New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-06
PUBLIC ROAD.

PUBLIC ROAD.
DvscnPTIoy or TIE ZELDA scsdold; B, Generals and
STAFF; C. Virginia Cadets d. Cadet Howitzers with cannon
pointed at scafold f. Richmond Company r winchester
Contnentas g. Fauguier Cavalry; II, Company Of Rich
nond l. Alexandria R6emen X. RiAemen aud part Of Capt
enSe5e cate supported by piece Of artillery under
command Of Lieut. Green Of the U. s. nan1esi H. Moods
envy approaching from hsrPe.s feTy Al NJ M tiekets
Of he Fanquier Cavalry Two lines Of eentnesi w.
The field is not more than half mile from the Jail,
from the windows of his cell in the second story of
which Cook had an unObstructed view Of the whole
proceedings. He watched his old Captain until the
trap fell and his body swung into mid-ar, when he
turned away and gave vent 10 his feelings.
The cord cut fingers depth into Browns neck, and
considerable distortion Of countenance is said to have
been produced This will doubtless decrease as the
muscles relax and fall to their natural places again.
Browns hold on life strong Heidi not easily,
Judging from appearances and the testimony OF eXpe
rienced men. The animal heat remained in his body
so long that although was to have left under escort
of detachment of the Richmond Grays at O'Clock,
the physicians detained it hour and half longer to
cool. heard it suggested by Captain that good
dose of arfenc should be administered TO the corpse to
make sure work and many others wished that at least
the head might he cut off and retained by them, since
the body was 10 be embalmed and on gorgeous cata-
foues carried in procession through Northern cities
This amiable boodtbirsness is on par with that OF
the students at the Winchester Medical College, who
have skinned the body of one of Browns sons, separ
ated the nervous and muscular and venous systems
dried and vanished them, and have the whole hung
up as nj e anatomical illustration. Some of the stu
dents wished TO stuff the skin, others TO make 1t into
game pouches. They had better not stuff it, for II the
occupant gave them so bad scare that IT requires
nearly three Thousand troops TO quiet hem the very
dried skin stuffed with straw would keep them at least
in perpetual tremor.
Ifthere are towards and blusterers in this part of
the country do not set down all Vrgnans as such, for
am well assured that there are thousands OF stout
hearts and strong ready at this moment TO hght
for her soil No one but natural fool can see such
gray haired men in arms are occasionally met IN
the streets of Charlesown alongside brave boys as
ever looked into lannon's mouth, without being sem
sibe of the spirit which acuates of the troops
There is great feeling of evaporation in Jefferson
County against Gov. Wise for two First, his
expressions of contempt their defeat and mprison
ment at Harpers Ferry; and secondly, for sending 30
much larger force TO protect them than was necessary,
and thus nstitutDg military desposm far more strin-
gent than that of France or Russia Things have got
TO such pass that old citizens cannot go from their
houses 10 their stores without danger of several arrests
Farmers wishing TO sell produce in town, purchase
necetsaries for their families stopped on the high
road at the point Of the bayonet. The usual form is
this: "Hat p "Who comes there 7" "a friend, with
the countersign." advance, friend, and give the
| countersign." "Trenton." Pass friend" But the
roor friend has to 90 through this ordeal perhaps every
quarter or half mile and it becomes mseraby tresome
before the dozen OF eggs sold or the pound Of can
dies purchased. Gov. Wise's JeifersonC County vote,
in case of his nomination. will be enthusiastically small
The village, tnrn where you will presents every APP
pea1anCe of besieged town, what with cannon in the
Streets troops marching and paradng, sentres pacing
to and fro, orderles huryng hher and thither public
buildings Offices churches, and private houOes tlrned
into barracks, and around them all the cooking clean
ing of aeeoutrements and the thousand other
ries of soldiers quarters.
There IL great want of system in the military
rangemcnts and in the event of combined attack at
different points dire confusion would ensue. If my
military experience does not 20 for naught must be-
leye that with the present deposition Of the several
bodies Of troops general alarm would result III great
slaughter Of the soldiers by their own friends But
fortunately, there will be no occasion 10 test prac
cally the value of my observation, for no foe will
probably ever has intended TO- attack the troops. II
is possible, but not, in my opinion, probable that if
precautions had not been taken, a small band of
Browns comrades might have attempted to carry him
of by stratagem That is all Of the question now,
however, for be win disturb Virginians,
cept as his memory may incite TO repetition of his
folly.
The newspapers that have seen at this place make
no mention of the fact that owing eherthe stupidity
or inexperence of the cavalry Escort they did not fall
into position about the gaows for long time that
the commanding officer impatient at the delay, and
no. wishing TO keep Brown standing on the trsn with
the noose about his neck, gave the signal when eight
minutes had expired and the poor swung of while
the troop was passing within few feet of him. As
the trap fell its hinges gave wang sort of screech
that could be heard at every point the field. Was
this symbolic of the wall of grief that went up at the
moment from thousands Of friends to the of emsn-
epson throughout the land In the dead stiffness of
tic hour it went TO my heart like the wall for the de-
parted that may be heard in highland glen.
The body in lis coffin and its way back to the
jan, the field was quickly deserted the cannon lin
bered up again, rumbled away and the companies of
infantry and troops of cavalry, in solid column,
marched away The body had not left the field before
the carpenters began to take the scaod to pieces that
it might be stored up against the 10th proximo when
it will be used to hapg Cook and Coppie together.
separate esows will be built for the two negroes.
In the direction of Harpers Ferry mysterious light
as of Roman candle, or ball of fire shot high up
in air, is to be seen every evening at about or =
o'clock. As | was coming down the main street TO-
night, distinctly saw it, and watching for sbOa,
half an hour noticed ii twice more. The officer with