The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-11
JNTY. OHIO. WEDNESDAY, MORNING, JANUARY a. 1850.

harhor and hiding place for savages and ban
ditti, whsre they ivesecureiy, and from whence
they issue at will to rayage our country and
murder our people. ANY action of Congress
which would remedy this state of things would
be a great benefit to the Mexican people and a
J Blessing to our own.
.f, ~ = HARPER's FERRY.
| The recent conspiracy and effort at insurrec-
ton and plunder attempted at Harper's Ferry
constitutes altogether one ut the most surpria-
ing aud startling episodes in the history OF our
country. a fanatical man, stimulated to reck-
lessness and desperation by the constant teach
! lngs and intemperate appeals of wild and trea-
sonable enthusiasts, unrestrained by the Cen
stisutiun and laws of the land by the p.eaeEta
OF religion, by the appeals OF humanity CT of
mercy, iornsed a conspiracy to make sudden
descent upon the people OF Harper's Ferry, to
rob the arsenal, pluuder the public property,
and stir up servits insurrection. The plan de-
vissd and the mode of executing it were such
as to promise every hop. of success. The con-
spiratoEs rensed u farm in the State of Mary
land, witkin few miles OF KIarper's Ferry,
where they remained for some months, appa-
rentiy following peaceful, probably useful pur
suits; during which time they took effectual
means to cOnci late the kind feelings Of the
people "f the adjaeent country, aud particu-
larly those OF the village, Of Harpers Ferry
They became perfectly familiar with all the To-
caiiuies of the place, streets, houses, aFsenals,
and workshops, so that its contemplated seizure
might be effected at any hour of the Iii ghs
without confusion or any unusual movement
calculated to attract the attention or arouse
suspicion They knew perfectly, the univer-
sal and unsuspecting security of the entire
population. Up to the wight of that attack
there never was man within the Common
wealth of Virginia who went to his bed with
the slightest apprehension of danger fr III at
tack by citizens of the United States in any
numbers, from any region, or for any purpose
whatever. The sense of profound security was
perfect and absolute. Having also, no apprs-
henson whatever of the slave population, and
this assurance was fully justified by the event,)
nsthing could be more favorable fer the con-
summation of the diabolical designs of the
coaspir.tors Having cut he telegraphic wires,
they entered, under the cover of night, unulo-
Tested and unobserved, into the village, seized
upon the solitary watchm IN placed at the arse
nal as protection against fire only, and passes
sed themselves, speedily, of all TIE buildings
containing arms, or suitable for defence. The
next movement Was to seze the principal men
OF he place With whom their long resi- leIce
near there had made them acquainted, a'd
conGne them securely under Their Own control.
These arrests were made singly, and IN eye-
ry instance by several perfectly armed men,
who c0nyeyed their prisoners to the place OF
confinement This process was carried on
til. Oil hout thr night, and exty ynded not only
to the village but TO the country around.
-t}se-rrortti4tes d-he ststezef
things was partially discovered, the cople of the
village gathered TO the sceneof congusion about
the arsenal. The couspirators now eommenced
a fire upon the citizens. Then. for the first
t me, did the tlocious designs OF these men
fully appear, aud, strange as it nay seem, it
WIS only then discovered that the citizens of
she place were almost wholly witht ut arms and
OF any sort. Prssea ly, howev-
or, arms and niEunition, not in pos
session of the plunderers were found. when
the men of the village. and those who had as
semhled from the neighhorhood, arminS them
selves Immediately turned the hre OF the as
sailants, with such effect that in the course f
il few hours they were driven from their posi-
tions. and all either killed or wounded, with
the exception of the leader and half d zen
others of his party, who were driven into al
engine housc. VIII ther they fled for security =
They carried along with them ten or twelve of
the prisoners they had taken the night before,
who were TO be used as hostages as the rob-
bers alleged, to prevent the fire of the citizens
outside from being directed towards the,pselves
in the house where they taken shelter.
throughout the whole day on Monday, from
twelve O'Clock. at which time intelligence of
the outbreak reached tn city, the most exag
gerated accou' is were received of the state of
things at Harpers Ferry, and the number of
persons engaged in it. Prompt measures. how
ever We're taken. and Brevet Colonel Robert
+. Lee, of the 1st cavalry, at once sum-
noned to take command of detachment Of
marines and two companies of vountet rs from
Frederick, Maryland, who had promptly offer |
I'd their services. The troops left this city
Dy the afternoon train. and, taking up the vol /
lntlers on the way, reached the scene of ac-
ion durin2: the night.
The next morning, at an early hour Colo
lel Lee gave orders to the III .rines to attack
md carry the house where tn. conspirator5
we're strongly barricaded, which was very
and glllantly done. with the loss of
me man killed. another wounded. Colonel |
Lees report Of his proceedings is herewith
which gives all ether informa-
ion the subject thought to be of interest.
[ have the honor to be, very respectfully, |
rour obedient servant,
JOHN B. FLOYD,
The PRESIDENT. Secretary of VIZ.
He is nEAR-Yes the friend who was Y
ur side but ye>ter h,v-wh ,se laugh rs oud /
n our oYvn-whose spir is were as H. a rh% |
NOW Il raSSaI tbA hsh uts |