Columbia weekly news., 1859-11-17
The Harper's Ferry Insurrection

and contradictory ditpatches-one from
Frederick, Nd and two from Balti,
more-containing vague and conflicting
accounts of an insurrectiou at Harper's 3
Ferry, Virginia which was commenced
on Sunday night, the 10th. The train
going east had been stopped by the in
surrectionists, and the telegraph wires
cut. The first reports were telegraphed
from station east Of Harper's Ferry,
and consisted of mere 1umors. 1t was
stated that band of Aboltionists and
negroes had seized the United States
Arsenal, and fired into the railroad train,
killing one Of the hands, negro boy
They had stopped the train, had also
stopped a wagon loaded with wheat,
and had filed it with rifles and sent it
into Maryland. They were said to con-
sist Of two hundred and fifty whites and
a gang of negroes Another account
represented that the first report was
much exaggerated, that the negroes had
nothing to do with it, and that the DIFF
ficulty was confined to the hands at the
armory. A third dispatch was confirm
atory of the first report
Upon the report of this intelligence
at Baltimore, Washington, Richmond,
Frederick, Martinsburg and other places
adjacent, an intense excitement was
produced. and immediate steps were
ad pied to pou. into Harper's Ferry
a military force to qnell the insure etion,
while precautionary measures were taken
against q general rising of the blacks
On Monday, Oct 18th, the Presi-
dent ordered three companies OF artil-
lery at Old Point, and corps of Ma
rines in the Washington Barracks. to
proceed at once to the scene of disturb
ance. The Marines, niBety-three in
number, left N the train at 3:l5 P. NJ.
with two l2-pound howitzers and full
supply OF ammunition. They were ac-
companied by the Hon. G. j. Faulkner
of Virginia They were ordered to
force the bridge over the Potomac
reported to be IN the hands of the iu-
Surrectionists-at at all hazards They
were comman9ai by Col Harris. L S.
Marines The President. also by tele-
graph, ordered ont the military Of Fred :
erlek, Maryland, under command Of
Col. Edward hriver He also acce ted
the services Of Capt Lorick's company,
from the same place TIE volunteers
proceeded at once to f1arper's errv, as
did also company of volunteers from
tshar,estown, aud one from Martins lurg.
Va, at 4 clock, p NJ. 0u Mon Law 4.
a m iitary tran left Baltimore, carry ing
the Shields tiuar1s, Law Guards. ity
'iuards, and other companies. One Of
the edi'ors Of the American aud other
representatives. Of the rress accompanied
the expedition At the Relay House,
this expedition was joined hy the L :.
Marines, under Coz. Harris
AT s O'Clock, P NJ, a dispatch was
received from the Amey16on's reporter,
forty FIVE miles from Baltimore and
thirty-one from Harper's Ferry. stating
that the Baltimore troops, under cons
man1 of Major Reynolds, numbering
four hunire3, were conveyed b. rail-
cars. They had with them the Road
master aud fo,ce oi laborers to repair
the track, and telegraphers to mend the
wires. Three companies from Freder-
lex had gone ahead of the Baltimore
train, They expected to reach Har-
per's Ferry at 10 O'Clock that night
The three companies from Fortress
Monroe, ordered out by the President,
arrived at Baltimore on Tuesda MORN
ing. and were stationed at Fort Nc
Henry to await further orders Upon
the receipt of the news at Richmond, a
detachment OF military was ordered ont
ty Gov. Wise, who himself started for
the scene of action On Tuesday, six
companies of Virginia m litarv, num-
berlng three hundred rank and file, ar
rived at Washington in the train from
Richmond but their orders having been
they returned the same
night. They were fully equipped tor a
A t,rce of about one thou
sand armed men-vounteers, military
and marines-was then collected at the
seat OF war The first body of auxiia-
ries which appeared to have reached the
scene OF action, was a company of rail
road tonnage men from Martinsburg,
led by Capt. Alburtis.
The first authentic information was
received by the arrival of train at Ball
timore, on Monday af; ;ernoon, and by
telegraph, via Pittsburg and the Penn
sylvania lines The first intimation
which the citizens of Harper's Ferry
had Of the insurrection was its actnal
although it is said that
some weeks ago Secretary Floyd re-
ceived an anonymous letter, stating that
about the 10Th of October, the aboli
tionists, negroes, and other disafected
,.o..l1 Al