Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-05-01
|: THE JOHN BROWN RAID
some CLIPPINGS FROM OUR
OLD FILES OF 1859.
CONTINUED from last week.
The Execution
Cook. Coppee, Copeland and Green
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Cbarlestown, Dec. 18th, 1859.

Cbarlestown, Dec 10th, 1859.
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AS early as o'clock A. NJ. in accord
ance with general orders issued by
Maj. Gen'l Taliaferro, the military
were moving and taking tbeEpositions
assigned them. The Jeffersaa Guards
kapt Rowan marched to the field of ssxa
cntion and took position, supported by
portion of the Alexandris Artillery,
Lieut.. Israel Green, commanding. as
the right wing to Captain Deane's bat
talon which occupied the ground i'm
mediately in front of the gallows.
Capt, Deane's commandicomprised the
Portsmouth National Grays and the
Woods Rifles, Major Lamb; the left
wing was occupied by the Wythe Grays,
Capt. Kent, supported by q portion Of
the Alexandra Artillery, Major Duffy.
The Fincastle Rifles Capt. Anthony,
and Clarke Guards. Capt Bowen, acted
as the inner line of sentry separating
the citizens from the Military; the
Loudoun Cavalry. Capt Carter, served
as the outer chain of sentry. Their
duties were very arduous as they were
constantly employed in keeping the
crowd from intruding beyond the limits
prescribed, The "Black Hawk Ran
gers, of Fauquier County, Capt, Turn
er Ashby were charged with the duty
of keeping the field clear until the troops
were posted and to prevent entrance by
the crowd. into the square occupied by
the military. Lieut.. Col. J..R. Cham
bliss, was entrusted with the disposition
of the troops on the field in accordance
with general orders.
The Executive Guard, Capt Harry
Hunter, were stationed at the gate en-
trance of the field, and proved very eff
Gent in the discharge of their trying
duties.
At eleven minutes to II o'clock. Maj.
Gen. Taliaferro and staff entered the
field taking position Immediately in rear
of Capt 4Deane.s Battalion The staff
consisted of sixteen Officers. mounted.
Standing near and in front of the gal
lows were the Medical Staff, under the
direction of DR.. G.F Mason, Physician
to the Jail and DR. John A. Straitb, As
sistant Physician. There were in at
tendance some twenty Physicians. at
tached to the different companies now
on duty here. To their left, Thomas C
Green Esq. Mayor of the town, Andrew
Hunter Esq assistant Prosecuting At
torney at the trial of the condemned,
j. W. Kennedy and A.E Kennedy. Esqs.
D IS. Eichelberger, Esq. of the "In-
dependent Democrat" u HI. Strother
Esq SO well and universally known as
Porte Crayon," late of Harper's
N. h. Gallaher of Free
Press" and Edward A Gallaher Report
er, were stationed; also Major j. New
ton Brown, Paymaster of the Post.
At II O'Clock, the column and guard to
the prisoners Copeland and Green, APP
peared in sight and filed into the field,
Col, Weiseger in command.
The prisoners were conveyed + f fs5is=
the Jail to the gallows in a furniture
wagon, driven by Mr.. Sadler, Under
taker, accompanied by Mr. Starry, his
assistant. In the wagon with the pris-
onere were the Sheriff Mr. Campbell,
Capt Avis, jailor and DR. J. j. H.
Straith: Rev's. Mr. North, Waugh and
Leach followed behind the wagon on
foot. Upon reaching the gallows, the
column was halted, and the prisoners
descended from the wagon. Sheriff !
took Copeland by the arm
and Capt Avis Green and led them to
the scaffold. AS they were descending
the steps, Copeland stumbled and was
near falling
When they had reached the platform
and whilst the military were taking |
their positions, the Rev Mr. North, of |
the Presbyterian Church offered up a
prayer to the throne of Grace in hehalf |
Of the condemned His prayer which |
was most affecting and appropriate oc.
cupied about ten minutes. During the |
delivery thereof. Copeland and Green
seemed much affected and deeply humi-
lated, Copeland stood with head erect |
and eyes closed, clasping his hands ac-
ross his breast and seemed listening at |
tentlvely his lips moving asif following
Mr.. North in prayer Green stood With |
hands closed in front, and rocked to and |
fro. frequently casting his eyes towards |
Heaven and then dropping his head on
his breast, glancing now and then to
right and left; he appeared deeply af-
fected and evidently realized the trying
situation in which he was placed.
Continued next week.