Smyrna times., 1859-10-20
Insurrection at Harper's Ferry.


surrection of very serious nature broke out c
Monday night, at Harper's Ferry, Va whic
has thrown the whole country into great e,
element. A body of men, Yariously stated ,
from $50 to 700, and designated as composed
whites and negroes, took possession of tn
whole town, seized The United States armor
and pay Office, undertook to arrest the railwa
trains, cut the telegraph wires, posted fore
at the bridge to stop the passage, and did vari
Gus other extraordinary things. The cause O
this riot is not known, but suggestion is tele
graphed that contractor had absconded, leav.
ing the workmen largely in arrears with their
pay, and that in revenge they had formed them.
selves into an organized force to plunder the
U. 5. pay Office of the money thought to be
there. About one hundred negroes participa.
ted in the affair, according to one account, by
eompusion. The rioters were armed with
rifles and other weapons taken from the U. S.
Arsenal, obeyed a leader named S. C. Ander-
son, expected reinforcements, and were we'll
disciplined. Great excitement prevailed at
Richmond on account of the news and the
rations to subdue the tumult The War De-
Partment at Washington had also sent three
companies of troops from Fort Monroe, besides
accompany C. marines.
The Philadelphia Bulletin of Tuesday even.
ing, contains the following information:
The troops arrived, and on Tuesday morning
succeeded in capturing the armory, though not
without determined resistance on the part of
the insurrectionists. Col. Shut approa ched
with flag of truce and demanded the surren-
der OF the armory after expostnlating for some |
time, the rioters refused. The marines then
advanced and made a charge, endeavorng TO
break open the door with sedge hammers, but
1t resisted all their efforts. A large ladder was
then used as battering-ram, and the door gave |
way. The rioters fired briskly and shot three
Of the marines, who exchanged shots through |
the partly broken door. The marines then
forced their way through the break, and in
few minutes all resistance was at an end. The
rioters we're brought out amidst the most in.
tense excitement, many of the armed militia
present trying to get an opportunity to shoot
them.
Captain Brown and his son (of the rioters)
were both shot; the latter is dead and the for
mer dying. He lies in the Armery enclosure
he talks freely, and says that he is the old Os-
sawattome Brown whose feats in Kansas have
had such wide notice. He says his whole OBJ
iecl was to free the slaves and justify his ac-
fhof ba boH of |
and could have murdered all the people and
had been murdered in return.
Anderson was also shot down in the assault
lie was from Connecticut.
There are probably thousand armed men
now cOngregated at Harper's Ferry.
Brown declared that there were none en-
gagged in the plot but those who accompanied |
him.
The prisoners are retained within the ar
mory enclosure.
Excitement in BaItimore-Baltinore Oct. ,
B-There is much excitement in the city, aud
nothing is talked of but the insurrecrion.
Governor Wise passed the Relay House this
morning, on his way to Harper's Ferry.
The telegraph line to Harper's Ferry is now g
=
the Government.
A portion of the insurgents have left under
the command of Capt. Bill Cook, with large I
party of slaves, all supposed to be moving to- 6
wards Pennsylvania.
Allen Evans, one of the insurgents, white
man, is lying here dying, with ball through
bis breast. He is from Connecticut, but has
been in Kansas. He says the whole scheme E
was got up by Brown, who represented that the {
negroes would rise by thousands, and Maryland
and Virginia would be made free States.
1t seems perfectly certain that the original
humber consisted of not more than twenty
white men and FIVE free negroes.
Captain Brown had been about here and !,
rented farm four miles off, which was the
rendezvous of the rioters. Captain Cook had
also lived in the vicinity, and at one time taught
school here. All the other white men are un-
known, but are supposed to be men who have
been connected with Brown in Kansas.
1t is reported, but not certain, that the riot
es have carried off a considerable amount of
government funds. No attempt was made to
plilage the town or 10 insult females.
The purpose of the insurrectionists seems to
have been to hold the town until several thou
sand slaves could be collected, and then make
stampede through Maryland and across the
Pennsylvania line. The parties that have
started will be Immediately pursued.
The general intention appears to be to hang
all the prisoners as soon as those in the Armory
ste captured in the morning.
Excitement in Frederick. ck.--Frederick, Oct.
i5 IA. m.--There is great excitemenG here
and in the surrounding country, in anticipation
Oh rising among the slaves.
The citizens are patroling in every direction
10 the number of not less than l,5O0. No
movement among the blacks has been discoy-
cred yet.
The Latest News--H Harper's Ferry. Oct. le, |
Il o'clock, p. m.-The Secretary OF War has
teegraphed to Col. Lee, that Mr.. Ould, the
District Attorney for this district, will proceed
ia'lhwith to Haryer's Ferry. to take charge of
The legal proceedings against the prisoners and