Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-12-15

| e"Sy "Spsieecu. w uie luo partiuS
scene was one which showed much in.
tensity Of feeling. there was no exhihi-
tion of passion. and after an embrace.
and kiss, and kind admonition from
Brown. they parted forever.
Mrs. Brown was conducted to her
carriage. and under . similar escort
with Capt. Moore. who was kind and
gentlemsnly in his department. the
carriage started for theFerry.
The substance of Browns interview
with his wife was relative to . settle
ment Of his monetary affsirs and the
disposition Of his body. Previous to
her arrival he had desired that his
body should be burned, and the ashes
thereof urned, and in that condition re-
moved. He also expressed desire
that the bodies of his two sons who
were killed at Hsrper's Ferry should
be disinterred, and after undergoing q
similar process. be placed in the same
urn with his own. and taken North.
This would have been impossible, ,ss
the physicians of Winchester had se-
cured their bodies and dissected them.
Gov. Wise had given an order TO
the effect that if any person called for
the body of Brown. who was entitled to
it, that the Sheriff should hand the
same over, and Mrs. Brown was assur.
red by the authorities that the body
would be sent to her address at Hsr-
per's Ferry. Brown spent some two
or three hours. last night. writing and
reading, and then retired to rest. He
slept soundly. and rose about six o.
clock. cheerful and apparently uncon-
cerned about the fate which awaited
him. About half past seven o'clock,
after partaking of his breakfast. jailor
Capt. Avis. who had been very kind to
Brown. and who had endesred him
self thereby. informed him that he
could visit Cook. Coppic and the other
prisoners, if he desired. Accordingly,
he was conducted into the room of
Cook first.
On entering. a kindly recognition
took place, when Capt. Brown said,
addressing Cook: Il am sorry you
have not confined yourself to truth in
your statement called your confession.
never sent you to Harper's Ferry as
spy. and your statement to that ef-
feet is false
Cook-'You certainly did
Capt. Brown Tin commanding
voice IL did not. sir; You have. by
your course. held yourselfup as an oh
ect Of contempt. and descrvedly so. ;
At this remark. Cooks head fell
and nc made no reply. Brown was
next conducted to Stevens's ROOM
The meeting between them WAS cor
dial. Brown remarked that he was
about To die, Stevens said. Il feel as
sured that you will go to better
world than this Capt. Brown said,
Conduct yourself like a man, | know
you will do so without my advising
They again shook hands and parted.
He then repaired to the room of Cop
pic, where a conversation almost SIM
liar took place. Thence he went to the
rooms of the negroes. whom he said
he expected to die like men, and as be-
came their condition and position
The negroes gave him the assurance
that they would die fearlessly. as they
were fully assured that their action
was just and proper. Brown then re-
turned to his room, and continued
writing for some time.
AS the hour approached for his exe-
cution. the Medical Faculty in attend
ancc. the Sheriff of the county and the
officers Of the Jail, visited his room and
conversed with him. Brown WAS
cheerful and talked as though the
hour which WAS appointed for his
death was Indifferent and far in the
future. Nothing of any material in
terest occurred in these interviews.
At nine o'clock, agreeably to the
general order. two military companies
commenced assuming their positions.
One company was stationed in front of
the Jail; another directly opposite the
Market House. and yet another in front
of the Court House. which was only a
few yards to the north of the prison.
Two pieces .'of brass cannon were
placed near the Jail wall, on the road
leading to the scaffold
At this time the military had as
sumed their position on the field, and
in the woods, to the north of the field
of execution. The cavalry were seen
scouting in every direction, while
mounted men were stationed all along
the fences of the field of execution, and
could be seen riding to the south and
east. apparently anxiously looking for
the anticipated rescue.
The Richmond Company F. were
assigned a position to the south of the
scaffold. and within fifty yards of it.
while the Cadets from the Virginia
Military Institute were stationed in
front, and within about the same dis.
tance. A company of Cavalry were
riding around the field. and two or
three companies of infantry were sta
toned within twenty yards of the
fences. as pickets.
Field officers, staff officers. and
officers of the day. and officers not of
the day. together with Aids to the
Governor. were dashing along on
spirited horses. riding to and fro,
apparently giving exhibitions Of ex-
cellent horsemanship, and rivalling
each other In this accomplishment.
Thus matters stood at half past ten
o'clock. when Gen. Taliaferro. with
his staff. consisting of thirty-seven
men, in various uniforms. and oil
mounted on spirited chargers. entered