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The Insurrection at Harper’s Ferry
Latest Dispatches
Harper’s Ferry, Thursday, Oct,
The excitement here has not abated in the least, and rumors are multiplying every moment. We have some authenticated statements from Chambersburg, showing that more supplies of arms and accoutrements have been tracked to that neighborhood. The people will persist in believing that they are surrounded by spies and accomplices of Capt. Brown.
The withdrawal of Col. Lee and the Washington Marines last night has increased the general consternation, and the citizens are to-day under Col. Barbour, of the Armory, endeavoring to organize companies for general defence. Virginia militia, however, are not very tractable material for the formation of efficient companies, as all hands want to be captains.
Scouts are out in the mountains to-day searching for Cook, but there is no doubt that he has ere this passed the Pennsylvania line, and is far on his way towards Canada.
Every stranger that comes here is looked upon with suspicion, and several have been arrested on the charge of being spies. Mr. Wm. Lee, a gentleman from Charlottesville was brought in to-day under arrest, causing great excitement. He was soon recognized and discharged.
Mr. Ould also left for Washington last evening, thus virtually leaving the prisoners in the hands of the Virginia authorities.
It is said that Governor Wise was not very complimentary to the people of Harper’s Ferry, imputing to them cowardice in allowing such a handful of men to hold a population of nearly two thousand inhabitants as prisoners for twenty-four hours. He also spoke of the fact of eight or ten men keeping forty or fifty citizens in confinement. One replied, “Well, Governor, but you must remember that they were packed together like sheep.” His reply was, “Yes I know that, but I must say I think you acted like sheep, also.”
The hearing of the case before the examining Court of Justice will probably take place to-morrow, when the prisoners will doubtless be removed to Wytheville for trial.
Capt. Brown is not considered in any danger from his wounds, though Stevens will not, it is thought, survive. He, however, has a powerful constitution and may recover.
Washington, Thursday, Oct. 20
District-Attorney Ould and Col. Lee have returned from Harper’s Ferry. The former, soon after his arrival, had a conference with the President, and the latter a long interview with the Secretary of War.
United States Marshal Johnson, of Ohio, now here, says one of the parties engaged with Brown was prominent in the Oberlin rescue
