Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-04-25

CHANBERsBtRG, Aprill9, 1861.
Our usually steady old town has been
in fever of excitement for several DAYS.
Tue attack upon Fort Sumter and the peril
OF the Capital have aroused our people
thoroughly. Yesterday business was prae.
ticaIly suspended 10 enroll and equip sew
ernl companies Of volunteers. An inn
.mense pole was erected in the center of the
town, tue Stars aud Stripes flung to the
hreeze, md $50 men were ready by NIGHT
10 march this morning. A supper was
given them in the town hall last evening.
and at eight to-day they moved f5r Harris.
burg. :
The excitement had just begun to abate
a little when, Mt one o'clock this afternoon.
several large onnibusses drove into town,
and y company of regular troops luuded
ut the railroad deput. They proved to be
Lieut.. Jones and his companysof regulars
from Harper's Ferry, and they ANNOUNCED
that they had fired the public factories and
blown up the arsenals Mt ten list riight and
made their escape. \ The news spread like
wllthre, aud our people gathered around
them by hundreds, aud cheer after cheer
went up for the brave fellows.
The facts, as gathered them from Lieut..
Jones, are as follows: Several DAYS ago.
he was advised from headquarters that
his post was in Imminent danger. and al
recting him TO be pre- ared for any emer-
.gency Yesterday, he had information
from various sources that an attack would
be !nhdcupo1 tue arsenals last night. The
mlIttta'ot the place, who protested syalty,
resolved to ttisbInh: the lnborers. who
were acting as guards, manifested a sig-'
nihcunt uneusiuess, a special train WAS
known to oe on the way 10 the Ferry. and
there was positive information of bodies
OF troops, in all amounting to over 1000
men, having moved from Winchester.
GhHr!estown, and other points, toward the
Ferry. EARLY in the evening, the little
garrison, consisting of but so men, COM
,lnenced the preparation to enable them 10
destroy the nrsenul3 and arms In cMse Of
gecesslty. They cut up planks and other
sllnoers a. with their swords to ignite the
buildings. They emrtied their mattresses,
filed them with powder, aud carried thom
into She htscuals, so that no suspicion was
aroused among the people. TheGrms, 49,
00O In number, were then placed in the
best position TO heFlestroyed by sheexnlo
sion, aud sPlints of boards aud straw were
pied mp In different plnces in tho shops.
so that all the public buildings conli he
qestEqyed. AT 8 o'clock, Lieut.. Jones was
aaylsed of the advance of not less than
Sag0V ;aN men, who expected TO DO upon turn
ny mIdnight, and be at once proceeded 10
the work OF 2destrnetion. The windows
ana doors OF the bidding were opened, so
that the flames could lave free cotlrsn.
and when all was ready. tile firps ,geFs
stnrted in the carpenter shop, the trains
leading to the powder ignfted, and his men
marched out. The cry Of fre alarmed the
town, and just rs Lieut Jones ana his
men were entering the lodge 10 escape. an
excited crowd pursued him, threateniDp
SengeaRce upon him for hnving ffrel the
buildings. He wheeled his men, and de-
clarctl that unless the crowd dtsuersetl be !!
would fire upon them. The mass faIt 4
back, and he He'd up the canal and took /
to the 'woods: Several shots were fired NJ.
ter him, but without effect. He was not
out OF the town over fifteen minutes when /.
le a neaEq lhe hrst e1pl lostOn, and the light I
OF the burning buildings lit his path as lie
escaped northwArd He does not doubt I
.,! 1ut tlat the destruction of The ursenals
=. S.0ps, %c'' ls complete, as ne heard tie
different explosions, distinctly.
When be got out of the town he fonnd /.
that four of his men were not IN ranks
and he hears that they have been captured 1
anu slain. He made u hurried march for
wnding streams and swamps. |
ana reached the plnce ut q o'clock this |
morning. lie ut once procured omnibus-
3es there. and reached Ills place in time N, ! !
for the afternoon train eastward, and. amid
Tue hearty cheers of large crowd of onr /
people, departed for Carlisle Barracks.
The troops were covered with mud, and
were evidently much exhausted, as they
llad not eaten anything after leaving Har-
pers Ferry until they arrived at Cham
9erspnrg. Here they were promptly. aud
provided With provisions.
p
tFOr the IntelllEOpcer.I