William Preston Smith to A. P. Shutt, October 25, 1859—2 p.m.

Baltimore, Oct. 25, 1859—2 P. M.

A. P. Shutt,
        Harper's Ferry:

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

William Preston Smith to A. P. Shutt, October 26, 1859

Baltimore, 26th Oct., 1859.

A. P. Shutt:
        Harper's Ferry:

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.

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

A. P. Shutt to William Preston Smith, October 26, 1859—7:10 p.m.

Charlestown, Oct. 26th, 1859—7.10 P. M.

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.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 31

John Brown to Captain John Edwin Cook

Date ———, ——

Captain Cook.

Dear Sir, — You will please get everything ready to join me at Topeka by Monday night next. Come to Mrs. Sheridan's, two miles south of Topeka, and bring your arms, ammunition, clothing, and other articles you may require. Bring Parsons with you if he can get ready in time. Please keep very quiet about the matter.

Yours, etc.,

John Brown.

SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 423; Richard Josiah Hinton, John Brown and His Men, p. 701