Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-21
WITNESSED EXECUTION
OF JOHN BROWN RAIDERS
Survivor of Fincastle Rifles Tells
Most Interesting Story OF His
Experiences.
ONLY ONE OTHER STILL LIVING
Company Acted as Guard to Gallows
on Which Condemned Men Were
Put to Death-How John Brown
Was Captured.

notice that ~ J. Baker, OF Fin
castle. wishes to know il any members
or the Fincastle Rifles afterwards
known as Company u. Eincatle RIFLES.
Eleventh Virginia RcgiIncnD are now
living that participated in tho hanging
! OF the prisoners OF the John Brown
! raid at Harper's Ferry in November.
1853.
canno, recall any one living at this
time but Mr.. Baker and myself Per-
haps some OF the younger set would
IKE to know about this occurrence.
/ Early In tho month OF December the
company was ordered by Governor Wise
TO report at Charles Town. jefferson
county, where the prisoners we're in
Jail. Old John Brown had been hung
in November. AS soon as we received
the orders, both white and colored wo-
men or the town and vicinity met at
Fincastle to make our uniforms, etc.
FOR the trip. The uniforms were COM
posed of rcd and black checked linsey.
with green cape. The coat came down
to the knees, with black pants and
black slick cap. The men that did
not have overcoats We're provided with
army overcoats when wc reached Rich
nond. From the armory there we had
issued to us Springfield rifles. car
tridges, boxes, etc. Our company was
composed of about sixty men Will
liam Fl. Anthony, or Buchanan. WAS
our captain, and William Robinson or
DERBY sergeant. can't remember def
nitclN any other officers.
We had sumptuous supper the
night before We left FincastIc, with
cggnog in profusion six stage
coaches conveyed us to Bonsacks on
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
Nothing of any consequence occurred
Oh our trip except very hard rain
when we reached Bonsacks. and Glade
creek was past fording, and Palmer
81. Clair told us could not cross,
but we got over about IL O'Clock. and
reached Iynchburg safely. We ar
lived I'm Richmond the next day. and
were Nuartered ut the old Monumental
Hotel Gin the basomonb. where the
Richmond Hotel now stands.
Colonel John T. Anderson represented
our county in the House OF Delegates,
and he called upon US that night and
made an address.
We went by train TO Aouia Creek
and then by boat via Baltimore to
Farpcrs Ferry. After viewing tho
grounds where Brown had his fighting,
we marched to Charles Town, a dis
tance of eight miles.
When we reached our destination we
were quartcrcd in private house
owned by Mrs. Byrd. Our company
presented her with Il handsome silver
cup when we left. We were guard to
the gallows where Messrg Cook. Con
pic, Shields and Green were hung,
Breakfast was Issued to us while the
prisoners were being hung
Tho night before they were hung,
two or moro Of the prisoners tried to
/ cscapc. After cutting through tho
hTick wall OF the Jail they got out
rho Jail yard waK fenced off with n
high brick vail one OF the prisoners
put his cap on the end or polc and
put 1; over the wall to attract the
sentinel He :ired a: il. but the pris-
! oner did not have nerve enough to
| jump over afterwards. Luther Luster
was one OF the CARDS, and 7 was pass-
ing the Jail and heard the firing.
captain Anthony was officer Of the
DAY, and reported the facts to him
| He had his headquarters at the hotel
! ii was said that men with horses were
| on the outskirts OF the town awaiting
their escape. y price OF $1,000 was
offered for their escape.
We were at Charles Town fourteen
days. and we received for our services
/ S3i. which enabled us 10 pay for the
blue uniforms made by T.. q. Morgan
! Colonel r. T.. Lee, afterwards pro
noted TO major general. and lieutcn-
ant J. T. Is. Stuart, afterwards pro-
noted to general of cavalry i'm CON
fedcrate states army, had charge or the
marine force from Washington. D. c.
that captured John Brown and his fol-
lowers. They had gotten possession
OF the arsenal Colonel Lee ordered
his aid-de-camp. Lieutenant Stuart. TO
go 10 the arsenal and demand their
surrender, and if they did not surren-
der to waive his cap. Smith, one of the
leaders. came 10 tho door and opened
! II about four inches. with his gun
cooked, and had long conversation
with Stuart, and refused positively 10
surrender Colonel Stuart waived his
cap. and the marine forces charged
up TO the arsenal. and. with the as
sistance OF heavy ladder, battered
the door down. end captured Brown
and his party. stuart got his Bowie
knife. saw his pivot gun. and ii was
: SO heavy l could not hold 1t out 1t
shot q ball three -fourths Of an inch i'm
diameter. The next day Stuart went to
/ browns camp. near Harper's Ferry, and
got his equipments, together with 100
pixies. These pixies were made about
ten feet long. wooden handle and 4
steel spear about foot long, on the
end. Major James Mcdowell brought
one home with him, and his family
nave II now.
CHARLES II. PRICE.