Andrew Hunter to John W. Garrett, December 10, 1859

Charlestown, Dec. 10, 1859.

John W. Garrett,

        Pres't B. & O. R. R. Co.

In a conference I have just had with Gen. Taliaferro, commanding the troops here, he desires me to say, that nothing but the extreme pressure of his public duties has prevented his communicating to you officially, before this time, his high appreciation of the liberal, public spirited and patriotic conduct of your company in connection with the excitement and other troubles in which our community and State have been involved. He will take care that ultimately, and in a proper manner, the important services rendered us by your company shall be acknowledged by the commonwealth of Virginia.

I may here add, that the General declared unhesitatingly, that our arrangements in respect to preventing a mixed horde of strangers coming here over the road, had done more than all the military display in securing quiet and good order on the day of John Brown's execution, and in this I fully concur.

In reference to the executions to come off on Friday next, we desire your company to pursue the same plan and policy that worked so efficiently on the former occasion, with this single additional suggestion, that it is scarcely necessary to carry out the arrangement so stringently as at that time, yet we consider it highly unadvisable for strangers to crowd in here in great numbers, at the coming executions. They will encounter still a very strict surveilance. We cheerfully leave this whole matter to the sound discretion of yourself and the intelligent officers  of your company.

Most truly,

Your obedient servant,

ANDREW HUNTER.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 77-8

John W. Garrett to Andrew Hunter, December 15, 1859

Office of the Balto. & O. R. R. Co.,        

December 15, 1859.

Andrew Hunter, Esq:
        Charlestown, Va.:

Your esteemed favor of the 10th instant, has been received. I feel much gratified by the expression of General Taliaferro, so obligingly communicated by you, as well as by your own remarks in connection with the services which it was the good fortune of the officers and employees of this company to have it in their power to perform in the cause of good order and safety, and in upholding to the best of their ability, the laws of a sister commonwealth, in the late emergency.

Rest assured that on all future occasions, —should any such unhappily occur,—this company will always be found ready to co-operate zealously with your constituted authorities to the extent of their appliances, towards the maintainance of the laws.

All arrangements deemed necessary and proper have been made in reference to the impending executions on the 16th instant.

J. W. GARRETT, Pres't.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 78-9

William A. Gorton to John W. Garret, November 30, 1859—5.40 p.m.

Martinsburg, November 30, 1859-5.40 P. M.

J. W. Garrett.

The officer in command here has sent a special messenger to General Taliaferro, at Charlestown, in regard to the passengers under arrest here. The messenger will return some time during the night. There is nothing further can be done until orders are received from Charlestown.

W. A. GORTON.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 67

William Preston Smith to John W. Garrett, November 30, 1859—6:45 p.m.

Rowlesburg, Nov. 30th, 1859.—6.45 P. M.

J. W. Garrett.

Your full dispatch received and understood. Have either personally seen or arranged to see, all agents on West end of our line. Am on Express East, which has a good number of through passengers; but all proper persons, including Mr. Halstead, of the Commercial, and several other Editors of the West. Two of the detective officers are returning on our train. I arranged fully at Cumberland last night to have the trains in both directions attended by additional men to-morrow as understood.

W. P. SMITH.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 67-8

John W. Garrett to William Preston Smith, November 30, 1859

Baltimore, November 30, 1859.

W. P. Smith,
        Master of Transportation.

I send you a copy of Mr. Hunter's dispatch, viz:

I do not understand the limit to apply to our regular through business, or legitimate local; but to parties who may not be known to our Company, who wish to go to Harper's Ferry. These should be restricted to the smallest practical compass.

J. W. GARRETT, Pres't.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 68

A. P. Shutt to Oliver Hoblitzell, November 30, 1859–11.39 p.m.

Harper's Ferry, November 30th, 1859–11.39 P. M.

O. Hoblitzell.

Please say to Mr. Garrett, that I have made arrangements with Captain Moore of the command here, to have a guard stationed hereafter, and no one but passengers getting off and on the trains, will be allowed on the Trestle. Captain Moore will inform the commander at Charlestown of the visit here of the wife and friends of Brown, and whatever arrangements they make will be done by his authority.

A. P. SHUTT.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 68-9

John W. Garrett to William Preston Smith, November 30, 1859

Baltimore, November 30th, 1859.

W. P. Smith.

To post you fully, I send copies of dispatches to Gov. Wise. Mr. Hunter, Agent at Martinsburg, and Gov. Wise’s reply, Your action in the west, in accordance with these arrangements, will I trust prevent any further annoyance to our passengers. Explain this to Agents at all points, so that our passengers may not be further alarmed or troubled. I fear serious injury to our business from such a course as that pursued at Martinsburg.

J. W. GARRETT.

_______________

• John W. Garrett to Henry Wise, November 29, 1859
• John W. Garrett to Andrew Hunter
• John W. Garrett to William A. Gorton
• Gov. Henry A. Wise to John W. Garrett, November 29, 1859

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 63

John W. Garrett to Henry A. Wise, November 29, 1859

Baltimore, November 29, 1859.

To Hon. Henry A. Wise.

To ensure satisfactory and reliable arrangements, I visited Harper's Ferry to-day, and conferred by appointment with Mr. Hunter. In accordance with his views, the following programme was determined upon, viz:

To run the regular trains, east and west, with but the usual number of cars, unless more are required for troops. Our Company to sell no tickets to Harper's Ferry, or any point in its vicinity, except to parties who may be approved by an authorized officer of this Company, who is to furnish a personal certificate, which will be respected by your authorities. We shall place our best men in charge of all trains on Thursday and Friday, and their courage and fidelity can be relied upon. I dispatched our Master of Transportation, Mr. Smith, by this day's train after the conference with Mr. Hunter to perfect similar arrangements at Parkersburg, Moundsville, Benwood and Wheeling.

President Felton of the Philadelphia road, accompanied me to Harper's Ferry, and joined in a dispatch to the New Jersey road, instructing to sell no excursion tickets from New York to Baltimore, or Washington, during this week, and also directed his Agents at Philadelphia to sell no such tickets.

We have ordered an extra guard to protect and repair our telegraph wires—whilst the excitement continues. Col. Lee orders transportation for 240 U. S. troops to Harper's Ferry, for to-morrow morning, which we arrange by an extra train. The movement of our trains on the days stated, in the care of firm and faithful men, combined with the use of the telegraph, may afford you valuable information, not otherwise to be obtained promptly. My desire and determination are to meet fairly your wishes in protecting the interests of Virginia, by all means in our power. Please advise, therefore, whether you deem the arrangements made, sufficient and satisfactory.

J. W. GARRETT, Pres't.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 63-4

John W. Garrett to Andrew Hunter

Hon. Andrew Hunter,
        Charlestown.

On my return to Baltimore, last evening, I found communications awaiting me from Gov. Wise, and Secretary Munford.

Please immediately communicate to Gen. Taliaferro:

Arrest of three passengers, on our Express train was made at Martinsburg, at 2.30, this A. M. They had through tickets to Baltimore, and did not design stopping on the route.

Numerous reliable citizens here, assure me they are business men, visiting Baltimore in the prosecution of their legitimate affairs.

Pray order their immediate release, so that they can reach Baltimore by first train. I have telegraphed our Agent at Martinsburg, fully on the subject.

Will you oblige us, by requesting your officers on our line to avoid alarming our regular passengers while thus passing over the road.

J. W. GARRETT, Pres't.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 64

John W. Garrett to William A. Gorton

William A. Gorton,
        Martinsburg:

Citizens of Baltimore, of entire respectability, who personally know Messrs. James B. Glassford, J. W. Vansant and J. L. Collins, who were arrested on Express train at 2.50 this A. M., assure me reliably, that these gentlemen are business men on their way to Baltimore in prosecution of their legitimate affairs. They have through-tickets and intended to come directly to Baltimore. Such arrests are calculated to do great injury to our Company, without benefitting our Virginia friends. I yesterday visited Harper's-Ferry and arranged fully with Mr. Hunter, regarding all precautions desired on our trains. I have communicated the arrangements to Gov. Wise, who telegraphs me his cordial approval.

You will therefore communicate this dispatch to the officer in command. I trust he will instantly order the release of these passengers, so that they may come to Baltimore on first train. Telegraph reply promptly.

JOHN W. GARRETT,        

President.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 65

Governor Henry A. Wise to John W. Garrett, November 29, 1859

Richmond, November 29, 1859.

John W. Garrett.

Please accept thanks with my approbation of your arrangements. I see nothing more to be done.

HENRY A. WISE.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 65

Andrew Hunter to John W. Garrett, November 30, 1859

Charlestown, November 30, 1859.

John W Garrett, Esq.,
        President, Balt. & Ohio Railroad.

DEAR SIR:—I have received your dispatch, and am much gratified to discover that the public spirited action of your company in the present state of things has elicited so proper and cordial a response from the Executive of our State.

I have written to Martinsburg, to caution them against annoying your passengers, and we regret that any such annoyance has occurred in the case of the three gentlemen from Ohio.

The gentlemen referred to, were immediately released by a dispatch from this place.

I telegraphed you to-day, and think now every proper arrangement has been made.

Very truly, your obedient servant,

ANDREW HUNTER.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 65

William A. Gorton to John W. Garrett, November 30, 1859—12:55 p.m.

Martinsburg, Nov. 30, 1859.-12.55 P. M.

J.W. Garrett.

I have called on the officer in command here, in regard to the release of the passengers, who were arrested on Express train east this morning. He says he cannot release them until he received orders from Gen. Taliaferro, who described the persons, and gave peremptory orders to have them arrested.

He has dispatched to the General at Charlestown, and is waiting a reply. I will let you know the result as early as possible.

W. A. GORTON, SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 66

William Preston Smith to Oliver Hoblitzell, November 29, 1859—5:26 p.m.

Cumberland, Nov. 29th, 1859–5.26 P. M.

O. Hoblitzell,

Get Mr. England and go with him to see the President on his return, who will give my instructions about passengers for Baltimore for the main stem, verbally. Give Mr. Parsons same directions after seeing the President, as above. I will see Mr. Ford who will see Barry and McCaffrey. Tell the President I have arranged with Mr. Diffey to go out from Baltimore on both Western trains on Thursday. Give him a copy of my dispatch to Perham.

W. P. SMITH.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 60

John W. Garrett to Andrew Hunter, November 28, 1859

BALT. & OHIO R. R. OFFICE,        

28th November, 1859.

Andrew Hunter, Esq., Charlestown, Va.

My desire and design are to meet fully the wishes of your State in connection with the subject of your communication of 25th instant. To arrange definitely, I will meet yourself and other representatives of Virginia whom you may suggest on the arrival of the mail train at Harper's Ferry to-morrow (Tuesday) at 12 M.

I will be accompanied by our Master of Transportation, Mr. Smith.

J. W. GARRETT, Pres’t.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 54

George W. Mumford to John W. Garrett, November 28, 1859

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,        

Richmond, 28th Nov., 1859.

J. W. Garrett, Esq.,
        President, &c.

From information in the possession of the Governor, of a contemplated attempt to rescue the prisoners condemned to death at Charlestown, he has deemed it proper to issue a proclamation taking possession of the Winchester and Potomac Railroad, on the first, second and third days of December next, and it will be held under impressment, with a guard, for the use and occupation of Virginia troops alone, and no transportation will be permitted other than for them. Under these circumstances, he requests me to suggest to you, as President of the Balt. & Ohio Railroad Company, the propriety of stopping all trains on your road on the first and second of December, other than for carrying the United States mail. Passengers coming through Virginia on those days will not be permitted to pass. Major General Taliaferro, in command at Charlestown, has orders to this effect.

GEO. W. MUMFORD, Secretary of the Commonwealth.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 55

Josiah Perham to John W. Garrett, November 7, 1859

Boston, Nov. 7, 1859.

To the President or Superintendent of the B. & O. R. R. Co.,

        Baltimore:

I propose to get up an excursion party from New England and New York to Washington and to Harper's Ferry, provided I can get a reduction on the fare sufficient to bring out a good number — to take place as soon as I can get the arrangements made with the several railroads, which I hope to be in season for the party to go on and see Brown hung, and be in Washington at the opening of Congress.

I propose to give you one fare for the round trip from Baltimore to Washington and return for the whole party, and one fare from Baltimore to Harper's Ferry, and return for all that will go to Harpers Ferry.

I have been getting up excursions all summer from the country into Boston, and from Boston to Canada, New York and other places, and I have had some very large parties. I do not know how large a party I can get to go to Washington and Harper's Ferry, but I think, if the fare is put low enough, that I can get out a large number. The tickets will be made by our roads here, with coupons for each road.

Please answer by return mail, stating the terms from Baltimore to Washington and back, and also from Baltimore to Harper's Ferry and back.

In 1851 I got up one or two excursions from Boston to Washington, which were very good parties.

Yours, truly,

JOSIAH PERHAM.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 56

Josiah Perham to John W. Garrett, November 12, 1859

Boston, Nov. 12th, 1859.

President and Superintendent B. & O. Railroad Co.,

Gentlemen:— I wrote you a few days ago in regard to an excursion to Washington over the line of your road, to which I have received no reply. At the same time I wrote you I wrote Mr. Felton, President of P. W. & B. R. R., and have received a reply consenting to take the party over his line of road.

As I am a stranger to you, I refer you to Mr. Felton, who knew me when he was on the Fitchburg Railroad, and took large parties over his road for me in 1850 and 1851.

Will you state to me the lowest fare you will take from Baltimore to Washington and back, and also from Baltimore to Harper's Ferry, or Charlestown, and back?

Yours, very truly,

JOSIAH PERHAM.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 57

Josiah Perham to John W. Garrett, November 21, 1859

Boston, Nov. 21st, 1859.

President or Superintendent Baltimore & Ohio R. R.

Gentlemen:— My second letter had been sent to you before I received an answer to my first, declining to make a reduction in the fare on your road for an excursion party to Washington and Harper's Ferry, and Charlestown. Since I received your answer I have seen paragraphs in the newspapers stating that you were afraid to take my excursion, as you believe it, they would not be a suitable class of people to visit Virginia. In answer to that, I would say that I have moved more than 200,000 people within the last nine years in excursions, and I have had no accident happen to any of them, nor have I ever had any complaint made that any of them did not behave well. I do not think any one would go on my excursion to Washington or Harper's Ferry that would not conduct with propriety. I cannot say how many would go on the excursion, but if it is got up about the middle of December, so that they could be in Charlestown on the 16th of December, I think a very large party could be got out. Many would go to Washington, and not go to see the men hung, while a great many would go to witness the hanging. The sentence of the Judge was for them to be hung in public, which means that the people may go to see them hung that want to. In case a large party should go it would be necessary that an extra train should be in Baltimore on the morning of the 16th for Harper's Ferry and Charlestown, and remain there for three or four hours, and return to Baltimore or Washington the same night. I am told there are no hotel accommodations at either Harper's Ferry or Charlestown, sufficient to take care of one or two thousand people. If you will take one fare for the excursion ticket from Baltimore to Washington and back, I will advertise the excursion at once, and sell them all tickets through to Washington, with the agreement that you will sell round trip tickets to Charlestown or Harper's Ferry for all that wish to go there.

You need not fear of any trouble from any of the people that will go on my excursion, as any one that would not behave well would not dare to go. Hoping to receive a favorable answer from you by return mail, I remain truly,

Your ob’t servant,

JOSIAH PERHAM.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 57-8

William Preston Smith to Josiah Perham, November 28, 1859

Baltimore, November 28, 1859.

Josiah Perham, Esq.,
        Boston, Mass.,

Dear Sir: The President has handed me your letter of the 21^st instant, relative to a proposed excursion from the East to Harper's Ferry and Charlestown, to enable curious persons to witness the execution of the Virginia State prisoners next month, and to which he has also requested that I shall make his reply.

He distinctly states, that in view of the peculiar relation of the criminals, to a portion of the Eastern community, and the great liability, to at least an unpleasant excitement on the occasion, should large numbers of distant strangers visit the scene,—prudence justifies him in declining altogether any facilities, whatever, in connection with the event, except such as may be necessary for those who may travel upon the road for objects entirely legitimate.

Under no circumstances therefore, will any provision be made for excursionists to the execution. On the contrary, it may be well to advise you, that, so far as the Company is able, we will endeavor by all proper means to prevent any such movement.

Very respectfully, yours,

W. P. SMITH,        

M. of T.

SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 58