Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-01-25
AT HARPER'S FERRY.
AN ex-coNFeoERATe's TESTIMONY
As TO JOHN BROWNS COURAGE.
Fight Of the Faiders At the Engine House
Described by One Of Erown's
Prisoners-why Brown
Was Not Killed.


Prisoners-why Brown
Was Not Killed.
Icapt. J. E Daingerfield in The Century.l
During the day and night l talked
much with ohm Brown. and found him
brave rs q man could be. and sensible
upon all subjects except slavery. Upon
that sub iect 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. 1t 10 all over with
me. and died instantly.
brown did not leave his post at the port
hole. but when the firing ceased he walked
to his sons BODY. Strengthened out his
limbs, took off his trappings. then. turn
ing to me. sad; This is the
third sou | 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 q murderer. yet i was con-
strained to think that he was not q
viciou, man, but was crazed upon the
sub ct of slavery. Often during the
affair In the engine. house. when his men
would want TO fre upon some one who
might be passing. Brown would stop
them. saying, IL ont shoot; that man is
unarmed The firing was kept up by
our men all day until late at night. and
during this time several of his men were
killed. but, Ms l said before, none Of the
prisoners were hurt though in great
danger
During the day and night many PROPOSE.
tons pro and con were made. looking to
Browns surrender and the release Of the
prisoners. hut without result.
W hen Col Lee came with the govern
ment troops. at O'Clock at night. he at
once sent flag of truce by his aide, }. L
b. Stuart, TO notify Brown Of his arrival
and in the name OF the nited States to
demand his surrender. advising him to
government
Brown declined to accept Col Lees
terms, and determined to await the At
tack.
When Stuart was admitted and light
brought he exclaimed why. aren't you
old Cssawstomie Brown, of Kansas. whom
once had there as my prisoner" es. "
was the answer. but you did not keep
me This was the flrst intimation we
had As to Browns true name. He had
been engaged in the kansas border war.
and had come from there TO Harper 8
Ferry. When Col Lee advised Brown
to trust to the clemency of the govern
lnent. he respond d that he knew what
that meant--a rope for his men and him
self adding. Il prefer to die just here.
Stuart told him he would return at
early morning. for his final reply, and left
him When he had gone. Brown At once
proceeded to barricade the doors, win
dows, etc, endeavoring to make the place
- strong as possible
During ali this time no one of Browns
men showed the slightest fear, but calmly
awaited the attack. selecting the best stu.
atoms to fire from upon the attacking
party. and arranging their guns and pis-
tolls 20 that fresh one could be taken up
Is soon as one was discharged. During
the night had long talk with Brown,
and told him that he and his men were
committing treason against the state and
the nited states Two of his men. hear.
ing the conversation. said to their leader
Are we committing treason against our
country by being herey" brown an.
swered. -C ertainly" Both said If that
is so We don want to figh, any more We
thought We came 10 Hberaie the s!s es.
and did not know that was committing
treason
Both of these men were killed In the
attack on the engine house when Brown
was taken.
When Lieut. Stuart came in the morn
ing for the nnal reply to the demand to
surrender got up and went to Browns
side to hear his answer.
n
render and trust To the mercy of the
poyernments"
Brown answered prompNy. mo, I
prefer 10 die here
His manner did not betrsy the least
fear Stuart stepped aside and made the
signal for the attack. which was instantly
begun with sledge- hammers TO break down
the door.
Finding il would not Weld. the soldiers
seized long ladder for q ba,t.rinp ram.
and commenced beating the door With
that. the party within firing inc essantly.
i hai sssiste,i In The barricndinv fixine
the fasten 80 tLat / could remove
them upon The first 9. tort to get in. Bui
I vas moi at the door when he hatterino
BEGAN. and could NOT get 70 the fastenines
until the ladder vns used I then Quickly
removed the fastenines and after two OF
three strokes of The ladder the engine
rolled partially hack. making a small
aperture tbrough which Lieut. Green. OF
the marines forced himself iumred on
ton of the enoine and stood a second In
the midst of 4 shower OF halls looking for
John Brown When he saw Brown he
sprnng Al ont twelve feet At him and cave
an under,hrnst of his svnrd s,r;k in him
about midway of the body and rsisino
him com nle,elv from The uround
Grown fell forward with hin head h.
tween his knees and Green struck him
sever,l times unon the head and .s I
then xunnos.d snlit his sknIi A. every
stroke
vac M, ,vo foo, from, p-o~ =, tho,