Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-21
John Brown. the IIsurgent.

We desire to contribute our share of testi-
mony as to the true character OF John Brown,
now under sentence of death at Charlsstown,
for the numerous crimes charged against him.
The following statement is furnished US by
John ID. Pennybacker, esq, the gentleman
who has been elected 10 represent this DIS
trlct in the Senate of Virginia. We publish
this statement. III order 10 show that this
martyr" rs his abolition friends call him,
has heretofore been u finished highwayman
and robbcr.
Ii may be proper TO state that Mr.. Penny
hackers knowledge of Brown aud his move
ments in Kansas extended up 70 December,
1857, at which time Mr.. p. left the Terrific
~, and heard no more OF ''Ossawattomle,
until he developed himself again in the llar-
per's Ferry .toray -Rockiayham Register.
Mr.. PENNYBACkERS SrATENENr.--l knew
John Brown, or odd Ossawattomie Brown"
rs We called him in Kansas. That my ac-
quaintance with him may not be disputed
| will state the following, to the truth ot
which a score Of reliable witnesses Will testify
About two weeks or whereabouts before the
battle OF Black Jack, (South-side OF Kansas
River while examining Surveys near Prairle
City, four miles 5. W. Of Black Jack, saw
some eighteen or twenty men armed with
Sharpes rifles, issue from a house near by.
One of their number approached my party
/ t,hree in numbcr) and mailing US, demanded
our business. | replied that was engaged
-, in government work as Examiner and inten-
ded TO execute my duties, and should stop for
no one. thereupon rode on, leaving HIM t.
make such report as he thought lit.
camped that evening three or Jour miles
/ from Prairie City. After eating supper, a
\ pro-slavcry man, IN whom | had all conn
dcncc, informed me that he had been ordered
10 leave the country; that his property had
been taken. and that Brown had declared
his intention Of 'wipuy' me ''out' that
night. Having only some five or SIX men
and no arms except pistols | concluded 1t
1.-The better part" to leave immediately. send
/ ing two men with my wagons toward Lee
! compton, myself and the remainder going To-
wards Westport, 40. We had not gone far
until we found we were pursued by mum
! Der Of men. Twelve miles from our starting
point, at Bull Creek, they gave up the chase,
! as we learned afterwards from Browns men.
/ | learned at Westport that Capt. Pate was
somewhere in the neighborhool Of Prairie
! City with poSS,, and sent to arrest Brown
/ for the five murders he had committed on
! Pottawottomie Creek.
Some days after with prisoner for the
| L. 5. authorities at Lecompton, and some
twelve or fourteen men, ! arrived 1t Black
Jack, where found Pate encamped. re-
manned all night with him, and the next
morning Brown attacked Us, although Lieut..
Brockett asked in loud tone for confer
ence to explain our object with, am con-
fdent not less than 80 men. Our force
numbered p men, all told. After three or
four hours fighting, Brown having most in
famously violated hag Of truce, we were
his prisoners. Or iicc$ were only Sare!
from the fact that Browns two sons ut the
| time were prisoners at Lccomptun.
| While in his hands heard Browns son
boast Of the horses they had stolen from Mis-
souri, and elsewhere. also saw II party start
OUT for the purpose Of rojJing an Indian ira
ding post, (Joseph Demands and saw them
return loaded with the goods, (somc SS.OUo
worth old Brown exclaming as they came
in, "JYsH dome my boys" Brown told me
himself that his hand was against every man
frec-.Siaic or pro,Siaray, who was not vii
| ling to Join his band, and that he would kill
1 one is sODU us TIE OlIcI LID SUI i''''0
! lex was killed at Ossawottnmie by Martin
| White, a free-.Si!te man who had refused 70
! join Browns company, and was therrnpon
robbed and ordered To leave the Territory.
John Brown was afterwards whipped at
/ OsSawattomie, and believe he then left the
Territory. Of his subsequent operations
there ] know nothing. That he, without
provocation, inhumanly murdered men III
their beds, | know. That he committed
robbery and theft of goods and horses, |
heard from his own men, and saw with my
own eyes; but that he ever gave rs an cx-
clISe that he was attempting to run of slaves
while doing this kansas work | never
| heard from him or any one else. There WAS
not slave within forty mile, Of Pottawatto.
! ME Creek where he committed the murders,
and not one Of the murdered men had ever
raised an arm against HIM.