John W Garrett to General George H. Steuart, [October 18, 1859]

Gen. G. H. Steuart :

Your dispatch received. A handsome and well equipped body of cavalry promptly responded to your order, are now at Camden Station prepared and anxious to proceed for service.

I have advised Gen. Watkins of your countermand and they will accordingly be dismissed.

JOHN W. GARRETT, Pres't.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 18

John W. Garrett to James Buchanan October 17, 1859—4:38 p.m.

Baltimore, Oct. 17, 1859.

James Buchanan,

        President of the United States, Washington:

All the trains on the road are stopped. The mail train going west has been stopped and forced to return, and the conductor has been made prisoner. Our agents report by telegraph that seven hundred whites and blacks are in arms and in full possession of the U. S. Armory. They report also that the slaves are taken possession of by the insurrectionists. It is a moment full of peril. General Steuart is awaiting your reply.

4.38 P. M.

JOHN W. GARRETT,        

Pres't B. & O. R. R. Co.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 14

John W. Garrett to Major-General George H. Steuart, October 17, 1859

Maj. Gen. Geo. H. Steuart,

Sir: — It is my duty to inform you forth with that an insurrection is in progress at Harper's Ferry, and on the Maryland side, in which free negroes and whites are engaged.

I am, respectfully, yours,

JOHN W. GARRETT,        

Pres't B. & O. R. R. Co.

Balt., Oct. 17th, 1859.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 8

George H. Steuart to John W. Garrett, October 17, 1859

Baltimore, 17th October, 1859.

John W. Garrett, Esq.:

            Pres't. of the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. Co.

Sir:— Your communication of this day has been received, and, acting upon such reliable information, I have ordered a detachment of five companies from the First Light Division to be in readiness to proceed to Harper's Ferry in the four o'clock train of this afternoon.

You will oblige me by making the needful arrangements for their transportation.

Yours, very respectfully,

G. H. STEUART.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 8