Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-19

1t would have been wiser il the south had
spared him. Rash in conception. and totally
Magnificent as the numbers engaged were, the
~ fo- obvious reasons indeed terrific.
and the entire affair. especially the old mans
quiet and gentle bearing and simple-bearted
faith in the righteousness of his mission, made
profound impression upon the people OF the
free north. which soon crystallized into an act
i've, ineradicabie HATRED of slavery and it's abet
tors Ii was '.o: se".uusly denied that his en-
terprise was Unlawful and wrong and that the
legal penalty WAS death But yet somehow the
heart of every citizen whose natural instincts
we're opposed to human bondage went out
spontaneously to tho GRIM resolute champion
Of the down-trodden black race, shattered in
body blu. undaunted in spirit. awaiting his fate
in the Charlestown jail The manner OF his
death made him one of the colossal figures of
our nation and age From the Charlestown
scafold his soul began that mysterious march
which has not ended unto tins day, securing
freedom for the race he had vainly struggled
for in life, and everlasting fame for his own
singular personality.
or Browns confederates, besides himself,
Stevens, Cook. Hazlitt, Coppoc, Green and
Copeland were hanged at Charlestown. Oliver
and Watson Brown, J. II. Kagi, W. II. Leeman,
Vim. Thompson. Dangerfield Newly (colored)
and four others were killed in the melee. Owen
Brown, Barclay Coppoc, TIdd, Merriam and
the citizens and militia engaged in the attack
on Browns party about twenty were killed
and wounded
IN THE VORTEX OF WAR
Thus did Harper's Ferry become universally
and instantly famous. But peace and quiet
did not follow the hanging Of Brown. Civil
war quickly ensued as naturally as rain falls
from the storm cloud. Tho town was imme-
diately occupied by confederate troops, who
finished destroying the United States arsenal,
removing the machinery southwark For
nearly five years Harpers Ferry remained in
the grip Of the military. and was in constant
hot water until peace followed the collapse Of
the rebellion and the destruction Of slavery
The war in its vicinity began with Patterson's
advance across the Potomac into Virginia in
June, 1861, Johnston retiring before him. Tho
federals ever after retained possession Of the
old town, with one or two short and accidental
interregnums. but the Shenandoah valley con-
tinued to be disputed territory, changing occu-
pants as rapidly as the seasons come and 60. A
first noteworthy event was the eluding Of
Patterson by Johnston. and tho iatter's rapid
movement on Bull Run to succor Beauregard,
where their combined forces won a complete
victory over Mcdowell on July 81, as related
elsewhere. Patterson was greatly blamed for
his failure to keep Johnston employed in the
Shenandoah valley, and failing that for not
joining Mcdowell by equally rapid move
ment He was even charged with bong q
traitor, but the records show that Others were
more responsible than Patterson for his mis-
understanding OF his duty. Stouewall Jackson
had greatly distinguished himself at Bull Run,
and in November he was sen. back into the
valley to command the confederates, with
headquarters at Winchester.
The federals meanwhile, had oyerrun pretty
much al, Of the mountain districts of upper
Virginia west Of the shenandoah valley. Gen.
Jackson entered upon an active winter cam
palgn, recovering Romney and other important