John Brown – Crusading Against Slavery
John Brown, often known by the moniker "Osawatomie Brown," stands as one of the most controversial and compelling figures in the tumultuous history leading up to the American Civil War. Born on May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut, to Owen and Ruth Mills Brown, his lineage traced back to Peter Brown, a passenger on the Mayflower in 1620, cementing his early American roots. His grandfathers on both sides were soldiers in the American Revolution, imbuing him with a legacy of fighting for what one believes in. This early exposure to a spirit of revolution and a deep-seated moral compass would profoundly shape his life and ultimately lead him to become a fervent crusader against the institution of slavery.
The family’s relocation to Ohio in 1805 marked a significant shift in young John’s life. Growing up on the farm and working in his father’s tannery, he learned the values of hard work and self-reliance. For a time, he also worked as a foreman in the tannery. Around the age of 20, he pursued surveying, an occupation he practiced for several years. His journey then led him to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he resided until 1835 before returning to Ohio, settling in Portage County. These early experiences contributed to his understanding of the diverse economic landscapes of the burgeoning nation.
In 1846, Brown ventured to Springfield, Massachusetts, entering the world of commerce as a wool merchant, buying and selling on commission. Ambitious and perhaps overly confident, he attempted to manipulate the wool market, seeking to artificially inflate prices. However, New England manufacturers, a powerful collective, resisted his efforts. This led to significant financial losses when he was compelled to ship approximately 200,000 pounds of wool to Europe, where it was sold at a loss, resulting in bankruptcy. This failed business venture was a significant setback and demonstrated a pattern of risk-taking and perhaps flawed judgment that would resurface later in his life. This period in his life shows the many things that would shape the man that John Brown – Crusading Against Slavery would become.
Following his financial ruin, Gerrit Smith, a wealthy abolitionist, provided Brown with a piece of land near North Elba, New York, in the rugged Adirondack Mountains. This remote location became his home until 1851. He then returned to Ohio, where he once again engaged in the wool business, this time with greater success. The relocation to North Elba was significant, placing him in a community of free African Americans and further solidifying his commitment to the abolitionist cause. The experience in North Elba was important in the growth of John Brown – Crusading Against Slavery.
Owen Brown, John’s father, was a staunch abolitionist himself, deeply influenced by the teachings of Hopkins and Edwards. From his earliest days, John was immersed in an environment that vehemently opposed slavery. This upbringing played a critical role in shaping his worldview and his unwavering commitment to ending the practice. John Brown was married twice, first to Dianthe Lusk, a widow who bore him seven children, and later to Mary Ann Day, with whom he had 13 children. Sadly, eight of his 20 children died young. Those who survived to adulthood were all dedicated abolitionists, a testament to the powerful influence of their father’s beliefs. Five of his sons moved from Ohio to Kansas in 1854, settling near Osawatomie, where their father joined them on October 5, 1855. The importance of this family commitment to abolitionism cannot be overstated.
In Kansas, the Browns joined the Free-State party and actively participated in the struggle against the pro-slavery forces. They were mustered into the militia to defend Lawrence, a stronghold of abolitionist sentiment. Two of Brown’s sons were captured by the United States Cavalry, which was being used to enforce the pro-slavery territorial laws. John Brown, Jr., was subjected to harsh treatment, forced to march nine miles to Osawatomie with his hands bound. These events were pivotal in the escalating violence and tensions that earned the territory the grim moniker "Bleeding Kansas." Appleton’s Cyclopedia of American Biography highlights the context of these events, particularly in relation to the controversial Pottawatomie Massacre, an incident that continues to be debated by historians. John Brown – Crusading Against Slavery was making his way to the history books.
The Pottawatomie Massacre, in which Brown and a band of followers killed five pro-slavery settlers, remains a highly contentious point in his biography. While some historians defend his actions as a response to the violence perpetrated by pro-slavery groups, others condemn them as acts of terrorism. Regardless of interpretation, the massacre marked a significant escalation in the conflict and solidified Brown’s image as a radical abolitionist willing to resort to violence to achieve his goals.
In January 1859, Brown led a group of escaped slaves from Missouri to Canada, using the opportunity to finalize plans for his audacious raid on Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Through the National Kansas Committee, he acquired 200 rifles. On June 3, 1859, he departed Boston with $500 in gold and authorization to retain the rifles. Later that month, Brown and his associates leased a small farm near Harpers Ferry, where they finalized their preparations. His daughter, Anne, and a daughter-in-law served as housekeepers. Frederick Douglass visited Brown in August, where Brown revealed his plan to seize the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry and, if necessary, capture the town itself.
Douglass expressed reservations about the plan, but Brown, irrevocably dedicated to the abolition of slavery, remained undeterred. On the evening of October 16, 1859, Brown gathered 18 men and initiated the raid on the arsenal. By 10:30 p.m., they had breached the gates, overpowered the small guard, and taken control of the town by midnight. Six men were dispatched to bring in local planters and their slaves, with the intention of arming the freed slaves to spark a widespread uprising. However, the plan faltered when a train managed to escape Harpers Ferry, carrying news of the raid to Washington. John Brown – Crusading Against Slavery was now making national headlines.
Captain Robert E. Lee, who would later become a prominent Confederate general, was dispatched from Washington with a company of Marines. Local citizens armed themselves and joined the troops in capturing the raiders. Brown and six of his men barricaded themselves in the engine room and resisted fiercely until two of his sons were killed, and he was wounded. He was subsequently tried by a Virginia court, convicted of treason, and sentenced to hang. His execution took place on December 2, 1859. Eyewitness accounts suggest that he faced his death with extraordinary courage and composure. His body was buried near North Elba, New York, on the land provided by Gerrit Smith.
John Brown’s legacy remains intensely debated. He has been labeled a fanatic and even portrayed as insane, although there is no conclusive evidence to support claims of mental instability. From his early years, the principles of abolition were deeply ingrained in him, leading to an unwavering conviction that all people should be free. His methods were often controversial, but he possessed unwavering courage and a willingness to sacrifice his life for his beliefs. While his battles at Black Jack and Osawatomie were small in scale compared to major Civil War battles like Gettysburg or Chickamauga, they were pivotal in initiating the conflict that would ultimately dismantle chattel slavery in the United States.
On August 30, 1877, a monument was unveiled in Osawatomie to honor the heroes who died defending freedom. The John Brown Memorial Association erected the monument. Later, the Women’s Relief Corps of Kansas spearheaded an effort to designate the Osawatomie battlefield as a public park. The land was acquired on May 13, 1909, and on August 31, 1910, the park was dedicated with significant ceremonies, featuring former President Theodore Roosevelt as the keynote speaker. In addition to these tributes, the Kansas legislature in 1895 proposed placing a statue of John Brown in the United States Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C., although this initiative did not come to fruition. John Brown – Crusading Against Slavery lives on.
Ultimately, John Brown’s actions, while undeniably controversial, played a significant role in escalating the tensions that led to the Civil War. He became a symbol of radical abolitionism, inspiring some and terrifying others. His raid on Harpers Ferry, though unsuccessful in its immediate goal, galvanized the nation and further polarized the debate over slavery. He remains a figure of intense fascination and a subject of ongoing historical inquiry, a testament to the enduring power of his actions and the complex legacy of the fight against slavery in America.