John Brown and Harpers Ferry
The slavery question, which between 1830 and 1860 tore at the fabric of the nation, left the Commonwealth of Virginia equally as divided. Perhaps the most incendiary of all events connected with the slavery issue took place on what is now West Virginia soil, with the seizure of the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in 1859 by the fiery abolitionist, John Brown. His plan for arming the slaves of northern Virginia and coordinating an uprising, together with the secretiveness with which his plan was carried out, threw the South into a panic.
John Brown believed he could free the slaves, and he selected Harpers Ferry, Va., as his starting point. Determined to seize the 100,000 weapons at the Arsenal and to use the Blue Ridge Mountains for guerrilla warfare, abolitionist Brown launched his raid on Sunday evening, Oct. 16, 1859. His 21-man “Provisional Army of the United States” seized the United States Armory, Arsenal and several other strategic points. Brown had come to arm an uprising of slaves. Instead, the raid drew militia companies and federal troops from Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. On the morning of Oct. 18, a storming party of 12 Marines, under the command of Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee of the Second United States Cavalry — with his aide, Lt. J.E.B. Stuart, of the First United States Cavalry — broke down the door of the Armory’s engine house and 36 hours after the raid began, with most of his men killed or wounded, Brown was captured.
Brought to trial at nearby Charles Town, Va., Brown was found guilty of treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, of conspiring with slaves to rebel and murder. Fearing threats that an attempt might be made by Northern sympathizers to rescue Brown, Virginia Governor Henry A. Wise ordered Virginia troops to Charles Town to guard the prisoners until after their execution. Toward the last of November about 1,000 were assembled, among them the cadets of Virginia Military Institute under the command of Col. F. H. Smith, the superintendent. Major Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson was present in command of the cadet battery.
The turmoil caused by this attack sent ripples throughout the nation. Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times during the war. Stonewall Jackson achieved his most brilliant victory here in September 1862, when he captured 12,500 Union soldiers — the largest such surrender until WWII. Ultimately, it became the base of operations for Union Gen. Philip Sheridan’s invasions into the Shenandoah Valley in 1864.
Exploring Harpers Ferry Today
Offering commanding views of the scenic confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, Harpers Ferry has been restored to the era and brick sidewalks lead to quaint shops and restaurants.
Built on land donated by George Washington’s youngest brother Charles, the Jefferson County Courthouse is an 1836 Greek revival brick building. During the Civil War it served as a barracks for Union troops.
The Jefferson County Museum contains an important Civil War collection of relics associated with the radical abolitionist John Brown, including the wagon that carried him to his execution and his Provisional Constitution. Also displayed is the battle flag of “Stuart’s Horse Artillery.”
The John Brown Wax Museum details John Brown’s hatred of slavery, traces Brown’s violent exploits, and depicts scenes from his daring raid on Harpers Ferry.
Other Key Sites
West Virginia’s Independence Hall in Wheeling is a beautifully restored, National Historic Landmark that served as the capitol building of the Restored Government of Virginia during the Civil War and became the birthplace of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. The separation of West Virginia from the Commonwealth of Virginia was the only territorial change that directly resulted from America’s greatest conflict. It was a time of loyalty oaths, treason trials and sabotage.
West Virginia Independence Hall Museum was originally built to be Wheeling’s federal Custom House in 1859. It housed the post office, custom office and the Federal District Court. After Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861, meetings were held in the building to form the Restored (Union) Government of Virginia. The vote approving the creation of the new state of West Virginia was held in the courtroom, and the state’s first constitutional convention held deliberations in that room. The governor and other state officials had offices in the building, and the legislature met on the third floor. Exhibits explain the creation of the state and other uses of the building through the years.
Droop Mountain Battlefield is a peaceful park with a panoramic view and now marks the spot where one of West Virginia’s largest and last important battles was fought on Nov. 6, 1863. The decisive victory of Union forces under Gen. William W. Averell over the Confederate army under Gen. John Echols ended serious efforts by the Confederacy to control West Virginia.
The National Cemetery at Grafton was established in 1867 by congressional legislation to offer a final resting place for the men who died during the Civil War. The remains of Union soldiers were removed from temporary graves in West Virginia as well as several Union dead from Kentucky. Of the 1,215 graves, 664 are unknown and some are Confederate soldiers. Notably the grave of Private T. Bailey Brown, the first Union soldier to be killed by a Confederate, is located here.
All sites mentioned are open to the public and have interpretive tours available for groups of all ages. To learn more, call the West Virginia Division of Tourism office at 800-225-5982 or download the following Civil War Trail brochures to begin your journey!
— WV Civil War Heritage Brochure http://wvtourism.com/App_Media/Assets/ publications/travelrec/CivilWarBrochure.pdf
— First Campaign of the Civil War through West Virginia http://wvtourism.com/App_Media/Assets/ publications/travelrec/FirstCampaignTrail.pdf
— West Virginia Civil War Trails Sites http://wvtourism.com/App_Media/assets/ doc/travelandrec/civilwar/Civil_War_Trails.pdf