A voice from Harper's Ferry; a narrative of events at Harper's Ferry : $b with incidents prior and subsequent to its capture by Captain Brown and his menAnderson, Osborne P. (Osborne Perry)
History
A voice from Harper's Ferry; a narrative of events at Harper's Ferry : $b with incidents prior and subsequent to its capture by Captain Brown and his men
Anderson, Osborne P. (Osborne Perry)
Brown, John, 1800-1859; Harpers Ferry (W. Va.) -- History -- John Brown's Raid, 1859
During this time, Washington was walking the floor, apparently much
excited. When the Captain came in, he went to the sideboard, took
out his whiskey, and offered us something to drink, but he was
refused. His fire-arms were next demanded, when he brought forth one
double-barrelled gun, one small rifle, two horse-pistols and a sword.
Nothing else was asked of him. The Colonel cried heartily when he
found he must submit, and appeared taken aback when, on delivering up
the famous sword formerly presented by Frederic to his illustrious
kinsman, George Washington, Capt. Stevens told me to step forward and
take it. Washington was secured and placed in his wagon, the women of
the family making great outcries, when the party drove forward to Mr.
John Allstadt’s. After making known our business to him, he went into
as great a fever of excitement as Washington had done. We could have
his slaves, also, if we would only leave him. This, of course, was
contrary to our plans and instructions. He hesitated, puttered around,
fumbled and meditated for a long time. At last, seeing no alternative,
he got ready, when the slaves were gathered up from about the quarters
by their own consent, and all placed in Washington’s big wagon and
returned to the Ferry.
One old colored lady, at whose house we stopped, a little way from the
town, had a good time over the message we took her. This liberating the
slaves was the very thing she had longed for, prayed for, and dreamed
about, time and again; and her heart was full of rejoicing over the
fulfilment of a prophecy which had been her faith for long years. While
we were absent from the Ferry, the train of cars for Baltimore arrived,
and was detained. A colored man named Haywood, employed upon it, went
from the Wager House up to the entrance to the bridge, where the train
stood, to assist with the baggage. He was ordered to stop by the
sentinels stationed at the bridge, which he refused to do, but turned
to go in an opposite direction, when he was fired upon, and received a
mortal wound. Had he stood when ordered, he would not have been harmed.
No one knew at the time whether he was white or colored, but his
movements were such as to justify the sentinels in shooting him, as he
would not stop when commanded. The first firing happened at that time,
and the only firing, until after daylight on Monday morning.
CHAPTER XI.
THE EVENTS OF MONDAY, OCT. 17--ARMING THE SLAVES--TERROR IN THE
SLAVEHOLDING CAMP--IMPORTANT LOSSES TO OUR PARTY--THE FATE OF
KAGI--PRISONERS ACCUMULATE--WORKMEN AT THE KENNEDY FARM--ETC.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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