Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-10-21

FIRST ti!gy;;c!d.; Oh; he iHsaiyens-tSho3t-
ing Prisoner The Sharp Fighting
Commenced -jScperoi Killed Arrilul
NJ the Marines and other Troops
Stotming Of The Arn,ory Builtliags--
Tie Insurgents Routed = The Dead
and Wounded -Scisure Of Arms
Tie Anmynoas Letter, dc. &c.
Below we give in narrative form the
particulars of the extraordinary seryile
Instruction at Harpcr's Ferry:
We commence with
ITS oRIGIHAroRs.
The principal originator of the insur-
rection and the chief leader in its short
but bloody existence, was undoubtedly
Captain John Brown, whose connection
with the scenes of violence and border
warfare in Kansas then made his name
familiarly notorious to the whole coun-
try Capt. Brown made his first ap-
pearancc in the vicinity of Harper's
Ferry more than year ago, accompa-
MED By his two sons, the whole party as
Stunning the name Of Smith. They in
quired about land in the vicinity, made
Investigations as to the probability of
finding ores, and for some time boarded
At Sandy Hook, one mile east Of Harpcr's
Ferry After an absence of some months
they reappcared in the vicinity, and the
elder Brown rented or leased farm on
The Maryland side, about four miles from
Harper's Ferry They bought large
number of picks and spades, and thus
confirmed the belief that they intended
40 mine for ores. TREY were seen fire.
quently in and about Harper's Ferry,
but no suspicion seems to have existed
that "Bill Smith" was Captain Brown,
or that no intended embarking in move
ment SO desperate and extraordinary.
Yet the developments of The plot leaves
nc. doubt that his visits to the Ferry and
his lease of the farm were all parts o!
his preparation for an instruction which
he supposed was to be successful in ex-
terminating slavery in Maryland and
Western Virginia.
Capt. Browns chief aid was John Il.
Cook, comparatively young man, who
has resided in and near Harper's Ferry
for sone years He was FIRST employed
in tending a lock on the canal He af-
forwards taught school on the Maryland
side, and after brief residence in Kan
sas, where it is supposed that he became
acquainted with Brown, returned to the
Ferry, and married there. lie was re-
garded as a man of some intelligence,
known to be anti-slavery, but not SO Vi
olent in the expression of his opinions as
to excite any suspicious. These two
men, with Browns two sons, were the
only white men connected with the in
surrection 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 OF THE IysuRREcrroy.
The first active movement in the in
surrection was made about half-pas 10
O'clock on Sunday night. VIM. Will
Hams Waterman on Harpcr's Ferry
bridge, whilst walking across towards
the Maryland side was seized by num-
Der of men, who said he was their pris-
oner and must come with them. He rec.
ognzed Brown and Cook among the
men, and knowing them, treated the
matter as a joke, but enforcing silence,
they conducted him to the armory which
he found already in their possession. -
He was retained till after daylight and
then discharged The Waterman who
was TO relieve Williams at midnight,
found the bridge lights all out, and was
Immediately seized. Surprising it an at.
tempt at robbery, he broke away and hi.
pursuers stumbling over tho track he cs-
eapel.
The next appearance Of the insurrec-
tlonists was at the house of Col. Lewis
Washington, large farmer and slave
owner, living about four miles from the
Ferry. A party headed by Cook pro.
ceeded there, reused Col w, and told
him he was prisoner. They also seized
all the slaves near the houses, took q
carriage and horse and large wagon
with two horses When Col. Washing.
ton saw Cook he Immediately recognized
him as man who had called upon him
some months previous. to whom he had
exhibited some valuable arms in his pos.
session, including an antique sword pre-
scented by Frederick the Great to Gen.
Washington, and a pair of pistols pre-
scptod by Lafayette to Washington, both
hair-looms in the family Before leaving
tock invited Col. Washington to trial
Of skill at shooting and exhibited con-
siderable certainty as a marksman. -
When be made his visit on Sunday night
be alluded to his previous visit, and the
courtesy with which he had been treated
rcgretting the necessity which made il
his duty to arrest Col W. He, howev-
or, took advantage Of the knowledge he
Obtained by the former visit to carry Off
all the Coils valuable collection of arms
which he did not recover until after the
final defeat Of the insurrection.
From Col. Washington's they pro-
ceeded with him prisoner in his ear.
riage, and twelve Of his negroes Ia tho
wagon, TO the house Of Mr. Allstadt
an9ther large farmer on the same road
Mr.. Allstadt and his son, lad Of six
teen, were taken prisoners all their ne
grocs within reach forced to Join the
movement. and they returned to the ar.
mory at the Ferry. All these move.
ments seem to have been made without