Send on mail train in the morning four extra cars to take the troops from here.
A. P. SHUTT
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 46
We will send a Train to Charlestown in the morning, at 9. A. M., to receive your troops, and will arrange for you and the troops at Harper's Ferry to leave here to make the connections with the Alexandria and Richmond Roads.
A. P. SHUTT.
The Petersburg troops with Artillery are on our Mail West, which has eleven cars, leaving Relay but ten minutes late. Troops number nearly 200. Get copy to-day's American from train and mark it for Gov. Wise with my respects. The leading editorial seems to represent his views at length.
W. P. SMITH.
All has quited down here. We have a company of sixty men from Richmond here, seventy-five of the same troops was detached for duty at Martinsburg, by Gov. Wise; I sent them on by Express last night. I will keep account and report to you of services rendered. The Trains all pass here, near or on time. We have all the people of the town at the Station, on the arrival of the trains, but very orderly. Charlestown at this time is quite a military post and can make quite a respectable show of Virginia troops.
A. P. SHUTT.
Please advise me promptly when any troops leave Harper's Ferry, so that we may provide for their accommodation from Relay to Washington. I send package on mail train for Gov. Wise to your care.
W. P. SMITH.
All is quiet here. Gov. Wise has ordered back the Petersburg and Richmond troops. One hundred and fifty I sent on the express this morning, and one hundred go on a special train to Charlestown this morning to bring three hundred here, and with the two hundred left over will arrange to send on mail train. He dispatched me last evening to make arrangements to have them connect with the 4 P. M. train to Richmond. I will have cars here for the troops from Charlestown, but have telegraphed Mr. England to send four cars on the mail West to-day.
I would suggest you inform them in Washington of the troops departure from here.
A. P. SHUTT.
One hundred troops left on mail for Richmond. When I arrived at Charlestown Gov. Wise had countermanded his order of last evening, and intends to keep the troops for the present stationed, here and at Harper's Ferry. I delivered your package to the Governor.
I understand from Mr. Barbour that the Governor has some important information. You shall hear from me if there is anything of interest.
A. P. SHUTT.
Report fully to me of their arrival and departure, and any other matters of interest.
W. P. SMITH.
The train with Gov. Wise and troops has arrived this 4.25 P. M.; and left for Charlestown, this 5 P. M. The Governor must be in possession of information—we have not—to justify him in sending so large a number of troops here. All is quiet about here, and I have not the least apprehension of trouble now; I shall keep a lookout, and report matters of interest. Two hundred of the troops are detached for this place.
A. P. SHUTT.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October 1859, p. 43
Your dispatches received. I had a full interview with Gov. Wise at Relay. He has reliable information he says, satisfying him that a concerted effort is on foot to attempt a rescue, but he does not believe any movement of men in a body will be made for this. He thinks the attempt may be entirely abandoned in the face of the extensive arrangements making for a defence. He thinks, too, that the drilling, the knowledge of guard duty and the general use of arms, which the Virginians will receive, will more than pay the expense of the large military force he is calling out, and that it is better to show the country that five or fifty times too many men are constantly ready to repel invasion, than not enough. This looks right.
I want you to take measures at once, to break up the exhibition and sale to passengers on our trains, at Harper's Ferry, of the pikes, or other weapons. Remember that the entire trestlework and road bed is ours as well as the bridge, and we can forbid any nuisance of whatever sort. I think this pike trade only adds to the excitement, and it is certainly against our rules to allow any peddling there. Give the Virginia authorities every possible attention and facility in all things, merely keeping an account of service rendered by the Company, and returning it to A car-load of provisions will be sent up on special train to-morrow. Ask the Col. who went up to-day, whether he wants the car taken to Charlestown. It was ordered by Gov. Wise, through him.
W. P. SMITH.
All is quiet here. The troops—one hundred and seventy-that remain here are quartered in the Armory building. Arrangements have been made for them to meal at the different hotels. All was satisfactory to them. I will see to your instructions, and see that they are enforced. The citizens are pleased to have the military here, and feel comfortable with the arrangements. Gov. Wise is at Charlestown with the troops that left here last evening. Will arrange with the commanding officer here respecting the car of provisions expected on mail to-day.
A. P. SHUTT.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 45
Gov. Wise has ordered the return of all the troops that arrived here this morning, except thirty-five—one company with two pieces of artillery. Mr. Donohoo has gone to Charlestown on special train with them. I will arrange to send the others East on express or mail in the morning, as they may decide.
A. P. SHUTT.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 45
W. P. SMITH.
I went to Duffield's
to meet you to-day, not knowing my message had failed to get to you in time.
Mr. McMurphy remains at Ferry to confer with you and represents my views as
well as his own.
We fear that this
continued and repeated excitement will seriously interfere with our travel, and
we desire your services particularly in calming the timid fears of the people
and in preventing, as far as possible, any further exciting or exaggerated
reports, telegraphic or otherwise, from being sent over the country.
W. P. SMITH.
I arrived on express
this morning; found the town in great excitement, expecting from one to two
hundred armed men from the West to rescue Brown. The dispatch to me at
Cumberland was from J. B. Hoge, asking if they were on my train.
It appears he
received a special dispatch from Col. Davis to keep a lookout from that
direction. Bellaire is the place they were last heard from. I had but five
passengers to get on my train at Benwood, and when I arrived here and they
found so few passengers, some were satisfied they had been sold.
I shall use all my
efforts to allay the fears of the citizens, as I feel satisfied there is no
just cause for it. . .
A. P. SHUTT.
Arrived here nearly on time. Only fourteen of Captain Sinns' company, with himself, were ready to join us at Monocacy, but they came up. The rest of the company will be up in the morning. There is a strong guard on duty and I am ordered to "halt" at all points as I move about in the storm and darkness. The bridge is fully looked after, and there seems to be a ready force at hand for emergencies. The feeling of uncertain dread is very strong, and there surely ought to be a full and well organized reliance to restore confidence. Barbour is at his house and wont come on duty to-night. The storm is very violent, a flooding rain and large hail with strong wind and vivid lightning,
Barbour has received advices from Washington that marines will be sent up again to-morrow if necessary. Shutt says the Charlestown Jail is guarded by some fifty men, but whether their organization is efficient is not known.
W. P. SMITH,
All quiet last night. Secretary of War Floyd was here from Washington, in consultation with Barbour. He is of the same opinion of yourself, that the men in the Government shops, should have protected the town.
A. P. SHUTT.
A stranger fell from one of the trains, near town, and is hurt.
He is supposed to be one of the fugitives, and may be Cook.
Can you get a good man who knows Cook and the others to come down and see him? He calls himself ——.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 33
One of the parties you want will, perhaps, be with him, and another to-morrow, as it is thought most desirable to have two. This, however, is as you may chose.
W. P. SMITH.
Gorman not yet returned from Philadelphia; Conductor Gaither here.
Thomas Gifford or Joseph Pearson will be up on Express. Will arrange for Phelps to get off at Ferry to-night. Advise Mr. Barbour. Let Phelps return as soon as possible. Will see about additional watchmen.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 33
