The Iola register., 1891-07-31

To perfect his scheme for the over
throw of slavery in the United States,
Brown held in Canada, during the month
of May, 1858, a convention which formed
en- elaborate constitution and a schedule
for the prescribed and oppressed people
OF the United States. This convention,
on May s, elected John Brown COM
msnder-in-chiet of the forces that should
be raised under the constitution. His
staff officers were ]. H. Kasi, secretary
of war; Richard ReaIf, secretary of srste :
George b. Gill, secretary of treasury
Owen Brown, treasurer, and Alfred NJ .
Ellsworth and Osborn Anderson, mem
bers Of congress.
The interval from May, 1855, to June,
1859, was occupied largely in deveIopin 2
plans and collecting funds for the phil
snthroplc though misguided scheme.
Men we're enlisted and Brown, under the
assumed name OF Smith, with three Of
his sons, made several visits to Virginia.
In the N Meantime, to examine the field
Harper's Ferry was finally selected as
the Keynote TO the situation. Chambers
burg wss made the base from which to
further his operations. Hence, in July,
1859, Brown and his three sons appeared
on the streets Of Chsmbersbur9, and
secured a boarding place, first at
hotel and then at the private house
already mentioned. His real mission
d6 hA AuSHh ~ NuS 6n-
nounced purpose being that OF a pros
pector for minerals in the mountains of
Maryland and Virginia, skirting the
Potomac. He paid his board regularly,
and was treated as any other we'll be-
haved strHE ger would be, the people Of
the town never sus specting that in their
midst conspiracy was plotting. Not
withstanding this ignorance of his plans,
the town was subSG Guently held respon-
sible for scquiescence in his scheme, and
was burned in July, 1864, with Q loss OF
about g, ,0O0, ,OCo.
A little later in the season, boxes
securely packed and addressed to |,
Smith i Sons, were received through the
commission house OF Oaks & Caufman.
By teams provided by Smith, they were
Immediately taken up the valley and
finally deposited on the Kennedy farm,
rented for the purpose in MARYLAND some
i've miles from Harper's Ferry. The
contents OF these boxes were carefully
concealed; or if announced at ali,
were said to embrace agricultural
and mining implements. The Sc
quel showed, however, that they con-
iained Shsrps's fies ard pistols, car
bines, swords, pike heads and the re-
oulsite amu unition. These weapons he
ultimately placed in the hands Of the
small band of men whom he had collect
ed, Il in number, and with them he
hoped to secure possession of the arsenal
and stores at the ferry and thus provide
arms for the uprising negroes in the
state, whose cause he had espoused.
His first effort was made on SUNDAY
evening, Oct. I6, 1859. Before leaving
his rendezvous On the farm, this intrepid
leader addressed his followers, closing
with this paragraph: "Now, Rentle-
meR, let me press one thing on your
minds. 1ou sll know how dear life is
to you, and how dear your lives aps to
your friends; and in rememb berine that.
consider that ths lives OF others are a.
dear TO them as yours are to you. Do
not, therefore, take the life of anyone II
you csu possibly svoid it; but if ii is
necessary to take life in order TO save
your own, then make sure work OF it,p
The attack upon the guards was SO
sudden and unexpected that IL startled
every one in the village. Men were CAP
tured and held as prisoners of war.
When Brown was asked what it eli
msauI, MS reply was: 10 free the
slaves, and when further interroeated
as 10 his authority for these scis. he
said, by the suthority OF God
Guards and night watch
men were seized and held. The utmost
prevailed everywhere. On
Monday forenoon. however, the people
OF the village and surrounding country,
having organized themselves into com.
panies, took positions on all sides of the
invaders, and kept Up, during the
day continual firing upon the riders,
with severe loss IN killed and wounded
on both sides. Browns party was ulti-
mateiy compelled TO seek refuge in the
small brick building known then ss the
engine house, but now as John Browns
iort' though whose walls. by the re-
moval OF bricks, they made Port holes.
through these constant firing was kept
up against any one seen on the streets OF
In the houses. The prisoners captured
were also kept in this building, thus en-
dangering the lives Of non com bstsnts.
During the day and night OF Monday,
Oct. Is, militia troops from Winchester.
Frederick, Baltimore and other places
began 10 arrive. Col. Robert z. Lee and
Lieut.. j. z. B. Stuart, both subse-
quently conspicuous generals in the con
ieoerscy, arrived from Washington in
charge OF the United States maripes. to
take command and either capture or kiu
the insurgents. After fruitIess efforts by
Lie1t. Stuart to secure Browns sur-
render, an assault OF the place wss made |
oy the marines undsr comnsro Of Lieut, 1
Green, erd all TIE Inmates of the engine /
eccfe were csrt-reS Row -s>.f-a1