, 1861-05-31


self away in the schooner, and in that way
got off He says that the dead were al
taken and boxed and carried away in the
night and buried in Potter's Field, where
the negroes are buried He says that
thousands Of negroes only want some o.
their leaders to give them the word, and
great will be the slaughter
NARRATIVE BY GEN. HARVEY oE,f1s ARREST BY
THE vIRGINIANs.
Gen, Harney. who moi, long ago was
called from st. Louis to Washington by q
peremptory order from the Secretary oI
War, has given substantially the following
statement of his arrest in Virginia
Early on Thursday morning l was ap-
Iprised by the railroad conductor that we
were at Harper's Ferry, and that there
were indications of an intention to arrest
me. / did not believe this was intended
but a party Of soldiers soon entered the
cars, and apologising for disturbing me,
said that l must consider myself their pris-
oner. asked, but was not allowed to
telegraph to the Secretary Of War. was
taken to Gen. Carson's quarters, and in
formed that / would be required to go to
Richmond. Accordingly 1 left, before
dayligh, in carriage, attended by FIVE
officers of the staff They had proposed
to send largo force as an escort, but as
snred them that it was above my dignity
to attempt an escape; that the matter was
between them and my Government, and
that did not wish to receive On unneces-
sary amount of attention from the public
on the way. We we're three days on the
journey, which was made partially on
wheels and partially by rail l was treat
ed on the route, as well as at Harper's Fer
ry. with the greatest courtesy Regret
was expressed that orders were such as to
compel my detention. No disagreenble
subjects were introduce4 and no effort
made TO obtain my confidence. On Sunday
evening we reached Richmond, and went
at once to Gov. Letcher's house. The
Governor was dining out, but was sent fol
Immediately. He released me, saying thai
his orders bad been misunderstood.
learned that the Harper's Ferry force hat
been directed to stop all armed bodies, and
that the telegraph had announced me al
coming at the head Of fourteen hundred
troops. l was treated with great atten
ton at Richmond -hy Gov Lateb7r. Col
I Lee, COL Johnson and Others whom ] have
long known, and was waited upon by Q
number Of other prominent citizens There
seemed 10 be some curiosity to see ne, and
some believed that l intended to resign my
commission in the United States Army
On this latter point they were deceived.
At 81 o'clock on Monday morning, ]
left for Alexandria, where / arrived in the
afternoon. Gov. Letcher offered escort
which refused. The people along The
route seem TO have heard that l was com.
ing, aud at some Of the stations were gath
ering in considerable numbers. At one
point there was q great crowd, who stared
and called me to come out and show myself;
but except by some boys no disgracefnl re-
marks we're made. did not see more than
half dozen soldiers in all, and no fortiiica-
tion and no batteries at Alexandria, which
seemed like a deserted village. At Rich.
mond and Harper's Ferry, It being dark,
saw few troops. At the former place,
noticed, as came away, three large Sc
cessisn flags in the main street but the
display of bunting was as nothing com
pared with what had observed in Cincin-
natl and other Northern cities. Through.
out my journey, as at its commencement, ]
was treated with great courtesy, even deli.
cacy Of attention. So far as could judge
from conversation which had, with officers
aud civilians, the tone Of Virginia is calm
but resolved She has no Intention Of at
tOcking Washington, but means to act on
the defensive, claiming, according to the
doctrine Of State rights, that she can leave
the Union nt pleasure, and believing the
North and South are two distinct people
which ought to have separate governments
heard much regret expressed at the pres
ent condition Of affairs, but saw no indica
ton of the existence Of an unkind feeling
towards the North. / was assured b.
Gov. Letcher and others high in authority
that Virginia entertained no idea Of attack
ing Washington. This of course canno
cover JEFF. Davis movements but l can
not believe he, though stubborn, has so lit
tie shrewdness as to undertake the enter
prise. ] left st. Louis on Tuesday.
think that, although since the affair a
Sumter the feeling in favor Of secession ha
strengthened in Missouri, she will not at
tempt to 60 out Of the Union.