The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-11-03
John Browns Raid.

living in this section, remember
distinctly the raid OF John
Brown, his attack on Harpers
Ferry and his subsequent capture
and death.
This thrilling incident occurred
on Monday morning, October,
18th, 1859, and Frederick, as
we'll as the entire country. was
thrown into great excitement
when the tidings came that John
Brown and several hundred in
vaders had captured Harper's
| Ferry the night previous, and
killed a number of its citizens.
The news spread like wild-fire
and preparations were instantly
made by the Governor to sup
press the invasion and punish the
offenders.
Frederick at that time had
three military companies, which
were called out under the COM
mand of General Edward
Shriver; the United Guards, un-
der Captain John Il. Sim, First
Lieutenant, Gabriel Beckley;
Second Lieutenant, Thos. Hooper;
the Independent Rifemen, Cap
tain U. S. Hobbs; First Lieuten-
ant, Walter Saunders; Second
Lieutenant, Charles Eader, after
wards killed at the battle of
Gettysburg; the Junior Defend
ers, Captain John Ritchie; First
Lieutenant, William Glessner.
Each company numbered about
sixty men.
They left this city on Monday
about 2 o'clock p. N. and arrived
at Harper's Ferry shortly after
dark. At the time OF their ar
rival, Brown and his meu were
housed in the engine house at
tached to the arsenal, having
been driven there during the day
by the Virginia troops.
The Frederick soldiers were
put on picket duty during the
night, in a very severe storm.
The next morning, all the com
panies were called out about sun
rise. General Shriver had a
talk under flag of truce with
Brown, and the latter offered to
surrender if permitted to go free
and retain bis arms. This was
refusedand Immediately the troops
were drawn up in line prepare
tory to a general attack. Eve
men from each company were Sc
lected to captase Brown, under
command of Captain Alburti's, of
Martinsburg. Those from the
Frederick troops were Messrs.
William Rooster and John A.
Simpson, Independent Riflemen;
John Sim and George StOner,
United Guards; and j. M. Fresh
our and "A Mr.. Smith, who was
killed at Gettysburg, from the
Junior Defenders.
About this time the United
States Marines arrived under
Colonel Lee and Lieutenant
Green and took charge of the
capture, which was quickly eff
tected.
Brown was tried and hung in
Charlestown, West Virginia
The trial took place October
2Stls and the hanging December
2ndy 1859.
Cook, one of John Browns
mem who was a brother in
law Of Governor A. p. Willard.
OF Indiana, escaped, but was af
forwards capturedj in Pennsyl
wanna. He was. defended by
r Daniel w. Voorhees,, afterwards
Senator. He was, found guilty
and hanged, with several other O.
Browns men.
At one time Brown had quite q
number of prisoners in the engine
house, including George Shope;
of Frederick, and Lewis Wash
lngtOn, of near Harper's Ferry
1t has generally been supposed
that the Richmond Greys wer,
important factors in Browns cap
ture, but they were at Sand,
Hook at the time, having beef
delayed there on account Of al
east bound train.
John Z. Cook, who was hanged
was married and lived at Har
per's Ferry, where he taugh
school. His widow lived Their,
until a few years ago.
The United Guards did duty a
Harper's Ferry for two week
after Browns capture.