ccuntenance and their dress
AS many OF them were strangers in Baltimore
the object no doubt was to enable himself to
identity them, and point them out to his asso
ciates, when the massacre should commence
This very butcher did stand at the first iron
CRATE and knock down the gentlemen as they
we're brought out. 1t was by him so station
ed, that MIR. Hanson was first recognized and
shockingly beaten
In the course of the afternoon the gentle
men were sPprized, from various quarters
of the fate which awaited them at night, and
particularly gentleman of the democratic
party, (who is nevertheless man of honor
courage and humanity after struggling in
vain to provide means of protection, or to "a
vert the danger, informed them of all they
had to expect
The door of the room in which they were
confined was very strong, composed of thick
iron bars fastened together, so as to make a
CRATE it enabled them to see what was done
on the outside, while, if kept locked, it was
I capable Of affording them a very consldera.
bile defence That they might mako the most
of this feeble resource, in the apprehended
absence of all others, they sent for the turn
! key, and requested him to lock the door and
| give them the key. This he promised, but
aid not perform--They sent to him again and
reminded himof his promise, which he re.
peated and again neglected They saw no
more of him until the slaughter commenced.
The militia having assembled in front of
their ColonePs quarters in Gaystreet at a
considerable distance from the Jail, the
General, instead of putting himself at their
head, endeavorlng to increase their numbers,
and leading them to the Jail, left them stand
ing in Gay street; and hearing that the mob
had assembled at the Jail in great numbers,
he and the mayor, accompanied by John
Montgomery, attorney general of the state.
went to them little before sunset, to expos
tulate with them on the improperly of their
conduct, and persuade them to dispense
I The object which the mob then thought
proper to avow openly, was to prevent the
gentlemen from being admitted to bail An
assurance being given to them by the Attor-
ney-General and the Judge, that bail should
not be received before next day, they are said
] to have declared Themselves satisfied and To