The Perilous Journey: The escaping group, determined to secure their freedom, embarked on a two-day, 60-mile journey. Along the way, a black man's warning about lurking slave catchers led them to seek refuge in the safety of the woods.
A Brief Respite and Betrayal: When encountering a seemingly friendly white farmer, their fortunes unexpectedly turned. Given sustenance and offered shelter in his barn, the exhausted group fell into a deep sleep. However, their temporary respite was shattered around noon when men were heard talking around the barn. Wesley Harris, sensing betrayal, urgently woke his companions.
"About noon, men were heard talking around the barn. I woke my companions up and told them that that man had betrayed us. At first, they did not believe me.
The Confrontation: The barn door swung open, revealing eight armed men. The owner of the barn denied harboring runaway slaves, pretending ignorance. The confrontation escalated as the group faced interrogation about their destination, the absence of passes, and the threat of being tied up. A gunshot wounded the alleged betrayer, triggering a fierce conflict.
"In a moment afterward, the barn door was opened, and in came the men, eight in number. One of the men asked the owner of the barn if he had any long straw. ’Yes,’ was the answer.
"So up on the mow came three of the men, when, to their great surprise, as the pretended, we were discovered. The question was then asked the owner of the barn by one of the men, if he harbored runaway negroes in his barn? He answered, ‘No,’ and pretended to be entirely ignorant of their being in his barn.
"One of the men replied that four negroes were on the mow, and he knew of it. The men then asked us where we were going. We told them to Gettysburg, that we had aunts and a mother there. Also we spoke of a Mr. Houghman, a gentleman we happened to have some knowledge of, having seen him in Virginia.
"We were next asked for our passes. We told them that we hadn’t any, that we had not been required to carry them where we came from. They then said that we would have to go before a magistrate, and if he allowed us to go on, well and good.
"The men all being armed and furnished with ropes, we were ordered to be tied. I told them if they took me they would have to take me dead or crippled. At that instant one of my friends cried out— ‘Where is the man that betrayed us?’
"Spying him at the same moment, he shot him (badly wounding him). Then the conflict fairly began. The constable seized me by the collar, or rather behind my shoulder. I at once shot him with my pistol, but in consequence of his throwing up his arm, which hit mine as I fired, the effect of the load of my pistol was much turned aside; his face, however, was badly burned, besides his shoulder being wounded.
"I again fired on the pursuers, but do not know whether I hit anybody or not. I then drew a sword, I had brought with me, and was about cutting my way to the door, when I was shot by one of the men, receiving the entire contents of one load of a double barreled gun in my left arm, that being the arm with which I was defending myself.
"The load brought me to the ground, and I was unable to make further struggle for myself. I was badly beaten with guns &c. [?].
"In the meantime, my friend Craven, who was defending himself, was shot badly in the face, and most violently beaten until he was conquered and tied. The two young brothers of Craven stood still, without making the least resistance.
Escape and Capture: In the ensuing struggle, Wesley Harris fought bravely but eventually succumbed to a gunshot, sustaining severe injuries. Captured and taken to Terrytown (Taneytown), Harris's wounds were treated, and he became a prisoner at a local tavern. Despite guarded surveillance, Harris orchestrated a daring escape, securing nails and rope and utilizing a window.
"After we were fairly captured, we were taken to Terrytown (Taneytown), which was in sight of where we were betrayed. By this time I had lost so much blood from my wounds, that they concluded my situation was too dangerous to admit of being taken further, so I was made a prisoner at the tavern. There my wounds were dressed and 32 shot taken from my arm.
Harris nearly died, but gradually recovered. While he was guarded day and night, an African American cook procured a piece of rope and three nails.
Harris's Daring Escape: Weakened but determined, Harris fastened nails under the windowsill, tied a rope, and descended to the ground. Barely able to walk, he hobbled to a predetermined location, where a friend found and secured him. Harris escaped the immediate pursuit and was later escorted to Gettysburg via an alternative route.
"On Friday night, October 14th, I fastened my nails in under the window sill; tied my rope to the nails, threw my shoes out of the window, put the rope in my mouth, then took hold of it with my well hand, clambered into the window, very weak, but I managed to let myself down to the ground.
"I was so weak, that I could scarcely walk, but I managed to hobble off to a place three quarters of a mile from the tavern where a friend had fixed upon for me to, if I succeeded in making my escape."
"There I was found by my friend, who kep me secure till Saturday eve, when a swift horse was furnished by James Rogers, and a colored man found to conduct me to Gettysburg. Instead of going direct to Gettsysburg, we took a different road, in order to shun our pursuers, as the news of my escape had created general excitement."
Fate of Companions: Meanwhile, Harris's three companions faced imprisonment in Westminster jail before being sold in Baltimore for twelve hundred dollars each. The Vigilance Committee intervened, providing Harris with medical care, and facilitating his relocation to Canada, where he eventually found employment as a brakeman on the Great Western Railroad.
The gripping account of Wesley Harris's confrontation and escape, which occurred in October 1853, offers a poignant glimpse into the challenges faced by those seeking freedom during this tumultuous period in American history. The resilience and determination shown by Harris and his companions underscore the harsh realities of the Underground Railroad era.
