John+Brown's+Raid

__**John Brown’s Raid**__ By: Michael McCaffrey

Table of Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Preparation 3. Harper's Ferry 4. The Effect He Had On The Civil War 5. Important People Who Helped Him 6. Fun Facts 7. Bibliography

 __Introduction__: This raid was an attempt by white abolitionist John Brown, it took place in Harpers Ferry, Virginia 1859. Brown's raid was defeated by a group of U.S. marines which was led by colonel Robert E. Lee. He started an armed slav revolt and wanted to capture the United States Arsenal at Harper's Ferry. On the night of Sunday, October 16, Brown left three of his men behind as a re-guard. Brown's main party captured several watchmen and townspeople in Harpers Ferry. Brown's men needed to capture the weapons and escape before word could be sent to Washington. They cut the telegraph wire and seized a Baltimore and Ohio train passing through. An African-American baggage handler on the train named Hayward Shepherd, confronted the raiders. They shot the man and was ironically a freed slave that became the first casualty of the raid. Then for unknown reasons, Brown let the train continue. The conductor found out and alerted the authorities. Brown was counting on the slave population in Harper's Ferry to revolt and join him, but none did. The local townspeople started to fight back against his team, however Brown's raid was captured that night in the armory. __Preparation__: Before the raid had even begun Brown rented the Kennedy Farmhouse, 4 miles north of Harper's Ferry, in Maryland. He used a fake name while living in the Kennedy Farmhouse, it was Isaac Smith. His group included 16 white men, 3 free blacks, 1 freed slave, and 1 fugitive slave. Brown came with a small group of men minimally trained for military action. The arsenal they were going to raid contained 100,000 muskets a rifles. Brown's plan was to use those rifles and he captured at the arsenal, to arm rebellious slaves and to capture the slaveholders in Virginia. He thought on the first night that hundreds of slaves from the area would join him. He planned to hold Harpers Ferry for a short time, expecting many volunteers, white and black, would join him. He would then move southward, sending out armed bands along the way. Then he wanted to free more slaves, obtain food with horses and hostages. Brown planned to follow the Appalachian mountains south down to Tennessee and even Alabama.  __Harper's Ferry__: John Brown led a group of twenty-two men in a raid on Harpers Ferry. Three of these men were his sons, Oliver, Owen, and Watson. Brown's ultimate goal, however, was to conquer slaveholders. Brown and his men were hoping that this raid would help to launch a further series of raids. The violent attack was a stand against slavery, which they thought was wrong and necessary to destroy. They thought the only way to truly make the point that slavery was wrong, would be through this violent attack. At the start of the battle, an African American was killed. Later, two of Brown's son, Watson and Oliver had been killed in the raid. The raid was essentially considered unsuccessful because of a failure to sever communication with the area being attacked. Brown and his men had hoped to cut the wires in order to end communication with DC. Hence, preventing the government from being able to immediately call in reinforcements to oppose Brown. The wires were cut, however, some of his men let a detained train go, which got the word out. Citizens on the train spoke up, allowing for reinforcements to come in and shut down Brown. Robert E. Lee finally captured John Brown and ended his revolt. It is also important to note that the slaves did not revolt because Brown had not devised such a plan. It was expected for the slaves to join and launch more attacks. Nevertheless, had the slaves been involved, it was a sure defeat either way, and the only outcome would have been dead slaves. Ultimately, the raid itself was unsuccessful, but Brown did get his point across.

__The Effect He Had On The Civil War__ :

John Brown is often granted with instigating the Civil War through his raids. Many believe that he was a very thoroughgoing which had the power to finally arouse the long built conflict between the North and the South. John Brown became a symbol for abolitionists, and his famous acts angered the South even more. He was considered a hero to those who fought for the same cause, but to Southerners he was wide ranging who was far too extreme. Brown gave many abolitionists the courage to fight for the cause of ending slavery. He was one of the first white abolitionists to become well known, other whites help blacks without being alone. Harper's Ferry, and events like it contributed to Lincoln's decision in emancipating the slaves. The power and rage of these abolitionists, along with Frederick Douglass. In addition, the powerful raid created even more passion in the war between the North and South. The violent and passionate events caused so much tension that battles like Shiloh were truly won and lost over Brown, and other abolitionists'.

__Important People Who Helped Him__:

John Brown, who was an important member of the Abolitionist Movement,was acquainted and worked with many people who made the movement possible as well. Harriet Tubman, helped Brown recruit men for the raid at Harper's Ferry, and she was expected to join the raid but was unable. Frederick Douglass also was an important person of Brown's who helped him create a colony for free blacks to seek refuge. They both worked together as important members of the movement. In comparison to Tubman, Douglass tried to convince Brown that his mission at Harper's Ferry was suicidal. Brown's most famous partners in the movement were the Secret Six. The Secret Committee of Six were six influential men who helped to secretly fund for Brown. The members were Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Samuel Howe, Theodore Parker, Franklin Benjamin Sanbron, Gerrit Smith, and George Luther Stearns. Although the members of the Secret Six did not necessarily support the use of violence, their main goal was to bring slavery to an end. During and after Brown's trial the Secret Six were found out and some members fled to Canada. One denied his connection completely, and another tried to get Brown out of jail. Gerrit Smith, in 1867, helped to put up the money to free Jefferson Davis, the former confederate president, from being imprisoned without being charged of a crime. Ultimately, as Brown was an essential member of the Abolitionist Movement, he quickly gained support from many, allowing him to become acquainted with many other powerful abolitionists. __Fun Facts__: -His parents were Owen Brown and Ruth Mills -John was the fourth out of eight kids -He lived in Ohio for his childhood -Three of his sons were included in the raid -His fake name was Isaac Smith during the raid -His raid was stopped by Robert E. Lee -He once kept a station on the Underground Railroad

__Bibliography__: >
 * Faust, Patricia. "John Brown". CivilWarHome.com. 27 April. 2010. <[]>.
 * Bertolet, Jennifer. "John Brown". ABC-CLIO. 20 May. 2010. <[|http://www.usatwar.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?]
 * Finkelman, Paul etc.. "John Brown". Facts on File. 27 April. 2010. <[]>.
 * Foner, Eric. Freedom's Unfinished Revolution. New York: The New Press, 1977.