Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-09-25
HARPER's FERRY in 1891.
A Letter From the Scene of John
Browns Abolition Raid.

HARPER's FERRY, w. v, Sept %, 1891. |
Next station, Harper's Ferryr"
And at once people began to grow |
anxious: crowd of thoughts rushed |
through the mind. Can it be that
we are to trod the same soil
where John Brown raised such a |
commotion? Yes, indeed, for there |
before us is the old building marked
"John Browns fort" 1t stands out in
all its quaintness, reminding the beholder
of those rebel sentiments that the sur
rounding hills caught up and echoed
across the Potomac until Virginia in it's
power rose up and presented to the
Confederacy, her capital city of Rich
mond.
Rebellion and disloyalty have ceased
to wave their glaring banners in the
face of freedoms cause, and this morn
ing it is the noble sons of the 18th Con-
necticut, who are retracing their way
among these same hills, glad that the
bugle call of war is no longer heard, but
rather the CHEEKY voices of many friends,
anxious to know all in short space of
time.
Bolivar heights is the point in view,
for the regiment was stationed here
during some weeks, following the battle
of Antietam. The drive to the heights
was a most enjoyable one. The roads
are rugged and steep and it is wonder
that the horses and wagons last for any
| length of time, but our driver told us
that they became Injured to hardship.
The writer has travelled over the hills of
at times; has also had some experience
in the quaint old city of Quebec, with
| it's narrow, sombre streets, but the road
to Bolivar heights capped the climax.
Then the old houses, seeming to tell the
tale of years
With all the jolting and Earring the
ascent is made, and here we stand on
were at our command for we would
wish to sit and drink in all that nature
holds lovely; all that history has made
| interesting. We see the Maryland
heights where the Confederate batteries
were planted, looking down upon the
town like the lighthouse keeper holding
sway over the distant space; London
heights fortified by Stonewall jackson,
after he had marched around back of
our troops. Now what could be done?
| Surrender! rings through the gloomy
access of the mountains And surrender
is made. Could our faithful soldiers
have held out little while, a change
would have taken place, for the peace
full valley beyond was filled with men,
bers of advancing Unionists, but Miles
knew it not.
Looking in the distance toward the
Allegheny mountains you see Winches-
ter, and what burning emotions arise as
you picture the daunLIess, noble daring
Sheridan, flying over the hills to the
troops SO sadly needing him.
AT your feet is the quiet Potomac
flowing on it's windings to meet the
Shenandoah. Bolivar heights! Peace
and contentment, beauty and lovleiness,
crown thee to-day! If twenty nine
years ago the blood and tears of thy
noble ones consecrated thy soil, to-day
dost thou stand forth grand monu-
ment to the patriots devotion!
What does this mean? 1t is not the enc
my approaching, but Mr. A. F. Hall of
Meriden, who invites us to dinner at a
friends house: a friend at Harper's
Ferry.
Here is the story: During the time
the 18th Connecticut regiment was re-
naming at Harperss Ferry, Mr. Hall was
lying sick with typhoid, fever. He was
almost reduced to a mere skeleton when
one day, crawling out, lady beckoned
to him to come to her. She took him in,
nursed and cared for him, till health re-
turned and with it the duties of Il soldier
Twenty-Five years passed by and
neither party knew nor heard of the
other until about two years ago through
the Intervention of Chaplain Stevens
dence of his former friend. A CORE
spondence was begun and it was only
some few months ago that Mrs Cross
this was the ladyS name-yielded III
her generous self into the hands of a
bountiful providence, her dying wisl
being to see the gentleman (Mr Hall
= she had so well befriended. To-day hel
! daughter invites us to dinner.
, But the story is not finished. Ere We
| no ic WI
that the daughter, Mrs Sarah j. Lewis
whose hospitality we are about to share
! was arrested by the rebels as a spy
: Almost breathless we stand in the
: presence of such courage to hear thu
8 tale from her own lips. 1t seems tina
one of the ma jOrs was most anxious t
O find out the true condition of affairs OF
/ the Confederate side, and asked Mr.
Lewis, who was well known, to gathe
! whatever information was possible. LIE
q it be remembered that this was strong
! southern territory and the family o
Mrs Lewis was marked for being very
y loyal to the union. In fact she had one
= brother who, at the age of IL, gave VI
y his promising future, entered the army
y was wounded early in his career, anC
. died asking to be buried in the folds OF
q the stars and stripes. 1t was considered
bold to carry out such wish in thi
section, but it was done.
= To return to our story. Mrs Lewis 81
:, well performed her mission, that sh
|, learned the location of the main line O
q the Confederates, learned also that the.
g intended falling upon our troops during
b the night and being very much large
q in numbers, terrible slaughter would
a take place. Lest she might in any wa
forget the details, Mrs Lewis sat dow
- and wrote out the particulars. He
n close questioning aroused the suspicion
- of the rebel whom she well knew an
- from whom she learned all, and he re
p ported her as a supposed spy. In tn
i meantime Mrs Lewis returned, HANDED
- - her note with all it's information to tn
major and the troops were saved
thanks to the noble young woman.
Order was given for her arrest, bu
she begged friend to carry her acros
% the Potomac to the union side, unde
l. truce of an important errand, and wit
r the bullets falling around her into tn
J; water, she still escaped, waved he
q handkerchief to the rebels, now on tn