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

-sef''Hs
,,. JOHN BROWNS RAID.
An Interesting Account Given BY Ken.
fucixx Gun.mith Who Was Master Ar
rnorer mt HnrPer's Ferry. rqt cd. )
Learning that Mr.. Ben. Mills, the
celebrated gun-maker of this city, was
present at the raid of John Brown upon
Aarper's Ferry, in 1869, your corre-
spondent called upon him and asked
him to give his recollections of that
noted event for the benefit of the Cottr-
ier-Joiyndps readers. Mr.. Mills is o
New, Yorker by birth, and came to Ken
tpcky in 1888. He was born in 1910,
ahisthoughseyenty-on years of age, is
s{ills hale. and hearty and works daily at
lbs trade of gunmakingsy He learned
lbs, trade in Canada, coming thence to
Kentucky and settling at Mays Lick.
At that place he worked for two years
and then went to Stanford He staid
at Stamford four years and then moved
to Harrodsburg. After being at Har-
rodsburg fourteen wears he was, in
1858, rendered. by John Is. Floyd, then
Secretary; Of War theiposition of Mas
ter;Armorer at Harper's Ferry Armorv.
He. accepted the position and proceed.
ed to that place, taking charge in the
month of November. Here he re.
mained in charge until the raid OF John
Brown. on Sunday night, October17,
1859.
isMr. Minss story in his own words, lis
as,follows;ss ~ ts.. - zrtm sqAa'
s.ti3efore John Brown raid, on sew
eraI occasions he had visited the
afmcryI did not see him, but the
foreman Of the barrel department did.
Heyiid not, however, suspect anything,
and ought Brown, like many others,
merely came there through curiosity to
see the works and process of gun max
ing by machinery. Brown made his
raid about twelve o'clock at night, but
my quarters being Distant about seven
hundred yards, knew nothing of the
affair until next morning. The total
number of his men was twenty-one.
More than half of them were white.
They made the attack in two divisions.
That led by Brown, the largest squad,
crossed from the Maryland side on the
bridge over the Potomac. AT the
bridge was stationed watchman OF
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, a
Negro. named Haywood, q very trusty
man.. He was taken prisonerb by Brownie {
squad. but, being greatly alarmed,
broke away and started to run. He
was fired upon by the squad and fell
dead. After shooting Haywood they
hpproached the armory gate and de.
inanded that the watchman let them in.
The watehinan was not armed, and re.
fused to admit them. They had crow.
bars and, placing them under the gate,
lifted the hinges and entered. The
gate 'watchman was taken prisoner, as
also were the three other watchmer
aDundi the armory. 8'io 2m&G3 lhf
1.-THE othersquad crossed the Shen-
andoah bridge from. the direction o.
Loudoun and captured the rifle factory
half mile distant. After taking botl
factories, Brown took a few men with
him and proceeded to HalItown, il
Jefferson County, Va, the home OF Col
onel Lewis Washington, granddaughter
of George Washington. Colonel Wash
ington was taken prisoner by Brown
The latter also took from the house ,
sword formerly worn by General Wash
ington and buckled it on his person
Browns men hitched up a team of 81,
horses to a wagon. in which they rod,
back to the ferry, having Colonel Wash
ington in charge. They also impressed
several negroes belonging to Colone
Washington, On their way back they
passed the plantation Of Mr.. JohI
Alstadf, anoted farmer OF that region
Several of Mr.. Alstadt's negroes were
compelled to join the party. BY the
tifnel Brown returned it was daylight
and the workmen were coming to tn,
factories to commence work. AS fas
as they arrived the two squads capturct
them and put them into the armory
yard. enjoining them to keep quiet
About two hundred men were employed
at the works, but by the time seventy
five of them had been captured by
Browns partiesthe extraordinary affai
gotJ wihded abroad, creating intens,
excitement. The balance of the work
menPemained at home or congregate(
at'a distance in excited knots.
n'i' About sunrise q boy by the name
of Kittsnjllar. son OF the Armory Chic
Clerk, arrived inst as, i was Sitting
down 10 breakfast with my family. :.
did not have the least suspie on of anN
trouble, and the news communicated t
me was a great shock. On entering h,
exclaimed, Major, pa wants you t,
come down Immediately; a mob hal
taken the armory.' / put on my hat
aud, accompanied by the boy. walked
quickly toward the armory. Coins
down, j met the Chief Clerk and Mr.
Ball, Master Macbinist. inquired
tGentlcmen. what is the matterp'
ofYMr. Kittsmillar replied: A mol
has taken the armory, and l think the.
A l.