Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-06-05
THE JOHN BROWN RAID
SOME CLIPPINGS FROM OUR
OLD FILES OF 1859.
Adjourned Public Meeting.
CONTINUED from last week,

CONTINUED from last week So
The soil of Virginia waving this I'M
settled question of souvereignity. had
been cleared of the pollutfng Footsteps
of these midnight assassinss and it
might have been considered peculiarly
| appropriate that the Federal troops
should finish the work, and thus far
repair the gross negligence Of the
Government in leaving such : place A.
together unguarded.
But on no such grounds do we rest
the explanation of the fact that the
Marines were permitted to end the at
fair by attacking and carrying the En-
CINE House, as they SO bravely did un-
der the lead of the gallant Green.
The distinguished Col Robert Lee,
who commanded the U. s. troops on
occasion, after renewed negotiations
for surrender the next morning prompt
ed by the same confederation for the
hostages, did offer the honor of as
saulting the Engine house, to the wea-
ried and broken down Virginia militia;
and it was not declined; as he will bear
witness. On the contrary. arrange
ments were Immediately commenced to
collect and prepare storming party;
but from the condition of the troops,
and their arms, the time necessarily
required to effect this was longer than
the gallant Col. deemed it proper to de-
lay the attack; and consequently the
disciplined troops under the command
Of this gallant Virginian, proceeded
with bravery unsurpassed, to do their
share Of the work, and enact the clos
ing scene Of this bloody tragedy.
| Before passing from this simple out
line of the events of the day, it may be
proper to advert to another significant
! fact which stared as in the face.
Thus suddenly attacked, with exag-
gerated information as to the numbers
engaged in the daring fray, we natural
ly looked around to the quarters whence
aid could be promptly obtained. The
cars we're backed rapidly to Wincheste,
to bring down her gallant men to our
assistance, and they came. But higher
up the Valley and the Piedmont region,
to our natural supporters there. we
looked in vain; the unjust and unwise
policy of the Commonwealth having
heretofore refused the simple privilege
of closing up the wanting link of Rail
Road connection between Winchester
and Strasburg.
1t cannot be believed that the State
of Virginia will longer withhold from
this exposed frontier a means Of milf
tary protection, the necessity of which
was brought out in such strong relief
by these recent events; and we appeal
to the present Legislature, in accord
ance with the Governors recommends
ton, to place this question upon higher
grounds than any mere consideration of
local or commercial rivalry.
Imputations too, have gone abroad
to the effect, that our community. lack
ing due measure of elevated Virginia
spirit, were impatient under the bur-
den, and unavoidable annoyances, re.
sulting from SO large body of troops
unexpectedly thrown upon US.
To repel, as we do indignantly such q
charge we need only appeal thu
troops themselves. $500 =
/ We do not ask for such large force
for our protection. nor was it needed
to prevent the well ascertained attemp
on foot to rescue John Brown and hi
confederates But we well understoot
the enlarged and statesmanlike policy
Of the Chief Magistrate of the common
wealth, and we received the gallan
volunteers who repaired SO promptly tt
the scene of at least supposed, DANCE
with open arms and with as unselfsh
: hospitality as ever was displayed b
any community even in the South. /
word, not to dwell upon SO unworth
subject, while it affords US the higt
est pleasure to bear testimony to tn
admirable and gentlemanlike condue
Of the troops, which was subject {
general remark we claim that no CON
munity could have received them MOI
cordially, treated them more kindly, q
parted with them with more sincere r,
greet.
The occasion caused each party
know the other better, and drew close