John Brown and Harpers Ferry Raid

By Sophia Kalogeris

Introduction
The raid at Harpers Ferry in Virginia led by John Brown was one of the many efforts to try and abolish slavery in the south, adding to the cause of the Civil War. Although it did not end successfully for Brown, it did create a large threat for Southerners in their way of life, and shook up the country in a way they had not felt before. It brought about new feelings of resentment and anger in the South, and inspired and encouraged many in the North. This event left a heavy mark on the nation as one of the critical events leading to the turning point of the Civil War. Prior to this raid, no other abolitionist rebellions had ever been successful, and violence of this sort was still only a very last resort to fixing the issues at hand in the country. However, Brown thought otherwise, ad believed it would have to take bloodshed to end slavery in the country. Long term, Brown hoped to free the slaves, abolish slavery for good through his efforts, and continue on the path to freedom for the nation. In terms of Browns short term causes to his rebellion, he planned to get weapons to every slave, kill all white people in site, and give blacks as well as all slaves the power. Each of these causes was attempted with rage and determination, enough to kill a whole city. The raid itself took lots of time planning, plotting, and scheming. John Brown collected an army of 20 men, including himself, a few blacks, and his sons. He used funds and arms which were furnished for his Kansas operations, in which he had been a leader in and a promoter of lawlessness during the troubles in Kansas. He also sent Captain John E. Cook to stay at Harpers Ferry a few days before the raid to become familiar with the land, citizens, and Negro slaves. After a few days watch, Brown and his army charged the streets on October 16, 1859, headed to seize the federal arsenal at the Ferry. Although demanded to surrender, Brown continued in his efforts to kill all whites in site. Brown and his men were cornered into a small gate house where they were soon bombarded and taken hostage. The siege lasted only 36 hours, and only a month later a grand jury indicted him upon the charges of treason and murder and was condemned to be hanged on December 2. This raid created many waves throughout the country which rattled up the south more than ever. It impacted slavery by creating a threat towards the Southerners, giving evidence of a conspiracy of Northerner abolitionists to create violence to destroy their way of life, and it caused slave owners to keep a tighter watch on their slaves just in case something of that sort were to happen again. John Browns efforts at Harpers Ferry resulted in later conflicts and compromises by adding to the conflict and tension leading up to the Civil War, it also resulted in Northerners seeing Brown as a martyr for abolitionism which helped unite the North, and also it caused the flood gates to open for violence against slavery movements. Because of this raid, Northerners supported Brown and glorified his deeds, while Southerners protested his acts, saying they felt their way of life was being threatened. Even President Lincoln looked down upon the violence exerted by Brown and his army on the night of October 16. This event caused a dramatic turn for the worse in the battle over slavery, and brought the country farther down to that dark place in history better known as the Civil War.

Robert E. Lees demand for the surrender of John Brown and his party, October 18, 1859

This is a letter which is written by Col. Robert E. Lee to John Brown about the demand to surrender at Harpers Ferry. In the letter, Lee states that if they surrender the men will be released safely without any inflictions, however if they do not surrender that he is compelled to use force to take them away and cannot ensure their safety. When it was created, the letter was very urgent, as the men were still in the midst of their raid against the arsenal. Its purpose was to give an ultimatum for Brown to either get out safely or face the consequences. This document is related to the raid because it was a crucial document in the ending of the raid, and had a lot to do with the outcome that day at Harpers Ferry.
If they will feasibly surrender themselves I assure the privileged prosperity; they shall be kept in safety to await the orders of the President. Col. Lee represents to them in all frankness that it is impossible for them to escape, that the armory is surrounded on all sides by troops; that if he is compelled to take them by force Lee cannot assure in their safety.

John Brown Portrait

This is a photograph portrait of John Brown, depicting his serious face and strong presence. When this photo was actually taken, Browns raid was still at least four years from happening, however that does not mean the issues hadnt occurred yet. Throughout the 50s slavery was still such a prominent issue between the North and South. It was these years leading up to the raid that fueled enough rage in John Brown to attack Harpers Ferry in 1859. The purpose of this portrait was to display the man who had a big role in the history of this decade, also being a part of other movements in Kansas. This image relates to the overall topic because it gives a glimpse at the man himself, John Brown, who was the chief and head supporter at this event at Harpers Ferry.

Telegram from the Superintendent of the Arsenal at Harpers Ferry to Secretary of War, October 19, 1859

This is a telegram written to the secretary of war, telling them to send troops to the scene to try and capture Brown and his army of men. The raid was over the day that this was sent, so it can be assumed that this letter was a big reason that the raid ended on that day. The purpose of this telegram was to get an emergency notice out immediately on the issue at hand, and try to get the news across of needing troops as fast as possible. This telegram relates to the raid at Harpers Ferry because it was the reason that troops went to Harpers Ferry to try and capture Brown, thus ending the raid.

I find a perfect panic here. You must by all means detail a troop to my relief immediately.

Marines Attacking the Fort

This picture depicts The Engine House and Lt. Israel Greene and his marines as they use a ladder as a ram to batter their way into the building that Brown and his men were staying in. In the picture there are lines of men with guns and rifles standing on the side, and multiple men in the center holding a ladder to try and ram down the door of the fort. When this was created, one can only imagine this is what it would have looked like. Troops were using all sorts of weapons and objects they could find to break down the doors, like ladders, axes, and rifles. The purpose of the drawing was to show people who did not know of the raid or its details exactly what went on and how it would have looked on that day. This picture relates to the raid at Harpers Ferry because it gives a nearly exact image of a moment during the raid, and it was a very crucial moment to the result afterwards.

"The Cloud in the Distance No Bigger then a Man's Hand - The First Battle of the 'Irrepressible Conflict.'" from the Chicago, Illinois Press and Tribune October 20, 1859 We give full particulars to-day of the late extraordinary proceedings at Harper's Ferry, Va. They will attract general attention, and create great sensation in all parts of the Union. It will be seen that more detailed and authentic accounts sustain entirely the view we yesterday took in commenting upon it. It was an abolition plot to free the negroes of Maryland and Virginia at the point of the bayonet. The leader of it was so-called "Ossawatomie Brown," one of the abolitionists who figured with LANE and MONTGOMERY in the murderous forays in Kansas. Men may well be surprised at the reckless boldness and daring of this operation: He must have taken courage from the late elections in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and supposed that he would have not only the moral, but the physical backing of these two great states in stirring up a servile war in the two states of Maryland and Virginia. The "irrepressible conflict" of the free and slave states, which is preached by the Republican leaders as an orthodox doctrine, is well calculated to lead to such results. This affair at Harper's Ferry is but the "cloud in the distance no bigger than a man's hand," but it is the presage of the future storm, that shall desolate the whole land, if the people give this abolition doctrine their approval. It necessarily tends to servile insurrection, civil war and disunion. BROWN and his followers are but the advance column of the partisan disciples of SEWARD and CHASE, who are burning to make a practical application of the "irrepressible conflict doctrine. They stand ready to deluge the land in blood to carry out their fanatical views; and the momentous question is, do the majority of the people of the free states sympathize with them? The danger of having a Republican-abolition President can now be readily appreciated. Such a President, having his sympathies with the insurrectionists, would be slow to

The "irrepressible conflict" of the free

and slave states, which is preached by the Republican leaders as an orthodox doctrine, is well calculated to lead to such results. This affair at Harper's Ferry is but the "cloud in the distance no bigger than a man's hand," but it is the presage of the future storm, that shall desolate the whole land, if the people give this abolition doctrine their approval.

move in arresting their outrages. Delay, indecision and coldness would encourage the very parties against whom he should exert promptly the physical and moral power of the government. And the very fact that there was a President with such sympathies would encourage insurrection all through the slave states. It is for the people, North and South, to say if those things shall be.

Interior of the Engine House

This is a drawing by Frank Leslie of an inside look at the engine house at which the men and Brown were in to refuel and recuperate. In the picture, there are men getting new guns and rifles ready, men are wounded and resting, and John Brown is inside holding a rifle with confidence and determination. Also in the corner, the doors are being broken down, telling us that this image depicts the moment when the troops started to come into the building to capture the men. When this was created, the troops finally broke down the doors and captured all the men, especially Brown. In a way Brown and his men cornered themselves in the building, clearly not considering that if the building is broken into, they are all going down. The purpose of this drawing was to give people the inside scoop on what happened behind the scenes of the raid, and into the secret cabin that Brown and his men remained in until the end of the raid. This picture relates to the raid because it depicts what it would look like inside of the cabin which was a main part of what happened in the raid.

This document is a newspaper article found in Chicagos Press and Tribune, published on October 20, 1859. In the article, the author states that the happenings at Harpers Ferry were unruly and extremely violent. The author calls slavery an irresponsible conflict and says that the affair at Harpers Ferry was but the cloud in the distance no bigger than a man's hand, but it is the presage of the future storm. In other words, the event, which did not follow through, ended unsuccessfully for abolitionists, however was successful in adding to the bigger picture, that being the storm of the Civil War. At the time of this document, the raid had just happened only a few days before and opinions were being thrown around throughout the country. At the end of this article, the author states that the current president having his sympathies with the insurrectionists, would be slow to move in arresting their outrages. Delay, indecision and coldness would encourage the very parties against whom he should exert promptly the physical and moral power of the government. This is saying that because of the bias of the president, this can actually cause more issues in the country and add to the already collapsing government in the country. The purpose of this document was to show the people of Chicago a biased opinion of the occurrence at Harpers Ferry, and to try and get them to see what these events are doing to the country and its stability. This document relates to the overall topic because it was one of the many opinions given after the raid that framed the impact that it had on the nation, and the impact it had on slavery.

Sources
Bibliography
Associated Press. "The Cloud in the Distance No Bigger then a Man's Hand - The First Battle of the 'Irrepressible Conflict.'" Press and Tribune, October 22, 1859. Lee, Robert E. "Robert E. Lees Demand for the Surrender of." Letter to John Brown. 18 Oct. 1859. Superintendent of the Arsenal to secretary of war, October 19, 1859. Telegram.

Pictography
Handy, Levin C. (Levin Corbin). John Brown Portrait. Photograph. 1855. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. http://en.wikipedia.org/. Accessed February 7, 2013.

Illustration of U.S. Marines attacking John Brown's "Fort Drawing. October 22, 1859. Civil War Trust. http://www.civilwar.org/. Accessed February 6, 2013.
Leslie, Frank . 'Interior of the Engine House during John Brown's Raid Drawing. October 27, 1859. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/. Accessed February 6, 2013.