and grew fat on government patronage. There are many instances of this prudent patriotism not far from Harper's Ferry and certain it is that few of the noisy politicians, so loyal now, exhibited the courage and disinterested attachment to our government that was shown by this obscure laborer. Harper's Ferry now ceased for a time to be in the possession of the national government. Next day--April 19th--news arrived of the disgraceful riot in Baltimore, when the 6th Massachusetts regiment was attacked while marching to the defense of the national capital. Exaggerated reports of the slaughter of "Yankee" soldiers were circulated and Maryland was truly represented as ready for revolt. Numbers of volunteers, arrived from various parts of that state, especially from Baltimore, and many of those who participated in the riot came to Harper's Ferry and for a season were lionized. In a few days the troops of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and other southern states arrived and were greeted with the utmost enthusiasm. The forces of Kentucky, like those of Maryland, were volunteers in the strictest sense. Neither of these last two states ever formally seceded and therefore their sons were not in any way compelled to join the confederate army. The Kentuckians who came to Harper's Ferry were among the worst specimens of the force to which they were attached, being composed mostly of rough, Ohio boatmen and low bummers from the purlieus of Louisville and other river towns. Martial law was at once substituted for the civil and for the first time--if we except the Brown raid--the peaceful citizens experienced the dangers and inconveniences of military occupation. General Harper, a militia officer of Staunton, Virginia, was put in command, but in a few days the confederates wisely dispensed with "feather bed" and "corn stalk" officers and put into important commands West Pointers and men of regular military education. In consequence of an order to this effect many a "swell" who had strutted about for a few days in gorgeous uniform was shorn of his finery and it was amusing to see the crest-fallen, disappointed appearance of the deposed warriors. General Harper, like many of inferior grade, was removed and Colonel Jackson was put in command of the place. The latter officer was at this time quite obscure. He was known to few outside of the walls of the Virginia military academy at Lexington, but he afterwards gained a world-wide reputation under the name of "Stonewall Jackson." All the government property at the place was seized and many families who were renting houses from the government were obliged to vacate their homes at great inconvenience and procure shelter wherever they could. Guards were posted along the streets at very short intervals and these, like all young soldiers, were extremely zealous and exacting. Of course, regular business was entirely destroyed, but new branches of