Alfred M. Barbour to William Preston Smith, October 26, 1859

Harper's Ferry, Oct. 26th, 1859.

W. P. Smith,
        B. & O. R. R. Co.:

I have received a letter from a reliable friend in New York city, in which he says the abolitionists speak openly of the rescue of Brown and his party. He thinks a large band of desperadoes will make the effort. It is my duty to inform you that your property here may be destroyed. You had better take measures to protect it at once—the effort may be made to-night. I have telegraphed the Secretary of War and Gov. Wise. You should act at once.

ALFRED M. BARBOUR.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 34

William Prescott Smith to A. J. Phelps, October 17, 1859, 9 a.m.

Baltimore, October 17th, 1859.

9 A. M.        

A. J. Phelps,

Conductor of the Express East at Ellicott's Mills. Your despatch is evidently exaggerated and written under excitement. Why should our trains be stopped by Abolitionists, and how do you know they are such and that they number one hundred or more? What is their object? Let me know at once before we proceed to extremities.

W. P. SMITH.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 5-6