Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-14
JOHN BROWNS RAID.

An Inside View of the Insurrection at Har-
per's Ferry.
John Es:on Cooke, in the Philadelphia Weekly Tines
On receipt of the intelligence from
Ha1per's Ferry, Richmond fell into a
great commotion, and Gov. Wise took IN
slant steps, as the executive of the State,
to meet force with force. The governors
house, standing near the capitol, was sur
rounded by men going and coming to
hear the latest intelligence. The centre
of all was Gov. Wise, who was getting
ready to repair at once, with troops, to
Harper's Ferry, and avenge the insulted
honor of the State. He seemed to be pos
sessed by one controlling thought, that
the honor of Virginia must be protected
by Virginia troops, not by those of the
general government, which had nothing
to do with the affair. He therefore is
sued calls for volunteers, and the govern
or's house was turned suddenly into sort
of generals headquarters, with the accom-
paniment Of messengers arriving and de-
parting like couriers on the eve of bat
tie. remember these stirring events
from personal observation Having rela-
tives in that par: of the Shenandoah VAL
ley attacked by the raiders, I was natural
ly anxious to 60 there, and urged Captain
-afterward general-Randolph, Confed-
crate secretary of war, to offer his show
itzer" company of which I was member.
At first he objectad, as rumors were rife
Of rising of the negroes toward the BAY,
but finally decided to do so, and we re-
paired to the governors house, where we
found Governor Wise seated at the table
writing hurried dispatches, surrounded
by crowd which nearly filled the
room.
"The howitzer company are ready,
Governor" said General Randolph.
"As many may go as want to!" ex-
claimed the Governor, looking up quickly.
THE TROOPS AT HARPER's FERRY.
An hour or two afterward long train
of Gals loaded with troops was on its way
to Harper's Ferry-by way of Washing
on-with Governor Wise in personal
command. He addressed the crowds
wherever he stopped with GOODNESS which
always characterized him when he was
most aroused and seemed in his element.
After landing at Washington he s'rattled
his regiment" as he afterward said, laugh.
ingly, "under the walls of the capitol"
and preceded by train from Baltimore
westward-the troops receiving the order
to load with ball cartridge as they drew
near Harper's Ferry, for the report had
spread that large force was advancing
from Ohio to the assistance of the raiders.
What followed after the retreat of
John Brown and his men to the engine
house is known, but some particulars re-
lating to the occurrence given by Gener-
al J. E. B. Stuart, who was prominent
actor in the affair, may prove Of interest.
General Stuart-the Lieutenant Stuart,
of the United States Cavalry-happened
to be at the time on a visit to his family
in Virginia, and had run over to Wash
ington, where he heard of the attack on
Harper's Ferry, and was greatly excited
by it. The departments were all in com
motion and the employees declared
that they: they were going straight
wives and children" Think
ing, however, as he told me, that ssthe
best way to defend has wife and children
was to go to Harper's Ferry" Stuart hur-
rled to the White House, where he under
stood the Secretary Of War Governor
Floyd was in consultation with the
President. He was admitted, and found
President Buchanan, Secretary Floyd and
General r. E Lee-at that time colonel
of cavalry, and on visit, like Stuart, to
his family engaged in discussing what
course to follow in reference to the raid
ers. There was, of course, no difference
of opinion in regard to the necessity Of
putting down so audacious an attack on
the United States arsenal. The question
was how to treat the raiders; whether to
summon them to disperse or exterminate
them. President Buchanan advocated
prudence and circumspection, and said to
Lee: "You will take command of the
marines, Colonel, and proceed at once to
Harper's Ferry; but act prudently, Col
onel." Lee bowed and left the room, the
Secretary following him and urging upon
him in terms more emphatic than charac-