The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-19
SKETCH OF THE WHOLE AFFAIR.
THE DISPATCHES FROM BALTIMORE AND
HAkPERS FERRY
THE BROWNS, FATHER AND SON.

| IN darperS more than year ago, uc-
companed by his two sons. all three Of them assuming
the name Of Smith. He inquired about land In the
vicinity, and made Investigations to the probability
Of finding there, and for time boarded at Sandy
Point, mile east Of the Ferry. After absence VI
some months the elder Brown reappeared in tho vicinity
and rented or leased farm the Maryland sde about
four miles from the Ferry They bought large number
Of picks and spades, aud this confirmed the belief that
they intended to mine the fortress They frequently
in and about Harpers Ferry but suspicion
to have existed that "B Smith Captain John Brown,
or that he intended embarkng In any movement despe
rate extraordinary Yet the developments Of the plot
leaves no doubt that his visits to Perry and his lease Of the
farm were all parts Of his preparation for nsurrecton,
which he supposed would be successful in exermnatng
| slavery in Maryland and western Virginia.
/ JOHN r. COOK.
| Browns chief aid was John L Cook a comparatively
young man, who has resided in and Perry some
years. He was first employed in tending lock the
canal, and afterwards taught school on the Maryland
side Of the river, and after brief residence Kansas
where supposed he became acquainted with Brown,
returned TO Perry married there He was regarded
as man Of some intelligence, and known to be anti
slavery, but not violent in the expression Of his OPT
| MONS as to excite any suspicious.
THE OTHER WHITE MEN.
These two men, with Browns sons were the only
/
seen about Perry. All brought by Brown from
distance and nearly all had been with him in Kansas
A CONNECTED HISTORY OF THE AFFAIR.
The first active movement in the instruction was made
at about half past ten O'Clock Sunday night William
williamson the Waterman at Harpers Ferry bridge,
whist walking across toward the Maryland side, was
seized by number Of men, who said he their pri
soner and must come with them. He recognized Brown
and Cook among the men, and knowing them treated the
matter as joke but enforcing silence they conducted him
the armory which he found already their possession
He detained till after daylight and then discharged.
The watchman who to relieve williamson at mid.
night found the bridge lights all out and Immediately
seized Surprising il an attempt at robbery no broke
away and his pursuers stumbling him. he escaped.
The next appearance Of the insurreconsts the
house Of Colonel Lewis Washington large farmer and
slave owner living about four miles from the ferry
party, headed by Cook proceeded there and rousing
Colonel Washington told him he their prisoner They
also seized all the slaves the house, took carriage
horse and large wagon with two horses When Col.
Washington saw Cook he Immediately recognized him
the man who had called upon him months previous,
to whom he had exhibited valuable arms his pos
session. including antique sword presented by Frede
rick the Great to George Washington and pair of ps
tolls presented by lafayette to Washington, both being
berooms in the family. Before leaving Cook wanted
ing, and exhibited considerable skill as a marks
man. When be made the visit Sunday night
he alluded to his previous visit and the courtesy
with which he had been treated, and regretted the
sy which made it his duty to arrest Col W. He, how
took advantage Of the knowledge he had obtained
by his former VISIT carry of all the valuable collection
of which the Colonel did rcobtain till after the
| final defeat Of the insurrecton.
From Colonel Washington he proceeded with him
prisoner in the carriage and twelve of his negroes in the
wagon TO the house of Mr. dstadt another large farmer
the road Mr.. Aldstadt and his son. lad Of six
teen, taken prisoners, and all their negroes within
reach forced to join the He then returned
the armory at the Ferry.
All these movements seem to have been
n...ade without exciting the slightest alarm in
town, did the detention Of Captain Phelps train
II was not until the town thoroughly walked up and found
the bridge guarded by armed and guard stationed
at all the avenues that the people found they pri
soners panic appears to have Immediately ensued,
and the number Of nsurreconss increased from
6ftywhich probably their greatest force, including
the slaves who forced to join-o from five to six
hundred. In the meantime number Of workmen, not
knowing anythingtf what had occurred, entered the
mory and successfully taken prisoners until
time they had not less than sixty confined in the
mory. Those thus entrapped Armstead Ball, Chief
Draughtsman Of the Armory Bena Mills, Master Of
the Armory and j. E. P. DangerGeld, raynasters Clerk
These three gentlemen were imprisoned in the engine
house which afterwards became the chief fortress Of the
insurgents and not released until after the final
assault. The workmen imprisoned in large build
ing farther down the yard and rescued by brilliant
zouavc dash, made by the Railroad Company S who
came down from Martjnsburg.
This the condition Of things at daylight about which
time Captain Cook, with two white men, accompanied by
large wagon went the bridge and struck up the
mountain road towards Pamsula.
It was then believed that large wagon used to
convey away the Paymastcrs safe, containing ST. 900
government funds and also that was filed with MIME
rifles taken out to supply other bands in the mountains
who to come down upon Harper's Ferry in over
whelming force These suggestions proved untrue,
neither money nor arms disturbed. AS day i'd
vanced and spread around, and people into
the ferry the first demonstrations Of resistance were
made to the nsurrectionists.
general warfare commenced, chiefly led on by
named Chambers whose house commanded the armory
yard. The coored named Hayward railroad
porter shot early in the morning for refusing join
| In the movement.
The next man shot was Joseph Barley, citizen Of
Perry. He shot standing in his door, The in
surrectionists by this time, finding disposition to resist
l them, had withdrawn nearly all within the arnrory
| grounds leaving only guard on the bridge
About this time, also, Samuel p Young, ESQ., shot
dead. lie coming into town horseback, carrying
gun, when he shot from the Armory, receiving
wound Of which he died during the day He was a
graduate Of West Point and greatly respected in the
neghbcrhood for his high character and noble qualities
At about the Charestown troops, under the com
mand Of Col Robert w. Baycr having crossed the Sus
quehannah river some distance up aud marched down
the Maryland side to the mouth Of the bridge; firing
volcy they made gallant dash the BRIDGE clear
ing Of the nsurreconss, who retreated rapidly down
toward the armory In this movement OF the insurrec-
rectionis a named VIM. Thompson was taken pri-
| soncr.
The shepherdstown town troops next armed, marching
down the Shenandoah sde and joining the Charleston