Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-08
Scenes at Charlestown.

TIE departure ~ Tue uoopS. our Ao"u mss
relapsed into somew hat more quiet state.
At eleven o'clock, however, new interest was
excited by the appearance OF stage coach,
escorted by about twenty military horsemen.
We were al agog. but the particulars did
not warrant the amount of commoti"n which
occurred. The circumstances are these
The escort had IN charge four men who had
been arrested aS de>erterS from the nIed
States service | had an interview, and
they report rs follows Our names are
Alfred Morris, VIM. Morris, John Helm,
and - Fuller. We enlisted under Capt.
Whitlle>ey, of the Dragon service. III Nm-
chester, some eighteen or nineteen months
ago. After remaining there some two months,
We DIES rted, and have been out since. They
expressed no fears, and couragrnusly SAID
that should the forfeit lie death they would
be- willing Ia undergo the penalty. These
parties were captured by Capt. Bowen. and
they were ut once forwarded 70 Harper Fer
~, where recruiting office is ut this time
in operation Another by the name Of Me
Gee, was also arrested under the same
charge, aud learn Was forwarded with the
same party.
Mrs Kennedy. the mnther-in-law of Cook.
visited him in his cell to-day Upon her APP
proach they embraced aifrctiouatrly, recos-
nzing each other a. mother and son. She
remarked he WAS looking thin. He replied
he was WELL Ut least Us we'll rs he could be
under the circumstances. After Il general
conversation, she said, Had | only known
your business ut llarper's Ferry. you would
not have been here, John" He replied, Il
know that very well, you knew nothing OF
it, In the conversation, Mrs. X. said she
had gone down into the Ferry To find him
twice on the morning of the 18th, and re-
ferred to the narrow escape of a young friend
who came near being killed by Cooks fire
from the opposite side OF the river. lie ex.
pressed his pleasure mt this. but said nothing
i'll reference to other parties who were i'll
range Of his rifle. In speaking of his arrest,
he said, Had got possession of my pistol
would not have been here" Mrs. h. re-
I piled, Perhaps John it is better than ifyUu
/ had used it, After his arrest, Mr.. Logan
under promise OF absolute secrecy, obtained
! from him his name and also his commission
ns captain in John Browns forces, and Cook
bitterly complained that he was guilty OF be
| traying him. lie spoke i'll terms OF eulogy
Of his lawyers, and said they had done then
whole duty, the evidence being so positive
and direct against him. He read portion
Of letter from his brother-n-law, notifying
him Of the appearance of his wife and sis
ter, which said he the (brother-in-law) III
ready looked upon the little boy as his own
SON" His mother-in-law, before leaving
exorted him to keep nothing back but tell al
you know. Cook replied | have nothing
! further to tell, have told all know of it. >
At five o'clock, the Wheeling battalion
under the command of the gallant Majo
/ Lorns, took up their line of march. This
was the corps in which was enlisted such
men rs Charles w Russell, Mr.. Pendlcton
| and host OF others. who not only volun
teered, but paid an extrayagant price for Il
uniform. and at the same time. L bonus t.
those they substituted. They said then
| business called them home, but did any Oh,
apprehend n necessity for their services, they
! were willing to remain.
The army deserters' were returned last
night, and conveyed to Berryville, the officer
in command ut llarpor's Ferry requiring
necessary Identification and II legal commit
ment.
4
of Cook did not arrive. rs expected and
Cook says although disappointed in seeing
them tins morning, he feels gratihed that
they are not here. He fears that they could
not undergo the terrible interview
Ordnance Sergeant Hill. who has been
in service under Colonel Davis for several
weeks, is quite II character. Though not
overly in hs teens, he left his school nj IL,
first drumnote, and reported himself here
for service. lie was accepted, and the gal
liant little fellow, like the little corporal OF
Waterloo renowu, has known no thought but
duty.
More troops are reported on their way here
10 supply the place OF those who have served
the longest We have fear but the begin
ming Of the end.