John Brown

In 1800, John Brown was born into a deeply religious family in Connecticut. His father believed that you must do “right” or you will answer to God. His father strongly opposed slavery. When he was 12, John Brown saw a young slave boy beaten terribly with a shovel and wondered, “If he has no mother or father, was God his father?”

Later, Brown worked in the Underground Railroad to protect escaped slaves from slave catchers. When his friend Elijah Lovejoy was murdered for writing against slavery, Brown stood up in church and said, “Here before God, I consecrate my life to the destruction of slavery.” He even dreamed he was sent by God to end slavery.

In 1856, John Brown and his sons carried out an attack on proslavery settlers in Kansas. His sons dragged five men from their homes, brutally beat them, murdered them, and cut off their heads. He became an abolitionist hero as a result. A play about him was written and performed in New York City.

For the next few years Brown traveled to raise money and collect guns to bring his war against the injustice of slavery to the South. He started planning an attack.

In 1859, Brown planned to attack the federal arsenal that contained 100,000 guns and rifles at Harpers Ferry, Virginia. He planned to capture the guns, free slaves to join him, and start a war. He met with Frederick Douglass at a nearby farm house. Douglass argued against this violent plan. He decided not to join Brown, saying the attack would be a fatal mistake. Douglass wrote, “Here we separated; he to go to Harpers Ferry, I to Rochester [New York].”

With 21 men, Brown attacked Harpers Ferry. His men cut the telegraph wires, captured the armory, and rounded up hostages. However, the townspeople took “potshots” at them until the next morning when the U.S. Marines arrived and surrounded them.

The next day, the Marines made an offer: if the raiders surrendered, their lives would be spared. Brown refused. The Marines stormed the building, broke down the door. A Marine tried to run Brown through with his sword but the blade hit the old man’s belt buckle. He was wounded.

John Brown was taken to jail for trial. His statements from prison reached the nation and he inspired others to rally against slavery to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.” His trial took a week. The jury reached a verdict: guilty of murder, treason, and inciting a slave rebellion.

On December 2, 1859, Brown was led to a wagon where he took a seat next to his own coffin. Brown was taken to the gallows. He climbed up and a noose was put around his neck. A white linen hood was placed over his head. The sheriff cut the rope with a single blow, the platform fell away, and Brown dropped through. The wind blew his lifeless body to and fro.

A song was written to honor Brown's death. It was called John Brown's Body.

John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
But his soul goes marching on.

Chorus:
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
Glory, glory, hallelujah,
His soul goes marching on.

He's gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord,
He's gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord,
His soul goes marching on.

Chorus:

John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
John Brown's knapsack is strapped upon his back,
His soul goes marching on.

Chorus:

John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
His soul goes marching on.

Chorus:

The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down,
The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down,
His soul goes marching on.

Chorus: