Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-03-20

CONTINUED from last week.
The confession of John E. Cooke
now in prison in this town has. Leer
published in the Northern papers. Al
it was obtained from the counsel anC
fit of one of our citizens who wal
wounded in the foray at Harpers Ferry,
we did not avail ourselves of the priv.
published in pamphlet form for the bene-
lege of giving it to our readers. But
as it is now made public, we make q
few extracts which we deem of interest
to our. readers.
OPERATIONS AT THE FERRY.
Captain Cook proceeds to detail the
capture at Harpers Ferry and his bring
ing in Col. Washington and Mr.. Alstadt
with their slaves After his return he
says:
Capt. Brown ordered me togo with
c. P. Tidd, who was to take VIM. Fl.
Leemen, and think four slaves with
him, in Col. Washington's large wagon
across the river, ard to take Terrence
Burns and his brother and their slaves
prisoners. My orders were to hold
Burns and other prisoners at their
own house, while Tidd and the slaves
who accompanied him were to go to
Capt. Browns house and to load in the
arms and bring them down to the school
house, stopping for the Burneses and
their guard. Vim. H.. Lemen remained
with me to guard the prisoners. On
return of the wagon, in compliance
with orders, we all started for the
school house. When we got there was
to remain, by Capt Browns orders
with one of the slaves to guard tha
arms, while C. P. Tidd, with the other
negroes, was to go back for the rest Of
the arms, and Burns was to be sent
with William H I4eeman to Captain
Brown at the Armory. 1t was at this
time that VIM. Thompson came up
from the Ferry and reported that every
thing was all right, and then hurried
on to overtake William H. Leeman.
A short time after the departure of
Tidd l heard a good deal of firing, and
became anxious to know the cause, but
my orders We're strict to remain at the
school house and guard the arms, and
obeyed the orders to he letter. About
O'Clock in the evening G. P Ti1d
came with the second load. | then took
one of the negroes with me and started
for the Ferry. met negro woman
short distance below the school house,
who Informed me that they were fight
ing hard at the Ferry. | hurried on till
came to the Lock kept by George
Hardy, about a mile above the bridge, 1
where saw his wife and Mrs. Eiiza
beth Reed, who told mezthat our men
were hemm2d in, and that several Of
them had been shot. A short distance
below the Lock met two boys whom !
knew, and they told rue that all our
men were hemmed in by troops from
Charles Town, Martinsburg, Hagers-
town and Shephetdstown. The negro
who was with me he'd Teen very much
frightene! at the first report we re-
ceived, and as the bows told me that
the troops were coming up the road af-
ter us soon, sent him (the negro)
back to inform Tidd, while | FASTENED
down the road.
COOKS APPEARANCE ON THE MOUNTAIN
After going down opposite the Ferry
/ assembled the mountain in order to get
a better view of the position of our OPP
ponents.
! saw that our party were completely
surrounded. and as / saw a body of
men Oh High street firing down upon
them-they were about half mile dis
lance from mel thought would draw
their fire upon myself; I therefore
raised my rife and took the best aim
could and fired It had the desired ef-
feet, for the very instant the party Re-
turned it. Several shots were, ex-
changed The last one they fired at me
cut small limb had hold of just be-
low my hand and gave me a fall of
about fifteen feet, by which / was Sc
verely bruised and my flesh somewhat
Iacerated. ! descended from the noun
tain and passed down the road to the
Crane on the hank of the canal about
fifty wards from Mr.. WIS store. saw
several heads at the door post looking at
me; took position behind the Crane,
and cooking my rifle, beckoned to some
of them to come to me, after some
hesitation one of them approached and
then another, both of whom knew me.
l asked them if there were any armed
men IN the store. They pledged me
their word and honor that there were
none then passed down to the lock
house and went down the steps to the
lock. where saw William McCreg, and
questioned him in regard to the troops
on the other side. he told me that the
bridge was filed by our opponents, and
that all our party were dead but seven
that two of them were shot while
trying to escape across the, river. He
begged me to leave Immediately.
COOKS ESCAPE.
was afterwards informed by an
Irish family that Capt. brown was
dead; that he had bsen shot about
o'clock in the afternoon. At the time
| believed this report to be true. I
went up to the scheal house. and found
the shutters and door: closed; calling to
Tidd and the boys. but received no an
swer. l then cooked BY rife and opened
the door.