St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-08-13

dcnce in Brown.
After our retreat to the engine
house the prisoners all got out OF the
yard. My son Charles, then a boy of
fourteen, showed a number of citizens
where lot of guns we're stored in the
upper end of the armory. The citizens
took the guns and used them during the
fight. Having but little ammunition,
however, they did little good. 1t WAS
about ten o'clock in the morning when
we went into the engine-house. A
number OF citizens gathered in front of
the engine-house, and promiscuou>ly
around, and kept up q regular fusllade
at our stronghold. Brown gave the Or
der to his men not to fire at any one
unless he had a gun: in that ease to
shoot him at once Most of the balls
that came through the door from the
outside seemed to be fired from SPUR
rel rifles. The door, which was of one
and quarter inch plank, was soon
riddled. hundreds of balls having passed
through it.
"Brown, addressing US prisoners,
said: Gentlemen, get in the safest
place you can; | don't wish to hurt
you, as you are the only breast works
have. Without you | would not last
two minutes. | know nv fate, my life
would not be worth straw
"During the firing through the door
He groaned heavily. His father told
him to stand it bravely and make as lit
tie noise as possible He said: L
have long since. myself. learned not to
know what fear is
''This was evidently true, as he did not
exhibit the least fear during the whole
engagement.
about this time Colonel Baylor, a
prominent gentleman OF the county,
approached the engine-house with a
flag of truce. He was permitted to
to come up to the door, which was
opened slightly. Colonel BAYLOR asked
Brown if anything could be done tofree
the prisoners.
"Brown replied: Let me take my
men and prisoners as far as the second
lock on the Baltimore q Ohio Canal.
There | will release the prisoners, and
then me and Uncle Sam for it..
Colonel Baylor said: Il cannot do
it; have no authority
Brown replied: Very WE'LL
"Colonol Baylor then retired and the
door was closed. BY this time it was
nearly night. During the fusilade l
Rugged a corner of the engine-house
very affectionately, as did the rest of
the prisoners. | amused myself-if it
could be called amusement-ws
the balls strike the wall after passing
through the door.
''After dusk Captain Simms, a citi-
zen of Frederick, approached THE door
with another flag of truce. He was &C
companied by Colonel Baylor. Simms
was admitted, and requested an armis-
tice until morning. This Brown as
sented to, saying, MY men shall not
fire; can you keep yours from fringe
''Simms replied, Il think can; I'll
try
"Simms and Baylor then retired
Brown, from his conversation and
manner. evidently was anticipating vol
unteers all day, and appeared .disap-
pointed. If any one slept in the dngine
house that night, am not awarx OF it.
Brown would not allow any light. His
men sat around on the floor and against
the walls, guns in hand, awaiting the
developments that daylight would
bring Brown, at intervals, conversed
in low tones with his men, as if trying
He also talked with us prisoners, SAYING
he was willing TO march out with us all
and release us at the second lock.
When the subject of slavery was men
TONED he lost all patience, declaring
that the Southern people were making
slaves of their brothers and kinsmen.
We concluded among ourselves that he
was crazy on that subject, and said to
him that if he was taken prisoner we
would not be in favor of hanging him.
Browns sons both died in the engine
house before morning.
eat daylight Captain j. +. B. Stew
art, of the United States army (noted
cavalry General in the Confederate
army during the late war;, arrived from
Washington with a letter from Colonel
Robert E. 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 five hundred. Before Simms
left the engine house he told Brown he
was surrounded by five hundred men.
It's impossible for you to get away.
You had better make treaty with Bay
lor, for now Colonel Lee is here, and
he will go according to strict orders. ="
'Brown replied: We will sell them
our lives as dear as possible
''Stewart approached the door with
cheerful countenance and called for
Brown, saying, Il have letter from
Colonel Lee which he handed to
Brown.
.'The latter said: I have no glasses,
and cannot read it; will you read ito
"Stewart assented, and read the let
ter in d loud voice. The letter proposed
to Brown that if he would surrender he