The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-10-28
The Insurrection at Harper's Ferry.

insurrectiOn at llarpers Ferry:
On Sunday night at II O'Clock, the
twenty.lwo--fye being free negroes.
seized the watchman at the railroad
bridge and confined him. Sixteen then
took possession Of the arsenal and armory;
six passed through the town, went tye
miles and took Mr.. Washington and his
slaves prisoners and brought them to the
Ferry. AT daylight the country was
aroused and horsemen dispatched every,
where. A number Of citizens were seized
by the insurgents and imprisoned in the
armory the train was stopped an IN
surrent guard was at the arsenal; now
and then man was shot by the guard or
from the arsenal; the people Shut and
barricaded their houses seven insurgents
attempted to take possession OF the rue
works on the Shenandoah side, but some
three hundred armed men had gathered
armed with rifles, and six out Of the seven
insurgents were killed from the heights.
Along in the day of Monday the insur'
gents moved from the armory to the Fire
Engine House. Military was constantly
arriving from the country around, and
) the nsurgent guard at the bridge were
driven to The armory grounds. This en-
) gins house is in the armoty grounds, near
the arsenal.
One of the rebels, named Tagg, was
. taken prisoner and conf ned in the
!, hotel. At 3 o'clock Monday. +. Beck
: ham, ESQ, Mayor OF the town, and Ticket
:, A geut oil tile Ohio & Baltimore railroad,
:, stepped ont on the platform Of the railroad
and was shot. H. fel and died Instantly.
' lie laid on the platform over an hour, no
> person daring to go near him, as the po-
' silion was commanded from the engine
D house. As soon as Mr. Beckham was
! shot a proposition was made TO kill Tagg.
/ which prevailed, and he was brought out
on the bridge and shot, and then thrown
into the river, and u volley oi bullets SEM
into his body as it lay on the rocks where
:. il lodged.
+. A charge was then made BY the rail
t road men on the fire engine house, led by
= Mr.. Alburtis, editor Of the MartinsOurg
i RepAHican and Mr.. Murphy, Prosecuting
+ Attorney of that county.
Two Of the attacking party were killed
and five wounded, bat although soUe of
>, tue prisoners were rescued, he attack was
s not successful, the brave fellows who led
>. it no! being property sustained. Monday
!. closed in that manner. During the eve
J. ming and night several Of the citizens and
Colonel Shriver visited the engine house
q under llgs of truce, and conferred with
y Brown, for The purpose of inducing him
to capi'ulate, but he would listen to nc
terms except that he aud his men should
c be allowed free and protected pass to
, the mountains. This the citizens refused
=, to grant, and Brown assured them he
would die fighting. At i2 O'Clock Col
= Shriyer visited Brown and offered him
T. protection from Ihv wrath OF the people
d and safe conduct to Jail, but he scornlully
'e refused it, saying be knew his fate ard he
I'd preferred to meet it with his rifle in hi!
G, hands TO dying for the amusement Of t
N crowd.
of The U. S Marincs arrived from Wash
ington before day break Tuesday morning
' took possession Of the Armory grounds, ana
10 the Maryland troops took possession Of tht
d. strco,s Of tho town at seven a. NJ. th
pr streets wuro cleared OF all except tho nj!
-, itary. After the futilo attcmpt 10 20
Brown to surrender, tho Marines, unde
:" Maj Russell, attack cd and took tho Engin
I'd IoG3n( mot the Arno.y as previous account,
10 have had it)
Tho engine house contained two f.e en-
gines and hose carriage, which iucommo o
ded tho marines greatly on entering, III
cit'2ons who were prisoners separated from
IN tho Insurgents and were recognized by tb
H. Marines; none wcrcburt. After the Marine
ontcrod they were compelled to fire 1T tn
~ rebels. 4 son of Browns was kilIod--a bal
81, h,,.l, lstf
i. nipplc. J. p. Anderson was shot in tn
abdomen and mortaly wounded. o.!
Brown was cut to tho floor by tho sabre o
Id Lieut. Greou of tho Marines, who acted in
., fearless manner. An insurgont, nance
Edward Coppip one of Browns sons, VII
ne had been scrioualy wounded during Monday
lis and negro, named Gains, were take
prisoners. Two dead bodies worc living il
:" the engine house, ono Of which was that @
ID James llaz.itt of Ohio, and the other that G
j. G. Johnson, of Connecticut. Tho bodic
of tho dead and dying mon were brough
III out and laid on tho grass, and it was impos
hit sible to keep tho crowd back. Capt, Brow
Ut told tho crowd not 10 maltrcat him, that b
ne was dying. and that soon hu would bo boyo
n all injury. Major Russell had him conyeye
a., az into u room of one of the Departments, ant
81 kindly ordered all attention to DO paid him
. Dfp"u lOHhOu up, anu ICCuBHlE'uS NuJ'
III Russell, said, you entered first. | cOlt
al havo killed you. but lsparod you" In rcpl
ed to which tho Major bowed and said,
thank you
lis Tho reporter of tho Baltimore Erchans
lat gives an account of his interview with Cap
on Brown. In answer to questions, Capt. /
said
rs "My name is John Brown. I am we
II. known. have been known as Old Brow
- of Kansas. I'm from Lichlold Connection
W. aud have lived in divers places. Two {
&c my sons wero killed hero today, and Ii
as dying too. came hero to liberato slave
" aud was to receive no reward. have acre
an from sense Of duty, and am content I
ul await my fate but think tho crowd hav
he treated mo badly. I'm an old man, an
oh Yesterday | could have killed whom | chOs
but had no desire to kill any person, an
= would not have killed u man, had thoy NJ
'"S tried to kill mo and my men. could hav
Sc sacked and burnt tho town, but did not
IN have treated tho persons whom l took I
id, hostages kindly, and appeal to them ft
i'm tho truth of what say. am 63 years oil
CT Reporter did you first concei,
this movo =