The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-11-05


9 assault by the marines, one of the men
? cried out for quarter. He had lheard the
/ same man, in conversation with Brown
during the night, ask him if he was COM
hitting treason against his country in re-
! shsting the marines, to which Brown replied
that he was. The man then said, "Fll
| tight no longer'-that he thought he was
} merely lighting to liberate the slaves At
ter the attack was made on the engine
house two of Browns men cried for quar-
ter, and laid down their arms, but after the
marines burst open the door they picked
) them up again, and renewed the fight.
After the first attack, Captain Brown cried
out to surrender, but he was not heard;
did hot see him fire afterwards; saw Cop
pie attempt to fire twice. but the caps ex-
ploded. Witness saw Brown wounded on
the hip by thrust from a sabre, and sew
eral sabre cuts on the head. When the
latter wounds were given, Captain Brown
appeared to be shielding himself, with his
head down, but making no resistance. The
parties outside appeared to be firing as
they pleased.
Mayor Mills, master armorer, sworn
Witness was one of the hostages of Cap
tain Brown, confined in the engine-house;
before the general firing commenced, nego-
tiations were pending for the release of the
prisoners; aspaper was drawn up embrac-
ing certain terms, and borne by MIR. Brua
to the citizens outside; the terms were not
agreed to; the last time Mr.. Brua was out,
there was severe firing which l suppose
prevented his return; Browns son went
out with tiag of truce, and was shot; he
came back wounded; the prisoner attended
him, and gave him water; heard Brown
frequently complain that the citizens had
acted in barbarOus manner; he did not
appear to have any malicious feeling; he
undoubtedly expected re-enforcements;
said 1t would soon be night, and he would
have more assistance; his intentions were
to shoot nobody unlese they were carrying
or using arms; if you do, let them have it;
this was while the firing was going on.
Capt. Brown here asked the witness if
he saw any firing on his part which was not
purely defensive.
Witness-It might be considered in that
light, perhaps; the balls came into the en-
| glne-house pretty fast.
Question by Counsel--Did you not fire.
quently go to the door of the engine
house?
Witness-No, indeed Laughter.
A general colloquy ensued between the
prisoner, lying on his cot, and the witness,
as to the part taken by the prisoner in not
unnecessarily exposing his hostages to dan
No To e
asking these questions in his own way, and
interposing verbal explanations relative to
his conduct. The witness generally cor
robOrated his own version Of the circum-
stances attending the attack on the engines
house, but could not testify to all the Incl
dents that he enumerated. He did not
hear him say that he surrendered. Wit
nesses wife ard daughter were permitted
to visit him unmolested, and free verbal
communication was allowed with those out
side. We were treated kindly, but were
compelled to stay where we didn't want to
be. Blown appeared anxious to effect
compromise.
Samuel Snyder was sworn, but nothing
new was elected He confirmed the state
ment of the other witnesses that Brown en-
deavored TO protect his hostages, and con-
stantly said that he wished to make terms
more for their safety than his own.
Capt. Simms, commander Of a volunteer
company of Frederick, Md, was sworn
The report came to Frederick that 80
blacks and Abolitionists combined had seiz-
ed Harper's Ferry; witness started for the
Ferry with the volunteers under command
of Col Shriver, and was glad to find their
numbers were exaggerated after he reached
there on Monday afternoon; the door Of
the engine-house was partially open, and
: witness was hailed from there; two shots
had been fired from there; witnesswent in;
he met Mr.. Dangerfeld and others there;
Capt Brown said to witness that he had
: proposition to make, to which he listened;
he wanted to be allowed to go over the
bridge unmolested, and we then might
take him if we could-he had fought In
Gle Sam before, and was willing to do it
again; Brown complained that his men had
been shot down like dogs while bearing a
| flag of truce; told him they must expect to
be shot down like dogs, if they took up
arms in that way; Brown said he knew
what he had to undergo before he came
| there-he had weighed the responsibility,
, and should not shrink from it; he said he
} had full possession of the town, and could
: have mastered all the inhabitants had he
| thought proper to do SO, but as he had not
he considered himself entitled to some
terms; he said he had shot no one who had
not carried arms; told him that Mayor
Beckham had been killed, and that | knew
he was altogether unarmed; he seemed sor-
ry to hear of his death, and said, II fight
only those who fight me-" witness then
told the prisoner he did not think any COM
promise could be effected; Brown said he
kept the hostages for his own safety; they
did not appear to fear any injury from him
{ or his men, but only from attacks from the
outside; every man had a gun, and four
ffths of them were under no command !;
the military had ceased firing, but men
who were intoxicated were firing guns in
, / Il %; o,,1 o+hsrc Of tho nOoinn hOuSp {.