Charlestown, Va., 25th Nov., 1859.
John W. Garrett, Pres't, &c.:
We have information here from the North, from reliable
sources, to the effect that a large concourse of strangers from that quarter
purpose to be at this place on the second of December, the day of Brown's
execution. This the authorities here deem utterly inadmissible, as under cover
of such a crowd of pretended spectators, hundreds of armed assassins, coming
with a view of attempting a rescue, could introduce themselves, and by mingling
with our citizens greatly embarrass the military in guarding against or
punishing an outbreak. In a word, we cannot, under existing circumstances,
permit it, and we shall adopt rigorous measures to keep even our own citizens
at home. We desire to effect the exclusion of such a horde of Northern men in a
mode the least unobjectionable, and I am, therefore, instructed to inquire if
you can add to the obligations we are already under to your company, by
refusing, say on the first and second December, all facilities for passing over
your road, any more than your ordinary Eastern and Western travelers; and to
carry out our plan fully, we may even have to ask the favor of you to decline
on these days selling any tickets for Harper's Ferry, Duffield's depot or Kearneysville,
though I am not sure this will be necessary. Our plans, as to preventing such
dangerous concourse, are not yet fully matured, and I write now in these
general terms to ascertain your views on the subject. Will you be good enough
to let me hear from you at your earliest convenience, and thus oblige both the
community and
Yours,
ANDREW HUNTER.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence
Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 50-1
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