Did you know that more books have been written about the American Civil War than any other conflict in our nation's history? In fact, over 15,000 books have been written about Lincoln alone. And roughly 2 million people visit Gettysburg every year. Yet despite all the research surrounding this four year conflict that divided our nation and caused more than 750,000 casualties, I find it remarkable that the age-old question still remains: What caused the American Civil War? While the answers are still hotly debated--it stands without question that one man did more to plunge the nation into Civil War than any other person in history.
That's why today, my friends, I'm inviting you to join me on my visits to both Harpers Ferry and Charles Town, West Virginia, as I track down the hidden details and uncover the compelling story behind one of the most problematic and controversial figures in American history. Who's ready to join me?
We begin our tour in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which is currently a National Historic Site owned and operated by the NPS. In addition to the history, if you like great views, this park is scenic indeed, surrounded by the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains, as well as the neighboring Shenandoah River.
As for the historical aspect of things, I think it's best to begin our journey at the John Brown Monument (pictured above). This Monument marks the exact spot where John Brown's Fort was originally located during his Raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859. But who was John Brown, you ask? Let's rewind for just a second.
Take a look at those eyes. It may come as no surprise to you that history's portrayal of John Brown is mixed. Was he a blood thirsty madman who slaughtered innocent people for pleasure? Or was he an inspired desperado willing to sacrifice his own life to further the cause of freedom?
Born in Torrington, Connecticut, on May 9, 1800, John Brown came from a deeply religious family who strongly opposed the institution of slavery in the United States. Brown's father, who owned and operated a successful tannery business, was also a vocal supporter of ending slavery and even supported the creation of racially integrated colleges. All of this likely had a profound influence over John Brown at a very young age.
Though John Brown worked for a short time as a foreman for his father's tannery business (and was even studying to become a minister) he ultimately flunked out of school and his own business ventures failed miserably. Before long, Brown was bankrupt. Although some of Brown's misfortune was due to the economic crisis of 1837, most of it was the result of Brown's own poor decisions and failed business dealings. Adding to Brown's misery during his young adult years was the death of his wife in childbirth. And although Brown did remarry and go on to father an astonishing twenty children--sadly, only eleven of his children would survive to adulthood.
Now that you have some insight into John Brown's early life, let's continue with our tour. Many relics pertaining to John Brown's early life can be found at Harpers Ferry. I spotted these shears on display, for example. They belonged to John Brown during the 1840's while he was dabbling in the sheep farming business. Like all of Brown's other business pursuits, however, his wool business ultimately failed.
I think it's important to remember that even though John Brown's personal life had somewhat fallen apart, his desire to eradicate slavery in the United States was growing stronger. Believing that divine intervention was shaping his destiny, Brown gradually became convinced that his life's purpose had been realized. "Here before God...from this time, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery," Brown vowed.
As we continue our tour through the Harpers Ferry Museum, I'd like to point out yet another interesting relic I noticed on display. This one is almost eerie. Let me explain.
By 1855, Brown and five of his sons were living in the state of Kansas where (under the new highly controversial Kansas-Nebraska Act) the people themselves were left to decide whether or not their territory would become a free state or a slave state. This law created heated tensions between settlers and the term "Bleeding Kansas" was born.
But events turned gruesome in May 1856, when one of the antislavery towns in Kansas that John Brown had helped to defend was burned and ransacked by proslavery settlers. An enraged John Brown (who was away when the events took place) vowed revenge, declaring, "We must fight fire with fire...to show these barbarians that we, too, have rights!" And three days later, Brown made good on his threat, when he and a small posse of men retaliated against Southern settlers in the territory. As night fell, Brown and his men broke into the homes of Southern families, dragging several men out of their beds and killing them with the sword pictured above, which was used by Brown's men during the massacre.
While none of Brown's victims were slaveholders, they were all members of pro-slavery political organizations. And although Brown later denied involvement in the bloody massacre, people across the country were quickly becoming aware of his deeds.
As John Brown's reputation as both a passionate abolitionist and a bloodthirsty murderer grew, Brown himself was growing more and more fanatical. He was now determined to terminate slavery not only in the state of Kansas, but across the entire United States. Brown immediately began planning for his next move, convinced that his goal could be accomplished through a dramatic and violent uprising...
Now that we've left the Museum, let's take a walk outside. You see, after months of steady planning, Brown's dream of a dramatic uprising was almost a reality. Having made connections with several wealthy and influential abolitionists in the United States, who would later become known as the "Secret Six," Brown was able to raise enough money to supply his operation with roughly 400 rifles.
Finally, on the night of October 16, 1859, Brown and his 18 followers, consisting of 13 white men (including 3 of Brown's sons) and 5 African Americans, descended on the town of Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now a part of West Virginia). In Brown's mind, the location was perfect. At the time, Harpers Ferry was the site of the largest federal arsenal and armory, which meant that once Brown and his men overtook the town, they could seize the armory's vast supply of gun powder and ammunition, as well as its roughly 100,000 rifle supply. In addition to this, Brown knew that he needed more than just 18 men to make his mission possible. In fact, he needed an "army." Nearly 18,000 African American slaves resided in the Harpers Ferry area, many of whom Brown assumed would join up with him-- thus resulting in a massive uprising to overthrow slave owners across the country and liberate the roughly 3 million enslaved population.
In the darkness of the night, Brown and his men cut telegraph wires, then quickly seized control of the federal armory, as well as Hall's Rifle Works, which mass produced weapons for the national government. In the photo above, I'm standing outside of the armory's original fire-engine house, which "Captain" Brown and his men used as their "Fort." Although the building is original to when Brown and his men used it, keep in mind that it's now roughly 150 feet away from its original location (remember the Monument I was sitting on at the beginning of our tour which marks the Fort's original spot?) That's because the Fort was actually dismantled and transported to Chicago in 1891 so that it could temporarily be on exhibit at the World's Fair--I know, amazing right?
Now let's take a peek inside Brown's Fort. While it seems logical that Brown and his men would have fled Harpers Ferry after seizing the town's supply of weapons, ironically, they remained in the Fort, where Brown was convinced that once word spread about his raid, hundreds (or even thousands) of local slaves would join up with them. But much to Brown's total shock and dismay, however, no one came. In fact, instead of freeing the enslaved community at Harpers Ferry that night, Brown and his men accidentally shot and killed a free African American man, named Heyward Shepherd, who had grown suspicious and decided to investigate the area.
As local doctors rushed to Heyward Shepherd's side, and word quickly spread that Harpers Ferry was under attack, local militia and townspeople rushed to the scene. Brown, who had taken several hostages, now fired back from the safe haven of the Fort, killing multiple townspeople and even the mayor.
Of course, we can't leave Harpers Ferry without visiting the Waxed Museum. Although local townspeople put up a good fight, John Brown and his raiders managed to hold their position at the Fort for almost two days, until the morning of October 18th, when United States Marines, under the command of future Confederate General Robert E. Lee, arrived in Harpers Ferry. Though a terms of surrender was offered to Brown, he refused. And soon the Marines, using a heavy, 40-foot ladder as a battering ram, smashed through the front door and stormed the Fort. The photo I took from the Waxed Museum (shown above) depicts the moment the Marines entered the Fort, where a wounded John Brown (shown with gray hair and a beard) realizes his defeat.
Of John Brown's eighteen raiders, 10 were killed, including two of Brown's sons.
Another photo taken from my visit to the Harpers Ferry Waxed Museum. John Brown was still recovering from his wounds when his trial took place. He had to be carried into the courtroom on a stretcher.
After leaving Harpers Ferry, let's proceed to nearby Charles Town. Here, our first stop is the Jefferson County Courthouse where John Brown's trial was held. The building is original to when John Brown was here, and if you go inside, you can even see the original room where the trial took place.
On November 2, 1859, just 17 days after his failed raid on Harpers Ferry, John Brown was found guilty of murder, treason, and conspiring with slaves to rebel. It took the jury just 45 minutes to convict him. Brown was sentenced to death by hanging.
But Charles Town is loaded with history. In fact, a quick stroll up the road reveals an interesting, rather ironic, historical connection. You see, while John Brown awaited his execution at the Charles Town Jail, numerous threats were being made by the North to save John Brown from hanging. Recognizing these threats, the Governor of Virginia quickly ordered military units comprising of the First Virginia Regiment to Charles Town to defend against any attempts that might be made to rescue Brown.
As the Regiment passed through Richmond on their way to Charles Town, a young actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth, who was then working at the Richmond Marshall Theater, rushed out to join them. Although the 21-year-old Booth was not a member of the Regiment and had no military training or experience, he longed to be a part of their mission--and begged to join them. Finally, the Regiment agreed to allow the actor to borrow a uniform and tag along if he wished.
Since John Brown's execution was not scheduled until December, John Wilkes Booth and the Virginia Regiment (better known as the "Richmond Grays") spent almost two weeks hanging around the Charles Town area. In the picture above, I discovered the original Episcopal Meeting House located in Charle Town. It was here, at this very building, that John Wilkes Booth spent his evenings reciting Shakespeare from the balcony to the Charles Town residents.
Here are some additional photos of the Charles Town Episcopal Meeting House. Made of stone, the house dates back to the 1830's and is original to when Booth used it. Today, the home is privately owned.
But our tour of Charles Town certainly isn't complete without a visit to the Jefferson County Museum. This museum is, by far, one of the best. Though small in size, it's loaded with original artifacts and priceless pieces of history. Plan to spend a long time here when you visit in person! They even have the original wagon that carried John Brown to his execution on display! Brown actually sat on top of his own coffin in this wagon as he rode to his execution site in Charles Town on December 2, 1859.
Finally, as we take just another short walk up the road, we're able to track down John Brown's execution site in Charles Town. The grassy area you see just behind me is where the gallows were located. The building in the back did not exist at the time of Brown's hanging.
Another view of Brown's execution site. The home you see behind me, known today as the Gibson-Todd House, was not built until the 1890's and therefore did not exist at the time of Brown's hanging in 1859. Today the home and property is privately owned, but a historical marker indicates the area's historical significance and is open to viewers.
The Richmond Grays, along with John Wilkes Booth, formed a V around Brown's scaffold and guarded the area while the execution took place. When the drop occurred and the hooded John Brown began to die, one of the officers noticed that John Wilkes Booth "got very pale." When asked if he was feeling okay, Booth replied "that he felt very faint" and that he would have given "anything for a good drink of whiskey."
I think it's worth noting that although John Wilkes Booth was a devoted Southerner who believed that John Brown was an enemy of the people, Booth also deeply admired John Brown's belief that history could be changed through a single violent act. Brown's profound impact on Booth at such a young age makes it tempting to imagine that it may have played a part in Booth's own decision to assassinate Abraham Lincoln just six years later.
John Brown's guard at the Charles Town Jail later recalled that Brown's last message to him was, "I am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away, but with blood."
After Brown's execution, his remains were given to his wife and buried at the family farm in North Elba, New York. Brown was gone--but far from forgotten. In the North, many held tributes to Brown for his devotion to ending slavery, while many in the South quickly vilified him for his violent actions. Strained relationships between the states only further intensified after Brown's death, and the "blood" that John Brown predicted would be shed was soon to become a reality.
16 months after John Brown's death, America plunged into the Civil War. Indeed, my friends, the story of the rise and fall of John Brown had ended, but the lasting impact Brown's actions would have on America had only just begun.
And that completes our tour, my friends! Thank you so much for following along with me on my journey today. I hope you'll join me again next time...