The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-20
ROT AT HARpER,s FERRY.

The community was startled on Monday By
report from Harper's Ferry, that the negroes
had revolted, and taken possession of the Uni
ted States Armory at that place; that they had
stopped the passage Of the railroad trains, and
cat the telegraph wires. Other accounts rep
resented the affair as q riot Of the workmen
who have been employed in the Arnory, who
pressed the negroes into their service, either
to make them fight or to sell them South
The Baltimore newspapers are filed with the
most tragic accounts from ell sorts of irrespon
sible and evidently reckless sources, represent
ing the outbreak as a bloody insurrection oil
slaves, headed by two hundred and City white
Abolitionists. The absurdity of these stories
must be apparent to any ouewho win reAec,
that Harper's Ferry is located in a section OF
Virginia which has comparatively few, slaves,
with considerable white population. In
1850, the whites in the county were more than
twice as numerous as the slaves and free blacks
and at the present time the disparity of the
races is much greater. In the village or town
at the Armory, the white population is proba-
bly, ten or twenty times as numerous as the
negroes 1t is therefore absurd to suppose
that the negroes could dream of successful
revolt under such circumstances Equally alb
surd is the supposition that the whole body OF
workmen employed in the Armory are Adolf
tionists, and that they could hope to succeed
in iberadng the slaves.
There san ho No doubt that .baeo Il bouo-, -
mechanics, employed by the Government and
by contractors, have been guilty of rioting, for
what protocation we have yet to learn and
having engaged in riotipg for their own private
ends, it is not improbable that they may have
forced the negroes into their service, and pos.
sibly they may have fattered their hopes OF
freedom By way of stimulating them to action.
We need Aot say that all such friends to the
negroes are their worst enemies, and that no
wise or good man will sympathize in such
bloody enterprises.
1t would be needless consumption of our
space to publish all the conflicting rumors
which have found their way into the press, but
the following dispatches may serve as speci-
mems. Monococy is between Harper's Ferry
and Baltimore.
Monocoy Bridge-Aidnight.-A train has
just returned from Harper's Ferry, being re-
fused permission to pass. The insurgents are
increasing. The baggage master of the train
was permitted to pass into the town, when he
was marched into the Armory, where he found
about si4 hundred runaway negroes. Mr..
Washington, of Jefferson, came down with his
wife and servant the latter was taken, aud
Mr.. Washington and his wife tied in their car
riage. The place appeared deserted by the in
habitants, few only remaining. The bag
gage master was permitted to return, under es-
cort, to his train. The same party reports about
two hundred white men engaged in the insur-
rection. Everything had been plundered, and
all appeared determined to fight. t (.
The following dispatch from the master of
trains, Ishfey has just been received here from
the other side of Harper's Ferry. Mr.. Difey
telegraphed from Martinsburg, via Wheeling,
that body of armed men have taken posses
sion of the Armory at Harper's Ferry, and have
planted guns on our bridge. They have stop
ped all our tonnage and mail trains east and
west Of the bridge. The telegraph wires are
cut. No communications east A body of
armed men are getting ready to leave here at
pass. Great excitement prevails all through
the neighborhood. 1t is now evident that par.
ties have fortified, and will make desperate
resistance. I'd El .tsi[
The directors of the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad, with their families, are on an excur.
sion, and have also been stopped at Harper's
Ferry. A 9
Our train is ordered 10 let Major Lee over
take us. The Frederick companies who went
on at 3 p. M. have not since been heard from.
The arrangements of the railroad company arc
very comfortable. They have fully provided
for removing distinctions, or constructing new
road, if necessary. We take on here TWO addi-
tional pieces of artillery and an additional sup
ply of ammunition from Frederick.
The Secretary Of the Navy on Monday received
dispatch from the President of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, which described the affair
as riot Of the workmen of the Armory, and
barely mentioned it as rumor that the Adolf
tionists had stimulated an insurrection. The
following dispatch from Washington gives the
probable Cause of the riot: .8t
Washington, Oct. l7.-In view of the posi-
bility of the disturbances at Harpers Ferry ex.
tending to this vicinity, the Mayors Of Washing
ton and Alexandria have taken precautionary
steps for its suppression. The President,
through the Mayor of Washington, ordered a
strong detachment of volunteers to be posted at
the Natioial and Company Armories, which has
heen promptly done. Two hundred stand Of
muskets and ammunition have also been placed
in the CITY Hall for an emergency.
1t has been suggested here by well-informed
persons that the cause of the instruction is the
cd fact hot 1ou, @, 40 L.
for the construction of the Government dam at
Harper's Ferry absconded, largely indebted to
several hundred employees, who may have taken
this step b indemnify themselves by the seizure
of the Gosernment funds, which, it is supposed
we're transported thither on Saturday. A gen.
tleman jut arrived from Harper's Ferry thinks
the blacls have participated in the outbreak
only on qompulsion. alI4 IA, ~
1t is understood that the troops from Balti-
more cannot pass the river unless per order of
the President of the United States or the Gov.
ernor of Virginia, neither of which have given
the necessary orders. 1t is also understood that
General Steuart has been informed that Colonel
Lee, of ne army, has full instructions, and is
authorized to issue the order if it should be
found necessary. The troops from Frederick
are undei orders from Washington to cross the
river into Virginia. .t
We giie the following story for what it is
worth. We have no faith in the "dying con.
fession ~
Harper's Ferry, Oct. ISL A. M.-Train
arrived and halted below town, where runners
communicated the state of affairs. The Jeffer-
son county fgiment had entered the town from
the virginA side, and the Frederick troops
crossed thelbridge. There had been a good
deal of firig, and some nine persons were
Mr.. BecAam, agent of Railroad Company,
was shot Though, and bis murderer fell almost
at the samdinstant, pinned BY rife ball from
q friend of beckham.
The troois have landed, and are in the town.
The insurgents are willing to surrender, but on