River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-18
JOHN BROWNS RAID.
An Inside View OF the Tnsurrection at Ha
per's F.rry


per's Ferry.
ioha Es on Cooke. in the Phla ielphia Weekly Tmss
On receipt of the intelligence from
HaTper's Ferry, Richmond fell into
great commotion. and Gov Wise took IN
slant steps, as the executive az the State.
to meet force with fore. The governors
house, standing near the capitol, was sur
rounded by men going and coming 10
hear the latest intelligence. The centre
of all was Gov. Wise, who was getting
ready to repair at once, with troops, to
ilarper's Ferry, ndavenge the insulted
honor of the State tie seemed to be pos
sessed by one controlling thought. that
the honor Of Virginia must be protected
by Virginia troops, not by T. ose of the
general government, which had nothing
to do with the affair. He therefore is
sued calls for volunteers, and the govern
ors house as 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-
lives in that par: Of the Shenandoah Val
lev attacked by the raiders, wasnatural-
ly anxious to go there, and urged Captain
-afterward general - Randolph, Confed-
crate secretary Of war, 10 offer his "how-
tzer" company Of which was a member
At first he objected, as rumors were rife
nf rising Of the negroes toward the bay,
but finally decided TO do so, and we re-
| paired Ia the governors house, where We
found Governor Wise seated at the table
writing hurried dispatches, surrounded
Ivy a crowd which nearly filled the
room.
"The howitzer company are ready,
Governor" said General Randolph.
''As many may 60 as want tor ex-
claimed the Governor, looking up quickly.
THE TROOPS AT HARPER FERRY.
Ar hour 0r two atterward long tram
Of cars loaded with troops was ON its way
TO lIarpers Ferry-by way of Washing
! on-with Governor Wise in personal
command. lie address d the crowds
wherever he stopped wita GOODNESS which
always characterized him when he was
most aroused and seemed in his element.
After landing at Washington he ''rattled
his regiment, . as he afterward said, laugh
ingly, ''under tie walls of the capitol, .
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
Wfat followed after the retreat OF
John Brown and his men to the engine
house is known, but some particulars re
latinC to the occurrence given by Gener.
al ]. 4. d. Stuart, who was prominent
actor in the affair, may prove OF interest
General Stuart-the Lieutenant Stuart
OF United States Cavalry-happenet
to he at T. c time on visit to his famil,
in Virginia, and had run over to Wash
ingtOn, where he heard of the attack o,
Harper's Ferry, and was greatly excited
by it. The Departments were al in com
motion and the employees declared
that "they were going straigh
To Virginia to look afto thei
wives and children Think
ing, however, as he tod me, that 9Th
best way to defend his wife and childrei
was to go to Harper's Feriy," Stuart hur
RED TO the White House, where he under
stood the Secretary of War (Goveno
! Floyd was IN consultation with tn
President He was admitted, and foun,
I. President Buchanan, Secretary Floyd an,
General II. L Lee--at that time colone
OF cavalry, and ON a visit, like Stuart, t
his faGaily-cngaged in discussing wha
course To fol!o@ in reference to the raid
ers. There vas, OF course, no difierenc
of opinion in regard to the necessity @
putting down so audacious an attack o
the United States arsenal The questio
was now to treat the raiders; whether t
summon them to dispense or exterminat
them President Buchanan advocate
prudence and cirCumspection, and said t
Lee; You will take command of tn
marines, Colonel, and proceed at once t
lIarpers Ferry; but act prudently, Co
onel" Lee bowed and left the room, til
Secretary following him and urging upo
him in terms more emphatic than charaC
tcrized by ''OtficlaI" ceremony, TO crus
the raiders at once, and Lieutcnan
Stuart having obtained permission 10 q
with the detachment OF troops, set cut a
once with tnem by rail tor Harper
Ferry.
Colonel Lee and the maines, VIII
were about eighty in number, reaches
| GEliy hutiBA AilC IlStt vi III
17th, when John Brown aud his part
were SUIT up with their prisoners in tn
engine house. This was small buildin:
Just large enough to contain an ordinar
fire engine or two, and had folding door
and loop holes about the width Of on
brick ON each side of the door to admi
air To this Brown had retrcated will
such of his party as remained and HI
prisoners Colonel Washington and 9th
ers. His forces was now rcdueed to ;
very few whites and some negroes from
the ne!ghb0rhood. The rest were killed
or wounded with the exception of those
sent out into the country who we're afraid
to return. During the long hours of the
night While thus shut up in the engine
J house, Brown exhibited, according to the
/ testimony Of the prisoners aiterward, nc
apprehension whatever His situation
was desperate and he must have felt that
he would never leave the engine house
alive, but he nevertheless remained I'M
moved. One Of his sons had been wound
ed and, with his rifle in one hand, Brow
felt the young man pulse with the otter,
from time to time giving his orders with
great calmness to the rest. and telling
them that as there was not much hope
for them the best thing they could do
would DC TO sell their lives as dearly as
possible. The darkness must have
made the scene gloomy and well
calculated to try the nerves OF the
prisoners, who were in the back part OF
the engine house. They had every rea-
son 10 suspect that they would either be
put 10 death by the raiders or shot by
their friends when the place was attacked
as it was certain it would be, and Colonel
Washington afterward said that, having
no other arms he had opened penknifc
which he happened to have abont him,
resolved 10 spring upon Brown at the
first moment possible ami stab with the
weapon. There was one other occupant
OF the engine 0use-a bulldog, which
had been brought in by some one OF the
raiders, probably, and COW added TO The
threatening state of things by his growls.
THE DEMAND FOR SURRENDER.
Colonel Lee had arrived, took com
mand of the place, and posting his force
of marines near the engine house which
stood, and still stands just within the
gate opening on the grounds, prepared to
attack the raiders in their improvlsed
fort. Owing TO the natural confusion and
the absence Of thorough organization, the
militia, who had FASTENED in from the
neia h4oring counties, had not made a
regular assault. 1t was about night
when Brown took refuge in the engine
house, and while the officers of the militia
were consulting uDon the best means o.