Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-22
Excitement at Charlestown.

HARPER s. EERhl3 4No'0unoSA 49,
considerable excitement here and OF Oharies
town n regard to the numerous cases Oh III
cend;a,;sm occurring. There were live barns
aud out houses burnt to day in the neishborhood
Of Ohar]estown, aud we learn that In conse'
openca Of this Colonel Davis, who was placed in
charge of the military at CharlestoWn, has tel
eeraphed to Governor Wise requesting lihipe'
dately two companies of cavalry to ana IN arrest
ing all suspected parties found lurking IN tpe
neighborhood.
SECOND DEspATod-There are numerous ex.
citing rumors here relative to an attempted
rescue being cont smplated. One rumor says
there are some two or three hundred men armed
with Shsrp's rifles encamped near BerrysVlile,
ne II Chsr!estown, but doubtless 1t 10 unfounded
A messenger has oeen sent to ascertain me 'scts,
brit he's not yeS returned. ;.
VASE EcroY, November flowing to dis
patches received from Charlestown, Governor
Wise has ordered three hundred men and two
pieces of artillery, to leave Alexandria at day
break for Charlestown. The Richmond forces
will probably leave on an express train at on
early hour. This prompt action is understood
to be in response to the request made by Col.
Davis at Oharlestown for troops to aid in arrest
ing the incendiaries who infest that section o.
the State and other obnoxious individuals.
HARpER's FERRY, Nov. 1S.--The messenger
sent last night from this place to Oharlestown,
to ascertain the truth or falsity of the exciting
rumors that have been circulating through this
region, touching incendary attempts to destroy
the property of citizens ofJefferson county, and
of anticipated attempts to rescue the condemned
prisoners now confined in Jail there, did not re-
turn until about o'clock this morning.
1t appears that when he reached the outskirts
of Charestown he was stopped by eome of the
guards, who were on the watch for suspicious in
dividuals, and detained for some two and halt
hours before be could be permitted to enter the
village. The military had be- ordered out, and
were guarding all the roads in anticipation of an
attack, by whom, or from what quarter, is not
stated The night, however, was passed I'M
disturbed.
The only fact gathered is that a very large
fire had been burning at . distance of some four
miles from CharlestowD, the exact locality Of
which was not known.
There were any amount of rumors afloat, and
a considerable amount of nervous excitement
manifested by the citizens,
SECOND DEsPAToH.-E excite
ment here last night was ecu I'd by the burning
of wheat stack about three miles from Charl
town. The mill .ry and populace woge called
to arms, and the widest te- or prevailed among
the people, the supposition being that Dol. Davis
had some information of approaching danger,
The panic of the p Dple extended to Col. Davis,
and messenger waa seDt by lliip to die Ferry
with despatch for tie Governor, calling for
two companies of cavalry. This morning the
fire was found to have been tue work of al UNI
known inceudiary, bnt no person could be found
in the county on whom suspicion could rest
There are now one thousand men under arms and
20 enemy to be found for them to enconnt9r.-
ne tr' rps from Alexandria arrived Of Charlie
own this aiternoon, ard those s2nt hy the
.,yor of Winch ter are expected Tomorrow
morning.
Tie, baltimore snd Oho Railroad Company
have sent Col. A z. Shut with an armed pc G
to Harper's Ferry, to guard the bridge ana The
property Of the company st thet point.
There is much dissatisfaction expressed both
here and at Oharlc town at the precpitate ac-
ton of Dol. Davis in sending dispatches for
troop instead of mt sending out posse to in
quire into the cause of the fire. They think
thoy have been made to appear in a ridiculous
light before the country, and they are more than
half right on that point.
10 p. M.-Despatclies just received from
Charlestown say that there is no cause for alarm,
and there has been no evidence of any kind OF
an attempt to r "cNe the pr orers. Some four
or FIVE suspicious character were traced and
driven off, The whole alarm is perfectly rdicu.
lous and without foundation.
WAsE!NeToY, NOV. lS.-The government to-
lay ordered two thousand ponds of powder to
be sent to Harper's Ferry with large number
of LIME rifle bats and some howif7er shells
from the Washington Arsenal.