Frederick Md Oct 22th 1859
Brigadier General
James M. Coale [ 1 ]
9th Brigade M[aryland] M[ilitia]
General,
In accordance with my
duty I submit the following report:
On the morning of Monday 17th
Inst rumors reached this City that
a body of armed insurgents had attacked
and taken possession of Harpers Ferry
threatening death to the Citizens, des-
truction of their property, and the pla-
cing of arms in the hands of the
Slaves of the adjacent country, and the
inauguration of a servile war.
Military aid from this City was said
to be urgently required. Captains Sinn,[ 2 ]
Ritchie, [ 3 ] and Hobbs [ 4 ] immediately
assembled their respective companies
at their armories, and ordered them
to be ready for service at a moments
warning, if on investigation it should
be found their aid was required. The
Telegraph wires had been cut, and in
order to ascertain the truth of the ru-
mors I forthwith took the Train of
Cars for Harpers Ferry, requesting the
above named Captains to keep their
men under Arms untill they should
hear from me. On approaching Har-
pers Ferry I found it in possession of
a band of outlaws alleged to num-
ber with the negroes they had armed
Several Hundred men, and who were
|