Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-28

I -NAs' VI -'"' ''~' -
Capt. .AlburtiS. ordered Capt. AlburtiS 10
march down Potomac street through the Ar
morv yard 10 the Arsenal. The llamtramch
| Guards, and the SllephcrdStown Troop, dis
mounted and armed with mu>ketS,) under my
command, proceeded down High street TO the
centre Of the town, in front OF the Arsenal
During this march, the Insurgents having Sc.
GREETED themselves i'll the Engine House in the
Armory ward. opened q brisk fire on Captain
AlLurtiS' company. The fire was quickly re.
turned by Capt. AlburtiS company, who be-
havcd very bravcly. The different companies
near at hand, rallied to Capt. AlburtiS rescue.
The firing at this time was heavy. and the
insurgents could 10, have retained their posi-
ton many minutes. when they presented At the
door a white flag. The firing thcrcupon ceased
and ! ordered the troops to draw up IN line IN
front of the Arsenal. Daring this engagement
and the previous shir:uishcs, We had ten men
wounded, two fear mortally. The insurgents
| had eleven killed, one mortaliy wounded, and
two taken prisoners; leaving only five in the
cnginc-housc, and one O! them seriously
wounded.
In this engagement wc rescued about thirty
Of our citizens whom they held rs prisoners IN
the guard. housc-,hcy stll held i'll the engine
house, ten citizens and live slaves.
Immediately after the troops were with
drawn, Capt. Brown sent 10 me. through Isaac
Russell, one Of thcl" prisoners, a verbal COM
munication stating. il | would permit INN 10
cross the bridge with his prisoners, 10 some
point beyond, he would set them at liberty. |
sen, him the followiu: reply III writing;
llEAD-QrA:T@E-. l!::HL%'- FG"':r.
CAPT. joins BEowN:
S!r-CpJn consultation with Mr.. Isaac EIs,e.i, one
OF Your lrIsone!S, who has colac 70 me. ontcFi:.s "i CT
pitu!a,i1n. | Nay 10 You, ii !yon vii. 80 al liberty cnT
citizens, We WI! leave the Government :" dc.! with
YOU concerning ihcir proper? ~ Il may iiI"E most
EosLgr ". BAYLOR.
Col. Cy:urm"i.LIut.
In reply, | received the following answer in
writing:
"CarT. JoHS Brown, answers:
'ln consideration OF all ty men, w.c;Io! living or
dead, or wounded, br.T. soon safely II, and delivered!
up TO me III this point, viii! all their arms and am
Inunition. We will then take our prisoners and cro..
tie Potomac bridge, It l':t!e bc:oId w!sic!! Sc VIII
at them NJ liberty: after which wc can negotiate
abvu: The Government property IL may DC bc-;.
Also, We require tie delivery Of or morse and iar-
pcss az the hotel. tS!:Er4y
joins Blows
To the above, ! returned the following an
Swer:
!lEADQuAETEEs.
CART. JON" BGow.:
Si.-The terms YOU proposelI cau.ot ACCEPT. Cn-
der no consideration wiI! ! con,eu; - = rciHova! Of:
our citizens acros, the river. The only negotiations
upon whicl! wI.! consent - trra; are those which
have been pry't"u-!! I~rog%,ed 10 H1n.
~l>!:aGdJ EoDLI:I W. BAYLOR,
col. Commandment.
These terms ic declined. Night by this
time had set in, and the weather being very in
clement, | thought it best for the safety of our
citizens, whom they held as prisoners, to cease
operations for the night. Should | have order.
cd an attack Il, that hour, and i'll total dark,
ness, our troops would have been rs likely to
have murdered our own citizens, as the iEsur-
gents, all being in the same apartment. Having
concluded to postpone another attack until
morning. guards were posted around the AR
rmory, and every precaIiiom taken to prevent
escape. Oar troops by this time required some
refreShment, having been on active duty and
exposed to a heavy fall Of rain all day. \ lit
tie after night we were reinforced by Col. l..
7. Moore, Of 3lSt Regiment, having under his
command the continental Guards command.
ed by Capt. Washington, and the Rifles"
commanded 10y Capt. Clarke; also three com
panics from Frederick, Maryland, under the
command of Col. SILVER. About J. o'clock
Col. Lee arrived, having under his command
ClslllN-hNS VIA IIlSS Jill ''tNliiiI-tVI. IN
Government troops took possession OF the Co
vcrnmcnt property, and formed inside Of the
Ar1nory yard, in close proximity TO the engine
house. la this position Col. Lee thought 1t
best to remain until u~iorHing. The night pass
cd without serious alarm, but not without in
tense excitement. Ii Was agreed between Col.
Lee and myself that the volunteer forces should
form around on the outside Of the Government
property, aud clear the streets of all citizens
and spectators, to prevent their firing random
shots, to the great danger Of our soldiers, and
to remain in that position whilst he would at.
tack the engine house with his Marines. As
soon as day dawned the troops were drawn
up in accordance with the above arrange
ment. After which, Colonel Lee demanded
Of the insurgents Il surrcndc. upon the terms
| had before proposed 10 them, which they still
declined. The Marines were then ordered to
| force the doors. The attempt was made with
heavy SlcdgeS, bat proved intellectual. They
were then ordered 10 attack the doors with a
heavy ladder which was lying II short distance
oil. After two powerful efforts, the door was
shattered sufficiently 10 obtain ali entrance.
Immediately, 4 heavy yolicy was fired in by the
Marines, and an entrance effected, which soon
terminated the conflict. In this engagement.
the Marines had one killed and one slightly
wounded. The insurgents had two killed, and
three taken prisoners. After the firing ceased,
the imprisoned citizens walked out unhurt.
AsceItaining that the whole party within the
town were either killed or taken prisoners, !
disbanded all the troops. with the exception
of the Jefferson Guards, whom retained on
duty, to prevent any further disturbances,
should they arise.
About u o'clock on Tuesday, information
having been received that 4 large number Of
arms were secreted n ii house in the mountain,
the Independent GrayS, OF Baltimore. were dis
patched to search for them. They returned
about e o'clock, having fpund two hundred
Sharpc's rifles, two hundred rcvolverS, twenty.
three thousand percussion caps, one hundred
thousand percussion piSto! caps, ten kegs Of
~gunpowdcr, thirteen thousand bail cartridges
for Sharpe's rifles. one major generals sword.
fifteen hundred pixies, and u large assortment
of blankets, and clothing CT every description.
! On Wednesday, the prisoners were placed III
| the custody of the sheriff Of our county, and
| safely lodged in Jail. Disturbances still occur
ring on the Maryland side Of the river,
marched the Jefferson Guards over, and made
4 thorough examination OF their rendezvous
found it deserted, and everything quiet. We
returned about & o'clock TO the Ferry shortly
after, there was another general alarm, whic!!
caused great excitement.
The alarm was occaSioncd by 4 gentleman,
residing in Pleasant valley, riding into town in
great haste, stating that he saw firing. and
heard the screams Of the people, and that a
large number of insurgents had collected, and
were numbering all before them. Forthwith,
Col Lee, with thirty Marines, proceeded to the
spot, and the Jefferson Guards took possession
Of the bridge. In about three hours, Col Lee
returned, the alarm having proved 10 have been
false.
Nothing further having occurred during the
night to disturb the quiet Of the town, on the
following morning | disbanded the company