Smyrna times., 1859-10-27
Substantial Statement of the Harper's Ferry
Affair.


substantial Statement of the Harper's Ferr,
Affair.
The newspapers, during the past week, have
overrun with accounts of the Harper's Ferry
Insurrection, many of them confused and con
Trajectory. In our last and present issues we
the occurrence, but have thought, in addition
to these, that a concise statement of the pro-
gress of the events might be of some service.
Passing by the preparatory movements of the
insurrectionists, which are but family known at
present, the first open demonstration at Har-
per's Ferry occurred on Sunday night week.
At about halEpas. ten on that night, the watch
man at the Harper's Ferry bridge, Wm.t Will
Hanson, was seized by number of men, and
shortly afterwards carried to the Armory,which
he then found was in possession of the insur-
gents. The man sent to relieve him at the
bridge was also seized, but made his escape
Within an hour or two, some of the insurrec-
tionsts appeared at the house of Col. Lewis
Washington, who lived four miles distant, took
him and twelve of his negroes prisoners, pro-
ceeded to another gentleman's house, took him,
his son. and all the negroes at hand. and re-
turned to the Armory. In the meantime (about
one o'clock 10 the morning) the passenger train
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad had been
stopped. but was finally allowed to go on, with
the understanding that it was to convey the
announcement that no more trains would be
suffered to pass through.
Of all this the people of Harper's Ferry
knew nothing. Their first knowledge came
with the terror of discovering, or imagining,
that armed men were guarding the bridge and
all the avenues. But before the conviction that
they were prisoners became general, the work
ing men repairing to the Armory, as usual, were
taken prisoners successfully, until at one time
sixty were said TO be confined. BY this lime it
was broad daylight on Monday morning, when
COuk, one Of the leading insurgents, with two
white men and several slaves, crossed the bridge
and disappeared in the direction Of Pennsylva-
MIA. They have not as yet been apprehended.
They left behind them an insurrectionary
fOrce comprising in all fourteen white men and
four negroes. Thus it appears that tDenty- one
men had taken the U. s. Armory, captured over
sixty prisoners, and held for time undisputed
possession of the town of Harper's Ferry
They were reported TO the public on Monday,
as numbering $3.50 whites, aided by gang of
negroes" and before night reached to I" between
500 and 700 in ALL" Luther Simpson, bag
gage-master, states (Which statement flies over
fha tuir y ho nd III i1s
gents in person, and " saw from 500 to 600 me-
groes, all having arms, and there were from 200
to 800 white men with shem." But one of the
latest accounts admits that 10 slaves joined the
insurgents willingly, and says distinctly that
"but one instance is related of slaves who made
apublic appearance with arms in their hands"
The force, then, which was in the active SER
vice of Capt. Brown was, as we have stated
above.
As the morning of Monday wore away, the
true state of the case began to discover ITSELF
People began to flock round the armory, and
Promiscuous firing set iu. The insurgents who
were outside, and who had killed two persons,
one coIored man who had refused to join their
movement, mostly withdrew to their confeder-
ates in the armory. choosing for defence large
brick building with dead walls on three sides.
aud large doors and high window sashes on the
fourth. About noon the Charleston troops
came on the ground, and were soon succeeded
BY another company. Desultory firing was
maintained the rest Of that day, resulting in tho
loss Of two insurgents and the wounding OF q
third. Nothing occurred on Monday night. ex.
eept the arrival of the Baltimore military and
other companies, who poured in thick and fast.
AT Z o'clock on Tuesday morning the FIRST
operations began with parley with the be-
seged, which was fruitless. An attack was
ordered. as further regular firing was thought
TO be more dangerous to the prisoners within
Ii was promptly executed, with the loss Of one
marine and two wounded. The doors were de-
molished, the building entered. and all resist
snce was at once extinguished. The prisoners
we're found unharmed. Capt John Brown, th'
instiss,or Of this singular tragedy, was badly
wounded, and his son shot dead. There were
in an % killed daring the trouble- fifteen in
sargents and FIVE ciiizens-and several wound
ed. sq st slaa sa1 g.- 80 :"
The surviving insurgents are now in jail
'waiting legal proceedings. Such Is brie
record of the prominent events at HarPers Fer
~ from Sunday night to Tuesday morning
without reference TO motives, antecedents, 0
collateral circumstances. .se1
The Markets.
White wheat is selling in Smyrna at 81 %
Raa al 90 m OK o,z f.ora on .ad IA