Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-10-29
More News colcsraingfhe tnsurrec!iol
at Harper'SfFer
History Of "Ossawhtamie" Brown.

We copy from The New OK neIaiu
the following history df The leader of tie
insurrection at Harpeis Ferry. 1t VIII
be read with interest dmi is important IN
forming correct conrlnsin as to the reaI
character of the ou,5r9ak and the extent OF
its ramifcations il thdFe are any.
Cap,ain John Brow IN emigratcd 10 Kan
sas from Central NeI York in the lAli of
1855, and settled in the township at Us
sawatamie. lie was accompanied by
seven sons, the YOUNG 9esrhemc o'd enough
I, earn his livcIiboodl The birthplace Of
Brown is not positively known 10 the
writer, but report has ii ihat he was born
in Kentucky. At the time of his death
he was about sixty years ot ace. He
was about medium height, slim, muscular,
and possessing an iron constitution. lie
had blue eyes, sharp features, and long
grey hair wearing full beard.
In December, 1855, during the "Shan-
non war," Brown first made his appear
ance among the free State men at Law
renee. His enirancd into the place al
once attracted the atention Of the people
towards him. He btOught wagon load
of cavalry sabres and was accompanied
by twelve men, several Of whom were
his own sons. He first exhibited bis
Qualities at the time the free State and pro-
slavery parties, undd Or the lead o! Cover
nor Robinson, on one side, and Governor
Shannon on the othef, met 10 make a
treaty Of peace. Alter Governor Robin
son had stated 10 the, people who were
-
gathered around ;hetholcl The terms ol the
peace, Brown took The stand, uninviteC,
and opposed the terms OF the treaty. tie
was in favor Of ignoring al treaties, and
such leading men al Robinson, Lane and
Lowry, and proceeding at once against
the border rulfian invaders, DIVE them
from the soil, or hang them if taken.
Gen. Lowry, who was Chairman OF the
Committee on Safety, and also COM
mander Of the free State troops, ordered
Brown under arrqst. The latter made no
physca resistance, but 1t was soon dlS-
covered that he Was altogether too COM
bustible person o retain as a prisoner
and a compromise was made with By the
free State men, aid he was released. He
was informed by The leaders of that party
that his remarks were intended 10 undo
what they were tying to accomplish by
means of the treaty ; that he was strang-
er in Lawrence and Kansas, and ought
not by his rash remarks 10 compromiseihe
people of Lawrenc ce until lie had known
them longer and knew them better.
One of his sons, who was elected 10
the Legislature i'm February, 1886, was
seized and taken from Ossawaiamle TO
Lecompton in chains, distance OF thirty
miles. His feet and hands we're chained
together with a large heavy chain, the size
of tina, used upon OK teams. lie was
compelled TO walk the whole distance be-
meath burning sun. The irons wore
the flesh from his ankles /; he was attack
ed with the brain fever, was neglected,
and died in two or three days. He was
companion of Gov. Robinson jenkins
(since shot by I4ane,) and some eight or
ten others. Another son of Capt. Brown
was shot al OssawatamIe by m0raudlng
par,y from Missouri After the death Of
his first son, occasioned BY the tortures
and fatigue Of his forced march, Brown
swore vengeance uprn the pro-savery
party, and it was frequently observed by
the more prudent Of the free State men
that he was evidently insane on the sub
iecl. He was always considered by them
as dangerous man, was never taken into
their councils, and never consulted by
them with reference either TO their policy
or movements.
The destruction of the Free State Hotel
and presses al Lawrence, in May, 1897
iucled him anew TO action, and organized
a small company. composed chiefly oI
men who had been robbed, or whose rela'
tives had been 10 murdered by the pro sla-
very party, and at The head Of this 9ano
armed with Sharp's rifles, bowie knives
and Colts reyoIyerS, he secured Southern
Kansas, and the name Of "Old Brown
became terror 10 al who opposed his
will in that region. While he was thus
marauding, five pro slavery men were Ia
ken from their cabins at POuawaitOmle
Creek, in the mig bit time, and sho, dead.
The pro-sIavery party charged this deed
upon Old Brown, while the free Sale par
~ asserted that hey could Prove him in
Lawrence, forty miles distant, when ii
happened, and tA the horrid deed was
perpetraied by 9Butord's Georgia Ruf- |
fars," suppoSlng that the victims were
free Stale men.
The news of this massacre reached
Ne,tport, Mss4 4uri, the place of rendez
vOus Of the "hn1d TntiIans, the same
evening that thd Kansas Commission,
s.n, ont hu ihe Iiniled Stales NOnse Of