New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-18

JOHN BROWNS INVASION
Correspondence Of Tie N Y Tribune.
ChAELEsTowS, Tuesday. Nov. y, 1859.
OTHER PORTRAITS
CAPTlIs AVE.

| CAPTAIN AVIS.
The master Of the jail at Charestown il the most
humane and manly Of the Inhabitants He rises above
le mean and yndictive spirit which reems to influence
mott OF his townsmen. lie never Joins the crowd Of
agiiaiors that FIJI the tboroughfares with noisy dsrBor.
lie never incites violence, does he manifest
that timorous apprehension to strangers which very
few beside BIN are insensibe to- HE oourago il be-
You'd questiob--,John Brown himself has testified TO
II over and over again-and the knowledge Of this
adds to the effect which his unconcealed contempt Of
the mad tumult around him produces. Himself brave
man. be respects bravery in Others; and be does
hesitate to ayow that he never in another such
dsustess forude as he haG in Brown. Captain
Avis il no bater Of Brown He alone, of all Virgin
ans, is fond OF him. Constant association for weeks
has taught him that with all the old mans rash and
criminal folly, there is that in him which it will not do
10 at defame. Viewing all the circumstances,
Lie indugent treatment Of Brown is amazing. The
people cannot understand it. They call the ailor to
frequent They remonstrate they threatenhm.
have heard intentions announced Of mobbing the jail.
Captain Avis does not laugh, or show defiance 10
any way, but he says, with the utmost tranquility,
"Well, gentlemen, whatever Captain Brown wants,
that can help him TO, be shall have. am ailor, you
know" Even the orders Of the Sheriff. who possesses
the RICH; 10 dctste the in which the jail affairs
shall be conducted have been quietly set aside when
tie mandates have been likely TO interfere with
Browns comfort. Visitors from the North, whom the
81 erif has squarely prohibited from encounterng
Brown, have been unhesitatingly admitted By Avis,
hen the prisoner has made known his desire TO see
them. II is curious TO witness the attachment that ap
pears to have arisen between this ne-hearod officer
and the convict at whom all the rest Of Virginia dis
charges foulest abuse Avis is not only thoughtful Of
Browns welfare while he lives, but seeks to aid him
in the appropriate disposition Of his effects after he IS
dead He denounces, with unusual earnestuess for
Lin, the plundering of Browns property by the Har
pers Ferry popuIace. He gives attention to the col
lection of as many Of his weapons as have come
within bis reach, in order that they may be
ultimately sold for the benefit Of Browns family.
And vet, with all his goodwill for his prls!
oner is impossible not to perceive the impenetrabe
integrity of his niture. What he eoneeives to be his
duty, he will never shrink to perform He sees no
cause TO pile fresh sorrows already BUNDLED and
doomed man, as many Of his ftllow-ctzens would be
too glad to do, bad they his opportunities; but be
would not stop to think twice before putting all bis
priponers TO death with his own hand, were he con-
WINGED of any real reason TO anticipate new INVASION
or an attempt at rescue. He is the worthiest of his
peopeas true to his station sensitive TO the claims
of humanity. Capt. Avis is a stout and rather short
midde-aged man. of really comical turn of counten-
ance, notwithstanding his unvarying seriousness OF
expression He has most mild and anable face.
Sometimes in conversation, be says sharp and clever
things often directed against the wretehed tremors
which deaden all the faculties Of his townsfolk. L
never saw him forsake bis equannity but once, and
that was after Mrs Spring had been permitted to see
Brown in Bis CELL and the streetstrOlers were holding
council in front of the Jail concerning the proprety OF
breSng in and tearing away that condemned stranger
When Old Brown dies, there may be many more
vehement in the uteranee of grief but believe there
will be few sncerer mourners than Capt. AVIS
LIEUT.. GREEN.
This was the gentleman who led the company oil
marines in the final successful attack on the engine
house in which Brown and his party had secured them
selves. His appearance gives little evidence OF ex-
IRENE bravery and do not think that the record OF
bis deeds proves courage. He is' rather undersHed,
but strongly and compachy built. His eye is dull and
bis countenance almost expressionlese Ii IL true that
be was among the first TO confront the invaders bnt
it is also true that he completely lost control OF himself
when in their presence and slashed about at random
with widest ferceness and did not cease his blows
until long after his opponents were subdued. In a
cory of Cincinnati paper, The Commercial. when
has to-day here, find equeston asked whether
Brown was struck after ne had been beaten down and
vanquished In that relation let me give bit OF the
testimony of Lieut.. Green himself, during the trial of
Copeland, which ] perfectly remember. The ques-
tons and answers ran thus:
MIR. SESSorT-" You say that when Brown was
down yon struck him in the face with your saberl"
Lieut. GREEN" Yes Sir"
Mr.. SENNoTT-"Tbis was after he was down -
Lieut.. GRFKs-" Yes Sir; be was down.
MIR. SEsSorr-"Hsw many timer, Lieut. Green,
did YOU strike Brown in the face with your saber after
he was down.
Lieut. GRrES-"Why, Sir he was defending him.
self with his gun"
Mr.. HUSTER-"I hope the counsel FOR the defense
will not press such questions as these"
Mr.. SHNS0TT-"Very well, Sir"
Lieut. Green has the air of being just The person who
would be with difficulty reused to energetic action but
who. when OF last thoroughly excited might naturally
thus lose command of himself and allow no limits to
bis ferocity.
COL. LGwIs A. WASHINGTON.
Col. Washington is the gentleman who received the
first attentions from Browns midnight embassy. lie
has consequently been the most prominent Of the Gov
eminent Witnesses during all the trials am moved
10 saw a word in defense Of bis dgnided bearing aud
bis comeness on account Of the rather rough treat
ment be has received the hands Of the Illustrators
Col. Washington Is very handsome man, Of medium
size athletic Frame and countenance marked by many
Of the Distinguishing characteristics which We ind nthe
Trumbu portraits OF his great nameske Ii ~ curious
TO see in theee days when the personality OF Washing
ton has become almost mythical, his nearest living rel