Monday, October 16, 2006

 

This Day in American History

On this day in 1859, late at night, John Brown, a militant abolitionist, and about 20 followers, including freed slaves, slipped into Harper's Ferry, Virginia, took about 60 hostages (including direct kin of George Washington) and the town's famous arsenal and rifle work in the hope of fomenting a slave rebellion that would sweep the southern states free of that horrible institution. Didn't happen. Two days later, Col. Robert E. Lee led a marine contingent that freed the hostages and captured Brown and most of his men who had survived. Five escaped. The captured were soon tried for treason against Virginia, et al. and hanged. Many believe this was the start of the Civil War. Harper's Ferry, now in West Virginia, seems locked in a time warp and is a beautiful place to spend a few hours, especially right about now.

# posted by Roger Fraley @ 4:07 AM
Comments:
John Brown both levied war against the United States and intended to broaden that war by inciting insurrection. Even though his intended end-state was a laudable one, he committed treason and was rightfully hanged.

Would that the same could be said for those who levied war against the United States at Ft. Sumter and intended (and succeeded) in fomenting a broader insurrection.

FWIW, I wouldn't call the Harper's Ferry raid the start of the ACW, which I would put either earlier (in Kansas) or later.
# posted by Blogger Doug Sundseth : 12:35 PM
 
Rog,

For this day in history, October 16th is the birthday of Oscar Wilde, b. 1854; Eugene O'Neill, b. 1888; and Gunter Grass b. 1927.

T
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 3:38 PM
 
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