, 1860-02-17

) sell therefore raised my rlne ana LOOK
the best aim l could and fred. 1t had the
desired effect, for the very instant the par.
ty returned it. Several shots we're ex
, changed. Tho last one they fred at me
cut small limb l had hold Of Just below
my hand, and gave me fall Of about fif.
teen feet, by which was severely bruised
and my flesh larcerated. descended from
the mountain and passed down the road To
the Crane on the bank Of the canal, about
|, fifty yards from Mr.. WIS store. l saw
several heads behind the door post looking
at me; took position behind the Crane
and cooking my rife, beckoned to some Of
them to come to me; after some hesitation
one Of them approached and then another,
both Of whom knew me. l asked them if
there were any armed men in the store.
They pledged me their word and honor
that there were none. l then passed down
to the lock house and went down the steps
to tho lock, where saw VIM. McGreg,
and questioned him in regard to the troops
on the other side. He told me that the
bridge was filled by our opponents, and
that all Of our party were dead but seven
that two Of them were shot while trying
To escape across the river. He begged me
to leave Immediately. After questioning
him in regard to the number and position
Of the troops, and from what sources be re-
ceived his information, l bid him good
night and started up the road at rapid
walk. l stopped at the house of an Irish
family at the foot ofthe hill and got a cup
of coffee and some eatables. was inform
ed by them that Capt. Brown was dead
that he had been shot about o'clock in
the afternoon. At the time believed this
report to be true l went on up to the
school house and found the shutters and
door closed-called to Tidd and the boys,
but received no answer cooked my rife
and then opened the door. 1t was dark at
this time. Some Of the goods had been
placed in the middle Of the floor, and in the
dark looked like men erouching. nnsI
cooked my rife and drew my revolver, and
then struck o match--saw that there was
no one in the school house; went into the
bushes back Of the school house and called
for the boys Receiving no answer Iwent
across the road into some pines and again
called, but could find no one. then start
ed up the road towards Capt. Browns
house; saw q party Of men eocling down
the road when within about fifty yards /
ordered them to halt; they recognized my
voice and called me. found them TO be
Charles p. Tidd, Owen Brown, Barclay
Coppie, F. J. Merriam and q negro, who
belonged to Washington or Alstadtt.
They asked me the news, and gave the
information that l received at the canal
lock and on the road Itseemed that they
thought it would be sheer madness in them
to attempt q rescue Of our comrades, and IL
was finally determined to return to the
house Of Capt. Brown. found that Tidd,
before leaving the school house TO 60 for
Brown, Coppie and Merriam, had stationed
the negroes in good position In the tim
Der back Of the school house. On his re-
turn, however, they could not be found.
We therefore left for Capt. Browns house.
Here we got few articles which would be
necessary, and then went over into the tim
Der on the side Of the mountain, q few yards
beyond the house, where the spears were
kept. Here we laid down aud went to-
sleep. About 3 O'Clock in The morning
one Of our party awakened and found that
the negro had left BE Immediately
aroused the rest Of the party. and we con-
cluded to 60 to the top Of the mountain
before light. Here we remained for q few
hours and then passed over to the other
side Of the mountain, where We waited till
dark and then crossed the valley to the
other range beyond.
j have forgotten tostate previously, that
before left Capt. Brown In Cleveland,
Ohio, he gaze me orders 10 frusf no 0ne tOifA
our seeref, and TO hold no conversation with
the slaves, which orders obeyed with but
single exception, which l here mention.
The exception to which / allude, Is simply
/ this-I met party Of four negroes--two
free and two slaves-near Bolivar, Jefer-
son county, Virginia. asked them II
they had ever thought about their freedom
They replied "they thought they ought to
be Free" but expressed doubts that they
ever would be. / told them that time
might come before many years, but for the
present to keep dark and look for the good
time coming, and left them. ~
/ see from some Of the newspapers, that
I have been represented as Capt. Brown's
chief aid. This is incorrect. Kagi was
second in command, Stephens third, Haz-
Lit fourth. Further than this, ! do not
know that Capt. Brown bad made known
= any preference as TO superiority or rank.
Edward Coppie and Dolphin Thomas were
: the ouly lieutenants be commissioned
Owen Brown Barclay, CoPPie and +. J.
Merriam were not at the Ferry during the
time the attack was made, but remained by
: order Of Capt. d. to take charge Of the
! premises, and to guard the arms left at
: Browns house in case Of an attack. ] do
9 not know Of any person in the Ferry or its
r neighborhoOd, who knew Of our plan, save
+ our own party, and they were pledged tc
. keep it secret.
Richard Reah, one Of our original party
q and our Secretary Of State, came from
l. Chatham to Cleveland, few days belor'
' Capt. Browns arrival from the East. SOOI
3 after his arrival, be (Capt. b. sent Real
:. 90 Nou York CitV at which nlaca he EN-