The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-18
Arms Taken and Sent into the
Interior.
The Bridge Fortified and Defended
by Cannon.
Trains Fired into and Stopped---seyeral Per-
sons Telegraph Wires Cut---
Contributions Levied on the Citizens.
Troops Despatched Against the Insurgents
from Washington and Baltimore,

SPECIAL DISPATCHES TO TIE HERALD.
WASHINGTON, Oct II, 1859.
A telegraph despatch has Just been received by
the Secretary Of War from Mr.. Garrett, President
Of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, stating that
serious affair has occurred at Harper's Ferry,
whore the United States Armory and the bridge
are in possession Of large band of armed men,
said to be aboltionists, but thought to be Armory
men. The guns from the Armory have been
taken for offensive use, and the leaders notified
our men that no trains shall pass the Armory
and Bridge. Our officers were fred upon, and
laborer nearly killed. The wires being cut, we
got our advices from the next station. He asks
the Secretary Of War to get the government to
allow the military Of Washington and Baltimore to
90 on in the three o'clock train this afternoon and
render them such assistance "a may be necessary.
The Cabinet are now in session upon the matter.
The government immediately ordered that
company Of marines from Washington barracks
should leave this afternoon, under the command Of
Colonel Harris, for Hsgper's Ferry, and if neces-
sary any further assistance that may be required.
Colonel Robert Lee, Of the army, will command
theUnited States forces. He leaves in the after
noon train with company Of marines, and win be
joined on the Ohio Railroad by company Of yolun.
tcers from Maryland. Troops have been ordered
from Old Point.
WASHINGTON, Oct. II, 1859.
passenger who has just arrived here, who left
Harper's Ferry this morning, having been detained
statements received to-day by the Secretary of
War.
This gentleman, who is an intelligent man, states
that negro instruction Of q formidable charac-
ter, headed by white men, is in active operation.
They are fully armed with muskets and other arms,
which they had seized at the Armory. They had,
when the train left, taken all of the white citizens
SO my informant says, and held them as prisoners
They number one hundred and fifty, and recruits
were coming in constantly from the surrounding
county,
Ny informant says that they told him that they
would have, by one O'Clock to-day, over seven hun
bred negroes and white men. The object Of this
movement was to obtain their freedom.
They had cut of all the avenues of communica-
ton with the town, and refused to let any leave the
place. They allowed the train that my informant
was in to pass, after detention Of five hours,
giving the conductor only five minutes to decide; If
not, they would seize them and lock them up in
the Armory. He says they barely escaped with
their lives.
The Secretary Of War received some time since
an anonymous letter, stating that foray would be
made by negroes. headed BY white men, upon
Harpers Ferry, Wheeling, and other points in vir-
ginia, about the middle Of October. At the time
he thought nothing Of It, and gave It no attention
whatever; but it looks from this movement a.
though they have been organizing for some time,
and intended to carry ii out
THE GENERAL NEWSPAPER pEsPArCHEs,