Evening star., 1950-12-10

Washington ever had occurred on
October 18, 1859, or a little over
81 years ago. This was the IA
nous John Brown raid on Harpers
Ferry referred to by The Star OF
that date as follows:
"A Night of Alarm. - The
Harpers Ferry 1nsurrection -
Movements in this City.-Upon
receipt of the intelligence of this
city, yesterday. of the insurrec-
ton at Harpers Ferry, the Presi-
dent issued orders to Col. Harris
of the United States Marine Corps
to dispatch all the available force
of the barracks (per special train)
to the scene of the difficulties. In
one hour from the receipt of the
order. a detachment of Marines
and non-commissioned officers OF
the corps, under Capt. Green, ar
rived at the railroad depot. The
detachment consisted OF III
privates, II sergeants, 13 corporals
and one bugier.
"They took with them seven
guns, Dahlgreen howitzers (three
from the Navy Yard and four from
the barracks, 300 shells. and a
large quantity of ammunition
They also had ample supplies for
several d.. S service. Quite a
number of gentlemen volunteered
to go up with the troops, but they
could not be received. The Ma
rines were received by the Secre-
taries of War and Navy, who COM
municated to Capt. Green his IN
structions as to his course OF &C
ton when he should arrive at the
spot. Mai. Russell of the naval
staff accompanied the Marines
under instructions from the Secre-
tary of War. When it became
known that an anonymous letter
had been received by the Secretary
of War some two months ago, Civ
ing warning of an organized at
tack to be made simultaneously
upon the armory works at Har'
pers Ferry, Wheeling and Wash
ington, considerable apprehension
was felt by the Government ano
municipal authorities, and meas
ures were instantly taken to the
end of extinguishing any possible
disturbance that might take place
at his point"
Lee in Command
Another item appearing in Th'
Star under the same date says
1.-The affair at Harpers Ferry
Yesterday the President was i
consultation some hours with tn
Secretary of War and Brevet Col
Robert E. Lee, 1t. Col. OF I'd Cav
airy, U. S. A., who, it was deter
mined, should command tn
United States troops to be con
centrated at Harpers Ferry. TIL
President, while with these gen
tlemen, received dispatches from
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Co. proffering every possible ia
cility to the Government thel1
road would afford. The consulta.
ton not ending until pm, Col
Lee, accompanied by his aide, 1t
Col. Stuart, U. S. A, Immediately
afterwards, on a special train, sci
out to overtake the detachment Of
the United States Marines"
At the time no one knew tc
what extent the Harpers Ferr!
trouble would reach. and Presi
dent Buchanan was about a
much alarmed as any one else
hence he called out. through tn
Mayor, for the protection of Gov
ernment property. all the com
panies of the District Regiment t.
be posted at the National or Co
lumbar Armory. buildin
erected a few years before.
The force assembled at the ar
mory on the occasion of the Joh
Brown raid did not leave tn
quarters. and as soon as all dan
ger had passed members wer
permitted to return to thei
| homes.
Federal troops sent to Harper
Ferry were not long in crushin
Brown and his handful of fol
lowers, soon after their arrival
Star Reporter There
Lieut.. Col. Robert E. Lee, VIII
a few years later led the Southern
Army in the Civil War, was il
charge of the United State
troops and his lieutenant, j. E. B
Stuart, later became the South
best cavalry officer, but lost hi
life when a cavalry force led b.