Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-28

per's Ferry.
In this issue Of the enquirer will be found
the official report of Col. John L. Gibson of53th
regiment and Col. Robert W, Baylor, Col. Com
handing Virginia troops at IIarpsr'S Ferry.
These official reports conclusively deny every
insinua,ion against the troops Of Virginia al
~IIarper's Ferry, and show that notwithstanding
the troops were under the impression that Tho
insurgents numbered very large; they boldly
and efficiently attacked them, and drove them
into the arsenal and engine-house; they did not
assault the cngine-house because, in the dark
ness Of the night, the lives of citizens OF Nir'
GINA, their prisoners, would have been need
lessly hazarded. During the night, Col. Lee Of
the L.. 5. Army, in command Of the Marines,
arrived, and took possession Of the Govern
ment property. Let every iair-minded lnau
read these reports, for they contain a complete
yindicatioa of the Virginia troops from the
false insinua,ion of Black Republican newspa,
per reporters.
OFFICIAL REPORTS
HARPER : TERRY, Vel. 10, 1907.
HENRY \. WISE, Governor Of Virginia:
Sir:-lour order, per telegraph, dated Rich
uond, Va, the 18th inst, calling my attention
to section lst, chapter 29th, of the Code, and
10 the fact that the Arsenal and Government
property at ~llarper's Ferry were in possession
Of a band of rioters, was not received till about
II o'clock. A. VI. TO day, in consequence of the
Geographic posts round about here having been
cut down by an audacious band Of insurgents
and robbers.
On the morning Of the 18th instant re-
ceiyed information at Charlestown that a band
Of abolitioniStS from the North had taken pos
session of the Arsenal and work shops OF the
Government located here that they had killed
several Of our citizens, taken others and held
them as prisoners, aud that they had in posses
sion q large number o. slaves, who, on the
night Of the 10th instant, were iorciblv taken
from their masters.
| immediately ordered out the Jefferson
Guard" and the citizens Of Charlestown, which
order was quickly responded to, and by 10
o'clock, y. ", they were armed and eli route
for this place. We left Charlcstown with about
one hundred men, and on reaching Hail
town midway between Charlcstown and
f~Iarper's Ferry.) we learned that the in
surgents were in large numbers, and we at
once dispatched orders to Col. l.. T. Moore, Of
Frederick county, and to the "llamtramck
Guards" and Shcphcrdstown Troop, ito rein.
force immediately" We reached ~llarper'S
Ferry about half.past eleven o'clock, A. NJ, and
took our position on Camp Hill. We immedi.
atcly dispatched the Jefferson Guards" COM
manded by Capt. j.. W. Rowan, and Licutcn-
ants II. Is. Davenport, +. ii. Campbell, and w.
W. b. Gallaher, 10 cross the Potomac river,
about a mile west Of the Ferry, and march
down o. the Maryland side, and take posses
sion of the Potomac bridge and 4 company of
the citizens Of Charlcstown and vicinity,
commanded by Capt. l.. Bolts, and Lieuten-
ant +. Lakeland, TO cross the Winchester,
and Potomac railroad, by way Of Jcilcrson's
rock, to take possession Of the Gait House, in
rear Of the Arsenal, and commanding the en-
trance to the Arlnory yard. Capt. John Avis
and X. b. Washington, Esq, with a handful OF
men, were ordered to take possession Of the
houses commanding the yard of the Arsenal
All these orders were promptly and successfully
executed.
The bridge across the Shenandoah river and
that OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, at the
west end of the trcStlc work, and the street
leading from the rife factory, were guarded by
small attachments Of men.
Between three and four o'clock, p. NJ,
the " ilamtramck Guards" "ShepherdStown
Troop" and a company from NIartinsburg,
commanded by Capt. f. AlburtiS, arrived on
the ground. The company from Winchester,
commanded by Capt. B. b. Washington, did
not arrive till late in the evening.
All the insurgents save those who were kill.
cd and wounded through the day, retired with
their prisoners into the guard house and engine
room, Just inside ofthc gate Of the Arlnory yard,
which was firmly locked. About three o'clock, p.
NJ. the enemy, with the most prominent of their
prisoners, concentrated in the engine room,
leaving a large number Of their prisoners tas'
tened up in the guard-housc. At this point,
and after the arrival of the rcinforcrments from
Shepherdstown ard Martinsburg, Col. h. W.
Baylor assumed the command and will furnish
yon with the details of what followed.
The avowcd and confessed object Of the in
surgcnts was to free the slaves OF the South
They had at their headquarters near Har'
pcrs Ferry 200 Sharp's rifles, 200 revolvcrS,
1000 pixies, n large number Of picks and shovels
and Il grea, quantity Of ammunition and other
things used in war. All these were taken and
are in possession of the Federal Government.
Very respectfully, your obt scrv't,
JNO. TlIOS. GIBSON,
Com'dt 18th Regiment.
CHARLEsrowS. Oct. 22d, 1859.
Hon. HENRY \. Wise, Gorernor or Virginia