The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-02

[FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESP ONDENTl
CHARLEsTowN, Dec. l, 1919.
Editors Daily Exchange:
left your city yesterday morning at halfpast
seven, and arrived at Harper's Ferry few min
utes past u o'clock, NJ. The railroad platform at
the Ferry crowded with persons, and the
passengers got from the cars, their faces anxi
ouslv scanned, and those who did not appear to
have some acquaintance among the crowd, were
considered strangers, and consequently watched
with suspicion /, together with several friends
however, had difficulty in moving about, hav-
ing met Capt John W. Kennedy, of Charlcstown
who had come to the Ferry to see that no persons
other than those who were known, should travel
on the Winchester and Potomac Railroad Quite
a number OF military, detachments of companies
from Wheeling, Portsmouth and Richmond, were
on their way to join the main command, and they
took the same train for Charlestown Immediately
following train the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, one with 200 U. S. soldiers from
Fortress Monroe. They were sent on by the Presi-
dent for the purpose of protecting the government
works at the Ferry, and accordingly they, immed,
ately Sn arrival, were quartered in the Arsenal.
Nothing of interest occurred on the journey from
the Ferry to Charleston. The ordinary fall pur-
suits occupied the farmers. Negroes were busy
gathering corn, while some were making fences
and others telling timber The locomotive went
steamng on, and when within quarter of mile
of this place, gave shrill and prolonged whistle
no doubt intended to inform those at the seat of
war of our approach. The passengers reached for
their carpetDags, and stood erect in the cars anx
iOus to mnge with the citizen soldiery, and inquire
what the latest sensation news was. When 10 the
iron horse came to a halt within two hundred wards
of the village. On looking out to see the cause of
this we observed standing on the track one of the
military with his musket pointed directly
at our iron steed; and, on inquiry the
engineer informed US that we had been
brought to stand by an order from the
aforesaid gentleman in uniform, accompanied by Il
threat that ii we attempted to pass he would fbust
our boiler" Hundreds of persons were standing
at the depot, a majority Of whom were soldiers,
and although most of the passengers intimate
ly recognized by the citizens of the place. pcremp-
tory orders were given to allow one to leave the
train. After few minutes parlev in which the
guard stated that his orders were to allow no man
to pass a certain point, and that he intended to
obey them, the cars were allowed to proceed. On
stopping at the depot the passengers were COM
PEELED to pass from the cars through file Of sol
diers, until they reached point distant thirty
yards from the cars, when they were allowed to
enter the town, and go where they pleased.
\ great change has taken place in the appearance
of the town since | attended Browns trial. In
stead OF two military companies, numbering to-
gether 100 men, there are two regiments number
ing over 400 men. Almost every man you meet
wears rcgimentals, and everywhere YOU observe
something of the "pomp and circumstance of
glorious war; In front of the courthouse was a
large heap of straw, at which soldiers were active
ly employed stu1ing mattresses for beds. Some
companies were on drill, others were scattered
around IN groups, enjoying some manly sport,
while others appeared to be making preparations
for fight on their own hook, and were arming
themselves with Colts navy revovers.
Gen. Taiaierro's quarters at the Reaman &
Gibson House, and that officer be seen only on
iiaTo I l,,=f,, I Il.
with Col. Lucius Davis "a most efficient officer
and others OF his staff were in consultation Orders
were issued to the picket guard about O'Clock, p
NJ not to allow any person to pass out Oor enter the
line. Citizens from the county who were in town,
and who desired to go to their houses, found it i'm
possible to do so. Some who attempted it were
promptly turned back. This order was intended to
operate solely on strangers, but the sentnels guard
ing the avenues leading to the town were members
o. the military from abroad, and did not know the
residents of the county. They were accordingly
removed, and men selected from the Jefferson
Guard under Captain Rowan, were stationed in
their stead, which remedied the Inconvenience
At O'Clock the military formed for dress parade,
and the exhibition most crediable. The Rich
mond Greys and Company F. of the same city, are
fine body of men as have seen, and they drill
with the accuracy and precision of veterans. All
the military present fine appearance. Col. Au-
gust (member of the Virginia Senate) commands
the LIST Regiment. Col. John r. Gibson (member
of the House Of Delegates, from this county, COM
Winchester Continentas, Valley Guards, West Au-
gusta Guards Hamtramck Guards and Shepherds
town troop. Col. Charles f. Stewart commands
the Alexandria and Orange Battalion. The court
| house and all the school-houses in the place. to-
gether with other buildings, are occupied by mill
| tary.
At the dress-parade an order was read from head
quarters, directing the military, other than those
rph" vpara detailed for seminal and counting
to be in their quarters at hafpaSt six O'Clock p
NJ, and to remain there with their arms at their
side during the night. Posters wete stuck up by
order Of the Mayor, directing the citizens to remain
within doors after six o'clock they would not be
permitted to be the street after that hour This
order was very generally obeyed. The town each
night is surrounded by sets of sentinels one OF
which is stationed just at the limits of the Corpora
| ton, and the other some three hundred yards be
yOnd. Besides the sentinels there arescouting par
ties out in different directions, some on foot and
others horseback, who the country for
| miles around.
This morning Col. Lucius Davis takes charge OF
the Winchester and Potomac Railroad cars, and no
person will be allowed to travel on it except the
military. He will continue to hold them for the
remainder Of the week. Persons will not be allow
! ed to travel from the Ferry to CharlestOwn in any
! public conveyance. The request made by Gov
ernor Wise that citizens should remain at home and
defend their property, should it become necessary,
Will in great measure be observed.
The place selected for the execution of Brown is
situated east Of the town. The scatfod, which is
now erecting will be placed in hollow, with hills
rising on all sides, forming perfect amphitheatre.
! The military will be stationed in square around
the gaoWS, and within fifty yards of it. Citizens
! will not be allowed to come nearer than two hun
| dred yards of the scatfold. The only persons who
will be allowed to attend with the Sheriff will be
the physicians. Ministers Of the Gospel would also
be there, but Brown does not desire their presence
1t is not Browns intention to make a speech on
the scatlold. lie says he is done talking therefore
| but few minutes will elapse from the time he
ascends until the trap is sprung. \ line of mill
tary will extend from the Jail to the scafold, and
| artillery has been placed in positions to command
| all the avenues leading thereto. Nothing but a
! Providential interposition Brown from
! hanging on tomorrow.
Yesterday morning man was brought from
Harrisburg, who is said to be the brother of Cop
! pie. He is a fine, large-sized man. He was not
taken into the presence of the prisoners, but was
ordered to be removed to Winchester and confined
| in Jail. Yesterday afternoon two men were sent
out Of the State. One was an elderly man, hailing
from the State of Iowa, and who prOtessed to have
| some business to transact with Coppie His state
| ments were not clear, and he was accord
| ingly ordered to be removed, and a guard
escorted him to the Ferry. The other
! was man who was professedly engaged as a labor
! err, but who, it was discovered, had made the house
! Of free negro, named John Welcome, his home.
| A party under Adrew Z. Kennedy, Esq, started in
search for him, and they found him asleep in the
Negroes house. He, Also was sent beyond the lin
| its of the State.
The Hon. Ed. Ruffin, the great agricuturalist,
| came from harper feffF yesterday morning, ana
he was arrested at the outskirts of tae town by one
of the sentines, and marched to the Guard House.
| Of course he remained there but few minutes as
| he was known by hundreds of citizens. His hair is
white and very long, hanging over his shoulders,
and doubt the sentinel felt confident that he had
| secured another OsSawatOme.
| Last night ! visited several of the military quar-
tiers, among which were those of the Richmond
| Greys, who occupy the court room. The scene
presented was vastly different from that which |
witnessed in the same place but few weeks since.
Then breathess silence prevailed, when inter-
| rupted by the austere Judge, the witness or the
forensic efforts made the walls echo to thrilling
| eloquence and passionate defamation. All the
| space was occupied by an anxious and attentive
| crowd, who waited patiently and listened silently
! as the story of the mad old mans crimes was told
to the jury. But now, sitting in the Judges seat,
was Portly military gentleman, pipe in mouth,
| and convulsed in laughter, while all around the
room on straw cots or seated in chairs, were his
comrades, save one who standing on a table,
and with rich brogue, which almost rivalled
the great cOmmedan, was playing "Barney
| Williams" The same amusements prevail in all
| the quarters.
No person, other than those in authority, is per-
mtted to visit the Jail, nor will they be allowed to
| do so until after the execution.
| Browns body will be at the disposal of his
! friends, and it is expected it will be removed to
! Ohio or New Y ork State for burial.
THE VIRGINIA EXCITEMENT.