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

An Interesting Account Given BY a Ken
lucky Gunsmith Who Wa. Master Ar
morer at Harper's Ferry.
Learning that Mr. Ben Mills, the
celebrated gun-maker of this city, was
present at the raid of John Brown upon
Harper's Ferry, in 1859, your CORE
spondent called upon him and asked
him to give his recollections of that
noted event for the benefit Of the Coor
aer-Journars readers. Mr.. Mills is a
New Yorker by birth, and came to Ken
lucky in 1888. He was born in 1910,
and, though seventy-one years of age, is
still hale and heart and works daily at
his trade of gunmaking. He learned
his 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 Stanford four years and then moved
to Harrodsburg. After being at Har-
rodsburg fourteen years he was, in
1858. rendered, by John B. Floyd, then
Secretary of War, the position of Mas
ter Armorer at Harper Ferry Armorv.
He accepted the position and proceed.
ed to that place, taking charge in the
month of November. Here he re-
manned in charge until the raid OF John
Brown on Sunday night, October II,
1859.
Mr.. Mills story, in his own words, is
as follows:
"Before John Browns raid, on sew
eral occasions he had visited the
armory. I did not see him, but the
foreman of the barrel department did.
He did not, however, suspect anything,
and thought 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
nv 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 a Waterman of
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, a
negro named Haywood, a very trusty
man. He was taken prisoner by Brown s
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
approached the armory gate and de-
manded that the Waterman let them in.
The Waterman 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 Waterman was taken prisoner, as
also were the three other watchmen
around the armory.
1.-THE other squad crossed the Sh en-
andoah bridge from the direction OF
Loudoun and captured the rifle factory,
a half mile distant. After taking both
factories, Brown took few men with
him and proceeded to Halitown, in
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 a
sword formerly worn by General Wash
.inoton and buckled it on his person.
Browns men hitched up team of six
horses to a wagon, in which they rode
back to the ferry, having Colonel Wash
ington in charge. They also impressed
several negroes belonging to Colonel
Washington. On their way back they
passed the plantation OF Mr.. John
Alstadt. a noted farmer OF that region,
Several of Mr.. Alstadt' 8 negroes were
compelled to join the party. BY the
time Brown returned it was daylight
and the workmen were coming to the
saator;as to commence work. As fast