The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-03
CrouBges Of
. Our Doom.
American Wars, Rebellions, IDsur-
rcctiops, Riots. Strikes.
JOHN BROWNS RAID.

JOHN BROWNS RAID
John Brown had been active in the
free state troubles in Kansas, and 1t was
there he conceived the plan of directly
attacking slavery in one of the slave
states Gathering around him small
number of men, whom he had initiated
into his plot, the winter of 1888 was
spent IN Iowa in the practice of military
exercises. While thus engaged he laid
the plan of beginning his attack at Har-
per's Ferry, Va. In May, 1858, he held
secret conference Of friends of freedom"
at Chatham, Canada West, and drew
UP Provisional constitution and ordi-
nance for the people of the United
States
For some time previous to Browns at
tempt, his friends had been made aware
that he contemplated IAN important
measure, in which the world had deep
interest" When the mission was known,
friends sought to dissuade him, but all
their efforts were unaVailing. Finding
John Brown bent upon his proposed in
yasion of Virginia, several Of these
friends formed a secret committee to
raise the necessary means, to do which
ing the blow was postponed, and after
many conferences, and the making and
rearrapging of plans, it was finally de-
cided to make the attack in October, 1859
Brown made his final visit to New
England in May, and then proceeded to
the Kennedy farm on the Maryland side
OF the Potomac, five miles from Harpers
Ferry, which he had rented and made
his rendezvous There Brown had gath
cred his recruits and arms awaiting the
time to strike. It is related on good au-
thorfty that Fred Douglass visited
Brown, and then first learned of Brown s
plan to attack Harper's Ferry Douglass
was not IN favor of the movement and
Brown said to him: go with me, Doug
INF To Hcrhk Ill
protect you with my life, but want
you to be there when the bees swarm,
ana help me put them into the hive
Wilson remarks that this hint indicated
the underlying idea of the movement
Brown thought the slaves were ready
to rise on their masters, ready to fight
for liberty, and only needed a leader and
plan. At first Oct. "a had been decided
upon for the attack, but, fearing they
had been betrayed, Oct is was substitute
ed for it. Wilson tells the remainder of
the story of the invasion: On the even
ing of that day he assembled his little
force, consisting of fourteen white and
five colored men, armed and equipped for
war. A little after 10 o'clock they enter
United States armory building, stopped
the trains of the railroad, cut the teIe-
graph wires, captured number of cit
liens, liberated several slaves and held
the town about thirty hours
After: some fighting. in which several
persons Were killed and wounded, Brown
fet1red TO the engine house, where he
was finally overcome and captured by a
detachment of United States marines I'M
der the command of Col. Robert E. Lee.
afterward the Confederate commando
fn-chfef. Brown was wounded in several
places, eight of his band. including two
Of his sons, were killed or mortally
wounded, six were captured and five
made their escape. He replied to all in
quiries concerning his actions with frank
ness, avowing that his object was to
arouse an instruction among the slaves
and set them free, and declared that he
acted "by the authority of God Al
mighty He and his companions were
indicted by the grand Jury. "for conspir-
ing with negroes to produce insure
ton, for treason against the commons
wealth Of Virginia. and for murder" On
these counts Brown was found guilty
Nov. and was hanged Dec. g. He met
his death with the utmost composure
His body was given to his family, and
was taken to his old home in North ESlba,
N. Y, where it still lies. SIX OF his fol,
lowers, Coppoc. Stevens, Cook. Hazlett,
Copeland and Green were also executed.