The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-16
Confession Of John e. Cooke. History
Of his Connection with the Traitors.


of the written confession of Cooke, as it was
given in the Charlestown Jail, and read to
the Court and jury on his trial. Itposses-
ses considerable interest, and throws some
light upon the original intention of the
Harper's Ferry treasonous conspiracy. The
names that be mentions, and the character
Of the completely of certain parties in the
infamous Enterprise, all belong to history.
He says:
became acquainted with Captain John
Brown in his camp on Middle Greek, Kan
sas Territory, just after the battle of Black
Jack and was with him in said camp until
it was broken up, and his company disband.
ed by Colonel Sumner, of the First Cavalry.
U. S. A. next saw him at the Convention
at Topeka, which wos on the 4th of July,
1856. l next met him, some days after.
wards, in Lawrence. Did, not see him
again until the fall of 1857, when l met
him at the house of E. B. Whitman, about
four miles from Lawrence Kansas Territory,
which, think, was about the first of
November following. l was told that he
intended to organize company for the
purpose of putting stop to the aggressions
of the pro-slavery men. l agreed to join
him. and was asked ii 1 knew of any other
young men, who were perfectly reliable,
whom 1 thought would join also. l recon-
mended Richard Realf, L. F. Parsons, and
Ri. Hinton. received a note on the
next Sunday morning, while at breakfast in
the Whitney House, from Captain Brown,
requesting me to come up that day, and to
bring Realf, Parsons and Hinton with me.
Realf and Hinton were not in town, and
therefore I could not extend to them the in.
vitation. Parsons and myself went, and had
a long talk With Capt Brown.
A few days afterward, 1 received another
note from Capt. Brown, which read, as near
as l can recollect, as follows
"CAPT. COOK-Dear Sir You will please
get every thing ready to join me at Topeka by
Monday night next Come to Mrs. Sheridan s,
two miles south of Topeka. and bring your
arms, ammunition, clothing and other articles
yon may require. Bring Parsons with you if
he can get ready in time. Please keep very
quiet about the matter.
JOHN BROWN"
1 made all my arrangements for starting
at the time.appointed. Parsons, Realf and
Hinton could not get ready. I left them at
Lawrence, and started in carriage for To
peka. Stopped at the hotel over night and
left early the next morning for Mrs. Sheri-
dams, to meet Captain Brown. Staid
day and half at Mrs. SIS; then left for
Topeka, at which place we were Joined by
Stephens, Mofet and Kagi. Left Topeka
for Nebraska City, and encamped at night
on the prairie northeast of Topeka. Here,
for the first, learned that we were to leave
Kansas to attend military school during
the winter. 1t was the intention of the party
to 60 to Ashtabula Co., Ohio. Next morn.
Ing was sent back to Lawrence to get
draft of $50 cashed, and to get Parsons,
Realf and Hinton to 60 back with me. I
got the draft cashed. Captain Brown had
given me orders to take boat to st. Joseph,
Missouri, and stage from there to Tabor,
Iowa, where he would remain for few days.
l had to wait for Realf for three or four
days: Hinton could not leave at that time.
started with Realf and Parsons on
stage for Leavenworth. EThe boats had
stopped running on account of the ice.
Staid one day in Leavenworth, and then
left for Weston, where we took stage for St.
Joseph, and from thence to Tabor. found
G. P. Tidd and Leeman at Tabor. Our
party now consisted of Captain John Brown,
Owen Brown, A. D. Stephens, G. Moffett,
G. P. Tidd, Richard Robertson, Colonel
Richard Realf, L. F. Parsons, VIM. Lee
man and myself. We stopped some days at
Tabor, making preparations to start. Here
we found that Captain Browns ultimate
destination was the State of Virginia. Some
warm words passed between him and my
self in regard to the plan, which l had sup
posed was to be confined entirely to Kansas
and Missouri. Realf and Parsons were of
the same opinion with me. After good
deal of wrangling, We consented to 90 on, as
we had not the means to return, and the
rest of the party were so anxions that we
should 60 with them. At Tabor we pro-
cured teams for the transportation of about
two hundred Sharpe's rifles, which had been
taken on as far as Tabor one year before, at
which place they had been left, awaiting the
order of Captain Brown. There were also
other stores, consisting of blankets, clothing,
boots, ammunition, and about two hundred
revOlvers of the Massachusetts, arms patent,
all of which were transported across the
State of Iowa to Springdale, and from there
to Liberty, at which place they were shipped
for Ashtabula county, Ohio, where they re
manned till brought to Chambersburg, Pa.
and were from there transported TO house
in Washington, county. Maryland, which
Captain Brown had rented from six months
and which was situated about five miles from
Harper's Ferry.
1t was the intention of Captain Brown to
sell bis teams in Springdale, and with the
proceeds to go on with the rest of the COM
pany to some place in Ashtabula County,
Ohio, where we were to have good military
instructor during the winter, but he was
disappointed in the sale. AS he could not
get cash for the teams, it was decided we
should remain in the neighborhood of Spring
dale, and that our instructor, Colonel n.
Forbes, should be sent on. We stopped in
Pedee, Iowa, over winter, at Mr.. Maxson 8,
where we pursued course of military
studies. Colonel II. Forbes and Captain
Brown had some words, and he Colonel F. }
did not come on consequently, A. D. Ste-
phens was our drill master. The people
Of the neighborhood did not know Of our
purpose. We remained at Pedee till about
r.