Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-10-21

found they were prisoners. A panic APP /
pears to have Immediately ensued, and |
the number Of the insurrectionists at once
magni6ed from fifty, which was probably
their greatest force, including the slaves
forced to join, to from five to six hun
dred. In tho meantime, number of
the workmen, knowing nothing of what
had occurred, entered the armory, and
were instantly taken prisoners, until at
one time they had not less than sixty
men confined Among those thus en-
trapped were Armistead Ball, the chief
draughtsman Of the armory; Benjamin
Mills, master o f t the aiinory. and J i.
p. Dangcr6eld, paymastor's clerk. These
three gentlemen were imprisoned in the
engine room, which afterwards became
the chief fortress of the Insurgents, and
were not released until after the final as
sault. The workmen were imprisoned
in building further down the yard, and
were rescued by the brilliant Zouove dash
made by the railroad company's men who
came down from Martinsburg.
This was the condition of things at
daylight, 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 mountain
road toward Pennsylvania. 1t was then
believed that the large wagon was used
to convey away the Paymasters's safe,
containing ST., 900 in government funds,
and also that it was filled with Minnie
rides taken out to supply other bands in
the mountains who were to come down
upon Harper's Ferry in overwhelming
force. These suppositions both proved
untrue. as neither money nor arms were
disturbed.
TIE BEGINNING OF THE FIGHr-sHooTINC
PRISONER.
As the Gay advanced and the news
spread around, and people came into the
Ferry, the first demonstrations of resist
ancc were made to the insurrcctionists.
A guerilla warfare commenced, chiefly
led on by a man named Chambers, whose
house commanded the armory yard. The
colored man named Hayward, railroad
porter, was shot early in the morning for
refusing to join the movement. Next
man shot was Joseph Burley, citizen
of Harper's Ferry. He was shot whilst
standing in his own door. About this
time also Samuel p. Young, Esq, was
shot dead He was coming into the town
on horseback, carrying gun, when he
was shot from the armory, receiving a
wound of which he died during the day
He was graduate of West Point, and
greatly respected in the neighborhood for
his high character and noble qualities
The insurrectionists at this time, find
ing disposition to resist them, ha6 with
drawn nearly all within the armory
grounds, leaving only guard on the
bridge. About noon the Charlestown
troops, under command of Col. Robt
W. Baylor, arrived, crossing the Poto-
mac river some distance up and march
ing down the Maryland side to the mouth
of the bridge. Firing a volley they
made a gallant dash across the bridge,
clearing it of the insurrectionists, who
rctreated rapidly down toward the armo-
ry. In this movement one of the in
surrectionists, named VIM. Thompson,
was taken prisoner. The Shepherds
town troops next arrived, marching down
the Shenandoah side and joining the
Charestown forces at the bridge. A des-
ultory exchange of shots followed, one of
which struck Mr.. Fontainc Beckham,
Mayor of the town, and agent of the
Railroad company, in the breast, pass
ing entirely through his body the ball
was large elongated slug, making a
dreadful wound. He died almost imme-
diately. Mr. Fl was without arms, and
was exposed only for moment whilst
approaching the water station. His as
sailant, one of Browns sons, was shot
almost immediately, but managed to get
back to the engine house, where his dead
body was found the next day. The MUIR
der Of Mr.. Beckham excited the people,
and the cry was Immediately made TO
bring out the prisoner Thompson He
was brought out on the bridge and shot
down; from the bridge he fell into the
water. and some appearance of life still
remaining. he was again riddled with
balls.
SHARP FIGHTING COMMENCING.
At this time general charge was
made down tho street from the bridge
towards the armory gate by the Charles
town and Shepherdstowh troops and the
Ferry people. From behind the ara.orv
wall fusilade was keptup, and returned
by the insurrectionists from the armory
buildings. Whilst this was going on,
the Martinsburg levies arrived at the
upper end of the town, and, entering the
armory grounds by the rear, made an
attack from that end. This force was
largely composed of the railroad en-
ployees gathered from the tonnage trains
at Martinsburg, and their attack was
generally spoken of as showing the great
est amount Of fighting pluck exhibited
during the day. Dashing on, firing and
cheering, and CALAMITY led by Captain
Alburtis, they carried the building in
which the armory men were imprisoned
and released the whole of them. They
were however but poorly armed-some
with pistols and others with shot guns
aud when they came within range of the
engine house, where the elite Of the in
surrectionisis were gathered and were
exposed to their rapid and dexterons use
of Shapes rifles, they were forced to
fall back, suffering severely. Conductor