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THE RA ID O F J O HN BR O W N A T HA RPER S
’
A S I S A W IT
FERR!
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B V R EV S A M UEL VA N D ER LIP LEEC H, D D
‘
.
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HE
.
t own o f H arp er s F e rry i s locat e d i n J e ff e rso n
Lu c e rn e i n S w i tz e r l a n d
C ou n ty W est Vi rgi n i a
do e s n o t exc el i t i n rom an ti c gra n d eu r o f s itua ti on
O n it s n orth ern fron t th e P otomac sw e ep s al on g to
p a s s th e nati on al ca p i ta l an d t h e to mb of Wa sh i n gton i n
i ts si l en t flow toward s th e s ea O n i t s e a ste rn s i d e t h e
S h ena n doah h u rri e s t o e m p ty i ts wat ers i n to th e P otom a c
th a t i n p e r p etual w e dl ock th ey m ay g r e et t h e s t ormy A t
M
l an ti c Acro s s th e Po toma c th e
a rylan d H ei gh t s stan d o u t
a s th e t al l s en ti n el s of N atu r e B eyo n d t h e S h en an doa h a r e
th e B l u e Ri dge m o u ntai n s fri n gi n g t h e w e stw ar d b ou n da ry
—o i L o u d on Co u n ty Vi rgi n ia
B etw e en t h e s e ri ve rs an d
n estl i n g i n si d e o f th ei r ve r y con fl u en c e r epo s e s H a r p er s
F e rry
B ac k of i ts h i l l s l i e s th e fam ou s S h en an doah Vall e y
c el eb rat ed for i t s n atu ra l sc ene ry i ts h i sto ri c b a t t l e s an d
“
”
Sh eri dan s R i d e
At Ha rp er s F erry th e Un i te d S tat e s!
a u tho ri ti e s early lo c a te d a
A rs en a l a n d a n Armory
!
B efor e th e Ci vi l W a r th e B al ti mor e Con fer en c e of t h e
M e t ho di st E p i sco p al Ch u rch“ wa s con sti tu te d o f five ex t en
s iv e di st ri ct s i n Vi r g i n i a stre t ch i n g fro m Al exan dri a to L ew
is b u r g a n d tw o great di s t ri cts n o rth of th e Potoma c in
c l u di n g th e c i ti e s of Wa sh i n gton an d B al ti mo re T h e fi rs t
th re e y ears of my m i n i s t er i al l i fe I sp en t o n S h eph erd s t own
W e st Lo u don an d H i l l s b o ro Ci rc u i t s b ei n g th en all i n Vi r
gi n i a T h e S tate o f W es t Vi rgi n i a n o w emb ra ci n g H a r
p e r s Fe rry h a d n o t b e en o rgan i z e d by Con gres s a s a wa r
m eas u r e ou t o f th e ter ri tory o f th e m oth e r S tat e O u r M e t h
o di st E pi scopal C hu rch w a s th eo reti cally a n a n ti slave ry o r
’
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M1 98 48 8
4
TH E
RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
b u t ou r V l r gm ia an d M a ryl an d m emb e rs h el d
th ou san d s o f i nh eri te d an d m any p u rch as e d sl av es Th es e
w e r e gen eral ly wel l —
care d fo r an d cont ent e d B e ing cl os e t o
th e fr e e soi l o f P e nn syl van i a th ey co ul d h ave gotten th er e i n
a n i gh t h ad th ey wi sh e d to e scap e b on dage an d th en th ey
co ul d h av e ea s i ly r ea ch ed C an ada by th at N orth ern ai d call ed
“
”
th e Un d e rgrou n d R a il no a d
On th e S u n day n i gh t wh en Joh n B row n an d h i s m e n in
va de d Vi rgi n ia I sl ep t w i th i n a h al f m i l e of H arp er s F erry
T ha t day I i n a u gu rate d r evi va l s ervi c e s at my w estward a p
”
“
po i ntm en t cal l e d E b en ez e r i n Lou don C oun ty two m il e s
fro m H a rp e r s F e rry I wa s tw en ty two y ear s of age
! Th r e e m onth s b efor e th i s ra i d Cap t ai n J oh n B row n w i t h
t w o o f h i s son s Ow en an d O l iv e r an d J er em i ah G An d er
”
“
son cal l i n g t h em s el ve s I saa c S m i th an d S on s rent e d a sm all
fa rm o n t h e M aryl an d si d e of th e Po t oma c fou r m il e s fro m
“
H a rp er s F e rry I t w a s known a s th e B ooth K enn e d y
Pl ac e
Th ey al so carri e d o n a cro s s th e mou ntai n s a t
Ch amb ersb ur g P en n sylvan i a 3 smal l h a rdwar e sto r e m an
a g e d by Jo h n H Kagi I t w a s a d ep ot fo r th e m u n i ti on s o f
w a r to b e h au l e d to t h ei r M a ryl an d fa rm An oth e r of B rown s
m en J oh n E C ook sol d m ap s i n th e vi ci n i ty H e wa s a r el
a ti v e of Gov erno r Wi ll ard of I n dian a wh o s ecu re d th e s e rv
i c e s o f H o n D an i el W Voo rh e e s Atto rn ey G en eral of I n di
ok a t h i s af t e r t ri al i n V ir gin ia
I
t was a
(
p ea c e B r o w n an d h i s
re s en te d t h
m i n e rs an d sp ecu lato rs
T h ey h a d a m ul e an d wa gon wi th wh i ch to hau l th ei r b ox e s
fro m C h am b ersbu rg! A w eal thy m ercha n t of B o ston M r
G eo rge Lu t h e r S tearn s C ha i rm a n of th e M a s sach u s etts A i d
S oc i e ty ha d fin an ce d B rown s Kan sa s bo rd e r wa rfar e w ork
as
w el l a s h i s ap p roach i n g H arp er s F e rry rai d
Oth e r
N o rth ern fri en d s a s si s t ed B rown h a d compl e t ed h i s p rep
a r a t io n s an d c o l l e c t e d h is twen ty —
on e h el p ers ea rly i n O c
tob e r 1 8 59 H e h a d h i d d en i n a n ol d l og cab i n on th e pla c e
2 0 0 S harp e s ri fl e s
ri fl e ca rtri dges 950 l ong i ro n p ik e s
2 0 0 r evolvi n g p i stol s
p i stol cap s
p ercu s si o n
cap s 2 50 pou n d s of pow d er 1 2 r eam s o f cartr i dge pa per an d
n
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g
iz a t io n ;
.
k
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,
RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
TH E
5
\
o th e r wa rl i ke m ate ri al s H e organ i z e d h i s t w en ty t w o m en
”
“
h i m sel f i nc l u d ed i nto a M i l it a r y P ro v i s i o n a l G ove rnm e nt
t o sup eri nt en d th e p o s sibl e u p ri si n g of th e sl ave s of Vi rgi n i a
Th i rte en of th e s e m en ha d en gage d i n b ord er w arfa r e i n Kan
sa s i n a su cc es s ful e ffort to p rev en t Ka n sas from b e com i n g
slav e stat e
H e sixt e e n oth e r wh i t e m en a n d fiv e
a
n egro es co n sti tut e d h i s en ti r e Vi rgi n i a arm y T h e wh i te
m en we r e C aptai n Joh n B r o w n A dj utan t G en e ral J oh n H
Kagi C apta i n s O w en B rown Ol i ve r B rown Watson B rown
Aa ron D S teph en s J oh n E C oo k D au ph i n A dol ph u s T h o m p
s on G eo rge P T i d d Wi ll ia m T homp son an d E dwi n C o p
p o c T h e Li eu ten ants w e re J e r em i ah G An d erson Alb ert
H a zl i tt a n d W i l l i am H en ry L e eman Th e pri vat e s n umb er
e d ei ght Th re e o f th em w ere wh i te m en a n d fiv e we r e m e
g ro es Th e wh i t e s w er e F ran ci s J M e rri am B a rcl ay C o p p o c
an d S t ewa rd Taylo r Th e n e gro e s w e re D an ge rfi el d N ewby
O sb o rn e P A n d erso n J oh n A Cop el an d S h e rrard L ew i s
L ea ry an d S h i el d s Gre en
O n S u n day m o rn i n g O ctob e r l ot h 1 8 59 B rown a s
s emb l e d h i s m en a n d i n form e d th em th at o n th a t n igh t th ei r
i nva si on i n to Vi rgi n i a w oul d tak e pl a c e T h ey t ook th e oa th
”
“
of a l l egi a n c e t o th e P rovi si on al Gov ern m en t
A dj u tan t
G en eral Kagi p re s en t e d t o ea ch o ffic er h i s comm i s s i on
T h e c on ten t s of th e Arm ory Ars en al an d H al l s R i fl e
Wo rks w e re dai ly op e n to p u b l i c i n sp ecti on Captai n Joh n
B rown w el l kn ew t h a t D an i el Wh el a n wa s t h e on l y wa t ch
m a n du ri n g th e n igh t t i m e a t th e A rmo r y grou n d s H e b e
l ie v e d th a t i f h e coul d s ec u re th e a rm s an d amm u n i ti on i n
t h es e b u il di n g s ca rry th em i n t o th e fa s t n e ss e s of t h e a d
j a c en t m ou ntai n s an d th en u n f u rl th e fl a g of fre edo m fo r
al l s l aves wh o wou l d flock to h i s stan d ard t h e r es u l t w o u l d
b e a gen e ra l u p ri si n g of t h e n egro p opul ati o n th r o u g h o u t
th e b orde r stat e s A m or e i di o t i c an d s en s el es s th eo ry n eve r
e n t e r e d a n Am eri ca n m i n d
I n t h e su p erla t i ve d egre e i t wa s
u n rea s on a b l e an d ri di cu l o u s I p e r s on ally know of th e ge n
e r a l l oya lty of th e sl ave s t o t h ei r m a s t er s i n th a t l oc al i t y
a t t ha t p e ri o d i n ou r n a t i on al h i s t o ry Fed e ral gen e ral s w er e
a s t on i sh e d a t t h e d evo t i o n o f th e n e g ro e s to t h ei r ma s t ers
-
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T H E RA ID OF J O H N BROW N
6
ev eryw h er e i n th e S outh aft er th e wa r h a d b egu n T h i s w a s
e sp eci al ly tru e al on g th e b or d e r s t a t e s B u t J oh n B rown
hon e st en th u si a sti c a n d i nten s ely fan atical on th e sl aver y
—
qu e s t i on i ss u e d h i s c om man ds O n th i s S u n day h e a s
si g n e d to each h i s earl i e s t wo rk Cap t a i n O we n B rown
B a rc l ay C o ppo c a n d F ran ci s J M e rri am w er e t o r em ai n a t
th e fa rm to guard th e a rm s a n d a mm u n i ti on H en c e onl y
n i n e t e en l eft t h e Ken n edy farm T h ey w e re to wal k do w n t h e
riv er roa d o n th e M a ryl a n d s i d e to th e M a rylan d en d of th e
B al ti mor e a n d Oh i o rai l roa d b ri dge T h e Vi rgi n i a en d wa s
cl o s e to th e d epo t h o t el A rm ory an d t h e Ars en al Ca p
t a i n Joh n B row n wa s t o ri d e i n t h e w agon w i th th e n e c es sary
g un s p i s t ol s a n d t ool s C a p t a i n s Cook an d T i d d w er e t o go i n
a dvan c e an d c u t t h e t el egraph w i re s o n th e M a r v l a n d si d e
Ca p t a i n S t eph e n s an d A dj u t an t G en eral Ka gi w er e t o captu r e
M r Wi ll iam s th e gu ard of t h e b ri dge Captai n Wa t son B rown
a n d Taylo r w er e t o h ol d u p th e p as s en ger t ra i n du e from th e
w es t a t
A M I t w o u l d b e b o u n d fo r Wa sh i n gton an d
B al ti mor e Ca ptai n O l iv e r B row n a n d T hom p son w er e to h ol d
t h e b ri dges span n i n g th e two ri ve rs C a ptai n D auph i n A dol
ph u s T homp son a n d Li eu t en an t An derson w e r e t o h ol d th e
fi rst bu i l din g i n th e A rm o ry gro
p op ul a rly kn ow n aft e r
“
wa rds a s Joh n B ro w n s F ort
wa s th e en gi n e h ou s e
wh er e B rown h el d h i s m o st di sti ngu i sh e d p ri son ers From
th e p orth ol es o f i t th at
aft e r h i s en tran c e hi s m e n
di d th ei r fi nal fi gh ti n g
C o p p o c an d L i eu tenan t
Ha zl i t t w er e t o hol d t
A rs ena l ou ts i d e a n d opp osit e t h e
Armo ry g a t es A dj u t a n t Gen eral Ka g i a n d Cop el an d we r e
to s e i z e an d re t ai n H all s Ri fl e Works Th ey w er e h al f of
a m i l e u p t h e w e s t ern sh or e o f th e S h en an doah
Ca p
ta i n S teph en s a n d su c h m en a s h e m i gh t s el ec t w e re to go
ou t t o th e h om e of Colo n el L ew i s W Wa sh i ngton th e gra n d
n eph ew o f G en eral Geo rg e Wa sh i n g t on an d b ri n g hi m an d
som e of h i s a dul t m al e sl ave s t o t h e en gi n e hou s e Th ey
w ere al so to s ecu re th e swo rd s p re sent e d to G en e ral Georg e
Wa sh i n gt o n by Fred eri ck th e Grea t an d by G en eral L a fay ett e
Fo r th i s obj ec t S t eph en s s el ec t ed a s h i s h el p e rs Captai n s Ti dd
an d Cook an d pri vate s L ea ry G re en an d An d e rson B rown
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TH E
RA ID
J O H N BROW N
OF
m ad e th e ra i d a t I I : 30 th a t n i gh t M r W i l l iam s th e b ri d g e
gu ar d w a s captu r e d b y S teph en s a n d Kagi T h e w atch m a n
at th e Armory D an i el \V h e l a n r efu s e d B rown a n d h i s m en
a dmi s si on to t h e grou n d s T h ey b rok e th e l ock s w ith tool s
captu re d Wh el an an d took p o ss e ssi o n of th e A rmo ry an d al so
of th e Ars enal ou tsi d e Th e fol l ow i n g pri son ers w er e b rou gh t
i n ea rly on M o n day a n d pl ac ed i n th e en gi n e h ou s e : J e ss e W
Grah am who wa s m a st e r w o rkm an Col on el L ewi s W Wa sh
in gt o n
T e r a n c e By rn e J oh n M A l l s t a dt J oh n D on oh u e
wh o wa s cl erk of th e rai l roa d compa ny ; B enj a mi n F M i ll s
th e m a st e r a rm o re r ; A rm st ea d M B al l th e ma st er m ach i n i s t ;
A rch ib al d M Ki tzm i l l e r a ss i sta n t su p eri n ten d en t ; I saac Ru s
s el l a Ju stic e of th e P ea c e ; G eorge D S h op e of F r ed e ri c k
an d J B i rd Ars enal a rm o re r Th e wh i t e p ri son e rs w e re t o
b e h el d a s h osta ge s an d th e b l ack s w er e to b e a rm e d a n d
p l ac e d i n B rown s a rmy C ook an d T i d d evi d en tly m i s
t ru st e d th e i r su rrou n d i n gs D u ri n g th e n igh t th ey m a d e
th ei r way b ack to th e fa rm an d hasti ly e scap e d i nto P en n
sy lvan i a Captai n Wa tson B rown a n d T ayl or h e l d u p th e
trai n b ou n d fo r B al ti m o re d etai n i n g i t fo r th re e h ou rs T h e
col ore d porte r of th e d e po t SW
M w en t ou t
on th e b ri dge to h u n t fo r Wil l i am s H e wa s b r ut a l l y sh o t
b on e
s Hayward m an aged to c rawl
to th e b a g gage room wh ere h e d i ed a t n oon o n M on day D r
J oh n S ta rry d res s e d h i s wo un ds an d m i n i st ere d to h i s ev ery
wan t Th e phy si ci an wa s u n d e r th e i m p re s si on th at a b an d
of tra i n robb ers ha d c aptu re d th e d epot He tol d th i s to M r
Ki tz m i ll er b efo re Ki tzm i l l e r s i mp ri son m ent C a ptai n E P
D an gerfi el d c l e rk to th e paym a ste r en t e re d t h e grou n d s and
wa s hu stl ed i n to th e en gi n e h ou se q u i te early i n th e mo rn i n g
N um erou s a rrivin g wo rkm en w ere i mp ri son e d i n a n a dj oi n
in gb u il di n g
C ol on el \N a s h in gt o n sa i d th a t ful ly sixty m e n
w er e i mp ri son e d by eigh t o cl oc k o n M on day m o rn i n g Th e
ci ti z en s w e re h ea rin g o f th e s i tu ati on N ewby an d Gre en
n egro e s w er e s t ati on e d a t th e j un ctio n of H i gh a n d S h en
a n do a h
s t re ets N ewby sh ot a t an d ki l l ed Captai n Geo rg e
W T u rn e r a gra du at e of W e st P oi n t Gree n shot an d ki l l e d
M r Thoma s B o e r l e y a groc er D r Cl aggett att en d e d B o e r
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b
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“
.
RA ID
TH E
OF
J O H N BR O W N
l ey wh o al so soon d i ed Aft er th e m u l atto h a d sh ot T u rn er
a m a n n am e d B ogert en te re d th e r e si d en c e of M r s S t e ph e n
s on by a rea r doo r H avin g n o b ul l e t h e pu t a l arge n a i l i n t o
h i s gu n w en t u p stai rs a n d sh o t N ewby th e n ai l c u t t i n g h i s
th roa t from ear to ea r H e w a s al s o sh ot i n th e sto mach by
so m e o n e e l s e I s a w h i m di e i n gre at agony w i th an in
fu r ia t e d c row d a roun d h i m
Ab ou t ten o cl o ck i n th e morn
i n g a rm e d ci ti z en s c ro s s e d th e Potom a c a n d S h en an doah
ri ve rs to p reven t t h e e sca p e by th e b ri dges o r by wate r of a n V
of th e ra i d ers S o m e w al ke d down th e M aryl an d ri ver road
a n d wou n de d Ca p t ai n O l ive r B rown o n t h e b ri dge H e
r ea ch e d th e en gi n e h ou s e b u t s oo n d i e d b es i d e h i s fath er
Ci ti z en s s ei z e d th e u n i nj u re d p ri son e r C ap tai n T h omp son
an d p u t h i m u n d er g u ard at th e Gal t h o t el Cap t ai n S t eph e n s
t ri e d t o rea ch t h e h otel t o p ropos e a s h e s t a t e d term s of s u r
r en d e r G eorge C h amb e rs woun d e d h i m a n d th en a ssi ste d
h i m i nto th e Gal t h otel wh er e h is wo u n d s w e re d re ss e d
Ab o u t el eve n o cl ock i n th e m o rn i n g t h e J e ff e rson G ua rd s
f rom C ha rl es t o w n com ma n d e d by Cap t a i n J W R ow e n a r
ri v ed A h al f h ou r pas s e d an d th e H amtram ck gu ard s u n d e r
Ca p t a i n V M B u tl er ca m e to t h e F erry T h e v w er e fol
l ow e d by th e S h eph erd s t own M o u nt e d Troop com man d ed by
Captai n J acob Rei nh a rt Th en a m i l i ta ry com pa n y from
M a rti n sb u rg tw e n ty m i l e s di s tan t r each e d th e pl ac e u n d er
th e co mm an d of Capta i n Alb u rti s Col on el s W R B ayl o r
a n d J oh n T Gi b son t ook th e ge n e ral d i recti on of th e m i l ita r y
a ff ai rs S om e sol d i ers c ros s e d t h e S h en an doah alon g w i th
a rm e d c iti z en s t o i n t e rc ep t th e fou r ra i d er s Ka g i Leary L e e
m an an d Cop el an d w h en th e y sh ou l d b e dri ve n o u t o f H al l s
T h e s e rai d ers al so h a d i n th es e works o n e o f
R i fl e Works
Col on el Wa sh i n g t on s sl a v es p res s e d i n t o th e i r s ervi c e Al l
of th em ran o u t i n t o th e ri v er to sw i m acro s s to th e Lou don
Co u n t y sho re Al l w e r e sh ot to d eath i n th e riv e r w i th th e
exc ep t i on o f Cop el an d H e th rew u p h i s h an ds an d s u r
r en d e red
D u rin g th e exci t em e n t H a zl itt a n d th e n egro
An d erson l eft t h e Ars enal an d u n d e t ecte d e scap ed i nto P en n
syl va n ia E a rly i n th e m o rni n g C aptai n Ow en B rown B a r
c l ay C o p po c a n d M e rri a m h ad d e s er t ed th e K en n edy farm
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7
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RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
TH E
—
T h u s s even of t h e t w en ty t wo m en fl e d to
a n d gon e n orth
th e N o r t h C ook an d H azl itt w er e cap t u re d
tu rn ed t o Vi rgi n i a tri ed a n d e x ecu t e d
.
9
.
.
Th ey w er e
re
.
,
B y 2 o cl ock P M th e tow n a n d h i l l s swarm e d w i t h
m i l iti a an d ci ti z en s B row n h a d b a rri ca de d th e en gi n e h ou s e
doo rs wi th th e engi n e an d r e el I n si d e w e r e Cap t ai n s J oh n
B rown a n d h i s son Wa tson ; al so C apta i n Ol ive r B rown wh o
was soo n d ea d ; S h i el ds G re en Cap t ai n E dwi n C o pp o c L i e u
ten an t J e rem i a h G An d erson Cap t a i n D a u p h i n A d o l ph u s
Th om p son an d t en wh i t e p ri son e rs T h e n u m ero u s p ri son
e rs mo stly w o rk m en i n t h e a dj oi n i n g s t ru c tu r e h a d al l e s
cap e d from th e gro u n d s B rown h avi n g n o por t h ol e s o n t h a t
si d e o f h i s fo r t Th e m i l i t i a w e r e afra i d to fi r e i n t o t h e p or t
h ol e s fo r fea r o f kil l i n g som e of th e p rom i n en t pri son ers
A b o u t 4 o clo ck t h e M ayor M r Fon t ai n e B eckh a m age d
si xty y ears wh o w a s al s o s t a t i on agen t o f th e r a i l roa d co m
p any w en t o ut on t h e p l a t fo rm u n arm e d H e w a s s h o t d ea d
b y th e n egro Sh i el d s Gree n Ca pt ai n Wa t son B r oW n i n th e
en gi n e h ou s e r ec ei ve d h i s d ea t h wo u n d soo n af t erwar d s
M ayor B e ckh am wa s v e ry m u ch b el ove d b y t h e p eop l e A
n umb e r of ci t i z en s h u rri e d i n t o t h e h o te l a n d b r ut al l y s e i z e d
C a pta i n T hom pson th rew h i m ov e r th e w al l i n t o th e P o
toma c an d ri d dl e d h i m w i t h b u l l e t s M r s Fo u l k e of th e
h o t el a n d h e r col or e d por t e r w en t t o t h e pl a t fo rm a n d
b rou gh t i n t h e d ea d b ody o f th e M ayo r
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A s n igh t wa s s e tt l i n g o n th e e x c i t e d c i t y a m il it ary com
pany from Wi nc h e s t e r Vi rgi n i a com m an d e d b y Ca pt a i n B
B Was h in g t on arr i ve d b y a S h en an doah Val l ey t rai n
S h o r t ly t h er eafte r a Bal t i m o r e an d Oh i o ra i l roa d t ra i n b rou gh t
s eve ral c omp an i e s of sol d i e rs fro m F re deri ck M aryl an d
T h ey w er e com man de d b y Colon el S h r i ve r
S o oin s everal in
d ep en d en t comp an i e s fro m B a l t i mor e accom p an i e d b y th e
S ec o n d L i gh t B ri ga d e a r rive d u n d e r t h e g en era l c o m man d
o f G en e ral Ch a rl e s C E dger t on Col on el R o b e r t E Le e of
t h e Un i t ed S t a t e s a rmy ov er t ook th es e t roop s a t S an dy Hook
a m il e a n d a h al f b el ow th e F e r ry on th e M a ryl an d s i de H e
h a d co m e fro m Wa s h i n gt o n w i th s everal co mp an i e s o f m a
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'
T H E RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
10
ri n e s H e wa s accomp an i e d by Li e ut en an t J E B S t uar t
afte r w a rds a famou s C on fe de ra t e Caval ry G en e ral ; al so by
M aj or Russ el l an d by L i eut ena n t I sra el Gr e en wh o di ed s ev
e ral mon t h s ago i n th e We st All w er e r egula r a rmy o ffi c ers
C ol on el Le e r egard e d i t as u nwi s e t o a tt ack t h e engi n e h ou s e
th a t n i gh t feari ng th at C ol on el L ewi s W Wa sh i ng t on o r
oth er p ri son ers m i gh t: b e ki ll e d E arl y i n t h e m orn i n g h e
s en t L i e ut en an t J E B S tu art wh o h a d on c e h el d B rown a s
a p ri son e r i n Kan sa s to d eman d a n i m m e di a t e a n d u n c on di
ti o na l s u rren de r B rown r e fu s e d t o t r u s t h i m s el f an d m en
t o t h e Un i t e d S t at e s o ffi c er s A b o u tl th i s t i m e Col on el Rob
e r t E L e e go t w i th i n r an ge of Cap t ai n C o ppo c s ri fl e Pri s
on ers sai d t h a t M r Grah a m knocke d th e m u zzl e a si d e L e e s
l i fe W as sav e d H a d h e b een t h en kil l e d W h o know s t h a t th e
b a t t l e s o f An t i e t am G e tt ysb u rg an d th e fin al co n fl i c t s n o rth
!
O n th e
o f t h e Ap poma t t ox w o u l d h av e ever b e en fough t
C on fed era t e si d e n o a b l e r gen eral o r mo r e ma gn i fi c en t m an
ever sa t o n a sa ddl e t h a n R ob er t E L e e H e w a s t h e son of
“
”
Li gh t H ors e H a r ry L e e a b rav e M aj o r Gen eral o f t h e R ev
H e was t h e fa t h er of Wil l i am H en ry Fi t z
o l u t io n a r y W ar :
h u g h L e e w h o b ecam e a M aj o r G en eral o f t h e Con fe d era t e
fo rc e s o f Vi rgi ni a a t a l a t e r d a t e Gen eral R o b er t E L e e
m ad e a b ri l li an t reco r d i n t h e M exi can w a r a s Ch i ef E n g i n e e r
o f t h e Un i t e d S t a t e s army Af t e r su rren de ri n g h is d eci m a t e d
a rm y t o G en eral Ulyss e s S G r a n t a t Ap poma tt o x h e a c
t h e pol it i cal si tu a ti on w i t h di gn i ty H e b ecam e
c e pt e d
P r esi d en t of t h e Wa sh i n g t on Un iv ers i t y a t L e x i n gton Vi r
gi n i a T h e S o u t h l avi sh e d o n h i m every pos si b l e h on or
D u ri n g t h e l a t e s umm e r t h e Vi rgi ni a l egi sl a t u r e p l a c e d i n th e
N ati on al H al l of Fa m e a t th e Un i t ed S t a t es Ca p i t ol t wo fi n e
s t a tu e s o f t wo r ep r es en t a t i ve m en of t h ei r s t a t e O n e wa s
th e s t a tu e Of Gen eral G eorge Wa sh i ng t on ; th e o t h e r th a t o f
G en e ral Ro b er t E L e e
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‘
B y t h e a dvi c e o f Col on el L ewi s W Wash i n g t on al l of
B rown s p ri son e r s m o u n t e d th e fi re engi n e an d th e re el c a r
r ia ge an d l i fte d u p t h ei r h an ds w h en t h e a tt ack b egan
T h re e
m ari n e s u n d er t ook t o b a tt e r do w n t h e doo rs wi t h h eav y
.
’
.
TH E
RA I D
OF
11
JOH N BRO W N
sl edge h amm er s Th ey w ere n o t su cc es sful T h en tw el ve
mari n e s s tru ck th e doors wi th th e en d of a stron g l a dd er
Th ey op en ed L i eut en an t Gre en en t e re d first of al l am i d st a
show e r of b u l l e t s
D i scoveri n g B rown rel oa di n g h i s ri fl e
h e sp ran g on h i m wi th h i s sword a n d c u t h i s h ea d a n d
stoma ch Th e ra i d er C ap tai n An de rso n ro s e to sh oo t Gr e en
A m a ri n e na m e d Lu k e ! u i n n ra n h i s b ayon et th rou g h h i m
Anoth er ra i d e r sh o t L u k e ! u i n n w ho soo n d i e d T W O oth e r
m a ri n e s w e r e W ou n d ed I saw C ap ta i n s An d erson a n d W a t
s on B ro w n a s th ey lay dyi n g on th e gra ss afte r th ei r cap t u re
Th e d ea d b ody o f C aptai n O l iv e r B row n l ay b esi d e th em
C a p tai n Wa tson B rown ha d b e en dyi n g fo r s ixt e en h ou rs
C a ptai n Joh n B rown b l e ed in g p ro fu s ely an d C ap ta i n S teph
en s from th e h otel w er e carri e d i nto th e paym a ster s o ffic e
B r o w n s l on g grey b ear d w a s stai n e d wi th w et bl oo d H e
wa s b ar e h ea d e d H i s shi rt an d tro u s ers w er e gr ey i n col or
H i s t rou s e rs w er e t u cke d i n to th e top of h i s b oo t s Capta i n
Co p p o c an d th e n egro Gr e en w er e al so tak en p ri son ers Th ey
w ere n ot wou n d ed
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’
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’
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’
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A s B r o wn l ay on th e fl oo r o f th e p ay ma s t e r s o ffic e h e
wa s v ery cool an d co u rageo u s Gov erno r H en ry A Wi s e
Un i t e d S t at e s S en ato r J M M a son of V i rgi n ia a n d Hon or
abl e C l em en t L Val la n d i ngh a m of Oh i o pl i e d h i m w ith m a n v
q u e sti on s T o al l h e gav e i n tell i gen t an d fea rl e s s r e
H e re fu s e d to i nvolv e h i s N orth ern fin a n ci e rs an d a dvi s ers
H e took th e enti re r esp on sib i l i ty on h im s el f
H e t ol d Gov t;
“
e r n o r Wi s e th a t h e
B rown w a s si m p ly An i n s t ru m en t i n
”
t h e h a n d s o f P r o v id e n c e
H e s ai d t o som e n ewspa p er co r
“
r espon d ents an d oth er s :
I W i sh t o say th at: you h a d b e t t e r
— all you p eop l e of th e S o uth — p repar e for a s ettl em en t o f
this q u e sti on ! o u m ay d i sp os e of m e ve ry ea s i ly I a m
n ea rly di spo s ed o f n ow B u t th i s q u esti on i s y et t o b e s e t
”
—
t l ed
th i s n egro qu e sti on I m ean T h e en d i s n o t y e t
fo re th i rt een month s h a d p a ss e d on e o f th e gr ea t e st A m er i
ca n s of a n
y c entur y Ab rah am Li n col n ha d b e en el e c t ed
P re si d en t of th e U n i te d Stat es ; th e Rep ub l i can pa r t y w a s
for th e fi rst ti m e dom i na t i n g n ati on al a ff ai rs a n d soon th e re
’
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TH E
R A ID
OF
J O H N BR OW N
a f t e r th e Ci vil Wa r wa s b eg u n wh i c h c u l m i n a t e d i n th e
phy si cal fre edom o f every sla v e i n th i s Re p u b l i c
O n We dn es day C apta in s Joh n B rown S t eph en s an d
C o pp o c al on g w i th Cop el an d an d Gr e en w er e r emoved t o
t h e cou n t y j ai l a t Charl e s t ow n t en mi l e s south of H a rp er s
Ferry B ei n g acq u a in te d w i th th e j a i lo r Captai n J ohn Av i s
I wa s p ermi tte d to vi s i t B ro w n o n o n e occa si on Cap tai n
Aaro n D S teph en s wa s lyi n g o n a co t i n t h e sam e room I
WB s t ol d th at B rown h a d ord ere d ou t o f h i s r o o m a P r es by
t e ri an m i n i ste r n am e d Low rey wh en h e ha d p ropo s e d t o o ff e r
p ray e r H e h a d al so sai d t o m y fi r st col l eagu e R e v Ja m e s
“
H M a rch ! o u do n o t kn ow th e m ean i n g of th e word Ch ri s
t ia n it y
O f c o u rs e I r egard yo u a s a gentl eman b u t on ly a s
”
a h e a th e n gentl em an
I w a s a dvi s e d to sa y n o t h in g to h i m
ab out p ray e r H e h ad t ol d oth er vi si tor s th at h e wan t e d n o
m i n i st er to p ray w i t h h i m wh o w o ul d n o t b e w i ll i n g t o di e
t o fre e a sl av e
I w as n o t con s ci o u s th a t I wa s rea d y fo r
m artyrdom from B rown s s t an dp oi n t I h av e n eve r b e en
anxi ou s t o d i e to s av e th e l ife of any b o d y M y l i fe i s a s
val u ab l e t o m e an d my fami ly a s any oth er m an s i s t o h i m
an d h i s fa m i ly B u t yo un g a s I wa s I h a t e d Am er i c a n
“
”
sla v ery I wa s a b oy m i n i s t e r of a g r ea t anti sl ave ry d e
no mi nati o n o f Ch ri s t i an s Fo r m or e t h an a c en t u r y t h e
M etho di s t E p i scop al C hu rch h a s ca rri e d i n its D i sci pl i n es i t s
p ri n t e d t e s t i m ony aga i n s t sl avery I t i s t o day th e l arge s t
fu lly o rgan i z e d a n t i sl ave ry so c i e t y o n ear t h I woul d have
gl a dly o ffer e d p ray er i n B rown s room a t Ch arl es t ow n i f an
h on orab l e op p or t u n i ty h a d b e en a ffo rd ed
A t h i s p r el i m i n ary exa mi na t ion b efo r e fi ve j u s t i c es Col
“
on el
D avenport p r es i di n g B row n s ai d :
Vi rgi n i an s ! I di d
I di d no t a sk t o
n o t a sk fo r q u a r t er at t h e t i m e I w a s t a k en
h ave my l i fe S pa r ed ! o u r gov ern o r a s s u re d m e of a fai r
t ri al I f you s e ek my b l oo d you c a n h ave i t a t an y t i m e
wi th out thi s m ocke ry of a t ri a l I h av e no co u n s el I h av e
n o t b e en a b l e t o a dvi s e w i t h a n y on e
I kn ow n oth i n g of
th e fe el i n gs of my fel l o w p ri son ers an d am u tterl y u nabl e t o
atten d to my ow n d e fen s e I f a f ai r t ria l i s to b e al lowe d
th ere a r e m i ti ga t in g ci rcum s tanc es t o b e u rged B ut i f w e
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14
T H E RA ID
OF
J O H N BROW N
thos e w h o o u gh t to tak e a d iffer en t co u rs e i n regard to m e
i f t h e v take any a t all I vi ew i t w i th con t em p t: m or e th an
oth erw i s e I a m p erfect l y u n con sci o u s of i n san i t y an d I r e
m
e
c
a
a
a
l
so
far
s
I
c
b
any att em pts to i n t e rfer e i n my
t
a
e
j
p
”
b eh al f o n th a t sco re
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'
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O n t h e l a st d ay of th e tri al O c t ob er 3 1 s t aft er si x
h ou rs of a rgu m e n t b y H u n te r C hi lton an d Gri sw ol d th e
“
j u ry d el i ver e d th e foll ow i n g ve rd i c t :
Gu i l ty of trea son
an d of con sp i ri n g an d a dv 1 s 1 n g W i th sl a ve s a n d oth er s to r e b el ;
”
a n d of m u rd er i n th e fi r st d e g r e e
O n VVe d n e s
day N ovemb e r th e 2 n d , h e w as b rou gh t i nto co u r t t o
r ec e i ve hi s s en t en c e Th e Cou n t y Cl e rk Rob er t H B rown
a sked
H av e yo u anyth i n g t o s ay wh y s enten c e shou l d
”
n o t b e pas s ed on you !
B row n l ean i n g on a can e sl owly
a ros e from h i s ch ai r an d w i th pl a i n t iv e em p h a si s a d d res s ed
Ju dge P ark er a s fol l ow s :
“
I h av e m ay i t p l ea s e t h e co u rt a few wo rd s to say
I n th e fi rs t p lac e I d eny everyth i n g b u t wh a t I h av e all
alon g a dm i tt ed th e d e s ign on m y pa r t to fr e e t h e sl ave s
I c er t ai n ly i nt en de d t o hav e ma d e a cl ean th in g o f
t h a t m a tt e r a s I di d l a st w i nt e r w h en I w en t i nto
M i sso u r 1 an d too k sl av e s w i th ou t th e sn ap p in g o f a g u n o n
ei th e r s i d e m ov ed th em th rough th e co u ntry an d fin al ly l ef t
th em i n Can a da I d esi gn e d to h av e don e th e sam e th in g
agai n o n a l a r g er scal e T hat w a s al l I i nt en d ed I n ev er
di d i n t e nd m u rd er o r t r ea son o r th e d estru cti on o f p rop erty
o r to exci t e or i nci te sl av e s to r eb el l i on or t o m ak e in s u r r e c
ti on I h av e a n oth er o b j ecti on an d th a t i s th at i t i s u nj u s t
th at I sh oul d su ff e r su ch a p enal ty H a d I i n terfere d i n th e
m an n e r Wh i ch I adm i t a n d wh i ch I a dm i t h a s b e en fai rly
p rov ed fo r I a dmi re th e truth f u l n es s an d can do r of th e
grea t e r p or t i on o f th e w i tn es s e s w h o h a ve t e sti fi e d i n th i s
—
ca s e h a d I so i nt erfere d i n b eh al f of t h e ri ch t h e pow e rf u l
th e i n te l l ige nt t h e s o call e d great ; o r i n b eh al f of a ny o f
th ei r fri en ds ei th e r fath er m oth e r si s t e r b roth er wi fe o r
ch i l dr en o r any of t h at cl ass an d s u ff er e d an d sac ri fic e d
wh at I have i n t h i s i n terfe ren c e i t woul d h av e b e en a ll ri gh t
a n d eve ry m an in th i s co u rt w o u l d h av e d ee m e d i t a n a c t
‘
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RA ID
TH E
J OH N
OF
'
B R OW N
wo rthy of r ewa rd rath e r t h an p un i sh m en t
a ckn o w l edge s a s I s u ppo se th e val i di ty of t h e
e
s
e
e
a
b
ook
h
er
e
w
h
i
ch
I
s
u
pp
os
e
i
s
th
e
B
ib
l
d
i
s
e
k
s
I
a t l ea s t th e N ew T e s t a m en t T h at t each e s m e th a t al l th i n
w hatso eve r I woul d t h a t m e n sh oul d do t o m e I sh ou l d do
ev en u n t o th em I t t ea ch e s m e fu r t h er t o R em em ber th em
th a t a r e i n b on ds a s b ou n d wi t h th em
I en d eavore d to a c t
u p t o th at i n s tr u ction I say th at I a m ye t t o o youn g to
u n d ersta n d th a t Go d i s a ny r e sp ect e r o f p e rson s I b el i ev e
t h at t o h av e i n t erfer e d a s I h av e d on e a s I h ave always a d
i n b e h al f o f H i s d e sp i s e d p oor
m it t e d fr e ely I h av e don e
wa s n o t w ron g b u t r igh t N o w i f i t i s d e em e d n ec es sary
tha t I sh ou l d fo rfei t my l i fe fo r t h e fu rth era n c e of t h e en d s
o f j u sti c e an d m in gl e m y bl oo d fu rth e r w i th t h e b loo d of
my ch i l d ren an d w i t h th e b l oo d of mi ll i on s i n t h i s sl av e cou n
t ryw ho s e r l gh t s a r e d i s regard e d by w i ck e d c ru el an d u nj u st
en ac t m en ts I su b mi t S o l e t i t b e don e
“
Le t m e say on e wor d fu rth e r I fe el en ti rely sa ti sfi e d w i th
th e t r ea tm e n t I h av e r ec ei ved on my tri al Con s i d eri n g al l
t h e c i rcu m stan c e s it ha s b e en mor e gen erou s t ha n I exp ec t e d
B u t I fe el n o con s cio u sn e s s of g u i lt I n ever ha d a n v d esign
a gai n st th e l i fe of any p erson n o r a n y dj s po sit io n t o c omm i t
t rea son o r exc it e sl aves t o r eb ell i on or make a ny gen e ral 1 n
s u rrecti on I n ev er en cou ra ge d a ny m a n to do so b u t always
d i scou ra ge d any i d ea of th e ki n d
“
L e t m e say a wo rd i n r e g ard t o t h e s t a t em en t s m a d e
by som e of th os e co n n ec t ed w i t h m e I h ea r i t ha s b e en s t at ed
by som e o f th em tha t I i n du c e d t h em t o j o i n m e B u t t h e
c on t ra ry i s t r u e I d o n o t s ay th i s t o i n j u re th em b u t a s ne
gar ds th ei r w eakn e ss T h e re i s n ot o n e o f t h e m b u t j oi n ed
m e o f h i s o w n acco rd an d t h e great e r pa r t of th e m a t t h ei r own
e xp en s e
A n u mb er of th em I n ev e r saw an d n eve r ha d a
wo rd o f c o nve rsati on wi th t i l l th e day t h ey cam e t o m e an d
”
th a t Wa s for th e p urpos e I h ave s t a t ed N ow I a m don e I
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B rown s s t a t e m en t wa s n o t exactl y s u sta i n e d b y th e
fact s , W hy h ad h e c o l l ec t e d th e S h arp e s ri fl e s t h e p ike s
t h e fk e gs of p o w d e r m a n y t h o u san d s of ca p s an d m uch w a r
l i ke m a t eri al at t h e Ken n edy fa rm ! W hy di d h e an d o t h er
'
"
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BR O W N
16
arm ed m en b r ea k i n t o t h e Un i t ed S tate s A rmo ry an d Ar s enal
make p ortho l es i n th e engi n e hou s e sh oo t a n d kil l c iti z en s
an d su rro u n d t h ei r own i mp r ison e d p e rson s w i th p rom i n en t
!
m en a s h osta ge s
B u t eve ry b o dy i n t h e cou r t h ou s e b e
l ie v e d th e o l d m an wh en h e sai d t h a t h e d i d every t h i n g w i t h
a sol i ta ry motiv e t h e l i b era t i on o f t h e sl av e s
,
,
,
:
.
,
J u dge Pa rk e r coul d u n d er h i s oath do n o t hi n g el s e th a n
s e n tenc e h i m to b e h u n g H e fixe d th e da t e fo r F ri day
e secon d o f D ec emb e r B rown s cou n s el ap p eal ed t o t h e
rem e Co u r t of Vi rgi n i a I t s fiv e j u dges u n an i mou sl y
su s t ai n e d th e acti on o f th e J e ff erso n c o u n t y co ur t
B row n wa s h u n g on t h e b ri gh t a n d b ea ut i ful morn i n g of
D ecemb e r 2 n d at
o cl ock A t h i s r e q u es t An dr ew
H un te r w rot e h i s w i l l H e th e n vi si t e d h i s fell ow pr i son ers
w ho w e re al l ex ec ut e d a t a l a t er da t e H e ro d e t o h i s d ea t h
b etw e en S h e ri ff Camp b el l an d Capta i n Avi s i n a f u rn i tu r e
wa go n d rawn by two wh i t e h o rs es H e di d n o t ri d e s eate d
on h i s co ffin a s s om e of h i s ch i e f eul ogi sts h av e a ffi rm e d
T h e wagon w a s e scor t e d to th e sca ff ol d b y S t a t e m il i t a ry
com pan i e s N o c i ti z en s w e re all ow e d n ea r t o t h e j ai l
H en c e h e d i d n o t ki s s a ny n egro b a by a s h e e m erge d from
h i s p ri son a s M r Wh i t t i er h a s d e sc rib e d i n a po em on th e
even t an d a s a r t i s t s h av e m em ori al iz e d i n p ai n t i ngs Th e
utt e r a b su rdi t y o f s u ch an i n ci d en t o ccu rri n g u n d e r s u ch su r
rou n din gs any Vi rgi ni an w il l s e e Avi s Campb el l an d
H u n t er p ub l i cly d en i e d i t B u t t h e sto ry wi l l do ub t l e s s
h ave i mmortal i ty
I n on e of t h e c om pa n i es of sol d i ers
wal ke d t h e ac t o r J oh n W il ke s B o o t h t h e i n fa mo u s a s sas s i n
o f Ab rah am Li n c o l n A t t h e h ea d of t h e L exi n gton ca de t s
wal ked P ro fe s so r Thom as J e ff erso n J ackson w h o b e c am e
a n a b l e C onfed era t e Gen eral an d i s b es t known t o t h e worl d
“
”
a s S t on ewal l Jackson
A s th e p ar t y n eare d th e gall ows
B rown gaz ed on t h e gl o r i o u s p ano ram a of m oun t ai n a n d
“
l an dscap e sc en ery Th en h e sai d :
T h i s i s a b ea u t i f u l
”
cou n t ry
H e wo r e a b la ck s l ou ch h a t w i t h t h e fron t t i pp e d
up
R
eac
h
i
n
g
t
h
e
sca
ff
ol
d
t
h
e
n
u
m
erou
s
t
a
t
e
t
ro
op
s
S
i
for m e d i n t o a h ol low s q u are B rown m o u n t e d t h e pl a tfor m
w ith o ut t re p i da ti on S t a n di n g on t h e dro p h e s a i d t o th e
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17
T H E RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
“
sh eri ff a n d h i s a ss i sta n ts :
G entl e m e n ! I th an k you fo r
you r kin dn ess to m e I a m rea dy at a n y ti m e D o n ot
”
ke ep m e wa i ti n g
T h e dro p fel l a n d i n t en m i n u te s D r
Th a t ev eni n g M r s B rown
M a so n p ronoun ce d h i m d ea d
a n d h e r fri en ds r ec ei ve d th e ca ske t a t H arp er s Fe rry an d
accom pan i e d i t to th e ol d hom e a t N orth E l b a N !
His
fu n eral a s rep o rt e d b y th e m etrop ol i ta n pap e rs took pl a c e
th er e s i x day s afte r h i s ex ecu t i on A n i mm en s e con c ou rs e
wa s i n atten dan c e T h e c on sp i cuo u s an d b ri l li an t ora t or
W en d el l P hi ll i p s d el iver e d th e a ddr es s H e cl o se d i t wi t h
“
th e se words :
I n th i s cotta g e h e gir d e d h i m s el f an d w e n t
fo rth to b at t l e F ul l e r s u c c es s t h a n h i s h ear t ev e r d rea m e d
o f G o d ha d gra nt e d h i m
H e sl e ep s i n t h e b l e ssi n g s of t h e
c ru sh e d a n d th e p oo r
M e n b el i ev e m or e fi rm l y i n vi r tu e
”
n ow th a t su c h a ma n h a s l ive d
P er son al l y I remai n e d i n
Vi r g i n i a
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O n th e day th a t B rown wa s h u n g M a r t yr S e r v ic e s a s
t h e y w e re cal l ed w ere h el d i n ma ny N o r t h ern l ocal i ti e s A t
Con cord D r E dm un d S ears rea d a p o em i n w h i ch a r e t h e s e
s t an za s :
,
.
,
,
.
“
N ot a ny sp ot si x fe e t b y t wo
W i l l hol d a m an l i k e th e e :
J oh n B rown w i l l tra m p th e sh aki n g e a rth
From B l u e R i d g e t o th e s ea
T il l th e stron g an gel co m es a t l en gth
An d op e s each dun g eo n doo r ;
An d Go d s Grea t Ch a rt e r h ol d s a n d wave s
O e r al l t h e h u mb l e poo r
,
’
’
.
An d th en th e h u m b l e p o o r m ay com e
I n th a t fa r d i s t an t da y
A n d from th e fel on s n am el es s gra ve
Wi l l b ru sh th e l eave s away :
An d gra y ol d m en wi ll poi n t th e spo t
B en eath th e p in e tr e e s sh a d e
A s ch il dr e n a sk wi th stream i n g eye s
”
Wh er e ol d Joh n B rown wa s l a i d
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T H E RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
18
B e for e h e w a s ex ecut e d m any th reat en i n g c o m m u n ic a
ti on s w ere r ec ei v e d by th e Vi rgi ni a S tat e an d J e ffe rso n
Cou n ty o ffic e rs Large n umb ers of E C S te dm an s p o em
“
”
enti tl e d Joh n B rown of O s s a w a t t a m ie
w er e s catter ed
ab o ut C harl estown O n e stan za r eads a s foll ow s :
’
‘
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“
B ut Vi rgi n i an s ! D on t do i t fo r I t el l yo u
th a t th e fla go n
F i ll e d w ith b l oo d of O l d B rown s o ff spri n g
wa s first pou re d by S outh e rn h an d s ;
An d ea ch d ro p from Ol d B rown s l i fe v ei n s
l ik e th e r e d gore o f th e dragon
M a y sp ri ng u p a v en gefu l F u ry h i ss in g th ro u gh
you r sl ave w orn l a n d s :
An d O l d B rown
O s s o w a t t a m ie B rown
M a y t roub l e yo u m or e th an ever
”
\Vh en y o u v e n ai l e d h i s co ffi n dow n
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’
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Wh e t h e r th ey b e from th e N o rth o r th e S outh fa i r
in d e d m en wh o a r e th orough ly conv ersa n t w i th th e h i sto ry
th i s ra i d c a n h ardly ch eri sh any doub t c on c ern i ng t h e
e of th e i nva si on t h e fai rn es s of B rown s tri al an d t h e
i s convi cti on an d execu ti on
H e fel l u n d er th e
t
di r ecti on of a m i s gu i d e d c on sci enc e T h e m
r
i ts
1 ts a s to
a
th a t ph il o s o h e r s c 1 con
t h e m ora l m er it or d em eri t of acti on s an d a ff ecti on s wa s
strangely w a rp ed i n B rown s i nt en s e a n d b rav e ch a ra ct e r
Th e poss essi on of th i s fa cu l t y o f con sc i en c e I S t h e m a s s w e
fou n dati on of a l l h u ma n re spon sib il i ty I l l u strati on s of t h
n c e c an p erp e t rat e
i
e
c
m
a re m an i fol d al on g th e p age s o f sac re d a n d s ecu l a r h i s t ory
Wh en J e su s l ook e d down th e a i sl e s of th e fu t u re H e
i d to H i s d i sci pl es th a t th e m en wh o woul d fin al ly t r a n s fi g
e th em i nt o marty rs wo u l d mu rder th em i n th e b el i e f th a t
th ey w e re r en deri n g acc ep ta b l e s ervi c e to God
Paul d ecl a re d that h e r ega rd ed h i m s el f a s m e eti n g th e
divi n e app roval wh e n h e wa s p er se cu ti n g an d mu rd eri n g
th e p ri m i ti ve Ch ri sti an s
,
,
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’
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‘
u
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o
t
o
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TH E
R
A ID OF JOH N BROW N
19
Wh en th e o ffi c ers of th e S pa n i sh I n q u i si t i o n s aw t h e
a g on i e s of th e v i cti m s w h o r e fu s e d to ren ou n c e t h ei r r el i g
“
”
i ou s c re e d s th ey j oyfu lly excl ai m ed Let Go d b e gl ori fi ed
Charl es th e N i n th of F ra n c e sai d h e w a s con sci en ti ou s
i n o rd eri n g th e Sa i n t Ba rthol om ew m a s sa cr e th at r esul te d i n
t h e m u rde r i n F ren ch c i ti e s of t e n s o f th ou san d s o f C h ri s
t i a n H u ge n ot s
T h e B l oo dy ! u e en M a ry T u do r sa i d sh e h a d a pu r e
con sc i en c e w l i e n s h e s en t t o th e sca ffol d t h e l ea r n e d an d g en
tl e youn g E x ! u e en La d y J an e Grey Th ou san ds of cri m
in a l s h av e sh el te re d th e i r cri m e s in th e templ e o f C o n s ci en c e
Th e t ren d of B ro w n s con stan t d efen c e wa s th at h e ob e y
e d hi s co n sc i enc e H i s l awl e s s con du c t th e d eath of many
o f h i s pa rty an d th e m u r d er of V i rg i n i a C i t i z en s gav e h i m
v ery Iit Il e a pparen t i n te l l ectua l u n re st
He sow e d to t h e
W i n d an d r ea ed th e 10 i cal harv e s t i f i t i s th e a r o r i at e
wo r d I h e wh i rlw i n d
B row n s h i gh C a lvi n i sm b o rd ere d on fatal i sm O l i ve r
Cromw el l n ev e r b el i eve d m o re ra di cal ly i n t h e Io r e or din a
t i on of al l h u ma n acti on s th an di d h e Wh en q u e s t i on e d con
“
c ern i n g th e a i u r e o f th i s i nva si on h e repl ied : Al l o f o u r a c t
i on s ev en al l o f th e foll i e s th a t l e d to t i s isa s t e r w e r e d e
”
c re e d to h ap p en a ge s b efor e th e w orl d wa s m a d e
W h en
“
J u dge Ru s s el l v i s i t e d h i m h e sai d :
I know th a t th e ve ry
e rro rs by w h i ch my s ch em e w a s m arre d w e re d ec re e d b efo re
th e w orl d w as m a d e I Mh a d n o m o r e t o do w ith th e c ou rs e I
pu rsu ed th a n a sho t l ea vin g a ca n no n ha s to do w i th th e spo t
”
wh er e i t shal l fal l
“
I t i s wh en pa tri oti c m e n r ea d th e s t o ry o f Joh n B rown s
”
R ai d by th e torch e s o f P r es i d en t Li n col n s early el e cti on th e
Ci vi l Wa r an d th e E man ci p ati on of al l Am e ri ca n sl ave s th a t
th ey s e em to b ecom e b l i n d to th e t erri bl e c ri min al .fea t u r e s
of th e i nva s i on an d l ook only a t th e n a t i on al r e sul t s an d th e
m a gn ifi c ie n t c ou ra ge
b en evol en t m oti ve s an d su p rem e s el f
sa cri fi c e o f th i s m artyr! M u l ti tu d e s o f vi si on ary m e n r egard
h i m a s a d ivi n ely appoi nt ed Joh n th e B a pti st ra i s e d u p to
u sh e r i n th e day of phy si cal f re edom for ev e ry sl ave o n
Am eri can soil a n d th ei r po ste ri ty t o th e en d of ti m e T h e v
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RA ID
TH E
OF
JOH N BROW N
cl ai m th at i n thi s in stan c e
H i s ra i d m a d e th e N o rth sol i d aga i n st th e sl av e syst em an d
th e S ou th a s sol i d a gai n st an ti sl a very th eo ri es an d agita tors
B efo re th e B rown ra i d th e vote for J oh n C F r emon t th e R e
publ i can can di date fo r Pre si d en t wa s 1 341 0 0 0 Jam e s B u ch
a nan h ad 496000 m aj ori ty Th e y ea r afte r th e ra i d Ab rah am
Li n col n rec e ived 1 8860 0 0 vot e s for Pre si d en t an d h a d 491 0 00
m aj o ri ty ov er St eph en A D ou gla s wh en th e Sou th vot e d for
Fr em on t ha d 1 1 4 vote s i n th e E l ec
\ a n oth e r D em oc ra t
tor al C ol l ege L i n col n h ad 1 8 0 Un d er h i s p re s i d en cy th e
em an ci pati o n o f ev ery sl ave on th e n ati onal soil took pl a ce
T h e n ati on s of E u rop e l earn ed fo r th e fir st ti m e th e i m portant
l e sson t h a t th e Un i te d Stat e s wa s ab l e to mai n ta i n i ts n ati o n
a l u n i ty
T h i s rai d b eyon d q u esti on h ast en e d i n th e C ivi l
\Va r
I h av e s e en F ed eral regi m ent s ma rch i ng on to b attl e
enthu si a sti cally s i n g in g :
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“
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Joh n B rown s b ody l i es a m o u l d r in g i n t h e grave
”
B u t h i s sou l i s m arch in g on
A few w e eks a fter B ro w n s ex ec u ti on Vi cto r H u go sa id
“
Wh a t th e S ou th sl ew l as t D ec emb er w a s no t J oh n B row n
”
b u t sl ave ry
H i s stat em en t d evel op e d i nto a col os sal h is t o r i
cal t ruth T h e gr ea t sta t e sman o ra t or a n d s en ato r J oh n J
I n gal l s of Ka n sa s cl os ed a n o rati on w i th th es e r em arkab l e
wor d s :
“
C arlyl e say s th a t wh en any great ch an ge i n h uma n s o
rai s e s u p m en t o w h om th a t
c ie t y i s t o b e w ro u gh t God
ch ange i s ma d e to app ea r a s t h e on e th i n g n e ed ful an d a b
S ch ol a r s orato r s po e t s p h il a n t h r o
s o l u t e l y i n d i sp en sab l e
i
s
p
l
ay
t
h
ei
r
p
arts
b
u
t
th
e
c
ri
si
s
com
es
a
t
l
a
st
th
rough
s
t
p
s om e on e w ho i s sti gm a t i z ed a s a fanati c b v h i s c o n t e m po r
ari e s an d wh om t h e s u pport ers of t h e sys t e ms h e a ssa il s
c ru ci fy b et w e en th ei ve s or gi bb e t a s a fel on T h e m a n wh o
i s n o t a fra i d to di e for a n i d ea i s t h e m ost p ot enti al a n d con
V in c in g a dvoca t e
“
Al rea dy t h e grea t i n t el l ect u al l ea d ers of th e m ovem en t
for t h e ab ol i ti on of sl avery a r e d ea d T h e s t u de nt o f th e
futu re w i l l e x h u m e th ei r orati on s a rgum en t s an d stat e p a
p ers a s a pa rt o f t h e su b te rran ean h i story of t h e epo ch
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22
TH E
RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
qu it e c ertai n th a t th e c ri m e s of th i s gu i lty l an d wi l l n ever b e
p u r g ed awa y b u t w i th b l ood I h a d a s I n ow th i n k va in l y
flatte re d my s el f that w i th ou t v ery m u ch b loodsh e d i t m i gh t
b e do n e f
,
,
,
’
H i s su rp a ss i n g b rav ery a n d s elf s a c r ifi c in g can do r p ro
Govern o r H enry
fo u n dl y i mp re s se d em i n en t Vi rgi n i an s
“
A Wi s e sa i d :
H e i s a b u n dl e of th e b est n erve s I ever s aw
c u t a n d thru st ; a n d b l e ed i n g a n d i n b on d s H e i s a man o f
cl ea r h ead of co u rage for ti t u d e an d s i mpl e i ngen u ou sn ess
H e i s cool col l ec t e d i n dom itab l e ; a n d it i s b ut j u st to h i m
t o say th a t h e w a s h u man e to h i s p ri son ers H e i s a fan ati c
C ol on el L ew i s W
b u t firm an d truth fu l an d i nt ell igen t
Wa sh i n gto n a n d C ap ta i n J oh n E P D angerfi el d b or e t est i
m ony to h i s cou ra g e
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B rown s won d erful m ora l h e ro i s m b ecam e re sp l en d en t
a ft er J u dge Ri ch ar d Pa rke r h a d s en t en c e d h im to d eath
M a ny o f h i s l ett ers to h i s fri e n ds col l ecte d an d pub l i sh e d by
M r F B S a nf or d; w oul d h av e don e h ono r to th e p en of P aul
H e wa s exul tan t from th e stan dpoi n t of a h appy s pi ri tu al
e x p eri en c e an d tri u mph an t a s h e ga z e d b e yon d th i s mo rtal
“
l i fe I n o n e of h i s l a st l ett e rs h e w rot e th e s e wo rd s : I sl e ep
a s p ea c e ful ly a s a n i n fan t o r i f I a m wak efu l gl or i ou s thou gh ts
c om e to m e ent erta i n i n g m y m i n d I do n ot b eli eve I sh al l
d eny my Lord an d M a st er J e su s Ch ri st i n th i s p ri son o r o n
th e sca ffol d B ut I sh oul d do so i f I d en i e d my p ri nc i pl e s
S u rely h e m u st hav e b e e n s in c er e a s h e
agai n st sl avery
fac e d ete rn i t y
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A s ea rly a s 1 8 2 0 J oh n ! u i n c y A da m s sai d of th e
“
th row o f Am eri ca n sl av ery T h e ob j ect i s va st i n i ts
s
i
as
aw
ful
n
i
ts
ros
ects
an
d
sub
l
i
m
e
n
b
ea
u
i
f
a
d
p
i ssu es A l i fe d evoted to i t w oul d b e n o b l s en t or
”
fic e d
John B rown al on g i ll egal a n d c ri m i n al l in es
b efor e t h e worl d su ch a l i fe a n d d eath H e s a w cl earl y
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ll
ov e r
com
in its
s ac ri
l ac e d
what
q u e sti on h e di ed a s em ph ati cally for th e ov erth row of
sl av e ry a s Pa ul d i ed fo r th e h on o r of Ch ri sti an i ty T h r e e
o f h i s favo ri t e b ooks w ere th e l i fe stori es of m en of gr ea t
a
.
T H E RA ID
OF
23
JOH N BR O W N
“
”
“
T h e Li f e
a ch i ev em en ts
Th e Li fe o f Ol ive r Cro mw el l
“
”
of M a rco B o z a r r is a n d T h e Li fe of Wi ll i a m Wal l ac e
S om e y ea rs a go i n an oratio n del i ve re d a t H arp er s
th e d i sti n gu i sh ed fre e dm a n an d o ra to r th e l at e F r e
“
D ougl as s sai d : I f J oh n B rown d i d n ot en d th e w a
en d e d slavery h e di d a t l ea st b egi n th e w a r th a t en d ed 5 1
I f w e loo k ove r th e dat e s pl ac e s an d m en for w h ich
th i s ho no r i s cl a i m e d w e sh al l fi n d th at n ot C arol i na b u t
Vi rgi n i a ; no t Fort S u m te r blut H arp e r s F e rry an d th e
Un i ted S tat e s A rs en al ; n ot M aj o r An d erso n b u t J oh n B rown
b egan th e wa r that en de d Am e ri ca n slavery an d m a d e th i s
a fre e r ep ub l i c Un ti l t h i s b l ow wa s stru ck t h e p rosp e ct wa s
di m sh adowy a n d u n c ertain Th e i rrep res sib l e con fl ic t wa s
on e of word s vot es a n d com p ro m i s es Wh e n J oh n B rown
stre t ch ed fo r t h h i s ar m t h e sky wa s cl ea re d th e ti m e fo r
com p ro m i s e wa s gon e th e a rm e d h o sts s too d fa c e t o fa c e
ove r th e chas m of a b rok en Un i on a n d t h e cla sh of a rm s wa s
”
at h an d
An d l e t i t b e r em e m b e re d tha t wh en B row n h a d tol d
D ou gla s s th e d eta i l s of h i s p rop o s ed i nva si on a t H arp e r s
F erry D o u gla ss b egge d h i m to ab an don h i s p l an s a n d a ssu re d
hi m th at th ey wou l d e n d a s th ey di d i n u n tol d di sa st e r
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c hi ef au thor s w h o h ave w ri tt en co n ce rn i n g John
B row n an d h i s i nva si on w er e n o r i n Vi rgi ni a du ri n g th e forty
fo u r day s i n terven i ng b etw ee n th e ra i d a n d h i s execu ti o n
T h ey w er e d esti tu t e of any p erson al kn owl ed ge of th e
Th ey w ere b i tt e r en em i e s o f th e S ou t h a n d mo st i nt en s e
m ir e r s of th e i n trepi d m an e x ecut e d a t Ch arl e stown
T
n a rra ti ve s a r e rep l et e wi th e rrors a n d conta i n m uch rom a
Th ey a r e gen era l ly satu rat e d w i th m i srep res entati on of
Vi rgi n i a p eopl e a n d a re b u rd en e d w i th eu l ogi st
B rown s con du c t i n Vi rgi n i a B ecau s e I wa s o n th e
an d saw th i n gs a s th ey oc cu rr ed ; b ec a u s e I h ave k ep t
tou ch w i th B row n l it eratu r e ; an d b ecau s e I a m i n l ove w i
th e Truth I b el i ev e that my story i s w o rthy o f pub l i c c o
Th
e
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’
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fi de n c e
.
h av e known Vi rgi n i an s p e rson a ll y for over fi fty y ea rs
M y l ong care e r a s a m i n i st er o f Ch ri st wa s b e gu n am on g
I
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24
T H E RA ID OF JOH N BROW N
th em T h ey h ave n o t d es erv e d th e t ra d ucti on B rown s eulo
gi st s h ave h eap e d o n th e m
H i s u n fo rtu n at e execu tion w a s
t h e l ogi ca l resu l t of h i s cri m i nal a n d b l oo dy rai d T h e Vi r
gi n i a p eopl e h av e b e en nob l e i n ch i val ry b ou nteou s i n ho s
l
e
subl
i
m
e
i
n
ki
n
dn
ss
of
h
ea
rt
a
n
d
l
i
fe
a
n
d
m
od
el
s
of
i
t
a
i
t
p
y
h i gh soci al an d mo ra l p uri ty
S partacu s l e d th e w ay fo r th e d e stru c tio n of Roman
sl avery Joh n B rown p erform e d a si m i la r s ervi c e fo r th e
Am eri ca
s
e m i n g e i n i s strange ch aract e r fana t
ic is m an d co u ra e—ecc en tri city an d a p roph et i cal in s 1 i t i n 0
—
f u t u re eve n t s a war e d con sci en c e an d a sub l im e m arty r
h eroi sm
B u t w h eth er i n safe t o r er i l a I h om e o r i n ri s
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Th e stren gth o f m an si n ks i n th e h o ur of t ri al
B u t t h ere doth l i v e a p ow er t h at for th e b attl e
”
Gi rd eth th e w ea k
.
,