Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-20
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRST BATTLE

INTERESTING STATEMENT ny AS EYE-wTTxEss
gentleman Eho returped from the scene in the 6sO
train, describes the stormng OF the bridge and town
The first attack was made by a detachment Of the
Charles;own (Va.) Guards They crossed the Potomac
river above HarPcrs Ferry, and reached the building
where the insurgents posted by the canal on the
Maryland side smart firing occurred and the rioters
we're driven from the bridge One man was killed here
and another arrested.
man out OF the building and tried to czcapc bv
swimming the river dozen shots were fred after
him. and he partially FELL but rose again threw his gun
away aud drew his pistols Both snapped and hc dreW
a bowie knife, cut his heavy accoutreuents off and
plunged into the river. One Of the soldiers was about
ten feet behind the turned round threw up bis
hands and said Don't shoot" The soldier fired and
the man fell into the water with his face blown away
liis coat skirts cut from his person. and in the
pockets was found captains commission to CAPTAIN
II. Leeman, from the Provisional Government The
commission was dated October +, 1880, and signed by
\. W. Brown, Commander u-chicf Of the Army Of the
Provincial Government Of the United States.
A party Of five Of the insurgents armed with Mime
rifles, and posted in the rifle armory we're expelled by
the Charestown Guards They a ran for the river and
one who was unable TO swim drowned The other
four swan out TO the rocks in the middle Of the Shenan
doah and hrcd upon the citizens aud troops upon both
banks This dteW upon them the muskets Of between
2O aud 300 men, aud not less than 400 shots we're fred
az them from larpcrs Try, about 2OU yards distant
One was finally shot dead.
The second, negro attempted to jump over the dam
but tell shot, aud not seen afterwards The third
was badly wounded, and the remaining one was taken
unharucd.
The white igsErgcnt wounded and captured died in a
lew moments after iu the arms or our Informant lie
was shot through the breast, and stomach lie de-
carod there we're only nineteen whites engaged in the
nsurccton.
for nearly an hour running and random firing was
Kept ~ by the troops against the rioters Several we're
shot down and many managed N lmp away wounded.
During the htiug che aud children ran shrek inc
DO every direction, hut when they earncd that the sol
ders we're hcir protectors they took courage aud dill
good service in the way Of preparing Refreshments aud
attending the wounded
Our informant who the bin when the firing was
going on Nfs a The terrible of battle passed
10 reality beneath bis eyes Soldiers could bo seen nr.
'uug snglJ aud In couples aud the crack Of the musket
aod he was generally followed by one or more OF the
Insurgents biting The dust Tho dead av In the streets
where they feh. The wounded were cared for
NORr MOODY woaE
samuel X Thomas Of The conductors OF the rail.
road, and engaged IN The sormlng at tho paymasier
ohcc' displayed unparalleled feats lie st0ad wthin Ggty
feet Of the building, exposed The fire Of those within
aud loaded and hred nearly half dozen times His coat
va, perforated with balls aud the skin cut from the
hesh OF hts person by the shot His preservation from
instant death seems miraculous.
Aaron d. Stevens captain Of the rioters shot At the
bridge, was taken into the Carroll Hotel where his
dreadful wounds were dressed by Dr. Mccarthy Heavy
bullets passcd through hs breast head and one arm
Ne said 70 those around him that a. he expected 10 die
osoFe HQTpipg hs wanted somebody telegraph 70 hs