What is there in the idea of an attempted rescue of Brown? See Barbour and report. Cook is caught at Chambersburg, with Washington's pistols on him. Williams identifies man here as one of those who appeared with Brown on bridge.
W. P. SMITH.
There is no visible idea of a rescue. I will see Barbour on my return and inform him. I will get two men on my return. The citizens of the town were delighted to hear of the arrest of Cook. The Court has decided to try Brown first. He is now in the court on a bed. He is acting the thing out to perfection.
A. P. SHUTT.
Mr. Shutt, of our service, is on express West, to remain a few days at Ferry, to afford protection to road for passing trains there. He will report to us on these matters, but not attend to any details of the agency. Introduce him to Superintendent Barbour and the Mayor.
W. P. SMITH.
It has been quiet all night. There has been a guard kept on the Bridge by the citizens and the watchmen of the company all night. I understand that Gov. Wise has left orders with a Mr. Hunter to organize a company to patrol the town. I will see Mr. Hunter and render him all the assistance my power. Mr. McMurphy and myself made the ticket office our headquarters, and at intervals throughout the night visited the guard to see that all was right.
The clerk of the hotel tells me that there was some twenty-five arrivals on the express West—the usual number being only four or five. I did not know what to make of it, as they registered from different parts of the country.
A. P. SHUTT.
All is quiet. We had a guard of thirty (30) men on duty last night, which will be kept up at night for a time. I will leave here on the mail, unless you order me to remain. I feel satisfied matters are at an end, and will only require a few watchmen on the bridge for a short time.
A. P. SHUTT.
Have tried to secure the best man for you, and if you can wait till mail train west, of Wednesday, he can go up. Major Shutt can hardly go up now, unless it is urgently necessary. Let me know if Wednesday morning will do, if not, I will get another for express to-morrow.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 31
It is reported to me that the Tonnage train men on the front engine, last night, bound East, fired on the Guard at Sandy Hook. Please notify them that there will be a guard from the East end of the Bridge, to Water Station at Sandy Hook, nightly, until further notice.
A. P. SHUTT.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 26
