Baltimore (MD) Sun, "The Late Insurrection," October 22, 1859

         THE LATE INSURRECTION.

THE CITIZENS OF HARPER'S FERRY.

            THE WOUNDED DORSEY,

   We have very little additional from the seat of the late insurrectionary movement, at Harper's Ferry. A letter received by us last evening, from a respectable citizen of that place, states, as a fact, that which has certainly not heretofore been made clearly to appear --that is, the extent of the defense, with its results, made by the citizens at Harper's Ferry against the insurgents, before the arrival of troops from abroad. As he thinks injustice has been done them in this matter, we give his letter, as follows:

            HARPER'S FERRY, Va., Oct. 21st, 1859.

   Messrs. Editors: --In the reports of the insurrection here, thus far published, great injustice is done the citizens of this place. All the credit is given to the military, whilst it is a fact that the citizens killed nearly one-half of the insurgents before a uniform entered the town. I was a prisoner in my own house, and from the windows, looking immediately into the armory enclosure, was an eye-witness to the whole operation, from 2 A. M. on the morning of the 17th, to the end.

   There is every reason to believe that the people of the town, when they once woke up to the true state of the case, on Monday morning, went vigorously to work, as far as was in their power, to impede the operations of the marauders and drive out those who had "come as a thief in the night," and possessed themselves, with arms in their hands, of all the strong points of the situation. --The writer above, in referring to "the citizens," doubtless includes the many gentlemen who promptly repaired to Harper's Ferry from the surrounding neighborhood, and joined those of the town who were not imprisoned, in the desultory fight which is understood to have been kept up throughout the morning, and during which Mr. Beckham was killed in the armory yard, and in entering the town to take part in which Mr. Geo. Turner was shot from that building as he passed. It appears it was not till early afternoon that the Charlestown and Sheperdstown troops arrived, the former attacking the insurgents on the railroad bridge, driving them across towards the armory. In the meantime, on the Virginia side, the railroad men and others, from Martinsburg, under Capt. Alburtis, arrived and fought most valiantly, no less than eight being wounded.

                  THE FUGITIVE COOK.

   John E. Cook, or Capt. Cook, as he is now more familiarly known, from his alleged connection with the Harper's Ferry insurrection, was born in Haddam, Conn., where his parents, who are highly respectable and worthy people, now reside. He is a young man of about 25 or 26 years of age, well educated, and of refined manners, and is a brother-in-law of a well known merchant in New York. He taught school some five or six years ago at Harper's Ferry, from which place he went to Williamsburg and commenced the study of law with Mr. John M. Stearns. Three years ago he went to Kansas and remained there about one year, during which time he distinguished himself in the Free State cause.

               STAMPEDE OF SLAVES FRUSTRATED.

   The Towsontown Advocate has the following:

      "We understand that on Saturday night a band of some forty slaves was to have congregated at Dr. Butler's place, near Finksburg, in Carroll county, Md., but one of them disclosing the secret, the plan was frustrated, and five of them arrested and placed in Westminster jail."

   The above is confirmed by the Westminster Sentinel, which states that the slaves belong to Dr. Butler, George Jacobs, and Hanson T. Bartholow. Horses and carriages were in waiting when the discovery was made. The Sentinel adds that they were all arrested, and that unknown parties were concerned in the attempted stampede. Had not "Old Brown" some hand in it?