Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-10-29
Details of the Insurrection at Harpers
Ferry

The Baltimore papers contain full par
ticulars of this extraordinary servile,insur-
rection, which has produced such unprece-
dentcd excitement in all the Southern coun-
try, so far as heard from To the exclusion
of much other less important matter, we
annex the suhjoined intensely Interesting
details:
WHO ORGINArED IT.-Thc principal
originator of the insumection, and the chief
leader, IN its short but bloody existence,
was undoubtedly Captain John Brown,
whose connection with the scenes of vo-
lencc and border warfare in Kansas then
made his name familiurly notorious to the
whole country. Captain Brown made his
first appearance in the vicinity of IIarpcr's
Ferry more than year ago, accompanied
by his two sons, the whole party assuming
the name Of Smith. They inquired about
land in the vicinity, mmdc investigations as
to the probability of finding ores, and for
some time boarded Mt Sandy Hook, one
mile East of lIarpcr's Ferry. After an
absence of some time they rc-appcarcd in
the vicinity, and the elder Brown rented
or leased farm on the Maryland side,
about four miles from llarpcr's Fcrry.-
They bought large number of picks and
spatlcs, and thus confirmed the belief that
they intended to niinc for ores They were
seen frequently in and about lIarpcr's Fer
ry, but no suspicion seemed to have exist
cd that d" Bill Smith" was Captain Brown,
or that he intended cmburking in Il move
mont so desperate or extraordinary. Yet
the development of the plot havcs no
doubt that his visits to the Ferry and his
lease of the farm were all purts of his pre-
parations for an insurrcction, which he
supposed was to be successful in cxtcrmin-
ating slavery in Maryland and Western
Virginia.
Captain Browns chief aid was John Il.
Cook, a compamtivclyyouu% man, who has
resided in and near IIarpcrs Ferry for
some years. He was first employed in ten
ding lock on the canal. lie afterwards
taught school on the Maryland side, and
after brief residence in Kansas, where it
is supposed lie became acquainted with
Brown, returned to the Ferry, and married
there. lie WAS regarded as nan of some
Intelligence, known 20 be anti-Slavcry, but
not so violent in the expression of his
opinions as to excite any suspiciGns-
These two men, with Browns two sons,
were the only white men connected. with
the instruction that had been seen about
the Ferry. All were brought by Captain
Brown from distance, and nearly all had
been with him in Kansas.
COMMENCEMENT o. THE OUTBREAK.-
The first active movement in the msurrcc-
tion WAS made about half-past 10 o'clock,
on Sunday night. VIM Williams. watch
man on lIapcr's Ferry Bridge, whilst wal.
king across towards the Maryland side, WIS
seized by II number of men, who said he
was their prisoner and must come with
them. llc recognised Brown and Cook
among the men, and knowing them, treat
ed the matter na a joke; but enforcing 81
which he found already in their possession
He was retained till after daylight and
then discharged. The watchnian who was
to relieve Williams at midriiglt, found the
bridgc lights nll out, and immediately was
seized. Surprising it an attempt at robbie
ry, he broke away, and'his pursuers STUN
bling over the track, he escaped.
The next appearance of the insurrcction-
lists was ut the house of Col Lewis Wash
ingtcn, II large farmer and slave owner.
living about four miles from the Berry 4
party headed by Cook proceeded there,
rouscd Col. W., and told him hc was n
prisoner They also seized all the slaves
near the houses, took carriage and horse
and large wagon with two horses. When
Col. Washington SAW Cook, he immediate
ly recognised him MS a man who had called
upon him some months previous, to whom
he had exhibited some valuable arms in
his possession, including an antique sword
presented by Frederick the Great to Gen.
cral Washington, and pair of pistols pre-.
scntcd by Lafayette to Washington, both
hcir-loons in the family. Before leaving.
! Cook invited Col Washingtor to trial of
skill at shooting, and exhibited considcra-
bic certainty as a marksman When he
made his visit on Sunday night, he alluded
to his previous visit and the courtesy with
which he had been treated, rcgretting the
necessity which made it his duty to arrest
Col. w. He, however, took advantage oi
the knowledge he obtained by the form,.
visit to carry oil ali the Cvioncl's vuiunbiu
collection of arms, which he did not re.
obtain until after the final defeat of the
insurrcction.
From Col. Washington's they proceeded
with him prisoner in his carriage, and
twelve of his negroes in the wagon, TO the
house of Mr.. Allstadt, another large far.
mer on the same road. Mr.. Allstadt, and
his son, n lad of sixteen, were taken pris.
oncrs, all their negroes within reach forced
to JOIN the movement, and they returned
p b, ~