River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-18

non than an ordinary har, as IL would /
yield but not give way.
As soon as Stewart saw Brown he rec |
ognized him. They had either been &C.
quainted, or Stewart had seen HIM In the
West, where he was well-known as "Os- |
sawat .omie Brown, from the resolute
stand he had made at that place about
three years before this time against Gen.
Lane-repulsing a largely superior force,
anu effecting his retreat in safety Find
ing that Captain Smith was the famous
ireesoil fighter in person, Stuart's first
words were
"You are ossawattomie Brown, Of Kan
sas9''
Brown looked at him keenly for an in
slant, from under his shaggy, grey eye
Draws. and then said coolly, addressing
Stuart by the title which his uniform IN
dicated
"Wen, they do call me that sometimes,
Lieutenant
II thought remembered meeting you
in Kansas Stuart said. This is bad
business you are engaged in, Captain.
The United States troops have arrived,
and am sent to demand your surren-
der
Upon what terms, asked Brown, with
out any exhibition of emotion, and speak
ing in matter-of-fact tone, as if he we're
engaged in the transaction of an ordinary
piece of business tone which Gen. Stu
art informed me he had preserved during
the entire interview.
"The terms are,n Stuart replied,
''that you shall surrender 10 the
officer commanding the troops, and
he will protect you and your men
| from the crowd and guarantee you fair
trial by the civil authorities"
Brown shook his head and the bull
dog. whose muzzle protruded beneath
close to Stuart's knee-uttered a fierce
growl, as If no better pleased than his
master.
IL cant surrender on such terms,
Brown replied "You must allow me to
leave TINS engine house with my comrades
and the prisoners and march across to the
Maryland side. There I Will release the
prisoners, and, as soon as this is done
you and your troops may fire on us and
pursue u.s."
II have no authority to agree to such
an arrangement" Stuart said. my or
ders are to demand your surrender on the
terms have stated.
"Well, Lieutenant" Brown returned
as quietly as before, 81 sec we can't agree
You have the numbers on me, but yol
know we soldiers are not afraid Of death
| would as leave die by bullet as on thu
gallows."
as that your final answer, Captain2
Stuart said.
"Yes, replied Brown.
THE CAPTURE.
And this closed the interview, which
have given in nearly, if not quite the ex
act words OF General Stuart The ex
pressions used by Brown ave been,
think, recorded with precise accuracy
Some Of these impressed me as particu
larly characteristic OF the man; among
others, the words ''we soldicrs" and 8.
would as leave die by bullet as on TIN
galIows. The former seemed to ipdicat
that he associated Stuart and himself TO
gether, in his own mind, as military men
who we're not apt 10 be frightened at tn
prospect of approaching death, and tn
latter phrase showed that he realizes
what his fate would ne if nc surrendere,
ditionallv-between bullet an
the gallows there was little, if any
. choice.
Stuart having returned to Colonel lie
and reported Browns reply to the sun
mons, orders we're given to prepare IL
, an attack on the engine house, which wa
t made little after sunrise. A long LAD
: der was obtained and used as batterine
e ram bv the marines. A line manned il o
each side and it WAS driven against the doc
in the midst of a hot fire from Brown an
D his men through the loop-holes. Thi
Q fire was fatal to one or two of the maj
e ines, but the door was driven in. an
! Lieutenant Israel Greene, who led III
D attack, cut Brown on the head with hi
e sword, and he fell. Many erroneou
D statements afterward appeared IS to til
: particular manner in which Brown va
e disabled; but this is correct accsun
q derived from Lieutenant Greene. He il
: formed me. ! think, that the weapo
} used was small dress sword and tina
t the whole affair took place in a momen
, will add that any statement made by
person as high toned and unassuming a
5 Major Greene. is entitled to lmplici
faith. The other members of the part
were soon cut down and captured an
the prisoners released from their lon
confinement, to the great JOY of thei
friends, who crowded around them t
congratulate them. Brown and his com
, panions were placed under guard, an
! with this ended the first act of tn
) remarkable drama.