Sharing-- Although this is not a Winn letter, I thought since we are sharing, some of you might enjoy this. It is a transcript of a letter that my 2nd ggf wrote to my ggf, before he married my ggm. My 2nd ggf, George L. Douglass was at Harpers Ferry and this is his account of events on Oct 19, 1859. The notations on the bottom show letter handed down to my father. I now have the letter. I shared this with some historians at Shepherd College, and it was published in a Civil War magazine called "Columbiad." The Shepherd College people told me it helped clarify several points that have been a bone of contention. An example is the men with "blackened faces". Apparently historians have argued about how many, etc. Any, enjoy-- Mary Winn Anderson 19 Oct 1859 Kearsley Carter Esq. My Dear Sir: I found two letters from you, on my arrival here last Saturday, had intended writing to you Monday, but we had scarcely finished breakfast when Sarah came running in, out of breath--stating that news had come, that about 300 armed men, with blackened faces, had taken possession of the Armory at Harpers Ferry, and a party of union had, Sunday night, visited Lewis Washingtons Farm and ____(Aslops?), and taken them, with their Negroes, prisoners, to the Ferry--Of course the town was thrown into a state of intense excitement. The volunteer company went down at 10 o=clock on the cars to Halltown at which place the track had been partially torn up,-while every few minutes squads of men, with all sorts of weapons, were seen galloping over the Turnpike. The volunteers marched across to the Potomac and crossed in boats, and going down to the lower end of the Bridge, drove the enemy from it--who had taken possession of the watch house, a small building just inside the Armory gate on t! he left had side. Another squad of the enemy were in possession of Hall=s Rifle works on the Shenandoah--Another in the arsenal opposite the Winchester Ticket Office--and another occupied a small building at the far end of the Armory. Possession of these points having been taken in the night, no true estimate could be formed of their members.--However, they were reputed to be 300. It not being supposed possible that a less number could undertake such a feat. During Monday, probably 500 armed men from Winchester, Martinsburg and Shepherdstown had assembled around Page 2 the ferry and by night troops from Fredericktown, Baltimore, and the marines from Washington (80) had arrived. The latter marching in the Armory gate opposite the watchhouse remained in that position all night. During Monday, the party of the enemy at Halls Factory, being fired upon too hotly, attempted to cross the Shenandoah, they consisted of about six, five of whom were killed in the River by persons on the ______ side, and one, a Negro man from Chambersburg, PA., taken prisoner, and brought here to jail that night. He had a Sharps rifle, and used it freely. The small party of the enemy at the building at the far end of the armory, were driven from their position, and one attempting to cross the Potomac, shot dead. The enemy in the arsenal were also driven from their position Monday, retreating to the watchhouse in the armory yard, a room about 20 feet square, filled with fire engines & hose, and it having two large doors fronting in the yard, constituted the site of ing! ress. And Monday at dark the enemy were all confined to that point. Tuesday at 7 2 am the marines were ordered to take the building. They advanced and plied their guns on the door, but finding them insufficient, a squad picked up a ladder, and making a battering ram, with two blows smashed in the door, and shot down the inmates consisting of 5 men, one of whom was a Negro, and another Brown, the leader of the enterprise.-Lewis Washington and others, who were prisoners, made a narrow escape, but were fortunately uninjured. It turned out, that the whole invading party consisted of 14 white men and five free Negroes from the free states--19 in all. Three of whom are captured unhurt, (1 Negroes & 1 white)- and two others mortally Page 3 wounded and Brown the leader badly wounded but not mortally. The two badly wounded will no doubt die, and Brown will with another white man and two Negroes, no doubt undergo the penalty of the law, even if they are not executed by the mob, of which there is some danger. About noon (Tuesday) Gov Wise arrived with a company from Richmond-About the time I arrived there with Andrew Hunter in a buggy. He and Wise and some others were occupied all the afternoon in examining the prisoners, Brown, a distinguished Bleeding Kansas man, frankly stated the object and purpose of the enterprise, and I suppose from all I can learn, that he stated the truth. He said that the scheme was all arranged two years ago in Canada, and it was intended to make Maryland and Virginia free states. In proof of which he drew from his pocket the proposed constitution, in a printed pamphlet, providing for the new government, a senate and house of representatives, and other offices. This he intended publishi! ng as soon as he established his power at the Ferry; He was elected Commander in Chief of all the forces. He had rented or bought two years ago, a farm in Maryland 3 or 4 miles from the Ferry, to facilitate his purposes. He said that he had brought to the neighborhood, arms for 2000 men and had them subject to his order for another 1000. All his party were armed with Sharps rifles, which are not made or kept at the ferry. Emissaries had for two years been all through this, and surrounding counties, preparing the Negroes for freedom; He expected as soon as he raised his standard at the Ferry, that vast numbers of the Negroes would join him, for whom he had prepared a large lot of Page 4 formidable looking lances. (They not being used to fire arms). He also expected a great number of white men (not slave holders) to join him, for whom Sharps rifles and revolvers were prepared. All of his party were killed or taken as before stated, except one, named Cook, who remained at Bolivar adjoining the Ferry, and was a Kansas man also.-About daylight on Monday, before the county was aroused, he crossed the bridge with perhaps 10 to 20 Negroes, into Maryland with two wagons, one of which came from Washington=s farm. And during Monday and Tuesday morning he kept up a fire from the mountain down on the people at the ferry, with Sharps rifles creating a diversion in favor of his friends at the Ferry. As it was supposed there were a number on the mountain.-No one joined them either white or black, and the miserable wretches met the fate they ought to have foreseen.-Thus far, Cook has escaped the parties in pursuit, but it is still thought he will be captured. The Gov offer! ed a reward of $1000 for him dead or alive. One of the prisoners a Negro man, brought to this jail Monday night. The other five, two of whom are mortally wounded, are in custody of the marines still at the armory. There is much excitement still, and much talk of executing them summarily; but it is hoped by the (discreet?) men in the community, that they may be left for the action of the law. Brown had two sons with him, one of whom was killed Monday, and the other is mortally wounded. While I was at the Ferry Tuesday, a party returned from Maryland, having come upon a camp from which a white man and a dozen Page 5 Negroes had just fled, it was 2 or 3 miles distant. They found Washington=s wagon there, and another--and a number of boxes of Sharps rifles unopened, and a large chest, which probably contained munitions of war. (They, Brown=s party) also had a large number of new pickaxes and spades, having pretended to discover copper ore in the mountain. This was to cover their real objects) The boxes were marked _____, and the words Springfield & (Iowa?) Were erased I came back after dark; after that, another party returned with more rifles____ having discovered another encampment, where they also found many papers, being the correspondence with other parties at a distance who were privy to the (inroad?). It was supposed the writers used fictitious names. One of them states that Gerritt Smith had deposited $100 to Browns credit. Ed Moore wad down there last night and heard it all read.-This morning the volunteers went down in the cars, to bring the prisoners up to jail.-But the cars ret! urned without them, and it is said the Governor thought best to retain them, from the information that was obtained last night (probably from the captured papers)-I cannot think however, that there are any other parties of this sort in the neighborhood, or likely to be soon, or they would have thrown a larger force into the Ferry at first-And it seems to me that Wise, who is not only a Fire Eater, but crack to boot-wants Page 6 to have sufficient force, to take the prisoners from the marines, to try them under Virginia laws for insurrection, which is death. In case the President demands their trial under U.S. laws. The Gov is about as crazy I think as Brown. But we will know more in a day or two. Plunder was certainly not the object of Brown=s party. They were all deluded Fanatics; and really believed, incredible as it seems, to me; that the erection of his banner at the Ferry, would cause the Negroes and white men, panting for liberty to flock to his standard; and thus, slavery would at once be ended. He said also that he expects assistance from N. And S. Carolina and Georgia. I can now scarcely realize that this strange narrative is not all a dream. The insurgents killed only five men, a marine, Poor Beckham, and that fine large yellow man who exchanged baggage named Hayward, whom all travelers knew and liked. Also a man named Burleigh of the Ferry, and Mr. Geo W. Turner, ______s brother-in-law, formerly of the U.S. Army and wounded Saml Young badly in the arm (of this place) and several of the Martinsburg men--and a marine slightly. The marine was killed when the charge on the watch house was made. Hayward was killed early Monday morning, while the enemy had the bridge. He had approached to see whether the train rom the west could get through, was retiring. They ordered him to stop supposing him a spy. As he did not obey they shot him down. He said before his death that evening that he did not think they would have shot him if they had known who he was. Turner stopped Monday morning Page 7 on his way to the ferry at Rutherford=s gate, and said would stop again on his return. He was shot dead, while in the street leading down from Bolivar about 100 yards rom the water, or engine (house?). Burleigh was shot in the same street, lower down. Mr. Beckham was shot on the platform of B&O Road. A water tank stands about 20 feet from the tavern, up that road. He stepped into the open space between the tavern and tank, against the remonstrance of his friends, saying, Aif he had 20 men he would go and take the outlaws@, when he was shot dead.-His death and that of Hayward, seem to be most regretted. They were all shot Monday except the marine. Poor Turner was brought up from the Ferry Tuesday evening in his bloody clothes, and at the request of his friends was stopped at Rutherfords, where he was properly decked and coffined and buried in the Episcopal yard. Brown=s party, were evidently fanatics of the most virulent (sort?). They were not blood thirsty, and did not show any design to shed blood unnecessarily. Hayward was shot because he did not stop, and they thought him a spy. Burleigh and Turner were shot because they had guns, and were evidently going to attack them. The marine was shot assailing the house. And Beckham was no doubt killed because Hunter=s (?) Son, and another, had just run across to the tank with arms to shoot from behind it, and he making his appearance immediately after, was probably short before it was known who he was, or what he was about. Washington, and many others that they had taken prisoners were not treated with any cruelty whatever, and were kept as hostages for their safety, in case they were whipped. They sent out word that they would kill the prisoners, if they were pressed to extremity. This was to deter their assailants. Page 8 Some of their prisoners were allowed to go to their meals, on parolee, and returned. Brown told Hunter, his object in taking Washington was that they had taken his Negroes and did not want him to fire the alarm too soon, and being a popular man, thought they could use him for their own safety, if emergency required it. Brown told all about his own motives and purposes, and said he expected no mercy, that he thought he was doing God=s service, and was prepared to die. He would make no disclosures about other confederates, than those with him. Hunter says he is one of the most interesting witnesses he as ever examined, that he is a very prepossessing man, very intelligent and clear headed on all other points. And he takes him to be a candid, truth telling man. His age about 50 years. He and that man Cook have been about the Ferry and county, and understand all the localities, but have strangely mistaken the people both white and black, allbeit, Harpers Ferry is a hard and bad ! place_______________________ many of which are bad enough to join and sympathize with him. His party had a large number of Sharps rifles, and other excellent new weapons. Mr. A. Kennedy was married on the 11th to Miss Cook of Clark Co. He and John both went down to the Ferry, Monday & Tuesday. Thomas was willing to go Monday, but he and I staid at home to take care of the household Old Aunt Polly being frightened nearly to death for fear the abolitionists would come and take her. I have told you all I know and more too, about this strange business. It effects on the country may be serious. While it will greatly exasperate the south; if it is prudently handled politically, and the men tried regularly by law it will open the eyes of the honest part of the (black) Republicans, to the dangerous consequences certain to result from giving strength to the abolition movements. For things they may say may condemn such proceedings. Yet, when they Page 9 nullify the Laws of Congress and naturally the Constitution itself, they must see that in doing so, to assail slave territory, they are preparing the way for dissolution of the Union, and general ruin. It is no matter, now the motives of such Journals, as the ____ Journal may be disguised, under the name of opportunists, or other appellations. They are giving indirect aid and comfort to the enemy whose growing power, if fast driving our Happy Country to destruction. But enough of all this. Please give the enclosed note of Brooks ____ Kendall to Dr. green or to Tom who I hope is well again. I expect to be in ____ the latter part of next week, and hope to find you all well; Sally mentions in a letter I received yesterday that the baby is well and so much improved that I would not know him. But it is late and I am tired writing and you are I suppose of reading this long narrative. So I will bid you fond night. Yours truly, Geo L. Douglass P.S. The fighting was over when I went down, but not the danger. I have not seen so many drunken men in 30 years, many of whom were armed, and quarrels and fights going on all the time to the great danger of sight seers like myself. The marines (80)could have whipped several Regiments of such crowds. I do not know that the volunteers were guilty of this disgraceful conduct, as the parties were not in uniform though armed. Sheffield Ala Sept 15th 1899 My Dear Willie I found this letter to which I referred, from your Grandfather written Octo 19th 1859. Thinking you would prize it, and that it would be of interest not only to your children but to your grandchildren I send it to you--for preservation. Your affect Father K. Carter The notation below in handwriting of Ellerbe W. Carter. Description of battle of Harpers Ferry 1859 Written by Geo L. Douglass great grandfather of Ellerbe W. Carter