RIOT AT HARPER'S FERRY.

The community was startled on Monday by a report from Harper's Ferry, that the negroes had revolted, and taken possession of the United States Armory at that place; that they had stopped the passage of the railroad trains, and cut the telegraph wires. Other accounts represented the affair as a riot of the workmen who have been employed in the Armory, who pressed the negroes into their service, either to make them fight, or to sell them South. The Baltimore newspapers are filled with the most tragic accounts from all sorts of irresponsible and evidently reckless sources, representing the outbreak as a bloody insurrection of slaves, headed by two hundred and fifty white Abolitionists. The absurdity of these stories must be apparent to any one who will reflect that Harper's Ferry is located in a section of Virginia which has comparatively few slaves, with a considerable white population. In 1850, the whites in the county were more than twice as numerous as the slaves and free blacks; and at the present time the disparity of the races is much greater. In the village or town at the Armory, the white population is probably ten or twenty times as numerous as the negroes. It is therefore absurd to suppose that the negroes could dream of a successful revolt under such circumstances. Equally absurd is the supposition that the whole body of workmen employed in the Armory are Abolitionists, and that they could hope to succeed in liberating the slaves.
There can be no doubt that these laborers or mechanics, employed by the Government and by contractors, have been guilty of rioting, for what provocation we have yet to learn; and having engaged in rioting for their own private ends, it is not improbable that they may have forced the negroes into their service, and possibly they may have flattered their hopes of freedom by way of stimulating them to action. We need not say that all such friends to the negroes are their worst enemies, and that no wise or good man will sympathize in such bloody enterprises.
It would be a needless consumption of our space to publish all the conflicting rumors which have found their way into the press, but the following dispatches may serve as specimens. Monococy is between Harper's Ferry and Baltimore.
Monococy BridgeMidnight.A train has just returned from Harper's Ferry, being refused permission to pass. The insurgents are increasing. The baggage master of the train was permitted to pass into the town, when he was marched into the Armory, where he found about six hundred runaway negroes. Mr. Washington, of Jefferson, came down with his wife and servant; the latter was taken, and Mr. Washington and his wife tied in their carriage. The place appeared deserted by the inhabitants, a few only remaining. The baggage master was permitted to return, under escort, to his train. The same party reports about two hundred white men engaged in the insurrection. Everything had been plundered, and all appeared determined to fight.
The following dispatch from the master of trains, Diffey, has just been received here from the other side of Harper's Ferry. Mr. Diffey telegraphed from Martinsburg, via Wheeling, that a body of armed men have taken possession of the Armory at Harper's Ferry, and have planted guns on our bridge. They have stopped all our tonnage and mail trains cast and west of the bridge. The telegraph wires are cut. No communications cast. A body of armed men are getting ready to leave here at once, to clear the bridge, so that our trains can pass. Great excitement prevails all through the neighborhood. It is now evident that parties have fortified, and will make a desperate resistance.
The directors of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, with their families, are on an excursion, and have also been stopped at Harper's Ferry.
Our train is ordered to let Major Lee overtake us. The Frederick companies who went on at 3 P.M. have not since been heard from. The arrangements of the railroad company are very comfortable. They have fully provided for removing obstructions, or constructing new road, if necessary. We take on here two additional pieces of artillery and an additional supply of ammunition from Frederick.
The Secretary of the Navy on Monday received a dispatch from the President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which described the affair as a riot of the workmen of the Armory, and barely mentioned it as a rumor that the Abolitionists had stimulated an insurrection. The following dispatch from Washington gives the probable cause of the riot:
Washington, Oct. 17.In view of the possibility of the disturbances at Harper's Ferry extending to this vicinity, the Mayors of Washington and Alexandria have taken precautionary steps for its suppression. The President, through the Mayor of Washington, ordered a strong detachment of volunteers to be posted at the National and Company Armories, which has been promptly done. Two hundred stand of muskets and ammunition have also been placed in the City Hall for an emergency.

It has been suggested here by well-informed persons that the cause of the insurrection is the reported fact that not long since the contractor for the construction of the Government dam at Harper's Ferry absconded, largely indebted to several hundred employees, who may have taken this step to indemnify themselves by the seizure of the Government funds, which, it is supposed, were transported thither on Saturday. A gentleman just arrived from Harper's Ferry thinks the blacks have participated in the outbreak only on compulsion.

It is understood that the troops from Baltimore cannot pass the river unless per order of the President of the United States or the Governor of Virginia, neither of which have given the necessary orders. It is also understood that General Steuart has been informed that Colonel Lee, of the army, has full instructions, and is authorized to issue the order if it should be found necessary. The troops from Frederick are under orders from Washington to cross the river into Virginia.
We give the following story for what it is worth. We have no faith in the “dying confession:”
Harper's Ferry, Oct. 18.1 A.M.Train arrived and halted below town, where runners communicated the state of affairs. The Jefferson county regiment had entered the town from the Virginia side, and the Frederick troops crossed the bridge. There had been a good deal of firing, and some nine persons were killed.
Mr. Beckham, agent of Railroad Company, was shot through, and his murderer fell almost at the same instant, pinned by a rifle ball from a friend of Beckham.
The troops have landed, and are in the town. The insurgents are willing to surrender, but on terms of safe conduct out of difficulty; otherwise, they threaten to sacrifice the lives of Lewis Washington and Col. Daingerfield, whom they now hold as prisoners.
Capt. Aaron Stephens, of Norwich, Conn., is now dying of his wounds, and makes the following statement:
“The plan has been concocting for a year or more; the parties rendezvoused at a farm a few miles from here, rented for the purpose by Capt. Brown, of Kansas notoriety, under the name of Smith.
Among the insurgents are Kagg of Ohio, Todd of Maine, William Seaman and Brown of Ohio.
The President on Monday ordered the marines from this city and three companies of artillery from Old Point to the scene of disturbance. The marines, ninety-three in number, started on the three o'clock train; and we understand that the companies from Old Point came up the Bay on Monday night, and proceeded to the Ferry on Tuesday. Governor Wise telegraphed to the Colonel of the Jefferson county militia to raise a force and proceed to quell the riot. The Governor himself, with such volunteer forces as he could raise about Richmond, came up on Monday night, and proceeded this morning to the rendezvous to take the command in person of the State forces. One of the dispatches above quoted shows that numerous volunteer troops have been sent forward from that place; and from these various sources the authorities must have at their command a force greatly stronger than the rioters.

LATER.

The following dispatches, which have come to this city just as the Era goes to press, indicate that the affair at Harper's Ferry was really connected with a mad and bloody scheme of negro insurrection, which will excite universal abhorrence. But we still discredit the affair in this aspect, and cannot believe the story that “Ossawatomie Brown” was the ringleader in the Riot. It is only a few weeks ago that this Brown was reported to be making a raid into Missouri:
Harper's Ferry, Oct. 183 A.M.The battle was fought mainly by the railroad tonnage men from Martinsburg, led by Alberts. Even Dorsey, a conductor, was killed, and Conductors Bowman and Hallet were wounded. No damage was done to the railroad or bridge.

It is thought that the rioters will be hung as soon as captured, if not prevented by the troops.

The following is from the American's special reporter.
Harper's Ferry, 6 A.M.Preparations are making for an attack on the Armory, where the insurgents are in full force. The soldiers have surrounded the entire grounds, and for the last hour everything has been quiet.
The rioters still have the following persons prisoners: Armistead Ball, chief draughtsman of the Armory; Benjamin J. Mills, master armorer; John P. Daingerfield, paymaster; Clark Lewis Washington, farmer, and a prominent citizen; John Allstadt, farmer, and son, the latter sixteen years old. The three last named were seized on farms several miles from this place.
George W. Turner, a graduate of West Point, and one of the most distinguished citizens in this vicinity, was shot yesterday while coming into town, and died during the night.
Three rioters are lying dead in the streets; three are lying dead in the river, and several more are said to be lying within the Armory enclosure.
The killed among the citizens, as far as ascertained, are Fountain Beckham, Mr. Haywood, a negro porter at the railroad station, Joseph Burnley, of Harper's Ferry, Evan Dorsey, and George Richardson, of Martinsburg.
Another rioter, (negro,) named << Lewis Leary>> , has just died. He confessed to the particulars of the plot, which he says was concocted by Brown at a fair held in Ohio some two months ago.
Later.The rioters have just sent out a flag of truce; but if not protected by the soldiers, the bearers will be captured and hung.
Later.The armory has been stormed and taken, after a desperate resistance. Colonel Shutt approached with a flag of truce, and demanded an immediate and unconditional surrender. After some expostulation, the insurgents refused the demand.
The marines advanced to the charge, and endeavored to break down the door with sledge-hammers, but it resisted all efforts. A large ladder was then used as a battering ram, and the door gave way.
The rioters fired briskly through the door, and shot three marines. The marines returned the fire through the partly broken door, and then forced through the break at the point of the bayonet.
After a few moments conflict inside, the resistance was at an end. The insurgents were brought out one after another amidst the most intense excitement, and many of the armed militia endeavored to shoot them as they passed, but the marines covered them with their persons.
Capt. “Ossawatomie” Brown and his son were both shot. The latter is dead, and the former is dying. He lies in the Armory enclosure, talking freely. He acknowledges he is old Ossawatomie Brown whose deeds in Kansas have stamped his memory with infamy. He says his whole object was to free the slaves, and even attempts to justify his action. He also says that he had entire possession of the town, and could have murdered the whole of the people, and that now he has been murdered in return for his forbearance!

J.C. Anderson was also shot down in the assault. He was from Connecticut.

The body of a man who was murdered yesterday was found within the armory.
Brown says that there were none engaged with him in the plot but those who accompanied him.
The prisoners are retained within the Armory enclosure.
Noon.Soon after the storming of the Armory, the bodies of four insurgents, who were shot last evening, were found within the enclosure.
Captain Brown and his son are only dangerously wounded, instead of mortally, as first announced.
The only two of the insurrectionists who were unwounded are Edwin Coppisb, (white,) from Iowa, and Shields Green, (colored,) also from Iowa.
The party originally consisted of 22 persons, of whom 15 were killed, 2 mortally wounded, 2 unhurt, and 3 went off with slaves on Monday morning.
Soon after the assault on the Armory, some firing took place from the hills on the Maryland shore, supposed to be Cook and his party, who left on Monday.

October 27, 1859
THE NATIONAL ERA
Washington, D.C., Vol. XIII No. 669 P. 172

HARPER'S FERRY INSURRECTION.

BALTIMORE, Oct. 18, 1859.

The Baltimore infantry troops have just arrived, and are now marching to the armories. Their services were no longer required at Harper's Ferry, the Government and Virginia troops being amply sufficient for all emergencies.
The report of the American commences with a notice of the originators. The principal originator of this short but bloody insurrection was undoubtedly Capt. John Brown, whose connection with scenes of violence in the border warfare in Kansas then made his name familiarly notorious throughout the whole country. Brown made his first appearance in Harper's Ferry more than a year ago, accompanied by his two sonsall three of them assuming the name of Smith. He inquired about land in the vicinity, and made investigations as to the probability of finding ores there, and for some time boarded at Sandy Point, a mile east of the Ferry. After an absence of some months, the elder Brown reappeared in the vicinity, and rented or leased a farm on the Maryland side, about four miles from the Ferry. They bought a large number of picks and spades, and this confirmed the belief that they intended to mine for ores. They were frequently seen in and about Harper's Ferry, but no suspicion seems to have existed that “Bill Smith” was Capt. Brown, or that he intended embarking in any movement so desperate or extraordinary. Yet the development of the plot leaves no doubt that his visits to the Ferry and his lease of the farm were all parts of his preparation for an insurrection, which he supposed would be successful in exterminating Slavery in Maryland and Western Virginia.
Brown's chief aid was John E. Cook, a comparatively young man, who has resided in and near Harper's Ferry some years. He was first employed in tending lock on the canal, and afterward taught school on the Maryland side of the river; and after a brief residence in Kansas, where, it is supposed, he became acquainted with Brown, returned to Harper's Ferry, and married there. He was regarded as a man of some intelligence, and known to be Anti-Slavery, but was not so violent in the expression of his opinions as to excite any suspicions.
These two men, with Brown's two sons, were the only white men connected with the insurrection that had been seen about Harper's Ferry. All were brought by Brown from a distance, and nearly all had been with him in Kansas.
The first active movement in the insurrection was made at about 10 1/2 o'clock on Sunday night. William Williamson, the watchman at Harper's Ferry bridge, while walking across toward the Maryland side, was seized by a number of men; who said he was their prisoner, and must come with them. He recognised Brown and Cook among the men, and knowing them, treated the matter as a joke; but, enforcing, silence, they conducted him to the Armory, which he found already in their possession. He was detained till after daylight, and then discharged. The watchman who was to relieve Williamson at midnight, found the bridge lights all out, and was immediately seized. Supposing it an attempt at robbery, he broke away, and his pursuers stumbling over him, he escaped.
The next appearance of the insurrectionists was at the house of Col. Lewis Washington, a large farmer and slave-owner, living about four miles from the Ferry. A party headed by Cook proceeded there, and rousing Col. Washington, told him he was their prisoner. They also seized all the slaves near the house, took a carriage horse and large wagon with two horses. When Col. Washington saw Cook, he immediately recognised him as the man who had called upon him some months previous, and to whom he had exhibited some valuable arms in his possession including an antique sword presented by Frederick the Great to George Washington, and a pair of pistols presented by Lafayette, to Washington, both being heir-looms in the family. Before leaving, Cook wanted Col. Washington to engage in a trial of skill at shooting, and exhibited considerable certainty as a marksman. When he made the visit on Sunday night, he alluded to his previous visit, and the courtesy with which he had been treated, and regretted the necessity which made it his duty to arrest Col. Washington. He, however, took advantage of the knowledge he had obtained by his former visit, to carry off all the valuable collection of arms, which the owner did not reobtain till after the final defeat of the insurrection.
From Col. Washington's he proceeded with him as a prisoner in the carriage, and twelve of his negroes in the wagon, to the house of Mr. Allstadt, another large farmer on the same road. Mr. Allstadt and his son, a lad of sixteen, were taken prisoners, and all their negroes within reach forced to join the movement. He then returned to the Armory at the Ferry. All these movements seem to have been made without exciting the slightest alarm in town, nor did the detention of Capt. Phelps's train at the upper end of the town attract attention.
It was not until the town thoroughly waked up and found the bridge guarded by armed men, and a guard stationed at all the avenues, that the people saw that they were prisoners. A panic appears to have immediately ensued, and the number of insurrectionists was at once increased from fifty (which was probably their greatest force, including the slaves who were forced to join) to from five to six hundred. In the mean time, a number of workmen, not knowing anything of what had occurred, entered the Armory, and were successively taken prisoners, until at one time they had not less than sixty men confined in the Armory. Among those thus entrapped were: Armistead Ball, Chief Draughtsman of the Armory; Benjamin Mills, Master of the Armory; and J.E.P. Dangerfield, Paymaster's Clerk. These three gentlemen were imprisoned in the engine-house, which afterward became the chief fortress of the insurgents, and were not released until after the final assualt. The workmen were imprisoned in a large building further down the yard, and were rescued by a brilliant Zouaye dash, made by the railroad company's men who came down from Martinsburg.
This was the condition of things at daylight, about which time Capt. Cook, with two white men, accompanied by thirty slaves, and taking with them Col. Washington's large wagon, went over the bridge and struck up the mountain-road toward Pennsylvania.
It was then believed that a large wagon was used to convey away the Paymaster's safe, containing $17,000 Government funds, and also that it was filled with Minie rifles, taken out to supply other bands in the mountains, who were to come down upon Harper's Ferry in
over-whelming force. These suppositions proved untrue, as neither money nor arms were disturbed. As day advanced, and news spread around, and people came into the Ferry, the first demonstrations of resistance were made to the insurrectionists.
A general warfare commenced, chiefly let on by a man named Chambers, whose house commanded the Armory yard. The colored man named Hayward, a railroad porter, was shot early in the morning, for refusing to join the movement.
The next man shot was Joseph Burley, a citizen of the Ferry. He was shot standing in his own door. The insurrectionists by this time, finding a disposition to resist from, them, had withdrawn nearly all within the Armory grounds, leaving only a guard on the bridge.
About this time, also, Samuel P. Young, Esq., was shot dead. He was coming into town on horseback, carrying a gun, when he was shot from the Armory, receiving a wound of which he died during the day. He was a graduate of West Point, and greatly respected in the neighborhood for his high character and noble qualities.
At about noon, the Charlestown troops, under command of Col. Robert W. Baylor, crossed the Shenandoak river some distance up, and marched down the Maryland side to the mouth of the bridge. Firing a volley, they made a gallant dash across the bridge, clearing it of the insurrectionists, who retreated rapidly down toward the Armory. In this movement of the insurrectionists, a man named William Thompson was taken prisoner.
The Shepherdstown troops next arrived, marching down the Shenandoah side, and joining the Charlestown forces at the bridge. A desultory exchange of shots followed, one of which struck Mr. Fountain Beckham, Mayor of the town, and agent of the Railroad Company, entering his breast and passing entirely through his body. The ball was a large elongated slug, and made a dreadful wound. Mr. Beckham died almost immediately. He was without fire-arms, and was exposed for only a moment while approaching a water-station. His assailant, one of Brown's sons, was shot almost immediately, but managed to get back to the engine house, where his body was found next day.
The murder of Mr. Beckham greatly excited the populace, who immediately raised a cry to bring out the prisoner, Thompson. He was brought out on the bridge, and there shot down. He fell into the water, and some appearance of life still remaining, he was riddled with balls.
At this time the general charge was made down the street from the bridge toward the Armory gate by the Charlestown and Shepherdstown troops and Ferry people. From behind the Armory wall a fusilade was kept up, and returned by the insurrectionists from the Armory buildings.
While this was going on, the Martinsburg levies arrived at the upper end of the town, and, entering the Armory grounds by the rear, made an attack from that side. This force was largely composed of railroad employees, gathered from the tonnage trains at Martinsburg, and their attack was generally spoken of as showing the greatest amount of fighting pluck exhibited during the day. Dashing on, firing and cheering, and gallantly led by Captain Alburtis, they carried the building in which the Armory men were imprisoned, and released the whole of them.
They were, however, but poorly armed, some with pistols, and others with shot-guns; and when they came within range of the
engine-house, where the élite of the insurrectionists were gathered, and were exposed to the rapid and dexterous use of Sharpe's rifles, they were forced to fall back, suffering pretty severely. Conductor Evans Dorsey, of Baltimore, was killed instantly, and Conductor George Richardson received a wound from which he died during the day. Several others were wounded, among them a son of Dr. Hammond of Martinsburg.
A guerilla warfare was maintained during the rest of the day, resulting in the killing of two of the insurrectionists, and the wounding of a third. One crawled out through a culvert leading into the Potomac, and attempted to cross to the Maryland side, whether with the view of escaping, or conveying information to Cook, is not known.
He was shot while crossing the river, and fell dead on the rocks. An adventurous lad waded out and secured his Sharpe's rifle. The body was afterward stripped of a part of its clothing. In one of his pockets was found a captain's commission, drawn up in full form, and declaring that the bearer, Captain Lehman, held that commission under Major General Brown. A light mulatto was shot just outside of the Armory gate. The ball went through the throat, tearing away the principal arteries, and killing him instantly. His name is not known, but he is one of the free negroes who came with Brown. His body was left in the street until noon yesterday, exposed to every indignity that could be heaped upon it by the excited populace.
At this time, a tall, powerful man, named Evans Stephens, came out from the Armory, conducting some prisoners, it was said. He was twice shotonce in the side, once in the breast. He was then captured, and taken to a tavern, and after the insurrection was quelled was turned over to the United States authorities in a dying condition. During the afternoon, a sharp little affair took place on the Shenandoah side of the town. The insurrectionists had also seized Hall's rifle works, and a party of their assailants found their way in through a mill-race, and dislodged them.
In this rencontre, it was said, three insurrectionists were killed, but we found but one dead body, that of a negro, on that side of the town. Night by this time had set in, and operations ceased. Guards were placed around the Armory, and every precaution taken to prevent escapes.
At eleven o'clock, the Monday night train, with Baltimore military and marines, arrived at Sandy Hook, where they waited for the arrival of Col. Lee, deputized by the War Department to take the command.
The reporters pressed on, leaving their military allies behind; they found the bridge in the possession of the military, and entered the besieged town without difficulty, the occasional report of a gun or singing motion of a Sharpe's rifle ball warning them that it was advisable to keep themselves out of the range of the Armory. The first visit was made to the bedside of the Aaron Stevens, the wounded prisoner; they found him to be a large, exceedingly athletic man, a perfect Samson in appearance. He was in a small soom, filled with excited armed men, who more than once threatened to shoot him, where he was groaning with pain, but answering with composure and apparent willingness every question in relation to the fray in which he was engaged.
He said he was a native of Connecticut, but had lately lived in Kansas, where he knew Captain Brown. He had also served in the United States army. The sole object of his attempt was to give the negroes freedom, and Brown had represented that as soon as they seized the Armory, the negroes would flock to them by thousands, and they would soon have force enough for their purposeone for which he would sacrifice his lifebut he said he thought Brown had been greatly deceived. He said that preparations had been making for some months for a movement, but that the whole force consisted of seventeen white men and five free negroes.
This statement was repeated without variation by all the prisoners with whom we conversed. All agreed as to the number in the movement, and as to its objects, which some called the work of philanthropy.
<< Lewis Leary>> , a negro shot at the rifle mill, stated, before he died, that he enlisted with Capt. Brown for the insurrection at a fair held in Lorraine county, Ohio, and received the money to pay his expenses. They all came down to Chambersburg, Pa., and from there they travelled across the country to Brown's farm.
The night passed without any serious alarms, but not without excitement. The marines were marched over immediately after their arrival, when Col. Lee stationed them within the Armory grounds, so as to completely surround the engine-house. Occasionally, shots were fired by country volunteers, but what for was not escertained. There was only one return fire from the insurgents.
The broken telegraph was soon repaired, through the exertions of Superintendents Westervelt and Talcott, who accompanied the expedition. The announcement that communication was opened with Baltimore gave the press representatives abundant employment. There was no bed to be had, and daylight was awaited with anxiety. Its earliest glimpses were availed of to survey the scene.
A visit to the different localities in which the corpses of the insurrectionists were lying stark and bloody, a peep close or far off, according to the courage of the observer, at the Malakoff of the insurgents, was the established order of sight-seeing, varied with a discussion of all sorts of terrible rumors.
The building in which the insurgents had made their stand was the fire-engine-house, and no doubt the most defensible building in the Armory. It has dead brick walls on three sides, and on the fourth large doors, with window sashes above, some eight feet from the ground.
A dead stillness surrounded the buildings, and, except that now and then a man might be seen peeping from the nearly-closed door, and a dog's nose slightly protruding, there was no sign of life, much less of hostility, given.
Various opinions were given as to the number of persons within, and the amount of resistance they would be able to offer.
The cannon could not be used without endangering the safety of Col. Washington, Mr. Dangerfield, Mr. Ball, and other citizens, whom they still held prisoners. The doors and walls of the building had been pierced for rifles, but it was evident that from these holes no range could be had, and that without opening the door they would be shooting in the dark. Many thought that the murder of the prisoners held was determined upon, and that a fight to the death would be the ending of their desperate attempt.
While the people thus looked and speculated, the door was opened; and one of the men came out with a flag of trace, and delivered what was supposed to be terms of capitulation. The continued preparations for assault showed they were not accepted. Shortly after seven o'clock, Lieut. E.B. Stuart, of the 1st cavalry, who was acting as aid for Col. Lee, advanced to parley with the besieged, Samuel Strider Esq., an old and respectable citizen, bearing a flag of trace. They were received at the door by Capt. Brown. Lieut. Stuart demanded an unconditional surrender, only promising them protection from immediate violence, and a trial, by law.
Captain Brown refused all terms but those previously demanded, which were substantially, “That they should be permitted to march out with their men and arms, taking their prisoners with them; that they should proceed unpursued to the second toll-gate, when they would free their prisoners. The soldiers would then be permitted to pursue them, and they would fight if they could not escape.” Of course, this was refused; and Lieut. Stuart pressed upon Brown his desperate position, and urged a surrender. The expostulation, though beyond ear-shot, was evidently very earnest; and the coolness of the Lieutenant, and the courage of his aged flag-bearer, won warm praise. At this moment, the interest of the scene was most intense. The volunteers were arranged all around the building, cutting off an escape in every direction. The marines, divided in two squads, were ready for a dash at the door.
Finally, Lieut. Stuart, having exhausted all argument with the determined Captain Brown, walked slowly from the door.
Immediately the signal for attack was given, and the marines, headed by Col. Harris and Lieut. Green, advanced in two lines on each side of the door. Two powerful fellows sprung between the lines, and, with heavy sledge hammers, attempted to batter down the door.
The doors swung and swayed, but appeared to be secured with a rope, the spring of which deadened the effect of the blows. Failing thus, they took hold of a ladder, some forty feet long, and, advancing at a run, brought it with tremendous effect against the door. At the second blow, it gave way, one leaf falling inward in a slanting position. The marines immediately advanced to the breach, Major Russell and Lieut. Green leading. A marine in front fell.
The firing from the interior was rapid and sharp. They fired with deliberate aim, and for a moment the resistance was serious and desperate enough to excite the spectators to something like a pitch of frenzy. The next moment, the marines poured in, the firing ceased, and the work was done, while cheers rang from every sidethe general feeling being that the marines had done their part admirably.
When the insurgents were brought outsome dead, and others woundedthey were greeted with execrations, and only the precautions that had been taken saved them from immediate execution. The crowd, nearly every man of which carried a gun, swayed with tumultuous excitement, and cries of “Shoot them!” “Shoot them!” rang from every side. The appearance of the liberated prisonersall of whom, through the steadiness of the marines, escaped injurychanged the current of feeling, and prolonged cheers took the place of howls and execrations.
In the assault, private Rupert of the marines received a ball in the stomach, and was believed to be fatally wounded. Another received a slight flesh wound.
The lawn in front of the engine-house after the assault presented a dreadful sight. Laying on it were two bodies of men killed on the previous day, and found inside the house; three wounded men, one of them just at the last gasp of life, and two others groaning in pain. One of the dead was Brown's Son Ottoway; the wounded man and his son Watson were lying on the grass, the father presenting a gory spectacle. He had a severe bayonet wound in his side, and his face and hair were clotted with blood.
“A short time after Capt. Brown was brought but, he revived, and talked earnestly to those about him, defending his course and knowing that he had done only what was right. He replied to questions substantially as follows:
Are you Capt. Brown of Kansas?
I am sometimes called so.
Are you Ossawatomie Brown?
I tried to do my duty there.
What was your present object?
To free the slaves from bondage.
Were any other persons but those with you now connected with the movement?
No.
Did you expect aid from the North?
No; there was no one connected with the movement but those who came with me.
Did you expect to kill people in order to carry your point?
I did not wish to do so, but you forced us to it.
Various questions of this kind were put to Capt. Brown, which he answered clearly and freely, with seeming anxiety to vindicate himself.
He urged that he had the town at his mercy; that he could have burnt it, and murdered the inhabitants, but did not; he had treated the prisoners with courtesy, and complained that he was hunted down like a beast. He spoke of the killing of his son, which he alleged was done while bearing a flag of truce, and seemed very anxious for the safety of his wounded son. His conversation bore the impression of the conviction that whatever he had done to free slaves was right, and that in the warfare in which he was engaged he was entitled to be treated with all the respect of a prisoner of war.
He seemed fully convinced that he was badly treated, and had a right to complain. Although at first considered dying, an examination of his wounds proved that they were not necessarily fatal. He expressed a desire to live, and to be tried by his country. In his pockets nearly $300 were found in gold. Several important papers, found in his possession, were taken charge of by Col. Lee, on behalf of the Government.
The following is a fragment of a letter found in Brown's pocket:
“CAPT. BROWNDear Sir: I have been disappointed in not seeing you here ere this to take charge of your freight. They have been here now two weeks, and I have had to superintend the providing for themit has imposed upon me no small task; besides, and if not soon taken off, some of them will go back to Missouri. I wish to know definitely what you propose doing. They cannot be kept here much longer without risk to themselves, and if any of them conclude to go back to the State, it will be a bad termination to your enterprise.”
(The foregoing occupies a page of fine note paper, straw-tinted, is written in pencil, and not dated, and was evidently written by a person of education, and the freight he had was, no doubt, that usually carried on the underground railroad.)
Besides Captain Brown, the prisoners taken arehis son, who is seriously injured in the abdomen, and who is not likely to live; Edward Coppich, who belonged to Iowa; and a negro named Shields Green, who came from Pittsburgh to join Brown. The stories of all these men are precisely the same. They agree as to the objects proposed to be accomplished, and the number of persons in the movement.
Young Brown, in answer to a question, said there were persons in the North connected with the movement, thus differing with his father on this point. Coppich, the other white, prisoner, is quite young, and seems less shrewd than the others. He said he did not wish to join the expedition, and when asked, gave a reply which showed the influence which Brown had over him. He said, “Ah, you gentlemen don't know Capt. Brown; when he calls for us, we never think of refusing to come.”
Several slaves were found in the room with the insurrectionists, but it is believed that they were there unwillingly. Indeed, Brown's expectation as to slaves rushing to him was entirely disappointed. None seem to have come to him willingly, and in most cases were forced to desert their masters. But one instance in which slaves made a public appearance with arms in their hands is related. A negro who had been sharply used by one of the town people, when he found that he had a pike in his hand, used his brief authority to arrest the citizen, and have him taken to the Armory. The citizens imprisoned by the insurrectionists all testify to their lenient treatment.
They were neither tied nor insulted, and, beyond the outrage of restricting; their liberty, were not ill used. Capt. Brown was always courteous to them, and at all times assured them that they should not be injured. He explained his purposes to them; and while he had them (the workmen) in confinement, made an abolition speech to them. Col. Washington speaks of him as a man of extraordinary nerve. He never blanched during the assault, though he admitted in the night escape was impossible, and that he would have to die.
When the door was broken down, one of his men exclaimed, “I surrender.” The Captain immediately cried out, “There's one surrenders; give him quarter;” and at the same moment tired his own rifle at the door.
During the previous night he spoke freely with Col. Washington, and referred to his sons. He said he had lost one in Kansas, and two here. He had not pressed them to join him in the expedition, but did not regret their loss. They had died in a glorious cause.”
The position of the prisoners in the engine-house during the firing on Monday, and at the moment of the attack, was a very trying one. Without any of the incentives of combat, they had to risk the balls of their friends, but happily they all escaped. At the moment when the doors were broken in, the prisoners, at the suggestion of Col. Washington, threw up their hands, so that it might be seen they were not combatants.
During Tuesday morning, one of Washington's negroes came in, and reported that Capt. Cook was on the mountain, only three miles off; about the same time some shots were said to have been fired from the Maryland hills, and a rapid fusilade was returned from Harper's Ferry. The Independent Greys, of Baltimore, immediately started on a scouting expedition, and in two hours returned, with two wagons, loaded with arms and ammunition, found at Capt. Brown's house.
The arms consisted of boxes filled with Sharpe's rifles, pistols, &c., all bearing the stamp of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Massachusetts. There were also found a quantity of United States ammunition, a large number of spears, sharp iron bowie knives fixed upon polesa terrible looking weapon, intended for the use of the negroeswith spades, pickaxes, shovels, and everything else that might be neededthus proving that the expedition was well provided for, that a large party of men were expected to be armed, and that abundant means had been provided to pay all expenses.
How all these supplies were got up to this farm without attracting observation is very strange. They are supposed to have been brought through Pennsylvania. The Greys pursued Cook so fast that they secured a part of his arms, but, with his more perfect knowledge of localities, he was enabled to evade them. On their arrival at the Ferry with the evening's spoils, they were greeted with hearty cheers. The wagons were driven into the Armory yard, and given into the custody of the Government. As everybody else helped themselves, why should not the Greys have a share of the spoils?
The insurrectionists did not attempt to rob the paymaster's department at the Armory. A large amount of money was there, but it was not disturbed.
Perfect order having been restored, the military, with the exception of the United States marines, who remained in charge of the Prisoners, left in various trains for home. An immense train brought the Baltimore troops (accompanied by the Frederick troops to the junction) home.

HIGHLY IMPORTANTTHE STATEMENT OF “OLD BROWN.”

The Hon. Henry A. Wise, Governor of Virginia, has established his quarters in the hotel at Harper's Ferry, and is extending his investigation of the insurrection in every direction. Witnesses were being hourly brought before him, and the most alarming proof of a formidable plot was being gradually traced out. Parties of scouts on horseback, and accompanied by hounds, had gone to the mountains in search of others of the implicated parties, and for the purpose of recapturing any parties of slaves that might be found making their way into the free States.
The Governor is aided in his investigations by District Attorney Ould, of Washington, who has prepared the papers necessary for the commitment to jail of those of the insurgents captured.
The following is the only correct list of the insurgents killed and captured, both black and white, with their nativity and places of residence:

LIST OF THE INSURGENTS.

Whites. Gen. John Brown, Oliver Brown, and Walter Brown, of New York; Aaron C. Stevens, Connecticut; Edwin Coppee, Iowa; Albert Haslett, Pennsylvania; William H. Leeman, Maine; John D. Cook (not arrested) and Samuel Taylor, Connecticut; Charles P. Tidd. Maine; William Thomson and Dolph Thompson, New York; John Kaigie, Ohio, (brought up in Virginia;) Jerry Anderson, Indiana.
Negroes. Dangerford Newbry, Ohioformerly of Virginia; O.P. Anderson, Pennsylvania; ----- Emperor, New Yorkformerly of South Carolina; << Lewis Leary>> and ----- Copeland, Oberlin, Ohioformerly of Virginia.
Old Gen. Ossawatomie Brown and Aaron C. Stevens are still alive. They lie in their beds guarded, and none but the surgeons and attendants are allowed to enter the rooms. Brown has nine wounds, and Stevens three wounds on his person. Edward Coppee is unhurt, and with the negro Copeland was yesterday taken to the jail at Charlestown, Va. Emperor, also negro, is in chains at Harper's Ferry.
These five are the miserable remnant of the fanatical band.

THE GOVERNOR'S INTERVIEW WITH OLD BROWN.

Yesterday morning, Gov. Wise, accompanied by District Attorney Ould and several others, visited this remarkable man in his bed-room. Brown was propped up in his bed, evidently suffering great pain from his numerous wounds, but with his mind collected, and looking calmly about him, now and then giving vent to a groan. The Governor, after questioning him several times, got him into a talkative mood, and he voluntarily made the following important disclosures:
“I' rented the 'Kennedy Farm' from Dr. Kennedy, of Sharpsburg, Washington county, Md., and named it after him. Here I ordered to be sent from the East all things required for my undertaking. The boxes were double, so no one could suspect the contents of them, even the carters engaged in hauling them up from the wharf. All boxes and packages were directed to J. Smith & Son. I never had more than 22 men about the place, but I had it so arranged that I could arm, at any time, 1,500 men, with the following arms: 200 Sharpe's rifles, 200 Maynard's revolvers, 1,000 spears and tomahawks. I would have armed the whites with the rifles and pistols, and the blacks with the spears, they not being sufficiently familiar with the other arms.
“I had plenty of fixed ammunition and enough provisions, and had a good right to expect the aid of from 2,000 to 5,000 men at any time I wanted. Help was promised me from Maryland, Kentucky, North and South Carolina. Virginia, and Canada. The blow was struck a little too soon. The passing of the train (Phelps's, on Sunday night) did the work against usthat killed us. I should not have let it pass. But I only regret I have failed in my designs, but I have no apologies to make or concessions to ask now. Had we succeeded, when our arms and funds were exhausted by an increasing army, contributions would have been levied on the slaveholders, and their property appropriated to defray expenses, and carry on the war of Freedom. Had I known Government money was in the safe here, I would have appropriated it.”
Old Brown here appeared quite exhausted, and leaned back in his bed, looking calmly around. Gov. Wise told him he had better be preparing for death, to which Brown responded, that he, (the Governor.) though he might live fifteen years, would have a good deal to answer for at last, and had better be preparing now too.

COPY OF THE ANONYMOUS LETTERA CLUE TO THE MYSTERY.

The following is a copy of the anonymous letter sent to the Hon. Secretary of War, from Cincinnati, some two mouths since, and which afiords a clue to the mystery of the insurrection at Harper's Ferry.

“CINCINNATI, August 20.

“SIR: I have lately received information of a movement of so great importance that I feel it to be my duty to impart it to you without delay.
“I have discovered the existence of a secret association, having for its object the liberation of the slaves of the South, by a general insurrection. The leader of the movement is 'Old John Brown,' late of Kansas. He has been in Canada during the winter, drilling the negroes there, and they are only waiting his word to start for the South to assist the slaves. They have one of their leading men (a white man) in an armory in Maryland; where it is situated I am not enabled to learn.
“As soon as everything is ready, those of their number who are in the Northern States and Canada are to come in small companies to their rendezvous, which is in the mountains of Virginia. They will pass down through Pennsylvania and Maryland, and enter Virginia at Harper's Ferry. Brown left the North about three or four weeks ago, and will arm the negroes and strike a blow in a few weeks, so that whatever is done must be done at once. They have a large quantity of arms at their rendesvous, and are probably distributing them already. I am not fully in their confidence. This is all the information I can give you.
“I dare not sign my name to this, but trust that you will not disregard this warning on that account.”