Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-20

clearing IL OF the lnsurrcctlOnists VINO rctrcal-
ed rapidly down toward the Armory. In
this movement one of the insurrectlonists,
named VIM. Thompson, was taken prisoner.
The Shepherdstown troops next arrived.
marching down the Shenandoah side and
joining the Charlestown forces at the bridge.
A desultory exchange of shots followed. one
of which struck Mr. Fontaine Beckham.
Mayor of the town and agent Of the Railroad
Company, in the breast, passing entirely
through his body, the ball, large elon.
gated slug making dreadful wound. lie
died almost Immediately. MIR. Beckham was
without arms and was exposed only Tor amo-
ment whilst approaching the water station.
His assalant, one of Browns sons, was shot
almost Immediately, but managed I" get
back to the engine-house, where hls dead body
was found the next day.
The murder of Mr. Beckham excited the
people, and the cry was Immediately made to
bring out the prisoner Thompson. lie was
brought out on the bridge and shot down;
from the bridge he fell into the water, and
some appearance of life still remaining he
was again riddled with lalls.
At this time general charge was made
down the street from the bridge towards the
Arnory gate hy the Charlcstown and Shep-
herdstown troops and the Ferry people
From behind the Armrry wall. u tusilade WAS
kept up and returned by the inSurrectlonlsts
from the armory buildings. Whilst this was
going on, the Martinshurg levies arrived ut
the upper end Of the town, and entering the
Armory grounds by the rear, made an at
tack from that end This force was largely
composed Of the railroad employees, gather
ed from the tonnage trains at Martinsburg
and their attack was generally spoken of n
showing the greatest amount Of fighting
pluck exhibited during the day. Dashing
on, firing and cheering. and gallantly led by
Captain Alburtis. they carried the building
in which the Armory men We're imprisoned,
and released the whole of them. They were
however but poorly armed, some with pistols
and others with shot guns, and when they
care within range Of the engine house.
where the elite of the insurrectiunists were
gathered and were exposed to their rapid
and dexterous use of Sharp's rifles, they
were forced to fall back, suffering pretty Sc
verely Conductor Evan Dorsey of Balti-
more was mortally wounded, and Conductor
George Richardson received a wound from
which he died during the day. Several
others were wounded, among them son of
DR.. Murphy, of lIarper's Ferry.
a guerilla warfare was maintained during
the rest of the day, resulting in the killing
of three of the insurgents and the woundimg
of fourth One of them crawled out
through culrert leading into the Potomac,
and attempted to cross to the Maryland side,
whether with view Of escaping or of con-
veying information to Cook 5 party, was not
river, and fell dead on the rocks. An ad-
venturous lad waded out and secured his
Sharp's rifle, and the body was afterwards
stripped of a portion of its clothing. In one
of his pockets was found captains com
mission, drawn up in full form, declaring the
bearer, Capt. Lehman, held that command
under Major General Brown 4 light mu-
latto was also shot just outside the Armory
gate. The ball went through and through
his throat, tearing away the great arteries
and killing him almost Instantly. His name
was not known, but he is one Of the free ne
grucs who came with Captain Brown. His
body was left exposed in the street up to
noon yesterday, exposed to every indignity
populace. AT this time II tall powerful man,
named Aaron Stevens came out from the Ar
mory conducting some prisoners, it was said,
and shot twice, once in the face, and once i'll
the breast. He was captured, taken into the
tavern, and after the instruction had been
quelled. was turned over in a dying condition
to the United States authorities. Another
man was shot in the Arsenal yard
During the afternoon sharp little affair
took place on the Shenandoah side of the
town. The insurrectiunlsts had also selAed
Halls rifle works. and party .! their as
sailan;s found their way iii through the
mill race and dislodsed them. In this rem
cuuntre it is said that three of the insurrec-
tionsts were killed, but We found but one
dead body, that of negro on that side of
the city. Night by this time had Come on
and active operations ceased. Guards were
placed around the Armory, and every precau-
ton taken to prevent escapes.
At 10 o'clock on Monday night; the train
with the Baltimore military and United
States marines arrived at Sandy Hook, where
they waited for the arrival of Col. Lee, drpu-
tised by the War Department to take COM
mand The reporters found the bridge in
possession of the military, and entered the
besiegcd and beleagured town without dItfl-
Guilty the occasional report OF a gun or the
singing noise Of a Sharp's rifle ball, warn
ing them that it was advisable to keep out
OF range of the Armnry. Their first visit
was to the bedside Of Aaron Stevens, the
wounded prisoner. They found him a large
exceedingly athletic man, perfect Sampson
in appearance. He was in a small room,
filled with excited armed men, who more
than once threatened 10 shoot him where he
was, groaning with pain, but answering with
composure and apparent willingness every
question in relation 10 the lnrav IN which he
was engaged He said he WAS native of
Connecticut. but had lately lived III Kansas,
where he knew Captain Brown. lie had
also served il the United States Army. The
sole object OF the attempt was to give the ne
groes freedom, and Captain Brown had rep
resented that as soon as they seized the Ar
mory the negroes would soon flock to them,
by thousands and they would have force
enough to accomplish their purposes. lie
believed that the freeing of the negroes was
a proper purpose, one for which he would
sacrifice bis life, but thought that Captain
Brown had been greatly deceived in relation
10 the movement, lie said preparations had
been making for some months for the move
ment, but that the whole force consisted of
seventeen white men and five free negroes
This statement was repeated without varia-
ton by all the prisoners with whom we con-