Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-31
NO. :26e.
AN TNCIDEST fIETsTKIfTTE Of JOIN
BROWNS CHARACTER.

lugltlveS from Missouri, through Kansas
and Nebraska, into Iowa. or to some 9TH
er point toward the North Star. BY some
means not now recollected, the informa-
ton was conveyed to the city of Atchin-
son that Brown and his escort were en-
camped on small tributary of the Grass
hopper river, in jackson county, about
twenty miles from Atchinson. Some of
the pro-slavers, as Montgomery used to
call them, thought this favorable oppor-
tunity TO strike blow for the cause. An
impromptu meeting was held rather qui-
city, and about dozen of the young
braves, who were known to be "sound on
the goose" and who were always ..ready
for fight or foot race were selected
to make Il raid upon John Brown, capture
him and his negroes, and convey them
back to Missouri. Horses and revolvers
were furnished by those who instigated
the movement. and these redoubtable war;
riors marched forth '.in all the pomp and
circumstance of glorious war" The no.
Bile bearing OF these gallant knights, the
cuveting OF their fiery steeds, the tinkling
OF the little bells on their heels, were all
calculated to inspire pride and hope in the
bosom of the friends who had sent them
forth on this expedition.
| The old proverb, that "you can't catch
q weasel asleep wes verified in this in.
stance. Brown was apprized of their ap-
proach, and was wide awake, and ready
to receive this warlike demonstration.
The assailants had made reconnaissance
OF Browns camp. and thereupon had re.
solved to attack with both cavalry and In
fantrv, 80 a number had dlsmounted and
fastened their horses to contiguous sap
lings, just inside of Browns pickets. The
cavalry were to move forward and attack
the tent and wagons, where it was sup
posed as no one was seen around the camp,
the game was asleep, capture all they
could, while the infantry stood ready to
shoot down any fugtives who might en-
deayor to escape. Forward, shouted
the leader of the horse, and slight move
ment forward was made. .Halti'' said
Browns men. as they rose from the brush
where they had been concealed, and clos
ing in upon the assailants, shouted aloud,
"Dismount and throw down your arms
or you will be shot down in moment
This sudden and unexpected change in
the programme seemed for moment to
bewilder the assailants, and to throw them
into panic, for the order to ground their
arms was instantly obeyed by the infantry,
when the cavalry, realizing the condition
\
that discretion was the better part OF
valor." and applying their spurs energet-
ically TO their steeds, turned and fled in
gloriously, leaving their friends to get out
of the scrape as best they could These
latter We're all but one taken prisoners by
.'"own's party. This one, seeing the black
soldiers about to surround him, and find
ing that he was in peril of being deserted
by his friends. made sudden spring at
the caudal extremity of one of the flying
horses, and actually seized the appendagc
aforesaid, and there he chung, like Tam
OShanter's witch, and so escaped.
Soon after this disastrous and bloodless
defeat of the assailing party. Brown, Sc
curing his prisoners. struck his tents and
moved into Nebraska, carrying his pris-
oners with him. Here a council of war
was held, and some of the party were for
shooting or hanging the prisoners; but
Brown, whose philanthropic feelings
would not permit him to shed human
blood, prevailed on his comrades to spare
their lives. remarking that although they
were scarcely fit to live, that they were
not tit 10 die, and to spare their lives. they
would have time to repent hereafter.
One OF the party captured was young
physician from Atchison. u wild, rafting,
devil-may-care kind of fellow, always
ready for an adventure that promised
either excitement or sport, but who really
had nothing very bad in his composition
Brown took him under his especial care.
As has been hnted heretofore, Brown was
of religious turn, and. whether at his
own home or encamped on the wide prai-
rie, had always an altar created in his
house or tent, at which it was required
hat all in
One evening, when about to retire, he
called upon the doctor to offer up a prayer.
by G." said the doctor, in language
more protane than polite, II can't pray"
Ibid your mother never teach you TO
pray?' inquired Brown. 30, yes," said
the doctor, "but that was long time ago."
"But you still remember the prayer she
taught you," said Brown. Yes" "Well
in the absence OF any better one, say that"
said Brown; and the doctor actually re-
peated, before black and white of the
camp that night the very familiar nursery
invocation of Now lay me down to
sleep" ETC., to the great amusement OF
his fellow prisoners and all others present.
On his return home he related all the cir
cumstanccs, and many others of an inter-
estng nature now forgotten. He stated
in his usual strong language that John
Brown was the best man he had ever
known, and knew more about religion
than any one he ever saw. When asked
il Brown had ever used them badly. or
used any harsh language towards them
while they were with him, he said. NO"
that they We're all treated like gentlemen;
had the same fare as the others, but it did
80 a little hard and against the grain to
eat with and be guarded by 1.-THE d-d
niggers."
After OBTAINING his prisoners for sever
al days, during which he taught them
some round lessons in morals, he was
about to send them home on foot and de-
tain their horses as articles contraband of
war. but on the fact being made known
that the animals upon which they had rid.
den were not their own, but belonged to
other parties in Atchison. Brown gave
them their horses and dismissed them with
the sage admonition that they should new
er undertake to do anything until they had
first learned how to do it, and never try