Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-20
The Insurrsction at Harpsr's Ferry.
ITS ORIGIN, PROGRESS, 4 SUPPRESSION.

The principal originator of the lnsurrec-
ton, and the chief leader in its short but
bloody existence was undoubtedly Captain
John Brown, whose connection with the
scenes of violence and border warfare in
Kansas, then made his name Familiarity noto-
rious to the whole country. Captain Brown
first made his appearance in the vicinity Of
lIarper's Ferry more than year ago ac-
companied by his two sons. the whole party
assuming the name Of Smith. They inquired
about land in the vicinity, made investga.
tons as to the probability Of finding ores,
and for some time they boarded ut Sandy
II~k, one mile east Of Iiarper's Ferry
After an absence of some months, they
re appeared in the vicinity. and the elder
Brown rented or leased farm on the Mary
land side, about four miles from Harper's
Ferry. They bought number Of picks aud
spades, and thus confirmed the belief that
they intended to mine for ores. They were
seen frequently in and about Harpers Ferry,
but no suspicion seems to have existed that
"Bill Smith" was Captain Brown. or that he
intended embarking in a movement so des-
perate and extraordinary. Yet the develop
ment of the plot leaves no doubt that his
visits to the Ferry, and his lease Of the farm,
were all parts of his preparation for an in
surrection. which he supposed was to be sue
cessful in discriminating slavery i'll Maryland
and Western Virginia.
Captain Browns chief aid WAS John +.
Cook, a comparatively young man, who has
resided in and near Harper's Ferry for some
years. He was first employed in tending a
lock on the Canal. lie afterwards taught
school on the Maryland side, and after a
brief residence in Kansas, where it is sup
posed that he became acquainted with Brown.
returned to the Ferry and married there.
lie was regarded rs a man OF some intelli-
gence, known to be anti-slavery, but not 80
violent in the expression of his opinions rs
to excite any suspicious. These two men,
with Browns two sons, were the only white
men connected with the instruction, that
had been seen about the Ferry All were
brought by Capt. Brown from distance,
and nearly all had been with him in Kansas.
The first active movement in the insurrec-
ton was made about half-past 10 o'clock on
Sunday night VIM. Williams, Waterman
on Harper's Ferry bridge, whilst walking
across towards the Maryland side, was seized
by number of men, who said he was their
prisoner, aud must come with them. lie re-
cognized Brown and Cook among the men,
and knowing them, treated the matter as a
joke; but enforcing silence, they conducted
him to the Armory, which he found already
in their possession lie was retained till
after daylight, and then discharged. The
watchman who was to relieve Williams at
midnight, found the bridge lights out, and
Immediately was seized. Surprising it an
attempt at robbery, he broke away, and his
pursuers stumbling over the track, he es-
capped.
The next appearance of the Instruction
lists was at the house of COL Lewis Washing
ton, large farmer and slave owner, living
about four miles from the Ferry. A party,
headed by Cook, proceeded there, reused Col.
W., and told him he was prisoner. They
also seized all the slaves near the house, took
carriage and horse, and a large wagon with
two horses. When Col Washington saw
Cook, he Immediately recognized him as 4
man who had called on him some months
previous, to whom he had exhibited some
valuable arms in his possession, including
an antique sword presented by Frederick the
Great to General Washington. and pair of
pistols presented by Lafayette to Washing
ton, both heir-loons in the family Before
leaving, Cook invited Col. Washington to a
trial Of skill ut shooting and exhibited con-
siderable certainty as a marksman. When
he made his visit ON Sunday night, he allu-
ded to his previous visit, and the courtesy
with which he had been treated, reSretting
the necessity which made it his duty TO ar
rest Col W. lie, however, took advantage
r A. l., .l,lx H., l,tn, nal l1-t ba fnrp
visit, to carry of all the Colonel's valuable
collection of arms, which he did not re-ohtain
until after the final defeat Of the nsurrec-
ton.
From Col Washington's they proceeded
with him prisoner in his carriage, and
twelve Of his negroes in the wagon, 10 the
house of Mr.. Allstadt, another large faE
mer on the same road Mr.. Allstadt and
his son, lad of sixteen. were taken prison
ers, all their negroes within reach forced to
Join the movement, and they returned to the
Armory at the Ferry. All these movements
seem to have been made without exciting the
slightest alarm in the town. nor did the de-
tention Of Capt Phelps train, at the upper
end Of the town, attract attention. 1t was
not until the town thoroughly walked up and
iOunu tnc priuSc Suaiuou ~ oihod heh,
and guard stationed at all the avenues, that
the people found they were prisoners. A
panic appears to have Immediately ensued,
and the number of the insurrcctionists at
once magnifed from fifty, which was proba-
bly, their greatest force, including the slaves
forced to join, to from five to six hundred.
In the meantime, a number of the workmen,
knowing nothing Of what had occurred, en-
tered the Armory, and were instantly taken
prisoners. until ut one time they had not less
than sixty men confined. Among those thus
entrapped were Armistead Ball, Chief
Draug htsman Of the Armory, Benj. Mills,
Master Of the Armory. and j. +. p. Dain-
gertield, Paymaster's Clerk. These three
| gentlemen were imprisoned in the engine
house, which afterwards became the chief
fortress of the insurgents, and were not re.
leased until after the final assault. The
workmen were imprisoned in a building far
ther down the yard. and were rescued by
tbs brilliant Zouave dash made by the rail-
road compspy's men, who came down from
Martinsburg.
This was the condition Of things at day
light about which time Capt. Cook with two
white men, and accompanied by thirty slaves,
and taking with them Col. Washington's
large wagon, went over the bridge and struck
up the mouGtsin road toward Pennsylvania.
Ii was then believed Met the large wagon
was used to convey away the Paymaster' $
.co containing SlT OCt) in Government funds