The life, trial and execution of Captain John Brown: known as "old Brown of Ossawatomie," with a full account of the attempted insurrrection at Harper's Ferry

              97 

which gave a temporary security to the brigands in the perpetration of their butcheries; and the panic which they struck at the moment prevented the assembling of a force sufficient to check their career. 

"As soon as this intelligence was received, our authorities met, and decided on making an immediate application to Colonel House, commanding at Fortress Monroe, who, at six o'clock this morning, embarked on board the steamboat Hampton, with three companies and a piece of artillery, for Suffolk. These troops were reinforced in the Roads by detachments from the United States ships Warren and Natchez, the whole amounting to nearly 300 men. 

"To-day another express arrived from Suffolk, confirming the disastrous news of the preceding one, and adding still more to the number of the slain. The insurgents are believed to have from 100 to 150 mounted men, and about the same number on foot. They are armed with fowling-pieces, clubs, etc., and have had an encounter with a small number of the militia, who killed six and took eight of them prisoners. They are said to be on their way to South Quay, probably making their way to the Dismal Swamp, in which they will be able to remain for a short time in security. For my part, I have no fears of their doing much further mischief. There is very little disaffection in the slaves generally, and they cannot muster a force sufficient to effect any object of importance. The few who have thus rushed headlong into the arena, will be shot down like crows or captured and made examples of. The militia are collecting in all the neighboring counties, and the utmost vigilance prevails.   I subjoin a list of the victims of their savage vengeance 

Mrs. Waters and family..............................   14 

Mrs. Whitehead....................................    7 

Mrs. Vaughan......................................    5 

Jacob Williams.....................................     5 

Mr. Travis.........................................     5 

William Reese......................................    4 

Mr. Williams.......................................     3 

Mr. Baines.........................................     2 

Mrs. Turner........................................     3 

Unknown..........................................   10 

Total.................................... 58 

"Besides these, a private letter adds the families of Mr. Barrow and Mr. Henry Bryant —numbers not mentioned. 

" Muskets, pistols, swords, and ammunition have been forwarded to Suffolk to-day, by Com. Warrington, at the request of our civil authorities, and a number of our citizens have accoutred and formed themselves as a troop of cavalry, and set off to assist their fellow-citizens in Southampton. I trust the next news you will hear will be that all is quiet again." 

Further statements confirmed the general truth of the foregoing narrative, and represented that three hundred negroes, well mounted and armed, and headed by one or two white men, constituted the whole of the insurgent force. Other accounts exaggerated their numbers to six or eight hundred, and represented the militia force of three hundred men as retreating before the blacks, who were armed with shot guns, muskets, scythes, and axes. 

Prompt and efficient measures were immediately taken by the the Governor of the State to suppress the insurrection. Infantry, cavalry, and artillery were dispatched in all haste from Richmond and Norfolk. The authorities of North Carolina also supplied troops, and the federal troops stationed at Norfolk, Fortress Monroe, and other points, were, placed at the service of the State.    The result of these prompt and decisive mea