Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-06-11
The Capture of John BrOwu.


played at the capture Of Brown. aud.
on this occasion. it was only after De
peated solicitations from The assem-
bled company, that be WAS Gually in
duced 10 gave an account &c The
affair. Ills account was so graphic
and impressive ga its delivery, that
the present writer can give ;he
minutest details of his statement Of
the affair, and win state them, as it
were. IN bis words.
'On Monday, October Il. lS59)"
said Green, '' was ordesei to take a
detachment Of marines. ~u5 proceed
from Washington 90 Harpers Ferry
under The command of COL Il. E..
Zee. Many of the band of abolition.
lists, commanded by John Brown, had
been KILLED that moraiug ia ibe eight
between ,hem and the ci,izeus. and
the remainder. including Brown. had
taken refuge ia a brick engine house.
This house was situated within The
arsenal grounds, and was at some
distauc, from the other houses.
Brown bad cut holes ju the sides of
Che building. through which his men
could ire. and had biockaJeJ the
wide doors by moving tbc engine
against them. During Che previous
night, Brown had scal detachment
into the county of jefferson. IN which
Hampers Ferry is situated, ANA had
captured several whit, citizens.
These were brought into town and
held as hostages in the engine. house.
When re arrived in the Gown with
the marines, we found Brown closely
besieged IN the engine house bv the
citizens, but they hesItated about
making charge upon the building
for fear that Brown and his party
would kill the prisoners, whom b..
held as hostages One of these pris-
ouers was Col. Lewis Washinrte..
whom I kaew very well. After hold
ing consultation with the leading
men among the attacking pert,.
Colonel Lee determined to demand
an unconditional surreuls from
Brown. aud If he refused. to stacs
the engine-housc with the marine, S..
"rhe demand for surrender WAS
made through =. +. b. Stuart after.
wards the celebrated Confederate
cavalry leader during the Sectional
War. Tie was IN Washington at the
time Lee received his orders. and
volunteered TO accompany him.
Stuart offered TO carry a message to
Brown under flag Of truce Stuart
was ordered TO demand from Brown
am unconditional surrender and he
was instructed. If the demand WAS
refused, TO step TO the corner Of the
building SO as TO De ont Of fire from
the port holes, and to drop his hand
kerchicf 20 Che ground. Itreouired
more than ordinary courage 10 per-
form Stuart's mission, as IL was
feared the desperate outlaws would
MOI recognize "a flag Of truce. He.
however, tied "a handkerchief 20 the
end of cane, and walked down 10.
wards the engine house as coollv as
if he was on dress parade. In the
meantime, by order of Colonel Lee.
1 had drawn up my marines under
cover Of house about forty wards
from the eugine-house, ready TO rush
the attack, as soon as Stuart should
drop his handkerchief. had pro
vided half dozen of my men with
sledge hammers to break down the
doors of the engine-house so that
We might get at Brown and his men.
Stuart approached the engine.house
and delivered the demand of Colonel
Lee for unconditional surrender.
Brown refused and demanded that
he and his party should be allowed
to leave the house, and be free from
attack for twenty-four hours. Ac-
cording to instruction, Stuart then
stepped to the corner of the building
and dropped his handkerchief on the
ground. After this signal, l ordered
my men to charge, which they did
with a rush, under a steady fire from
Brown and his party.
As soon as We reached the house.
the men at once attempted to break
down the doors with their sledqe
hammers. They, however made 40
impression upon the doors, as they
were not only blockaded by the
engine, but also guarded by heavy
iron chain. Seeing that the sledge
hammers were not effective, / ordered
the men to drop the hammers, and to
use a sort Of batteriug ram-a long
ladder which / had noticed pearhv .