The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-10-27


ter and noble qualities.
The Shepardstown troops next arrived
marching down the Shenandoah side, and
joining the Charleston forces at the bridge
dcsutory exchange of shots followed, one
of which struck Mr.. Fountain Beckmar,
Mayor of the town, and agent of the railroad
company, entering his breast and passing
entirely through his body. The ball was a
large elongated slug, and made dreadful
wound. Mr.. Beckman died almost immedi
ately. He was without fire arms and was
exposed for only moment while approach
ing water station His assailant, one OF
Browns sons was shot almost Immediately
but managed to get back to the engine house
where his body was found the next day.
The murder of Mr.. Beckman greatly excl
ted the popu|ace, who immedi ,tely raised q
cry to bring out the prisoner Thompson. He
was brought ont to the bridge, and there sho,
down. He fell into the water and some ap.
pearance of life still remaining, he was rid.
died with balls.
AT this time the general charge was made
down the street from the bridge toward the
Armory gate by the Charleston and Shep.
ardstown troops and Ferry people. From
behind the Arnory wall fusilade was kept
up, and returned by the insmrectionists
from the Armory buildings. "-s.
While this was going on, the Martinsburp
leyies arrived at the upper end of the town.
rear, made an attack from that side. This
was largely composed ofrairoad employees.
gathered from the tunnage trains at Martins
burg, and their attack was generally spoken
of as showing the greatest amount of fight.
ing pluck exhibited during the day Dash
ing on, firing and cheering, and calamity led
by Capt, Alburtis, they carried the building
in which the Armory men were imprisoned,
and released the whole of them.
They were, however, but poorly armed,
some with pistols and others with shot guns
and when they came within range of the en-
CINE house, where the elite of the insurec-
tionists were gathered, and were exposed to
the rapid and dexterous use ofSharp's rifles,
they were forced to fall back, suffering pretty
severely. Conductor Dorcey Evans of Bal.
timore was killed instantly, and Conductor
George Richardson received wound from
which he died during the day Several
others were wounded, among them son Of
DR.. Hammond of Martinsburg.
A guerilla warefare was maintained during
the rest Of the day, resulting in the killing o,
two of the insurrectionsts and the woun-
ding of a third. One crawled out through a cul
vert leading into the Potomac, and attempted
to cross to the Maryland side, whether with
the view of escaping, or conveying informa
ton to Cook, is not known.
Hewas shot while crossing the river, and
| fell dead on the rockies. An adventurous lac
waded out and secured his Sharp's rife
The body was afterwards stripped of par
Gifts clothing. In one of his pockets wa:
found captains commission drawn up ii
full form, and declaring that the bearer, Capt
Lehman, held that commission under Mai
Gen. Brown. A light mulatto was shot jus
outside the Armory gate. The ball wen
through the throat, tearing away the princi
pal arteries, and killing him instantly. His
name is not known, but he is on, of the free
negroes who came with Brown His bod,
was left in the street until noon yesterday
exposed to every indignty that could b.
heaped upon it by an excited populace.
AT this time a tall, powerful man, name,
Evans Stephens, came out from the Armory
conducting some prisoners, it was said. HI
was twice shot--once in the side and ono
in the breast He was then captured ant
taken to tavern, and after the in>urrector
was qucllcd was turned over to the United
States authorities in a dying condition
Dlring the afternoon a sharp affair tool
place on the Shenandoah side of the town
The insurrectionists had also seized the hall
of the rife works, and party of their assa
ants found their way in through mill-race
and dislodged them.
In this rencountre, it was said, three in
surectionists were killed, but we found blu
one dead body, that of negro, on that sid
fthe town. Night by this time had set in
and operations ceased. Guards were placed
around the Armory and every precautiol
taken to prevent escapes.
At II o'clock, the Monday night train, wit
Baltimore military and marines, arrived a
Sandy Hook, where they waited for the ar
rival of Col. Lee, deputized by the War De
partment to take command
The reporters pressed on, leaving thei
military allies behind they found the bridg
in the possession of the military and entere
the besieged town without difficulty, the oe
casional discharge Of gun or singing motion
of Sharp's rifle ball, warning them that i
was advisable to keep themselves out ofrsng
of the Armory. The first visit was made +
the bedside of Evans Stephans, the Wounds
prisoner; they found him to be large, ex
ceedingly athletic man, a perfect Samson il
appearance He was in small room, fle'
with excited armed men, who more thai
once threatened to shoot him, where he wa
groaniny with pain, but answering wit