The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-10-27

uia1SiJ oieei their arrival, Wnen Ool'
Lee stationed them within the Armory
grounds, so as to completely surround
the engine house. Occasionally shots
were fired by country volunteers, but
what for was not ascertained. There
was only one return fire from the in
surgents.
This was the condition of things at
daylight, about which time Capt. Cook.
with two white men, accompanied by
thirty slaves, and taking with them
Col. Washington's large wagon, wen,
over the bridge and struck up the
mountain road towards Pennsylvania.
1t was then believed that the large
wagon was used to convey away the
Paymaster's safe, containing $4,000
Government funds, and also that it was
filled with Mimic rifles, taken out to
supply other bands in the mountains,
who were to come down upon Harper's
Ferry in overwhelming force. These
suppositions proved untrue, as neither
money nor arms were disturbed. AS
day advanced and news spread around,
and people came into the Ferry, the
first demonstration of resistance were
made to the insurrectionists.
A general warfare commenced, chief.
ly led on by man named Chambers,
whose house commanded the Armory
yard. The colored man named Hay
ward, railroad porter, was shot early
in the morning for refusing to join in
the movement. a7
The next man shot was Joseph Bur-
ley, citizen of Perry. He was shot
standing in bis own door. The insur-
rectionists by this time, finding a dis
position to resist them, had withdrawn
nearly all within the Armory grounds.
leaving only guard on the bridge.
About this time, also, Samuel p.
Young, Esq, was shot dead. He was
coming into town on horseback, carry
ing a gun, when he was shot from the
Armory, receiving wound of which
he died during the day. He was a
graduate of West Point, and greatly
respected in the neighborhood for his
high character and noble qualities.
Ataboutnoon, the Charleston troops.
under command of Col. Robert w.
Bayler, crossed the Susquehanna Riv-
err some distance up, and marched
down the Maryland side to the mouth
of the bridge. Firing a volley, they
made gallant dash across the bridge
clearing it of the insurrectionists, who
retreated rapidly down toward the
Armory. In this movement of the in.
surrectionists, man named VIM.
Thompson was taken prisoner.
The Shepherdstown troops next ar
rived, marching down the Shenandoah
side, and joining the Charleston for
ces at the bridge. A desultory ex-
change of shots followed, one of which
struck Mr.. Fountain Beckham, Mayor
of the town, and agent of the railroad
company, entering his breast and pass
ing entirely through his body. The
ball was large elongated slug, and
made dreadful wound. Mr.. Beck
ham died almost Immediately. He
was without fire arms, and was expos
cd for only moment while approach
ing a water station. His assailant, one
of Browns sons, was shot almost i'm
mediately, but managed to get back to
the engine-housc, where his body was
found next day.
The murder Of Mr. Bcckham great
" excited the populace, who immedi-
ately raised cry to bring out the pris-
oner Thompson. He was brought out
to the bridge, and there shot down.
He fell into the water, and some APP
pearance of life still remaining, he was
riddlcd with balls.
AT this time the general charge was
made down the street from the bridge
toward the Armory gate by the
Charleston and Shepherdstown troops
and Ferry people. From behind the
Armory wall fusilade was kept up,
and returned by the insurrectionists
from the Armory buildings.
While this was going on the Martins
burg levies arrived at the upper end OF
the town, and entering the Armory
grounds from the rear, made an attack
from that side. This force was largely
composed of railroad employees, gath
cred from the tunnage trains at Mar
tinsburg, and their attack was general.
ly spoken of as showing the greatest
amount of fighting pluck exhibited
during the day. Dashing on, firing
and cheering, and CALAMITY led by
Capt. Alburtis, they carried the build
ing in which the Armory men were
imprisoned, and released the whole Of
them.
They were, however, but poorly
armed, some with pistols, and Others
with shot guns; and when they came
within range of the engine house
where the elite of the i1surrectionists
were gathered, and were exposed to
the rapid and dextrous use of Sharp's
rifles, they were forced to fall back,
suffering pretty severely. Conductor
Evans Dorsey, of Baltimore, was kill
ed instantly, and Conductor Geo
Richardson received a wound from
which he died during the day. Sever.
al others were wounded. among them
a son of DR.. Hammond, of Martins
burg.
A guerilla warfare was maintained
during the rest of the day, resulting in
the killing of two of the Instruction
lists and the wounding of third
One crawled out through a culyert
leading into the Potomac, and attempt