John+Brown's+Raid+at+Harpers+Ferry

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry October 16-18, 1859 In the evening of beautiful West Virginia on October 16, 1859 staunch abolitionistJohn Brown and a group of his supporters left their farmhouse hide-out and headed for Harpers Ferry. In the early hours of October 17th, Brown and his men descended on the unsuspecting town and captured prominent citizens and seized the federal armory and arsenal. Brown's plan included recruiting the local slave population, arming them with the weapons seized from the arsenal and continuing his freedom fight. Sadly, John Brown's mission was thwarted by the local militia. Holed up in the arsenal's engine house in the late morning of the 17th, Brown and his compadres took refuge. This temporary sanctuary did not last long. The fire storm was increased when Colonel Robert E. Lee arrived with the US Marines and stormed the engine house. Most of the raiders were killed and Brown was captured. Accused of treason against the state of Virginia, murder, and slave insurrection, Brown was placed on trial and sentenced to death for his crimes. John Brown was hanged on December 2, 1859 in Charles Town.

John Browns raid was the spark that started the Civil War. Before the raid, negotiations between the differing North-South sides may have led to a compromise. However, this attack and Brown's swift trial and hanging caused emotions to run high, thus, an armed conflict was inevitable.

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