By Toni Milbourne, The Journal
HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. —The anniversary of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry is fast approaching.
It was on Oct. 16, 1859, that Brown, along with 21 like-minded individuals, launched an attack on the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry in what was then Virginia.
Brown had prepared for the raid in advance — a raid that was against slavery. He used an alias to rent the Kennedy Farm about five miles from Harpers Ferry, where his army gathered prior to the October raid. It was on a Sunday that he called the men together and outlined his battle plans, and they began the march from the farm at approximately 8 p.m that evening.
The goal of the raid was to arm an anti-slavery force to incite liberation movements. At approximately 10 p.m., the men took both bridges, the U.S. Armory and Arsenal and the U.S. Rifle Works on Hall’s Island. The raid lasted until Oct. 18, when Brown and his men were captured.
In all, Brown’s party of 22 was defeated by a company of U.S. Marines led by 1st Lt. Israel Greene. Ten of the raiders were killed during the raid, seven were tried and executed afterward and five escaped. Six other people were killed in the raid, as well.