Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-20
JOHN BROWNS RAID.
An Interesting Account Given by /"
Kentucky GuDsmfth Who Was
Master Armorer at Uar-
per's Ferry.

Learning that Mr.. Ben Mills, the coll
ebrsted gun.maker Of this city, was pre-
sent 40 the raid of John Brown upon
Harpers Ferry, in 1859, your eorespon-
dent called upon him and asked him to
give his recollectiops of that noted event
for the benefit Of the Courier-JournaPs
readers. MIR. Mills is a New Yorker by
birth, and came to Kentucky in 1873.
He was born in i5l0, and, though sey-
onty-one years age, is still hale ana
hearty and works daily at bis trade OF
grlnmakipg. He learned his trade in
CaDada, coming thence to Kentucky ana
settling at Mays Lick. AT that place
he worked for two years and then went
TO Stanford. He ssaid at Stanford tour
years and then moved to Harrodsburg.
After being at Harrodsburg fourteen
wears he was, in 1865, rendered, by John
b. Floyd, then Secretary OF War, the pc.
,ition of Master Armorer at Harpers
ferry Armory. He accepted the posi-
ton and proceeded to that place, taking
charge in the month of November, Here
he remained IN charge until the raid OF
John Brown on Sunday night, October
II, 1859.
Mr.. Mills story, in his own words, is
40 follows:
"Before John Browns raid, on sew
eral occasions he had visited the armory.
did not see him, but the foreman of the
barrel department did. He did not, how
ever, suspect anything, and thought
Brown, like many others, merely came
there through curiosity to see the works
and process of gunmaking by machinery
Brown made his raid about twelve
o'clock ut 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 Ivy Brown, the
largest squad, crossed from the Mary
land side on the bridge over the Poto-
mac At the bridge was stationed q
Waterman of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, negro named Haywood, n
very trusty man. He was taken prls-
oner by Browns squad, bnt, being great
ly alarmed, broke away and start
cd to run. He was fred upon By the
squad and fell dead. After shooting
Haywood they approached the armory
gate and demanded that the Waterman
let them in. The Waterman was not
armed, and refused TO admit them. They
had crowbars and, placing them under
the gate lifted the hinges and entered,
The gate Waterman was taken prisoner,
as also were the three other watchmer
around the armory.
"Thc other squad crossed the Shen
andoah bridge from the direction OF
Loudoun and captured the rifle factory
n half mile distant. After taking boil
factories, Brown took few men will
him and proceeded to Halltown, in JEFF
ierson County, Va, the home OF Colone
Lewis Washington, granddaughter %
George Washington. Colonel Washing
ton was taken prisoner by Brown. Th'
latter also took from the house a swor'
formerly worn by General Washington
and buckled it on his person. Brown
men hitchcd up team of six horses t.
wagon, in which they rode back TO tn
ferry, having Colonel Washington Il
charge. They also impressed severa
negroes belonging to Colonel Washing
ton. On their way back they passe
the plantation of Mr. John Alsta4t,
noted farmer of that region. Severa!
Mr. Alstadts negroes were compelled t
Join the party. BY the time Brow
returned it was daylight and the work
men were coming to the factories
commence work. As fast as they 81
rived the two squads captured them an
put them into the armory yard, enjoll
ing them to keep quiet. About tw
hundred men were employed at tt
works, but by the time seventy-tive
them had been captured by Brown
parties the extraordinary affair got vii
ded abroad creating intense excitemen
The balance of the workmen RENAME
at home or congregated at distance
excited knots.
About sunrise boy by the name
Kittsmillar, son of the Armory Chi
Clerk, arrived just as was sitting dow
to breakfast with my family. did Il
have the least suspicion of any troubl
and the news communicated to me W
q great shock. On entering he g
claimed, Major, pa wants you to cor
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