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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