The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-09-17
JOHN BROWNS RAID.

n Inside View Of the Insurrection ut Har-
per's Ferry. ...
N Es on Cooke. in the Phiisdsphia Weekly Times
On receipt of the intelligence from
Iarper's Ferry. Richmond fell into a
sreat commotion. and Gov, Wise took IN
tant steps, as the executive of the State,
= 0 meet force with force. The governors
louse, standing near the capitol, was sur
ounded by men going and coming to
lear the latest intelligence. The centre
# all was Gov. Wise, who was getting
eady to repair at once, with troops, to
1arper's Ferry, and avenge the insulted
lonor Of tho State. He seemed to be pos
essed by one controlling thought, that
he honor of Virginia must be protected
9y Virginia troops, not by those of the
general government, which had nothing
o do with the affair. He therefore is
'ued calls for volunteers, anC the govern
r'shouse was turned suddenly into a sort
If generals headquarters, with the accom-
oaniment of messengers arriving and de-
parting like couriers ON the eve of bat
lie. I remember these stirring events
rom personal observation Having rela-
lives in that par: of the Shenandoah VAL
ley attacked by the raiders, L was natural
~ anxious to go there, and urged Captain
-afterward general-Randolph, Confed-
erase secretary of war, to offer his show
itzer' company of which was member
At first he objectad, as rumors were rife
of a rising of the negroes toward the bay,
but finally decided to do so, and we re-
paired to the governors house, where we
'ud Governor Wise seated at the table
"sitlng hurried dispatches, surrounded
by crowd which nearly filed the
room.
1.-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 atterward long train
Of ca1s 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 ''rattlcd
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.
Wnat followed after the retreat of
John Brown and his men to the engine
house is known, but some particulars re-
latinS to the occurrence given by Gencr-
a J. E. B. Stuart, who was a prominent
ACTOR in the affair, may prove Of interest
General Stuart-the Lieutenant Stuart,
of tie United States Cavary-happened
to be at the time on 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 were going straight
20 Virginia to look afte their
wives and Children, ~ Think
ing, however, as he tod me, that 1.-THE
best way to defend his wife and children
WAS to 60 to Harper's Ferly," Stuart hur-
RED 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 colone
of cavalry, and on visit, like Stuart, tt
his family-engaged in discussing wha,
course to folio" 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 or
the United States arsenal. The question
was how to treat the raiders; whether Il
summon them to disperse or exterminatt
them. President Buchanan advocated
prudence and circumspcction, and said tt
Lee: You will take command of the
marines, Colonel, and proceed at once tt
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.
Ecrized by ''oficlal' ceremony, to crust
the raiders at once, and - Lieutenant
Stuart having obtained permission to ge
with the detachment of troope, set cut al
once with them by rail tor Harper.
-
Ferry. go
Colonel Lee and the marines, wht
were about eighty in number, reached
Harper's Ferry during the night of tn,
18th, when John Brown and his part,
were shut 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 retreated witt
such of his party as remained and hi
prisoners-Colonel Washington and 9th
ers. His forces was now reduced to.
very few whites and some negroes frou
the ne,ghborhoOd. The rest were kille,
or wounded with the exception of thos
sent out into the country who were afrait
to return. During the long hours of tn
night while thus shut up in the engin
house, Brown exhibited, according to tn
testimony of the prisoners afterward, n,
apprehension whatever. His situation
was desperate and he must have felt tina
he would never leave the engine hous
alive, but he nevertheless remained I'm
moved. One Of his sons had been wound
> ed and, with his rife in ono hand, Brow,