John Brown

155 years ago on December 2, 1859 abolitionist John Brown was executed by hanging in Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia). He had been convicted of three crimes: murder, treason and inciting a slave rebellion. Only one of these crimes warranted the death penalty: inciting a slave rebellion. 

Photo: civilwar.org

Almost two months earlier, on October 16, John Brown and 21 men of his Provisional Army snuck into Harpers Ferry, where a federal armory and arsenal were located. The goal was to steal guns from the factory town so that when they invaded the South, slaves could be armed. 

Photo: examiner.com

Brown and his men captured the armory, arsenal, rifle factory and a number of high profile hostages but word got out about the raid and militiamen and the Marines arrived to end the invasion. 

Photo: britanica.com

Despite the element of surprise, Brown and his men were forced to fortify themselves in the small brick fire engine house, where they were eventually captured. From Harpers Ferry, Brown and his men were transported to the county seat in Charles Town to be held in jail to await trial. 

Photo: digitalhistory.uh.edu

Based on his writings, Brown had meant for the raid on Harpers Ferry to be as bloodless as possible, despite his violence in Kansas. Some of his last words, though, showed that he realized that conflict was necessary in America to end slavery: "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land can never be purged away but with blood." 18 months after his death, the American Civil War began, which ended with the abolition of slavery. 

Photo: historynet.com