The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-27

soldiers would then be permitted to pursue
them, and they would fight if they could not
escape" Of course, this was refused; and
Lieut.. Stuart pressed upon Brown his desperate
position, and urged surrender. The expos
tulation, though beyond earshot, was evidently
very earnest; and the GOODNESS of the Lieuten-
ant, and the courage of his aged fag-bearer,
won warm praise. At this moment, the interest
of the scene was most intense. The volunteers
were arranged all around the building, cutting
off an escape in every direction. The marines,
divided in two squads, were ready for dash at
the door. M -a a& 8
Finally, Lient. Stuart, having exhausted all
argument with the determined Captain Brown,
walked slowly from the door. ,ae s
Immediately the signal for attack was given,
and the marines, headed by Col. Harris and
Lieut.. Green, advanced In two lines on each
side of the door. Two powerful fellows sprung
between the lines, and, with heavy sledge ham
mers, attempted to batter down the door.
The doors swung and swayed, but appeared
to be secured with rope, the spring of which
deadened the effect of the blows. Failing thus,
they took hold of a ladder, some forty feet long,
and, advancing at run, brought it with tire
mendous effect against the door. At the Sec
ond blow, it gave way, one leaf falling inward
in a slanting position. The marines i1nmedi-
ately advanced to the breach, Major Russell
and Lieut.. Green leading. A marine in front
fell.
The firing from the interior was rapid and
sharp. They fired with deliberate aim, and for
a moment the resistance was serious and des-
perate enough to excite the spectators to some
thing like pitch of frenzy. The next moment,
the marines poured in, the firing ceased and
the work was done, while cheers rang from
every side-the general feeling being that the
marines had done their part admirably
When the insurgents were brought out
some Dead and others wounded they wee
greeted with execrations, and only the precau-
tons that had been taken saved them from i'm.
mediate execution. The crowd, nearly every
man of which carried gun, swayed with tn-
multuous excitement and cries of .Shoot
them {" Shoot themt" rang from every side.
The appearance of the liberated prisoners-all
of whom, through the steadiness of the ma
rines, escaped injury-changed the current of
feeling, and prolonged cheers took the place of
howls and excavations.
In the assault, private Rupert of the marines
received ball in the stomach, and was believed
to be fatally wounded. Another received a
slight flesh wound.
The lawn in front of the engine-house after
the assault presented dreadful sight. Laying
on it were two bodies of men killed on the pre-
vious day, and found inside the house, three
wounded men, one of them Just at the last
gasp of life, and two others grooming in pain
One of the dead was Browns son Ottoway; the
wounded man and his son Watson were lying
on the grass, the father presenting CORY spec
tacle. He had severe bayonet wound in his
side, and his face and hair were clotted with
blood.
A short time after Capt Brown was brought
l.. IN
about him, defending his course and avowing
that he had done only what was right He re-
piled to questions substantially as follows
Are you Capt. Brown of Kansas?
l am sometimes called so.
Are you Ossawatomie Brown?
/ tried to do my duty there.
What was your present object?
To free the slaves from bondage.
Were any other persons but those with you
now connected with the movement
No.
Did you expect aid from the North2
No; there was no one connected with the
movement but those who came with me.
Did you expect to kill people in order to car
ry your point?
| did not wish to do so, but you forced US
to it.
Various questions of this kind were put to
Capt. Brown, which he answered clearly and
freely, with seeming anxiety to vindieate him
self.
He urged that he had the town at his mercy:
that he could have burnt it, and murdered the
inhabitants, but did not he had treated the
prisoners with courtesy, and complained that
he was hunted down like beast. He spoke
of the killing of his son, which he alleged was
done while bearing flag Of truce, and seemed
very anxious for the safety of his wounded son.
His conversation bore the impression of the con-
viction that whatever he had done to free slaves
was right, and that in the warfare in which he
was engaged he was entitled to be treated with
all the respect of a prisoner of war.
He seemed fully convinced that he was badly
treated, and had right to complain. Although
at first considered dying, an examination of
his wounds proved that they were not necessar-
lily fatal. He expressed a desire to live, and
to be tried by his country. In his pockets nearly
$500 were found in gold. Several important
papers, found in his possession, were taken
charge of by Col. Lee, on behalf of the Govern
ment.
The following is a fragment of a letter found
in Browns pocket: aa
CAPT. BRowN-Dedr Sir: / have been
disappointed in not seeing you here ere this to
take charge of your freight. They have been
here now two weeks, and have had to super
intend the providing for them-it has imposed
upon me no small task; besides and If not
soon taken of, some of them will go back to
Missouri. | wish to know definitely what you
propose doing. They cannot be kept here
much longer without risk to themselves, and if
any of them conclude to go back to the State,
1t will be bad termination to your enterprise"
The foregoing occupies a page of fine note
paper, straw-tinted, is written in pencil and not
nd L. 6
education, and the freight he had was, no
doubt, that usually carried on the underground
railroad
Besides Captain Brown, the prisoners taken
are-his son, who is seriously injured in the alb
domen, and who is not likely to live; Edward
Coppich, who belonged to Iowa and negro
named Shields Green, who came from Pitts
burgh to join Brown. The stories of ali these
men are precisely the same. They agree as to
the objects proposed to be accomplished, and
the number of persons in the movement,
Young Brown, in answer to question:, said
there were persons in the North connected with
the movement, thus differing with his father ON
this point. Coppich, the other white prisoner,
Is quite young, and seems less shrewd than the
others. He said he did not wish to join the
expedition, and when asked, gave reply which
showed the influence which Brown had over
him. He said All, you gentlemen don't know
Capt Brown; when he calls for us we never
think of refusing to come"
Several slaves were found in the room with
the insurrectionists, but it is believed that they
were there unwillingly. Indeed, Browns ex-
pectation as to slaves rushing to him was en-
tirely disappointed. None seem to have come
to him willingly, and in most cases were forced
to desert taeir masters. But one instance In
which slaves made a public appearance with
arms in their hands is related. A negro vino