The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-11-02
From tie Rjci,mo1ed Enquirer.
From tie Ricjtmoad Enquirer.
Confession Of Observation-Disclosures Of
the Assault---The Number and Con.
dition of the Insurgents Their
Arms, &c.

Company F., from Richmond, Capt Cary,
arrived at Harper's Ferry about II O'Clock on
the morning of the 18th. The insurrection
had been quelled and all the surviving leaders
were arrested, except John f. Cooke, who
had escaped with Mr. Lewis Washington's
negroes. The name of the principal leader
in the insurrection is Capt. j John Brown from
Essex county, New York, and recently of
Kansas.
On Gov. Wise reaching the Arsenal, old
Brown received him with the utmost compos-
ure, though evidently suffering much from
his wounds He said, "Wel, Governor, |
suppose you think me a depraved criminal
Well sir, we have our opinions of each other'
The remark was made with no disrespect
whatever. The Governor replied, "You are
in the hands of the State, and have ques-
ri&ns 70 ask, which, you srs.ser- or NOT
you choose" Brown said he was conscious
that he was in the hands Of the law, and was
prepared to meet his fate; that as far as he
himself and those already in custody were
concerned he had no concealments whatever
to make; that he had been mistaken in his
calculations about assistance from others, 9TH
e wise he would have given much more trou-
bic. lie said the whole plot was well con-
triyed and arranged as far back as 1856, and
that he had reason to expect assistance of
from 5000 to 5000 men: that he looked for
aid from ecery State Virginia included y
Upon being asked if any negroes OF whites,
in or about Harpers Ferry, were pledged to
him, he declined answering. But upon re-
Election he framed an answer in these words:
From my visits and associations and enqui-
rieS about here, | have light to expect the
aid Of from three to five thousand men, Be-
ing interrogated very closely by Gov. Wise as
to where the boxes of ms and ammunition
came from, Brown said they were shipped
from Connecticut to Chambersburg, Pa, di-
rect to }. Smith & Sons" in two boxes, and
were hauled to kennedy's farm in Maryland
(the rendezvous,) by drivers who knew moth
ing Of what they contained.
4 Provisional Constitution was found on
one of the rioters, (Stevens,) and shown to
Brown, to know if it was genuine. Upon
hearing the preamble read, he pronounced it
genuine, and con 'eSsed that he was the author
chiefly. though the document was amended in
their Convention. He declined answering
questions thi might implicate others, until
yesterday, when he said he had fixed upon
Harper's Ferry in 1856 as the point to COM
mence his operations against the Southern
States that he had fully examined its
strength, aScertained the number of men in
charge OF it, and the probabilities Of taking it;
said he rented the Kennedy Farm in Mary
land about two years ago, for his two sons
Oliver and WatSon-under the name of Smith
to secrete the weapons, &c, and had continu-
ed, from time to time, to add to his stores
He thought he would have succeeded had he
held Phelps train at Harper's Ferry; thinks
he would then have been able to hold the place
long enough to inspire confidence in him and
his plans, and then his promised support
would have come up.
a Mr.. Moreton McGce, from Kansas was
arrested on suspicion Of being connected with
the insurgents, and upon questioning Brown
as to the connection of McGee with him, he
asked for his name. Upon being told that it
was MOreton McGee, he broke forth in the
most bitter ,denunciation of McGee as a pro-
slavery man in Kansas McGee was forth
with discharged. McGee then went out in
pursuit of Cooke, and brought in many of the
captured arms &c.
Like Coppe and Stevens, Brown had no
apologies to make, but justified his conduct
from the beginning to the end
The Governor asked Brown if they had
taken the Government money. He replied,
with Indignation that money, was not his OBJ
ject; he had no object bu. to take slaves from
their masters; they had money in abundance;
and though they searched passenger in the
train for arms, who had in his possession S10,-
900, they did not molest the money.
The letters found on Browns farm, showed
that the insurgents were in receipt of money
from other parties Browns manner to Gov.
Wise was most dignited and respectful He
claimed equality as to character and motive,
and complained throughout of the treatment
visited upon him; that while humanity had
governed his own conduct towards his pris-
onerS, he had been treated rs a ruffian and
brute.
\ discrepancy exists between Mr.. Wash
ington and Brown as to the surrender of the
latter Brown says he surrendered before
the marines entered the engine-house. Mr..
Washington says Brown had muskct in his
hand when he was struck by Lieut.. Green, of
the marines. Brown complained that his
flag of truce had not been respected, his son
having been shot while bearing the flag
Browns son was not shot by the soldiers, but
by citizen.
The names of the principal insurgents are
Capt John Brown and his sons Oliver and
Watson, both of whom are dead They
were about 80 and 40 years of age, and are
from Essex CO., New York. A. c. Stevens,
from Conn, aged %. He is dangerously
wounded, with two balls in the head, one in
the breast, and bayonet wound Heis tall
athletic man, and of good appearance. He
was suffering so much that he was not close
ly questioned. Edward Coppie, of Iowa,
aged "a years, Of fine appearance and strik-
ing countenance. lie is unhurt and is pris-
oner-s ready to meet any fate that may be
adiudged him. He met Brown in Iowa and
there enlisted last June Albert Haslett, of
Penn, dead Wm Leeman, of Me- dead
Stewart Taylor, of Canada, dead. Chas Tidd,
of Maine, dead William and Dolph Thom-
son, of N. Y, dead. John Kagie, formerly
of Va, but late of Ohio. Jerry Anderson, of
Indiana, dead John E. Cooke, escaped.
Capt. Dangerfeld Newly was from Ohio;