The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-28


Their ssemsns ave ra ID reeedeA before the hsur
stcps q iAe indian 1be wfich, nom Me snarchf cs
prevails, they unabs 10 repel; ana N some pnc-
deserts many hundred miles In extent have been great
by ne ssyeees ont OF s ments once prosperous haps
and secuye These wastes abound n climate, Soil an
mineral wealth unsurpassed W any on The continent, an
population, consunte hsrbor and hiding place for
savagss and bands where they hve securely, and om
.s issue a "" on " womb
remedy This state Of things would be great bene y oe
Mexican people and blessing % our own.
The recent conspiracy and effort 1t insurrection an
plunder attempted at HArpers Ferry constitutes alto
seher one Of the most surprsns and startling episodes il
the history or our country ianatca man, stimulated
to reckeeeness and desperation by the constant achne
and Incorporate appeaa Of Wild ana Geasonaoe emu
land by precepls Of religion, by the appeals oil M
mainly or Of mercy, formed conspiracy 70 make SUD
the Arsenal plumber the pubic properly, and stir up
vile instruction The plan devised and the de OF exc
cutting were such as 70 promise every nope success
The conspirAtors rented fam in she STATE OF
within few miles Of Harper's Ferry, where they re-
NAMED for some months, apparently following peaceful
esctuai means 70 ooncae the kind feelings Of e people
Of the adjacent country and particularly those Of the village
Of Hsrper's Ferry They became perfectly familiar with
all the localities Of the place. streets houses arsenA ana
workshops that it's contemplated seizure might be Of
ected any hour Of the night without confusion or any
unusual movement calculated to attract attention or
suspicion They knew perfectly the universal and
uDsuspectng security Of the entire population Up 70 the
night Of that attack there never was man within ne
Commonwealth OF Virginia who went to his bed with the
slightest apprehension Of danger from attack by citizens
Of the United States In any numbers, from any region, or
for any purpose whatever The sense Of profound secu
ry perfect and absolute. Having also no spprehen
whatever of the slave population land this assurance
% LED Dy the pSs s Ss ORE
signs OF the consprators Having cut the Geographic
wires, they entered, under the cover OF night unmo-
ested and unobeerved, into the village, seized upon the
solitary watchman placed at the arsenal protection
against are only and possessed themselves speedily Of
s 1s . seas nrno iI ~
place. with whom their long residence there had
made them acquainted and confne them securely under
their own control These arrests were made sngy, and
in every instance by several perfectly armed men, who
conveyed their prisoners to the place OF confinement
This process carried throughout the night and
tended not only to the village but country around
When the moynipg and the state Of things was
partially discovered the people Of the village gathered to
the Of Confusion about the arsenal The conspra
tors now commenced o fire upon the citizens Then,
for the first time did the atrocous designs Of these
was only thep discovered that the citizens Of the
place were almost wholly without arms and am
monition Of any sort Presently however, some arms
and ammunition, not in possession Of the plunderers,
were found when the Of the village, and those who
bad assembled from the neghborhood, arming them.
selves Immediately returned fire Of the assailants
with such effect that in the of q few hours they
driven from their positions, and all either killed
wounded with the exception Of the leader and hall
dozen others Of his party, who driven into
CINE honse whittier they lied for security They carried
along with them ten twelve Of the prisoners they had
the robbers alleged to prevent the FIRE Of the citizens
outside from being directed toward themselves in the
house where they had taken shelter.
Throughout the whole day on Monday, from twelve
o'clock AT which time intelligence Of the outbreak reached
this city the most exaggerated accounts received Of
the state of things Harpers Ferry, and the number Of
persons engaged ii it. Prompt measures, however,
taken, and Brevet Colonel Robert E. Lee, Of the Frs,
cavalry, was at once summoned to take command OF
detachment Of marines and two companies Of volunteers
from Frederick, Maryland, who had promptly offered
their services The troops left this city by the afternoon
train and taking up tie volunteers the way, reached
the scene Of action during the night
The next morning at early hour Colonel Lee gave
orders TO the marines TO attack and carry the house where
the consprators strongly barrcaded, which was
very promptly and calamity done, with the loss OF
man killed, another wounded. Colonel Lees report
hs proceedings herewith communicated, which gives
reet.
have the honor TO be, very RESPECTFULLY, your ODE
dent servant, JOHN B. FLOYD,
The PRESIDENT Secretary Of War.