Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-18

while walking. He wore heavy
beard; dressed in light-colored frocl
coat. An otter-skin cap adorned hi.
head, and the thick cap was the mean,
of saving his life, afterwards, when the
engine house was stormed by troop.
and Lieutenant Green struck him ovel
the head with q sword.
"Chief Clerk Kittsmillar, Ball and
myself then walked into ar Office nea,
by. John Brown came in, accompanied
by some of his followers. He made a
proposition that we allow him to keen
the arrnOry, in return for which he
would free every prisoner taken. The
proposition was agreed to by Kittsmil.
lar, who reduced it to writing. Ball
had nothing to say, and fatty refused.
told Brown | had no right to sign
away Uncle Sans property. The prop
osition also contemplated the assent of a
number Of prominent citizens. One of
Browns sons-be had two there-went
out accompanied by Kittsmillar, to OBJ
tain signatures. While gone on this er-
rand citizen, whose name / have for
gotten, shot young Brown in the breast
with buckshot. Kittsmillar ran away
and left young Brown, who walked
back to tho yard and died within few
hours. When John Brown met bis son
he asked where was Kittsmillar. Young
Brown replied that he did not come
back, and said, Il am shot
"Brown replied: "My son, stand it
as well as yen can; hope you may get
well; ifyou die, you die honorably'
"About this time lively fusilade
from the houses of citizens was com
menCed upon Browns men, which was
replied to by the Sharp's rifles of the
latter. The first man killed was Mr..
Burnley, livery stable keeper. The
firing got so heavy Brown found that
he could not maintain himself in such
an exposed position as the armory yard.
Several of his men had already been
killed. He went among the prisoners
and. selected eight of them as hostages,
Colonel Lewis Washington, Mr.. Alstadt
Mr.. Ball, the Parser and myself being
of the number. We were ordered into
the engine-house, being accompanied by
Brown and his men, who had all re-
treated from the outskirts of the town.
The men seemed but little excited, and
appeared to be under fine discipline.
They seemed to have wonderful conf.
dence 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 were 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 mum
Der of citizens gathered in front of the
engine-house, and promiscuously around,
and kept mp q regular fnsilade at our
stronghold. Brown gave the order to
his men not to fire at any one unless he
had good gun in that case to shoot
him at once Most of the balls that
came through the door from tho outside
seemed to be fired from squirrel rifles.
The door, which was one and q 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 breastworks l have. With
out you | would not last two minutes.
/ know my fate, my life would not be
worth n straw
During the firing through the door
Browns other son was shot and fell
He groaned heavily. His father told
him to stand it bravely and make as lit
tie noise as possible He said; Il have
long since, myself, learned not to know
what fear was.
"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, ap-
preached the engine-house with a flag
of truce. He was permitted to come up
to the door, which was opened slightly.
Colonel Baylor asked Brown if anything
could be done to free the prisoners.
Brown replied: Let me take my
men and prisoners as far as the second
lock ON the Baltimore 81 Ohio Canal.
There will release the prisoners, and
then me and Uncle Sam for it,
4 ID.