John Brown: Villain or Hero
John Brown was a renowned radical abolitionist who became famous for his role in the Pottawattamie Massacre and
the Raid on Harpers Ferry. Born in Connecticut in 1800, Brown was heavily influenced by his Calvinist father
whom instilled in his son a hatred for the institution of slavery. Brown went on to fail in a number of business
operations. But when the events of “Bleeding Kansas” heated up, he went there to join his sons in an attempt to
make the territory a free one. Eventually, he migrated back East, where he plotted an attempt to begin a slave
insurrection in Virginia that would spread from Harpers Ferry throughout the South. Brown attempt failed, he was
arrested, tried, and found guilty of treason. His much publicized trail and execution was a significant factor in
bringing on the American Civil War.
Directions: Read the documents and answer the questions that follow.
DOCUMENT A
The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which was passed in 1854, determined that the issue of slavery in the Kansas Territory
was to be decided by popular sovereignty. Thus began the race between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces into the
territory in order to win upcoming elections and establish a government based on their respective views. The
competition led to violence that became known as “Bleeding Kansas.” John Brown joined his abolitionist sons there
in 1855. In response to the sacking of the free-state town of Lawrence by pro-slavery forces, Brown led a force of
anti-slavery men on an expedition of vengeance in May 1856. This resulted in the deaths of five pro-slavery men
near Pottawatomie Creek in Kansas. The victims were not slave-holders and were unarmed. They were hacked to
death by a broadsword and the incident became known at the Pottawatomie Massacre and one of the most famous
events of “Bleeding Kansas.” One of the victims was James P. Doyle. The following is a testimony of his widow,
Mahala Doyle.
I am the widow of the late James P. Doyle. We moved into the Territory - that is, my husband, myself, and children moved into the Territory of Kansas some time in November, A. D. 1855, and settled on Mosquito creek, about one
mile from its mouth, and where it empties into Pottawatomie creek, in Franklin county; that on Saturday, the 24th
day of May, A. D. 1856, about 11 o'clock at night, after we had all retired, my husband, James P. Doyle, myself, and
five children, four boys and one girl—the eldest boy is about twenty-two years of age, his name is William; the next
was about twenty years of age, his Drury; the next is about sixteen years of age, his name is John; the next is about
thirteen years of age, her name is Polly Ann; the next is about ten years of age, his name is James; the next is about
eight years of age, his name is Charles; the next is about five years of age, his name is Henry—we were all in bed,
when we heard some persons come into the yard and rap at the door and call for Mr. Doyle, my husband. This was
about 11 o'clock on Saturday night of the 24th of May last. My husband got up and went to the door. Those outside
inquired for Mr. Wilkson [sic], and where he lived. My husband told them that he would tell them. Mr. Doyle, my
husband, opened the door, and several came into the house, and said that they were from the army. My husband was
a pro-slavery man. They told my husband that he and the boys must surrender, they were their prisoners. These men
were armed with pistols and large knives. They first took my husband out of the house, then they took two of my
sons—the two oldest ones, William and Drury—out, and then took my husband and these two boys, William and
Drury, away. My son John was spared, because I asked them in tears to spare him. In a short time afterwards I heard
the report of pistols. I heard two reports, after which I heard moaning, as if a person was dying; then I heard a wild
whoop. They had asked before they went away for our horses. We told them that the horses were out on the prairie.
My husband and two boys; my sons, did not come back any more. I went out next morning in search of them, and
found my husband and William, my son, lying dead in the road near together, about two hundred yards from the
house. 1
1
Earle, Jonathan. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2008. 56-57.
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DOCUMENT B
Following the event of the Pottawatomie Massacre, John Brown migrated back East where he worked to raise funds
from devout anti-slavery men for his ultimate abolitionist plan. This plan resulted in the well-known Raid on
Harpers Ferry of October 1859. In the raid, Brown led twenty-one men to the Harpers Ferry, Virginia where they
seized the US arsenal there. Brown hoped that this would be the beginning of a slave insurrection that would sweep
across the South and bring and end to the institutin of slavery. Unfortunately for Brown, slaves did arrive to carry
out his plan. Instead he was captured and ten of his men were killed or mortally wounded. Within days, Brown was
tried and found guilty of murder, treason, and inciting insurrection. He was sentenced to die and was sent to the
gallows on December 2, 1859. While in prison, John Brown was allowed to write and receive many letters. The
following letter was written to a friend Reveren H. L. Vaill.
Charlestown, JEFFERSON COUNTY, VA., Nov. 15, 1859.
REV. H. L. VAILL.
MY DEAR, STEADFAST FRIEND, Your most kind and most welcome letter of the 8th inst. reached me in due
time. I am very grateful for all the good feeling you express, and also for the kind counsels you give, together with
your prayers in my behalf. Allow me here to say, notwithstanding "my soul is among lions," still I believe that u God
in very deed is with me." You will not, there fore, feel surprised when I tell you that I am "joyful in all my
tribulations" that I do not feel condemned of Him whose judgment is just, nor of my own conscience. Nor do I feel
degraded by my imprisonment, my chains, or prospect of the Gallows. I have not only been (though utterly
unworthy) permitted to "suffer affliction with God's people," but have also had a great many rare opportunities for
preaching righteousness in the great congregation.” . . . Christ, the great captain of liberty as well as of salvation,
and who began his mission, as foretold of him, by proclaiming it, saw fit to take from me a sword of steel after I had
carried it for a time; but he has put another in my hand ("the sword of the Spirit"), and I pray God to make me a
faithful soldier, wherever he may send me, not less on the scaffold than when surrounded by my warmest
sympathizers. . . . As I believe most firmly that God reigns, I cannot believe that anything I have done, suffered, or
may yet suffer will be lost to the cause of God or of humanity. And before I began my work at Harper's Ferry, I felt
assured that in the worst event it would certainly pay. I often expressed that belief ; and I can now see no possible
cause to alter my mind. I am not as yet, in the main, at all disappointed. . . .
But "God's will, not mine, be done." I feel a comfortable hope that, like that erring servant of whom I have just been
writing, even I may (through infinite mercy in Christ Jesus) yet "die in faith." As to both the time and manner of my
death, I have but very little trouble on that score, and am able to be (as you exhort) " of good cheer." I send, through
you, my best wishes to Mrs. W. l and her son George, and to all dear friends. May the God of the poor and oppressed
be the God and Savior of you all! Farewell, till we meet again.
Your friend in truth,
JOHN BROWN. 2
DOCUMENT C
The following is the last letter written by John Brown and on the day he was hanged. It is known as the Prophecy of
John Brown.
Charlestown, Va, 2nd, December, 1859
I John Brown am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty, land: will never be purged away; but with Blood. I
had as I now think: vainly flattered myself that without verry much bloodshed; it might be done.3
2
Earle, Jonathan. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2008. 93-94.
3
Earle, Jonathan. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2008. 103.
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DOCUMENT D
Southerners were outraged by the increasing activities of radical abolitionists in general and the Raid on Harpers
Ferry in particular. Southern newspapers were full of criticism of John Brown and northern abolitionists. The
following is from the Petersburg (Virginia) Express and is dated October 25, 1859.
This Harpers Ferry Affair is but a small eruption on the surface of a diseased body. Brown and his desperados are
but a sign of the cancerous disease with which a great part of northern society is polluted by the traitorous views of
men who have been raised to honor, and surrounded by applause, and maintained in power, by whole communities,
and even whole States. . . . The Harpers Ferry Affair was but premature fruit. A whole harvest of sterner rebellion
and bloodier collusion is growing up and ripening from the seed these men have sown.
Disguise it as we may, large portions of the North are our enemies – more bitter, more deadly hostile than though
hereditary enmity had pitched their opposing hosts on a hundred battle-fields.4
DOCUMENT E
John Brown’s Body was a song that became popular in the North during the Civil War. The song was started as a
humorous tribute by a group of Union soldiers to comrade, whom happened to also have the name of John Brown.
Soon lyrics were added to honor the famous abolitionist. Julia Ward Howe re-wrote the lyrics and created the song
The Battle Hymn of the Republic, a spiritual song that promoted the Union. The following version of John Brown’s
Body was written by William W. Patton in 1862.
John Brown's body lies a mouldering in the grave,
While weep the sons of bondage whom he ventured all to save,
But though he lost his life in struggling for the slave,
His soul is marching on.
Chorus: Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
His soul is marching on.
John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true and brave,
And Kansas knew his valor, when he fought her rights to save:
And now though the grass grows green above his grave,
His soul is marching on.
Glory, &c.
He captured Harpers Ferry with his nineteen men so few,
And he frighten’d Old Virginny till she trembled through and through:
They hung him for a traitor; themselves a traitor crew,
But his soul is marching on.
Glory, &c. John Brown was John the Baptist, of Christ we are to see,
Christ who of the bondman shall the Liberator be,
And soon throughout the sunny South, the slaves shall all be free,
For his soul is marching on.
Glory, &c.
The conflict that he heralded, he looks from heaven to view,
On the army of the Union, with his flag Red, White, and Blue;
And heaven shall ring with anthems, o'er the deed they mean to do
For his soul is marching on.
Glory, &c.
Ye soldiers of freedom, then strike, while strike you may,
The death-blow of oppression in a better time and way;
For the dawn of old John Brown, has brightened into day,
And his soul is marching on.
Glory, &c.5
4
Earle, Jonathan. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2008. 107-108.
5
Earle, Jonathan. John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry: A Brief History with Documents. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martin’s, 2008. 142-143.
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DOCUMENT F
Thomas Hovenden was commissioned to paint a picture of John Brown. His The Last Moments of John Brown,
shows the abolitionist on his way to the gallows and his death. The painting, which was finished in 1884, can now be
found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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6
6
Hovenden, Thomas. The Last Moments of John Brown. Painting. 1882-84. Wikipedia. 18 June 2007. 14 Aug.
2010 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Hovenden>.
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DOCUMENT G
This mural entitled Tragic Prelude was painted by Thomas Curry and now rests in the Kansas Statehouse.
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7
7
Curry, John Steuart. Tragic Prelude. Painting. 1938-40. Wikipedia. 6 February 2008. 14 Aug. 2010
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:John_Brown_Painting.JPG>.
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