Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-08-05

army during tho late war arrived from
l. .WashinSton, with aletter from. Colonel
I Robert H. Lee, demanding the surren-
der of Brown and his men. BY this
time troops, both regular and MALTA,
had arrived from, Washington, Balti-
more and other places to- The number
of about live hundredt Before Simms
left the engine house he told Brown he
was surrounded by five hundred men.
II is impossible for you to get. away.
You had better make treaty with Bay.
lor for now Colonel Leeais here, and
he will go according to strict orders"
!" Brown replied; I'VE will sell them
our lives as dear rs, possible
Stewart approached the door with
cheerful countenance and called for
Brown, saying, Il have "a letter from
Colonel Leo,'" which he handed TO,
Brown.
1.-THE latter said I have no glasses,
and cannot read it; will you read itp'
"Stewart assented, and read the let
ter in loud voice. The letter proposed
to Brown that il he would surrender he
would be kept in safety until orders
were received from President Buchan.
an. This Brown fatty refused to do, say.
ing: Il won't doit; know what my fate
will be- Stewart, looking at Brown,
said: Captain Brown, i think l recog.
nize you; your face is not unfamiliar.
| Where were You naming the place and
time)p' ~ A-f~ ~
+" "Brown-2sI was not far Off
"Not wishing to be shot at any
longer, we prisoners requested Captain
Stewart to see,if he could not get some
other terms. He assented and went
back. After he left, Brown said: III
they get hold of me my life would not
be worth straw. l know Just what
they would do with me. They would
kill me like dog Brown and his men
then went to work and barricaded the
doors with the two engines. ,Yan.
lin half hour Captain Stewart re-
turned and informed. Brown that Col
onel Lee would not modify or change
his demand. Stewart lifted his hat
politely and bade Brown good-morning
with the grace of ballroom beau.
| Through the crack of the door from
where L stood l could see squad of
t United States marines standing dressed
in line on the lawn about twenty ards
from the enginc-house. They were
commanded by Lieutenant Green. In
a moment we heard the sound of their
feet as they marched toward the
engine house. Browns men COM
menced firing about the same time the
marines opened fire. Some of the ma
rines carried sledge-hammers with
which to knock down the doors. The
doors being strong, the blows rebound
ed, making no impression. The ma
rines then retired, one of them being
killed. Another was shot in the mouth.
| but he tied it with handkerchief and
kept his place in ranks. The marines
then retired a few moments. AT this
juncture one of Browns men shouted
aloud: i surrender ...if.,. .5I.l,.
Brown exclaimed, Only one man
surrenders.'
The marines marched up again, and
opened right and left to admit COM
pany of about twenty citizens, who
carried along ladder as a battering-
ram. The first blow made the gate
give, the second knocked it in, the
fastenings giving away. The marines
rushed in with the bayonet, headed by
Lieutenant Green, who was the first
man across the threshold. Brown stood
erect like n pillar, not muscle moving.
Green made a lunge at Brown, knock
ing him forward on his face upon the
floor of brick. Leaning over the hose
cart, Green chopped Brown twice on
the head. The thick otter-skin cap
4 saved Browns life, but he was left
senseless. Green thought he had
killed him, and also thought the first
lunge had gone through Browns body.
But it only struck him ON the hip bone,
knocking him down. We prisoners
threw up our hands and told the
marines we were prisoners. Take
them outr shouted Green. We rushed
out, in front. j. Z. Stewart, stand
ing at the door and recognizing me,
said; He is right; let him go Some
of Browns men, after the fall of their
leader, continued to struggle a moment
or two. Several were bayoneted and
the rest were taken prisoners. Brown
was carried out and laid upon the lawn
alongside the killed and wounded. The
u fight terminated about nine o'clock.
Brown soon recovered consciousness
and was taken into my office, where he
was questioned by Governor Wise pub.
licly. General Lee and most of the
armory officers were present. ie'
"The Governor said to Browns: i
want to question you.' m -.+,... -.a
. "Brown replied:, very WELL. any.
thing about myself will tell you, but
about Others will not.
"Wise said: You are not bound to.
Brown replied: Il am aware of it.
He then said to Governor Wise: The
freedom of the slaves will all be brought
about inside of ten years.
"Wise said:- i don't want to heal
such talk .at3en gu dIepea
"'Mr. Brown, said the Governor
, did you, or did you not, take an in
ventory of the negroes of Jefferson
CountyP
Brown replied: Il did not. but il
| was taken it' h I.' -
"a good deal of conversation fol
lowed which has escaped my memory
Several persons attempted to ask Brown
questions, but Governor Wise waved
/ his hand and said, Let me do the talk
ing. =
"After the interview was over thu
Governor told Brown: Il have a mucl
better opinion of you than expected
i would have. only regret that a mar
, SO brave, open and free should be en-
, gagged in such thing as this
ITO this Brown replied There
where we differ Gov Wise retired
Brown being left in the hands of tn,
: Sheriff, who also took the rest of tn,
| prisoners and carried them to Charleston
and placed them in jail. The adjacen
country was then secured by bodies o
citizens hunting for concealed arms
, which it was rumored Browns men hat
hid close by, in order to arm tn,
negroes. A party, with Col. Washing
, toms wagon, proceeded to the hous,
, that had been occupied by Brown. on