The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-04
l. JOHN Bro
mr.. Botcier Recalls the Iiarper's Ferry
Campaign.

"Gath," in his letter to the Cincinnati
Enquirer, has come interesting notes OF an
interview in New York with Hon. Alex
ander Boteler, OF West Virginia. He says
MIR. Boteler Is q man rather above The
middle size, well made but not heavy. He
has the typical Yirginian face, blue eyes
gray hair and graylsh white beard, and q
very easy, pleasing address. His home ii Ii
not far from Shepherdstown, which is on
the line OF the battlefield Of Antietam. 10
deed, Mr.. Boteler lives at present, think,
at shepherdstown. got down portions o.
this gentleman's unprecedented talk with
out much reference to the order o.. tue
topics as they were taken up. =.
"Are you not something ola p%ainter?"
"That is is my great delight" said the
old statesman. "If I could have had my
way, | would haye been an artist. But my
father threatened to whip me II he ever
saw me painting any thing. l was de
scended from a family OF painters, and my
father wanted me TO stick to something
more material
"From what family OF painters were you
descended?"
II am the great.grandson Of Charles
Wilson Peale. When my house wa:
burned down during tho war 1t contained
some excellent specimens OF the Peales
which were heir. looms there"
"Mr. Boteler, you lived close to the John
Brown raid: did you see Brown.?"
"Yes, sir. l not only saw him hauled
out OF the engine.house, but while he was
freshly wounded Colonel Robert Lee
allowed me to pass in and talk to him as
he lay on the bare floor i'll n OF the
armory buildings. There Ia a singular cir
cumstance about that. Some time before
Browns descent on Harpers Ferry l tool
my wife one day q sketch that l made witt
a pencil in the cars coming IRON Point o.
Rocks to Harper's Ferry. Said l: My
dear, here is q genuine picture OF the Wan
dering Jew who is il2' said she. y
don't know. It was a strange old mar
with fingers like the talons of a bird, that
saw talking TO two young men. he had
the most remarkable head l have looked al
for years. His hair went up like spikes,
his jaw and mouth were very strong, anC
he had an eye, that would look you
through and through. HIS nose was
like an eagles and there was some
thing very fascinating about him,
yet superstitious; and / made thai
sketch OF him and called 1t the Wandering
Jew. He was talking about sheep raising
and talk very intelligently, too, and l wa
interested in what he said, because ]
thought he might be going to buy land In
our parts Well, my wife put that picture
away and forgot about it. Suddenly the
descent on Harper's Ferry was made. l,
did not then occur to me that Brown was
the same man 1 had seen. But when he
was tried at Charleston and stood up to
make the speech beloresentence was passed
upon him, 1 took the opportunity TO draw
another sketch Of him. BY that time be
had somewhat recovered from his wounds.
l took the sketch home, and said: There
Mrs, Boteler, you see old John Brown
why said she, 4 have seen this nan be-
iore.' '0h, l guess not said L. Yes, !
have She thought about it awhile, and
then turned to the drawer where she had
put my sketch of the Wandering Jew and
drew It out. Yes said she, here is the
very man. had made the sketch Of John
Brown unwittingly."
"Mr. Boteler, what impression did John
Brown make on you?"
"a very remarkable man, indeed. When
he was drawn out OF that engine house, all
covered with blood and dust, aud hsggard
from watching and want Of sleep, l went
in 10 see him. Said 1 to him, Sir, excuse
me for interrupting you, but l am a neigh:
Dor. l appreciate your misfortune, and
came 10 tell you that ifyou have q vile and
family and wish TO communicate with
them, l will see that you are allowed to
write them a letter, and | will send it my.
sell, though the authorities must first read
is.' He said he had u wife living at North
Elba, N. y, and daughters, and that
he was obliged to me, because
he wanted them written to. Said !:
mr., Brown, you will excuse me i'll ask
youa question. l have q wife and daughters,
too.' ASK your question, said Brown. 4
want to know / fthis Is the whole OF the in.
yasion OF this district. Who started this
thing?' Istarted 1t myself said Brown.
Said /: Mr.. Brown, If this is your name,
are we to expect any more otthis raid 2
viii there BIZ any further descent on this
region or State2' None that l know Of
said Brown. If there is any more TO come
II will not be OF my knowledge Said /:
mr.. Brown II this Is the whole Of the raid,
YOU must have expected assistance when
YOU got here?' yes said he, Il did. My
expedition was to free the slaves, and Lex.
pected them to join ME, as well as other
people in favor OF that object As was
about 10 20 away there appeared at the
door a Catholic priest, who had been at.
tending some ofthe wounded people in the
fight. he wore his vestments, and Brown
knew him to be 0 priest. He at once
stormed out at the top Of his voice: Go
away from herel l don't want any thing
to do with you. Take him awayr
"Mr. Boteler, what doyou think OF John
Brown"
81 think he was a very able man. l do
not believe he had any insanity whatever
In the suggestion and conduct OF that raid.
It was one OF the most marvellous cam.
paigns ever devised. l went through his
effects which were found at the old house
in Maryland he occupied, and there l
found q map OF Virginia and the adjoin.
ing Maryland, giving the number Of slaves
and white men in each county and district.
II John Brown had got into the mountains
there is no telling how extensive that raid
might have been. PROFESSIONALLY q Ger.
proportion Of the slaves would have run
away, His mistake was that that
military commanders afterward made
OF clineing TO Harpers Ferry, thinking It
had some strategic value. He meant 10
have gone to the mountains and kept upon