Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-12
r,rrREo OF JOHN BROWN.
Inc "Reminiscences OF the
one ln. ME sceze at Harper's Ferry
HeltVA ~ Yo~E Sun

liable scene AZ
Men Fan, he Neao York sun.
.asme known in Richmond,
When ~. ~ otternoon of an October DAY In
f. On w co,, Wise had called out The
~ Ila' mani OF Virginia Volunteers to
lF'' re e Harper's Ferry and capture
froceT" tbe foreign insurgents who had
n XII w I'D dasecrated the sacred soil OF
p'a asv fine excitement which pre-
y ed nsg CARS description. Pollticai leei-
ailsa Egyb ana events that had pre-
ilg "a" onrred in Kansas and elsewhere
l0a'ls nad the bot blood of the south to
fau H loot That John Brown was In the
'si ia in the possession of Harper's
Nv threatening to swoop down on the
sii !, s,, ~ fsrms of the neighborhood and
S n.y. tbe slaves, was a monstrous fact
sls1gs cha ,mpuisive Virginians meant
q 70 . .rg companies Of the regiment
Ihe ia onleklV, and the widest en-
1eapo .l', nreyailed. They were then only
pUsiesI nd inexperienced soldiers, who
gus bitter lesson to learn after
81 A"I Int for the moment they were, in
Isfu. of the assembled mothers, wives,
s,e.Ja.satbearts, heroes who were about
W heir lives in the then much talked
a lt,ssrr,snresslble conflict" There were
20 however in the great multitude
w gathered at the point of departure
NJ " saosnned with anxious eyes che future
s " mis- was but the fising OF The
- Thew were the fragment of the
q " FFbig party then in existence, who,
- tbe real struggle begen in 1861,
Id around the flag of the Union under
FL leadership Of John Minor Bolts, and
a ri,b Tim remained true to the end. Viz
Inisps though they were, 1t was a sad
INV n them when the flower OF their
fo1ng chYalry stepped forth to inaugur-
b war which they even then felt was
IN end only IN disaster.
the p0int of rendezvous was In Broad
4 ,reet near Ninth, where stood a special
H. ready to take the troops TO the scene
4, setion. just before the moment Of
Henry A. Wise, the Governor of
t,r5inis. arrived, and when it was an
&onneed that he had left the cares OF
ste to engage in the supposed carnage
N Inc coming battle the cheers for ''the
&.me.cook of the Accomac" were long
IN vaelterous. AS he entered the car
4 hand. ed by James Smith. famous
&guet piayer in those days, played Hail
IN the Chief" and as the train moved
3hwly up Broad street, followed by thou
\ snds on q half run along the sidewalks,
Ibp air was changed to 1.-THE Girl |
Lid Behind Ne" and "The Old Folks at
Bone
Leaving Richmond soon after dark. the
holders arrived In Washington before
|aylight on the following morning. Hop
BIZ to be recognized by President Blu
Ihsnan, the regiment marched past the
Ehite House, but the heavy tramp of
hous8nd men failed 70 disturb the SKIM
'ers OF the Chief Magistra te, or at least be
ID not show himself which caused Wise
Indignantly declare, "Wers l Presi-
'ent OF the United States, 40 BODY OF
Emed men should marct through the
;bpital Of the Union without my knowing
II And be never tOrgave Buchanan for
hat be termed a studied Slight. A train
ling in readiness 10 convey the Virginia
El1lers to Harper's Ferry, there was no
#lay, and they arrived at the southern
u eastern end OF the bridge before day
1ght. For reasons that have not been
Explained, the cars did not cross, and the
&gimenI, headed by the Governor, disem-
HTked. Having been formed in hHe,
n ise addressed the men in one of his i'm
<assi0ned speeches, IN which be called at
*ntiOn to the perilOus mission on which
&ey were about to enter. He did not
+ pow, be said, who might be on the other
de Of the bridge, ready to receive them
F lth murderOus arms, but no man was
#mpelled to cross against his will. Then,
islng his voice, he Xcla medin his pas
s Onate way: Bot those who believe in
klntegrlty Of Virginia and would not
n our Old mother state stained
4 the deeds of the assassin
1aders, let them follow me-"
4leIeu 20n the eXcitable old gem
#msn dramatically stepped out, and, OF
purse, was followed by every man in the
glment Much TO their surprise there
~ not a being to be seen on the Op.
site end OF the bridge. They moved
#Wh the bill to the immediate vicinity
NE Unlltc states armOry and arsenal,
w there remained under arms, wait
70 see what would turn up after day
&ght.
#. L
"A lover Of nature 10 was full of beauty,
~ lollag7 On the Maryland Heights was
au 10 us autumn hues; the great noun
JUS On the Virginia side threw their
Oaa SHADOWS over the ripping She
luuosh, and calm rested on the little
WI lnAt was to be SO soon theatre OF
me 10 the public man watching the
Ise Vi events, great tragedy was
out 70 DC enacted. The attention OF the
ueIlean people was fastened on that one
W. a principle WAS at stake and men
Du,u sldes we're there to defend it with
OPposlle the camp of the First Virginia
~ ana well OUT Of guu-shot range,
sAe dImory and engine house. In
'S''er John Brown and his little force
oAeu refuge, and that they were
~, IN their environment was in
VA y! lue muzIles Of u score or more
NM "uleh could be seen Drotruding
ys pertures IN the walls. 1t would
h,.telIeu good marksman to send
through one Of those narrow OPEN
gld ~ Vush which the Kansas men
M y viii do effective work. Mean.
uoi. Wise and the commanding
VI sle regiment had adjourned 10
M SIDoflng hotel for consultation.
prs que early morning hours other
srons arrived, bringing soldiers from
es,ss pafts OF the State, from Win
ws 3uIaun'on, Lexington, and other
f. lys r.. now these people from the val
III 'a a, harper's Ferry 80 quickly
.dews'Iall seIy TO the soldiers from the
IS Al va s,. Subsequeutly il was learned
(. Igge ny mere were no railroads the
agons private vehicles, and country
yao ~ hsie pressed into service for the
M ,sos'oll bringing 10 the scene of action
. Bsr 9u'ahds OF impetu0us men who were
. ley wepe se "eal more eager 10 fight than
y ey beoar, a." years aiterward, when
n, root Cavalry" 10' "'' . avn