Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-23
The Virginia EnsurrecIion u
INTERESTING PARTICULARS

details Of the guerilla warfare between tile insur-
rectionists and the troops:
As day advanced. and news spread around, and
people came into the Ferry, the first administrations
of resistance were made by the insufrectionsts. A
general warfare commenced, chiefly led on by
man named Chambers, whose house commanded the
armOry yard. The eolored man, named Hayward
a railroad porter shot early in the morning for
refusing 70 join in the movement
The next man shot was Joseph Berley, citizen of
Perry. lie was shot standing IN his own door. The
insurrectoniss by this time finding disposition to
resist them, had withdra wn neaPly.al within the
arm0ry grounds, leaving only guard On the bridge
About this time also, Samuel +. Young, Esq, was
shot dead. He was coming into town on horseback,
carrying gun. when he was shot dead from Inc
armoIy. receiving wound Of which he died during
the day. lie was graduate of West Point and
greatly respected in the neighborhood for ins high
character and noble qualities.
At about noon the Charcstown troops, under
command of Col. Robert w. BayleP, having crossed
the SIsouehanna river some distance up, and
marched down the Maryland side to the mouth Of
the bridge. Firing volley, they made gallant
dash across the bridge clearing it OF the insurrec-
tionists who PetPeated rapidly down toward the ar
moTy. In this movement of the insHrPeetionists, a
man named VIM. Thompson was taken prisoner.
The Shepherdstown troops next arrived, march
ing down the Shenandoah side, and joined the
ChaFlestown forces at the bridge. A desultOpy eX-
change of shots followed, one vi which struck Mr..
Fountain Beckham, Mayor Of the town and agent
of the railroad company, entering his breast and
passing entirely through his body. The ball was
large elongated slug and made dreadful wound.
MIR. Beckham died almost Immediately. He was
without firearms. and was exposed for only mo-
meut whilst approaching 4 water station. His as
sailant, one Of browns sons, was shot almost mme-
diately. but managed to get back 10 the engine
house. where his body was found next day,
The murder OF Mr.. Beckham greatly dXeited the
pOpulace, who Immediately raised cry to bring out
the prisoner Thompson. He was brought out on
the bridge, and shot down from the bridge He fell
into the water, and appearance of life still re
moning, he was ridded with balls.
At this time the general charge was made down
the street figm the bridge, toward the aImory gate
by the Charlest0wn and Shephoitst0%n troops and
Ferry people. From behind the armory wall a flu
SHADE was kept up, and returned by the insurrec
tiOnists from the armOTy buildings
While this going on. the Martinsburg levies
arrived at the upper end Of the town. and entering
the arHiory grounds ig the near made an attack
from this side. This force was largely comprised
Of railroad employees, gathered from the tonnage
trains at Martinsburg and their attack was gener-
ally spoken of as showing the greatest amount of
fighting pluck exhibited during the day Qashing on.
firing and eleering, and CALAMITY led by Capt Al
burtis they carried the building in which the armo-
nv men were imprisoned, and released the whole of
them. They were, however, but poorly armed
some with pistols and others with shotguns-and
when they came within range of the engine-h0gse,
where the Gle of the iisI rect 0Hsts were gather
el, and were exposed TO their rapid and dexterous
of ShaTpes rifles, they forced to fall back,
suffering pretty severely. Conductor Evan Dorsey,
Of Baltimore was instantly killed, and conductor
George Richardson received wound from which
he died during the day. Several others were wound
ed among them 4 son of DR.. Hammond, of Martins
burg.
guerrilla warfare was maintained during the
rest Of the day resulting in the killing of two of the
OF a
crawled out through a culvert leading into the Po-
tomac, and att smped To to the Maryland side.
whether with the view Of escaping or conveying in
formation to Cook, is not known. He was shot
while crossing the river, and fell dead the rocks
An adventurous lad waded out and secured his
Sharpes rifle The body was afterwards stripped OF
his clothing. In one OF his pockets found cap
tans commission, drawn in full form, and that the
bearer, Capt. Leeman, held that commission under
Maj. Gen. Brown
light muatto was shot just outside the armory
gate. The ball went through the throat, tearing
away the principal arteries, and killing him instant
~. His name is not known, but he is Ofthe free
negroes who cam, with Brown. His body was left
IN the street until noon, yesterday exposed to every
indSnity that could be heaped upon by the excit-
ed pOpulaCe At this time a tall, powerful man
named Aaron Stephens, came out from the armory,
conducting some prisoners it was said He was
twice shot. once in the side and in the breast
He then captured and taken to a tavern, and at
ter the instruction was queled, was turned over
10 the United States authorities in dying condition
During the afternoon sharp little affair took place
on the Shenandoah side Of the town, The insurrec-
OnstS mad also seized the balls of the rifle works
and a party OF their assailants found their way
in through mill race and dislOdged them In this
renCOntrg, it said three nsurrectionists were
killed, but found but one dead body, that of ne
gro, on that side Of the town. Night by this time
had set IN, ANA operations ceased, guards We're plac
ed around the aImory, and every precaution taken
to prevent escapes. At eleven o'clock the Monday |
night train. with Baltimore military and marines. |
arrived at Sandy Hook, where they waited for the |
arrival OF Col. Lee deputized by the War Depart
ncnt 10 take the command. The reporters pressed |
On leaving their military allies behind they found
the bridge in the possession Of the military, and en-
tered the besieged town without difficulty, the oc-
,asiOnal report of 4 gun singing motion of |
Sharp rife ball warning them that it advisable
10 keep themselves out of the range of the armOry.
rhe first visit was made to the bedside of Aaron
stephens. the wounded prisoner. They found him
% be a large, exceedingly athletic mana perfect |
sampson III appearance. He was in a small room
lied with excited armed men, who more than once
threatened to shoot him where he was grOanIng with
,an. but answering with composure and apparent
willingness every question in relation to the fray in
which he was engaged.
lie said he was native of Connecticut but had
ately lived in Kansas where he knew Capt Brown; |
e had also served in the United States army. The
ole object of his attempts was to give the negroes
reedom; and Brown had represented that soon
$ they seized the armory the negroes would flock
o them by thousands, and would soon have force
mough to accomplish their purpose for which
e. would sacrifice his lfe-but he said he thought
rown had been greatly deceived. He said that
Preparations had been making for some months for
movement. but that the whole force consisted of
,vcntcen white men and five tree negroes.
This statement was repeated without variation by
II the prisoners with whom we cOnycrsed. All |
greed to the number in the movement and as
its Objects which some called the work of phi
nthTOpy.
Lewis Lcary. negro shot at at the rife MILL |
atcd before he died that he enlisted with Captain
rown for the insurrcction at a fair held in Lor-
line county, Ohio, and received the money to pay
is expenses. They all came down to Chambers
urg, Pennsylvania, and from there they Travelled I.
ross the country to Browns farm.
The night passed without serious alarm, but not :
ithout excitement. The marines wore marched
yer Immediately after their arrival, when Col Lee
ationed them within the armory grounds, so as to
implicitly surround the engine house. :
Occasionally shots were fired by the country vol
lteers. but what for was not ascertained. There /
as only one return fire from the insurgents.
Prom the Baltimore American of Tuesday.
SLAVERY INSTRUCTION AT HARPERS FERRY. h
The intelligence from Harper's Ferry has created q
excitement in our community, and throughout
c whole length and breadth of the country, that | II
5 scarcely been equailed by any preceding occur
nee Of the present century. The palpable absur- n
I
mind that few could be found to believe the first II
mOrcd accounts received from the of the dis ~
rbancu Even the Northern papers placed no faith d
the statement that Ii a movement of Adolf
niss. and cautioned their readers against placing
crcdcncc in the alleged movement of the leaders A
the outbreak. Nothing but a wild fanaticism !
lounting almost to insanity, could account for
Cnty men combining together in such a foOhar- | -
enterprise, but it is that species OF reckless folly
1t requires summary justice as a warning to 10
IcrS. 30
The poor slaves who have been induced by the Ig
presentations of these wicked men to involve | ~
'mscvcs in "A difficulty of serious a character
T. the only connected with il deserving of any o
npathy Ii Is thus that these unprncipaled and .
ciyhneI phIianthrophistS are ever more closely >:
liing Inc chains they pretend to desire TO loosen ST
luillhE masters means of safety, TO restrict D
m liberty or sell them to southern dealers, be- aI
nd the reach of their tamperng. IOt
The slave population of the region of country in
lch this outbreak was located Is very large. and -
doubt an Immense stampede was calculated up
by these fanatics. The following was the rela- .,
{ population at the last census: a.
WHITES, SLAVES,
qdoun county, Fa......-.....l G,43S 5,G4I
!eIsCol .-....-...... HOG Ash
,kley ." ............ 9.Sl5 1856 Oh
derrick .,.......... 1861 1924