Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-11-04
.furan at Garper's Grrrp.
COL. wAsHINGToN's CAPTURE.

In the preliminary examination of
witnesses in the case ofthe Harper's Fer
ry insurgents before the justices at
Charlestown, Va, commenced on the
25th ult., Col. Lewis w. Washington
testified that at one o'clock on the Sun
day night previous to the outbreak he
was asleep in bed at his house six miles
from the Ferry, and was awokc bynoise;
heard his name called; went out into
the room and was surrounded by six men.
Stevens appeared to be in command !;
Cook, Coppee, and two negro prisoners
were along and another white man,
whom he afterwards recognized as Kagi.
Col Washington then proceeded to de-
tail all particulars Of his being taken
prisoner with his negroes to the arsenal,
and subsequent events up to the attack
by the marines and delivery. In a pre-
vous written statement made by Col
Washington, and Which is quite interest
ing, he states that when he first opened
the door in the hall three Shapes rifles
were levelled and cooked at him, and in
addition Stevens stood with revolver in
his right hand, and in his left lighted
fambeau Col Washington adds:
was then told | was a prisoner,
and cue of them said, don't be fright
encd,' | replied, do you see anything
that looks like fright about me?' No.
he said, onl J want to say that if you
surrender, and come with us freely you
are safe told them | understood thai
sufficiently, and there was no necessity
for further explanation. But | was
struck with the number Of men sent
against me, and asked what need there
was of so many, as there was no danger
of an unarmed Juan in his night shirt
resisting an armed force | was told to
put on my clothes, and Of course com
piled. Perhaps said, while am
dressing you will be SO good as to tell me
what all this mcansY ! inquired what
the weather was outside, aud one of them
advised me to put on oycrcoat, as it was
rather chilly Another said they wanted
my arms, and | opened the gun chest for
them to help themselves. They then
explained their mission, which they re-
presented to be purely philanthropic-to
wit, the emancipation of all the slaves in
the country
After | was dressed Stevens said to
me, Have you got any money! ! re-
piled, wish | had a great deal Be
careful, sir, said he, told him III had
any money knew how to take care Of it,
and he could not get it. Said he, Have
you watch ? My reply was, i have
but you cannot have it. You have set
yourselves up as great moroists and lib
orators Of slaves; low it appears that you
are robbers as WE'LL BE careful, sir,
said he again. | told them | was dressed
and ready to go. They babe me wait a
short time, and my carriage would be at
the door. They had ordered my car
riagc for me, and pried open the stable
door to get it out. My servant, whom
they had forced along was driving. !
suspected they were only robbers, and
was expecting all along that they would
turn off at some point, but they drove
directly to the armory.
Brown came out aud invited me in,
saying there was comfortable fire, and
/ shortly afterwards met with Mr.. All
stadt, whom they had arrested on the
way, and brought along in my buggy
wagon Brown told us to make ourselves
and added, by and by |
shall require each Of you, gentlemen, to
write to some Of your friends to send a
stout negro man in your places This
was by way Of ransom. He told us he
must see the letter lefore it was sent,
and he thought after this was effected
they could make an arrangement by
which we could return determined in
my own mind not to make the requisi-
ton, but he never made application for
it, having other matters before the day
expired attracting his attention.
/" Ny sword, which had been presented
by Frederick the Great to General Wash
ington, was taken from my house. with !
other arms. This man Cook had been
ut my house some time before and seen
the arms, and at that time beat him
At shooting, aud he told me ] was the |
best shot he had ever met. On the way /
10 lIar2cr's Ferry he asked me if | had |
shot any since that time, aud said he
owed me an apology for being with this
party after being so well-trcated by me.
| told him that it WIGS Of no consequence
lbout the apology, but would ask one
'avor Of him, which was to use his inAu-
,nce TO have returned TO me the old /
word and an old pistol which, in the
present improved stote Of arms, were on
y valuable in consideration Of their his /
DRY. He promised 10 attend to il, and |
shortly after reaching the armory found !
his sword in old Browns hand. Said |
Brown, i will take especial care Of it, |
md shall endeayor to return it to you |
after you are released lie carried the |
sword in bis hands all day Monday, until /
after the arrival Of the military. Upon
TIC first announcement Of the arrival Of
the militia Brown came into the room
,nd picked out ten Of us whom he sup |
posed to be the most prominent mon.
lie told US we might be assured Of good !
treatmcDt because, in case lie got The
worst Of it in this fight, the possession Of
US would be Of service in procuring good
terms we could exercise great influence
with our fellow-citizens; and as for me,
be knew If was out ! should do my
duty, and in my position as aid to the
Governor, should be most dangerous
foe. Then we were taken into the en-