244 
Indiana University 
To understand this one must have some idea of what man- 
ner of man John Brown was, — some notion of his character. 
In physical courage and iron nerve he was the equal of any 
Spartan that ever lived ; in zeal and fanaticism for the “cause” 
which he advocated, he could not have been outdone by any 
of the mediaeval crusaders or the modern Mohammedan 
dervishes; in narrow-mindedness and stern puritanical spirit 
he was of the type which interprets the teachings of the Old 
Testament literally. Combined with all of these character- 
istics there was a tenderness and a sympathetic spirit like that 
of a woman. Last but not least he possessed a personal mag- 
netism which attracted and held to him all manner of men 
whom he cared to interest. His men were animated by his 
own intrepid daring and would follow him to the death. 
He thought himself as much of a chosen instrument to deliver 
slaves from bondage as Gideon of old was to deliver the chosen 
people with his little band. Only a week before his execution 
he wrote to Rev. H. Humphrey: 
“He shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.’’ 
This was said of a poor erring servant many years ago; and for many 
years I have felt a strong impression that God had given me powers 
and faculties, unworthy as I was, that he intended to use for a similar 
purpose.^^ 
In all fairness it may be said of John Brown that he was 
a peculiar type of misguided fanatic. Perhaps our more mod- 
ern word, “crank”, would fit him very well. 
The affair at Harper’s Ferry created a profound sensation 
thruout the whole country. Virginia was thoroly fright- 
ened.^2 No one knew the extent of the plot or what would 
happen next. Several companies of troops were called into 
service and strangers forbidden entrance to Harper’s Ferry. 
Brown and his associates were taken to Charlestown and 
placed in jail. The town was then placed under martial law 
Colonel Donovan’s estimate of him. The colonel once said to the writer in 
substance: I have been a life-long Democrat. I went to Harper’s Ferry hating aboli- 
tionists and especially John Brown. But after I became well acquainted with him as 
a result of long interviews while he was in jail, I was completely won over. When 
the old man ascended the scaffold I was a John Brown man. 
November 25, 1859, in Sanborn, op. cit., 604. 
“But the atrocious attempt of John Brown at Harper’s Ferry came like a fire 
bell in the night’’, said W. H. Browne, of Maryland, in The History of a Palatinate, 
quoted in Villard, op, cit., 475, The writer’s father was in South Carolina at the time. 
He often spoke of the great excitement created by the Harper’s Ferry affair. “Are you 
all from the North coming down here to steal our niggers?’’ was the question most often 
asked of him. 
