The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-26
from outside sources and we propose to do

they nor Henry A. Wise knew the soldier who
stood before them. Lee did not hesitate
moment, but in his quiet, yet emphatic
manner. answered: 1T so happens, Cover
nor, that am Virginian by birth, but our
State has nothing 10 do with that property
over there" pointing to the armory. THAT
ground was ceded to the general Government
by Virginia, and il and the property
which stands upon it belong TO the United
States and i am sent here 10 protect
Il. When the armOry is freed from the
insurgents now in possession, L shall hand
them over to you, sir, but until then L re-
spectfully demand that we, the representa-
tives of the United States shall not be inter-
fered with while doing our duty in protect
ing the property of the whole people" Then,
turning to those who were standing nearest
TO him, Colonel Lee said: Gentlemen, we
are soldiers by training and profession. We
are raid for doing our duty, and we propose
TO obey orders" With the keen sense of
politician Wise recognized the point and in
terposed no further objection.
Lee at once gave orders for the division of
his marines into two companies, and led by
him they moved toward the building of
which John Brown had taken possession.
The future Commander-in-Chief of the Con-
federate armies at this period was in the
prime of life, and his handsome face. COM
handing figure, and utter disregard of
danger while the bullets of the Kansas rifles
were rafting around him, elected the adj
miration OF the amateurs" who looked on
wondering what he was about TO undertake.
They doubtless would have endeavored TO
carry the place by storm, to scale the walls,
or do some other foolish though daring act
in which lives would have been sacrificed by
the score. Not so with Lee As the marines
advanced, they were ordered to lay hold of
two pieces of scantling that happened to be
convenient, and TO use them as batterlng
rams Giving the timbers a swing, the men
4 Cd oh and in Lose 1pna
than it takes TO write il the massive gate was
struck with such force that it gave way, and
the men, dropping their rams, rushed up the
the steps leading TO the towes occupied by
the insurgents. The first officer 10 reach
John Brown was Lieutenant Greene, of the
marines but to him the sturdy old patriot
refused to surrender or deliver his sword.
In the excitement of the moment the Lieu
tenant slashed the old mans head with his
sabre. BY this time Lee reached the tower,
when Brown Immediately handed him his
sword, saying, Il surrender to no one but
you, sir. Three times have / had bead
drawn on you, but you were too brave.to kill,
and my heart failed me-"
The prisoners were then delivered to the
Virginia authorities and under heavy guard
sent to Charleston Jail, while the marines
retained possession of the armOry and arsenal.
The trial, conviction, and execution of the
little party are matters of history, but there
are several incidents in connection with
those exciting days that never have been in
print.
Notorious among the followers of John
Brown was one Capt. Cook, as he styled
himself. He was not captured in the ar
mOTV. but i'm the mountains after numbering
in cold blood the old and infrm Col Wash
ingtOn and his wife in their own house.
Cook was reported TO be related 10 the then
Governor OF Indiana, and was ably defended
during his trial by the Hon. Daniel NOor-
hees. The closing speech by Mr.. VOORHEES,
is to-day in many Virginia scrap book, and
remembered for its rare eloquence. But it
was OF no avail and the jury brought in
verdict of guilty.
After the trial was concluded, fears were
entertained that an effort would be made to
rescue the condemned men, and accordingly
the guards around the jail were doubled, and
pickets were thrown out out on all the con-
verging roads, with strict orders TO allow no
one 10 pass without the cOuntersign. 1t so
happened that during this stormy period,
Gov. Wise, accompanied by some friends,
made a visit TO neighboring locality, and
did not return TO CharleStOwn until after
midnight, when they were encountered and
challenged by one of the pickets-Mr. John
A. PiZzini, the present agent of the AsSOci-
ciated Press in Richmond. The Governor
and party had neglecten TO obtain the pass
word before leaving camp, and the challenge
was peremptory. The Governor remarked:
y.
ginia, and am responsible for the gentlemen
of my company"
II don't care who you are you can't pass
here, and if you move another step before the
sergeant of the guard puts in an appearance
II will be at your own peril" answered PiZ-
zini
There was no alternative but to await the
arrival of the officer, who at once permitted
the gentleman to 90 TO their quarters. PiZ-
zini was well acquainted with the Governor
and naturally thought he would be repri-
handed for hating the Chief Magistrate of
the State. but the contrary proved to be the
case, for after the return of the regiment to
Richmond, Wise sent for PiZZini and present
Ell him with magnificent gold watch as
recognition of the soldierly action.
On another occasion two figures were dis
covered by a sentinel stealing along the Jail
wall, and apparently making an effort to es-
cape under cover of the darkness of the night.
For the moment the guard became confused
or frightened but as neither of the men
jumped, the soldier quickly recovered his
presence of mind and gave the alarm by dis
charging his gun. The camp was alert in an
instant. The long roll beat, and the troops
hurried into line expecting some new enemy.
1t was then discovered that Capt. Cook and
one of the colOred prisoners had escaped from
their cells and climed the wall with the inten-
tion of making break for liberty. Seeing
the sentinel neither dared to leap and they
were both taken into the prison again to
await the day of the execution. But for the
cowardice of Cook, both might have made
their escape as it was not likely that either
of them would have been hit by 5 bullet in
the darkness of the night
Strange as it may appear, a mingled feel
ing of sympathy if not of admiration pre-
vailed with reference to Jonn Brown. While
all Virginiass declared that he should be pun
ished, there were many among them who re-
garded him as a fanatic and too brave to
swing The story that Brown kissed a negro
baby at the foot of the gallows is an inven-
ton, for there were no colored people in the
immediate vicinity Of the execution. John
Brown demeaned himself like hero His
step was firm, his eyes steady, his voice free
from any indication of weakness, and his
commanding figure and long flowing beard,
together with the unquestionable bravery
with which he met his doom, all combined to
elicit the respect of even his enemies.
Tall SbOu Girls