The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-11-09
= HistorIe spo.a. Auelion. !.


is ninety years since the govern
ment purchased Harper's Ferry, snd
with it $40 acres of land, from the State
or Virginia, TO be used for the manu-
Iactnre or arms. IT is to be sold at pub
hc auction by the governments shortly.
In 1874, during the administration, OF
Gen. Washington, Harper's Ferry was
chosen rs the 81 e-of z national armOry
1t Is sud that this selection was made
by the Father Of his country, he having
visited the place IN person, The water
power Is immense, some SuppOsing 1t to
be the finest in the world. In 1874 Con-
gresS applied to the General Assembly
OF Virginia Tor perml s ON 10 buy this
property, and of course permission
was granted, but not to exceed $40
acres. One hundred and twenty acres
were purchased from the heirs of
Harper. A subsequent purchase was
made Of 80 acres from a Mr.. Ruther-
ford. The government, desiring to
secure the valuable timber of London
Heights, leased In perpetuity ], 3S5acTeS
from Lord Fairfax, Immediately adjOin-
Harpers Ferry. Thus prepared, the
government at once set to work the
erection of shops In 1873, during the
administration Of John Adams. in an
ticipation Of war with France, the gov
eminent organized a considerable army
for defense. a portion Of the forces
was sent, under Gen. Pinckney, into
camp at this place, aud the ridge.On
which they were. stationed has ever
since been known as Camp Hill When'
the war closed many OF the soldiers
settled at this place. The spirit of those
buried here are said To be regular visi-
tors to the old habitatiOn, causing these
houses. to remain tenantless and known .
as the haunted houses. The negroes,
who appear 10 be especially favored
with spiritual manifestations, bear
unanimous testimony To these reports.
The more recent history of the place Il
best known. Here John Brown struck
his blow for the freedom OF the slaves,
capturing the arsenal on the night OF
October l6, 1885, fighting al day on the.
18th, seeing his sons and near friends
shot down abCAt him, and finally on
! that evening returning to the little en-
CINE house as hast stronghold, where
| the forces gathered against him the
next morning, capturing him and his
two remaining men, killing one out
right, wOundiRg the other, and alter
piercing the leader OF the band with
/ their bayonets, reserving him fOr the
! hangmaT, who did his work ON the 91Ol-
I lowing OeeelEDcE =, at tCudIAeStOhh'
! turning the remains over to the sorrow
ing widew at Harper'S Ferry on the
same day. Less than two years later
! the echo of John BrO%n's blow was
heard NJ this very spot, when che
/ arsenal and its valuable arms and ma
| chinery for the manufacture OF mere
arms, were captured by the Confeder-
lates without blow. The place was re-
captured by the Union troops after
ward, but notnntl the more valuable
machinery had been carried off to Rich
mond for use by the Confederate Gov
/ eminent in the manufacture of aims.
It was recaptared by St0newall Jackson
in 1852, inst before the battle of Ante
/ tam, later by the Union forces again.
] The fortunes Of war left It wreck; the
! buildings burned and demolished and
nothing Is now left to remind the
visitor of the many tragic scenes enac-
1 ted there except the foundations Of the
old building and the attIe engine house
I where John Brown made his last stand
which BY some means, escaped the gen
eral destruction a3OHt it, and now
stands near the railr0ad station, labelled
in large letters, "JOhn Brown s fOrt..-
! [C0rrcsoonde1lce NeJU York TeteJ r01e-