Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-09
These shots were answered from within

These shots were answered from within
whenever the attacking party could be
seen. This was kept up most of the day.
and strange to say no prisoner was hurt,
in the wallis and holes shot in the doors large
enough for man to creep through.
At night the firing ceased, for We were
in total darkness, and nothing could be
seen in the engine house.
During the day and night talked much
with John Brown and found him as brave
as man could be, and sensible upon all
subjects except slavery. Upon that ques-
ton he was religious fanatic, and believed
it was his duty to free the slaves, even if in
doing so he lost his own life.
During sharp fight one of Browns sons
was killed. He fell; then trying to raise
himself, he said, "It is all over with me-"
and died instantly.
Brown did not leave his post at the port
ed to his sons body, straightened out his
limbs, took off his trappings and then
turning to me, said, "This is the third son
have lost in this cause" Another son
had been shot in the morning and was then
dying having been. brought in from the
street. While Brown was murderer, yet
was constrained to think that he was not
vicious man, but was crazed upon the SUBJ
ject of slavery. Often during the affair in
the engine house, when his men went to
fire upon some one who might be seen pass
ing, Brown would stop them, saying,
Don't shoot; that man is unarmed:" The
firing was kept up by our men all day and
until late at night, and during this time
several of his men were killed; but as I
said before none of the prisoners were hurt,
though in great danger.
During the day and night many PROPOSE
tions pro and con were made, looking to
Browns surrender and the release of the
prisoners, but without result
When Col. Lee came with the govern
ment troops, at 1 o'clock at night, he at
once sent flag of truce by his aide, J. E.
B. Stewart, to notify Brown of his arrival,
and in the name of the United States to de-
mand his surrender, advising him to throw
himself upon the clemency of the Govern
ment. Brown declined to accept Col. Lees
terms and determined to await the attack.
When Stewart was admitted, and light
brought, he exclaimed, "What, aren't you
old Ossawatemie Brown, of Kansas, whom
once held there as my prisoner eyes,"
was the answer, "but you did not keep me-"
This was the first intimation he had as to
John Browns true name. He had been
engaged in the Kansas border war, and had
come from there to Harper's Ferry. When
Col. Lee advised Brown to trust to the
clemency Of the Government, he responded
that he knew what that meant,-a rope for
his men and himself,-adding, II prefer to
die just here" Stewart told him he would
return at early morning for his final reply,
and left him.
When he had gone, Brown at once pro-
ceeded to barricade the doors, windows,
etc., endeavoring to make the place as strong
as possible.
During all this time not one of Browns
men showed the slightest fear, but calmly
awaited the attack, selecting the best situa-
tiOns to fire from upon the attacking party,
and arranging their guns and pistols so that
fresh one could be taken up as soon as one
was discharged. During the night I had q
long talk with Brown, and told him that
he and his men were committing treason
against the State and the United States.
Two of his men, hearing the conversation,
said to him, "Are we committing treason
against our country, by being here !" Brown
answered, "Certainly." Both said, "If that
is so we do not want to fight any more. We
thought we came to liberate the slaves, and
did not know that was committing treason"
Both of these men were killed in the at
tack on the engine house when Brown was
taken. When Lieut.. Stewart came in the
morning for the final reply to demand the
surrender, got up and went to Browns side
to hear his answer.
Stewart asked, "Are you ready to surren-
der and trust to the mercy of the Govern
ment?" Brown aswered promptly, mo,
prefer to die here" His manner did not
betray the least fear.
Stewart stepped aside and made the sig
nal for the attack, which was instantly be-
gun with sledge-hammers to break down
the door. Finding it would not yield, the
soldiers seized a ladder for battering ram,
and commenced beating the door with that.
I had assisted in the barricading, fixing the
fastenings so that I could remove them up
on the first effort to get in. But was not
at the door when the battering began, and
could not get to the fastenings until the lad
der was used. | then quickly removed the
fastenings, and after two or three strokes OF
the ladder the engine rolled partially back,
making a small Aperture, through which
Lieut.. Greene of the marines forced him.
self, jumped on top of the engine, and stood
a second in the midst of shower of balls,
looking for John Brown. When he saw
Brown he sprang about twelve feet at him,
and gave an under-thrust OF his sword,
striking him about midway in the body and
raising him completely from the ground.
Brown fell forward with his head between
his knees, and Green struck him several
times over the head, and, as then sup
posed, split his skull at every stroke.
l was not two feet from Brown at that
time. OF course / got out of the building
as soon as possible, and did not know till
some time later that Brown was not killed.
1t seems that in making his thrust Green's
sword struck Browns belt and did not pen
citrate the body. The sword was bent doub-
lie. The reason that Brown was not killed
when struck on the head was that Green
was holding his sword in the middle,
striking with the hilt and making only
scalp wounds.
When Gov. Wise came and was eXamin-
ing Brown, heard the questions and an
sWers and no lawyer could have used more
careful reserve, while at the same time he
showed no disrespect. Gov. Wise was as
tonished at the answers he received from
Brown.
After some controversy between the
United States and the State of Virginia as
to which had Jurisdiction over the prison.
ers, Brown was carried to the CharlestoWn
Jail, and, after fair trial, was hanged.
OF course I was witness at the trial, and
must say that | have never seen any man
display more courage and fortitude than
John Brown showed under the trying cir
cumstances in which he was placed. l
could not 20 to see him hanged. He had
made me prisoner, but had spared my
life and that of other gentlemen in his pow
err; and when his sons were shot down be-
side him, almost any other man similarly
situated would at least have exacted life
for life. JOHN E. p. DAINGERFIELD.
CULTURE AND HAppINEss.-N0w life is
not only what we make it, but it is, very
largely, what we think it is. If we hold
before ourselves constantly some dreary
"might have been;" if we think it is, in
some uneXplainable WAY, finer and more