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
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
I sent you a dispatch from Moundsville, stating that we had but about forty passengers from the Central Ohio Road, and but five desiring to stop at the Ferry.
The Agents at Cameron, Moundsville, Benwood and Wheeling, fully understood your wishes, respecting the sale of tickets to points east of Cumberland, and will carry them out to the letter.
I shall proceed to Baltimore by the first train as you direct. We have in all about ninety passengers, on the train.
C. E. WATERS.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 69
Several passengers for this station, on Mail East. They were refused to be taken on the Winchester Road, whose train was sent down in charge of a guard, by order of the commander at Charlestown.
It will be impossible for strangers to go on that road; and I would suggest keeping back all, unless they come vouched for. Col. Lee had a guard of seven men on the Bridge, at the Maryland end, last night, and it will be kept up to aid our own watchman Mrs. Brown has been permitted to go to see her husband alone, after delay. Your editorial friend from Cincinnati, will go over to Charlestown with Mr. Barbour.
A. P. SHUTT.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 70
Have you an extra engine and ten large passenger cars ready, to follow Mail train in morning to Harper's Ferry, to return first installment of military and citizens to Baltimore and Washington. Have telegraphed Gen'l Taliaferro and Mr. Hunter, to advise me at first possible moment, probable number of men to be returned both to-morrow and Saturday.
Let Mail proper go out first in the morning, with only four passenger cars.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 70
It is not improbable that we shall find it necessary to run a special train for passengers, including some returning troops, on to-morrow, leaving Harper's Ferry for Baltimore, about three o'clock, and running, if necesssry, to Washington, to accommodate the Eastern Virginia troops. I have telegraphed Gen'l Taliaferro and Mr. Hunter, asking them to advise us at the earliest moment of the probable number of troops there may be returning on to-morrow and Saturday, to enable us properly to provide for their prompt and safe transportation.
I think of sending up an extra engine and empty cars on Mail train in morning, to bring back the first division of the returning army.
W.P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 70
It being very desirable for me to learn at once, something of probable movement of troops on return, so as to provide for safe and prompt transport, I will be much favored if you will ascertain this and telegraph me.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 71
Have sent extra engine and ten passenger cars with one baggage car to Harper's Ferry, behind Mail, in charge of Conductor Walters, Hussell, Engineman.
As we will certainly need them, possibly this P. M., they must be put in siding at Ferry, and engine may go to Martinsburg, if not wanted early to-day. Should any great number of citizens, editors or others, earnestly desire an earlier return than Express time in morning we may run an extra from Ferry at a proper hour this afternoon or evening. I am anxious to learn, if possible, about how many troops will leave on return to-morrow, and if any on Sunday, to make suitable provision for them.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 71
Col. Lee, U. S. army, wishes you to meet him at depot on arrival of 5.20 train, to make arrangements for transportation of two hundred and twenty U. S. men to the Ferry in the morning. They will reach Baltimore on the Norfolk boat.
G. F. GILBERT.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 59
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
Authorities are considering whether they will send to Harper's Ferry 252 soldiers from Fort Monroe, or but half that number, by morning train. The latter I have already arranged to go with mail train, but if they decide upon sending the whole number, it would probably be best to send special train ahead of mail.
What do you say? I am waiting Col. Lee's decision as to number.
Have seen President and made later appointments with him, but will manage to be in telegraph office at 8 o'clock.
O. HOBLITZEL L.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 60
If there are more than nine cars needed in morning, send two engines, putting soldiers on first train, with orders to flag the other and run prompt on mail time. If there are any emigrants or many troops from Washington at Relay, there may be over nine trains required. Watch train's departure, to-morrow, and telegraph me all about it at Piedmont, saying whether there is any crowd besides soldiers on board.
W. P. SMITH.
SOURCE: B. H. Richardson, Annapolis, Maryland, Publisher, Correspondence Relating to the Insurrection at Harper's Ferry, 17th October, 1859, p. 61
Your's received and acted upon.
Col. Lee has decided to take all the troops (252) to Harper's Ferry, and will command them himself. Will send soldiers on first train with orders for it to flag the second and run on prompt mail time.
Will not have any emigrants, and have no notice of troops from Washington, but will look out for this. Will agents, &c., be notified of this train by yourself, or Mr. Diffey, or shall I do so?
O. HOBLIT ZELL.
I have just returned from the burned bridge. We have at the next bridge, 10 miles beyond, about 250 men, under Captain McClellan. They have two cannon, which they found on the cars, and which were given to them by General Charles Clark, who stopped until this morning with them. The camp of the enemy is at N. G. Taylor's, 5 miles distant, with about 400 men. Another camp, at Elizabethtown, 2 miles farther, is said to contain 500 men. The two may be confounded. There is no doubt but that re-enforcements are every moment reaching them from Watauga County, North Carolina, and Johnson, Carter, and Washington Counties, Tennessee. These counties can furnish about 2,000 Lincolnites, and each fresh occasion emboldens them. They threaten to burn Watauga Bridge to-night. Should they be successful, it will bring forward hundreds now quiet. It is all-important they should be disposed of before they unite their different forces, now ranging from 50 to 500. A fight occurred last night between 22 of our scouts and the main camp of the enemy. We captured 2, killed 9, and lost none. I have given orders for all trains to give way to the troop trains now coming forward. They will reach here to-morrow morning. Can I do anything for you?
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.
I reached this point
yesterday about 12 m. The bridge and railroad, as far as I could see, are all
right. The country from Bellefonte here we found full of small parties of the
enemy. I captured a few prisoners at Scottsborough, who will go to Stevenson
with this dispatch. We drove a small force of rebels across the creek yesterday
in our advance, and about half an hour afterward the enemy appeared with an
engine and a train of cars. We drove them back some two or three miles, but
shortly afterward they appeared again with the train and some cavalry, and we
skirmished with them until dark, when they retired. I endeavored to capture the
train, but was not successful. Roddey is reported at Huntsville. Russell has
recruited his regiment considerably of late, and now has from 700 to 800 men.
If the enemy moves some infantry up on us by rail we may have some trouble, but
we can do something for them if they come. I have been looking for a train down
from Stevenson with some infantry, but so far have heard nothing from them. I
should have arrived here a day sooner, but was delayed in scouting the country
between Scottsborough and this place, particularly at Larkinsville. About 100
of the enemy were on the Larkinsville Ferry road, to the left, and I sent a
party toward Winchester, to the right. The prisoners I send you belong to
Roddey, Russell, and Twentieth Mississippi. Doctor Irwin and some other
citizens were captured at Scottsborough, and they fired on my men when they
went after them. He lives near Courtland and acts as surgeon for Roddey. I
inclose a note* from Russell which explains his business. I wish these
messengers to return as soon as possible, with some other men of my command at
Stevenson, who ought to be here. I shall look for train down here, and if there
is one coming please send down with it 10,000 rounds of Burnside ammunition.
Please send me some late papers or news if you have any.
With my compliments
to the general, and hoping to hear from you shortly,
