Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1859-10-27

This aae bsdy a voas,Assr eiissss. uPse
the reosptios Il IL ssvs Il ike isaps Pc
eeedinss - Haspss's Hsuy 49, - sks -
most proaptiksas. Csl. Jahs 4. 0Ssoa
vas O. . visit sAcst distances h he eosntry
al The time. but Cap. J. W. Rowan. sssisted
cy Lieut. . Davenport. Campbell and Gal
iaher, and Sergeants Harrcll and HURT.
went manfully 30 work, and by the ti,Dc Col.
Gibson arrived. had recruited nearly 100
men. Al half past nine o'clock they we're ON
the road 10 The srcnc of conflict.
Arriving 81 Halltown. the Guards alixht-
ed fon the cars. and proceeded by forced
march 30 Bolivar. under the Immediate CON-
mand II Col. John T. Gib~on and Capt. Jno.
W. Rowan. The day proved . very inclcn-
ent one. cold castsrly wind blowing q
dashing. drenching rain into the faces Of the
men. during the entire march. and bet few
had taken the prccauticn 10 provide them
selves with an ovcrccai. The difficulties Il
the march. however. we're borne without n
murmur. nothing being thought of but the
wish 70 mingle in the fray Arriving at Boil
war. the compsny Vas permitted tn rest un-
der cover FOR half an hour. while the officers
IN command. CONSULTED a. To the best plan Of
attaching the rioters and investing the town.
II Vas finally determined that the Jefferson
Guards should take Possession u the Poto-
mac bridge. 10 ~ to cut Of the retreat Of the
noters. whilst = company Il armed citizens
Of Bolivar and Harp-r'- Ferry. under the
command IT Captain John Avis. who had
proceeded the company from Charlestown.
and organized the corps after his arrival
z sstu;a &Io F<Ss-sSsi"ii RI other points, 10
prevent escape. Capt. Lawson Bolts. also
OF Charlcstown. was ordered TO take possces-
lon If the Gsult House. a point over
looking the Arsenal
All these orders were executed with
promP,nc,s and despatch. The editor II the
Independent. rs al-o the Publisher were
among those under the command II Capt,
d. W. Rowan, having vacated the ruach Mt
the call to arms IL was the first time in
our life that we ewes stru,tcd in all the
Pomp and circumstances" II glorious war.
and whether We could have stood charge Of
the enemy without Au,tering Of the heart
we Ind no chance &c testing We proceeded
At rapid pace up the Potomac river to n
point where the water was deep enough to
allow of our crossing over on the MARYLAND
SIDE in fiat hosts The rain pouring down
so spsf'hf al tttc Nuht. Fl1NtuK Cfor~tNl
the river in two squads. the company rejoin-
ed and proceeded in a running march 10 the
bridge. the point Of destination = For n half
mile OF more. we were exposed rs target
for the enemy from the armory yard. and
from the mountain above. but fortunately all
escaped unscathed. We were marched mid
way into the bridge, and remained AZ
guard to it until Capt. Rowan who was
cut of from all communication with the
Colonel in command. and who had sent three
messengers but none returned, concluded to
make n charge down the street, facing the
armory yard. upon his own responsibility.
This was done with frmness and alacrity.
Our fcllow-townsuan, Mr.. Samuel &. Young
received n severe wound in the lcft breast
which passed into aud shattered his left
arm Immediately below the shoulder. Mr..
James Ii. Small, also one Of our townsmcn.
received bullet through the hat brim, about
an inch and half from his head Sergeant
Rust also. had the crown Of his hat shot
through about two inches above his head,
both at them making a narrow escape Of
their lives. In the meantime, n portion of
his Immediate command. but not strictly be-
longing tn his company. joined party Of the
citizens Of Harpers Ferry. under the COM
mand of Lieut.. Geo. W Chambers. who
had taken possession Of the Wager House"
and took part with them in picking of. rs
opportunity presented those Of Browns par
~. who had the tcmcrity 10 show themselves
outside Of their inircnchment. IL this man-
ner several were killed IL was while this
guerilla firing was kel tup that the lnmcntcd
Beckham met his death. We were standing
hut a few feet from him when he received his
death shot. and when we saw him fall. ruth
le-sly murdered spirit of revenge against
the miscreants. took possession Of our soul
whilst the same feeling was manifest in all
n simultaneous rush was made "a the Wager
House; and one Of the wro,chc-. by the name
Of Thompson, who had been sheltered there
through the humanity. mistaken though il
was, of lady was brought out, and made
10 expiste the death Of Beckham He beg
gcd piteously for his life. his whole frame
shook with cowardly trcpidaiion, but the im-
press of his demon spirit was strongly mark
cd in the expression Of his blanebed counte-
nance His appeals for mercy. however.
were addressed Ia men ~ho, for the time BE-
ing. had seathed out If their hearts the kind
~ feelings Of human nature. and who were
determined Ia revenge o comrades death
Thompson was taken Ia the bridge and there
fell pierced by bullet fired from the rife of
a near friend and neighbor Of Major Rcek.
ham
Whilst these events we're transpuing. the
Guards. under Capt Rowan. had taken po-
sition around the ArIuory wall, and main
tanned ], until ordered to On back by Col.
Baylor. who had arrived and assumed com
II. al A