Harper’s Ferry is best known as the site of John Brown’s 1859 seizure of the federal arsenal located there. Brown, a fierce abolitionist who had been involved in the murders of at least five slavery advocates in "Bleeding Kansas", had formulated a plan to hijack the arsenal. He hoped his actions would facilitate a massive slave revolt in the South. Although he was successful in seizing the arsenal, his plan lacked any additional action. He was soon surrounded by an army detachment and captured. Several of his sons who were involved were killed in the process. John Brown was convicted of treason and hanged in December of 1859. |
