MY DEAR FRIEND,--No letter I have received since my imprisonment here, has given me more satisfaction, or comfort, than yours of the 8, instant. I am quite cheerful; & was never more happy. Have only time to write a word. May God forever reward you _& all yours_. _My love to All_ who love their neighbors. I have asked to be _spared_ from having any _mock; or hypocritical prayers made over me_, when I am publicly _murdered_: & that my _only religious attendants_ be poor _little, dirty, ragged, bareheaded & barefooted_ Slave Boys; & Girls led by some old _gray-headed_ Slave _Mother_. Farewell. Farewell. The last paper written by John Brown was handed to one of his guards in the jail on the morning of his execution. It read:[488] I John Brown, am now quite _certain_ that the crimes of this _guilty land_ will never be purged away but with _blood_. I had as I now think, vainly flattered myself that without very much bloodshed it might be done. November 24th Governor Wise wrote to General Taliaferro, giving him directions as follows: Keep full guard on the line of the frontier from Martinsburg to Harpers Ferry, on the day of 2d. Dec. Warn the inhabitants to arm and keep guard and patrol on that day and for days beforehand. These orders are necessary to prevent seizures of hostages. Warn the inhabitants to stay away and especially to keep the women and children at home. Prevent all strangers, and especially all parties of strangers, from proceeding to Charlestown on 2d of Dec. To this end station a guard at Harper's Ferry sufficient to control crowds on the cars from the East and West. Form two concentric squares around the gallows, and have a strong guard at the jail and for escort to execution. Let no crowd be near enough to the prisoner to hear any speech he may attempt. Allow no more visitors to be admitted to the jail.[489] Appealing to the President for troops Governor Wise stated that he had reason to believe that an attempt would "be made to rescue the prisoners, and if that fails then to seize citizens of this State as hostages and victims in case of execution."[490] In addition to the Virginia militia assembled at Charlestown December 2d, were a detachment, 264 men, from the Artillery Corps, United States army, and the corps of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington. These organizations were commanded, respectively, by two men who were soon to win great renown; whose names were to become famous in the world's history for deeds of military glory: Colonel Robert E. Lee and Prof. Thomas J. Jackson. From the home of Mr. J. M. McKim, in Philadelphia, November 21st, Mrs. Brown addressed a letter to the Governor asking for the "mortal remains of my husband and his sons" for burial, to which he replied as follows:[491]